window, smashing it. I jumped through the window as three more babies hurried into the incubator room. I ran around to the door, pulled it shut and turned the key in the lock and then secured the door. I could hear the babies clawing at the door and shrieking to get out. It took me a moment to get over the shock of being attacked by new-born babies and then I continued down the hallway; always keeping a watchful eye on the rooms I passed. All the rooms were abandoned and so was the stairwell as I went down.
As I entered the lobby I could see Michelle, Alex and Fluffy on the other side of the glass doors. Michelle waved when she saw me. Alex pretended to be the macho man who protected the girl. I turned the key and unlocked the doors.
“Get inside.” I said as I opened the door.
They stepped inside and I closed the doors.
“Did you find anyone?” Michelle asked.
“I came across some infected babies.” I said still rattled, “That was something else.”
I locked the doors and then paused when I saw a giraffe walk down the street. It picked at one of the trees as it walked.
“What the hell?” I gasped.
Both Alex and Michelle turned around and watched in astonishment as the giraffe continued on its way without a care in the world.
“It’s probably a zoo animal.” Michelle said.
“We have a zoo?” Alex asked confused.
“No.” I said, “The zoo is twenty miles north.”
We continued watching as the giraffe disappeared around the corner of the building. It was only the third animal I saw since the infection broke (Fluffy and the rat), but perhaps it was safe to say that animals were seemingly immune to the infection.
“Where do you think it’s heading?” Alex asked.
“Who knows?” Michelle said, “It’s been cooped up in a cage most of its life and has now had a taste of freedom.”
“I’m hungry.” Alex said abruptly.
“Me too.” I said, “We could see if we can find the cafeteria.”
“Typical.” Michelle said annoyed, “We had enough food back home, but you leave without eating.”
“We’ll make a quick trip down to the cafeteria.” I assured her, “And then we’ll be on our way.”
Michelle was not convinced that it would be a quick trip. Hospitals freaked her out for a reason I did not know – a reason that was written all over her face. She shifted uneasily and sighed.
“Fine.” Michelle said, “Just make it quick.”
We walked over to the information board up against the wall and searched for the cafeteria. The board indicated that the cafeteria was on the ground floor to the left, so we headed left. All three of us – and I think even Fluffy – scrutinized the hallway and doors we passed for any sign of trouble. I saw graffiti in blood up against one wall and we slowed down. Only a single word was written in blood, Clairvius.
“What does that mean?” Alex asked concerned.
“I don’t know.” I replied.
It had to mean something otherwise someone would not have smeared it against the wall. The thing that attacked my mother in the kitchen also mentioned I am Clairvius… My mother. I had to find her. With all that had happened, I was ashamed to say that I sort of forgotten about her until right then. I think my mother would understand that I was preoccupied on keeping my companions alive.
We came to double swing doors at the end of the hall with a sign above it which read Cafeteria. We all looked at each other and then I opened the doors with caution. The cafeteria looked like the one at school; it had tables and chairs which led to a counter at the far end. I saw someone sitting at a table near one of the windows and reached for my whip. I could not tell from a distance whether the person was infected or not. The door made a slight creak as it opened and then the person looked back over their shoulder… it was my mom.
“Mom!” I called out relieved.
“Zac!” She cried out.
She got up and we both ran towards each other.
“You’re alive!” She exclaimed.
We embraced each other for what felt like forever. I found my mother in the world of the dead! I could not believe it. It happened purely by chance. I think that was the reason why I didn’t eat before leaving that morning. If I did, we would have probably never gone into the cafeteria. It had to be my sixth sense that led me to her.
We finally let go of each other, but she kept staring at me with tears in her eyes.
“My boy.” She wept, “I tried looking for you, but those things were everywhere. I finally came here hoping that you would think to come here.”
“At least we found each other.” I said.
She smiled at me again and ruffled my hair, which I hated as it made me feel like a little boy. She rested her hands on her hips and smiled at my companions.
“Who is this, Zac?” Mom asked.
“This is Michelle, and Alex.” I said half uncomfortable.
I was not sure whether their names would suffice or whether I should say This is the girl I had a crush on and this is the boy that bullied me at school.
Both Michelle and Alex waved at mom.
“Hi.” Michelle said.
“Nice to meet you Mrs Zac’s mom.” Alex said.
“Nice to meet both of you,” Mom said, “Under the circumstances.”
We all stared at each other while Fluffy wagged his tail. It was an awkward moment as we could not talk about everyday things like the weather while the dead walked the earth.
“So…” Mom finally asked, “Who’s hungry?”
7
It was probably the world’s most unconventional breakfast; four apocalyptic survivors having breakfast in a hospital cafeteria along with their dog companion. The ready-made food was alright. It was nothing fancy, but it was edible though I think most of it (especially the scrambled eggs) was made of soy.
“So, how is school?” Mom asked casually.
Alex chuckled and ate some of the scrambled soy eggs.
“I think the school burned down.” I said just as casually.
Mom paused a moment and then asked, “Did you have anything to do with it?”
“No.” I said defensively, “Well, actually yes. I was being attacked by the walking dead in the biology class and one thing led to another.”
“Was anybody hurt?” Mom asked concerned.
Hurt was not the right adjective I would use so I pondered for a moment and then Alex spoke.
“There were a few severed arms and legs.” Alex said unconcernedly, “Blood smears, cries for help and the occasional running person.”
“I think what Alex is trying to say,” Michelle interrupted him, “Is that all hell broke loose.”
“Oh.” Mom said shocked, “Oh yes. I have trouble coming to terms with the dead rising.”
“Mom,” I asked, “Have you come across anyone; living or dead in this hospital?”
She shook her head and said, “No. I did not find anyone, but I only stayed on the ground floor. You know how I hate hospitals.”
That was true. Mom hated hospitals for some reason. I think it had to do with the fact that she broke both her legs as a child and had to spend weeks in the hospital.
“I knew something was off,” Mom said, “The mailman came round and banged against the door, which he never does. I looked through the peep-hole and saw his face was covered in blood. I told him to go away or I will call the police. He kept banging on the door, banging and banging. I finally went out through the back door and that was when I saw that the entire town has gone insane.”
“We came across an emergency broadcast on the radio.” Michelle said, “It’s everywhere. The infection is not just here in Kingston Valley. It’s global.”
“Oh my word.” Mom gasped, “Do they know what started it?”
“No.” I said in despair.
I think the reason the government could not figure out where the infection came from was because it was an unprecedented event; an event I was almost certain had so
mething to do with the word Clairvius. If only I had access to internet.
“Mom,” I asked, “Do you have your phone on you?”
“Yes.” She replied and took out her phone, “But it won’t do you any good.”
“Why not?” I asked as I took it from her.
“There is no signal.” She replied.
I looked at the phone’s LCD screen; it indicated that the phone was out of range and that no signal was available. Apparently when the world ends, smartphones are useless.
“Damn.” I mumbled to myself and handed the phone back to her.
“Who did you want to call?” Mom asked.
She was one of the old fashioned people who believed that a phone could only make phone calls, so why she owned a smartphone was beyond me.
“I wanted to search for something on the internet.” I sighed.
“My phone has internet?” Mom asked amazed.
“Yes.” I said half shocked that she did not know.
“What did you want to look up?” Alex asked.
How to explain it to them?
“It’s hard to explain.” I said and shifted in my seat, “You remember that word we saw in blood up against the wall?”
“Clair Danes?” Alex asked.
“Clairvius.” I corrected him.
“What about it?” Michelle asked.
“It’s not the first time I came across the word.” I said, “Two nights back one of the undead attacked my mom and said I am Clairvius.”
“They can speak?” Alex asked confused.
“Not all of them.” I said, “There are different kinds of walking dead. It’s complicated, anyway; it’s not a coincidence that someone wrote Clairvius on the wall in their own blood. It has to mean something – it could even be what is behind the infection.”
“Perhaps it’s a person’s name?” Mom asked.
“It sounds like a government toxin.” Michelle said.
“Or a disease like HIV?” Alex asked, “Like ‘Hi, I am Clairvius negative.’”
“I don’t know.” I said and shook my head.
Alex was definitely not a bright one, or just a joker. Either way his suggestion was stupid.
“What about the library?” Mom asked, “They have an entire encyclopaedia section. Perhaps you can find what you are looking for there?”
“It’s worth a shot.” I said.
I was not very fond of libraries as they felt obsolete in a modern world, but we could perhaps find something useful in one of the books time had forgotten.
“Are we going to the library next?” Alex asked.
“Yes.” I said, “But we should do a quick sweep of the hospital to make sure there is nobody that needs help.”
They all nodded (even Fluffy), but I could tell from their faces they weren’t keen on the idea of walking through the hospital looking for survivors. But dire times calls for dire actions and I could not turn my back on this place knowing there might be someone in need of help.
8
The sweep of the hospital went quickly and without any major incidents. Yes, we came across a few of the undead, but it was nothing I could not handle. I led our ensemble from room to room, searching for survivors, but not really finding any.
On the first floor we found half a man’s body lying in the corridor that led to the ICU. The man clawed at the wall, but did not really do anything more. To my surprise, my mother stabbed the man in the head with a spoon – yes… a spoon – not the ladle part, but the handle. Why on earth she would take a spoon instead of a knife will remain a mystery.
On the second floor in room 1408 we found an incinerated woman lying in the hospital bed. She was clasping down on something in her arms.
We found no survivors anywhere in the hospital and decided to move on. Perhaps mom was the only one who thought about seeking refuge there. Our group walked tightly together as we made our way down the street towards the public library. I was never fond of the library, especially the librarians that keep saying Quiet please.
The library doors were barricaded, but with some effort Alex and I were able to jiggle the planks away and get the door open. The inside of the library smelled like you’d expect – like nerd farts and dust. Why anyone would come to