I awoke the next morning with a headache to end all headaches. My head wasn’t pounding, it was on the verge of collapsing in on itself. Moaning, I shifted uncomfortably, wondering whose foot was currently jammed into my back. The celling of the living room spun above me, making me nauseous.
“You hung over too?” Sully asked from somewhere to my left.
“Uh-huh.” I said, my voice vibrating sickeningly in my ears.
“Please tell me you have aspirin.” Dean said, shifting underneath me. So it was his foot lodged against me. Wonderful.
“There’s a bottle in the bathroom.” I whispered.
I could feel him stirring, extricating himself from our pile, and moving slowly in the direction of the toilet. The door closed firmly behind him, I heard him vomit into the bowl, each heave making me cringe as I tried to block out the sickening sounds.
“Ugh.” Billie moaned. “I’m never drinking again.”
“Agreed.” I said as she lurched to her feet and hurried to the kitchen sink.
With the chorus of retching pounding in my head, I crawled to the front door, Sully right behind me. The fresh morning air was like a cold slap when compared to the stifling heat of the cabin. Sully closed the door behind us as quietly as he could before sprawling out on the porch, breathing in the fresh sweet air in great gulps, both of us relishing the silence. My head cleared by degrees and I slowly began to realize that even under the eave, we should have been assaulted by annoyingly bright sunlight. I looked up, wondering if the blissfully overcast morning meant we were in store for a rainstorm or worse.
The sky was a cold steely grey that threatened rain. Sully and I gazed at each other, annoyed. I didn’t want to go back in and be besieged by the sounds and smells of my friends’ being sick, but I didn’t much feel like getting soaking wet in a cold rain while leaning against the side of the cabin. Fortunately, Billie and Dean joined us after a few minutes, carrying enough aspirin and water bottles for the four of us. We sat huddled together under the eave, looking out on the muted greens and browns of the forest before us. The woods were quiet, the usual assortment of animals already hidden in their burrows and nests in anticipation of the coming storm. We stayed out there for some time, barely talking, just watching and listening. It felt like we were truly alone, like all the rest of humanity had fallen away and we were all that remained of the human race. In the eerie calm and deafening silence it was easy to believe in the end of times.
We had been driven back inside around noon by the first fat drops of rain falling at our feet. At one o’clock sharp, my dad called us on the CB for our promised daily report.
“Those officers in the hospital died today. Press release said it was because of their infection, but that boy who works at the hospital said some CDC bigwigs came in and executed them. Says not even he was supposed to know, but he had been monitoring their vitals from the desk and they started dying one at a time after those CDC boys went into the quarantined section.” He said.
“Any idea yet of what this disease actually is?” I asked.
“From the looks of those corpses and the reports from the hospital, I’d say it was some sort of flesh eating virus that affects the brain, drives people mad. ‘Course, we probably won’t find out anything about it with the way the government is covering it up but I won’t be surprised if this infection gets out of control fast. It’s already looking that way in Asia.”
“So it’s not spreading in town?”
“Not that we can tell.”
“And you and Mom are ok?”
“Yes pumpkin.”
“How about the guys’ parents?”
“They’re fine too. They all say to tell you kids ‘Hi’ and that they love you.”
‘Tell them to say ‘Hi’ back,’ My friends mouthed. I nodded. ‘Don’t forget to tell them we love them too’ Billie added.
“They say ‘hi’ back and that they love them too.” I said into the microphone.
“I’ll pass the message on. Are you kids holding up well?” He asked.
“We sure are,” I said, knowing better then to mention the previous nights’ little party or this mornings’ subsequent hang-over.
“Alright, just don’t have any wild parties or do something stupid.” He said, laughing a little, though I knew he was entirely serious.
“We won’t, Dad.” I said, a smile forming across my own lips. We sure as hell weren’t going to repeat our drinking binge anytime soon.
“Ok then. I had better go so your mom can watch her shows in peace. We both love you, and miss you.”
“I love you guys too.” I said, signing off after my father.
Like the day before, I left the radio turned on just in case and joined Dean on the small couch, facing the two armchairs occupied by Billie and Sully.
“I can’t believe those cops got killed just because they were sick.” Billie said.
“I know,” Dean said. “I mean, it must have been pretty bad for them to have to do that, right?”
“It must have. Why else would they not just lock them up in a test facility and keep them alive to study them?” Sully said.
“I don’t know, but I really hope it doesn’t spread anymore. Can you imagine more people succumbing to something like that? Thousands of people trying to kill and eat their neighbors and loved ones.” I said, shuddering.
As the rainstorm raged outside, we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about what disease could possibly be so bad as to warrant the execution of those infected. Naturally, as horror fans, we eventually fell into lighthearted banter about the zombie apocalypse, and what we would have to do to survive.
“We’d have to stay out of the bigger cities.” Billie said.
“Obviously.A higher population means more zombies around every corner. Smaller areas are less stocked in supplies, but you’re a bit less likely to run into a herd.” I said.
“But you’d want to go into bigger areas at least once in a while for supplies. I mean, how else are you going to get the weapons you need?” Dean asked.
“Warehouses are usually on the fringes of town, and you could always try to hit up an armory. I hear the National Guard has a LOT of weapons locked away.” Sully said.
“Good luck trying to get into one,” I said. “You’d be better off hitting up military surplus stores and gun store warehouses. If you can get to it before looters strip it clean, outdoor supply stores would be your best bet – food, weapons, camping gear, they have it all.” I said.
“I see one major problem though,” Billie said. “Dean and I have never fired guns before.”
“Yeah, that would be a huge disadvantage.” Dean said.
“True, but you know how to swing an axe or sword don’t you?” I asked.
“Yeah,” They said together.
“Then there you go, use melee weapons until you get good with guns.” I said.
“What about that not so minor problem of running out of bullets? Even if you can get a bunch by looting stores?” Sully asked.
I smiled, “Simple. Stock up on the supplies to make them.”
“Except that none of us know how to make bullets.” Dean said.
“Speak for yourself,” I said, still smiling. “I’ll have you know, I’m damn fast at reloading.”
“Reloading?” Billie asked.
“That is the term for reloading bullet shells and casings. You fill them up with gun powder and top it with a bullet head, or you refill the cartridge with gunpowder and buckshot or birdshot.” I said.
“It’s official. In the event of the zombie apocalypse, you’re in charge.” She said, laughing.
Chapter 3
The next day at one o’clock, Dad came on the radio for the report.
“Word got out about the officers at the hospital, and people are starting to get nervous. Some folks are complaining about getting coughs and high fevers. Same thing is happening all around the country.” He said.
“Sounds a little like the
swine flu outbreak. Is there a chance that this is just a whole lot of nothing?” I asked.
“I don’t think so. Asia is almost completely overrun by whatever this is. I can’t get much intell’ on this ‘cause of the government covering up anything to do with it, but if things turn south like with those cops, it’s gonna get ugly fast.” He said. “Now, I don’t want you kids to worry about any of us. We’re all still safe, but we want you to stay up there for a while longer.” All the humor had gone from his voice; he was the solider once again, reporting acquired intelligence to another unit.
“Ok, Dad.” I said. “We will.”
“That’s all I have to report for today. I’ll talk to you again tomorrow.” He said, and signed out.
“Is it really getting that bad?” Sully asked, walking up behind me.
“It would appear so.” I said quietly.
If things were as bad as my father said they were, and he was usually spot-on about these kinds of things, then we were in for an epidemic like the world had never seen before. The safety of the cabin wouldn’t last long, and we would have to start running, not stopping until we found isolation and a fortified position.
The next two days went by in a blur of forced pleasantries, my friends and I desperate to keep our minds off of the outbreak happening just a few miles away. We could hear heavy traffic down the mountain, on the highway that lead out of town and across state lines. Using a pair of binoculars stored with the hunting gear, we took turns looking out at the road. It was at times bumper to bumper- a holiday traffic jam with no holiday to look forward to. Every few hours, the traffic would ease and the woods would return to their normal quiet. People were franticly trying to escape from the horrors and disease unfolding back home.
In the subsequent reports Dad made, we learned that the infection was spreading, sending the uninfected and the overly anxious to flee from the area. More and more people, all over the world were getting sick, and no one could do anything about it. People would go insane, attacking their loved ones and people on the street. If someone got away from their attacker, they too became infected. Those who were not so fortunate were devoured alive in their homes, in schools, in the work place. No one was safe, no place sacred. Priests turned against their flock, parents and even children massacred their families. The outbreak spread quickly, enveloping entire cities, working through densely populated countries like a plague.
On the fifth day, my father’s hurried voice rang out from the speakers on the radio.
“Everything and everywhere is overrun. Take the reloading equipment, the guns, the bows, and the food. Take it all and get the hell out of there. I taught you how to use everything, so you should be fine. Stay out of big cities, don’t stay in one place; scavenge what you can, when you can. Just go. And whatever you do, do NOT come back for your families. Oh God, NO!” Something banged against a wall, my dad screamed once, and then everything was silent.
Chapter 4
“Dad?Dad!” I shouted, my knuckles white as I clung to the microphone in desperation.
I could feel the horrified expressions of my friends bore into me. I knew without looking, without them saying anything, that they were terrified. I was too.
“Jo? We have to get into town. We have to save our parents.” Dean said.
“No,” I replied. “We have to stay here. If my parents were attacked, that means there is no hope for the rest of the town. Your parents are already gone.”
“NO!” He said, rising to his feet. “They are NOT gone.” A tear rolled down his cheek.
Billie sat in stunned silence. “Their…gone?” She finally whispered.
“Yes.” I said, my voice catching in my throat. “I’m sorry.”
Sully remained in his chair, his face hidden in his hands.
I sank to my knees, heartbroken and afraid. The adrenaline of the moment was wearing off and the world was crashing down around me. It was like everything had stopped; I couldn’t move. What mattered to me most had just been ripped away by some cruel being. My heart was still beating a mile a minute, jackhammering out of my chest, my throat constricted painfully; tears sprang to my eyes. It all seemed so surreal. I didn’t want to believe any of it, but the sinking realization that I just heard what may have been my father’s last moments would not be shaken from me.Even if I didn’t grab the supplies and make my friends leave right then, I trusted my father enough to know that we could not go back for anyone. I didn’t stand much of a chance against something he couldn’t fight off, and with three other people with me that I would have to defend, going back there was like asking to be ripped apart.
“Billie, let’s go.” Dean said, grabbing her twin and heading for the door.
My head snapped up. “You can’t leave.” I said.
“The hell we can’t. There are maniacs running around town, and we have to get our parents out. You may be fine with your dad dying, but I refuse to leave my parents in that mess!” He said.
I lost it. Rushing forward, I slapped Dean hard across the face. He staggered back, stunned.
“Jo,” Sully said, his voice hoarse.
“I just heard my father being murdered. Don’t you fucking dare tell me I’m fine with it!” I shouted.
“That’s right. You know your parents are dead. We don’t know what happened to ours.” Dean shouted back.
“If you go down there, you won’t be able to come back. Do you understand that? Our homes are overrun by nut jobs trying to kill everyone. They will kill both of you.”
“Dean, I think she’s right.” Billie whispered. “If they could break into her house, and her parent’s couldn’t fight them off, what chance does anyone else have?”
“You’re giving up on Mom and Dad too?” Dean said, rounding on her.
“I’m not giving up. I want to see them too, know that they’re safe, but we have to think about our own safety.”
“Sully, Bro, you aren’t just going to sit here on your ass and forget about your family, are you?” He said, turning to Sully.
“I agree with Jo and Billie. It’s too dangerous.” Sully said, looking up at his friend, resigned.
Dean clenched and unclenched his fists, his arms shaking.
“Fine,” He said, striding to the door. “I’ll just walk back by myself.”
“Dean, stop.” Billie said.
Dean ignored her.
“Dude, weren’t you listening? It’s not safe!” Sully said.
“Fuck you,” Dean said.
“Go ahead and leave.” I growled. “Say your parents are alive, which they most likely are not. They won’t last very long, and if those psychos are after them, you won’t be able to save them no matter what you do, and you’ll just get yourself killed in the process.”
Flipping me off, Dean wrenched the door open and stomped outside, slamming the door behind him. Dust floated down from the doorjamb, dancing in the weak light filtering in from the window. Sully bolted after him, catching up in seconds. They shouted at each other, their heated words muffled by the walls. Blocking out their argument, I knelt down next to Billie.
“I’m so sorry.” I whispered.
“Me too,” She whispered back.
I held one of her hands tightly in both of mine, squeezing it, offering what little comfort I could. She broke into a wave of tears, throwing her arms around me and pulling me into a bone breaking embrace. Carefully, I raised myself up just enough to sit next to her on the couch, wrapping my arms tightly around her. As she shook, wailing into my shoulder, I too began to cry.
Dean trudged back in, still angry, and crossed into his room without so much as a word to us. Though he left the bedroom door open, I could tell he longed to slam it and lock out the rest of the world.
Sully joined me and Billie on the couch, his arms stretched around us both, his head resting on mine.
“Thanks for bringing him back in.” I managed.
Sully nodded, not speaking. I could feel him crying too.
I don’t know how long we sat there, silently consoling each other. It must have been a few hours because by the time we dried our eyes, the sky was darkening into a riot of pinks, golds, purples, and blues.
“We…” Billie began, her voice weak after being abnormally quiet for so long. “We should leave soon, shouldn’t we? Like your dad said to?”
I cleared my throat. “No,” I said. “We should give it a day or two, wait for the road to clear out if there is anyone left on it.”
“But what if the infected people start coming up here?” She asked.
“We can defend ourselves if we need to.” I said, clenching my jaw. I didn’t like the idea, but I knew it would be inevitable. It was our life or theirs.
“What, are you going to teach us how to shoot?” Dean scoffed.
“And give away our position to anyone in hearing distance? I’m not that stupid.” I shot back.
Dean scowled, opening his mouth to say something. Behind me, Sully gave him a look and Dean shut his mouth again, irritated.
“What weapons do we have in here that won’t give us away?” Sully asked.
I looked around, taking note of every blunt, heavy, and sharp object that could be effectively wielded. “The ax by the door, for sure. The fire poker, the swords, rope, I’m sure Mom has some yarn stashed away in here somewhere,”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Dean interrupted. “Yarn? You expect us to fend off an attacker with yarn?”
“If you can get behind them, you can use a length of yarn as a garrote. You could do the same with circular needles, and straight needles and double points can be effective in stabbing the soft, fleshy areas.”
Dean gave me a strange look, somewhere between admiration and fear that I could so easily list methods of killing people with unassuming objects.
“We could break the antlers off of any one of the deer heads in here, if we have to.” I said, continuing my list of potential weapons. “We could go out right now and try to collect sturdy fallen branches to sharpen into spears.”
“God, you’re sick,” Dean said.
“That may be, but my ‘sickness’,” I said, emphasizing ‘sickness’ with air quotes, “can keep you alive in just about any situation.”