hour.
“We are still investigating the strange events at a
doctor’s office this morning. The witnesses who are still
alive and weren’t harmed have told us exactly what
happened. Marcia, do you have the report?”
“Yes, Bill. Standing in front of me are the witnesses.
They’re saying the doctor was taking a smoke break by the
back door when suddenly, he was attacked by a man
walking by. The man used his fingers to scratch at the
doctor, and then proceeded to bite him. Before he could
harm anyone else, a bystander who was carrying a gun shot
him. The paramedics arrived to help the wounded man, but
he attacked them as well.”
“Marcia, how many were wounded in total?”
“Bill, we don’t actually know what the total is because
we had to relocate into the van and drive a few streets over.
Those who found safety with us were able to give us some
insight into what happened, but so far, most of it is just
conjecture at this point. We should be able to have the full
story by the evening news…excuse me, Bill. We were just
told to caution people in the area to refrain from helping
anyone who seems to be injured or sick. Dial 9-1-1 and let the professionals handle the situation until we know how
these individuals have become sick.”
“Be careful out there. Well, ladies and gentleman, you
heard it here. Some kind of incident that sounds, well,
almost too crazy to be true. Stay tuned for updates as our
investigative team finds out more about the situation.”
The station resumes playing music.
I honestly don’t know which is more disturbing: the
fact that my baby was near this illness, or that they don’t
know what exactly is happening to people.
Considering Brad had called me, this isn’t just a single
case. It has to be happening overseas as well, or they had
gotten orders, but couldn’t say because it’s top secret.
He wouldn’t have been able to call if it was classified,
but knowing my husband, if it would save mine and baby
Pierce’s life, then he would break any rules necessary.
There’s only about an hour and a half left until I make it
to Nana and Pop’s.
“Oh, crap. I forgot to call them and let them know I’m
coming.”
Not that they really need to be warned we’re on the
way, but a heads-up would be a nice gesture.
“Dial Nana.” The van fills with the tones of the phone
dialing, but it goes straight to a busy tone.
I hit the disconnect button on the phone more forcefully
than I intended. “Dial Nana’s cell.”
“All circuits are busy at the moment. Please try your call again later.”
“Well, baby, I guess we made it out of the city just in
time. We’ll try them again when we get a little closer.”
The towers nearer to Nana’s might not have the city’s
overflow, and we might be able to use that the further into
the mountains we go.
I try to comfort myself with the thought that they’re still
playing music and not an emergency alert. Maybe things
aren’t that terrible yet.
Chapter 2
Trish
“Mom, did I do good at the dentist?” Six-year-old
Nicole asks, hoping she’ll get a treat.
“Yes, dear. Everyone gets a treat this evening at
dinner.”
“Even Trevor? He screamed when they were cleaning
his teeth.” Nicole asks, concerned he might get something
he doesn’t deserve.
“Sweetie, Trevor is only two. It was his first visit to the
dentist.” I smile in the rearview mirror at my little guy. “He will do much better next time since he knows what to
expect. Won’t you, Trev?”
He simply nods his head around his sippy cup of Kool-
Aid.
The doctor’s complex isn’t hard to navigate, but
suddenly, there seems to be a traffic jam leading out of the
area.
Nicole chooses that moment to shove her sister, Joy.
“Mom!” Joy exclaims, holding her elbow. “She pushed
me into the car seat again.”
I try to ignore the situation, but with the SUV sitting
still in a line waiting to exit, I turn slightly.
“Nicole, keep your hands in your lap and don’t touch
your sister.” Holding up a finger to ward off Joy’s protests,
I continue. “Nicole, you need to apologize to your sister for hurting her. Girls, we have too much traffic—”
A shrill scream erupts from Nicole’s side of the car. I
twist around to see a face pressed against the window.
I start to lower my window to speak to the person, until
I notice the blood covering the side of him…or her. Oh, it’s
definitely a her. I can see the big hoop earring on the
normal side of her face.
I hate to leave someone in need, but I can’t take a
chance that whoever did such a thing to her would find us.
My protective nature takes over and I throw the SUV
into gear and pull out into the incoming lane, screeching
my tires, leaving the poor woman stumbling after us in a
crazy, weaving manner.
Carson, my son, is speechless because I never drive like
this. I always caution him to drive safely to avoid accidents.
At the moment, I don’t care who or what is in my way; I
need to get us out of the complex in a hurry.
Others seeing my quick exit have followed my
example, and suddenly the road is filled on both sides with
people trying to leave.
I manage to pull out into a slightly empty space, but
realize the holdup is from the cars out on the main roads,
managing to bring everyone to a standstill.
There’s no way I’ll get stuck again with three children
crying and one scared silent, so I cross over into the turn
area and nudge my way right into the neighborhood across
the way.
Every neighborhood has a front entrance, and at least one back entrance to them. I’m betting there will be less
traffic on the other side. I don’t bother with stop signs or
going only thirty miles an hour. This is an emergency.
“Mom?” Carson questions in fear. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, honey, but we need to get home quick.”
The back seat has gone quiet as the seriousness of the
situation sinks in, and the children watch in amazement as
their mother tears through the neighborhood toward their
home.
-----------
“Listen to what I’m going to tell you, kids, it’s very
important. When we arrive home in a minute, I want you
get out of the car and go straight to your rooms. Joy,
unbuckle Trevor and make sure he gets to his room. Does
everyone understand?”
Four heads nod in unison.
“All right. Once I get us in the house, I’ll make a few
phone calls. I need you to find a backpack and fill it with
clothes. Sturdy clothes, Joy.” Knowing how she always
tries to wear flip flops to the gym, it needs to be said as a
reminder. “I’m going to call your fat
her and see what he
thinks is going on and what we should do.”
I pull into the drive and stop quickly. All four children
get out and hurry into the house while I try to calm my
nerves.
Maybe I just imagined the person was injured, and my
overworked brain was simply seeing things.
Prying my fingers from the steering wheel, I glance up to see Carson standing in the doorway, waiting to make
sure I make it inside okay. He’s going to grow up to be
such a gentleman.
Psyching myself up, I get out and close the door, only
to find the handle covered in blood from the person
smearing it all over my car.
I walk into the house and Carson shuts the door behind
me as I head for the sink.
“Carson, could you please bring me the bleach from the
laundry room and pour it over my hands?” I manage to ask
calmly.
Blood doesn’t normally bother me, but this is from
someone who’s not related to me, and I’m still a little
freaked out.
“Should I just pour it over your hands?” Carson asks
cautiously.
“Yes, and turn the water on as hot as it will go.”
I rinse my hands. “Honey, you can stop. Now, take the
soap bottle and cover my hands with it.” Seeing his evil
grin slip into place, I say, “Only my hands and nothing else,
young man.”
“Aw, Mom. How did you know?” Carson grins.
“I’m the mom.” I grin back. “Go outside and hose down
the car so the younger kids don’t see that, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Whistling, he goes toward the door, but
stops to look back. “Do you think that was just an isolated
incident?” Shaking my head at him, I try to keep my fears
from showing through. “Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of.
I’ll be careful out there, and if I see anything I’ll run
inside.” The door closes behind him, and before I can
gather my wits, Joy and Nicole come into the kitchen.
“Hey, Mom?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“We’re both packed and Trevor’s asleep. I packed him
a bag of clothes as well. Do you know where we’re going?”
“Not yet, honey. I still have to call your dad and see
what the news has to say about what happened. Why don’t
you both take a soda into the playroom and watch
something until I find out if we need to go?”
Subdued, both girls quietly go to the playroom without
any argument.
Astonished, I think the world must have just ended
because that never happens.
As I try to figure out where Carson would have put my
purse, the phone starts ringing with the Imperial March, my
hubby’s own tone. “Hey, Honey—” I begin, but I’m cut off
by a high-pitched voice that can’t possibly be my husband.
“Umm…I’m headed home as quick as I can. I’m not
sure what you’ve heard, but downtown is in rush hour
traffic as the entire workforce is trying to leave all at once.”
“Why on earth would everyone come home in the
middle of the day?” I question, but I have a feeling that the
situation at the doctor’s complex isn’t the only one in our
area.
“There was an incident, and everyone is in a panic because while there’s only one here, they think it will
spread all over the country in the next twenty-four hours.”
“Are we going to stay here, or should we try to make it
out to the farm?” I don’t want to make the trip, but it’s
better to be safe than sorry.
“Babe, I’ve gotta go, but pack up the house and kids.
I’ll call you back in a few.”
Looking at the phone in my hand as it goes silent, I
slide to the floor in frustration as the situation sinks in.
The end of the world is here, and not all of us are going
to make it.
-----------
Cooper
The idea of getting out of here seems to diminish by the
minute. Another car forces its way into line as everyone
creeps along toward the exit from the five levels of cars, all in a hurry to leave.
I don’t see this going anywhere, and once I hit the street
level, the chaos will be worse as the entire downtown tries
to squeeze onto the already narrow streets.
Yanking the idling car from the line going nowhere, I
head back up to the roof where no one is at.
Sitting here, I consider the dumb move I just made by
leaving the line. Already the air smells better, though, and I can think without the enclosed honking of horns echoing in
my ears.
I have an overnight bag in my trunk, and the
refrigerator in the lunchroom will have enough food to last
me the night. While I hate the idea of leaving my wife and
children to fend for themselves, they have a much better
chance of leaving town now, and I can catch up with them
later.
Not seeing much choice at the moment, I climb out of
the car and head back downstairs, knowing the elevators
will still be full of people trying to leave. There were
always the last ones who were determined to finish their
paperwork before the world ended.
I work for a company that develops programs. Some for
data entry, being the simplest programs, and then more
complex programs that are classified. If the world is truly
while.
I cross through the now empty cubicles strewn with
meaningless papers and reports, waiting for their owners to
return. The silence is completely deafening in a place that
rarely sleeps, which only intensifies the fact that it’s over—
the world has ended.
Resisting the urge to right overturned chairs, I head
straight for my office in the corner. It’s one of the few
enclosed spaces on the entire floor, so that those in charge
can see who isn’t working hard enough.
A door slams behind me. I’ve just come from there and
I crouch down, not really understanding the instinct to hide.
I can hear the words they are speaking as they get a
little closer to where I’m hidden from view beside the water
cooler. As the footsteps approach, I scramble to move
further back into the corner where the older file cabinets collect dust, but provide a better cover.
“I’m glad that everyone believed those reports we
fabricated. Now the entire downtown will be empty and the
police will be busy running to answer all the calls about
possible zombie sightings instead of securing the buildings.
“I know, dude. I can’t believe our good fortune. All
these classified documents just waiting to be uploaded, and
we walk out of here free men.
“I hope the other groups are having the same kind of
luck. Otherwise, it will all be for nothing.”
My phone starts to vibrate and I reach in my pocket to
silence it.
Bypassing my office, they move into my boss’s office
and turn on his computer.
I can barely see into the other room, but both guys have
machine guns and are wearing ninja suits, so there won’t be
a way to identify them.
Holding my breath and staying quiet seems to be the
best course of action until they get what they’re here for. I
don’t have any weapons nearby.
If I could get to my office, there’s a gun hidden at the
bottom of my files, but these guys move like they’ve had
military training, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything
against them. Probably wearing Kevlar material under their
ninja suits, I try to convince myself not to act as our secrets are stolen right in front of me.
“Ugh! Coward. Why couldn’t I be one of those guys
that race into danger instead of away from it?” I groan out
loud, then clap a hand over my mouth. “Of course I’m the idiot that gets caught and dies as well.”
Thankfully, they didn’t hear me, or if they did, they’re
too engrossed in stealing to care.
I peek out from my hiding place to see them both bent
over my boss’s desk, gesturing to each other. The taller one
grabs the USB and makes for the door as I duck back
behind the file cabinet.
“Gary, there’s no need to cover our tracks. They won’t
even know what hit them when they realize the world isn’t
ending.”
“I get that, but there will be a huge investigation, and I
don’t want to take a chance of that coming back to haunt
us. After all the work we did this morning, putting the
makeup on those guys to be realistic zombies, the only
thing haunting us will be the videos of the chaos embedded
in history.”
“Still, can you wipe the keyboard down again?”
“Steven, you are such a worrier. We’re wearing gloves
for God’s sake. Let’s go. We still have another building to
hit up.”
“I have the urge to leave something behind. You know,
when you steal from one house, then leave it at the next in
place of what you stole?” Gary is interrupted when a loud
noise erupts from the break room.
“What the hell is that?” Both men take off running
toward the source of the sound.
Deciding to take advantage of their distraction, I crawl the few feet to my office door and around the desk before I
stop to listen for sounds that either man had seen me.
The sound of a gunshot rings out and I slowly slide the
drawer out and reach below my files for the pistol at the