“I also believe that some of the infected people here in camp are hiding from detection. They are fearful of what happens to them, as there have been rumors that people are being summarily executed when they are taken to the quarantine building.”
Tom and Dale looked at each other after hearing this. “I guess the cabin is a good idea after all.” Dale stated. Tom nodded and returned his attention to the newscast.
They watched Tammy break down on screen, and the signal was dropped. The members of the Moore family sat in disbelief. Dale felt his mom’s hand slide into his and squeeze.
He gave her a small reassuring smile. “It’s ok, mom. Dad has a plan.”
This triggered Tom into action. He got up and walked to the kitchen. He picked up the phone, punched a button, and held the phone to his ear.
Dale and his mom sat in the living room, looking over their shoulders at Tom expectantly. However, there seemed to be no answer on the other end. Tom frowned, then spoke.
“Darren, this is Tom. It’s” –he looked quickly at his watch– “just after eight-fifteen. Please call us back as soon as you get this message.... I think we might all be in danger.” He hesitated for a second. “I hope you’re ok.” With that, he hung up. He stood, leaning over the kitchen counter with his head dropped for a few seconds before turning back to his wife and son.
“I’ll try again in a few minutes.” He turned away from the kitchen and froze for a second. His attention was caught by something on the television. Dale and his mom turned to see what it was.
The President was on tv. The next ten minutes were spent in awe and shock, as they witnessed the Presidential address. The President had retreated to a bunker. The President was infected with HAPS. Or, the Syndrome, as he called it now.
Over 80% of Americans were infected.
“Many people have started feeling the symptoms over the last 24 hours. Like myself.”
When Dale heard that he touched his own belly. Damn. My gut hurts... Could I be infected, too?
As soon as the Presidential address was done, Tom leapt up from his chair and hurried to the kitchen to try to reach Darren again. He had to command Tex to stay, as the dog sensed its master’s distress.
Once again, there was no answer. Tom left another message and hung up. Dale was acutely aware that his dad had ended the message with “I love you.”
The next several hours were spent in tense silence. Occasionally they would hear a noise from outside, like a garbage can being knocked over, or some glass shattering. Once, they heard the sound of a vehicle. When Dale peeked out of the window there was no trace of a car though.
It was just after the noon hour, when the sounds of people yelling, and a gunshot reached their ears. The Moore’s had just finished a quick lunch and were sitting around the dining table. At first the three family members looked at each other wide-eyed and uncertain what to do.
Tom was the first to move. He made his way to the living room window and pulled the curtains aside slightly, so he could look out. Dale and his mom followed suit.
There was a struggle going on about five houses down the road. It looked like two or three people were trying to get to a parked car. They were fighting their way out. Two of them were swinging weapons, and one of them had a gun. Dale could quickly see that the noise that they were making was attracting more zombies. Dale watched as several windows shattered. He caught the sight of a pale shape, falling out of one of those windows. He saw more zombies stepping around corners of houses or out of back yards.
There must be a dozen of them. Those guys are badly outnumbered!
The three men had come to a standstill about six feet from their goal. Zombies were closing in on all sides. Dale watched as the man shot a zombie at point blank range four or five times.
It didn’t stop the zombie, which lunged into the man and took him down.
The other two people screamed out a name. One of the two tried to fight his way to the downed person. He was tackled to the ground as well. The third man panicked and tried to make a run for it. He got past the car and into the street when a glancing blow from one of the zombies threw him off balance. The man tripped, went down and was quickly buried under several zombies.
Dale wanted to turn away. Maybe it was morbid fascination or maybe just shock, but the three of them witnessed that man literally get torn apart.
The zombies were so incredibly violent! It was all flailing limbs and lunging jaws.
Dale watched as several zombies ripped into the man’s face and neck. The man’s final high-pitched scream was cut short as his windpipe was ripped open. Several more zombies were attempting to get at the man, pulling him by the arm. Dale couldn’t hear it but imagined a sickening squishing and snapping sound as the arm was ripped from the man’s shoulder. The detached appendage was discarded and landed several feet from the now-dead victim.
Tom closed the curtain slowly, to avoid attention. Behind him, his wife broke down in tears. She raised the back of her hand to her mouth and started sobbing. Tom turned and quickly embraced her. He held her tight for a long time, only releasing her when he had to get Tex to quiet down and return to his bed.
How the hell are
