Despite all of this, the man sounded refined. Distinguished, even. Ethan leaned in close as the man started to speak.
“We urgently require assistance! If there is anybody out there, receiving our broadcast, then we ask you to please send help! Send the army!” The man forced himself into some semblance of composure.
“My name is Calvin Lahey and Peter Malone is here with me. We are at the WKON channel 10 station on South Highland, and we are surrounded by the undead!”
As if on cue, the sound of a window smashing in the distance could be heard. Calvin looked off camera for a second.
“Several of them have broken into the building. We do not know how long the doors will hold. Please send help immediately!”
Another crash could be heard somewhere in the distance.
“These undead are relentless! They spotted us yesterday and have been pounding on the doors and windows ever since! And the noise drew more of them! We retreated once the windows started to crack. We locked the internal doors and hid out here in the studio. We had hoped that they would lose interest and go away, but they never stopped... Now we’re trapped in here!”
“These things – they are not what you think a zombie should be! They are faster than you expect. And smarter! I saw at least one trying to use door handles to try to get into this building!” A noise drew his attention. He turned his head to look off-camera, then slowly turned back to face the camera. The fear in his eyes made the hairs on Ethan’s neck rise as he watched.
“You can’t see this.” He said to his audience. “But there is one outside the door, trying to use the door handle. I can see the handle going up and down on our side.”
Within a few seconds the sound of pounding started. Calvin turned back to the camera.
“We don’t have much time.” He sounded desperate. “Please. Somebody, help us!”
Calvin took the microphone off his jacket, put it down on the news anchor desk and walked out of view. The pounding continued in the background until the feed was cut several moments later.
Ethan stared at the tv screen. It only showed snow now. He shook his head and turned away from the tv. He walked up to the window and stared out of it.
Calvin’s plight was so real and urgent. His fear was so tangible, that Ethan could feel it.
Ethan’s thoughts were interrupted when he spotted some movement. When he focused, he could see zombies in the distance. He watched them, fascinated.
They all moved in the same direction. Ethan figured that one of them had spotted or heard something and reacted, creating a cascade reaction with the others. They would move rapidly for a few feet, but without any stimuli they would slow down and eventually freeze in that familiar unnatural pose, until something else caught the attention of one of their group and the whole thing started over again.
Those zombies are far away. Ethan thought as he watched them. He considered what Calvin and Pete had experienced. He remembered the fear on Calvin’s face. The fear in his voice as he realized that the undead were outside of his door.
How would I feel if they were outside the door to this room?
The idea unnerved him. Shaking his head, Ethan got back to the television. A frustrating and fruitless hour passed. Ethan was ready to give up. Then, he found another broadcast.
THIS SECOND BROADCAST came from a military bunker. A tired looking person sat at a simple desk. Grey concrete surrounded the young man. He looked to be in his early twenties, with curly dark hair and heavy rimmed glasses, which he adjusted before speaking.
“America.” The young man seemed at a loss for words as he hesitated. He stared at the camera for a moment. His face betraying a multitude of emotions.
“... Sorry. I’m not used to this.” He swallowed. “It is my ... sad duty, to inform you that President David Clarkston died this morning. He did not suffer, and he wanted his brain to be destroyed as soon as he died, so that he would not re-animate.”
He took a deep breath and sighed as he let it out.
“President Clarkston was a unique man, loved by many. His determination, wisdom and sheer strength will be sorely missed. He did not want people to mourn his passing. He asked that we continue to work towards getting through this crisis.”
“Unfortunately, we are aware that the vice president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, and the secretary of state are also all confirmed to be deceased. Our nation is currently under the command of General Theodore Davies, who was appointed the ‘General of the Army’ designation by our President yesterday.”
“General Davies was a trusted advisor of President Clarkston and has agreed to take on this new role. General Davies does not wish to be addressed as President and does not harbor any intentions to be President.”
A small smile escaped the spokesman.
“General Davies also does not wish to appear on camera at this point in time. He does wish to assure the people of America that he will honour President Clarkston’s wishes. We will transmit the locations of supply drops soon. He asks survivors out there to ‘hang on.’ Once the supply drops have been broadcast, he strongly urges people to work together.”
The young man
