“No. I’m being sent to the safe zone.” She let out another frustrated sigh. “Besides, we’re now under martial law. You’re supposed to stay indoors until tomorrow morning.”
“Ah, right.”
“You just make sure you watch the TV. They will broadcast info about getting picked up and taken to the safe zone. Hopefully, you can meet me there soon.”
Keith could hear the angst creep into in her voice.
“Hey Keith? ... How are you feeling? You’re Okay, right?”
“Honey, I feel fine. Honestly.” He really was feeling fine.
“That’s good. You’re only supposed to come to the safe zone if you don’t have any symptoms.”
Keith thought about it for a moment. “What about you? How are you doing?” He frowned when there was no answer. “Honey? ... Cindy?”
“I ... I’m not Okay.”
“What?” Keith shot up from the couch.
“It’s—it’s not bad, but I definitely feel something. My tummy. It’s like cramping or something.”
“Have you seen anybody about it? A doctor?”
“No. I’ve been too busy,” Cindy replied with a sad chuckle. “Hang on, Keith. I know what you’re going to say. I will get checked out tonight when we get to the safe zone. I probably just have some indigestion or something.”
Keith was about to say something when he heard Cindy speaking to somebody on her end.
“Listen, Keith, I have to go now. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you!”
“I love you, too.” But Keith was too late. She had already hung up.
Keith went straight to his kitchen after that call. He hardly ever touched alcohol. Nevertheless, he poured a good amount of bourbon into a glass for himself. He spent the rest of that evening glued to the TV. The last thought he had before going to bed was that tomorrow’s aikido class was probably canceled.
KEITH CHECKED HIS PHONE when he woke up the next morning. He had a voicemail from Cindy.
“Hi, honey. I’m in the safe zone. I was a bit worried when they tested me, but guess what? I’m not infected. I just wanted to tell you that. I know you were worried... Anyway, got to go. Love you!”
The message raised Keith’s spirits tremendously.
Keith kept the blinds down, leaving his living room in semi-darkness. He spent a good part of the morning doing his aikido exercises. He had also called work, but there was no answer. The entire country was pretty much shut down.
That afternoon, he saw Cindy’s interview from inside the safe zone. Then he saw the leaked footage from the government.
Zombies? You’ve got to be kidding me!
Keith remembered the homeless guy who attacked Nate, and the guy who slammed into the bus. That was when he knew it was real. His good mood melted away.
He reached for his phone and called Cindy but got no answer. Then he tried his parents, but they didn’t answer either. He left voicemails.
Keith got more worried as the day wore on. He watched the TV for further updates, regretting never buying a computer. Then he realized that he could use his phone to browse the internet.
Several hours later, his battery died. He was in a daze as he plugged his phone in. The things he had seen had shaken him to the core.
He skipped supper but had another drink that evening. It helped him go to sleep.
Keith woke up the next morning and immediately ran to his phone. He’d forgotten about it since it had died on him. He turned the phone on and saw that there were several messages.
The first one was from his little brother. It was short and cryptic.
“Keith. Mom and dad are sick. They think that it’s the Syndrome. ... I think I got it too. I don’t know about Susan. Love you, bro. Hope you’re Okay.”
Keith was stunned. “It can’t be true...” But before he could think about it the next voicemail started.
It was from Cindy.
“Hi Keith. Listen honey, I hope you are not sick. ... This Syndrome, it can’t be stopped. They have no cure. Just about everybody has it. They are all going to die and come back as zombies. I’ve seen the soldiers at the fence shooting them. The only thing that stops them is shooting them in the head. It’s gross.”
There was a pause in the message. Keith could hear Cindy crying. She cried for a few seconds before composing herself.
“I have it, Keith. ... I guess they were wrong when they tested me and said I was Okay. I’ve talked it over with Pete and Stef, and decided to turn myself in.” Keith could hear her get emotional again. “They are going to shoot me in the head too. I know it.”
She paused again, and Keith could hear her struggle with her emotions.
“I love you, Keith. Why didn’t you ask me to marry you already?” She said with mock anger before getting serious again. “I want you to take care of yourself, Keith. I really need you to stay alive. Live for me.”
There was a long pause. Keith wondered if Cindy had forgotten to hang up the phone when she spoke again.
“I’m letting you go, Keith. I’ll always love you! You cheesy, goofy, wonderful man. ... But I know what’s going to happen to me. But you! You live. ... I have to go now. Bye.” Cindy was sobbing as she hung up.
Keith immediately tried to call Cindy back. There was no answer.
Keith was a mess. Part of him wanted to tear out of the house and run all the way to the safe zone, but then he realized that he didn’t know where the safe zone was. He tried to call his brother and his parents, but they didn’t answer either.
The thought of Cindy, infected and dying — or maybe even dead already — drove him to action. He punched the couch frantically in frustration, roaring in helpless rage. He shoved the coffee table before turning his attention back to the couch. He punched repeatedly, his hands a blur as he worked out his anger on the pillows. Eventually, exhaustion forced him
