The Creeping Dead: A Zombie Novel (36 page)

Vinnie doubled his efforts, closing the distance between him and the shambling man as the man disappeared under the pier and out of sight.

Shit.
Vinnie ducked under the pier and dashed between the pilings, catching glimpses of Dharma, the children, and their relentless pursuer.

He turned on a diagonal and darted between the pilings until he caught up with the shuffling man, picking up speed on the more solid wet sand.

Vinnie tackled him, throwing him face-first into the sand. Dharma turned and saw him. “Vinnie!”

The man rolled over and growled at him as he reached up and grabbed Vinnie in a horrible embrace. Vinnie squirmed and shoved the man back into the sand as he snapped at him, eyes filled with sand and wide with fury.

Vinnie rolled off of him and got to his feet as the man slowly pushed himself to a standing position.

“Go!” shouted Vinnie.

Dharma hesitated, holding both children’s hands. Alessandra shook while sobbing, and Salvatore looked lost.

“Go!” he yelled again. This time she ran off and disappeared on the other side of the pier.

Vinnie backed away from the man as he shrieked, hands reaching out to grab him.

“What’s wrong with you?” Vinnie shouted at the man. “What do you want?”

Mike ran under the pier, meandering through the maze of pilings as he heard a horrible shriek over the crashing waves and the whistles of the lifeguards in the distance behind him.

“Vinnie!” he called out.

“Oh, God!” he heard Vinnie cry out.

Terrified, he ran toward the screams and found Vinnie in the sand, the man and a woman on top of him. Vinnie had his hand under the man’s chin, pushing upward as the man tried to bite him. The woman was shoving the man, trying to get at Vinnie. They were like two dogs fighting over the same scrap of meat, only these weren’t dogs, and the scrap of meat was his best friend.

“Hey!” Mike shouted, waving his arms. “Leave him alone!”

The man, preoccupied with trying to eat Vinnie alive, ignored Mike’s calls, but the woman looked up and bared her teeth at Mike.

Mike’s blood went cold as she pushed herself up and started reeling toward him. Mike circled around her between the pilings and came from behind the man. He grabbed the man under the armpits and pulled him off his friend.

Vinnie shoved his feet under the man’s chest and kicked, sending the man and Mike falling backward. Vinnie shot up and grabbed the man as he began to turn on Mike. He felt fingers on his back.

Vinnie swung the man around, taking the legs out from the woman as they fell into the wet sand together in a tangled mess. He pulled Mike up. “Let’s go!”

They ran to the other side of the pier and out onto the beach. Vinnie looked back as their two pursuers stumbled out from under the pier.

There was a young boy, younger than Salvatore, who was unlucky enough to be collecting shells. They fell upon the boy in a frenzy of violence.

Vinnie averted his gaze as he heard the screams of the boy behind him. Beachgoers stood up, pointing.

“My baby!” he heard some woman scream.

“Look, there’re Dharma and the kids,” said Mike, pointing in the distance ahead of them.

On the boardwalk, as Tara and Marcus fought off their assailant, a horrified Tyrell backed away from the tumult past Lenny and into the middle of the boardwalk. He turned as he felt the boardwalk shake beneath him. He looked down as poodles ran around him, jostling him off balance. When he looked up, his skin went cold as he saw two frightened baby bears lumbering toward him. He cried out in horror.

Lenny turned around in time to see Tyrell in the path of the bears, frozen like a deer in the headlights. He twirled his cape and ran out into the middle of the boardwalk, focusing on Tyrell rather than the two bears barreling up the boardwalk right at him.

Lenny snatched Tyrell up and threw himself out of the way as the two bears lumbered past. He tripped over the boy, and they both fell to the boardwalk.

Lenny pushed himself up on one arm and put his hand on Tyrell’s head. “Are you okay?”

Tyrell nodded.

Lenny saw Tara and Marcus wrestling with that crazed woman across the way. He and Tyrell lay there in the middle of the parade line as people scurried about around him, fleeing rabid attackers.

“We have to get out of here,” said Lenny.

“But what about Mommy and Daddy?”

“Okay, let’s help them.”

Lenny and Tyrell stood. Lenny looked down at Tyrell and was suddenly reminded of the Magma Man television show. He remembered how in the middle of a massive brawl, Magma Man would throw his younger sidekick, Lava Kid, into Captain Bonkers’ henchmen.

He reached down, grabbed Tyrell by the hand, and shouted, “Follow me, Lava Kid!”

Lenny took off toward Tara and Marcus, dragging Tyrell behind him, charging the crazed woman attacking his friends.

They were only several feet away, and the woman stood over a bleeding Marcus as Tara threw wild punches.

“Lava Kid, launch!”

Tyrell smiled as he understood the reference. As Lenny pulled him forward, Tyrell jumped into the air. Lenny swung him forward, sending his little feet colliding into the brutal attacker. Lenny was sure to pull him back to safety, and Tyrell landed on his feet like a little cat.

The woman was thrown backward into the arcade. She fell and banged her head on the corner of a claw machine.

Tara stood there dumbfounded.

“Mommy, we have to get out of here!”

Tara and Lenny helped Marcus up. He was injured badly, but able to walk on his own, albeit with a hefty limp.

A stilt walker attempting to evade crazed attackers and fleeing animals tripped and fell on top of Johnny Wong’s booth. “Something appears to have spooked the animal performers, and a stilt walker just landed on the roof of my booth! There are poodles and…BEARS! There are poodles and bears running amuck!”

Holbrook saw what could only be Lenny, cape and all, save a small child from being run over as the bears dashed up the boardwalk in a panic behind the frantic poodles.

He stood in front of Robbie has poodles hurried past them, and he trained his gun on the baby bears. Shit. He wouldn’t be able to get them both.

As the bears bore down on them, Holbrook made a quick decision that firing at the bears would be ineffective and dangerous to bystanders.

He turned around, knelt, and embraced Robbie, holding him close as McDonald screamed. The bears roared past them, taking McDonald out as they passed, and continued up the boardwalk.

Holbrook released Robbie and saw the Mayor lying on the boardwalk flat on his back. He checked McDonald’s pulse on his neck. He was alive, but unconscious.

Holbrook took Robbie by the hand, held his gun in the other, and began shoving through the crowd. “Lena! Lena!”

The boardwalk reminded him of one of those saloon fights in an old western film. People were fighting, wrestling, rolling around, and running to and fro. He imagined that if everyone were armed with cream pies, it could also have been a scene from the Three Stooges.

* * *

As people fled the boardwalk, the police were able to identify a couple dozen assailants, many of which had to be taken down with gunfire. A few were cuffed and awaiting ambulances, but the paramedics had a hard time sifting through bite victims in various conditions and the lunatic attackers.

Holbrook had Robbie at his side the whole time as he searched for Lena. He felt like a man who forgot where his car was parked and was waiting for everyone to leave so he could find it.

When the boardwalk cleared somewhat, he saw Lena hiding behind the counter of a wheel of chance game, searching the crowd.
Smart girl.

Holbrook smiled. “I see Mommy!”

Robbie showed no response or acknowledgement. The poor kid was petrified. They made their way over to the wheel game. When Lena saw them, she hopped the counter and ran to meet them, tears streaming across her face.

She threw her arms around her husband. Holbrook closed his eyes and thanked God she was still alive. Any anger he felt toward her before this moment was now squashed, and he vowed he’d never take her for granted again.

Holbrook picked Robbie up, and they formed a group hug. He snagged a blanket off one of the scurrying medics and wrapped Robbie in it.

“Is he okay?” asked the medic.

“I think he’s in shock.”

“Come with me.” The medic led them to an ambulance, and Holbrook followed with a swaddled Robbie in his arms and Lena with her arm around his shoulders.

As the medic worked on Robbie in the back of the ambulance, Holbrook and Lena held hands, interlocking their fingers. Holbrook looked up at the boardwalk and saw Joann running around with Breslin. He had also seen Pike and Lawson running around.

There were a few fatalities, innocent bystanders, but his team appeared to be intact. Some of his officers were being treated for bites and scratches, but Holbrook breathed a sigh of relief. The way he looked at it, this day couldn’t get much worse.

He saw a medic talking to Joann, who searched around, talking to other officers.

Pike pointed to where Holbrook was.

Great. Now what?

The medic came running over with Joann.

“Chief Holbrook!”

“What is it?” He gave the man a chance to catch his breath.

“We have a situation,” the medic panted.

“What kind of situation?”

“It’s the attackers.”

“What about them?”

“They’re not showing any vitals.”

Chapter 18

“What do you mean, ‘they’re not showing any vitals?’”

“They’re not showing any vitals, sir.”

Holbrook looked to Joann, but she only shrugged.

“They’re obviously not dead,” chortled Holbrook.

The medic wore a grave expression.

“Oh, come on,” said Holbrook. “Really?”

“When we fired on these people,” said Joann, “it didn’t even slow them down. Lethal force was necessary. Headshots, specifically.”

“So, what are we talking about, here?” asked Holbrook. “Drugs?”

“I think it’s something that obscures their vitals,” said the medic. “It could be drugs, but the attackers looked sick.”

“Are we talking epidemic here?”

“Possibly.”

“Joann, call the CDC. We need to report this.”

“I’m on it.” She dashed away.

“Do you think it’s contagious?”

“I’m not certain,” said the medic. “The wounded are being treated and are being instructed to monitor their own symptoms. They’ll need antibiotics to ward of any bacterial infection. Some are going to need stitches.”

“If this is an epidemic, what’s the next step?”

“The CDC’s going to want to trace the origin of this illness, if possible. Do you have any way of knowing who the first person was to present with these symptoms and behavior?”

Holbrook shook his head. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he snapped his fingers. “Yes. Yes, I think I do. Sophia Russo. She was the first to be reported throwing up blood and biting people. Her psychologist thought it might be a urinary tract infection.”

“That doesn’t sound like a urinary tract infection to me,” said the medic. “Where is she?”

“At the morgue. She was murdered by her daughter-in-law.”

“Holy smokes.”

“You ain’t kiddin’,” said Holbrook. “She was just signed out of a nursing home in Stonewall.”

“They’ll want the name and contact information of that facility.”

“Got it. Listen, what’s your name?”

“Louie Ramos, sir.”

“Thank you, Louie. How’s my son?”

Louie smiled. “He’ll be fine. He’s not in shock, just terrified. Get him home so he can rest.”

“Thank you, Louie.”

“You bet.”

Lena hugged Holbrook. “So what do we do now?”

Holbrook kissed her sweetly on the lips. “Get Robbie home and in bed. I’ve got to head back to the station and get on the horn with the CDC.”

Mayor McDonald ambled over to Holbrook holding an ice pack to his head. “Holbrook, I want to have a word with you.”

“Uh oh. Here it comes.”

Lena smiled. “I’ll leave you to it. Be home soon.”

They held hands for a brief moment. She grabbed Robbie, hoisted him up in her arms, and carried him home.

“Chief Holbrook.”

“Yes, Mayor.”

“I’d like to thank you for failing to protect me from wild animals and leaving me for dead.”

Holbrook laughed. “What did you expect me to do? Throw myself in front of the bears? I’m not Secret Service, and you’re not the President.”

“I was unconscious.”

“You fainted.”

The Mayor pointed a commanding finger at Holbrook. “I want you to get to the bottom of this. Immediately.”

“Already working on it. I’ve placed a call into the CDC.”

“CDC? What the heavens for? This was drugs, right?”

“The medic seems to think it might be an illness or disease, and that we might be looking at a potential epidemic.”

McDonald looked down at his arm. Holbrook didn’t notice it before, but there was a large bite mark on his forearm.

“Did you have that looked at?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, I think you should. Now.” He whistled at Louie, and Louie turned around. Holbrook waved him over.

“Yes, Chief.”

“The Mayor here needs his arm looked at. He’s got a nasty bite.”

The Mayor held out his arm.

“I see,” said Louie. “You’ll need antibiotics.”

“After you have that looked at, you’ll need to call all the doctors in Smuggler’s Bay and get them to open shop,” said Holbrook. “We’re going to need a ton of antibiotics.”

“Don’t go too far,” said the Mayor. “We’ll need to make a statement to the press about all this, and I want you by my side.”

* * *

Mike opened the front door to his house. He, Vinnie, Dharma, and the children spilled into his living room. After they all piled in, Mike closed the door, locked it, and put up the chain.

Vinnie and Dharma looked weary, but they were relieved that their respective parents were okay. The children were shell shocked.

“I don’t think we’ll be playing any games tonight,” announced Mike. “Let’s get some rest, and we can have some fun tomorrow.” The promise sounded empty and ridiculous. After the horrors that they’d all witnessed, fun and games were the last thing on any of their minds.

“I want my Mommy,” said Alessandra.

“Is she all right?” asked Salvatore. “What about Dad?”

“I’m sure they’re both fine,” said Mike. “They were both at home when all of this happened. I’ll tell you what. I’ll call them while you clean up and get ready for bed.”

“Okay, you heard the man,” said Dharma gathering up both children. “I’ll help you wash up. Then it’s bedtime for you both. It’s been a long day.”

The children were so traumatized and exhausted that they allowed themselves to be ushered upstairs to the bathroom by Dharma.

Mike waited until they were upstairs and he heard the water running. He turned to Vinnie. “Those people weren’t crazy. They were sick. Maybe worse.”

Vinnie tried to imagine what the worse could be. “They were throwing up blood. Maybe it’s Ebola?”

“Could be,” said Mike. “But I’m unaware of any strain of Ebola that turns people into cannibals.”

“Why aren’t the Russo’s taking the kids? Are they all right?”

Mike took Vinnie into the kitchen. Vinnie knew something was wrong.

“Marie Russo killed her husband and mother-in-law this morning.”

“No way. Are you kidding?”

Mike shrugged. “That’s what Chief Holbrook told me right before the parade. I didn’t believe it myself.”

“The kids?”

“No,” said Mike. “They don’t know. Holbrook was supposed to drop by tonight to break it to them, but somehow I think he’s too busy to get the chance.”

“Holy smokes,” said Vinnie. “What’s going on in the Bay? It’s like everyone’s going crazy.”

“I don’t think it’s crazy,” reminded Mike.

“Right. Ebola.”

“It’s got to be some kind of illness.”

“Do you think Marie Russo caught it?”

“I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible…”

“But,” said Vinnie.

“But, Chief Holbrook told me that in custody, Marie said it would be okay if I held on to the kids until her brother came to pick them up.”

“So?”

“So, you saw those sick people. They didn’t seem like they were thinking rationally. Marie was thinking rationally after-the-fact.”

“So maybe she wasn’t sick,” said Vinnie, finishing Mike’s thought.

“Chief Holbrook thinks she might’ve murdered Billy, too.”

“What? How are the two related?”

Mike hesitated a moment. “Billy had been trying to put the moves on Marie. Chief Holbrook said that they were cozy at the Jolly Roger, and then after disappearing in the back she stormed out, furious.”

“No,” said Vinnie, refusing to believe it. “You don’t think…”

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” said Mike.

Dharma descended the stairs with the two children, who now looked clean but definitely worse for the wear. “Where are they sleeping, Mike?”

“Oh, they can have my bed.”

“Where’ll you sleep?”

A sardonic smile crept across Mike’s face. “I don’t think I’ll be doing much sleeping tonight.”

“Okay,” said Dharma to the kids. “Upstairs.”

“Goodnight, kids,” said Mike.

“Night.”

“G’night.”

“Goodnight,” said Vinnie as they disappeared back upstairs.

A few minutes later Dharma came back down. She found Vinnie and Mike sitting on the couch, watching the news.

“They hit the bed like two sacks of potatoes,” she said. “Did the news say anything about what happened?”

“Riots,” said Vinnie.

Dharma sat on the arm of the couch closest to Vinnie as the weather report came on. “Here’s the latest forecast on what most models are now saying is going to be a category four hurricane hitting a vast stretch of the eastern seaboard tomorrow, resulting in wind damage and massive flooding.”

“Great,” she said, “more good news.”

“Hey, you really don’t have to stay here tonight,” said Mike. “I appreciate your help.”

“I made a promise,” said Dharma. “Besides, I’m good with kids. I used to babysit for half of the families in the Bay.”

“You should be with your parents.”

“They’re fine,” she insisted.

Mike smiled. “Thank you, Dharma.”

“I can stay, too,” said Vinnie.

Mike shook his head. “Go help your father close up. He’ll need you tonight, to prepare for the storm and all. I’ve got Dharma here to keep me and the kids company.”

Vinnie stared into space. “I really don’t want to go back on that boardwalk tonight. Not after what happened.”

“Yeah,” said Dharma. “I don’t blame you.”

* * *

Marcus Bigelow kissed Tara and Tyrell as he left the house. He really didn’t want to leave them after everything that had happened. It was a long night at the emergency room getting stitches in his arm, but he was instructed by the doctor to get antibiotics to ward off bacterial infection.

He rounded the corner on his way to the local pharmacy when he saw a long line of people wrapping around the building. There were police organizing the line in the parking lot and doing crowd control.

Marcus hadn’t realized so many were bitten, but then how could he? He crossed the street and took his place in line as he heard people grumbling and complaining about the crowd and the wait.

He overheard a police officer explaining that every physician in the Bay and a few from Stonewall were conducting examinations inside, and that orders of antibiotics were being shuttled in from pharmacies in all of the surrounding towns to meet the demand.

Marcus wasn’t concerned with the line. He was just relieved that Tara and Tyrell were okay. Fortunately, neither of them was injured. Thank God for Lenny.

He smiled to himself, but that smile withered when he thought of the half-eaten bodies covered by the police on the boardwalk. His leg throbbed under his fresh pair of shorts.

Marcus realized how lucky he was. It could’ve been a lot worse.

He overheard a conversation between a man and woman in front of him in line.

“They’re using words like superstorm and hurricane,” said the woman.

“Do you think they’ll evacuate?”

“Possibly. We’ll just go to my mother’s in Bayonne.”

“Yeah,” said the man. “I guess I can stay at my brother’s in Brick.”

Marcus looked up at the restless sky over a town in turmoil and said a silent prayer.