The Week of the Dead (9 page)

“How are you going to get them to turn on the gas?” she asked.

“Well, if anyone is alive in there, I’m gonna to ask nicely,” he said as he waved the gun in his hand. “If not, I’m sure I can figure it out. Hold on. We’re almost there,” he said as he rounded the corner and jumped the curb. He heaved the massive vehicle alongside one of the open gas pumps. People on the street were running around trying to get to wherever they were going.

Devin jumped out of the car armed with the .45 pistol. He flipped open the gas cap, stuck the pump in the receiving end, and pressed the automatic clip down. No gas flowed. He motioned to Erica in the driver’s seat that he was going inside via hand signals and pointing. He sprinted the short distance. When he walked in, there was a line of people trying to get things and the lonely cashier slowly losing her patience as more and more people where shouting at her. Devin grabbed a basket from the wall and began to arm-sweep canned food and other items off the shelf. He didn’t care what it was. He attacked the small vegetable stand and the beef jerky shelves.

The beer and soft-drink section had already been stripped along with the “fresh deli” food in the displays. He slipped out the door and took the basket to Erica in the car. He checked to see what was happening. Down the street, he saw a mass of people, or what looked like people, beginning to trudge the way of the gas station. “Fuck!” he said as he double stepped back inside. He walked up to the counter. The stressed-out woman looked up at him. “Ma’am, you need to turn on the gas pumps!”

“You’ll have to pay!” she said in an old Indian accent. He reached back behind him and pointed the .45 at the clerk’s face. Everyone in line began to riot and started running around and out of the store. Devin turned his head to see and the clerk brought out a handgun of her own from under the counter.

Devin turned his head at the sound of a click. He lowered his gun. “Get out!” she said.

“Ma’am, there are things coming this way. I need gas. Turn on the pumps, please.”

“You Americans with your ‘I’m so important attitudes’ and drugs. There’s nothing happ—.” Another store patron hit her in the face with a coffee pot full of coffee. The patron dove over the counter and began grabbing packs of cigarettes. Devin followed suit. He stood at the control of the gas pumps and started flipping switches until everything turned green. He grabbed the incapacitated clerk’s handgun and stuck it in his back. He too began grabbing lighters, cartons of cigarettes, and other items behind the counter. He was in a mad frenzy. He knew something was happening. He grabbed a paper bag and began filling it with ten-hour energy drinks, lighters, and random items behind the counter. He leaped back over the counter and paced for the minivan. As he ran to the minivan, throwing the bags inside he grabbed the automatic shotgun and ran to the pumps. He fired the shotgun into the oncoming horde and began picking the pumps up off the hinges. He pressed the pump hinges and threw the pumps down.

All eight of the gas pumps released gasoline. Erica watched as the gasoline began to pool around the pumps. Gas shot out of the side of the minivan as the tank had filled and forced air against the oncoming flow of gasoline. Devin threw the bag into the window at Erica and removed the pump from the side of the car, spraying gasoline everywhere he pointed it. By now the mob of things had come closer. Close enough that he saw the bloodshot eyes. He took action. He told Erica to move the van to a safe distance. She hung out of the window firing her handgun wildly. He took the gas nozzle and started weaving it back and forth creating a zigzag pattern of wet concrete. The first creature was in range of his gas nozzle. He raised the shotgun but didn’t fire. He moistened the first one. He hit it with the nozzle until it fell. He didn’t want to ignite the gasoline while he was standing in it; instead he threw the nozzle on the ground on top of the creature as it tried to stand. He backstepped out of the wet puddle that began to surround his feet.

The flowing gasoline began to pool. He began to hear the moans of the oncoming entourage. Erica saw what he was doing from the side mirror of the van. She reached into the new bag of items and fetched a cheap lighter. She also found a set of baby’s clothes from the back of the minivan. She met Devin’s eyes as he shouted “Do it!” Erica lit the piece of cloth on fire and flung it at the puddle. She didn’t reach her mark. “Get in!” Devin said as he too jumped into the passenger side of the van. They both peeled out onto the street.

“I missed,” Erica said as she looked out the back of the van.
Kaboom!
The van was jeered to the side by a large force of wind. In the rearview mirror, there was a miniature mushroom cloud of fire and smoke.

“No…you didn’t,” Devin said as he started to chuckle.

Erica joined in on the laughter. She felt bad about blowing something up. It was just another notch on the belt after the day she had had. Suddenly, there were
thuds
and
clanks
on the roof. They both looked around until something had hit the hood of the car. It was a head with bloodshot eyes. Its hair was blowing in the wind; its eyes were still open. Its mouth was still moving.

A New Ride

Chapter 21

Monday 1110 EST

Philadelphia

“G
ate has a lock. Once we find the key, we’ll be o…” Harrison looked past the SUV to see feet coming out from the tree line up the hill. Phil turned around to see a body rolling down the hill and standing back up again. It came running toward them. “Wait! Stop!” It shouted to them. Phil rolled down the window. “Step back, Harrison!” he shouted as he backed the SUV up a few feet and put it back in the drive. “Hold on, Paul” he said as he pressed down on the pedal. Phil rammed the gate open so hard it bounced back and hit the side of the SUV. He moved the vehicle past Harrison and jaggedly into a parking space.

“We need to find keys,” Harrison said.

“Go do that,” Phil said as he and little Paul began to unload the SUV.

Harrison moved back through the building looking for the keys. He moved back to the receptionists’ desk where he thought the keys would be. He saw movement on the other side of the parking lot. It was that woman from the tree line; she had made her way across the parking lot coming up on Phil and Paul. Harrison continued to search the office. He saw a large metal box bracketed on the wall. It was locked with a circular lock.

He was already tired of looking in this dark room. He picked up his golf club and began whacking the metal box on the wall. Again and again, he brought the aluminum head of the gold club against the steel frame of the box. It wouldn’t budge. He needed something sturdier. He walked over to the wall and found a piece of rebar against the wall. He took the rebar and connected it against the steel frame. It moved. Again and again, he struck the box until the door popped off the hinges. Inside, Harrison found the keys labeled “17.” “Bingo,” he said as he grabbed the keys and brought his new tool back with him to the outside.

The outside had changed. Paul and Phil had everything out of the car. “17! Go!” Harrison said as he began picking up some of their belongings. The trio reached the vehicle numbered “17.” Phil reached the cabin and turned the keys. The diesel engine fired up. Harrison tossed Paul into the cab and began hoisting their things into the cabin. Phil pushed the shifter into gear and the shovel lowered to ground level. “It”s not a tank, but it’ll do!” Phil said excitingly as the snowplow moved forward. They came upon the being while making their way to the gate of the building. “Wait! Stop!” it shouted as it waved its arms in the air. “It’s a woman,” Harrison said.

“Uh-huh,” Phil said as he didn’t seem to care.

“Well, pick her up,” Harrison said as he looked at him.

“She’s probably one of them. Look at her!”

“She can speak.”

“She’s covered in blood.”

“We’re all covered in blood, you idiot. What did you expect? Her to be in a pink prom dress and a goddamn tiara?” Harrison said as he raised his voice.

Phil looked at him and down at Paul as he made the decision to slow the snowplow to a halt. “Hey, are you OK?” Phil shouted over the diesel engine. The woman nodded. Her eyes were white with green pupils. “OK. Hop in.” The woman was trying to catch her breath as she heaved herself into the back of the cabin. Harrison turned to give her a reassuring smile. “Welcome aboard,” Harrison said as he looked over the woman in the denim jacket and what looked like waitress attire. She was still having trouble catching her breath. “…Hi…,” she said in between breaths. The diesel engine roared back onto the highway. Phil figured out how to lower the snowplow and use it as a battering ram against objects in his path. “On the road again
…
,” he silently sang to himself.

With every object Phil connected with, the cab of the snowplow would wrench back and forth with the sound of steel forcing its way through any obstacle. “What is your name?” Harrison asked.

“Mia. My name is Mia,” she said as her breathing subsided.

“Well, Mia, I’m Mike Harrison. This is Phil and his son, Paul. Obviously, we are getting out of town. Would you like us to drop you off somewhere?” he said in a witty tone.

“Anywhere but here,” she answered.

“Where are you guys heading?” she asked as she kept her eyes straight ahead, not looking at the carnage and destruction of her once peaceful city.

“South, we think,” Phil interjected as he rammed the snowplow through a congested intersection.

Channel 7

Chapter 22

Monday 1400 CST

Memphis

T
he professor was sitting on Josh’s couch with her foot propped up on the coffee table held down by a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. She held a can of beer against her head as she, Ethan, and Josh kept their eyes glued to the television. Parker was in the bathroom. He found a pack of gauze and wrapped his knuckles. His knuckles were red and oozing from connecting them to the mouth of the attacker in Parrish Hall. He could feel his skin burning like fire. He began to sweat profusely. He made his way back to the living room where no one noticed his entrance. He plopped down in the recliner and began rummaging through his bag.
Good, it’s still there
, he thought. He too began to stay glued to the television as the world around him began to crumble.

“
W-N-E-C News Channel 7 reports strange sightings of cannibalism. People are reported to be being attacked by neighbors, friends, loved ones, and strangers alike. Those infected are being reported as having a fever, bloodshot eyes, pale skin, foaming at the mouth, and strange body posture. I’ll repeat that. Fever, bloodshot eyes, pale skin, foaming at the mouth, and strange body posture. These strange people do not speak; they simply moan and attempt to gesture with extended fingers that reach like a grabbing motion. Many have been injured since these attacks have begun. People are reportedly being bitten, scratched, and eaten. Those who are scratched do not seem affected. However, those who are bitten begin to show signs of their attacker. Once again, those who are bitten begin to show signs of their attackers. It is apparent that you need to stay indoors and do not attempt to go outside. We’ll keep you posted with updated news. Again, people are being attacked and becoming attackers. Cannibalism. Fever, bloodshot eyes, pale skin, foaming at the mouth, and strange body movements. If you are bitten, you should quarantine yourself. We do not know what is causing this outbreak. We do not have the answers. I understand Merle is in the traffic helicopter. Merle, what are you seeing?
” The screen split. On one side was a live feed from the camera mounted on the underbelly of a helicopter, and the other side was the still shot of the face to the voice that was coming through the television.

“
James, oh my God! It is pure barbarism out here. We are safe here in the helicopter. Down below, people are looting, burning, and killing each other. This is absolutely the worst possible thing I have ever seen! People are breaking into shops and stores. The police are on a hunting spree shooting anyone who comes toward them! There are strange people literally biting and eating each other. I saw a young woman get bitten on the neck. She lay on the ground and bled out. Then all of a sudden, she stood back up and began shuffling toward a fat woman, and then she too was bitten. The fat woman got up and began eating her baby in a stroller! Pure butchery here, James! I think this is the first sign of the apocalypse!
” The camera panned up to see a ball of red fire billow up in the distance. “
Dear God! There are explosions happening here! James, are you seeing this?
”

“
Yes, I am, Merle, that’s why I told our Channel 7 viewers that it is imperative that you stay indoors and do not attempt to leave your homes. We now go to our Medical Expert here at a local hospital. Tami, what do you have?
”

The screen changed to a young female reporter of oriental decent standing next to an elderly black man in a pair of blood-soaked scrubs and lab coat to complete his blood-saturated attire. He stood as he was downing cups of water from the water fountain like he hadn’t tasted the cool refreshing liquid in days. “Look, I don’t have any answers, just speculations. But what I can tell you is that these…things…are not human. They have no shame, no remorse, and no other necessities other than to feed. I watched them tear someone apart. They are attracted to blood and vital organs like the heart and the kidney. Those who get bitten get back up to feed. No matter the condition of their bodies, they will attempt to feed,” said the doctor as he took another drink of water. “What do you think is causing this outbreak of violence?” Tami said off camera. “The symptoms are congruent with that of a virus. I can only speculate still. I have no proof other than it seems to spread by contact,” said the doctor. “What is happening here at the hospital?” “Right now, we are making a quarantine zone with the aid of the police department. We are still attempting to separate those who are truly infected to those who are wounded. These people are transmitting something via bites. As long as you aren’t bitten, you’re going to be OK for now. We are trying to keep this hospital aboveground. So please, if you aren’t experiencing any of these symptoms, keep your ass at home,” the doctor said as he finished his cup of water and walked away from the camera. “Wow, something is really happening down here, James.”