Zombified (Book 1): Hudson Place (13 page)

They spent most of their time fortifying their home and shooting any zombies that came their way. The day the Hill’s arrived, what Mark described as a boat load of zombies managed to sniff them out. Their sheer numbers forced the group out and they ended up running with only the clothes on their backs and the few firearms Mark had. They’d been moving from one place to another ever since, until they came upon Hudson Place.

As they talked, Mick glanced over at Reggie. He was sitting with Parker and Brooke playing a video game at the other end of the room. When Parker and Reggie spotted each other, both boys broke out in huge grins. They knew each other from soccer, both of they played on the same team for a couple of years. Mick was glad, he was sure Reggie was a lot more comfortable now that there was someone here he knew and could interact with. Heaven knew the kid had been through so much, it was time he had a break and could be a kid again.

Mick was also grateful to Dave, they had been spared so much and he was acutely aware that there were probably other survivors out in the city who were still fighting for their lives.

Megan rose from the table and began plugging in lamps, only then did Mick notice it was starting to get dark. Everyone else took that as a signal to get up and Dave announced he was going to start dinner. Cindy and Lilly decided to go downstairs to gather some blankets and pillows together for the cots that had been set up on the first floor. Before anyone had taken more than a few steps, Jeff burst through the door.

“
Charlie!” he gasped breathlessly, a huge smile on his face. “He’s on the radio!”

Chapter 12

Charlie wanted desperately to stay in bed, his head buried under the pillow, but Jenny wouldn’t let him. When she’d finally threatened to pour water on his head he let out a loud exaggerated groan and rolled his eyes at her, which caused her to laugh and gave Charlie a warm feeling inside.

“
Dexter is already rarin’ to go Dad,” she said as she waved a finger in his direction. “You have about ten minutes to shower, get dressed, and grab something to eat.”

He groaned loudly again and threw his pillow at her. Jenny caught it and threw it back at him, hitting him with enough force that his head bounced back and smacked the wall.

“
Ow!” he cried loudly in mock pain, rubbing the back of his head and glancing at her out of one eye to see her reaction. She just stood there and stared at him. “Oh, you’re a cold one,” Charlie chided jokingly with a lopsided grin.

“
And you’re a lazy one,” she retorted back. “Ten minutes,” she said airily as she left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Charlie chuckled, still rubbing his head. It did hurt a little and he made a face at the closed door. He jumped into the shower then hurriedly dressed. He was grateful that the town’s water supply for the time being was plentiful. The water was hot because the water heater was hooked up to natural gas, another bonus. The minute he stepped out of the bedroom, Jenny grabbed him by one hand while slapping a chocolate candy bar in the other.

“
Yum, breakfast I’m guessing,” he teased as they hurried down the stairs together.

“
You’re lucky to get it,” she grinned. “I was saving that.”

“
Oooh, I’ll savor it then.”

“
Funny, Dad.”

“
I thought so,” Charlie quipped as they reached the bottom of the stairs and headed outside. He almost collided with Dexter and Travis coming in carrying the ham radio between them.

Dexter frowned as he eyed Charlie. “About time you got up. We need to contact Dave, think you can do that while I get everyone ready to go?”

Charlie nodded. “Sure, I’ll get right on it.”

He followed Dexter over to where a table had been set up and sat in a chair Travis brought over for him. He turned on the radio. Nothing happened. He stared at it for a moment before turning toward Dexter. “We did put fresh batteries in this before we left, right?”

Dexter turned toward him and nodded. “Saw Dave put them in. What’s wrong?”

“
It’s not coming on.” Charlie said simply. He turned back to the radio and spun it around. “Maybe the batteries are in wrong. Don’t worry about it. Go on ahead, I’ll figure this out.”

Dexter grunted in reply and went outside where Charlie could hear him shouting commands. He felt someone leaning over his shoulder and looked up to see Jenny beside him.

“
Is there something I can do?”

Charlie popped the back open and checked the batteries. They were in their proper places. “Not sure sweetheart. Looks like we may need some new batteries, do you know where we can get more?”

Jenny stood up with a thoughtful look on her face before smiling and nodding vigorously. “Yes! We can get all the batteries we need at Raymore’s hardware store.”

Her smile faded. “Well, we can get them when we’ve cleared that area.” She looked at Charlie apologetically. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.”

Charlie stood up and patted her shoulder. “No problem, we’ll just have to make that a priority today, we have to contact Dave as soon as possible.”

As they both stood there staring at the disabled radio Charlie asked, “By the way, I didn’t see Jake this morning? How’s he doing?”

“
Better, but he still needs to take it easy. Myra, Gordon’s wife, said she’d check in on him. She said Gordon wouldn’t be going out today, he’s running a fever and the scratches on his face won’t stop seeping...she didn’t say it, but I could tell she’s worried about him. If Jake were better he could look in on him, but all we could do was give her some of the antibiotics that Jake’s taking.”

Charlie nodded sympathetically and started to speak when he spotted Darrell coming down the stairs. “Morning Darrell,” he said with a wave of his hand. Darrell smiled and hurried over to them, clutching a rifle in one hand.

“
I see Dexter got the radio, did you talk to Dave yet?”

“
I don’t think the batteries are working, can’t get the damn thing to even fire up.”

“
Want me to check around and see if anyone has batteries?” Darrell offered.

Jenny shook her head and chimed in. “It’s doubtful; we probably used them all up in the shelter.”

As Jenny explained to Darrell their plan to acquire more batteries, Charlie strolled over to the front door and peered out. Over thirty people were lined up loosely on the lawn. Dexter was busy prowling up and down checking everyone’s weapons. Darrell and Jenny joined him at the door.

“
I take it there have been no more zombie sightings since yesterday,” he said as his gaze swept further out past the group in the yard.

“
Nope,” Darrell said. “It’s kinda weird really. When we were shooting at them, we took out several and the rest disappeared somewhere.”

“
Yeah, it is weird,” Charlie remarked thoughtfully. “I’m beginning to agree with the idea that these things are able to think, at least a little bit, and that’s got me worried. We began to experience the same thing over in Ambrose.”

“
It’s got everyone worried,” Darrell said. “We were talking about it this morning.”

Charlie noted that Dexter had finished his inspection and nodded in that direction. “Well, let’s go tell Dexter that we have a small change in plans. We gotta get over to that hardware store for batteries before we do anything else.”

“
Ok,” Darrell sighed. “But he’s not going to like that.”

“
You’re telling me,” Charlie agreed as he marched out the door toward Dexter the drill sergeant.

****

Later that afternoon Charlie held a box full of batteries in his hand, but he wasn’t happy. The radio would have to wait. Gordon had disappeared and Myra was dead. They had decided to go into the business area and check the buildings there first so they could get the batteries and other supplies they desperately needed. While they were checking out the various stores and shops, mayhem had broken out at the apartment building.

Upon their return, they found most of the people who had stayed behind, including Jake, huddled together on the first floor. Myra and Gordon had the apartment right next to where Charlie, Jenny, and Jake were staying and Jake said he was awakened by Myra screaming.

“
It sounded like the place was being torn apart,” he whispered. “By the time I was able to get up and get to the door, it got really quiet, so I stopped and listened for a minute. I heard the door open and it slammed against the wall so I looked through the peep hole.” He shuddered and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them wide and looking up at the sea of faces surrounding him. “I saw Gordon, only it wasn’t him anymore. He was covered in blood and I swear he was growling like a dog. I waited for a while longer to make sure he was gone then I went across the hall and got Mr. Jantz to go with me.” He looked at Jenny with tears in his eyes. “He tore her apart, he killed Myra!”

As he put his head in his hands, Jenny leaned over to comfort him. Charlie turned away feeling sick to his stomach. Gordon hadn’t been bitten, but he’d been scratched and that opened a whole new can of worms, Charlie thought morosely. He felt as though they were flying blind, they didn’t really know what the zombies could do and what all could cause a person to turn.

Dexter swore under his breath and began giving out orders. “Ok, we’re doubling up the guards and anyone who goes into town will be checked for any wounds before being allowed back inside,” he said forcefully. “If someone is scratched or bitten, they will be immediately quarantined and watched constantly.”

Charlie wandered over to the radio and fiddled absently with the dials. He was beginning to have serious doubts again about what they were attempting to do. Sure, the zombies hadn’t caused too much trouble yet, but if one zombie could take out two people, that didn’t put the odds in their favor.

Charlie slowly realized Dexter was calling his name and turned.

“
You and me are taking first shift tonight on the roof, is that ok with you?”

“
Sure, whatever you say,” Charlie said faintly. He glanced at Jenny and his heart began to pound. He had to keep it together for her sake, he realized. They had to keep going, keep pressing forward; if they gave up they would all die. He didn’t want anything to happen to Jenny, and that gave him the surge of strength he needed.

“
I’ll get my gun.”

****

Once again, the night passed uneventfully, which thoroughly unnerved Charlie. He sat up on the roof with Dexter until they were relieved; Jenny had dinner waiting for him when he came in around midnight. While he ate by candlelight, they talked in hushed voices so they wouldn’t disturb Jake.

“
I was talking to Jake today,” Jenny said in a low voice as she sipped a mug of cocoa. “He said a shipment of medicine came in right before the infection hit and we need to go get it.”

“
No problem,” Charlie said as he concentrated on the food before him. “Where do we need to go?”

“
The post office. He said it’s in a room, more like a vault really, where anything really important is kept under lock and key. There’s also a refrigerator in there that should be stocked with antibiotics and diabetes medication, that’s what he needs the most. He said people are depending on that medicine.”

"Wouldn't all that medicine be spoiled by now?"

"I asked Jake the same thing and he believes most of it will be fine."

Charlie nodded as he chewed, then a sudden realization dawned on him. He managed to swallow before replying. “We might have a problem.”

Jenny gave him a confused look. “How so?”

“
Tell me, where is this room?”

“
There’s a basement, it’s down there.”

Charlie took a long swig of water before asking, “You said it’s more like a vault, can you describe it?”

“
It looks like the kind of door you’d see in a bank,” she replied slowly. “What kind of problem do we have, Dad?”

Charlie leaned back in his chair and looked at her sadly. “From what you’ve told me, I don’t think we can get through that door with a hand grenade.”

Jenny frowned. “Wouldn’t that be overkill? We just need the key and I bet we can find one in the post office.”