Contents
Free Book
Chapter One - Day One
Chapter Two - Two Weeks Earlier
Chapter Three - Day Two
Chapter Four - Three Years Earler
Chapter Five - Day Three
Chapter Six - Day Four
Chapter Seven - Two Years Earlier
Chapter Eight - Day Five
Chapter Nine - Day Six
Chapter Ten - Day Seven
Chapter Eleven - Day 237
Before You Go
Free Copy of Zombie Love Story
Acknowledgements
Copyright Page
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CHAPTER ONE
Day One
JAMES RICHARDS’ HEART pounded like it wanted out of his chest, and his lungs burned with a white hot heat. He ignored the pain and continued to sprint. This wasn’t the Marine Corps Marathon or one of those themed fitness vacations, but James ran for his life. Adrenaline fed by pure fear drove him forward even without a clear destination in mind. All around James, the zombie apocalypse had begun, and his fun Washington DC getaway had ended. Most likely, his upcoming marriage was now over too, since his vegetarian fiancé decided ripping into the flesh of a complete stranger had become her thing. He had no choice but to leave Melody behind to complete her feeding frenzy on human flesh.
As James rounded the corner by the Great Ape House, he noticed a woman who stood over a group of zombies feasting on their own midday snack. Their meal had been a living person minutes ago before becoming their afternoon treat. Out of instinct, he grabbed her arm and dragged her along behind him. She stumbled but righted herself before she finally broke into a run alongside James. With all the shouts and moans and groans (from both the living and the newly raised dead) James didn’t have time to notice if she had been old, young, fit, fat, or attractive. There might be time for niceties later when monsters weren’t trying to devour them. Now there’s only time to race on toward safety.
A large puddle of blood pooled across the path just passed the Small Mammal House. They both hit the liquid at top speed and slid down the sidewalk. While James skated across the blood, the woman’s hand slipped from his and wrenched free. He pinwheeled his arms like a Saturday morning cartoon character who tried to regain their footing on a slippery surface. His feet careened through the puddle to the dry ground beyond, and he regained his equilibrium there.
He turned and scanned the bloody scene behind him. James discovered the woman he tried so hard to save hadn’t been as lucky as him. The path of her skid led her straight to the ground, where she landed face first in an enormous pile of human remains. She stood, but continued to slip and slide like the fallen cartoon character (Why do cartoons keep coming to mind during this nightmare?) who can’t quite get their feet under them. Before James reacted or the woman could right herself, a large man in a dirty uniform pounced on top of her and ripped the soft flesh of her throat out with his bare teeth.
James stared in shock for a second before the fear kicked in and pushed him back into a full sprint away from the bloody death scene. He couldn’t do anything to save the woman now, and he had only known her for a few brief minutes, so there’s no reason to die alongside her. Before he pushed away from this last gruesome nightmare, James noticed the uniform worn by the attacker had belonged to the Metropolitan Police Department and the police officer's holster was empty.
Off to his right, an exit road and parking lot came into view, but being a tourist James didn’t know where the street led to. It’s better to stick to the route he entered the zoo from and knew where to find the train station. James and his fiancé Melody had walked in from the Connecticut Avenue Entrance to the zoo after they rode the Metro from their hotel. He didn’t know where to run to or what he would find once he got there. James only knew if he stopped running now, he would die a painful death. Teeth tearing into your flesh wouldn’t be a painless way to die.
Somewhere between the American Bison and the Panda overlook, he found it. A glint of metal laid on the ground. James only noticed it because he heard the little girl’s voice scream “Mommy” while she continued to cry hysterically. This would be his second attempt to become a hero today, and James went into action, while he hoped for a better outcome this time. He swooped in like a superhero and grabbed both the girl and the police officer’s dropped gun and continued his run toward the exit at Connecticut Avenue.
This little girl had stood crying over the remains of her mom (at least it wasn’t spilt milk) while three zombies greedily chowed down on her corpse. Maybe the girl had been too small for them to perceive as a threat, or maybe she hadn’t been a big enough snack for their ravenous hunger, but they ignored her as she stood nearby and cried.
The exit onto Connecticut Avenue stood right before them, and James could finally see their freedom from this nightmare. His legs felt like two limp noodles and his back hurt from carrying the screaming toddler, but he continued to race onward. James had no idea what state the world outside of the zoo would be in, but knew it had to be better than the nightmare he ran from. Only death scenes from your worst nightmares laid behind him in the zoo of death.
Now the exit sign stood right in front of James’ face. He could almost reach out and touch it. His spirits lifted a little with the sight since he felt the unknown had to be better than the Hell he had experienced inside the park. Both his back and legs were refreshed, and his lungs didn’t feel like someone had filled them with burning coals. Many times, this type of euphoria distracted you and made you reckless. One might not call it negligent, but you let your guard down, only a little thinking you’re finally safe from the danger cashing you.
This elation caused James to miss the small frost heave from last winter, which raised part of the sidewalk right in front of his path of travel. If you had been moving at normal walking speeds, the worst reaction might be a stubbed toe and a spoken curse word. But even then, only if you were unlucky or not observant. When running for your life with a screaming and squirming toddler on your back, the damage caused by this minor defect proved more severe. That small lip caught James’ right foot and his forward momentum pushed him over face first onto the solid, unforgiving concrete sidewalk. Like those Saturday cartoons James used to love as a child, his fall felt like it took forever. He felt his foot catch on the lip and the pain shot up his leg as his ankle bent in a direction it shouldn’t. His body transitioned from upright to a horizontal position, which felt a little like flying. Just like Superman, except the flight isn’t as long or the landing as painless as the cartoons used to show. James felt the little girl fly from her perch high on his back. He hoped she would be OK and the ground where she landed would be soft. Alas, we rarely get what we want, and James didn’t get it that day either. The hard, unforgiving concrete sidewalk slapped him upside his head like a right uppercut from Mike Tyson. Those were his final thoughts as the world went black on day one of the apocalypse.
CHAPTER TWO
Two Weeks Earlier
BIG JIM RICHARDS surprised his finance Melody with a trip to the Nation’s Capital, Washington DC. They both worked non-stop on the family’s corn farm in Iowa for mo
nths, and they both needed a break. The wedding would take place after the harvest, but working under the smoldering summer sun took a toll on him as he got older.
He booked business class tickets (Big Jim was six foot five inches tall and 250 pounds of solid muscle, so coach would be too tight) and a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia near the Metro Station. It put them close to the city, but away from the crowds. No rental car because DC had excellent public transportation (at least that’s what the Trip Counselor website said). Jim even scored tickets to a Nationals baseball game while they were in town. The tickets ended up being easy to score because the team sucked and the fans were staying away this year. There wouldn’t be any post season baseball in DC this October.
Their flight departed on a beautiful sunny day and they arrived at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on time and without incident. The crowds were lighter than he had expected, which Jim took as a good omen for their trip. Fewer people meant they could see more during their two-week visit.
Murmurs abound about strange happenings in the city, but Big Jim was a realist and not into the conspiracy theories littering internet forums. One wacko in Boston, Nolan Ryen, predicted the rise of the undead. Jim read Nolan’s blog post to Melody, and they both laughed. Where do all these crazy people come from?
After depositing their luggage at the hotel, they took the Metro into the City. Big Jim and Melody spent the day wandering around the National Mall visiting the sights before grabbing a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. The sun shined down and when combined with the humidity, it felt like the inside of a furnace outside. This heat must have contributed to the lighter crowds who visited the city. Without reservations, they walked into the restaurant without a wait. They felt lucky since they picked the right time to visit.
The next morning, Big Jim and Melody slept in. That night the Red Sox and Nationals would face off in their last game of the week and they had tickets to the game. Neither cheered for either team, but visiting a baseball park wasn’t something farmers from Iowa usually had time for. Crops needed tending to during the summer and harvesting during the fall when baseball season played out. Besides, what’s more American than baseball?
Melody and Big Jim watched the Red Sox destroy the Nationals on the field. With no horse in the race, they enjoyed the game for what it was. There’s nothing like ballpark food, and they feasted during the game. A Chesapeake Crab Cake Sandwich and a 3 Piece Suit help to satisfy Big Jim’s appetite during the game.
After filing out of the stadium, they had a hike to the Metro Station where they’d catch the train that would return them to their hotel. During the long walk through the city, a bee stung Melody. Both of them worked outside and had been stung many times before, so beyond the initial discomfort, the event faded from their memory.
The next day they visited the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, and then took a stroll around Chinatown. Compared to Jim, Melody was petite, standing five feet six inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. She prided herself on her level of fitness and her healthy vegetarian diet. So, Jim wondered why Melody struggled to keep up with him while they walked around the city. Melody normally led the way while Big Jim took advantage of his long strides to keep pace with her. True, the sun and humidity made it feel like 106 degrees, but she labored like a fat guy at an all you could eat buffet.
“Are you feeling ok?”
“Just… a little… hot. Can… we… stop and… rest.”
“Sure, honey. Let’s stop in this coffee shop and get something cold to drink. I could use some ice water myself.”
“Ok… thanks.”
Even though it was the middle of the afternoon, this location of Moonstag Coffee had no other customers. Two bored looking baristas stood behind the counter. Big Jim led Melody to a seat while he went to the counter to order two bottled waters. The clerk looked disappointed when Jim didn’t order an overpriced coffee drink. Who spent that much money on coffee?
“Here’s your water, sweetheart.”
“Thank… you.”
He handed her the bottle, and she struggled with loosening the top. What was happening to Melody?
“Here, let me get that for you.”
Big Jim twisted the cap from the bottle, and she smiled up at him. With shaking hands, she lifted the bottle to her lips and took a sip. The heat had made him parched, so he downed the bottle of water in one big swig. They sat in the icy air conditioning for half an hour and she only drank about half the bottle.
“Would you like to go back to the hotel so you can rest?”
“You wouldn’t mind?” Jim noticed she had finally caught her breath as she spoke this time.
“Of course not. You probably picked up one of those 24-hour bugs on the plane. We’re supposed to go to the National Zoo on Friday, and I know you don’t want to miss that. Do you want me to get you something else before we leave the coffeehouse?”
“No, I’m Ok. Thank you. A brief rest will do me good.”
He helped Melody to her feet and led her from the store. The closest Metro Station location was two blocks south of Moonstag. They ambled to the station together and boarded the next train bound for their hotel. Only two other passengers rode in their car. It had been years since Big Jim visited DC, but he never saw the crowds this thin. His concern remained focus on Melody, so he didn’t give it much thought while they rode.
Once they got to the room, Melody wanted to crawl into bed and sleep. She urged Jim to go out and get himself some dinner and he reluctantly caved in to her demand. He offered to bring something back for her, but she declined his offer of take out.
A pizza joint within walking distance had excellent food according to the lady at the hotel’s front desk. Big Jim enjoyed a large meat lover’s pizza along with a pitcher of beer for dinner. Melody didn’t mind Jim eating meat, but he always felt like a jerk eating something like this in front of her. The food tasted wonderful, and he wondered why only one other table had customers sitting at it.
The next morning, Melody reported feeling better and accompanied Jim to the hotel’s free breakfast. Jim noticed she didn’t eat as much as normal, but she still consumed a healthy amount of food.
“I’m glad to see your feeling better today. Told ya’ it was a 24 bug.”
“Ok, Doctor. I’m feeling better, but still not 100%. Mind if I stay in the room today? The National Zoo will require a lot of walking and I don’t want to miss it.”
“I could stay here with you today too, if you want.”
“No, Jim. You really wanted to see the Air and Space Museum, so you should go. I’ll be fine and it’ll give me a chance to rest in the AC rather than the pits of hell.” Melody laughed at her own joke.
Jim didn’t want to leave Melody, but she insisted. He took the train into the city and spent the day touring the museum. The day had been fun, but he worried about Melody’s health the entire time he had visited the museum.
When he returned to the hotel room, he found all his worries pointless. Melody sat on the room’s sofa, showered, dressed, and ready to go out for dinner. Wasting no time, he jumped into the shower himself and washed off the day’s sweat. They took a taxi into Old Town and ate at a romantic restaurant.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better tonight.”
“Yes, I feel like a new woman. A little rest did the trick. How was the Air and Space Museum?”
“I loved it, but I’ll admit I worried about you the entire time.”
“That’s why I love you, Jim. You’re so sweet!”
The server brought their food, and they both ate with gusto. Big Jim rejoiced seeing Melody back to her normal self. She lived a healthy lifestyle, and seeing her ill wasn’t typical. After dinner, they returned to the hotel, and they made love before they passed out under the sheets. This trip had been a dream come true for Big Jim.
When they awoke Friday morning, Big Jim practically leaped from bed with happiness. Melody had recovered from her mysterious bug, and t
hey were having a great time away from the farm. He left her laying in bed while he jumped into the shower to start their day. Today they’d planned a visit to the National Zoo. The red pandas were a favorite of Melody’s and Jim looked forward to seeing her face light up once they laid eyes on them. After drying off, Jim found Melody still lounging in bed.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
“Ugh… I feel sluggish this morning. My head hurts.”
“You didn’t have anything to drink last night, so what’s up with that?”
“Maybe too much excitement after two days of being sick. I’ll jump in the shower and that should do the trick of waking me up.”
Jim didn’t see her moving much quicker after the shower. At breakfast, Melody had four cups of coffee and that’s more than she normally consumed during the entire day. He tried to engage her in conversation, but the effort proved futile. Melody insisted on going to the zoo, so Big Jim gave in and took her. They strolled to Metro Station and boarded the train without conversation.
Melody moved in a lethargic fashion. She acknowledged Jim’s words with a nod or shake of her head, but didn’t speak a word. Even when they stood in front of the pandas, her favorites, Melody seemed unenthusiastic.
“Are you feeling ok? You love the pandas.”
She turned at his voice but didn’t respond to his question. Beads of sweat rolled down Melody’s face and her eyes appeared glassy. Without speaking, she turned from the pandas and walk toward the cheetah conservation area. Big Jim watched as she plowed into some guy who staggered passed them on the path which led to the cheetahs. Neither seemed to acknowledge each other as they collided and continued on.
“Sorry, sir.” Jim called out, but the guy didn’t look back at them or acknowledge his words. Strange behavior.
Big Jim finally caught up to Melody in front of the cat’s house. After drifting through the morning, she now raced toward some unseen target. He couldn’t figure out what was going on with her.
Operation Z | Novella | Everyone Dies Page 1