by Cluke, D. L.
Escape
White Death Book 1
by D.L. Cluke
Dedication
To my loving family, may your support carry me through always.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter One
Breaking News
“Aaron Michaels, correspondent for News Channel 7, reporting live with breaking news.”
“Billionaire William French has succeeded in locating a rare asteroid that was seen entering Earth’s atmosphere in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Asteroid 2314 AC11 is suspected to have traveled through deep space on a hundred-year loop. Satellite images show that the asteroid impacted a secluded section of the Amazon Rainforest, just outside the large city of Manaus, leaving a mile-long path of destruction in its wake. Miraculously, there have been no reports of any fatalities.”
“Mr. French hopes to recover rare space metals, predicted to exceed trillions of dollars in value. Investors are on the edge of their seats, waiting for confirmation on what financial experts are calling the Treasure of Deep Space.”
“Meanwhile, lead scientists have stated with near certainty that there is a high probability that they will find traces of microorganisms on AC11. They are itching to get their hands on that asteroid, which they state will provide a rare look at life in deep space. Will we finally find evidence of alien life outside our galaxy? “
“Teams are currently setting up the perimeter and excavation equipment is being prepped.”
“What an exciting day for space exploration!”
Breaking News
“Aaron Michaels, reporting live, with the latest updates on AC11.”
“There has been a reported outbreak at the site of Asteroid AC11. The origin of the outbreak is unknown. Reports of flu-like symptoms have health officials concerned. As a precaution, the entire operation has been shut down until the virus can be identified. The infected crew is being brought to Manaus Central Hospital for care and isolation.”
“Investors are still waiting on test results to confirm the presence of precious metals. This delay could prove detrimental to the excavation timeline. Each day the project is delayed will cost investors millions.”
“William French has refused to comment on the current situation, simply stating his advisors will be releasing a statement when new information becomes available.”
Breaking News
“Live from studio 7, Aaron Michaels, with another concerning update on the excavation of AC11.”
“The exploration crew of AC11 has died. Health officials have issued a global warning after all 10 members of the team passed away within hours of showing symptoms and shortly after being admitted to the Manaus Hospital. The exact virus is unknown, leaving many to wonder if the crew was exposed to something new on the asteroid itself.”
“The CDC is on the scene, trying to contain the panic as locals have been seen fleeing the area. The CDC is asking everyone to shelter in place as they scramble to contain this outbreak.”
Breaking News
“Aaron Michaels, back with another terrifying update.”
“Locals in Manaus are calling it the Muerte Blanca, or White Death, after the milky white eyes of its victims. Manaus is reporting thousands of new cases each day as the death toll skyrockets. Shocking new reports are emerging, bare with me here folks as this is not confirmed, that the dead are rising and attacking the living. Brazil’s officials have ordered a complete shutdown of the port city, but with 1.7 million residents, global officials fear it may already be too late."
“The CDC is advising to avoid contact with anyone outside of your immediate household, as the virus appears to be airborne.”
“William French has gone silent, leaving us wondering if the billionaire himself, may have fallen victim to the virus.”
Breaking News
“Aaron Michaels, back with dire news.”
“New cases of the White Death are being reported in major port cities around the globe, confirming our worst fears. The virus has reached our shores. Charleston, Baltimore, New York, Miami, New Orleans, and many others are reporting an increase of new cases with each passing hour.”
“What was originally seen as a promising discovery and a huge step in space exploration, is now being touted as possibly the end of the world. We may never know what the crew of Asteroid 2314 AC11 found, but we do know this; our world will never be the same. The WHO and CDC are urging people to stay inside, lock their doors, and avoid contact with anyone, but especially those that exhibit the following symptoms. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose, cloudy eyes...”
Chapter Two
Anna couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her mind struggled to make sense of the footage playing on the small laptop. News Channel 7, a local yet reputable station in the city of Almore, was broadcasting live from downtown. Cement barricades blocked the ends of the road leading to the square, closing off the area and protecting the living from the infected.
Tables and chairs, which only minutes ago, held dining residents, were now flipped and tossed aside. Trash cans toppled, spilling waste into the street. The old or injured brushed aside as frightened citizens pushed and shoved one another. All to get into the perceived safety of the buildings. What had started as the normal lunch-time rush had quickly turned into a fight for survival.
Aaron Michaels, beloved newscaster and family man, turned heel and ran into a local coffee shop. The view jostled, jarring Anna’s stomach, as his cameraman sprinted after him. Entering the coffee shop, the camera panned and she could see the terrified faces of the men and women cowered there. Strangers comforting one another as they waited for the first of the infected to appear.
“All right Jeff, set up right there. Get the street in the shot.”
Aaron took a deep breath to steady his nerves. His face, resigned to his fate, showed little fear as he prepared to broadcast what would possibly be his final moments.
It had only been a week since the outbreak of the White Death had occurred in Manaus. This morning, the first reports of outbreaks in the States had started. Anna knew then that this was only the beginning. The virus moved too fast, killed too quickly. She had finally decided to make a run for her family farm when an outbreak had occurred at the Delpoint Mall earlier this morning. In a span of 4 hours, reports were coming in from all over the city. She had waited too long. Why hadn’t she left last night, why didn’t she risk traveling in the dark? Now she was trapped, hours from home.
Her hazel eyes filled with apprehension as she watched more people shove their way into the store. Those in the back pressed against each other, trying to find a way out.
“Shut that door! Lock it now!” A man screamed from somewhere behind the cameraman.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here in Glenside’s Coffee Shop. We have been instructed by the Army to get inside and lock the doors. As you can see behind me, the Army has set up barricades to preve
nt the infected from reaching us.”
Aaron was practically screaming in order to be heard over the panicked group inside the shop.
“The Army is doing everything they can to stop the mob of infected from breaching the rest of the city. This is their last rallying point. I don’t have to tell you folks what will happen if the army fails to stop the infected here and now.”
A sob escaped Rebecca. Anna turned to her roommate, wrapping an arm around her best friend’s shoulder, but offering no words of comfort. She just didn’t have any to offer. They both knew what came next, having watched the White Death ravage the world over the last few days.
She squeezed Becca’s shoulders, both of them standing silent in their small dorm room. She didn’t say what she was thinking out loud. Saying it wouldn’t stop it.
If the army failed, the rest of the city would fall. Cement barricades and a few hundred armed men were all that stood in the way of thousands of the infected. An army that was already dead, hellbent on one thing. To infect all humans. An army that grew with each successful attack. A lousy few guns stood between them and certain death.
The sound of gunshots brought her mind back to the broadcast. The cameraman zoomed in on the barricades as popping noises filled the air. Anna and Becca let out a scream, mirroring those of the poor souls trapped inside the coffee shop.
“The infected have reached the barricade! Oh, my G... I pray that none of you at home ever have to experience this. Those poor people, ravaged by an unseen foe. A virus with no name.”
Men in fatigues stood atop tanks and trucks, weapons pointed at the surging infected. Blood and bone splattered back into the horde as the men lined up headshots on the advancing group. The infected at the front of the mob went down, stacking like cordwood as the bullets continued to find their mark. But, the infected just kept coming.
“So far the Army is holding them at bay. We might have a chance yet...”
Aaron trailed off, gunshots sounding from another direction. The camera swung and zoomed in on a second barrier, one street to the left and directly in line with the coffee shop.
Anna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. A large horde came into view. Men, women, and children screeched upon seeing the soldiers. Bloodied and broken arms reached for the soldiers, white eyes locked on their prey.
Anna swallowed hard, tasting bile as her stomach churned at the horrific sight. Clothes torn and bloodstained, chunks of flesh missing, entrails dragging in the dirt and tripping those behind them. Yet still, she couldn’t look away as thousands ran towards the barriers at full speed, slamming against the concrete as if they hadn’t even noticed it. Those at the front were trampled as more infected appeared, drawn by the gunshots. The army continued firing. Anna watched as the infected fell, but it just wasn’t enough. For every monster they shot, three more took its place.
Both girls watched the army battle against an enemy that never tired, never gave up, and only had one purpose. To eat or infect all those who lived. Tears ran down her face as she listened to Aaron reporting, a true journalist to the end.
“More of the infected keep showing up, drawn towards the noise of the gunshots. Towards the screams and carnage that we are witnessing. Things are not looking good for us here.”
Aaron let out a small sob, the cameraman panning back to focus on him once more. His face now reflected the true horror and terror of the moment he was living through. The same horror that all those souls trapped in the offices and business throughout the city were living through.
Screeeeeeech.
The sound of the cement barriers giving way under the weight of the infected cut through the coffee shop.
“It doesn’t look like we will be getting out of here folks. The army is giving it their all and it just isn’t enough. The infected outnumber us. Please listen. These might be the last minutes I have left on this Earth.”
He paused, gathering his thoughts as the barrier continued to shift in the background. Inch by inch, each motion punctuated by an ear-shattering screech and the nonstop barrage of gunshots.
“Stay inside, stay safe. Don’t make any noise. Don’t use lights. Don’t draw any attention to yourselves, to your family. Close your blinds, hide upstairs. Fill up every available container with drinking water before the city falls. Ration your food. And for God’s sake whatever you do, do not go outside.”
“To my beautiful family, my wife and kids. I love you. Please turn off the TV. I will be watching over you always.”
Tears streamed down his face, white knuckles gripping his microphone.
“Our beautiful city is joining the ranks of countless before us and falling to the infected...”.
Screeeeeeech.
A final screech echoed through the square and the camera spun to the right. The weight of the infected had pushed the concrete barriers aside, leaving a gap big enough for the infected to trickle through.
Frenzied by the movement of those upfront, the infected pushed, shoved, and reached until the barriers shifted even farther apart. The time for headshots was long past. The army started to fire, swaths of bullets flying into the mob. Thousands of bullets pierced the horde, taking down infected at the knees, trying to slow their advance, but it was no use.
Anna watched as the first of the infected, a petite woman, reached the men in uniform. The creature pounced, taking the large man down with ease, teeth sinking deep into his neck before they had even hit the ground. He screamed as the infected woman ripped her head back, howling to the sky in triumph as blood streamed down her face. She chewed a piece of flesh, seeming to savor it while the man beneath her struggled to push the small monster off. He had almost succeeded when three more of the infected reached him, dropping to their knees to take bites out of his arms and legs. A small child buried his head into the man’s stomach. His screams turned into a gargled choke as blood filled his throat.
As quickly as it started, the infected stopped their attack. Standing up, leaving the decimated man in a pool of his own blood, they continued on towards their next victim. Within seconds, his body started twitching and he sat upright. Anna watched as his skin turned a mottled gray and his eyes clouded over. His pupils were gone, replaced by two orbs of pure white. The large soldier stumbled to his feet, his body unsure how to respond to new commands. He turned to follow the horde, and within a few feet was sprinting to join their attack on the remaining citizens of the city.
The horde continued to push through the barriers, attacking all sides. Within minutes they had overwhelmed the remaining members of the Army. Inside the shop, people screamed and sobbed as they watched it all unfold.
“Be quiet everyone! Please shut up! Please stand still for the love of God!” Aaron pleaded with the group inside the coffee shop, trying to save their lives. They were too far gone, panicked and afraid for their lives after witnessing the destruction of the armed forces. Aaron continued to plead with them, trying to calm them down.
“Please everyone, if you would just be quiet and not move, they might not notice us here!”
The group started to settle down, as first one person heard Aaron and then another. His orders trickled through the group until finally, the 40 people inside the coffee shop quieted.
The camera was still rolling, focusing on the chaos outside. People were attacked, bitten, and infected. Gunshots became fewer and fewer as the infected pushed through the square. A few soldiers turned and ran off into the alleys, abandoning the city to the monsters. The newly infected sprinted after them.
Anna didn’t think they would make it very far. The infected were so fast. They were perfect hunters.
“Turn off the lights!” A harsh whisper sounded through the perfectly still cafe.
The room dimmed and everybody stood perfectly still, not daring to breathe, trying to blend into the shadows. The chaos outside faded as the last of the army was destroyed or pursued as they turned tail and ran. Without a target, the infected slowed to a crawl. They seemed to lose all
interest and wander aimlessly through the square, noses lifted as they sniffed for their next meal.
For several minutes, the group remained perfectly still, not daring to move. Several infected walked past the window without noticing them. An older woman, still clutching her designer handbag with a hand missing the pointer and ring fingers seemed to float by in a daze. She was followed by a small child, her blonde pigtails dyed red with blood.
A businessman with his briefcase in his meaty palm stopped mid-stride. He paused, his neck slowly craning towards the storefront. His eyes zeroed in on the camera. Somehow those white eyes were full of hatred, full of hunger. His high-end business shirt was covered in blood, the crimson liquid still leaking from a deep neck wound. A flap of skin dangled and swayed with every movement.
“Oh my God,” Aaron whispered, “turn off the camera Jeff. He’s attracted to the blinking light!”
It was too late. The infected grinned, his teeth, blood-stained with chunks of gristle stuck between the canines, shown brightly through the window. The once-proud businessman threw his head back, letting loose a bellow of a screech, a screech that drew the attention of the others infected. Seemingly satisfied with his call, he threw himself forward and slammed against the window.
Within seconds, several more of his brethren had joined the attack. Hands slapping against the glass, leaving bloody handprints. Screams sounded from inside the coffee shop. Screams that would haunt Anna’s dreams forever.
Ting. Ting. Ting.
The sound of cracking glass filled the room, a spider web of cracks spreading across the floor-to-ceiling windows. Jeff dropped the camera as the first of the infected broke through in a fury of broken shards and blood. Screams of terror turned into shrieks of agony. The sound of gnashing teeth and ripping flesh floated into the living rooms of those still living in the temporary safety of their homes. A sound that would destroy any remaining doubt that they would be spared, that it couldn’t happen to them. Now they realized how foolish they had been. It was only a matter of time until the monsters found them all.