Bloody Sunrise
by
Gwendolyn Harper
For
Clara & Dee
Thank you for believing in me
And for refusing to ever let me doubt myself
Chapter One
Darkness swallowed them as the jet plummeted towards the ground. Bright yellow oxygen masks swung in front of the passengers’ faces.
With shaking hands, Caitlin grabbed hers, yanking it over her nose and mouth.
Everyone around her screamed. They were going to crash.
She looked to the woman sitting next to her, terror reflected in her eyes.
Splintering metal shrieked, the other engine exploding as they impacted.
Then everything went quiet.
***
LaGuardia Airport, four hours before
Caitlin adjusted her grip on her rolling suitcase. “Hey, Nicole, do you want a coffee?”
Glancing up from the magazine rack, Nicole nodded. “Please.”
The airport bustled with people, the echoing drone of flight announcements interrupting the surrounding chatter. Caitlin checked her watch, despite knowing they both had plenty of time to get to their gates. A habit from work—be on time or perish.
As she paid for their lattes, Nicole strode up next to her, handing the cashier money for the two papers she’d picked up.
“Pretty sure you’re the only reason print media hasn’t died out yet,” Caitlin commented, grinning at the thick newspapers Nicole folded over in her hands.
“Are you really that surprised the archeologist is old school?”
“No. Doesn’t mean I can’t tease you about it.”
The women took their coffees and dragged their carry-on bags along, searching for a place to sit while they waited.
“You really didn’t have to come to the airport this early,” Nicole said as they found two empty seats next to a duty-free jewelry kiosk. “Your flight isn’t for another hour.”
“I know, but I’ve hardly gotten to see you all week.” Caitlin sat down, clicking the handle of her suitcase into place. “Besides, now we can commiserate about airports together instead of on Twitter like everyone else.”
Nicole was already fidgeting with her bracelet and wedding ring, and Caitlin eyed her over the edge of her paper cup.
“Nervous?”
“I just hope my presentation goes well,” Nicole said with a sigh. “It’s been a while since I’ve covered burial mounds. I’m not sure I’m as sharp on the topic as I could be.”
“Nicole, you’re a genius. You’re a doctor—”
“A PhD.”
“They still call you Doctor Stevens, don’t they?”
Nicole smiled. “True.”
“See?” Caitlin sipped her coffee and leaned back in the metal chair. “You’re gonna be great. You’re just jittery. Once you’re behind the podium, you’ll dazzle the pants off them.”
“I hope not. Most of the attendees are in their seventies.”
Caitlin choked on her drink as she laughed, and Nicole burst into giggles.
“One of these days, I’m gonna need the Heimlich after you crack a joke.”
Nicole continued to laugh. “I’ll just work on my timing. Wouldn’t want to put my best friend in an early grave.”
“Please don’t! I’m up for a promotion.” Caitlin went to take another sip of her coffee and cursed under her breath. “Shit, I was supposed to text Nathaniel.”
“You were?”
Yanking her phone out of her purse, Caitlin nodded. “Yeah, he wanted to know when I got to the airport.”
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s… yeah, it’s nice.”
Nicole paused, newspapers in hand. “Uh oh.”
“No, no ‘uh oh’.” Caitlin quickly typed out a text and hit send. “We’re still fine.”
“Fine, after six months, doesn’t sound promising.”
Caitlin slipped her phone into her bag. “I think he’s already contemplating the M word.”
“Monogamy?”
“Marriage.”
It was Nicole’s turn to choke. “What? But—”
“I know, I know, it’s way too soon,” Caitlin said, holding her hands up. “We haven’t discussed it fully, but I can tell he’s…” She tilted her head, searching for the word. “I think he’s hoping we’re on the same page about it.”
Laying her first paper out on her lap, Nicole looked at her. “And are you?”
The question sat like a rock in Caitlin’s stomach.
“I’m not sure. I mean, I like him. I like him a lot.” She twisted her long brown hair over her shoulder—another habit. “But I don’t know if we know each other well enough for marriage talk. It feels like we’ve skipped over about eight thousand other steps.”
Nicole smirked. “You and your steps…”
“Look, you have to go through a lot with someone before you can decide if they’re happily ever after material.” Caitlin’s phone dinged in her purse and she hesitated. “How else can you be sure?”
“I’m not sure I’m a good candidate for that question.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m aware. Your undergrad romance with Scott was almost unbearable.”
“Don’t hate. We were adorable.”
Caitlin read her messages, biting the inside of her lip. “Adorable and nauseating.”
“Oh God…”
“I was kidding,” she said, tossing her phone back into her purse without replying.
Nicole shook her head. “No, not that. Did you see this?” She tapped the section of the paper she’d been reading. “Those mental health patients that escaped a test clinic?”
Leaning closer, Caitlin skimmed the first few lines of the article. “This says they’re considered dangerous and shouldn’t be approached—Jesus, this is in Atlanta?”
“Aren’t you glad you just have a connecting flight out of there? I have to stay in the city for the whole week.” Nicole continued reading. “They’ve already attacked a bunch of people. Something about being agitated and unstable without their medications.”
“Well yeah, they’re patients for a reason. I can’t believe the hospital didn’t do a better job of looking after them. They’re people, not experiments.” She took a gulp of her coffee and asked, “How long have they been without care?”
“The article says they escaped a few days ago.”
Caitlin shook her head. “That’s awful.”
The intercom announced Nicole’s flight number had started boarding and she jumped up.
“Crap, I better go,” she said, fumbling with her coffee and newspapers.
“Have fun Miss Priority Boarding,” Caitlin teased. “I’ll be thinking of you in my company bought middle seat in coach.”
Nicole flipped her bright red hair over her shoulder as she maneuvered her suitcase and smiled. “At least you get to see the Pacific Ocean.”
Caitlin beamed. “True. I plan on coming back impressively tanned.”
Leaning down, Nicole hugged her tightly. “Have a good trip.”
“Fly safe,” Caitlin told her with an extra squeeze. “Call me after your presentation.”
Nicole agreed, waving as she hurried to her gate. Caitlin watched until her best friend’s distinct red hair had disappeared into the crowd of people before settling back and finishing her coffee.
Across the way, someone else was reading the same newspaper Nicole had, the headline about the escaped patients in bold type on the front page.
A new knot twisted in Caitlin’s gut and she did her best to ignore it.
***
“So, I told him, I said ‘Bo
b, if you want the vacation home in Florida, we have to stop to see my sister on the way down. We see your brothers all the time, I want to see my sister.’ You’d have thought I asked for the moon, he was so annoyed.”
Caitlin nodded politely as the woman sitting next to her continued talking. She’d started by asking if she had the right seat and hadn’t stopped since. Caitlin didn’t know how she was getting oxygen at this point.
She’d gotten to the Atlanta hub in plenty of time to make her connection. Even managed to grab a drink and something to eat before getting on the plane. Take off had been smooth, despite her chatty seatmate and the irritated glares from the flight attendants.
Reaching for her water, Caitlin continued to pretend to listen as the woman divulged every problem in her marriage.
Caitlin was almost happy she wasn’t married if it looked anything like this woman’s relationship.
A thunderous explosion rocked the plane. Everyone screamed, shocked and afraid as turbulence shook them violently.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it seems as though we’ve had a malfunction of one of our engines,” the captain announced over the intercom. “Please remain calm and buckle your seatbelts as we prepare for an emergency—”
The speaker crackled, and smoke began to fill the cabin.
Another deafening explosion ripped the left wing off the plane.
Darkness swallowed them as the jet plummeted towards the ground, losing altitude faster and faster. Bright yellow oxygen masks swung in front of the passengers’ faces from the overhead compartments.
With shaking hands, Caitlin grabbed hers, yanking it over her nose and mouth.
Everyone around her screamed. They were going to crash.
Caitlin looked to the woman sitting next to her, terror reflected in her eyes. Grabbing for her hand, she tried to hold her.
Splintering metal shrieked, the other engine exploding as they impacted.
And then everything went quiet.
***
Air. Caitlin needed air.
Coughing, she struggled to fill her lungs. Everything hurt. Everything was dark. She felt like she was dying.
Maybe she already had.
She was pinned, forehead pressed into something slick, and the rest of her covered by something oppressively heavy.
Every time she blinked her eyes stung with smoke, sweat, ash, blood…
“Help,” she croaked. “Is any…one…”
Another coughing fit overtook her, and she curled over in pain. Her ribs were broken, she was certain of it.
Waiting until she could at least get half a breath, she tried to get her bearings. Tried to remember…
The plane had crashed. She could still hear the roar of the engine exploding. Could still feel the rattle of the impact in her bones—especially the broken ones.
Another sharp pain up her side made her gasp.
The dead didn’t feel pain… did they?
With as much strength as she could manage, she fumbled in the dark for the seatbelt still strapping her into the broken seat. The hunk of metal airplane siding pinning her had created a cocoon, sealing her off except for the stream of smoke filtering inside.
Pressing the release latch on the belt, she tumbled forward, colliding fully with whatever her head had been leaning against. She’d been upside down.
With a pained groan, she rolled, struggling to get to her hands and knees.
Gingerly, she placed her hand on the metal above her, testing the temperature. It wasn’t scalding, so whatever fire was causing the smoke wasn’t close enough to hurt her. Yet…
Pushing, she ignored the agony screaming in her chest. After the third shove, she managed to leaver it off, revealing utter horror all around her.
Bodies were scattered amongst the wreckage, some charred, some mangled, some she even recognized from briefly passing them as she’d boarded.
The woman who had been her seatmate was lifeless, crumpled over the back of another seat, eyes open and staring at nothing.
Caitlin hiccupped on a gasp, too shocked to process the scene before her.
“H-hello?” She called, voice ragged. “Is… Is anyone…”
She coughed again, and tears streamed down her face, pain cutting her off.
Caitlin stumbled through the smoldering debris. Someone had to be coming for them. A rescue team, an ambulance, anyone. There was no way a plane could crash right outside of the city and no one would come.
Then she looked at the greying pink sky. It was dusk.
Her flight had left Atlanta at eleven that morning…
They’d been left out there all day. No one had come for them. No one would be there to rescue her.
She was alone.
“Is… Is anyone else…” She coughed but forced the words. “Is anyone else there?”
Silence.
“Anyone?”
Even the birds were quiet.
Caitlin was the sole survivor.
Dragging herself out on aching legs, she plodded down the hill aimlessly.
Her ears still rang, and she was sickeningly dizzy. She was bleeding. She had numerous broken bones.
She needed help.
Wrapping her arm around her abdomen, she put one foot in front of the other. Again, and again, and again, until the smoking crash was far behind her.
Chapter Two
Night had fallen by the time she found a road. It looked rural, without many signs to tell her where to go, and she halted.
Panic bubbled up her throat and she tried not to sob. It hurt too much to cry.
Where do I go? What do I do?
Sucking air down a raw windpipe, she forced her gaze to the horizon, searching for city lights.
One house, she thought. I just have to find a house…
In the distance, through a thick line of trees, she saw what looked like glowing signs for a gas station and a drive-thru.
Help. People to help me.
Afraid and bolstered only by the chance of finding someone to take her to the hospital, she picked up her pace. Her ankle hurt like she’d sprained it, but she didn’t care as long as it would carry her.
Caitlin didn’t know how long it took her to get to the bright florescent lights of the Citgo, but once she could see the store and the gas pumps, she nearly started running.
Being underneath the flickering lights hurt her eyes but it was a welcome sting. It meant she’d made it.
“Someone?” She called. “Please, I… I need help. There… There was a crash… please.”
She weaved around the Ford truck being gassed up, lurching for the convenience store door handle.
“Help, please, I—”
Caitlin blinked. She must have been hallucinating. It was all a grotesque fever dream; it had to be.
A bloody trail smeared along the white linoleum of the store, leading to the body of a man—the clerk, if the nametag pinned to his shirt was a clue.
Another man—dressed in filthy jeans and a torn shirt—was hunched over the body, fumbling with something.
It took Caitlin a solid three seconds before she realized what the second man was grappling with…
It was the clerk’s insides. Organs, slippery with blood, were being pulled out of him and…
Bile rose in Caitlin’s throat.
He was eating him. The man was eating the clerk, tearing through his flesh, chewing his organs like he was made of rare steak.
She gasped, covering her mouth with an ashy hand.
The man—no, zombie—glanced up from the innards he was clutching and growled, bits of tissue stuck between his bloody teeth.
Terror flooded her system. Her heart double timed.
She was living in a nightmare.
Caitlin screamed, and the creature clamored to its feet, shuffling towards her.
Yanking the door closed, she ran—sprained ankle nearly giving out as she came down on it hard, pounding against the pavement.
Her broken ribs made it impossible
to catch her breath. She’d faint before she made it very far.
The zombie pulled the door open, following her. He wasn’t very fast but in her weakened state, she’d be an easy catch soon enough.
Unless she hid.
She saw the sign for the restroom and changed directions, praying they’d left the door unlocked.
They had.
Barreling inside, she slammed the door closed behind her and locked it, both at the handle and the sliding bolt at the top.
Moments later that thing pounded on the door, growling inhumanly. It groaned and banged against the wood, fighting to get to her.
Trying not to scream in horror, Caitlin looked around for anything to barricade the door with but, other than the flimsy trash bin, everything was bolted to the floor.
The zombie didn’t stop—hollering and clawing at the door frame.
Panicked tears streamed down her face. She had to keep him away, had to protect herself, had to survive…
Laying down on the sticky bathroom floor, she pressed her feet to the door, using herself as a wedge to keep it closed. Every hit vibrated through her legs, shocking her sore ankle and bruised knees.
The alternative was much worse.
Pinching her eyes shut, all she could see was the gory scene inside the store.
Eating him… He’d been eating that poor man…
Caitlin sobbed as the zombie continued its assault, trying its hardest to make her its second meal.
Every second that ticked by was an eternity.
She was suspended in time, fate undecided.
Survive one horrible event only to be killed by something much more gruesome…
The clattering and yelling outside were the only things she could hear. Her whole body ached, but she never lowered her feet, never took a break, never gave in.
After minutes or hours, she wasn’t sure which, the pounding lessened. The groans became faint.
Then… silence.
Caitlin didn’t move a centimeter.
She was too frightened, too sure it was a trick.
Could zombies do that? Trick their prey?
She didn’t want to be the first to find out.
Keeping her feet planted where they were, she tried to take even breaths. Her sides burned in protest, but she needed the oxygen.
Bloody Sunrise: A Zombie Apocalypse Romance Page 1