Genesis Virus

by Pinto, Daniel

  Suddenly, a loud voice on a microphone booms. “Is anyone home?” It sounds close and faraway at the same time like a voice waking a person up from a dream.

  The Chief has been looking around too and spots in the distance a group of people running into a warehouse. Kids are lying in a crater watching the clouds, but run when they hear the voice through the buildings.

  Lou says to him. “What is it?”

  The Chief points. “People are running into that place.”

  Ava says. “So?”

  The Chief sits on the trunk of a car. “Why taunt us, then run away?”

  Ava’s holding her side like a post marathon runner. “The man I chased down thought we were his friends, and he didn’t want any trouble.”

  Lou says. “Of course he didn’t, he lost.” He puts the shield on his back and looks at the Chief, who’s deep in thought. “If we go in that warehouse, we won’t come out. Let’s just kill our way back to the bikes. We can handle tiny spiders.”

  Ava says. “Fighting the dead and humans in a new city, don’t be too confident, I’ll leave you here in a heartbeat and it’ll be everyman for themselves. Let’s talk it out for a minute before we act brave.”

  Lou says. “It was your idea to come here.”

  Ava says. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  The squabbling reminds the Chief of his grandchildren, he doesn’t say a word and jogs towards the dilapidated warehouse.

  Ava says. “Chief. Don’t.” She swings her head back around the corner, afraid of potential snipers.

  Lou walks up the hood of a car. “What if the Boss is here, like you thought, this area is pretty big and we have been traveling for days now.”

  Ava says. “We need to get to our group and come back fully prepared.”

  Lou says. “We don’t need them.”

  The voice on the microphone sounds closer and says. “Don’t be afraid.”

  Lou’s reloading his rifle. “We can’t let that old fool go alone, and if we have to, we could get hostages and bargain our way out of this.”

  “Out of what?” Ava frowns as she turns on her walkie-talkie. “David if you can hear me, we’re in some city hours northeast of the camp. Crater City. The Boss may be here or not, either way I have a bad feeling about this.” She and Lou run after the Chief.

  The cold megaphonic voice is booming through the buildings. “We come in peace. Take us to your leader.”

  9

  Months ago, a clean-shaven David is walking around the bunker shouting. “Hey Diana, where are you? I got something to show you,” he eventually runs into Ava. “Hey, have you seen my mom?”

  Ava says. “Not today, she’s probably outside getting some air. Why are you so uppity today?”

  David says. “I wanted her to finish showing me some medical technique.” He glances around and behind Ava as if his mom’s hiding on purpose. “See you later.”

  “Whatever.”

  David goes outside and when he gets past the upward stairs, notices most of his group is outside mingling in different small crowds. What a pleasant surprise. Is it someone’s birthday or a Nondenominational holiday?

  Two women close in age are holding hands, turn towards each other, nose-to-nose, and one wipes the other’s dirty chin. Giggling kids race each other with their arms spread out, pretending to be airplanes. A graying woman is picking at her food around friendly faces. Some men stop arguing when they see David approaching. David wonders why he was not invited to the fun in the sun.

  David walks up to Maria and says from one side of his mouth, in a jovial way. “What’s going on? Where’s the fire?”

  Maria says. “It’s your mom, we can’t find her.” David doesn’t hear the rest and panics, pushing the kids out of his way, onto their faces, half running through the entire community. “Where is she?” Usurping the conversations.

  Maria follows him every step of the way. “Everyone’s scared, wondering if someone took her or worst, did she leave the bunker by herself. People are worrying about what will happen to them if someone gets sick.”

  David’s short with her. “What? Fuck them…I don’t care what happens to anyone else.” He marches pass Maria and scrutinizes each crowd of people by pushing heads to the side. With accusatory glares, he asks various people if they know anything. “Diana?” He slaps the bowl of food out of the old woman’s hands. “Say something.”

  Jude rushes David. “Hey.”

  Foul play is to blame here, she wouldn’t leave. David punches the trifling Jude in the mouth, flooring him to the sand. “Don’t touch me.” The crowd fans outward in fear when David looks up.

  All he continues to get is worried faces and nods of no; he breaks through the women couple and sees someone in the distance. David yells at everyone, “She’s coming back. Look.” He flashes an unexpected smile and looks back at Maria. In unison, everyone puts their hands to their foreheads to shield their faces from the harsh sun. Kids are standing behind their parents watching David.

  He runs both of his hands through his hair with his sweaty back to the people. “See everything’s fine. No need to worry. My mom always has a plan.”

  He hears someone in the crowd shout. “It’s Phillip, he’s back.” David feels breathless and zones in on a deep malaise that stifles him from turning around to face the horror of not seeing Phillip with his wife or daughter. The shadow recesses of his mind are portending the unspeakable.

  He shifts through the Rolodex of faces, searching the crowd for Phillip, realizing he’s nowhere to be found. It’s his doing.

  David spins around forthwith, pinpointing Phillip and dispatches up the elevation towards the 4x4 vehicle.

  When the two men reach each other, Phillip stops and gets off the vibrating vehicle and faces David with dirt all over his face around his goggles. He takes a deep breath and holds it.

  David’s palpable impatience skyrockets; he takes hold and squeezes both of Phillip’s biceps over and over. “Where is she?” He flaps his arms loose of the nail digging grip and steps back with conviction, putting space between him and David.

  David says. “Don’t touch me.” He stands with his arms on his hips giving Phillip an inconsequential scowl.

  Phillip cautiously moves in and puts a hand on David to silence him. “I was following her trail for a while, she took one of our vehicles. I’m sorry David, but I don’t know which direction she’s headed in. She had a full tank, she could be miles from here or.”

  David says. “Or dead,” then he leans over and his head’s down to his belly trying to catch his breath. Phillip puts a hand on David’s back. “I’m sorry David…she left, maybe she doesn’t want to be part of this group or to be found.”

  David’s still hunched over. “But why? Was it something I did? I could have went with her and protected her.” David straightens up with the blood rushing to his face, and as Phillip mouths his response, David races toward the 4x4 vehicle.

  Phillip says. “Don’t. For starters, it’s low on gas.”

  The solar bikes are fully charged. David says. “Get out of my way.” He hops on it and sees that Phillip is right. Reroutes the 4x4 vehicle in a circle creating a dust cloud around a coughing Phillip, jolting for the bunker to prepare for the journey of a new life. Phillip’s shielding his face with his arms as he runs for the bunker with his goggles back on and a scarf around his mouth. The nosy crowd scatters like scorpions when all realize, David’s not slowing down.

  Inside the compound, David grabs his backpack and tosses weapons and supplies in, Phillip appears in the doorway and snatches the bag from his hands and throws it into the corner. Phillip says. “You’re not leaving this place, you’re not heading into the wilderness for her.” Phillip’s sand blasted skin feels on fire.

  David goes to pick up his belongings and while crouching over says. “Really? Know your fucking place, don’t make me put you in one.”

  Phillip’s steaming. “You’re not ready, you can’t control wh
at happens out there.” He wipes his forehead, the coarse sand leaves scratches.

  David balls both fists. “I’m in control. I’m going to go look for her and I don’t expect anyone here to help me, but I’m ready.” He’s ambivalent about moving left or right.

  Phillip says. “You don’t remember the thousand yeses I said to you, don’t let this one no ruin our friendship. Think this through, lets not be rash.” He stares in David’s eyes searching for his friend.

  David puffs up his chest. “Get out of my way.”

  Phillip moves to block the doorway. “It’s still too dangerous out there, your mom is most likely dead by now it’s been hours.”

  David lambasts Phillip. “Shut up.” He manically steps around the room. “I’m not a quitter like you, you can’t understand, she’s not your family, see this through my eyes and it won’t be that hard, to know what has to be done. My mom’s not a dumbass, she’s the leader of this group and the reason you’re alive. Surviving is not all about pulling a trigger, that’s the easier part. Hell, your daughter can pull a trigger.”

  Phillip says. “Dickhead, don’t talk about my family…”

  “I’m the whole dick.” David drops his bag. “Listen up. You failed to realize that this group is done for, she knew it, and I’m planning my exit like my mom. What we have here is a bunch of dumbass pussies making more dumbass pussies, including you.”

  Phillip picks David up by the armpits, underestimating his own tenacity and speed, and hesitates before slamming him into wall. In the air, David thrusts his right elbow down on top of Phillip’s head and slides down to the floor as Phillip stumbles a few steps back. He punches Phillip in the mouth a few times before Phillip ducks low and pushes him with both hands causing David to fly and skip on the ground across the room like a pebble on a pond.

  David gets to his elbows then gets up as Phillip comes up to him. David pulls his knife out from the back of his belt. The blade is pointing towards David in a downward sloping angle, ready to slice inward. Phillip looks at the knife. “Who’s the pussy now?” David smiles and says. “There are no rules when it comes to defending your life.” Phillip pulls his knife out and keeps his distance, circling David.

  Maria and Ava run in, before the best friends can swing at each other. Maria screams at Phillip. “Stop this.”

  Phillips says. “Stay out of it.”

  Ava stands in front of David giving him a dirty look, he says to her. “You heard the man, get back.”

  Ava says to David. “You’re a little bitch in sheep’s clothing.”

  Maria then pushes Ava aside to talk to David. “David, why, we’re your family.”

  David says. “No you’re not. He’s in my way. I have to go look for my mother and he thinks he can stop me. I’m the better man, it’s time everyone realizes this. I will hurt anyone in my way.”

  Maria places both of her hands on David’s hand with the knife, like a gracious greeting. “He won’t stop you, because I’m coming with you, I trust you with my life.” She talks as if she’s holding her breath.

  Phillip says. “No one is leaving this fucking place. Maria.” He lowers his knife to talk to her.

  David says. “That won’t be necessary, just keep him out of my way.” David walks out of the room and down the hall.

  Ava’s bouncing on her heels matching David’s hyper-energy, talking to Phillip. “You should have broken his damn neck. I wish you would.”

  Phillip says. “No you don’t, because I don’t, he’s just hardheaded that’s all. He wasn’t going to stab me, he just wanted to scare me and it didn’t work. But he scared Maria into helping him. David will leave and never return.” He drops the heavy knife.

  Phillip sprints pass the two women, through the doorway and down the hallway, shouting. “David.”

  David drops his pack again, faces Phillip. “You don’t need anymore bad karma. That’s why your babies keep dying.”

  Phillip says. “You son of a bitch.” He punches David in the mouth, picks him up against the wall with both hands on his throat. David’s legs dangle in the air; he knees Phillip in the chest a few times, and spits blood in his eyes.

  Phillip drops him and goes down to one knee, so David quickly uppercuts him in the chin, pushing Phillip down to his back. David gets ready to kick the insufferable Phillip in the face, with enough force to kill two men, but delays, when he hears Maria scream. “DON’T.”

  Phillip gets up during the distraction and says to David with both hands. “Give me your best shot.”

  Angling his body first, David throws a straight punch at Phillip’s face; Phillip raises his elbow at the last second to block the blow. David’s fist cracks open on the tip of Phillip’s elbow. David’s wrist absorbs the brunt of the force and he screams in pain hunching over and consoling his hand with the other. Phillip takes this opportunity to grab David by the throat again, and strikes him in the eye, quelling his friend’s rage and knocking him out cold. David’s blue shirt is a muddy maroon, loose around the neck. Maria runs up behind Phillip, as he tries to hit David again on the ground, she jumps on her husband’s back like a lioness and wraps both of her arms around his throat, shouting. “STOP.”

  Phillip tosses her off onto her back, turns to hit a sprawled David; his daughter Abigail’s touching David’s bruised face trying to wake him up. Phillip takes a breath.

  Abigail says. “David.”

  A stooping Phillip slogs away from David with Maria intrusively stepping into him, barking in his ear. He wants to say, but only thinks it, in his rage tightening head. The women in my life love David more. Fuck David and my wife. Both should leave forever.

  10

  In a different room, Maria says to Phillip. “You happy? You almost killed your only friend, his eye is closed shut, and there’s blood all over the hall.”

  Ava says to Maria, after taking a bite from an apple. “David is too arrogant and annoying, let him leave the nest like a bird with a broken wing. He’s going crazy like his mother. Mental illness doesn’t exist, it’s just an excuse to get away with murder.” Maria turns away from facing out of the doorway and slaps Ava. Ava holds her face and stares at Maria. “What the hell?” Both women hold back angry tears.

  Maria says. “You needed that and many more. We’re a family and even though you get mad at family you can never turn your back on family. David’s the best thing to happen to us.”

  Ava goes to sit down. Maria turns around and slaps Phillip, then says, “and that’s for fighting your friend and almost killing me. Men are always hitting each other, just talk it out.”

  Ava nurses her cheek. “Look who’s talking, sis.”

  Maria says. “Both of you need a good kick in the ass. And Phillip, David respects you. How did you expect him to react to bad news with a kiss to the mouth?”

  From behind, Maria’s holding back Phillip by his bulging shoulders like a bull in the bullpen, he says. “He needed that beating, everyone needs to get their ass kicked once in a while to learn respect.” Phillip looks at his vibrating hands then over at Maria; he stares at her for a second. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want him to waste his life chasing after someone who doesn’t value their own life anymore. I won’t let him be eaten by those things that never sleep. I care about him too much for that, he brought us to safety and now our daughter can grow up with both parents, he gave us that blessing.” He rubs his palms across his bleeding face.

  Abigail’s holding a doll by the throat and is leaning her head through the doorway, afraid to take the next step towards her father.

  Maria says. “And now he hates you more than those things.” Phillip’s washing his face while looking into a mirror and Maria again places her hand on his shoulder from behind, but with more kindness. He touches her hand. “I’ll have to live with this moment and his hate, though it’s worth it if it keeps him alive for another day.”

  Maria says. “You’ll have to let him go eventually, he’s more than capable of surviving out there alon
e, you just slowed him down today.” Jude enters in the room unannounced and speaks to Phillip while looking at Maria. “What happened? Phillip, I should know.” Phillip stands up slowly, lets out a deep sigh, tosses the wet towel into a silver bowl, and walks past Jude to check on David, without acknowledging him. Jude watches him leave then wants to chat with Maria as if they’re old friends.

  Maria raises a hand. “Please give us a fucking moment of privacy.” A sulking Jude leaves.

  Ava says to Jude’s back. “Who the fuck are you again?”

  Maria sits down next to Ava, who’s obviously restraining her anger by holding her bouncing leg. “Don’t be mad, the slap wasn’t that hard. I put my back into Phillip’s slap.”

  Maria leans in towards her kid sister, Ava weakly hugs Maria, her arms are like wet noodles sliding around Maria.

  Maria playfully pushes Ava away. “That’s how much you care about me. I love you.” Ava smiles and Maria kisses her on the red slapped cheek.

  She says to Ava. “I know you love David, what’s not to like, he’s impulsive, silly, and cares about everyone, but himself.” Ava looks forward. “You’re just as crazy as David. I never knew you were such a matchmaker. A pity, you missed your calling.”

  Maria says. “I’m not an idiot I’ve seen the way you two are around each other.” She interlocks her fingers. “Opposites that make each other stronger.”

  Ava says. “It’s a small town. He’s tolerable sometimes, but ever since his mom changed, he’s not the same person. He puts on this act like he’s okay and it makes me feel uncomfortable while I’m around him.”

  Maria says. “Maybe he’s pretending to be happy sometimes, but he does that for the people around him, not for himself.”

  Ava puts her head down. “Maybe…I have too much on my mind for romance.”

  Maria stands up. “What do I know? But if I were you I would give him a chance before some of these other lonely girls give him the time of day, he’s young and handsome.”