"We need to kill it," May said.
I slipped the metal object in my pocket. "I'm sorry to be the one that has to tell you this, but it’s already dead." I walked toward them.
"She’s right," Malak said.
"I'm always right," I said.
"No, not you." She shook her head. "We have to…put it to rest."
Although I thought the zombie was resting fine on the seat, they might have a point. Was it our moral duty to put an end to their suffering, which raised another question. Were they hurting?
A high-pitched slapping sound followed by a splash stopped me in my tracks.
"What was that?" Malak whispered.
"The pool?" Deema asked.
"Did we lock the front and screen doors?" May asked.
We did lock the doors. But the idea that we might be locking in something with us echoed in my head, my body trembling at the very thought.
“I think there’s something in the pool,” Malak said, peeking from the window.
The unknown sent a new wave of insecurity through me, and my mouth went dry. My hand shook slightly, and it became harder to swallow with every passing, quiet second. I tried to conceal it as best as I could. I was the oldest and I didn't want to alarm the others, but someone needed to be in control. "We should go out and check what it is," I said.
"Are you crazy?" May’s voice caused the zombie to notice us again. "What is wrong with you all? Am I the only one here that’s normal?"
"First of all, define normal. Second of all, we need to stick together and go out there to check what made the sound." I looked at May. "Last but not least, I have a gun." That I didn't even know how to use. I completed the sentence in my mind.
"Do we have enough bullets?" Malak asked.
"There should be a few left in this one," I said. I didn't know how many bullets this magazine held, but I knew I only used a few.
We walked toward the door. Deema was the first to go out to investigate the sound. This action made me understand the impulse driving people to make obviously bad decisions when put in an obscure situation. I fully comprehended that it was the wrong decision, especially to anyone watching from a safe distance. We might be putting ourselves in danger; however, it was a mistake you would naturally take. We feared the dark because we’re biologically programmed to do so. Horror often operated best when it played off core notions of the unknown. So whatever the situation was, the unknown was far scarier than the known. And the more we know, the less frightening it becomes. So we are motivated to remove the unknown element to ensure our survival. We needed to grasp what we were up against. But the question throbbing on my mind was, will knowing what is out there lurking in the dark make it less horrifying? Or will it make it visibly frightening? We walked close. I dug my hand in my pocket, fishing for my phone. The rough denim rubbed against my hand. It was empty. Where’s my phone? I think I left it inside. But everyone else was flashing their phones in all directions, so I could see around well enough. There was nothing out here. The leaves rustled around us. The disturbed swimming pool came into view. The water surface rippled, creating small waves in the wake of the unsettling splash. Someone or something recently jumped in, or did it get out? I leaned in closer, the water revealing only a blurry image of what lay beneath. After a few seconds, the water started to settle. Something emerged under the layers of water.
"What is that?" Malak asked.
We all kept quiet over the water, trying to figure what it was we were looking at. Whatever it was in there, it was moving. The water finally stood still, crystal clear visibility. And that’s when I saw it. I was looking from a top angle at human heads, at least ten of them. Their bodies did not float or come out for air. They were fully submerged underwater, wandering aimlessly at the bottom. Pacing in circles. Zombies.
"They are oxygen-independent. They stay and walk underwater," Deema said. "Fascinating."
"I don't know if ‘fascinating’ is the word I would use," I said.
"Wait," Malak said, narrowing her focus under the water. "I think I found Mary."
"Your maid?" May asked. "What is she doing down there?"
We all turned around and looked at May. My sarcastic nature found it very hard to resist speaking out even in times of crisis, but miraculously I was able to hold it in.
"How do you know it’s her?" Deema asked.
"Neon green bandanna," Malak answered.
I leaned in closer over the water and saw it—a figure drifted around with a green neon bandanna. There she was. The search for her stopped. We lost her.
"She turned," Malak said. "How? When?”
"The fish. Mom’s sick fish bit her or scratched her," I said. "I think it is confirmed if your bitten by an animal of the dead you will become one of them." They needed to know about May’s cat, something was not right. I looked at May and turned back to Malak. "There’s something I have to tell you—”
A knocking came from the main house’s door. Three loud knocks.
Knock…knock…knock…
"A zombie!" May whispered.
"Why would a zombie knock the door?" I asked.
The knocking continued getting louder.
Knock…knock…knock…
We all walked to the door, leaving the pool full of zombies behind us. We stood behind the door. A soft, quiet, gentle tap on the door was followed by a man’s voice.
"Sara," the voice said in a clear low tone. "Sara, are you in there?"
"It's someone that knows you," Deema said.
The voice sounded recognizable, but I couldn’t narrow it down to a person. I might have become voice-deaf from all the sirens. We all took a quick look at each other. I approached the door and extended a hand to the doorknob.
"What are you doing?' May asked.
"I'm opening the door, what does it look like I'm doing?" I said, my fingers on the cool metal handle.
"We don't know who it is," May said.
"That's why I'm opening the door," I said, looking at Malak nodding. "Whoever it is, he knows me.”
"Sara, please open the door," he said over our voices.
I pressed my hand down and twisted the handle, firmly holding the gun in my other hand. The door did not resist and cracked open. It was dark, only a shadow stood behind the door. My eyes slowly adjusted, and the blurry figure took a familiar shape. The girls crept up behind me. The shadow formed into focus.
Chapter 23
Dammam hospital, Eastern Province. Saudi Arabia.
One week earlier
Light flashed, reflecting the ambulances lined up outside the main building. Paramedics wheeling in patients nonstop, they could barely catch up. The hospital was in complete, utter chaos. Trollies scrapping the cold white walls as the medical staff ran back and forth through the double doors. Moans of pain and smell of death sliced the air in the wards. The walls of the hospital had never witnessed so much death, nor did anyone within it.
“Where was this patient brought in from?” a doctor asked, examining a patient’s hand. He stood in the overcrowded hallway.
“He was attacked leaving his house, trying to get into his car,” the nurse replied.
“These bites came from animals that shouldn’t be around these parts,” the doc said. “This is not their natural habitat.”
“The animals strayed a bit from their natural habitat.” The nurse wiped the wound with alcohol swabs. “Why is it serious?”
The doctor's face exhibited pure fear his eyes could not conceal. “This could have been considered a stray animal if it was only one. There are over eighty-seven victims reported only in the last few days. And from different species. The only thing these animals have in common is they are all far from their feeding grounds.”
“Could these animals be relocating, looking for food?” the nurse wondered.
“I highly doubt this. These animals live only in the deepest parts of the deserts,” he said picking up some medical tools, “where there are plenty of food sources.
”
“So?” the nurse said.
“So something drove them to the city, something scared them enough to make them abandon their home.”
“Should I call animal control?” the nurse asked.
“I am not sure,” the doctor said after a second’s pause.
A few hours went by, and the number of victims only increased with every passing hour. They all showed a series of unusual symptoms. First, a high fever and foaming at the mouth, alongside violent behavior, then eventually an unnatural death. The incubation period varied from one person to another. Doctor Talal was the head of the ER department. He was the best in his field, and after years of experience, nothing quite confused him such as the cases he’d been dealing with lately. He stayed on top of the cases, following them carefully. He was to be notified of any changes in the conditions. He asked them to wake him up from his three hours of sleep if there were any new changes. He hadn’t been getting a straight three hours’ sleep for a few days now, and it was starting to catch up with him. After testing over eighty patients, he could safely assume the closer the bite to the head the faster the infection spread, and the shorter the incubation. Ultimately death. Dr. Talal kept a journal, in which he documented every little detail. He needed more time and better equipment relaxing the complexity of the situation. The more findings he uncovered, the wider the possibilities become. It was like a plain, blank jigsaw puzzle, where he had all the answers in front of him, but he couldn't find the right connection nor see the whole picture. He requested immediate biopsy samples, and with his order, they set up an external camp. He did his usual top of the hour rounds in the departments. He made a quick detour to the morgue, standing over the corpses. There were too many to properly store them before transporting them.
“What are we dealing with?” Dr. Talal said, staring down at the bodies lying on the slabs. He stormed out and went to his office. He sat in his chair and with both legs on the table while he played with a pen. He was waiting for the line to connect him. He grew impatient, and planted his feet back on the ground and sipped on his fourth double espresso of the night. The line finally opened.
“You’ve reached the pathology department at the university. How may I assist you?”
“Patch me through to Professor Mishari. It is urgent.”
“At once, sir.” The secretary directed his call, unaware of the true urgency of the call.
After Talal explained to Professor Mishari everything he knew, Mishari paused for what seemed to be a whole minute, not knowing what step he should be taking next.
“Talal, I will send you an airplane at once with the equipment you need to set up. All my resources are under your service,” Mishari said.
Doctor Talal nodded and contacted the head of security.
“We will try everything and extract every possible method,” Talal said and hung up. He immediately contacted the head of security. “I need cameras all over the place. I want to see everyone coming in and out, especially out,” he emphasized.
The nurse that usually knocked on the door just walked in Talal’s office, looking exhausted and sleep deprived herself. “I’m sorry I forgot to knock.”
“It has been a long day. I understand.” Talal smiled. “Any updates?”
“We tried injecting them with antibiotic you asked.” She shook her head. “Nothing is working.”
Talal stood and lost his balance for a second. He placed one hand on the table and another on his warm forehead.
“Are you okay, sir?” the nurse asked.
“Yes, I am. I was just bitten by one of the patients. I’ll be fine.”
Chapter 24
"Rakan,” I said, his features became clear. "What are—"
"Sara, you’re alright." He took a step forward.
"What are you doing here?" I asked confusedly and stepped back, my hand on the door handle.
"Can we come in, please?" he asked politely.
"Yeah, sure," I said. We? I tucked the gun in my back pocket, releasing the door and stood aside to make room for him to enter.
"Go," Rakan addressed a shadow behind him, and he walked in slowly. He seemed taller than usual. Another guy followed him. I reverted my attention back to Rakan. I almost did not recognize him; it was the first time I saw him out of his usual traditional wear. He was dressed in a black, fitted undershirt, over it a coal colored jacket. The bottom cargo pants were a lighter shade of gray. The guy next to him was in a desert camouflage uniform. Army. Both strapped on thigh holsters. Both armed.
“Rakan?” May asked, coming out as a whisper and looked at me.
"This is Rakan?" Malak said.
"Yeah he works with me." I flicked my gaze to May, then to Malak, then back to Rakan. "What are you doing here and how did you know where I live?"
"I got your address from your employee file at work," he said. "I know your dad's not here. I thought you might be alone and in need of help.” He looked genuinely worried as he glanced at us.
"Yeah, we’re fine," I said. My skin tingled, and I was suddenly aware of how messy I looked.
"That's good," he said.
"Yeah. Uh…” I turned around, looking back at the girls. "This is my younger sister, Malak, and my friends May and Deema. Girls, this is Rakan, my coworker and um." I paused, glancing at the other guy, waiting for him to complete my sentence. I caught Rakan staring at May with a puzzled expression.
"Sorry," Rakan said. He turned his gaze from May to the guy next to him. “This is Faisal. He's my cousin." Faisal stepped forward and nodded. There was a slight resemblance. They were the same height, and Faisal possessed the same sharp features with dark hair and eyes. Just as handsome.
"Was anyone bit by those things? " Rakan asked, scanning us, searching for any visible injuries I assumed.
"I was pushed a few times by one but that's pretty much it.” I shrugged. He did not flinch. He was so serious. "No, none of us were bitten."
"By humans or animals?" Faisal asked, a little more specific.
"She said no," May blurted out defensively. Malak and Deema regarded May for a few seconds. I bit my lower lip. I didn’t think it would be the best time to mention it.
"What are you anyway?" I asked, inspecting Faisal’s uniform.
"Army?" Malak asked.
"Yes," Faisal said firmly.
“Do any of your phones work?” Malak asked. They both shook their heads.
"Is this place secure?" Faisal asked and shut the door behind him.
"Define secure?" I asked.
Rakan turned to face me, his medium short hair parted evenly down the middle and moved softly as he did. "Can those things get in? Have you encountered any break-ins?" His gray eyes sparkled under the moonlight, looking more intense in contrast with his midnight hair.
"I'm not sure how to answer that. There were intruders, but I think they came in through the door, not really breaking in. The door was open when we got here," I explained.
"Where are they now?" Rakan asked.
"Umm… swimming." I pointed at the pool. "They don't seem to be able to climb out of the pool. So we’re safe until they wanna tan." Rakan was too busy scanning the area to notice my out-of-place humor.
"We need to seal the doors," Rakan said, taking full charge. Wait, was he in control now? I hated them sweeping in and taking over, but I believed our chances of survival increased by having them around. They have guns, and with the exception of May, were the only ones who could use them.
"You’re a soldier?" Malak asked Faisal. "Maybe you can give us some answers."
"I don't carry any answers. It was pretty much every man for himself when our commander and general both were shot dead, and got right up again trying to eat us," he said.
"People are coming back from the dead," Malak said uneasily, "tell us something we don't know.”
"I don't know much. I was called in with my platoon to control an uprising not far from here. We walked into a kill zone," Faisal said, “almost felt ambushed.�
��
"How many are there?" Deema asked. “The dead?”
"Too many. We thought we could take them out because they attack randomly and aimlessly, not to mention their lack of coordination. I had no doubts they would not be able to defeat an organized army, but they pushed those limits," Faisal said.
"Can they be stopped?" I asked.
"We tried everything. At first, we tried cutting off their limbs, and even filling them with so many holes they were see-through. Headshots seem to do it, and decapitation is an extra precaution if we want to be sure.”
"That’s graphic," May said.
"Head shots don’t always work," I muttered, thinking out loud.
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