A GLIMPSE OF DECAY
Book Two: Staring into the Abyss
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by A.J Santiago
Cover art creative attribution to www.CoverDesignStudio.com and Martina K.
Edited by Mike Valentino and K.S. Allen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems – except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews – without the permission in writing from A.J. Santiago.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders.
All the characters in this novel are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
Table Of Contents
Contents
A GLIMPSE OF DECAY
Table Of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Coming Soon
Prologue
With the decay of Paradise now at hand, the season of death loomed on the horizon. As small, unexplainable and odd occurrences began to spread across Europe and Central Asia, the world failed to notice that disaster was quickly approaching. The sun was setting on Man, and by the time it was realized by some, the Abyss was opening and no escape was possible.
The stage was set for the coming of The Zombie Age. The world would be consumed in its bloody afterbirth.
Chapter 1
Day 14
San Antonio, Texas
“Oh my God!” Trent exclaimed. “What did they just say?” He turned and looked at his wife in astonishment as they sat on their living room couch. “Turn it up.” She aimed the TV remote and raised the volume. As she did so, she clutched nervously at her husband’s shoulder with her free hand. The reporter on the television screen, looking rattled and confused, cleared his throat and repositioned himself. Trent and Jennifer could tell that he was having a hard time grasping with what he was trying to report.
“Did he just say what I thought he said?” Trent asked with disbelief.
“Hush! I can’t hear.”
The reporter gathered himself and said, “Yes, Fox News has just received confirmation that the explosion observed by satellite yesterday was indeed a nuclear device that was detonated in a remote region of Russia, just north of the Kazakhstan border. At this time, it’s unclear whether this was some sort of terrorist attack or whether it was a deliberate detonation ordered by the Russian government. It’s important to remember that the area where the explosion took place is the same troubled spot we’ve been reporting on for the past week or so…”
“The virus…or the plague, or whatever it is,” Jennifer nervously said as she gestured towards the TV screen.
“It’s no plague, just some sort of rabies outbreak or something like that,” Trent said.
The reporter cleared his throat and continued. “At this time the Russian government hasn’t offered any official statements or explanations, and as a result of this, U.S. and N.A.T.O. forces are on a heightened state of alert.” The screen faded into a still shot of a picture of southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan; an ominous image of a mushroom cloud superimposed over the Ozersk region. Several red arrows streaking south and west from the border were also placed on the map. “We are also receiving reports that the Kazakhstan government has lost contact with several small villages and towns situated along its northern border with Russia. We aren’t sure if this is a result of the nuclear explosion, or if it’s something else. Several anonymous sources in Kazakhstan have reported that large numbers refugees, including many wounded and injured, have been heading south towards Kostanay and west towards several port cities on the Caspian Sea. And, if that isn’t enough, it looks like the ‘super rabies’ outbreak isn’t rabies after all. For more on this, we got to Omar Sanchez who is at The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.”
The image on the screen split into two and a young man with a tanned complexion and an ill-fitting suit appeared on the right. He was looking down and was fidgeting with his ear piece for a brief moment, and when he looked up, he appeared to be caught off-guard.
“So, are we hearing anything new from the C.D.C., Omar?”
“Things are fairly quiet here, John.” Knowing that he was on a live feed, Omar quickly replaced his vulnerable look with a serious and stern appearance. “Earlier this morning, we spoke with a representative from the C.D.C. All she could tell us was that the center was monitoring the situation in southern Russia, but she was also quick to point out that the Russians’ reluctance to comment on the situation was complicating efforts at trying to learn any new information. The C.D.C. is receiving sporadic reports of some sort of outbreak in northern Kazakhstan, but no one is willing to say if this is connected in any way with that explosion and fire at the plutonium facility reported in southern Russia.”
“And what about the reports that are coming in from that region indicating that the industrial accident is the culprit of the outbreak, and that the rabies story was simply some sort of fabrication on the part of the Russian government?”
“Unfortunately John, we haven’t been able to confirm any of those reports, but one strange thing that does point to some sort of cover-up is the fact that social media has been shut down in that area.”
“Shut down by who?”
“That we don’t know, John.”
“Are there any concerns about the possibility of anything spreading into the rest of Europe, or maybe even reaching the United States?”
“There’s been no mention about any worries of it spreading here, but when asked about the potential of the outbreak spreading into Kazakhstan, the C.D.C. said that it was definitely a possibility.”
“And the State Department…are they saying anything?”
“John, the State Department has issued a brief statement saying that they were in contact with the Russian president and prime minister, but that’s all they would say. Also, Fox News has learned that all U.S. military forces have been placed on full alert and leave is being canceled for all military members.”
“Wow, that sounds serious,” the anchor commented.
“No shit,” Jennifer chirped. “Can’t he say something smarter than that?”
“Unfortunately, John, the media blackout imposed by the Russian government is really keeping us in the dark. We do have news teams headed to Kazakhstan and hopefully within a couple of days, we can get a better idea of what is going on in that troubled region.”
“An outbreak of some new disease, a nuclear explosion, and a state-imposed media blackout…not good,” the anchor summed up with a demonstrative nod of his head. “I am sure if anything new develops down in Atlanta, you’ll let us know right away. After the break, we’ll take a look at how this new development in Russia can affect the already fragile economies here in the U.S. and in Europe…”
“Man, can you believe that?” Trent stood up and pointed at the television. “Can you believe that shit?”
“This worries me, baby,” Jennifer said in a shaky voice. One of the girls at work was talking about this yesterday. She said her husband was saying that they were going to start buying more bottled water and some canned food…you know…in case something happened here. Now that this nuclear bomb-thingy has happened
, maybe we should take some precautions?”
“We don’t even know what’s going on over there. For all we know, it could already be on its way over here. I bet it’s worse than anyone wants to admit, that’s why the Russians are keeping quiet.”
“You think so?”
“I’d be willing to bet money on it,” Trent said in a firm tone. “I also think that our government knows a lot more about this than what they’re saying, and it sucks that they’re keeping us in the dark. Shit, they probably have people over there by now.”
Jennifer stood up and walked over into the kitchen. She opened up the pantry and began taking stock of everything on the shelves.
“What are you doing?”
“I just want to see what we have in here.”
“Don’t get worried.” Trent realized that his rant had frightened her and he knew that he needed to regain his composure. In a soothing voice he said, “Nothing is going to happen here.”
“What makes you so sure about that?”
Trent walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Because all that shit is a million miles away, and because our government wouldn’t let any of that nonsense into this country. And, if anything did happen, I would make sure you and Diego would be kept safe. I love you and I wouldn’t let anything happen to you…to either of you.”
Jennifer turned herself around, making sure that she didn’t break free from Trent’s comforting arms. She looked at him with a fearful expression and she said, “I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to us.”
“Trust me, no matter what happens, I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
Jennifer sunk her face into his chest and let out a deep, relieved sigh. As she reflected on Trent and his confidence, she began to think about Dolores and Michael. She felt bad that Dolores didn’t have anyone to count on like she had with Trent. She hadn’t heard from her in a couple of days, and she knew that she should have been checking on her more, but she didn’t want to be a nag either.
Jennifer backed away from Trent as she gathered herself. “Hey hun, would you mind watching Diego for a while. I’d like to call Dolores and maybe take her out to dinner. She’s been having such a hard time with Eduardo lately. I just feel so bad for her.”
“That guy is never going to change,” Trent said with disdain in his voice.
“I know.” She closed the pantry door and walked over to the counter, picking up the phone.
“Sure, go ahead. I’m sure she could use someone to talk to.”
Jennifer dialed Dolores’s cell phone. She received a generic notification that the number was not accepting calls. She hit the disconnect button and tried her home number. After the fifth ring, the voice mailbox activated. Jennifer walked back into the living room and nervously dialed the cell number again. When she received the same notification, she quickly picked up her purse from the couch and made her way to the door.
“Did ya reach her?” Trent called from the kitchen. He was washing off some baby carrots that he was going to take upstairs to Diego.
Jennifer intentionally avoided answering him. She knew that Trent would be leery of her going over to Dolores’s if there was any possibility of trouble. “Okay hun, I’ll be back later on.” She hurriedly rushed out of the door and jumped into her car.
***
It was nearly seven in the evening and rush hour had just about died down. She found Highway 281 free from any traffic jams and she was able to make her way down to the south side of San Antonio within fifteen minutes. As she rolled up to the front of Dolores’s small home, she saw her car in the driveway. Parked directly behind it was Eduardo’s big motorcycle. Dread was beginning to creep up in her.
She knocked on the front door for several minutes to no avail. Not knowing what else to do, she walked over to Dolores’s beat up Maxima and looked in through the windows. She saw Dolores’s cell phone sitting on the front passenger seat—an immediate sense of helplessness grabbed at her—and she ran back over to the front door, banging on it with a desperate sense of urgency. She then took her cell phone out of her purse and called Dolores’s home. She could hear the phone ringing inside of the house.
“Dolores, please answer the door,” she called out in desperation. She sprinted over to a front window and peered into the darkened home. Slapping on the pane with the palm of her hand, she continued to call out her friend’s name. She then cautiously stepped back from the house, as if it was threatening her, and she kept a wary eye on the front door. She went back over to Dolores’s car and she decided to call the police.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?” asked the 911 dispatcher in a disinterested tone.
“Hello…I think something has happened to my friend. I’m over at her house and she won’t answer her door.”
“And what makes you think something has happened to your friend?”
“She’s been having problems with her boyfriend…he’s beaten her up in the past…and his motorcycle and her car are here at her house and no one will answer the door. I’ve tried calling her, but her cell phone is in her car and no one will answer the house phone.” Jennifer’s voice was beginning to crack.
“Okay, what’s your friend’s address?” The dispatcher now sounded interested.
“It’s Eleven Thirty-Five South White Oak. Please hurry…I’m so afraid that something bad has happened.”
“Ok ma’am, we’ll send an officer out there…just make sure you stay by your phone.”
“I will.” Jennifer hung up and as she was about to call Trent, an elderly Hispanic woman stepped out of the home next to Dolores’s.
“Is something going on?” the lady asked.
“I can’t get my friend to answer her door,” Jennifer said in a trembling voice. “Have you seen her?”
“Ay Dios mio,” the woman said. “I knew I should have called the police last night. I could hear them arguing until about two in the morning.”
“And you didn’t see them leave?”
“No, I figured that they went to sleep or something. I always hear them arguing, and I’ve tried to tell her that her boyfriend—that pendejo—is no good for her, but she never listens.”
Filled with gloom from the neighbor’s words, Jennifer frantically dialed Trent and walked back towards Dolores’s car. When she heard his voice on the other end of the line, she could no longer control herself. She began to sob as she tried to talk to him.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” Trent asked.
“It’s Dolores…she won’t answer her door…and Eduardo’s motorcycle is here in the driveway.” She wiped the snot away from her nostrils as it bubbled out with each sniffle. “I don’t know what to do!”
“Okay, get ahold of yourself. I’ll drop Diego off at Connie’s and I’m headed that way. Did you call the police already?” Trent could hear the fear in his wife’s voice and he too was now frightened. Holding his cell phone, he ran over to Diego’s room and scooped him up from the floor as the child was playing with several of his toy trucks. Trent grabbed his car keys and sprinted out of the house.
“The neighbor told me that she heard Dolores and Eduardo arguing last night, but no one called the police.”
“Okay, I’m on the way to you baby…just stay away from the house. You don’t know if Eduardo is still in there or if he is stoned out of his mind or what—just please stay away from the house.”
“I will.” Hearing the sound of a car engine, she turned and saw a black and white police car coming down the street. The cruiser came to a stop in front of the house and a patrol officer exited the car. “The police are here now,” Jennifer said as she tried to wipe the tears from her face. “I gotta go.”
The officer, a dark haired man in his mid-thirties and with a thin face, walked up to Jennifer. As he fidgeted with the police radio on his gun belt, he could see that she was in distress. “What’s going on here?” he asked.
“My friend lives here, but I can’t get her to open the door. She has a
n abusive boyfriend and I think he did something to her.” She was fighting back her tears as she clutched her cell phone to her chest.
The police officer looked over at the house and let out a small sigh. “Yeah, I’m familiar with these people. I’ve had to come here before—most of us have had to come here before—for her boyfriend. I’ve told her lots of times that she needed to get rid of the bum. Even when he’s hit her, she tries to cover for him, and she won’t follow through with any kind of charges.”
Jennifer looked out at the surrounding houses and saw that several people were now standing on their porches, all looking towards Dolores’s home. She turned back to the officer and read his name tag. “Please Officer Rossi, can you see if she is alright? One of the neighbors told me that she heard them arguing late last night. I’m so afraid that something bad has happened.”
“Yeah, just stay here, okay?” He slowly approached the house and walked up to the front door. Cautiously standing to one side of it, he slapped on it with the bottom of his palm, loudly announcing, “San Antonio Police…you need to come to the front door!”
Jennifer stood back at the cruiser and was feeling helpless as Rossi continued to bang on the door. A second patrol car pulled up and a young female officer exited the vehicle and quickly made her way towards Rossi. As she approached him, she asked, “The same bullshit again?”
“Yeah…again. The lady who called it in is a friend of Dolores’s and she said that the neighbor told her that she heard Dolores and numb nuts arguing last night.” Rossi, as well as most of the other officers on his shift, were familiar with Dolores and her problems with Eduardo, and they all knew the turbulent couple by their first names.
“Damn, maybe he did something to her this time,” the female officer said. “And they have a little kid together, right?”
“Yeah, and that’s what worries me the most.” Rossi backed away from the door and walked around to a wooden gate on the side of the home. “Let’s check out the back.”
A Glimpse Of Decay (Book 2): Staring into the Abyss Page 1