Rise of the Undead (Book 6): Apocalypse Z

by Higgins, Baileigh

  Daniel stormed in, followed by a trio of soldiers. “We’ve secured the perimeter. The zombies have been neutralized.”

  “Thank you,” Tara whispered. For a moment, she wanted to do nothing more than collapse to the ground, but there was much to do.

  Several of the survivors, including Amanda, sported bite wounds. As for the dead, they would soon rise as zombies if they weren’t taken care of.

  “Dylan, can you please gather all the survivors and take them to the ward that was set up for infections and bites?” Tara asked. “We need to start treatment straight away.”

  “Yes, of course,” Dylan said, managing a weary salute. “Thank you for coming when we needed you. I thought we were done for.”

  Tara grabbed Dylan and gave her an impromptu hug. “What are friends for?”

  As Dylan and the rest filed away, Tara turned to Daniel. “We need to make sure the dead don’t rise. Can you take care of that?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Daniel said, barking out orders.

  While they set about their grizzly task, Tara wandered to the exit. Outside, silence had fallen. Thick and heavy.

  Greta guarded the door, and she turned to Tara. “It’s over.”

  “Over?”

  “The dead are gone. We won,” Greta said, pushing open the door.

  “We did?” Tara repeated, stepping outside.

  A scene of death and destruction awaited. Smoke curled from smoldering craters, and corpses littered the ground. Soldiers yelled to one another as they picked through the rubble and debris. Injured fighters cried out for help while others looked for friends and loved ones.

  “Tara?” a disbelieving voice called. It was Saul, his clothes bloodied and torn. “What are you doing here? You should be inside the lab.”

  Tara ignored him and flung herself into his waiting arms. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you’re still alive.”

  Saul crushed her to his chest, expelling the breath from her lungs. “We won, sweetheart. We won.”

  “I know, but we lost so many,” Tara murmured.

  “Yes, but now we can rebuild, my love. We can start again,” Saul replied.

  “The wounded. You need to get them inside, and the dead will turn if you don’t stop it from happening,” Tara said, pulling back.

  “I know,” Saul said.

  “And everyone has to be checked for the virus. We can’t let it run wild and spread throughout the base,” Tara said.

  “I know, love,” Saul said.

  “And what about Nick? Alex?” Tara asked.

  “They’re alive, last I saw,” Saul said.

  “The community center? Amy? Jenny?”

  “Safe. They’re all safe,” Saul said, grabbing her arms. “Tara, you can relax. It’s over, and we’ll take care of everything. We planned for this, I promise.”

  “You did?” Tara asked.

  “Of course. You warned us about all of this, remember?” Saul said, pointing to a team of soldiers loading injured people onto stretchers. Others walked around, stabbing the dead in the head with spears while more shored up the defenses.

  “I did,” Tara said, still feeling numb.

  “You’re in shock, love. I think you need to sit down,” Saul said, taking her by the elbow.

  As he prepared to lead her back inside, a woman ran toward them. “Tara, wait!”

  “Selene, what is it?” Tara asked.

  “The rats. They’re still normal. They didn’t turn,” Selene cried, her eyes wild with excitement.

  “They didn’t?”

  “No, they fought it off. They didn’t succumb to the Vita virus,” Selene said, grabbing Tara’s hands.

  As Selene’s words broke through the fog of apathy that surrounded her brain, joy set in. With a loud whoop, she jumped up and down with Selene, not caring if they looked like silly schoolgirls.

  “What does that mean?” Saul asked with a frown.

  Tara whirled toward him with shining eyes. “It means the vaccine worked. We’ve still got a long way to go, of course. Testing, and more testing, but if it worked on the rats, it could work on us.”

  “I can’t believe it. You did it,” Saul said. “I always thought you would, but it’s finally happened.”

  As Tara looked around, the death and destruction no longer seemed so final. Yes, it was awful, and many had died. Still, the scene was now colored in hope.

  Hope and possibility.

  She reached out for Saul’s hand. “Come on, my love. We have much to do.”

  Chapter 24 - Jenny

  Jenny clung to Amy’s hand as they walked out of the community center. She was scared even though Rufus told her not to be. All day long, she’d heard the most terrible noises. Booms and crashes that shook the earth until she thought they would all die.

  Not even George could make her feel better. He, too, grew frightened at the sounds and huddled close to her side. Whenever he whined, she wanted to cry.

  At least, she did until Amy told her to be a big girl. Now she was trying her hardest to be brave and walk out into the sunshine without whimpering.

  “Where are all the zombies?” she asked.

  “They’re all gone, sweetie,” Amy said.

  “Really?”

  “I promise.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the school, sweetie. They’ve set up a special class for all the children. It’s going to be so much fun.”

  “Can George come too?”

  “Of course, he can,” Amy said with a reassuring smile.

  “Okay, then,” Jenny said, her fears suddenly forgotten. Being brave wasn’t so hard, after all.

  ***

  Maria Guadalupe Espinoza used to be a beautiful woman before the Vita virus took control of her brain and body. Now, after migrating thousands of miles to the north, little remained of her once-famous looks.

  One ankle was broken, and the bones ground together as she walked. It was a mercy that she couldn’t feel anything—nothing but the hunger that is.

  Maria shuffled past the giant yellow school bus in search of food. She didn’t know what had happened to the rest of her brethren. They were all gone. Dead and gone.

  But not she. She remained

  Suddenly, her senses stirred when she spotted living flesh. It was a small one with long dark hair in a braid down its back. It walked behind another one with yellow hair, and an animal on four legs sauntered beside it.

  Maria didn’t care. All she cared about was meat. With a growl, she reached for the small one. Her curved fingers almost had it when the animal turned on her with a fierce snarl. Before Maria could react, the animal pounced. Its heavy body bore her to the ground, and ivory teeth tore out her throat.

  The last thing Maria saw was the yellow-haired human aiming a sharp stick at her face. After that, nothing but darkness.

  Epilogue I - Dylan

  Dylan threaded her fingers through Nick’s as they walked down the path of remembrance. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, and the air was redolent with the smell of ripening fruit. Bees buzzed between the branches of the trees, and wispy clouds floated in a pastel-blue sky.

  The cobbled path wound between rows and rows of fruit trees: Cherry trees, peach trees, fig trees, apple trees, lemon trees, and orange trees. Just about anything that would grow with a reasonable amount of success.

  A brick wall covered in names bordered the path, and now and then they’d stop to gaze at a specific one: Richard, Ethan, Brenda, Mike, and many, many more. All of them brave souls who sacrificed their lives for loved ones.

  Because they lacked the space, they couldn’t have a cemetery. Instead, Amanda had come up with the idea of a fruit orchard where everyone’s ashes could be scattered after cremation. Dylan found it to be a lovely thought. A mite depressing, but beautiful.

  “I’m glad it’s all over,” Dylan said.

  “Well, not really,” Nick replied. “There are still tons of zombies out there.”

  �
��I know, but there are no more hordes. Not after Mount Weather mopped up the other one, and we took care of the rest.”

  “You’re right, of course. We can finally start over. Humanity has a fighting chance now. At least, we do. I don’t know about the rest of the world,” Nick said.

  “We’ll find out soon enough, I suspect,” Dylan said.

  “True, and until then, I plan on being as ordinary as possible,” Nick said.

  Dylan snorted. “You? Ordinary?”

  “You know what I mean,” Nick said. “No more tackling zombies for me.”

  Dylan laughed. “I get it. No more heroics and grand battles for us.”

  “Exactly. From now on, I plan to focus on normal things like mowing the lawn and learning how to cook.”

  “Cook?” Dylan asked.

  “Well, one of us has to seeing as you can’t,” Nick said.

  “Mm, while you are in such a domestic frame of mood, I have a confession to make,” Dylan said.

  “What?” Nick asked with a suspicious frown.

  Dylan gripped both his hands and drew him off the path. “This is rather serious, so please, don’t freak out.”

  “Now, you’re scaring me.”

  “It’s nothing to be scared about, but it is a big responsibility,” Dylan said, gazing deep into his eyes.

  “What is it, Dylan?” Nick said. “Spit it out.”

  “Well, pretty soon, there will be three of us,” Dylan said.

  Nick’s eyes widened. “Three of us?”

  “That’s right. How do you feel about the pitter-patter of little feet around the house?” Dylan said, studying his expression in minute detail.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Nick admitted. “I mean…this is huge. This is so much more than I expected so soon. How would we…can we do it?”

  “It is a big deal,” Dylan agreed, enjoying his panic to the fullest. “I hope you’re not unhappy about this?”

  “Unhappy? Er, no! Of course, I’m happy for you. For us,” Nick stuttered.

  Dylan allowed the moment to stretch out before deciding to put him out of his misery. “Mandy Baker’s dogs just had puppies, and I told her I wanted one.”

  Nick’s jaw hit the ground. “You evil little witch. You really had me going there.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Dylan said, laughing long and hard. “You should’ve seen your face.”

  “That was just cruel,” he muttered, folding his arms.

  ‘But so worth it,” Dylan crowed.

  “I’ll get you back for that,” Nick vowed.

  “Oh, I’m counting on it,” Dylan said.

  Suddenly, Nick frowned. “A dog? Another George? Not a chance in hell.”

  “Oh, come on. He’s not that bad.”

  “That dog is a monster,” Nick vowed.

  “Just think about it. You’ll have two monsters in the house,” Dylan teased, drawing closer. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. “It can’t be that bad, right?”

  Nick hesitated. “Maybe not.”

  “Just give it a chance,” Dylan coaxed.

  “Alright,” Nick conceded. “For you, I’ll give it a shot. My beautiful monster.”

  Epilogue II - Tara

  Tara walked along the newly-laid cobble road toward the school, carrying a leather suitcase in one hand. Tree branches swayed above her head, and the leaves cast dappled shadows beneath her booted feet. One heel slipped on a smooth stone, and she stumbled. “Oh, crap.”

  “Careful, my love,” Saul cautioned, reaching out one hand to steady her progress.

  She flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks, babe. I probably shouldn’t have worn heels today.”

  “Why not? You can do anything you want now,” he said. “We’re on the brink of a new world.”

  It was true. Or, almost true. Yes, the undead were still a danger. Even though they could no longer infect people with their bite, they could still kill. But their numbers were dwindling, and their hold on the future lessened with each passing day. Humanity had survived its worst nightmare and was clawing its way back into the light.

  All over the country, communities were popping up, led by enterprising leaders. These miniature cities were well-fortified and blended in with the land. Solar power and aqueducts provided many of these with electricity and water, while power stations and water plants were being revived. Willing hands built schools, clinics, churches, and homes, the materials stripped from old cities that were now little more than ghost towns.

  Trade routes crossed the land, while small aircraft and boats delivered emergency supplies to those in need. Cellphones and the internet were a thing of the past, and libraries enjoyed renewed popularity. Everyone knew how to fight, survive, handle a weapon, and live off the land. Each person did their share and contributed to the greater good. In many ways, life was simpler.

  Each week, Fort Detrick sent out a vaccine and cure shipment to other towns and communities. Under Tara’s watchful eye, they were slowly stepping up production. She hoped to have every human being in the country inoculated by the end of the year.

  That didn’t mean there were no challenges to overcome. Food security remained an ongoing concern for many, as did access to healthcare. Factories and mines languished, and raiders were common, a scourge on the land. But none of that mattered at the moment. Not today.

  They reached the paved steps leading up to the new school, and a familiar figure awaited them at the top. It was Amy. Her blonde hair hung down one shoulder in a thick braid, and her blue eyes studied them with a wisdom far beyond her years. “Hi, Tara. Saul.”

  “Amy,” Tara acknowledged. “Are the children ready for me?”

  “As ready as they’ll ever be. You know kids,” Amy replied, waving a hand at the entrance to the school.

  “Have you got all the permission slips?” Tara asked.

  “Every single one,” Amy said, beaming down at them.

  “I can’t believe it,” Tara exclaimed. “Everyone?”

  “That’s right. I managed to convince all the parents to let their kids get the shot. By the end of the day, the Vita virus won’t be a threat to them anymore.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Tara said, walking up the steps.

  She followed Amy into the hall, where the children waited in a long line. They giggled when they saw Tara, and she supposed they were nervous.

  Amy had set up a booth for her complete with a table, chairs, waste bin, and a sheet for a curtain. “Here you go. I hope this is okay.”

  “This is perfect, thanks,” Tara said, sitting down. She opened up her suitcase and removed the first vial of the vaccine. After organizing her equipment, she beckoned to Amy. “I’m ready for the first one and tell them not to be afraid. It doesn’t hurt, and it’ll be over before they know it.”

  Amy obliged, and the first child stepped into the booth. It didn’t take long for a kind of rhythm set in, and the afternoon passed quickly. Before long, all the children had been inoculated, except one.

  Jenny stepped into the booth, chewing on a thumbnail. Her eyes were like saucers and her cheeks pale.

  “I saved the best for last,” Amy teased as she ushered Jenny forward.

  “Jenny, how nice to see you,” Tara said with a wide smile. “Come give me a hug.”

  Jenny gave Tara a quick hug before pointing at the needle. “Does it hurt?”

  “A tiny bit, but you can handle it, I’m sure. You’re a big girl now,” Tara said.

  Jenny nodded. “Okay, but make it quick.”

  Tara gave her the jab. “There you go. All done.”

  “See? It wasn’t so bad,” Amy said, producing a candy bar from her pocket. “And here’s your reward just like I promised. Now you can play with your friends.”

  “Bye, Amy. Bye Auntie Tara and Uncle Saul,” Jenny cried before running off.

  Tara stared after her. “I can’t believe how much she’s grown.”

  “Yup, she’ll be taller than me soon,” Amy said.


  Saul snorted. “It doesn’t take much.”

  Amy rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  “Does she still talk to that stuffed bear?” Tara asked.

  “Rufus? Nah, she’s outgrown him. Now he’s just a toy. It’s mostly her and George now, especially since he saved her from that zombie.”

  Tara shuddered. “George. He was such a cute puppy.”

  Amy laughed. “Yeah, he’s a proper monster these days. Yesterday, he ate the TV remote.”

  “I can believe that,” Tara said.

  “Just keep him out of our yard,” Saul admonished. “The last time he got in I lost three pairs of underwear from the line.”

  Amy grimaced. “I know. I had to pick up the pieces on my lawn.”

  With a satisfied click, Tara shut her suitcase. “This was great. It’s at moments like these that I love my job.”

  “Why? Because you got to jab a needle into a bunch of kids?” Saul teased.

  “No, silly. Because I got to ensure that a whole generation of children will never succumb to the Vita virus’s ravages. Now, we can truly start to rebuild.”

  “I’m glad you came, Tara,” Amy said. “As you say, this is the next step to a zombie-free future.”

  “Yes, and you were a star, Amy,” Tara said. “You’ve got such a wonderful way with kids.”

  “I like working with them,” Amy admitted. “I’ve even decided to make it my job.”

  “Your job?” Tara asked.

  “Yes, I want to become a teacher. I like molding young minds, and Andrew said he’d teach me as soon as I graduate. Until then, I help out after hours.”

  “I’m happy for you, Amy,” Tara said, hugging her. “And pass my regards to Alex. I haven’t seen much of him lately.”

  “He’s been on cloud nine ever since Amanda accepted his marriage proposal. When he’s not with her, he’s working. I don’t see all that much of him either,” Amy said with a laugh. “They’re both workaholics, especially now that she’s studying to be a surgeon.”

  “I get that,” Tara said, flashing Saul a look. “But, luckily for Saul, I take more time off nowadays to spend with him. I’ve realized that it’s not all about work. Life is too short to spend it all on a job, right?”