The Infected (Book 2): Karen's First Day

by Zuko, Joseph

  “Yes, you can have ice cream.”

  “Me too?” Robin checked in to make sure all things were equal.

  “You too.”

  Karen looked over Troy’s wounds. A two-inch gash skirted his hairline and would need to be stitched. A lump had begun to form.

  He might have a concussion.

  There was no way to fix him here and no way to drag him to Penny’s. She had to wake him up. Karen grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a good hard shake.

  “Troy!” She shook him again and his eyes began to flutter.

  Leon found a live head at the front of the Dodge. A blinking, jaw snapping, severed head with no body attached. It tried to bite him when he found it.

  “You are repulsive. How is such a crime against nature even possible?” Leon talked down at it, but the creature had no answers. It only bared its teeth and snapped its jaw. He raised his axe and put the head out of its misery. Leon found his red medical bag on the ground and he slung the strap up onto his shoulder.

  Troy winced in pain as he sat up, “What happened?”

  “Can you walk?” Karen picked up his shotgun.

  He gingerly touched around the wound on his forehead. When he pulled his fingers back they were covered in blood. “What?” His eyes were unfocused and his mind was cloudy.

  Karen had begun to pull shells out of his bandolier and load them into the shotgun, “Try and get out of the car.”

  Her words registered, but he was unable to communicate back.

  “Come help me get him out of here,” Karen called to Leon. He finished off another monster with his axe. He had to put his foot on the creature’s face to pull the axe head from the skull. Then he hurried around to Karen and helped her pull Troy from the back of the cruiser.

  “I think he has a concussion. You need to steady him.” Karen loaded the last round into the shotgun. They got the big guy to his feet and Leon pulled Troy’s arm over his shoulders. Karen worked his other arm over hers. Once he was stable they took off for Penny’s house. It sat only a few blocks away.

  Two more blocks and we’ll be safe.

  Chapter 21

  Tina sat at the computer in her bedroom. She clicked from site to site reading and absorbing as much info as she could find about this infection. Researching topics online had become her hobby. She loved the universe of knowledge at her fingertips.

  This infection was a tough one to search out. Good info was difficult to find and most of it seemed like guesses. There were no hard facts to bank on. The best she could piece together was that it started this morning at around ten and it was everywhere at once. All over the northwest she found reports starting at about the same time.

  That meant there was no patient zero. No infected monkey. No government lab explosion. There was no record of solar flares. No alien spacecraft. Tina’s only hypothesis was that the human genome had suddenly decided to change and now everyone everywhere was infected. If this was true then it meant there was no cure. No one was going to save them. This is how it will be for the rest of their, most likely short, lives.

  Tina brushed a tear away from her cheek and finished a can of beer. It was her second brew on an empty stomach and she could feel her emotions running hot. Hot emotions always made her think of the past.

  When she was a child her family lived in the small-impoverished suburb called Villa Fontana just outside of Tijuana, Mexico. Most days their family struggled for survival. Her father would sporadically find jobs working on diesel engines and her mother sewed dresses. It was an extreme challenge for them to keep clean water and food on the table when their options and income were so limited. At the age of eighteen she decided that was enough of Mexico for her and she crossed the border all by herself. It wasn’t a two-week hike through the desert. This was pre-911. All she had to do was practice her U.S. accent and say the words “I’m a U.S. citizen.” to the border guard and they let her right in. They didn’t check or ask her any questions. They just waved her through into the U.S.A.

  After a two-hour bus ride, she was in L.A. One hundred dollars later she had a fake I.D. and social security card. She stayed with an aunt and found a job. Six months later she met Cliff at a goth bar called Ndestrukt Club. They started to dance with each other. Dancing led to kissing. Kissing led to heavy petting in Cliff’s car and that was that. She was hooked on the gringo.

  Cliff entered their bedroom with a plate full of steaming hot, good smelling food in one hand and a beer in the other.

  He handed the plate to her, “You gotta eat something.”

  She took it, “Thank you baby.”

  Cliff stood behind her and he finished his beer. He set down the empty can and started to rub her shoulders as she ate.

  “Did you find anything?” Cliff worked at a knot on her shoulder blade.

  “Nothing good. FEMA’s webpage says stay inside your home,” she said before she shoveled a forkful of food into her mouth.

  “Good advice.” Cliff poked his fingers through the window blinds and looked out at the horde of old people shuffling around in the parking lot and then went back to work on that knot. Tina let out a groan of pain and pleasure.

  “You almost got it,” she said as she leaned into the massage.

  “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”

  She swallowed her next bite. “What?”

  “I don’t want to work construction anymore. I’m sick of it.”

  Tina looked up at him, “I know.”

  “You do?”

  “Boy, you are as easy to read as a baby book. I knew that before you did. Why do you think I started pushing myself to go to nursing school?”

  “We need the money.”

  “You silly man. I wanted a good job so I could support us and give you a chance to figure out what you wanted to do with your life, so you wouldn’t have to swing that stupid hammer all day long,” she said with a smile.

  “Really?” Cliff could feel the weight rising off his shoulders.

  Tina noticed the positive shift in his features, “Baby you have my permission to not go to work tomorrow,” she smirked. There was the dark humor he fell in love with. She always had a way of taking something inappropriate and making it funny.

  He leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss. She kissed him right back. His hands found their way into her bra. Tina set her plate down next to the computer and her hands went to work unbuckling Cliff’s belt.

  It was on!

  Cliff shut the bedroom door. He didn’t worry about the kids walking in, they were currently being entertained by Morgan and the TV. He pulled her up to her feet and they gracefully moved to the bed. They never once stopped touching their lips together. Their hands knowingly touched all of the right spots to keep this thing going as they pulled off their clothes. Cliff laid Tina on the bed and climbed on top of her. All of the close calls, near death experiences and horrible fear of the unknown fueled their passion. Both of them felt it, the closeness only the luckiest of humans will ever get to experience. They were each other’s soul mates. Through the good and the bad they would always have each other’s backs. They were moments away from one of the greatest sexual encounters of their lives when they suddenly stopped and listened.

  Gunfire was coming from outside. Someone was firing off a ton of rounds. It was coming from the elementary school behind the apartment complex.

  “What the fuck is that?” Cliff pulled away.

  “Don’t stop!” she commanded and pulled him back onto her body.

  The noise was getting closer. They could hear people shouting. It was right outside. Cliff broke away from his wife’s grip. She leaned her head back and groaned in frustration. Cliff peeked through the blinds. It was four people. One of them was a young man with a wounded leg. Another was a girl with bright red hair armed with a homemade spear. A man in his sixties led the way across the parking lot. He gunned down the infected with a revolver.

  “Who is it?” Tina buttoned up her p
ants. It took Cliff a minute to figure out who the guy was yelling all of the orders.

  “It’s Jim.”

  “The downstairs neighbor?” Tina climbed off the bed and joined Cliff at the window. They watched Jim carry the young man with the injured leg towards the apartment.

  Chapter 22

  Penny’s house was so close. Only one more block to go and Karen’s family would be indoors. Karen constantly checked over her shoulder to make sure nothing was creeping up behind them for a snack. Every twenty steps they were greeted by an infected beast that had missed the street parade. Karen would cut them down with a blast from Troy’s gun. She had never fired a shotgun before today. It sucked. The kick hit her shoulder so hard that after every shot it made her arm go numb. The weight of Robin and Troy was absolutely killing every muscle in Karen’s back. Her feet felt like cinderblocks. They were so heavy and slow. Every step was like climbing a mountain.

  She was dehydrated and starving. Pain seemed to encompass her whole body. Rays of sunshine beat down on them. It wasn’t that hot out, but the kid strapped to her back and all of the exertion had Karen pouring sweat like they were walking through the Mojave Desert. She hated to sweat. She hated it when someone touched her and they were covered in sweat. Everything about someone leaking fluids from their skin grossed her out.

  Karen could feel the grime that covered her body. Salty grit had formed in the crevices of her skin. The infected blood that soaked into her clothes and dripped out of her hair smelled rancid. There wasn’t a hot enough shower in the world to clean off today. The loss of Botchy had ripped through her heart like a knife. Her eyes were drowned in tears. They streaked towards her chin and each new drop carved out a ravine in the blood that stained her face. She didn’t know where or what the hell had happened to Jim.

  Will I ever see my husband again?

  Was he dead?

  How can I make it without him?

  She was still alive and she had the girls to worry about. That’s what she needed to focus on.

  Keep your feet moving!

  She repeated it to herself after every step.

  Troy recognized the house up ahead as his mother’s, but couldn’t remember how he got there or why Valerie was strapped to his back.

  Who the hell is this guy in the suit?

  Troy’s brain felt like someone had poured hot lava on it. Like his brain no longer fit in his skull. The pressure inside his head was excruciating. The muscles in his legs wanted to stop and take a break, but every time they started to give out Karen shouted at him to keep walking.

  God, she’s bossy!

  I just need to sit for a minute.

  His left eye stung as something dripped into it. It clouded his vision and gave everything a soft pink color to it. He licked the corner of his mouth and whatever was dripping tasted like metal.

  Blood?

  Why am I bleeding?

  Wait, where are we going?

  His concussion made it impossible to keep a train of thought going down the right track. The sound of Karen gunning down an infected would snap him back into the same loop of thoughts and discovery. Over and over he asked himself the same questions. His mind was like a broken record playing the same groove.

  Blood? He found it again at the corner of his mouth.

  Most of Troy’s weight was on Leon’s shoulders. The shame of Leon’s actions however weighed heavier on his mind than the actual weight of Troy’s big frame. He was wracked with guilt for leaving this woman and her children all alone in that death trap. It was the first time in his life that he had a chance to be heroic and he chickened out. In the comics he collected the heroes made it look easy. If a damsel was in distress they didn’t bat an eye. They leapt into action. He nearly pissed his pants and ran two blocks from the danger before the realization of what he did set in.

  You did save her! He reassured himself.

  That counts for something.

  She would have been torn in half if I hadn’t come back.

  Leon stole a look at Karen. She was a mess, but under all the sweat and blood was a beautiful woman. A very, very beautiful woman.

  She’s married. He tried to talk sense to himself.

  Maybe the husband is dead?

  Leon’s thoughts hurdled through time. Months into the future.

  Her husband never shows up and she needs someone to love and care for her.

  It could be me! I could finally settle down and play house.

  What if I save her again? That might get her to see me in a different light.

  It had been a long time since he had touched a real woman romantically and just the thought of it gave him a little extra pep in his step.

  They hit Penny’s driveway. Her car wasn’t parked outside. She must have left it at her work when Troy came and got her. All of the lights were out in the house.

  Mama must be still hiding. Karen thought to herself. She pulled out a few shells from Troy’s bandolier and refilled the shotgun. They lifted Troy up the couple of steps that led to the front door. Leon pulled open the screen door and knocked loudly.

  “Mama! Open up! It’s us!” Karen’s voice was hoarse. There were no sounds coming from inside. Karen kicked at the door. “Mama! Open the door!” Panic had begun to boil in the back of Karen’s mind.

  “Ganny! Open door!” Robin tried to help.

  “Ganny, where are you?” Valerie had to help too.

  Karen remembered she had her keys tucked in her pocket. She fished them out. Her hands were shaking and struggled to get the right key in the door. The lock popped and the door swung open.

  “Mama!” Karen’s voice screeched. She locked the door behind her. It was a tight squeeze for the three of them to get through the door and into the living room. “Mama! Where are you?” They maneuvered Troy over to the couch and sat him down.

  “Help me get this knot untied.” She asked Leon. Leon pulled at the bed sheets until the knot was loose enough to let Valerie off of Troy’s back.

  “Mama!” Karen was losing it. It was unlike Penny to not be at the front door seconds after they knocked. Knowing what a Nervous Nelly Penny was Karen was sure she would have been pacing at the front door. Valerie peeled herself off of her uncle’s back and climbed down off the couch. Her shirt was covered in sweat and she made a grossed-out face to her Mama.

  “Yuck.” Valerie pulled the wet cloth away from her belly and she let out another loud cough.

  “I know, we’ll get you a new shirt in a minute.” Karen helped Troy lay down on the couch. “Can you find an icepack in the freezer?” She asked Leon. He nodded at her and found his way into the kitchen.

  “Where’s Mama?” Troy asked Karen. He had hardly said a word since they pulled him out of the back of the Dodge.

  “I don’t know. Maybe she fell asleep with her earplugs in. I’ll find her as soon as we get you set.”

  “But where is she?” He asked again. There was no use in talking to him.

  Leon opened the freezer. It was full of sweet treats for the kids and a few bags of corn. On the door was a stack of icepacks. He grabbed one and hurried back to Troy.

  “Here.” He handed the pack to Karen.

  “Inside the bag is a medical book. Find the chapter on concussions.” She gently pulled off Troy’s baseball cap and laid the icepack on his wound. He winced in pain. “Try and relax. I’m gonna find Mama.”

  Troy nodded at her and closed his eyes. Karen didn’t know if it was a good idea for him to sleep it off or if they needed to keep him awake.

  “Find out if we should let him sleep.” She patted Leon on his shoulder as she left Troy’s side. Her gentle touch sent a shiver of joy down Leon’s spine.

  “Mama, can I have ice cream now?” Valerie asked.

  “I need you to hold Uncle Troy’s hand. It will help him feel better. I’ll get you some ice cream in a minute.” Karen talked quickly. Dread was building up inside her.

  Where the fuck is Mama?

  Valerie coul
d see how badly Uncle Troy felt and went to his side and took his hand. Leon sat himself down on the chair next to the couch and pulled the bag across his lap. He shared an awkward smile with the five-year-old that was playing nurse.

  “Uncle Troy bonked his head,” Valerie said as she pointed at the icepack and then barked out a cough.

  “Don’t worry little one. He’ll be back on his feet in no time.” Leon unzipped the bag and found the book. Karen raced down the back hallway towards her mother’s bedroom. She hoped that she would find Penny on the bed with a sleeping mask on, earplugs in and an empty cup of tea that helped her sleep by the side of the bed. It wasn’t uncommon for Penny to try and nap her way through a stressful situation. Karen kicked open the door and flipped on the lights. Nope. No Penny. “Mama?” Karen continued on past the bed for the back bathroom.

  Maybe the stress had gotten to Mama’s stomach and she was using the bathroom.

  Karen turned on the bathroom light and the room was empty. She jogged back out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

  Did Mama leave to go get something?

  She wouldn’t have gone outside, would she?

  No way!

  The door to the garage sat next to the kitchen. Karen popped it open and turned on that light. The garage was a mess. Half of the stuff crammed in here was Karen and Jim’s furniture from their old house. They didn’t have space at the apartment for it, but weren’t ready to just throw it away either. Penny also had a good collection of tools and a ton of leftover chunks of lumber from the chicken coop build, but there was no Penny.

  Karen was running out of rooms to check and she was running out of hope. She clicked off the garage light and closed its door.

  “Mama!” she choked on the word. There was a loud noise at the back sliding glass door. Something had run into it with a hard thud. Karen took off for the door. Her back was absolutely killing her. She needed to get Robin off of her soon.