Z Strain

by SJ Morris

  “So, how did he know that what happened in Africa, what led to us meeting, was linked to the Afghanistan event?”I asked Chris.

  “I asked him that very question when he told me about Afghanistan and he said it was the moaning. The people that attacked them in Africa sounded exactly like the people in Afghanistan. He said he just knew it was the same thing. Then he got together with our new buddy, Troy and they pieced the puzzle together of what was happening.”

  “So, what else do you know? What pieces of the puzzle did they find?”

  “They found out that whatever this was, it was originally created to be used as a bioweapon by the Chinese, but it got out from their testing facilities in Afghanistan. Which, come to find out, was located near the site of the village that Jack and his team were supposed to clear out before the US decided it was better to level the place and ask questions later. Apparently, when the US government found out what the Chinese were up to, they thought they could go in and take some of the blind study infected subjects and have their own bio-weapon after Jack and his team killed everyone in the town. I think we’re seeing the results of the Chinese and the US trying to beat each other to the punch of making this weapon a reality.”

  “Well, that makes sense. It also sheds some light on why they chose China for the initial outbreak footage location.”

  “It sounds like you’re becoming a conspiracy nut, Abby.”

  “Chris, it’s not a conspiracy when you have seen and done the things I have today, and in the past.”

  “Speaking of, do you want to share your adventures with the group?”Asked Justin.

  It took me about an hour to relay everything we had done since Troy called this morning and everyone was riveted by what I was saying. Lance spoke when I told them about him shooting the driver of the pickup but only to confirm that he had shot the man with his bow. He looked so tired. By the time I was done, all I wanted to do was take a super-hot shower and curl up in my bed for as long as I could.

  “Alright, I think that’s enough for one day. Lance, go get washed up and get to bed, I’m going to do the same. Is it okay if I let Lilly outside to go to the bathroom, or should I walk her on a leash?”

  “You can let the dog out ma’am, the fences will give us all plenty of security. Also, I haven’t heard any of the perimeter alarms go off since you pulled in.”Said Thomas.

  “Perimeter alarms? You know what, tell me about it tomorrow. Come on Lil, outside.”

  The dog jumped up from her ball on the floor at my feet and headed right for the front door. I flicked on the lights to the porch and was so scared that I was going to see one of those things that I almost didn’t open the door.

  Lilly pawed at the door and reminded me there was a reason I was attempting to go outside.

  Just then, Chris came up to me and practically whispered that it was okay, everything outside was safe, for now, and that the dog would be fine.

  His voice was so deep it was almost frightening, but for some reason, his words were comforting and the light grasp of my shoulder from his bear paw of a hand caused a flutter in my stomach I hadn’t felt in years. This made me giddy and worried at the same time. The last thing I needed to worry about during the zombie apocalypse is falling for someone, especially another military man.

  Chapter 7

  All I wanted to do was sleep in for as long as possible, but apparently, my cell phone had a different idea.

  My phone started buzzing and chiming and I rolled over slowly to reach for it. The sunshine was right in my face and I had to hide under the blanket from it since it was so bright.

  Then, I realized where I was and what had happened in the last twenty-four hours, so, I jumped up and grabbed my phone, immediately answering it.

  “Hello, Troy, is that you?”

  “Yes, Abby it’s Troy. Aren’t you a chipper one in the morning?”

  “Well, the phone woke me up and it took a few seconds for my brain to remember that the world was in the process of ending!”

  “Well, as you said, the world as we know it is ending. I’ve been able to confirm that the Z-Strain is on every major continent as of this morning and some of the smaller countries have stopped reporting any news altogether, which could be good or bad. Either they cut themselves off from the outside world or the Z-Strain did it for them. Did you make it to the cabin?”

  “Yes, we made it in last night, but not before coming in contact with some of the infected.”

  “Oh my God! Did you get any of the bodily fluids in your mouth, eyes, or any other orifices, cuts especially?”

  “No, thank goodness. I had the bright idea of suiting up in helmets and head-to-toe biker gear so we were prepared. Do you know anything about the spread of the virus from the bodily fluids of the infected into water? Like, do fish or other animals get the virus?”

  “No, from my research the virus cannot sustain itself in water for very long and all the animals I’ve tested died from the Z-Strain, but none reanimated after death. Abby, I don’t know how much the men at the cabin have shared with you...”

  “Oh yeah, thanks for the heads up on that one! It would have been nice to tell me that a bunch of my husband’s military commando buddies I’ve never met, or heard of, would be my houseguests!”

  “Abby, I’m sorry There were more pressing things I had to tell you before they traced the call and I was found.”

  “So, what’s different? Why is it okay to talk all calm and not quickly now?”

  “Well, the people that were after me before have much bigger things to handle than me now, so they’ve stopped monitoring me.”

  “Okay, so what’s up? I could talk to you all day about the virus and its properties but what's going on? What great news do you bring other than, yes, the world is over?”

  “Well, I wanted to ask if I would be able to come and meet you at the cabin. I want to stay in my lab as long as I can to do more research, but I know that I can’t stay here for much longer, or I’ll be stuck here.”

  “Absolutely, Troy. I was actually planning on asking you when you were joining us. You and my husband apparently worked together on a lot of things, so you’re a part of what he, and the others built here. I would expect you to be here. So, where are you coming from?”

  “That’s the thing. I am in the boonies out in Pennsylvania so if I leave now, I am sure I’ll have a great shot at making it to you with limited encounters with the Z-Strain, but if I hold out like I want to because my lab and all of my research ishere, I may not make it out there at all.”

  “So, come now. Pack as much of your stuff as possible and take the back roads to get here. If the highways aren’t jam-packed with people trying to leave, then they will be soon and where there's a lot of people, there's more than likely a lot of infected. Your life is worth more than your research. Also, we have plenty of room out here. I’m sure we can accommodate some kind of a lab for you to continue your work, and I can be your assistant! Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of? I know it would be nice for me to have someone in our field of expertise to talk to.”

  “Now that you put it that way, I think I’ll pack up today and head out first thing tomorrow morning. How bad was it for you? I know you said you came in contact with the infected.”

  “Well, it wasn’t like there were mobs of them. The worst we hit was two at a time but that was because we took the back roads and stayed away from the major populated areas. That, and your call to us to tell us to get the hell out of dodge. So, thank you.”

  “Well, that’s good. You said you were wearing helmets and gear? What kind?”

  I went on to tell Troy our story just as I had told the others last night. I went through the shopping that we did and Troy was very impressed with some of the things I thought of, like the snake boots.

  He was going to settle for his old Doc Martens since he didn’t exactly have the time to go out and buy the items we had, which I thought was funny.

  The m
an calling everyone to warn them to stock up and get out was the least ready of all of us.

  Troy agreed to travel first thing in the morning, or as soon as he was done packing if he was quick about it. He would drive straight through, only stopping for gas and that was only if he desperately needed it. He checked his GPS and he was eight and a half hours from us with normal traffic.

  Then, I reminded him to make sure he turned off all toll roads and highways. That added another three hours.

  So, a total of an eleven-and-a-half-hour drive should get my new buddy to us.

  I just hoped that he would be able to make it without coming in contact with the infected or running out of gas. Being on foot was not something he would be looking forward to. if it came down to it.

  Just as I was hanging up there was a soft knock at my door.

  My first thought was that something was wrong, so I jumped up out of bed in my t-shirt and underwear and flung the door open. Chris stood there with a crooked smile and his elbow on the door jam.

  “I wanted to make sure that you were okay. I heard talking coming from your room and I wanted to make sure you hadn’t gone crazy and started talking to yourself.”

  I covered myself up as best I could with my hands and felt my face turn a nice shade of crimson.

  “I’m fine. Troy called and he’s coming here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get some clothes on.”I shut the door and fell back into bed. I felt like a teenager who just bumped into the boy she had a crush on in the hallway. What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Is Troy leaving now?”Chris said through the door.

  “Let me get dressed and I’ll tell you everything!”

  I felt like I was living in a dorm now; no privacy!

  Living with all of these people wouldn’t be any fun, even if there wasn’t the threat of zombies taking over.

  I threw on some clothes and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth when I realized that Lilly was curled up on the rug in the bathroom. I wonder who let her in by me. I had left her in Allycia’s room last night.

  Hopefully, it was one of the kids.

  As I walked out of my room I smelled the amazing aroma of bacon and pancakes. Nothing had ever smelled so good before. I walked into my kitchen that was bustling with people and Chris handed me a mug of coffee.

  “I didn’t know how you take your coffee, so I left it black.”

  “Lots of milk and three Equal, if we have it.”

  “Coming right up.”

  “You don’t have to wait on me. I can get it myself.”I pushed past him and went to the table that was full of my new guests and my kids, eating breakfast. I grabbed the milk from the table and Allycia looked up to smile at me.

  “So I take it you slept well last night, sweetie?”I asked her.

  “Yes, Mom, I slept pretty good.”

  “What’s with the ear-to-ear grin?”

  “Oh, nothing. I am just happy to be here safely and to have met all these new awesome people. Right Lance?”

  “Ugh yeah sure, awesome people.”He said with a mouth full of pancakes dripping with syrup.

  I turned and Chris was right there in front of me with three packets of the blue stuff.

  “Thanks.”

  “You are very welcome. Oh, I put Lilly in your room last night. She was sniffing at your door around two so I figured she wanted to be with you. Oh, and I didn’t see anything more than what I saw this morning if you were wondering.”He said as he turned away and found a seat at the counter.

  Awesome. the guy I might have a crush on has seen me in my underwear more times than my kids now.

  “So, good morning everyone. I trust everyone had a good night’s sleep? Speaking of, where is everyone sleeping? There are only three bedrooms here.”

  “I can answer that.”Said Chris.“When Jack reached out to all of us to make some modifications to the cabin we decided that we definitely needed more living space, but it had to be out of plain sight. So, even though you can’t see them, we’re all staying in apartments that were built underground.”

  “Underground? Why do they have to be out of plain sight?”

  “Well, in case something like this did happen, then we had plenty of room for more people. Also, if there were people that might be looking to take supplies from us, or take over the cabin they wouldn’t be able to tell we had more people. Kind of a surprise attack by numbers, if we needed it.”

  “Okay, but you really think that will happen?”

  “Well, if the situation goes like we think it will, there will be raiders, eventually. The human condition breaks down very quickly in bad situations. So, if there is a raiding party that thinks they can just try and break in and take what we have here they’ll be surprised to find out that there are a lot more fighters inside than they bargained for.”

  “Oh. So, now we are not only planning on fighting off bloodthirsty zombies but survivors as well? Awesome.”

  “In my experience, it’s smartest to plan for the worst and hope for the best. A lot of us in this room right now have seen the absolute worst that people can do to one another and we’re not going to let that happen to anyone here.”

  “Show me. I want to see these rooms.”

  “Mom, you do realize that you just asked Chris to show you his room, don’t you?”Allycia said smiling and giggling into the shoulder of Chris’s daughter, Christine. I guessed they’d become fast friends.

  “Allycia. Stop it, what are you talking about?”

  “Oh, nothing Mom.”

  “Come on, Abby, I will show you ALL of the rooms downstairs.”Chris made sure to put a good punch into the word‘all’and he looked at the girls sternly. They stopped snickering right away when he said something. I guess I’d better work on my mean mom face if I wanted these two to listen to me.

  Everyone got up from the table and followed Chris and Iover to the pantry in the kitchen. I guessed everyone just wanted to see the look on the newcomer’s faces when they saw their secret hideaway homes.

  Chris opened the door and walked in. He practically filled up the entire pantry and I had to stop myself from laughing. He kicked a can of lima beans that was stacked on the floor and the cabinet unhinged inward.

  “Son of a bitch! You guys built a hidden door in my pantry!”

  “It’s one of the last places someone would go looking for people and almost no one likes lima beans so yes we decided to put it here.”

  “That’s awesome!”Tyler yelled from behind me.“Can you put one in my closet?”

  “No Tyler, let’s just worry about one thing at a time, please.”

  Chris turned away from me and pushed the door all the way in so it latched on the wall behind it and revealed beautifully carpeted stairs, leading down to somewhere I previously had no idea existed.

  Chris went down and I followed. They looked like regular stairs down to someone’s basement, recreation room, but these opened up to a sitting area that branched out into four doors. The doors were heavy-duty steel doors that didn’t look like they belonged in this setting, but at least they were painted a lovely shade of cream to match the carpet and blend in a little.

  Chris walked up to the door to the right and punched in a code by the handle. It beeped, flashed a green light, and opened. He walked through and we were in a very long hallway with doors on each side, about every fifteen feet. There was a total of four doors on each side of the hall and Chris explained that they each opened into a two-bedroom apartment. They each had a small kitchenette, one bathroom, two bedrooms, a family room, and most importantly, they each had a hatch in the ceiling of the bathroom that led to the surface, should anyone need to escape.

  “Wow. This is amazing. You guys did all of this?”

  “Well, we did hire out some of the work, but only to private security companies that do this sort of thing off the books. We wanted to make sure it was done right, as well as off the grid.”

  “This must have cost a fortune. Where did you get the mo
ney for all of this?”

  “Well, Jack had a lot of money stashed from the hush-hush military jobs he’d done before, and all of us have well... Let’s just say we’ve done well for ourselves, too.”

  “Okay... one day I am going to make you explain that, Chris but right now let’s go back upstairs and finish breakfast. Kids, we have to empty the supplies we brought from the Rover and get the boat docked down at the lake.”

  “As soon as we’re finished with breakfast, we’ll all help unload the supplies. And I’ll help the boys with the boat. It will give me a chance to show you the grounds and some of the other upgrades we made.”Said Chris with a smile on his face. He had the look of a kid in a candy store, which was hysterical on this massive, bear of a man.

  I could hear the girls snickering to each other behind me and my face turned red again. I really needed to have a talk with Allycia and her new friend.

  In the meantime, we all finished breakfast and cleaned up.

  Then, we all headed outside.

  The truck was a lot fuller than I remembered it being and I had no idea how we fit all that stuff in it, in the first place. When we got to the boat I took the cover off, exposing our load of full gas cans and Chris laughed out loud for the first time.

  It sounded like what you would think Santa Clause’s laugh would sound like. He had a deep, baritone voice and his laugh showed it but it was cute to see this huge man who looked like he’d never had a day of fun in his life, laugh.

  “What's so funny, Santa?”

  “Santa, why would you call me Santa?”

  “It’s your laugh, Dad, she’s making fun of your laugh and how you sound like Santa.”

  “Hey, that’s not all that funny. What is funny is that you probably spent a lot of time and money on this gas and we have plenty. Your gas also doesn’t have the additive that will make it last either, and ours does. I’ll show you later, but down by the dock we installed a tank that’s been topped off with treated gasoline so it will last for years instead of going bad like yours will.”