by Jaron McFall
Cedric ran to the boy and threw him over his shoulder. He was unconscious. A small cut on his forehead let Cedric know the boy had banged his head when he fell. He jumped in the bed of the truck just before his brother made a U-turn tearing up grass on the side of the road. The truck pulled over the bridge and it started to rise back up. Cedric climbed out of the truck bed and pulled the boy into his arms. When he turned he found the barrel of a shotgun in his face.
Chapter Four:
FEAR
It was nine-forty-five at night in Morristown. Walgreen’s was getting ready to close the business day. Nobody even knew if it was for the last time or not. The only people who had stayed were those who didn’t believe the stories.
News had reached that the infection was less than an hour away and people were anxious to get home or another place of safety. After the Applebee’s on the other side of town had burnt down, nearly everyone in the city had left. Ross didn’t know if it was out of fear from the infection or fear from each other. Ross, working his fourth double shift in a row, was in the stockroom with his manager, Sue. She had ended up working a double that day too because the other manager had called in. She had tried to reach Mr. Kimbro to see if he would come in, but he never answered his cell phone.
“Chances are I won’t be here tomorrow. I like my job and everything, but I do value my life. You should consider not coming in either. Even if the rumors aren’t true, people are being crazy. I know you have to pay for school, but a degree will not keep you alive during this,” Sue pleaded as Ross threw the trash in the compactor.
“Chances are I will be the only person in the city driving to work,” He replied. “I think this whole thing is a sham. Some stupid story made up by people. Worst-case scenario, these people have rabies or mad cow disease. I don’t really see any big deal, it’s probably even just some weird strand of flu, and I did get my flu shot here.”
Sue didn’t even crack a smile at Ross’s jokes, “Ross! There is a real threat coming to us. It will probably be here before you even make it home. I don’t know what you’re thinking. I really don’t even know why the heck I’m even still here. You shouldn’t be either! Let’s just go home.” They both started for the door, Sue leading the way, when a loud thud hit the receiving bay door behind them. It was followed by a second, then a third.
They both froze. Ross turned around to look at three human-sized indentations on the metal door when another thud came from the door that connected the stockroom to the sales floor. Sue screamed and Ross jerked his head to see a bloody handprint on the small glass square of the door. Sue ran forward to open the door but Ross grabbed her arm and jerked her to the ground. He put a hand over her mouth to muffle her screams. A man with bloodshot eyes peered through the glass and looked directly at the still figures of Ross and Sue. It didn’t pay them any attention. His gaze wandered for a few moments but didn’t stay on one thing very long. After a few minutes, though it seemed like hours, the man turned and left.
Ross slowly got to his feet and then helped Sue up. He went to the door and looked out. More than six people, each covered in blood and filth, were scattered in the aisle just outside of the door. Ross put his finger over his mouth and made a low shushing noise and waved for Sue to follow him. They slowly made their way to the backside of the stockroom. As soon as they were to the far end, Ross started talking, “There are about six or eight of those infected just in this aisle. I think they heard you scream. I don’t think they’re too smart, though. That one looked right at us but didn’t see us.”
It took Sue a few moments to catch her breath from the shock and replied, “Well, it is one-way glass. So, he would’ve had a hard time seeing us anyway. We probably looked like freight, and he…” Sue froze not making another sound.
Ross turned his head to hear the rhythmic chiming of the digital lock on the stockroom door that signaled someone was typing in a combination. They both stared intently in the direction of the door when it slowly opened and the cashier, Rosy, took a few quick, panicked steps inside.
Sue started walking, closing the thirty-foot gap between them when a loud gurgling yell came from the doorway and a man covered in gore jumped on Rosy. Her screams were drowned out by the yells of the other infected humans as they stumbled in. Sue screamed a cry of pure fear and horror. The infected all turned to see her.
Ross grabbed Sue. He shook her and yelled, “Climb!”
Ross grabbed the shelves of the stockroom bay and pulled himself up, Sue climbing right next to him. The bays in the stockroom were about twenty feet high with shelves spaced every three and a half feet. They were the solid metal and wood shelves that could hold thousands of pounds without danger. Each bay was ten feet long and four feet wide.
They used these sturdy shelves like a ladder to get to the top, but before they got more than a few feet off the ground, a man had reached up and grabbed Sue’s ankle. “Ross!” Was all she managed to scream out and he took himself to the shelf below her and kicked the man in the face. The infected man lost his grip on Sue and stumbled backward. Ross resumed his climb to the top to meet Sue.
Cedric stood still with the barrel of the shotgun pointed right between his eyes. Ben pressed the cold metal to his skin. Cedric’s epidermis turned to gooseflesh at the touch of the cold metal gun barrel. Ben said, “You stupid boy. You could have killed my entire family.”
Jack took a tentative step toward Ben, “There was a boy in danger. Cedric’s a hero. He saved that boy’s life. And your family is safe.”
“Shut the hell up. You got no right to speak. You’re not one of my family,” Ben spat at Jack. “And who’s to say that you’ve not become infected. I ought a plug you a new eye socket to make sure you don’t spread it to us.” Ben took one step back from Cedric and pulled the hammer on his shotgun back.
As soon as Ben had taken a step back, Jack shot forward and yanked the gun upward as Cedric dropped to the ground. At the same moment, Charlie swung his fist with all the force he had and punched Ben in the dead center of his face, breaking his nose and sending him flying onto the ground. All the actions had made Ben’s finger pull the trigger and the gun fired just over Cedric’s head as he was ducking to the ground.
After Ben hit the ground he lay there, unconscious. Not from the punch or the fall, but rather because Jack had, very abruptly, slammed the butt of the shotgun into Ben’s forehead the moment he fell.
Charlie stared at Ben for a moment before turning to Jack, “Thanks. I’m glad I let you in after all.” He held out his hand and Jack took it in his in a firm handshake.
“I owed you that much and more. If you hadn’t let me in, I might’ve been one of them infected your brother just killed.” He turned to look at Cedric, “You did a dang good job too, boy. A little reckless, yeah, but congratulations. You saved him.” Jack shook his fist in the air like a small victory dance.
Cedric nodded. He couldn’t find his voice or even force a smile. He was completely shaken. He had always, without question, trusted Ben. But here, now, with a gun held to his face, Ben didn’t seem like a friend.
The fact that he had just killed his brother’s neighbors didn’t help his stomach either. He had recognized some of their faces and had even spoken to a couple of them before. He was positive he had bagged many of their groceries before. Now he was responsible for their bodies lying in the street. He felt sick and revolted. The rain started to pick up heavier as Charlie started to speak again, “Were you bitten? Was that boy?”
Cedric shook his head, but before he could reply, he turned to the side and threw up. Then he hoarsely said, “I wasn’t.” He took a moment to turn the boy over in his arms, looking at him. “I don’t think he was either.”
Charlie lightly grabbed his brother’s arm, “I am proud of you, but Ben’s right on a few things. That was dangerous and stupid. Do I think you need to be shot for it? No. Absolutely not.” Charlie squeezed his brother’s arm tighter, “You, or that boy, might be infected, though. Will you
stay the rest of the night in the cellar? I won’t lie; it’s not for your protection, but our family’s protection. Think of them, and just in case one of you is infected, and the other is not, we need to chain you up.”
Cedric simply shook his head but didn’t speak.
Hank was driving down the interstate at midnight when he saw the dreaded blue lights in his rearview mirror. “Come on, I wasn’t speeding. Not a lot at least,” were the first words out of his mouth when the cop approached.
“I know,” replied the deep voice of the large African-American police officer, “but I wanted to warn you what you’re driving toward. The interstate is closed off. You will have to take one of the next two exits. I suggest you turn around and go back wherever you came from.”
Hank forced a small smile, “I can’t do that. My family’s waiting on me. How long until I get back on the interstate?”
The policeman let out a long deep breath before answering, “You can’t. Every interstate is shut down: barricades every twenty-five miles or so. It’s to try to keep people from traveling. They are supposedly safer if they just stay home and lock their doors.” The way he said ‘supposedly’ was full of satirical inflection.
“So, I have to take back roads all the way to East Tennessee? Oh well, won’t be the first time. I do wish I had a GPS though.” Hank laughed.
The police officer didn’t laugh with him but wished him a safe trip. His parting words were, “God Bless. He has blessed your children with a father like you. I hope you make it safe.”
Hank started his truck back up and drove off into the night. In less than three miles, Hank pulled off at the next exit: Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“We are stuck in our stockroom with a hoard of monsters just below us,” Sue sobbed. She held her hands loosely over her face in an attempt to block the horror.
Ross simply stared at the ceiling as he laid there. Even though three hours had passed, the thoughts of seeing Rosy die were still fresh in his mind. He looked over at his normally composed boss, “We will find a way out.” He had been trying to think of a way out since they had climbed up, but couldn’t find any.
“I think I have an idea, but we need big blue,” Sue said. Big blue was the only ladder they had that could reach the top of the bays. Technically, they weren’t supposed to climb the bay shelving like ladders, but Ross always had. Big blue was just too bulky and not the easiest to move because of its height.
“What’s your idea?” Ross asked not sure if he could get the ladder. It was in front of another bay. He could probably jump to the bay if he got a running start, but if he fell, he would probably die just from the fall. At least, he thought, I won’t be eaten alive that way.
Sue looked at him, but Ross was staring at the ceiling again. “We can make a bridge to the top of the walk-in freezer.”
Ross knew at that point what she was thinking. The top of the freezer wasn’t covered like most stores. There was a big open space. If they could make it, they could probably break through the wall that leads into the office. From there it was only a short distance to the front door. But this plan couldn’t work. Even if we make it that far, there are sure to be more outside.
When Ross voiced this concern, Sue simply nodded. They sat in silence for a few more minutes before she added, “We can’t just sit here, though.”
This time, it was Ross’s turn to just nod and not speak. Sue continued on, “If we can make it to the office, it’s just a short run to the door. Then another short run to my car. I have a keyless entry so it will be open when we get there, and you park on the opposite side than me. So, if we can’t get to mine, we go to yours. If all else fails, we just keep running until we find something we can drive away in.”
Ross laid his head down before he answered, “Fine, we do it in daylight, though. I don’t want to be surprised by one of those things around a corner.”
Sue laid back too as she said, “I agree.”
Cedric laid in the cellar looking at the boy he had rescued. The boy had just woken up a few minutes ago crying. Cedric took a couple of minutes to explain where they were and why. The boy didn’t respond. Cedric wasn’t sure if the boy understood or not. They both had a chain around their middle with a lock on it. It gave them about three feet to move since the chains were then wrapped and locked around the plumbing pipes. Every time Cedric closed his eyes he saw the faces of the people he had killed. So, he was trying to stay awake to avoid the dreams he knew would be waiting on him.
Those people hadn’t looked right. Not only were they covered in blood and gore, but their faces all looked like they were filled with animal rage. The woman who was missing a hand had a greenish scab covering her arm. Their skin was mottled like a bad spray tan mixed with hives. The whole scene was just sickening.
Cedric had been in the cellar now for a few hours and knew morning would be here very soon. As he sat on a crate full of grass seed he tried to think about what to do next. He knew he couldn’t just run out like that again, but what if someone else needed help. He couldn’t just leave them either. He was stuck on what to do.
These thoughts kept in his mind as he watched the boy over the next half hour until he heard his brother’s voice calling into the cellar. “Ced, are you OK? I’m coming in.”
Cedric tried to call back but his voice caught with the dust in his throat. He swallowed hard and tried again, “Yeah, everything is okay here. The boy’s awake and seems fine too.”
He heard the cellar door creak open and rays of morning light shone in, blinding him. The only light he’d had over the past few hours was a small camping lantern with kerosene in it. Charlie climbed into the cellar and took a good look at the two before approaching. He unlocked the chains from his brother first and gave him a hug, “I was worried about you all night, Ced.”
“Sorry to keep you up.” He let go of his brother and clapped him on the shoulder, “How’s Ben?”
“Mad as a bull. His nose is definitely broken, though.” He turned and walked over to the boy who sat perfectly still as Charlie undid his chains. “Sorry about this. Had to, just in case. What’s your name?”
The boy just sat there and stared at the ground. Cedric walked over to the boy and knelt by his side, looking him dead in the eyes. “Hey, I know you’re scared, but we want to help. Do you know what happened to your parents?”
The boy nodded and Cedric said, “Can you tell me?”
The boy looked up at Charlie, then back at Cedric. He opened his mouth to talk but started crying instead. Cedric wrapped his arms around the boy and rubbed his back, this was answer enough for him. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. You’re safe now.”
The boy wrapped his arms around Cedric’s neck and he picked him up. Cedric carried the boy out of the cellar and into the house, where he saw Charlie had not been lying. Ben’s nose was a multitude of colors ranging from bright blue to dark red and purple. He had a Band-Aid across the bridge. Cedric quickly looked away. Then he saw his mother who had just stood up. She was walking toward him. She kissed him on the cheek, which she had to stand on her tiptoes to do, and then smacked him on the arm. “Don’t you ever do something that stupid again!” She shouted at him.
A grin spread across Cedric’s face as he said, “Love you too, mom,” and kissed her on the forehead.
Charlie then walked into the house carrying the short steel pipe his younger brother had used the night before. He laid it on the floor next to the door. “So, we know how to kill them,” Charlie said as he walked past his brother.
Cedric took the boy to the couch and set him down next to Denise. He then said, “This is Denise, she is my sister-in-law. Can you sit here with her while I go take a shower?”
Again, the boy was silent, but nodded. Cedric could feel the boy’s tears had soaked the front of his shirt and that the back was stiff with dried blood. He walked to his bags and gathered clean clothes and headed to the bathroom but was stopped by Sherry.
She put a hand on his sh
oulder and said very quietly, “I am so sorry about what happened last night. He’s just scared.”
Cedric looked for a moment at Sherry and replied without a hint of emotion, “We all are.”
Ross slowly pushed himself up. The night had been long, and the metal shelves of the stockroom bay had made his muscles stiff. He stretched to try to relieve the pain and heard many different joints pop. He looked over to Sue, who was sitting with her knees pulled to her chest, just like Emily had done earlier that week. He stood up and looked over the side of the bay. The infected humans were still clustered in small groups around the stockroom. “So… are we still trying that plan of yours?” he asked.
It took Sue a moment to register his question because she hadn’t noticed he had woken up, “Yes. It is either that or wait to die here.”
Ross nodded and said, “Well, Sue. Sink or Swim.” Ross hated the expression, but he still lived by it. It was his dad’s saying.
When Ross had gotten his first bike, his dad took the training wheels right off and told him to ride. When Ross said he didn’t know how, his dad replied, “Sink or swim, Ross. Just jump in.”
It was the same when Ross asked for advice on how to talk to girls in middle school, when Ross got his driver’s permit, and even when Ross asked for help fixing his car. It was his dad’s standard answer. You either learn it yourself, and do the best you possibly can, or you sink and drown. Ross’s dad was big into self-reliance—which Ross always thought was utter bull-crap since his dad was in the military.
Ross started to pace up and down the bay to get his blood flowing. As he was walking, he noticed that Sue had thrown all the Christmas trees down from the top bay to the floor. He saw one of the infected dead and another one buried in cardboard boxes that contained plastic pines. After ten minutes of walking, Ross picked up the pace until he was running the twenty-foot length back and forth.