Z1N1: The Zombie Pandemic: 2012 Was Just the Beginning

by Mitchell Layne Cook

  “You know we can’t take all of this stuff,” Corbin said.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Nikki smiled wryly. “Get the tool box from the back of the van and meet me up front. See if we have any twine or rope back there as well.”

  Corbin fished around in the back of the van until he found the old toolbox and some rope. He walked to the front of the van where Nikki had already popped open the hood. He placed the toolbox and twine on the ground and watched his wife. She ferreted out a hefty sized wrench and went to work loosening the bolts holding the hood in place. After thirty grueling minutes of wrestling with the rusted bolts, the thin metal hood lay on the ground.

  She attached a rope to each end of the bolt arms that once held the hood into place. Nikki dragged the makeshift sled to the pile of goods and loaded it up with Corbin’s help. The hood slid effortlessly across the packed snow as the duo headed northeast towards Mount Hope.

  Chapter 30

  January 22, 2014: Wednesday, 1:14 AM – Mount Hope Research Facility, Bangor, Maine third floor research station room 301…

  Obadiah and Theo again worked through the evening into the early hours of the following day. They had stumbled upon a new variation of an old version of their serum that had promising initial results. The rest of the scientists would venture into the lab about six hours from now to assist in developing the “cure” should it pan out. An extensive set of testing needed to be performed; the new formula had to be put through rigorous complicated trials to determine its potential for destroying the infected masses of the outside world. Additional tests meant bringing in the undead from beyond the fence – an always dangerous course of action.

  It had been proposed, almost mandated by some of the community, that the testing should take place outside the facility to reduce the risk to the inhabitants. Many of the more vocal inhabitants, largely the overly zealous of Destin’s congregation, felt that the risks of such experimentation severely outweighed the potential rewards. The scientists had argued that the request to move the operation bordered on impossible since the testing had to be done in a controlled environment. Such a venue was currently only provided for by using the lab of the main facility. A compromise was reached that a new building would be constructed and all science equipment would be moved thereto.

  The new building, referred to as the “Annex”, had been planned to be built outside the fenced in area, but after further considerations, the Annex would be built within the fence in the southeast corner– a good distance from the main facility. The foundation of the new structure had been poured earlier at the start of the week, but it would take another six to eight weeks before the medium-sized construction would be fully functional. In the post-zombie world, complex architectural designs were impossible to duplicate without the CAD programs used by architects of the past. Thus, the building would be fairly straightforward but construction would be slow going.

  With a community of old folks and children, the sparse labor pool could provide only minimal time each week for building the Annex. Compounding the build time was the fact that supplies such as wood, nails, concrete and tools had to be scavenged from outside the complex. These excursions were dangerous; braving the “outer lands” ran the risk of people being infected or even alerting hordes of the undead to the existence of the complex. Each successive trip over the course of the past many months had exhausted close by resources forcing each subsequent trip farther and farther out from the safe zone.

  The door behind Obadiah opened but the old man focused on the specimen underneath the powerful microscope. He had carved a piece of flesh from one of the zombies late last night. He adeptly injected a tiny amount of the new formula into the skin cells to watch the results. Soon the fleshy cells were drawn to the serum like moths to a flame. As the old scientist watched, the cells began to rupture and dissolve. The old man was pleased.

  Craig walked through the door rubbing his eyes. As he passed by Obadiah, he gently patted the elder man on his back but continued on to his workstation next to Theo. Theo had looked up briefly when Craig first entered the room. Their friendship had bettered over the past few months, but Theo felt as if Craig still hated him for the night that Julie died. Theo knew, even though Craig had dismissed his earlier suppositions, that Craig still harbored great anger at him.

  “You’re in early today,” Theo noted.

  “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. I guess I’m excited to see if the new serum plays out like we think it will.”

  Obadiah entered his findings into his small laptop computer. Over thirty different serums had been developed since the science group had started down the path to eradicate the zombies. It became readily apparent after the first few rounds of testing that it would be easier to destroy the infected instead of trying to find a vaccine for the remaining humans. Just over six months of data and tests had led the group to where they were today. Many serums never panned out past the initial theory stage. As the application crunched numbers in the background, the old man minimized the program exposing his well-organized desktop. He clicked a folder named “Citizens of Mount Hope” and a small document opened up.

  The document outlined a three page list of everyone that had arrived and/or died at the complex over the past nine months. Some had died in the early months before the fence was erected and others were scientists that had died during the initial zombie trials. Obadiah had been here since the beginning and had welcomed all the new comers and shed tears for all of those that had died. He felt as if it was his duty to maintain some sort of records of the events and people that passed through this makeshift community. The old man, lost briefly in the past, failed to hear Craig calling out his name.

  “How’re you doing over there, Obadiah?” Craig inquired louder and for a third time.

  “I want the two of you to take over the Friday status reports for me,” the old man said without answering or acknowledging the previously posed question.

  “Is everything OK?” Theo asked.

  Both he and Craig were worried about the old man’s health. Obadiah had continued to work in the lab even though he fought through one major cold after another. The inexperienced onsite doctors had advised Obadiah to rest but he had waved them off. He was eventually convinced to take some medication that helped to reduce the violent coughs so that he could continue his work. Obadiah felt the medicine was wasted on him and should be saved for real emergencies.

  The old man took out his handkerchief and coughed into it. He wiped his mouth noting the now ever present minute amounts of blood. He quickly wiped the corner of his mouth and stuffed the cloth into his back pocket. He cleared his throat and addressed the two younger men.

  “I’m fine. Stop worrying about me. I just need a little more rest here and there.” The old man stood up and stretched his aching back. “I’m going to lie down. Wake me if anything develops.” Obadiah picked up his laptop and walked over to Craig handing him the device. “I think you’ll be pleased at what you see. We can discuss the results after my nap.” The old man turned and exited the room.

  January 22, 2014: Wednesday, 9:01 AM – Mount Hope Research Facility, Bangor, Maine – the roof of the main complex…

  Major Pavlik walked along his normal route while on sniper patrol methodically going from one corner of the roof to the next until he had made the full rotation. At each corner he would spend a few minutes inspecting the area around the fence to get a quick count of zombies. If too many of them had piled up, they would need to be cleared out. So far it appeared that only the east section had any considerable pile up; the west and south sections were clear. Many of the undead paraded about the hillside but only a handful ever ventured close to the fence. Maybe they recognized the danger of being too close?

  The north section of the fence was built into the hillside that continued upwards into the sky another five to six hundred feet above the base; the total height of the large hill measured about eight hundred feet. The wooded area above the main complex at the
summit had been cleared out more than half a year ago. Very rarely had any undead climbed the other side of the hill to work their way down to the facility, but it had happened before. Major Pavlik constantly reminded his young troops to monitor the north section of the fence.

  The south section of the fence served as the main entry point into Mount Hope. Two colossal steel double gates, barred from the inside, stood as silent sentries guarding the research facility. On the inward side of the fence, in the southwest corner, a small brick structure stood alone. This mediocre edifice was used as a staging area to house new visitors.

  Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, early in the post-zombie age, the founding members of Mount Hope had unknowingly allowed a group of infected humans directly into the complex. During that long ago evening, two of the visitors that had survived a zombie attack prior to their arrival hid their wounds when they entered Mount Hope. Their wounds dire, the pair succumbed to the zombie infection and died. The undead duo arose in the pre-dawn hours attacking some of the residents while they slept; the two newcomers were killed along with seven of their victims.

  Going forward from that incident, new arrivals were sequestered into the “Box” for upwards of a week as tests were run against them. Every group of new arrivals serving a tour in the Box vehemently opposed the unlawful incarceration. However, they were soon convinced of the merits of the procedure and the good faith of the community. Those being held were extended as many creature comforts as possible to make their stay in the Box livable. Once given the all clear by the scientists and doctors, the new arrivals would be allowed inside the main facility with free reign of the property and all the privileges of the established tenants.

  Major Pavlik crouched down on the rooftop as he probed the landscape – something in the distance had caught his attention. He raised his rifle peering through the powerful scope. Approaching from the south, a man and woman arduously trekked towards the hillside community. The dark haired man in the distant landscape, sporting a thick gray streaked beard, carried an overstuffed backpack slung over his shoulders; he pulled a rusty sled behind him packed with full duffle bags. His companion, a woman, carried a duffle bag at her side – its dingy white strap draped across her chest; her shoulder length red hair flowed in the cold morning breeze from beneath a dark blue knitted cap. Major Pavlik could see what appeared to be a pink blanket protruding slightly from one of the woman’s bags. Of more importance, the sniper could see that both were armed, the man toted a rifle attached to his backpack and the woman a large caliber handgun at her side.

  Major Pavlik walked over to the metal staircase leading down to the ground. Patchy ice had made the stairs quite slick but he traversed them with ease; the rubberized soles of his boots gripped each stair confidently. As he descended the final stair, he walked around the corner to a group of five soldiers huddled together for warmth around a fire burning within an old oil barrel. He tapped a young soldier on her shoulder nodding for her to take his place on the roof. She saluted and moved up the stairs.

  Major Pavlik addressed the four remaining soldiers doling out orders to each individual. “We have visitors on the horizon. Private Robinson - you go inside and inform Obadiah. Atkins – prepare the Box. Jimenez and McCree – you two come with me.”

  January 22, 2014: Wednesday, 9:35 AM – a field on the outskirts of the Mount Hope Research Facility, Bangor, Maine …

  “I need to rest,” Corbin said as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.

  “We are so close,” Nikki responded as she pointed towards the fenced off area in the distance. “Look over there. I’m sure they’ve seen us by now. It’s just a little bit farther, baby.” Nikki feared that if they didn’t make contact with Mount Hope soon, that she would lose the last person in the world that she loved.

  Corbin knew they were close, but he still sat down on the small sled using the duffle bags to cushion his exhausted body. They had been on foot for nearly two days since the van broke down. Sure they were a few hundred yards from their destination, but his body needed to rest and he didn’t have the energy to push forward without a brief respite – the building would still be there after he caught his breath.

  BLAM!! BLAM!! BRRAPPT!! BRAPPT!! BRAPPT!!

  Nikki and Corbin both ducked down behind the overloaded sled. They recognized the small arms fire coming from the building nestled against the hillside. The couple piled the duffle bags and the baggage they carried up into a large mound on the sled and crouched behind. Corbin pulled back the bolt action on his rifle ensuring the bullet was chambered. Nikki spun the silver chamber of the revolver around checking her ammunition.

  BLAM!! BLAM!! BRRAPPT!! BRAPPT!! BRAPPT!!

  Corbin leaned his back against the duffle bag barrier covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he coughed. A look of concern crossed his face. Had they come this far only to be killed before reaching their final destination? They were sitting ducks out in the open field – nowhere to run. He glanced at Nikki as she peeked around the edges of the sled towards the facility. She saw a group of three men that had exited the gated area…she also saw that the men had not been shooting at them but clearing a path through some huddled up zombies at the entrance. She watched as the men decapitated the downed zombies with their machetes.

  “Listen, Nikki – I don’t have the energy to run. I can give you enough time to make a decent getaway but you have to go now.” Corbin looked at the beautiful woman crouched next to him thinking of how their life could have been so different if it wasn’t for the fucking zombies.

  “They weren’t shooting at us,” she began. “They were clearing away some of the undead from their gates.” She peeked back around the barrier and the military men were less than one hundred yards from them. She was a bit hesitant based on their recent exposure to the other military outfits that they had run across as they plodded through the New England states.

  “Just be ready for anything,” he replied.

  The couple lay waiting in silence. They knew the trio of soldiers were close, they could hear their feet on the crunchy snow covered ground; the footsteps stopped. A symphony of silence permeated the small patch of land as both groups tried to anticipate the next actions of the opposing group. If they were actors in an old western movie depicting a cowboy showdown, tumbleweeds might have pirouetted through, but alas – this was no movie; both sides clutched their weapons at the ready.

  “My husband is sick,” Nikki yelled breaking the silence. “He needs help. We mean you no harm.”

  “My name is Martin Pavlik – we mean you no harm. We are lowering our weapons and ask you to do likewise.”

  Both groups, reluctantly but honestly, brought low their weapons. Nikki stood up and assisted Corbin to his feet. Introductions were made; the two groups advanced towards the complex. Private McCree tugged the overloaded sled behind him. Within moments, they arrived to the southern gate. No zombies obstructed their paths; the remaining onsite soldiers had cleared away the jetsam of the undead. An old bearded man wearing a cowboy hat along with four others waited outside the gated area anticipating the arrival of the new guests.

  “I’m Obadiah,” the old man said stepping forward. “These are my friends: Craig, Mandy, Theo and Destin.”

  “I’m Nikki and this is my husband, Corbin. He’s not well. We need your help and have traveled a long way to this place…this is Mount Hope, isn’t it?”

  “It is, my dear,” Obadiah spoke. “You are safe here.”

  Chapter 31

  January 22, 2014: Wednesday, 10:02 AM – Mount Hope Research Facility, Bangor, Maine …

  Major Pavlik gave the signal and two of his soldiers within the gates grabbed each of the massive chain link doors. The soldiers pulled opposite each other and the doors opened wide allowing the new visitors to enter inside the community. Obadiah and the other four residents followed closely behind the new arrivals. Two of the three onsite doctors waited with their limited supplies to treat the guests if ne
ed be.

  “Hi, I’m Mandy and this is my husband Craig and our friend Theo.” Both men nodded as their names were called out.

  “I’m Obadiah and this young man over here is our pastor – Destin.”

  “Welcome,” Destin said. “I’m glad the Lord has led you to our humble community.”

  “You’ve already met Major Pavlik,” Obadiah continued. “He’s head of security and I’m sure in due time you will meet his security detail and the rest of our extended family.”

  “You are most kind,” Nikki replied. “As I mentioned outside the gates, we’ve come a long way and my husband is quite ill.”

  BLAM!! BLAM!!

  Two shots rang out from the opposite side of the main facility. Corbin grabbed Nikki and pulled her lower to the ground. He reached for the handgun at his wife’s side, but the clasp kept the weapon in place.

  “It’s OK,” Mandy said reassuringly. “You’ll get used to that. Our on duty snipers clear out the zombies on the outside of the fence when they get too clumped up.”

  Obadiah motioned for the two young doctors to move forward. Both approached the new guests and they introduced themselves; the young man was Winston Jeffries and the woman was named Ashley Cooper. Winston put down his satchel of medicines and tonics as he inspected Corbin. Ashley began to examine Nikki but Nikki stepped back slightly.

  “I’m fine, please treat my husband first,” she said.

  “It’s our way…our procedure to thoroughly check out all new arrivals to our facility,” Theo stated matter-of-factly. “Then you will spend three days in the Box undergoing various tests and checkups.”