A blood curdling scream came from upstairs and I rushed upstairs, followed by Tommy, Eric and Justin. As I entered the bedroom, Claire was holding on tight to the door handle of the bathroom which was keeping the door closed. A hideous screeching was coming from inside the bathroom, accompanied with violent striking and scratching of the door from the other side.
“She turned…she turned into…one of them!” screamed Claire.
“Griff, you don’t want to be here. If you see that creature that used to be your wife, then it’s only your wife you are going to see. You will end up the same as her if you do and I can’t let that happen. You need to leave now – we will take care of this.”
I stood there stunned as Eric and Justin took Claire’s position on holding the door. I held my head in my hands and stood there staring at the door. The screeching and pounding on the door was deafening. I developed extreme tunnel vision and hearing simultaneously. I couldn’t move and it felt like an eternity passed before I mustered up the words, “Fine then, I’ll join her.”
“Like hell you will. Look, I understand that Kate was your world, I do. Claire needs you. We need you. Kate wouldn’t want it this way. Kate wouldn’t want you to sacrifice yourself like this.”
Chapter 18
That was the last thing I remember hearing before I woke up to the worlds largest headache, and bump on my head to match. It was suddenly early morning and I was now on the living room couch. Tommy came in from the kitchen and apologized for knocking me out with a sucker punch, but felt that it was “in everyone’s best interest” that I get a “timeout”. As I swung my legs out to the floor to get up, I was instantly reminded of what was transpiring before I blacked out.
“Where is she, Tommy? Where’s Kate?” I asked, my throat was dry and cracking as I spoke.
“She’s where she needed to be.” Tommy replied.
“You son of a bitch! You killed her?!” I yelled as I rose to my feet, “I told you. We could have tried to save her!”
“No, we couldn’t have. Look, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you before you get the memo I’m handing out,” Tommy stated as he walked over towards me pointing straight into my face, “but this is a virus that has no cure! Once people turn into zombies, they ain’t people no more! They become undead hunters of the living and only stop when…”
“When what, Tommy? When you blow their heads off? Is that what you did to Kate, you fucking asshole? You shattered her brains all over the bathroom, drug her outside and buried her?”
Tommy stood there silent. We both knew the reality of what had happened. I just didn’t want it to be part of my reality. Tommy did what he had to do to save my life, even if I didn’t want the saving done. I was feeling enraged, appalled and appreciative of him all at the same time.
“She’s in the basement. I was going to bury her in the backyard, but after what Claire had told us about what had happened back there…” Tommy trailed off in an awkward silence that betrayed his outward display of callousness. “This thing spreads fast. When it hits, you won’t have time to plan anything – all we can do is react and survive.”
“I need to see her,” is all I replied as Tommy turned away, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee he had in his hands.
I made my way to the basement steps and looked down. I had a sudden sense of vertigo as the steps seemed to stretch out for miles before my eyes. As I shook the sensation off, I lumbered down the stairs with a heavy heart and mind. Each step I took downward brought back another memory of us together in our home. Ironically, as I counted off the steps to the basement, they were exactly the number of years we had been married. As I entered the basement washroom, lying there was a figure shrouded in sheets. I knelt down next to Kate and sobbed. If only I had killed Butch when I had the chance. If only we had taken Kate with us.
I grabbed the top of the sheet that was bunched up by her head. It was soaked in what I knew was blood. As I gripped the sheet in my hands, I hesitated not knowing if I would be prepared for what I was about to see. I knelt over her for an eternity, wishing that I could get that eternity back to spend with her. This was not the way I wanted to remember Kate. I may not have been able to say goodbye, but I wasn’t going to have my last remembrance of her be as a zombie.
I was angry. I couldn’t believe at how quick and vicious this virus was and how quickly it had taken two of my loved ones. How many more had it stolen from me? I needed to strike my vengeance on an intangible enemy. This was no war on terror, no chance for revenge. This was as Tommy had said, it was a de-evolution to basic survival – plain and simple.
I tenderly reached under the blanket and my hand travelled to hers. Removing my wedding ring, I placed it on her ring finger – just above her wedding band. I brought her hand up and gently kissed her hand, tucking it back under the blanket and leaving her to an eternal rest.
I went back upstairs and knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay here. Every corner I turned, every room I entered, would be a reminder of everything that was – and would never be again. Even while walking up the stairs, even the most common noises in the home brought back a familiarity and sense of hope that Kate was still alive. There was no way I was going to be able to carry on here without Kate. Staying here with these memories, with our memories, would drive me mad.
My mind wandered to all my loved ones, friends and family that I had hoped were still alive and could be saved. I owed it to them to find them out, to rescue them. There had to be some place where we could build a new life in this chaos. My mission became simple – find them, rescue them and start anew. I called everyone to a meeting in the kitchen.
“There’s been a change of plans. We aren’t staying put,” I began, “I need a moment to gather up a few things and load them up in the car. Tommy, unless you object, I am going to need a place to stay.”
“No problem,” he replied.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t ask any of you to do anything that would put you at risk, but staying here and surviving day to day isn’t living. We all have loved ones out there. We all have friends and family that, we are hoping against all odds, are still alive. I am going to be seeking out mine and securing a safe haven for them. If anyone wants in, I could use your help. This isn’t just about rescuing people close to me – this goes for everyone in this room. We will prioritize by distance as we go, and permanently dispatch all the undead in between. So, who’s with me?”
I was humbled that there was absolutely no hesitation from the group. Everyone had the same hope of rescuing and reuniting their loved ones. Now we had a clear mission and enough starting resources to make it a reality. We just needed luck and a little bit of divine intervention to see us through. It was going to be a long winter.
Thank you for reading the first installment of Zombie Reign - there is much more in store for Griff and company! Please don’t forget to leave feedback on Amazon.com for this purchase, and be sure to follow on Facebook – Zombie Reign!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 – Kate and Claire
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12<
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Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 – Kate and Claire
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Zombie Reign (Book 1): Death in Detroit Page 8