by A. Rosaria
“Stop it!”
Jake sneered at her. “You too? Protecting this.”
He punched Tommy's temple. Tommy's eyes rolled back and he slumped. The room fell into a hush. Jake spat on the unconscious teen and sat at his desk with a satisfied smile on his face. This was who she was with? Loved? She felt sick to her stomach. No sweet words or gifts could ease this hurt.
She put two fingers on the side of Tommy's neck. She felt a weak pulse and his chest moved up and down slowly.
“Don't bother with him; he'll wake up in a minute or two,” Jake said.
“You bastard, what has gotten into you?”
She felt the tears surge, begging to be let out, to let her cry. Everything that had happened overwhelmed her at once. She should have stayed home to take care of her mother and baby brother. Now, she was cut off from them, quarantined at school against her will, while her family was probably being kept locked up at home with no one to look after them. She was left with her jerk of a boyfriend.
“Come on, baby; it's your fault really. You made me do it.” Her skin crawled in distaste. “It's all good now. I forgive you,” he said with a smirk.
“You forgive me?” She approached him. He leaned back, waiting for her. The smirk was still etched on his face.
She slapped him. Her palm print shown red hot on his cheek. His eyes grew wild. He burst forward, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her back on a desk. She couldn't breathe. She tried to scratch his face, but he pushed her back and pinned her by the throat on the desk. He pulled his head back out of reach for her nails.
“You shouldn't have done that.”
He had never hurt her physically before. For all the things wrong with him, she never expected this. Tears streamed from her eyes, and she hated herself it. Her eyes darted sideways. No one did anything. They stood staring with their mouths open. She tried to call out for help, but only managed a small croak.
Lilly jumped on Jake's back and screamed for him to let go. He tried to shrug Lilly off, but she kept holding on. Lilly's arms slung around his neck. His hands loosened around Sarah's throat. Air slipped back in Sarah's lungs.
With her voice still hoarse, she yelled at Jake. “You're choking me!”
He let her go and recoiled. His wild eyes turned into shock. “I...I...”
Lilly let him go and dropped off his back, pushing him aside as she rushed to Sarah. “Are you all right?” Lilly snapped her head at Jake. “Have you seen what you've done, you prick! Are you happy now?” She turned her fury to the others. “Cowards, you all, standing there doing nothing.”
Sarah sat upright. Bewildered, she looked at each person in the room. Lilly was right; not one would have lifted a finger. They would have let her die. Her eyes rested on Tommy. He would have done something and he paid the price for it. She sure knew who she could trust from now one. She sobbed. Lilly embraced her. It felt good. And to think, she had once considered giving her up for that monster.
The comfort did not last long. Shots were fired outside. George ran to the window. It was dark now. More shots fired.
“God,” George said. “They are shooting at people.”
Lilly let go of Sarah and went to stand next to George. Sarah would have rather stayed at her side. She could, at the moment, care less about what was happening outside. Everything in her life was turning to shit anyway.
The other kids joined them, Jake reluctantly trailing after them. He dared not look at her. It was over; there was no way she would ever go back to him after how he behaved today. No words were needed to state that, and no words she would dirty to make that clear to him. She hopped off the desk that had almost been her deathbed and went to stand next to Lilly.
Sarah became rigid. A group of a hundred-some men and women approached the gates. The spotlight the soldiers put in place lit them up. Some were injured and limped along, clothes torn and blood caked on them. The soldiers formed a line and almost immediately started shooting, mowing the crowd down. A soldier called the order to stop firing and one by one they stopped shooting. They held their rifles tensely aimed at the corpses strewn all over the high school's parking lot.
“Why are they doing this?” Lilly asked.
No one answered. No one knew. These soldiers seemed to have overreacted, like unarmed people posed any threat to them. Sarah gasped and her heart jumped a beat. Several of the people shot down were standing up.
“Take aim,” a soldier yelled. “Make your head shots count.”
They shot, alternating shot after shot, taking time to aim. One by one the people fell down. They stopped shooting when no one else stood up again.
“What the fuck was that?” George said.
“They are killing unarmed people, just like that,” said Anna, the blond, short girl. “What if they are coming for us next?” Anna ran over to Jake and clamped on him, and he allowed her. He was actually comforting her. Sarah looked away.
“Look!” Sarah pointed. “More are coming.”
The soldiers were reloading and talking among each other, unaware of a group of people coming their way.
“We should warn them,” Lilly said. “The soldiers will kill them.”
Sarah watched as the mob moved like drunks, shoving against each other, walking unsteady on their feet, a few even tripping over themselves. The way those who had been shot stood back up with their bodies riddled with bullets was not normal. Humans could not take that kind of punishment and live. And this new mob moved carelessly about; they must have seen what happened. Were they drugged?
“Maybe we shouldn't,” Sarah said.
Lilly turned, shocked at her. “You can't mean that.”
“Something is wrong here, don't you feel it?”
Lilly shook her head, but she didn't attempt to warn them. She must feel it too. Everything that happened today must be part of something bigger. Maybe they weren’t being kept inside to keep others safe, but kept inside to keep them safe from whatever was roaming outside.
The soldier closest to the incoming crowd spotted the mob. He shot his magazine empty. However, he was caught by surprise. He aimed high and most of the bullets flew over the mob, only hitting a few, but not stopping anyone. The other soldiers scrambled to position, but before they could form a line, the mob was on them. The line broke before it was even formed. Five men jumped on the closest soldier. The soldier tried to beat them away, but they tore at him, tearing off his helmet and vest. They started biting the soldier. The soldier screamed while chunks of him got torn off by hungry teeth.
In horror, Sarah watched, not understanding, unable to fathom what could get people so far beyond that they could do that to a human being. The other soldiers backing down got overwhelmed one by one. They tried to shoot their way out, but there were too many. A few dropped their guns and fled. Others shot indiscriminately at anything moving, shooting fellow soldiers and zombies alike, until they got shot or pinned down and eaten. The last one alive was surrounded; they were closing in on him. He switched his rifle to his left hand and went for his pistol. He put it against his head, but before he could shoot, a woman grabbed his arm and bit him. He shot in the air. The others bore down on him, chewing on him.
“Get down,” Sarah yelled.
In a last spasm, the soldier pulled the trigger of his automatic rifle. It sent a spray of bullets in the air. The windows broke by the bullets flying through. Sarah pulled Lilly down; the others also went for cover. After the shooting died down and the soldier uttered a last scream filled with terror and agony, broken safety glass covered the floor.
George cried out in pain. He lay on his back, pressing his hands to his belly, while blood pulsed through his fingers. He spat blood. Lilly started panicking again. Not wanting a repeat of her zoning out in shock, Sarah slapped her. “Go help George.”
Lilly nodded and went over to him, putting pressure on the wound. They could use help. Where was Vic? He would help. Jake sat back at his desk with Anna on his lap. He whispered something
in her ear and pointed at George. Anna laughed sheepishly. Everybody was breaking down.
“Someone know what's happening?” she screamed.
Her thoughts raced, unable to focus on any one of them. She wanted to get away, run out of the classroom, out of school, to home. Leave this all behind. She felt bile creep. Her breathing became shallow. Her hands felt numb. She stared at them and looked back up. Lilly sat next to George, shaking her head. He lay motionless in front of her. Sarah felt her head go woozy. George was dead.
Lilly grabbed her hands, calling her name. She allowed the words to drag her back and focused on Lilly's lips.
“What should we do now?” Lilly asked.
How would she know? She was just a teen, a month away from turning eighteen. She had been keeping herself up, hoping it would turn out all right, but everything was crashing down instead. Mount Vesuvius exploded, and they would all soon be covered under its shit.
“Sarah?”
She saw the panic in her friend’s eyes and her need for her. Sarah gulped. She closed her eyes to collect her thoughts. No way could she give in. She had a mom and brother to return to and a real friend that depended on her. She evened her breathing, opened her eyes, and stood up.
“We wait for daybreak.”
“We what?” Jake said.
She ignored him. “Tomorrow we leave; in the meantime, we hide here.”
“I'm not staying here with a corpse,” Anna said and pointed at the teacher. “Two corpses.”
“We can't leave Tommy alone,” Sarah said.
Whatever they choose to do, she wouldn't leave him alone. He was still out cold and too heavy for her to drag. She couldn't count on the others to help. Jake hitting Tommy must have done some damage to him, most likely a concussion. He was still out without a sign that he would be back up anytime soon.
“Well then, it's decided,” Jake said.
Jake stood, grabbed Anna by the waist, and walked to the door. “Who's coming?” No one else stirred. “Suit yourselves; I prefer to be alone anyway.”
They left, leaving Sarah with Lilly, the two nerds, Emily, an unconscious Tommy, and two corpses. Whatever happened, Sarah was determined to get through the night. As long they kept to themselves and made no noise, they would be fine. She'd manage. She fought to believe it. She sat down in a corner, closed her eyes, and tried to rest.
CHAPTER TEN
“I should have left you out there,” the man said. “You caused me more trouble than you are worth. Now, they got my house surrounded.”
He walked past Ralph into the kitchen. From the fridge, he took two beers and tossed one at Ralph, who barely caught it. Why make him feel so unwelcome only to offer him a beer? Not that he was complaining; it was better to feel unwelcome than to be zombie chow.
“Are you gonna stay on the floor.”
The man sat down on his sofa in his living room. The room had all the commodities of picture-perfect living from an IKEA showroom. Spotless, plain, and a sense of unpractical usage. Ralph stood up, wincing at the stiff muscle pain stretching over his body. He sat down on the opposite sofa. The soft cushions were a delight to his aching bum.
The zombies outside banged on the door incessantly, as if they instinctively knew succulent food was inside. Could they smell them or was it that they were so dumb and compulsive that they would keep going in one direction without additional stimuli?
“You like the door? Want to open it? No? Well stop staring at it. Open your beer and have a drink with me.”
Ralph popped the can open and took a sip. He didn't like beer, too bitter, and it was heavy on his stomach, but today he savored the cool and bitter taste. The alcohol quickly made itself known. It went straight to his head and made him feel a little lighter. He didn't mind. He could use the distraction. He emptied his can and put it down on the coffee table.
“Nice house, isn’t it? Wanna buy it?” the man said.
Ralph shook his head. The neighborhood wasn't very lively; everything seemed a little dead. No thanks, siree.
“No, you sure? Figures, no one wants to.” He twirled his finger in the air. “This one was the first one built, decorated, and furnished, so prospective buyers could come and see what kind of house they might get, to entice them into buying. You know how many families showed up the first year?”
The man showed five dirty fingers.
Zombies were walking the earth. Who cared if houses sold? Ralph shifted in his seat.
“The next year even less showed up. No one was buying. Still we built the other houses; you would think the higher ups would take the hint. No, they thought in two or three years things would turn around. It didn't. The subprime mortgage fiasco won't go away that easy. Still, they kept us building. Sure it was fine as long we got paid, but the company went bust and this week was my last one employed. Knowing this, they still held us to our contract. We still keep building these houses; houses that likely will be razed the month after we finished them. We could have been with our families, but no. Half the crew came to work sick, because we all needed the cash, but damn I wished they had stayed home.”
The man looked out the window. One of the zombies walked past.
“Billy there could have been with his pregnant wife instead of walking around mindless out there.”
Ralph kept silent. Instead, he observed the man. He had denim on, work boots, and a checkered shirt. He was about 6 feet with a muscular build. His clothes were bloody. It wasn’t his blood; he had no visible injuries.
“I forgot my manners.” The man stretched a hand out. “The name is Norman. You can call me Norm.”
Ralph shook his hand. “Ralph, pleased to meet you. Thanks for saving me.”
“Yea a real bother too. Made me take care of old Terrence, our foreman. Hated his guts really.”
The pleasantries done with, Ralph hoped to get to business and figure out what Norm knew or had on him that could help him get away in the morning. Or call for help. Or at least reach home.
“Do you have a phone?”
“No signal this far out.”
“A landline maybe?”
The man guffawed and pointed to the door. “Outside in our work shack. It is the only line phone for miles. Although, you will have to find a way through all my coworkers. Would be a waste really. You have little chance. I doubt you'll manage getting there in one piece.
“I really need to call my mom.”
“Mommie's boy? Can't sleep without first saying nighty night? You're a man now.”
“It's not that. I am worried about my mother and sister; they are ill. I have to know if they are all right.”
The man’s face turned serious. “I'm sorry, but if they were sick, they are dead now.”
Ralph felt his throat tighten; he couldn't accept that. “I heard on the news there are people that are resistant to the virus. These people must have a greater chance of recovery, and it's not like everyone that gets infected by a bug dies. Maybe some get better.”
Norm finished his beer. “Do you believe everything they tell you? Maybe they lied about the numbers. And if I remember, it was all about the flu. Does this look like the damn flu to you?”
Norm was right, but still it was not clear if everyone that got ill became one of them. He remembered on the bus more than half of the kids were still alive when the others turned. Lauryn was alive and she looked less feverish when he left her behind. Left her alone. Left her to die.
“Why would the doctor lie?”
“No idea why they would, but governments lie all the time, so why not about this?”
He knew nothing about governments. He just lived his life, went to school, and didn’t think about adult things. He wanted to enjoy high school before moving into adulthood. His education had taught him that they were the greatest nation, most powerful, and most free. But what had happened today was not that great. People had been gathered together to be preemptive destroyed like they were livestock with mad cow disease.
“How can you be so sure that no one survives being infected?”
“Seen one not become one?”
No, he hadn't, but not seeing something wasn't evidence to the contrary. No one saw God, but God existed; the Bible was evidence of God's existence. He looked outside; a zombie in construction clothing stopped in front of the window and started banging his fist against it. How long would it hold? And why would God allow this? Was this a test for humans to endure? Regretfully, he had never read the Bible, so he wasn't sure if the scriptures told about the dead rising and chewing on human flesh.
“I've got to see for myself. Even if a remote chance exists that my mom and sis are still well, I need to take it.”
Norm sighed and stood up. “Guess you have a point. Come on. We need to move. It won't take long before they get inside.”
A zombie's fist cracked the window. Ralph jumped up. He had allowed himself to fall into a sense of security having walls around him. The door seemed sturdy enough, but the windows obviously weren't. He followed Norm to the kitchen in the back of the house. A door led to the yard. Norm switched the outside light on. No zombies were near the door. Ralph followed him outside.
“Close the door behind you,” Norm whispered.
The sound of shattering glass came from the living room.
“Hurry!”
Ralph ran back to the door and slammed it shut.
“They don't seem to know how to open doors,” Norm said. “It will delay them.”
They ran to a nearby tree line. They took cover behind a bush.
“What now?” Ralph asked.
“Eight of these sons of bitches left. I counted five at the house, so three must still be roaming about.”
Norm pointed at the spot Ralph had run into the zombies. “I parked my truck near the construction shack.”
They had no weapons to defend themselves with. He had seen that boy rise back up. He had heard his heart stop. Still, if he had a weapon, he wasn't sure he would use it. Norm had smashed one zombie's head to a pulp without hesitation while saving him.