BEER RUN
THE FOG SERIES BOOK 2
HAYLEY LAWSON
Beer Run (this book) is a work of fiction.
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Copyright © 2018 by Hayley Lawson. All rights reserved.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
AUTHOR’S NOTE
MORE FROM HAYLEY LAWSON
BOOKS BY HAYLEY LAWSON
To all my friends wouldn’t let a zombie apocalyptic spoil a party!
CHAPTER ONE
The TV had switched to a Geico commercial, proving that even the apocalypse wouldn’t stop customers from saving a lot of money on their car insurance. Assuming they still had cars.
Since a virus had spread in the fog, turning people into zombies, it made it difficult to say anything with absolute certainty. Benjamin grimaced as the cabernet sauvignon burned the back of his throat. He wasn’t a wine drinker, but having just watched a zombie come into the apartment, he definitely needed some alcohol.
Benjamin passed the bottle of cabernet sauvignon to Sara, the pretty brunette sitting beside him. As she took the bottle, she scrunched up her face and peered at it with bright blue eyes before taking a swig. She sighed before passing the bottle on to Amber, a winsome brunette.
“I’m going to go crazy if all we’ve got between the six of us is a bottle of freaking cabernet sauvignon,” Elijah said.
He said the name as cab-ur-net sor-vig-none. Benjamin bit the inside of his cheek and didn’t say anything. Elijah was the sort of man who probably always had the ladies swooning over him. He was so perfect he was infuriating. Perfect brown hair, perfect teeth, and a perfect spray tan. It seemed that intelligence wasn’t his strong suit, though. At least, Benjamin had that going for him.
“It’s better than nothing,” Amber replied, sighing, “Although I would kill for something really stiff right now.”
“Agreed,” said Daisy, who took the bottle next.
“Maybe we should storm the liquor store!” Alex exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “It would be great! Glorious!”
The news came back on. Everyone straightened as the anchorwoman, a voluptuous woman with thick, blonde hair and a form-fitting bubblegum pink dress. “For those of you just tuning in, we’ve just received new information from the Centers for Disease Control.”
Benjamin leaned forward. He was, of course, eager to hear what new information there was about the zombies, but Benjamin was also a scientist. It was unfortunate that he hadn’t been closer to work when the apocalypse began. If he had been, he might have been surrounded by his colleagues, educated and intelligent men and women. Benjamin might have been able to do something to help.
“Reports indicate that the fog carrying what is being informally called the “the Zombie virus” has moved out of New York City and is now headed towards upstate New York. However, the CDC is cautioning people not to leave their homes. It is unknown if the virus might still be in the air of the affected areas.”
Elijah whistled between his teeth. “That sucks.”
“Understatement of the century,” Benjamin replied.
“Agreed,” Sara said.
“And here with me,” the anchorwoman added, “We have Dr. Bethany Summers from the Center for Disease Control. Welcome, Dr. Summers.”
The screen split, revealing a woman with dark hair and green eyes, exhaustion clear in the bags present despite the clear amount of foundation caked beneath them. She nodded a few times. “Thank you, Angelica. Yes, because we’re unsure if the virus is in the air, we are asking that everyone remain in their homes until we have further information.”
“Right. And for everyone watching, can you tell us what the CDC does know thus far about the virus?” Angelica, the anchorwoman, asked.
“The virus,” Dr. Summers said, “We don’t know yet if it’s really a virus. But I can definitely understand the moniker. Presently, all we know about the virus is that when people breathe air contaminated by the virus, the victims developed open wounds on their faces. We believe these people also develop an urge to bite, although at this point, it’s unclear how this urge has developed.”
“What else do we know?” Angelica asked.
“Very little at present. But we’re working hard to learn more. We do know that it is extremely contagious. We believe that the virus can be contracted through the saliva of an infected victim. So if someone is bitten by someone with this virus, he or she is likely to receive the virus, also. So everyone needs to take appropriate safety measures and avoid being bitten at all costs.”
“So don’t get bitten?” Benjamin asked. “That’s all they have? Don’t get bitten?”
“That seems to be all they’ve got,” Sara said.
Amber sighed. “Well, it’s better than nothing. I guess.”
“You mean, it’s nothing that we didn’t already know from watching zombie movies,” Alex pointed out.
“Thank you, Dr. Summers,” Angelica said. “Is there anything else that you think the people watching from home should know?”
“Just, again, to take appropriate caution. We really want the people at home to understand that this is a very dire situation. As tempting as it might be to venture out and be a hero, we really need people to stay at home. If anyone is bitten, the NYPD has already said that they cannot come get anyone. They can’t help anyone. I understand it’s very frustrating, and the CDC will be working around the clock to learn both the cause of this virus and how we might stop it.”
“That’s good advice. Again, thank you, Dr. Summers. It was great having you here, and we’ll let you go now. I know you’re very busy.”
“Thank you, Angelica.”
The split screen went away, and Angelica smiled benignly, as if she wasn’t breaking one of the most horrifying stories to ever hit the east coast. “The President has been moved to a private bunker in case the virus spreads. For now, officials are urging evacuations for some areas of New York in preparation for the fog’s movement. Additionally, Canadian prime minister—”
“There has to be booze somewhere!” Elijah exclaimed, leaping to his feet and moving in front of the TV.
“Move out of the way!” Sara snapped. “I’m trying to watch this.”
“Sorry!” Elijah replied. “I’m going to go look for booze in Ted’s room.”
Ted had been Elijah and Alex’s roommate. That was, of course, before he had been infected. Once he’d returned home infected, he’d been slain by his former roommates and Sara. Benjamin was a bit embarrassed to admit that he’d spent the fight with Ted screaming and cowering behind everyone else.
“That’s a great idea! Finally, he can be useful for something!” Alex replied.
Evidently, Ted had been a jerk to end all jerks, and neither of his roommates seemed particularly devastated over his untimely death.
Elijah and Alex headed into Ted’s room.
“—the Canadian government is ready to help our American neighbors in their hour of need,” Angelica concluded.
Daisy frowned and placed the bottle of cabernet
sauvignon onto the table before them. “We’re now officially almost out of alcohol,” she said, sighing. “Fantastic.”
Sara groaned and tilted her head against the back of the sofa. “I’m going to die,” she said. “I’m going to languish away and die. That’s what’s going to happen to me.”
“I’m write you a wonderful obituary,” Amber said. “I wonder if there’s anything decent to eat in this apartment.”
Benjamin grimaced. He hadn’t considered that. It might be a really long time before they were allowed to leave the apartment. How long would they have to stay in the apartment? They would only have so much food. How could they possibly survive?
“But I’m sure you could make a gourmet dinner from anything,” Sara said.
“True,” Amber agreed. “Although it sucks. I finally make head chef, and the Ted’s arrive.”
“That’s just life, isn’t it?” Sara asked. “I’m really regretting my decision to move here now.”
“Oh? Where are you from?” Benjamin asked.
“Montana,” Sara replied.
“That’s quite a change.”
“Yeah,” Sara said, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. “I get that a lot. I just wanted a change of pace. I wanted to start anew and establish a career for myself. And then, the Ted’s came.”
“The Teds,” Daisy said sagely.
“Is that really what we’re going to call them?” Benjamin asked. “Teds?”
Sara shrugged. “It seems to fit,” she replied, eyeing the bottle morosely. “This sucks. Teds suck.”
As Benjamin looked at the new anchor, still repeating information that they had already repeated a million times, that certainly seemed to be true.
CHAPTER TWO
Elijah and Alex were busy tearing apart Ted’s room in the search of more alcohol. Although Benjamin sat in the living room with Sara, Daisy, and Amber, occasionally, he heard the sound of something being thrown into the wall or knocked over. Evidently, Elijah and Alex weren’t being exactly careful in Ted’s room. Benjamin considered going in there and supervising. He was going to be their new roommate, Ted’s replacement, and Benjamin didn’t want to risk his new room getting a giant hole in the wall.
“Victorious!” Alex screamed, his voice drowning out the TV.
“Did he say they found booze?” Sara asked, straightening where she sat. “Oh, my God. I hope it’s beer.”
Benjamin peered over the sofa arm and stared at Ted’s room. Alex emerged with a wide grin spreading across his face. Elijah followed, holding aloft a large bottle of tequila, with a few shots worth left in it.
Across the bottle, there were words written in thick, black Sharpie marker. Benjamin squinted, trying to read it.
Ted’s. Elijah, keep your hands off!
“So Ted was super possessive of his tequila, huh?” Benjamin asked.
“You have no idea,” Elijah replied. “He’d go into the kitchen and drink all my beer and then get all angry about me expecting him to pay me back or wanting to have some of his. The audacity!”
Alex nodded in agreement.
“Ted would probably kill us if he knew. If he wasn’t, you know, dead now,” Elijah said, shrugging. “Anyway. Who’s up for some tequila?”
“I’m game,” Sara said.
“I’ll get the shot glasses,” Alex said.
Amber climbed to her feet and followed him into the kitchen. A few seconds later, they returned with six shot glasses. After placing the glasses on the table, everyone gathered around and leaned close.
“No limes or lemons?” Sara asked.
“Sorry,” Alex replied, “But we have some salt.”
Alex went to get it, while Elijah began filling the shot glasses. After the salt was added, Benjamin picked up his shot glass and wrinkled his nose. He didn’t mind drinking alcohol, of course, but shots had never been his thing. Tequila had never been his thing. And when Benjamin lifted the glass up to the light, he realized that there was an actual worm in the bottom of his glass. Did he actually have to drink it? And what about the worm? Was he supposed to swallow it whole? Chew it?
Elijah downed his shot without any hesitation, slammed his glass onto the table, and poured another.
The others slammed down their shot glasses, too. Alex, Daisy, Amber, Sara.
Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!
Benjamin swallowed around the lump in his throat. This was disgusting. The tequila didn’t even smell or look good. Did he really have to drink it?
He glanced at Sara. She’d drank hers.
If Benjamin didn’t drink his, he would look like a wimp, and while he might be able to accept looking like a wimp in front of Elijah or Alex, that wasn’t nearly as bad as looking like a wimp in front of Sara.
Benjamin tilted his head back and downed the tequila shot. The alcohol burned his throat. His stomach lurched, and his mouth felt dry. He wanted to throw up. Beer he could handle. Wine wasn’t a problem. But tequila was another animal entirely.
He slammed his glass down harder than he meant to and put a hand over his mouth. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if he just threw up all over the room? Oh, God. He was going to puke his guts out.
Benjamin headed back to the sofa, leaned back against it, letting his body fall back into the sofa cushions. His face felt very warm, and his tongue tingled in the aftermath of the tequila.
Daisy climbed to her feet and rolled her head as if it wasn’t quite connected to her neck.
“What now?” Sara asked after a few moments.
Alex slammed down his shot glass, emptied once again.
“Well…” Daisy trailed off. “I’ve got a dream.”
“Mm?” Alex mumbled.
Daisy bent down and retrieved the baseball bat that she’d earlier used to fight Ted’s with. She swung it around a couple of times, her swings a bit more sluggish than they had been earlier. She grinned. “I’ve got a dream of taking on the next Ted!”
Was Ted really going to be the name that they used for all the infected? Benjamin’s inner scientist rolled his eyes. “I really think we should say homo sapiens—”
“Yeah, yeah. Teds,” Daisy replied, miming the motion of striking a Ted. “Pow!”
The strike went too far, and Daisy’s bat smacked into a shelf, knocking off an autographed photo of Leonardo DiCaprio. And suddenly, Benjamin decided that he shouldn’t correct a woman who was holding a baseball bat and also knew how to use it.
“I just kind of want more alcohol,” Alex said. “I mean, how else are you supposed to deal with the Ted apocalypse?”
“True,” Amber said.
“And I would kill for some whiskey followed by a shot of pickle brine,” Daisy added. “I don’t mind tequila, but it’s not my favorite.”
“Well, there is a pub a few blocks away,” Elijah said. “The Queen Vic.”
“Oh, yeah!” Alex said, nodding.
“The Queen Vic?” Sara asked.
“I promise it’s great,” Elijah insisted. “The best pub in NYC. I’m not even kidding, and the landlord never closes! We should see if we can go!”
“That’s insane,” Benjamin said.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” Sara replied. “What else are we going to do? Sit here and watch TV? At least, this gives us a concrete idea, and this pub will probably have food, too. Right? We have to eat.”
“But we have food now,” Amber pointed out. “Why not wait until we have to go out? Why go out now?”
“The CDC recommends that we don’t go,” Benjamin said.
“Ha! Well, there’s something that I want. I, for one, am ready to slay some Ted’s,” Daisy said. “Let’s go to the pub.”
“Besides, we threw Ted’s dismembered head out earlier and didn’t experience any bad side effects,” Sara said.
“So let’s put it to vote!” Elijah said. “I say we go!”
“To the Queen Vic!” Alex exclaimed, pumping his fist into the air.
“I’m in!” Sara declared.
Benjamin felt as though everyone’s eyes were on him. “I don’t think we should go,” he said.
“Neither do I,” Amber added.
But they were outvoted. So their options were to go to the Queen Vic with the others or to stay in the apartment. Like cowards. Benjamin sighed. He didn’t like the thought of being a coward, but he also didn’t like the thought of having an infected eat his brain.
CHAPTER THREE
While Elijah, Alex, Sara, and Daisy still insisted on trying to make it to the Queen Vic, they had agreed that it was probably best that they create a breathing mask before they ventured forth into potentially Ted virus contaminated air. This, Benjamin supposed, was better than nothing.
He watched as everyone, except for Amber and himself, crowded around a table and Googled ideas. This was going to be a disaster. The one silver lining was that Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” was playing, proving that someone in the household at least had good taste in music.
The moment Benjamin noticed the music, though, it changed. Benjamin wrinkled his nose as the unfamiliar song filled the air. Why couldn’t the whole playlist have been Beethoven? Or just composers in general?
“Is this “When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled?” Daisy asked.
“Uh…I guess,” Elijah replied, shrugging.
“It’s a really weird mix you’re playing,” Daisy pointed out.
“Well, it’s because everyone in the house has different tastes in music,” Elijah said. “It’s caused a load of problems, so we made a mixed playlist. Everyone got to choose songs, and the rules were that you couldn’t skip. I knew the songs that Ted hated, so I chose them—Disney songs. And Alex chose songs I hated, hence all the classical.”
Alex laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I mean, it wasn’t…it wasn’t a malicious thing…” Alex trailed off.
Daisy blinked her large brown eyes at him, and Benjamin felt a twist of sympathy for Alex, who—like Benjamin himself—seemed to disintegrate into a pile of goo when talking to a pretty girl.
The Fog (Book 2): Beer Run Page 1