“Here, Jen, let me the zip it while you sit on it.”
Seconds later, we were making our way back down to the car, where poor Dillion had to squeeze in between the suitcases since the trunk was full of groceries. It had taken us less than ten minutes to get in, grab our stuff and get out.
“You might want to go out the back side and go through the warehouse district. It should be a little bit faster than if we take the main road over to their house,” I suggested.
Having taken the job as nanny two years ago, it had been the perfect solution for me to take college classes while still being able to pick Dillion up. He was on a regular school schedule, and our holidays were almost always the same. And the added bonus of study time was wonderful. His dad wasn't in the picture anymore, and Angie was a nurse, so her rotation schedule was a little different than most moms. She also got called in when someone was sick or didn't show up.
I knew all the different ways to get back-and-forth to bypass traffic so I didn't miss class, or make Dillion think that I had forgotten him when school was out. I really loved the little guy, and after two years of staying with them, it seemed like he was kind of my kid too.
Following my directions, Jen made it to Angie's neighborhood quickly. It was a middle-class neighborhood with a mixture of old and semi-new homes, which had allowed Angie to be able to renovate as she could afford it.
Jen pulled up into the driveway. While she and Dillion began to gather the groceries, I went to make sure there was no one in the house. It wasn't that kind of neighborhood, but I felt a little on edge today. I wanted to make sure that we were safe before we brought everything inside.
Nothing seemed out of place, so we made a bunch of trips back-and-forth, filling the counter and floor with groceries.
“Dillion, do you want to go ahead and turn the TV on? Once I get Miss Jen off, I’ll fix us something to eat,” I instructed him as I carried my bags down the hall to Angela's room.
Jen was waiting for me in the entryway to say goodbye.
“You know, you can stay here with us. You don’t have to drive all the way to Knoxville,” I offered hopefully.
“No. If this is the end of the world, I really need to be near my parents.” Jen gave me a quick hug.
“I totally understand that. Thanks for staying with me while I got groceries. I don't want to scare you, but not only are people acting crazy over food, but I think the ones who are sick are turning violent.”
“Why do you think that?” she asked, trying not to panic.
“Well, there was a little old lady who was trying to get cough medicine for her husband, but when she went outside and got in her car, he started attacking her. I don't mean just hitting her a little bit, or barely slapping her, but as in blood was everywhere on the inside of their car. I think those that get sick…it’s somehow changing the chemicals in their brains and turns them into animals.”
“That's crazy. Are you saying that these guys are what, turning into zombies or werewolves?” Jen looked at me incredulously.
“I wouldn't say they’re werewolves, just animalistic. And really, zombies? I don't think there's anyone casting a magic spell or doing voodoo to control these people, making them go crazy and hurt each other.”
“For someone who grew up with a brother, you certainly don't know much about guy movies, do you? Zombies are made when some scientist mixes the wrong viruses or chemicals with something and it gets knocked over in a lab. It does something to people’s brains, according to movie legends, and then they start eating each other. If you get bit by a zombie, then you can become a zombie. Of course there are always different types, such as how fast they move or how fast the sickness spreads to their body, but the end result is always the same. They’re a type of walking corpse that has no control over their body, and its only motivation is to find living things with warm blood.”
“Geeze, Jen, for someone who had a panic attack earlier, you sure seem to know a lot about horror movies.”
“My dad has always loved those kinds of shows, so after my parents split up, I made it a point to try and watch things that he enjoyed, even if there was a lot of blood and guts. You'd be surprised at how much you can learn about zombies just from watching TV.”
“You seriously believe these things exist?” I couldn't believe what my roommate was telling me.
“I wouldn't say exist, but the possibility that it could happen in a similar fashion to the TV shows, I'd say the odds have just gotten higher. Anyway, if that happens, then we’re all doomed. Now, I really do want to go home to my parents.”
“I love you. Make sure you don't become zombie food.” Jen reached out and gave me another hug before turning quickly and heading to her car.
“Call or text me when you get there so I know you arrived. Don’t make me come find you,” I yelled after her as she started the car.
I stood there watching her drive away, reluctant to return inside, but those groceries weren’t going to put themselves away. With a sigh, I went back to my responsibilities and tried not to worry.
Later that evening, after Dillion went to bed, I sat down to watch the news. I knew the reports weren’t going to be good, but I had no idea how much worse they would get in just a few short hours.
“We bring you a special report tonight on the current situation in Nashville. What people are now calling the ‘zombie virus’ seems to have spread throughout the city today, as emergency workers were stretched beyond their capabilities in trying to respond to calls. The source of this virus seems to have come from people who have traveled from overseas and returned in the past week. There is no official word on how many might be affected or how, in fact, this virus is passed on to others.
“We were unable to bring you a close-up of our hospital and clinic areas due to the overwhelming amount of people that are trying to get in for treatment. As of this moment, hospital officials are not commenting as to whether there is a cure for the sickness. Our traffic chopper was able to get a good view of the hospital grounds that had been blocked off between the connecting hospitals. In these areas, they are now setting up for triage outside the actual buildings. They are urging people to stay home unless your cough is producing blood.
“After the mayor's message this morning, our cameras were on the scene to see the growth in traffic triple in one short hour. Many businesses were also closed today, as were all schools and colleges, causing a sudden surge in grocery store wars and gas fill-ups.
“There have been reports of fights breaking out and sick people suddenly going crazy while trying to bite the ones taking care of them. We are unsure of the cause, but are cautioning that you do not approach people you don't know. Now, another update on the weather...”
“That was depressing,” I muttered out loud.
My phone dinged an alert that I had a new message.
Jen: I made it home. Everyone has gone crazy. There were zombie infected things everywhere, causing crashes and chaos on the main road. It took six hours to drive the two hours to Knoxville. Getting gas was a miracle. Don't leave the house with Dillion.
Me: So glad to hear you made it safely. Stay with your family, and maybe this will work itself out in a few days. Night.
I was trying to convince myself as much as I was my roommate.
There was no way I would actually be able to settle down enough to fall asleep now. Watching any movie that wasn't lighthearted and upbeat was out of the question. I chose a Julia Roberts movie and curled up on the couch, hoping I would be able to get enough rest before Dillion woke up in the morning.
The next morning, all the news channels were showing the same repeated clips from the night before, and while there was no word from Angie, I didn't really expect to hear from her until things settled down. Even sending a text message while working in the emergency department was difficult, and considering how overrun they were, I was sure it went from emergency to emergency without stopping. Hopefully, she would be able to get some rest and
let us know she was safe in the next few days.
Angela
I hated the fact that I’d had to leave my baby. Everyone had been called in, and it was going to be a long few days. I’d barely come off the shift from the night before and was supposed to have forty-eight hours of freedom.
An incident right before I’d gotten off had given all of us a scare, and I’d gone to the store on my way home.
They hadn’t brought anyone into the ER due to the fact that we were overflowing with sick people, but from what the police were saying, an entire homeless community had attacked each other and had to be taken out. The report hadn’t gone into details, but all the bodies had been driven immediately to the morgue, which meant one of two things: there was a wrongful death shooting and it was a cover-up, or all the people had committed mass suicide and nothing we could have done would have saved them.
I really had tried not to think about it because it wasn’t my problem. I’d gone home and fallen into bed. Stacy had taken Dillion to school, but she hadn’t been gone maybe an hour and a half when we got the message that they were closing the schools, and that we had thirty minutes to pick up our children or they would be dropped off at the local social workers’ office.
I don’t think any parent made it there in less than fifteen minutes. When I showed up, the staff was franticly trying to get kids in the cars before they started their own mass exodus from the building.
Not even a few minutes after I’d picked up Dillion, I got a call that I needed to be back at the hospital. I was told that they were calling in everyone due to a virus that seemed to be spreading quickly, causing an overwhelming number of patients to come into the ER.
After leaving Stacy numerous messages, I made my way to her dorm and dropped off Dillion with Jen, her roommate, and headed straight for the hospital. I certainly felt better about the decision when she texted me back to let me know she was on her way to get him.
Lines were forming at the hospital. Staff had reserved parking in the garage’s first few levels, but they were redirecting us to the nearby parking lots and clearing out the parking garage. A hospital member from the non-emergency staff was stopping each car, waving them into lines.
“Frank, what’s going on? Why can’t we park in the garage?” I held up my badge, even though he knew me.
“They’re clearing it out for cots and those who have the same symptoms on each floor. It’s going to be a joint hospital effort because we already have lines trying to get into every ER.” Frank patted the hood of my car. “Take a left out to the far lot. We have someone driving all the nurses and doctors up to the door. Good luck.”
This was so much worse than anything we’d prepared for in training for emergencies and natural disasters. I just hoped that Stacy found a ride back to the house because normally, I would leave the car for her, or she’d borrow her roommate’s, who was packing when I’d shown up.
I parked at the end of the rapidly forming row and caught the van that was crowded with people. I was the last one they could squeeze in on the steps and still close the door.
The van drove to a back entrance where most of the workers went to smoke, with a security guard at the entrance, checking badges. Just inside, the nursing director was telling everyone where to report.
“Since we have all shifts reporting, make sure to put your purses and personal items in your locker or a safe place. If you are returning from the last shift, report to the ER and help with triage. Check in with Banner. If you are second shift, please join those in the ER as backup. Check in with Dorothy.”
A few of the nurses that I’d worked with only hours before formed a line, heading toward the ER’s entrance.
Banner, or Hulk, as we all affectionately called him—because of his large, 6’3 frame—was catching up all of his new recruits.
“There are only a few hundred beds that we keep empty for emergencies. We have quarantined those who hadn’t had exposure before last night. We’re keeping them on the upper floors and their nurses are staying there. Anyone just now returning is not allowed up above the fifth floor. All others are being tagged as follows: 1=Dead and sent to the basement; 2=Might be saved, but unlikely; 3=Just currently showing symptoms; 4=Panicked, but not sick yet. Send 4s home, don’t argue. All 3s go to the garage where they’ll be checked by the team admitting them. Go team.” Hulk motioned to the crowds of people that were showing up right outside of the ER’s doors.
“Do not, I repeat, do not let anyone inside the ER doors unless they have an actual wound. Is that clear?” Hulk ordered loudly before letting us through the doors.
That was when the chaos started for real. I’d seen large emergencies, but this was crazy, and growing quickly. As soon as the call went out that the schools were closing, the amount of ‘sick’ people had gotten larger. I snapped on a pair of gloves, grabbed a tablet, and approached the first person that wasn’t being helped.
Hours later, or was it days? I had checked person after person until there was a tap at my shoulder.
“Hey, I’ve got a replacement for you, Angie,” Hulk announced.
Someone stepped up and took my place before he led me back behind the masses that just kept coming.
“How do we have someone to replace me?” Now that I wasn’t going constantly, I was having trouble focusing. It was a good thing that he was guiding me through the chaos.
“We’ve been rotating everyone, but somehow, you got overlooked. All the rest of your team got replaced eight hours ago. I was making sure everything was running smoothly before I took my downtime, and I saw you.” Hulk smiled gently at me. “Food first, and then I’ll take you up to the sixth floor. We’ve cleared just for sleeping and recovery.”
He grabbed a tray off the food rack and handed it to me, then took another for himself.
“Eat while we move so that when you get up there, you can get some downtime.”
I took his advice, although someone had shoved food into my hands a few times while I was working. I was suddenly ravenous, and really had no idea what day it actually was anymore.
“Um, are we making any progress?” I questioned around a bite of hamburger.
“It’s been two days since the mayor’s proclamation, and we’re still getting hundreds of people coming in every hour.”
“Two days? I’ve been going for two days now without a break? Stacy and Dillion will be worried sick.” I started to pull out my phone, and realized that after two days of not charging it, it would be dead.
The elevator ding announced the sixth floor, and Hulk held it open while I balanced the tray. I walked straight to the nurse’s station and picked up the phone.
It rang.
“Angie, is that you?” Stacy’s voice sounded worried.
“Yes. I just got a moment to stop and realized that you would be worried sick.”
“Are they going to let you come home?”
“No. Not only am I too exhausted, but I can’t take a chance of bringing this sickness home to you. Is Dillion awake? I’d really love to hear his voice.”
“He fell asleep about an hour ago. Do you want me to wake him up?”
“No, let him sleep. They’ve got a space here for us to rest, but I’ll call you when I wake up so I can talk to him. Is he doing okay with this?”
“He knows that something serious is going on, but I’m keeping the news off so he doesn’t find out anything. I’d bought food, and then realized that you’d done the same when you came home, so we have enough to last a little while. Don’t worry about us until you’ve gotten some sleep. We can’t have you getting sick as well.”
“I won’t. I’m eating after we get off and finding a bunk to rest in,” I tried to reassure her. “He’s better off not knowing all the details.”
“You rest, and whenever you get a chance, call. He’s doing fine, I promise. I’ll take good care of him for you.”
“I can’t thank you enough, Stacy. I’ll call you soon. Bye.” I ended the call before m
y emotions got the best of me. I really needed to rest and charge my cell phone.
Hulk was standing at the far end of the desk, eating his food as he listened to the exchange.
“Everything good at home?”
“Yes, actually. I think that I’m ready to crash after I finish this burger, which is amazing.” I moaned as I took another bite.
“It could be that it’s the first real meal you’ve eaten in a while.”
He grinned as I continued to eat without answering him.
“Where are we parking our asses?” I asked, shoving the last fry into my mouth.
“In the quarantined areas. Women are on the left and guys are on the right. I’ll be down there, but I’m on-call, so I may not get as much sleep as you will.” He smiled and patted my shoulder as he put our trays on the rack to go back downstairs.
“Thanks for rescuing me before I dropped around the sick.” I smiled, stopping in front of the restroom.
“No problem. I can’t have you sick when we need everyone to keep working. Catch you on the downside.”
I used the restroom and finally saw my reflection. I’d worked forty-eight hour shifts before, but it looked like I’d aged in just a few hours. I was surprised that there were only dark purplish circles under my eyes, and that I hadn’t grown gray hairs to match my exhaustion.
The bed was calling me, and I couldn’t hold out any longer. I pushed the enter button for the door, glad that the rooms were almost completely soundproof. There were several cots setup, but I chose the bed because it would be more comfortable. Not that I would really know the difference after twelve hours.
My shoes slid to the floor as I plugged in my phone. Laying back, the world went black as I crashed into a much-needed sleep.
River
A week had gone by and there was no sign that the campus was going to be reopened. I was running out of food. In fact, I had eaten my last unopened can that morning. This was when I decided it was time to venture out.
Against Zombies Box Set, Vol. 1 | Books 1-4 Page 29