Necrose Apocalypse [The Complete Collection]

by Tim Moon

  She sucked in a breath and froze.

  In that moment, the infected man took advantage of her inattention and bit her on the shoulder. She screamed and reached out to claw at his face.

  Finally, Gavin found his strength. He ran over and lashed out with a wild kick that knocked the infected off her. He was furious at her, but he focused his anger on the infected. The infected had fallen to the ground, so Gavin stomped on its head until he felt it crack. He kept stomping until it busted open under his work boot. Then he stomped it a couple more times just because - fuck him.

  Mac ran up and pulled at him. "Let's go. There's too many of them."

  Gavin glanced down at the ticket in his hand, crumpled and wet but still legible. He let Mac push him inside the house.

  78

  GAVIN REALIZED HE was cold and wet but he didn't move. He stood in the same place that Mac had left him after pushing him inside the house.

  Infected pounded up the steps to the porch. Officer Bailey shot them both, then slammed the door and went around the house turning off all the lights. After helping Dari to the couch, Mac went around after Officer Bailey, closing whatever curtains were open.

  Gavin was aware of the movement but he just didn't care. His shoulders slumped as he stared at the ticket in his hand. It all made sense now; her recent emotional distance, the frequent and last minute overnight trips for work and the verbal sniping. She was having an affair with that fucking pilot. She was fucking that pilot.

  He balled up his fists but fought the urge to punch the wall, but he knew that would do no good. It would only fuck up his other hand and he couldn't afford to do that right now. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  The devil on his shoulder laughed, amused that Rick had been mistaken for an infected and shot.

  As soon as he thought that, he felt sick to his stomach about it, the whole thing. He'd been such a fool. Not only that though, he felt sick because he realized that his hesitation outside is what had led to her being bitten.

  Whatever mistakes she had made, she did not deserve that.

  Gavin felt his insides tearing at themselves. He was conflicted; furious, sad, hurt and betrayed.

  Minutes passed.

  Finally Gavin moved, but only his head. That was all he could manage. He looked at Dari, the ticket still held tight in his hand. She stared back, tears running down her face, soaking into his brother's couch, where she lay.

  He looked away and closed his eyes.

  While Gavin had been dealing with his emotions, Mac had helped her inside. Officer Bailey had shot as many of the infected as he could hit, including the two on the porch. Mac had led her to the couch and told her not to worry about the bite, knowing she would turn into one of them.

  Gavin had seen it but he'd just stood there. He'd heard her crying, but he'd been focused on himself. He felt like an asshole.

  Gavin looked at her again.

  "I'm sorry," she said. It was so pitiful and full of sadness that it tugged at whatever crumbs were left of his compassion.

  Tears filled his eyes and spilled out. He turned away in shame.

  Officer Bailey walked over to the front door and looked out of the peephole.

  "Sonuvabitch! There's a fucking crowd of those things." He checked his gun and then walked away to get more ammo. He came out of Liam’s bedroom holding two boxes of bullets. "We need a plan, you guys. A plan for them...and a plan for her."

  "Give us a second," said Mac.

  Officer Bailey frowned, then walked back to the kitchen. He turned on the light and busied himself with reloading his magazines. The kitchen light cast its glow out into the living room.

  Mac walked over to Gavin. He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

  "Hey buddy, I know this is a bad time," he said gently. "She got bit."

  Mac waited for a moment but there was no reaction. "Gavin, you understand that, right? Dari was bitten on the shoulder by an infected."

  Gavin nodded.

  "We know what happens. What do you want to do about it?"

  Gavin looked at Mac and then glanced back at Dari.

  "What can we do?" said Gavin. "She's going to turn."

  "I mean...um, do we leave her here? Do we...um, do we put her down?"

  "Shit." Gavin's head swam. "I don't know, man."

  "The best thing for her is probably the second option. You don't want to see her become one of those things, right?"

  "Put her down? Oh my God, man. You want me to shoot her?" said Gavin, his eyes pleading with Mac. "That's crazy, right?"

  "You can, or one of us can do it for you," said Mac.

  Gavin bent over with his hands on his knees. He dry heaved and acid burned his throat.

  Mac stood there. He couldn't leave the issue alone because it affected all of them.

  Gavin stood up slowly.

  "She might not know." He wiped drool and stomach acid from his chin. "I'll tell her and see what she wants."

  "Okay, I'll give you a minute."

  "No. Stay," said Gavin. "In case she turns while I'm talking and I don't have the strength to-"

  Mac nodded solemnly.

  Oh, God give me strength, thought Gavin. He slowly walked over to where Dari lay on the couch. She was still weeping, clutching a towel to her shoulder.

  As if that would help.

  "Dari, um..." His voice trailed off.

  "Gavin, I'm so sorry. I love you and I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you," she said it all in a flurry like she was worried she wouldn't get it all out.

  Gavin nodded. "I'm sorry too."

  "Why?"

  "You were bitten because I was too busy feeling sorry for myself."

  "I'll be alright, it's just a small bite." She smiled slightly, trying to put on a brave face.

  "That's not how it works. If you get bitten, it, it's game over. You will get sick and become one of them - the infected," said Gavin.

  "What? No, it's just a small bite," Dari said. She pulled the towel back. "See it's-"

  The bite had turned dark, the edges were puffed up and swollen, and tiny black tendrils snaked away from the bite. It was oozing a brackish-looking fluid. She gasped.

  "Am I going to die?" Dari asked Gavin.

  He could hardly believe what was happening.

  "Yes," Gavin said, his throat tightened and it came out as a strained whisper. It was the worst thing he'd ever said. Yet it was true. His heart twisted inside his chest and tears sprang to his eyes.

  "I don't want to become one of them, Gavin," she said. "I don't want to hurt people. I don’t want to hurt you."

  "I know, I know," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

  Her words struck him like a lightning bolt. Every cell in his body burned with the realization of what he had to do.

  Gavin turned and looked at Mac. He held out his hand.

  Mac walked over and discretely handed Gavin Officer Vasser's gun.

  Gavin took the gun and held it below the edge of the couch. She hadn't seen it.

  "Just lie back, sweetheart," said Gavin to Dari.

  "Like this," she said.

  "Yeah," he said, tears streaming down his face. "Turn your head."

  He helped her turn her head so she faced the back of the couch.

  He bent down and kissed the side of her forehead.

  "I love you," he whispered.

  "I love you too," she whispered back.

  Gavin sat up, put the gun to the back of her head, pulled a cushion down over her face, closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

  The loud pop of the gun was hardly muffled by the pillow but it kept Gavin from having to see the worst of the damage. Her body barely even twitched.

  He rocked back on his haunches and stared at the gun, horrified.

  I just...no, I just...killed my love, he thought.

  Gavin dropped the gun, disgusted at what he'd just done. He leaned forward onto the cushion and sobbed. Mac picked up the gun and walked away.

/>   Gavin knelt there sobbing, holding her limp hand in his.

  79

  AN HOUR LATER, Gavin was still sitting by the couch holding Dari's hand.

  Officer Bailey sat in the kitchen with Mac. They were talking softly and snacking on something crunchy. Out front the infected had stopped banging on the door but Gavin could still hear them moving around on the porch.

  Gavin finally stood up. His throat was parched and his eyes hurt from crying. He walked into the kitchen.

  It went quiet.

  Bailey and Mac both looked at him.

  Gavin barely glanced at either of them as he walked past to the sink. He pulled a mug out of the cupboard and filled it in the sink. He took a long drink, emptying the large mug. Then he washed his hands and his face in the sink. He used the dish towel to dry off, throwing it on the counter when he’d finished.

  The back door creaked slightly. Gavin froze. He could tell someone or something had opened it. That was the only time it creaked.

  Before he could say anything the kitchen door flew open and his brother rushed into the room with an AR-15 aimed at them. Just behind Liam were the Beekman twins - Lindsay and Dave. Dave had played football with Liam and was a huge man, both wide and tall and ripped like a bodybuilder. The Beekmans both held shotguns, but quickly lowered them when they saw Mac and Gavin.

  Liam lowered the barrel and smiled at the room. "Hey, guys."

  Gavin nodded his head. Mac said hello.

  "Officer, how are you this evening?" Liam said.

  "I've been better," Officer Bailey said. "Why don't you folks come on in and close the damn door."

  Dave stepped back and closed the door.

  Lindsay Beekman walked into the room, catching the attention of both Officer Bailey and Mac. She was tall and toned, simply gorgeous. She shouldered her shotgun, walked over to Gavin and looked him up and down.

  "You okay, dear? You look upset," she said.

  Gavin blinked back tears. "I'm- I'm- I lost Dari."

  That was all he could say about it.

  "I'm so sorry," Lindsay said. She wrapped him in a hug.

  Dave glanced at Gavin then over at Liam.

  Liam whispered, "We lost Dari."

  Dave grunted and looked at the floor. He looked uncomfortable.

  "Liam, maybe we should talk in the other room," said Mac. He motioned for the other three guys to follow him.

  Lindsay pulled Gavin away from the sink and sat him on a chair. She sat on the opposite chair and took his hand. "We lost our parents today," she said. "Before we knew what was going on."

  "I'm sorry to hear that," said Gavin, wiping his nose on a napkin. “They were great people.”

  Lindsay looked sad, "Yeah they were, huh? Great people."

  "I guess it's a sad day for a lot of folks," Gavin said. "People are dying all over the place."

  Footsteps thumped overhead.

  "Where'd the others go?" said Lindsay, looking around. Her hand tightened on the shotgun.

  "Probably collecting more gear while Mac updates Liam on everything that’s happened," he said as he wiped his eyes. "Is there still a big crowd out front?"

  "Big is an understatement," Lindsay said. "Whatever you guys did attracted way too much attention. Luckily, the back was clear."

  "Yeah, well."

  "I'm sorry. It's okay." Lindsay stood up. "We'll be fine."

  The others came back into the kitchen. They were each holding a bag and at least one gun apiece. Liam set his stuff down, walked over to Gavin and pulled him up into a big hug.

  "I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for you," he said to Gavin. "I'm here now though."

  "It's okay," said Gavin. He patted his brother's back.

  Dave looked away from the front door's peephole. He said, "The crowd is growing restless."

  Liam squeezed Gavin’s shoulder once, hard and let go. "Okay, Gavin. Mac has your go-pack and rifle. You carry them because he has his own stuff to carry and let's get the fuck out of here."

  "We're just leaving everything else?" said Gavin.

  "The house and everything in it will be fine. Don't worry about anything," said Liam, referring to Dari and all the gory mess, and to a lesser extent the material possessions in the house. "Let's go. Head out the back door and be quiet."

  Gavin took his gear from Mac. "Thanks buddy."

  "No problem," Mac said with a warm smile.

  They walked outside to the garage in quiet single-file and loaded everything into the bed of Liam's Ford F-150 Raptor. Liam climbed into the driver's seat of his truck, waiting for everyone to get in. Dave took the front passenger seat simply because he was so damn big. Lindsay sat in between the two of them. In the rear seat, Officer Bailey, Mac and Gavin sat comfortably across the bench seat. Everyone but Liam and Lindsay held a gun just in case.

  Liam fired up the truck, turned on the headlights and said, "You guys ready?"

  "Ready," they all said in near-perfect unison.

  Liam hit the button to raise the garage door. It rolled up, faster than most people's garage doors because Liam had modified it. When it was up high enough, Liam said, "Here we go."

  He stomped on the gas and the truck shot forward into the snowy night. They hit a few infected and fish tailed into the road as they made their escape, but it was nothing the Raptor couldn't handle with ease.

  Gavin turned and watched his brother's house disappear into the distance.

  "Goodbye," he whispered.

  80

  A COUPLE OF hours later the truck slowed to a stop at the end of a snow-blanketed gravel road.

  Under the moonlight and the truck's headlights, the cabin sparkled beautifully.

  "Welcome home, you guys," Liam said. "Let's get everything inside and then we can get a fire going."

  "Sounds great," said Lindsay.

  Doors popped open blasting the truck cab with cold air. Gavin slid out of the truck into the thigh-deep snow.

  They dusted the snow off their bags as they pulled them from the bed of the truck. Then they hauled all the gear up to the covered front door and waited to be let in.

  Liam fumbled with his keys for a moment before he could unlock the door and let everyone go inside the cabin. He walked back out to his truck to turn it off.

  Gavin flipped on the front room lights and sat in his recliner. He wasn't concerned about what the others did. He just wanted to go to sleep so that he could forget everything for a while.

  "Does this TV get any reception out here?" Officer Bailey asked, holding the remote control.

  "Sure does. We have satellite so there should be plenty to watch," Liam said as he walked back inside and closed the door.

  Officer Bailey turned it on and quickly found a 24-hour news station.

  Gavin couldn't stop himself from watching the television. As soon as he did though, he wished he'd kept his eyes closed.

  The infection wasn't just confined to Anchorage or even Alaska.

  It was everywhere. Global.

  Part IV

  Long Way Down

  A Necrose Series Story

  81

  The zombie’s fingers crunched like bubble wrap. I stomped again, and then ground them into the sidewalk. The sensation of bones snapping reverberated through the sole of my shoe accompanied by the sound of cracking knuckles. It was gruesome, but freed my other leg from his grasp. He pawed at me with limp, twisted fingers.

  I spun and kicked him in the head. The force made him roll off the curb, twitching. It didn't kill him, but it sure as hell felt good.

  The dead horde lurched forward as they sought to close in on us. Infected from the surrounding neighborhood emerged from seemingly everywhere, drawn to the commotion.

  “Andy, help!” Katie screamed, stretching her hand towards me. Her shrill cry sent a chill through me.

  She stood only twenty feet away, yet it could have been twenty miles. Two infected had her backed into a corner, while more trudged towards the squeal of her voice. Her face h
ad flushed and her bright green eyes glistened with panic.

  “Shit.” I clenched my jaw as I wrestled with what to do. My brain and body fought each other for control. Part of me wanted to help her; the other half screamed that it was too risky.

  If the scenario were reversed, would she help me?

  Someone once described Katie as a roller coaster of emotions. I had experienced that ride first hand. She would be affectionate one minute and then admonish me the next, for something as simple as pouring her a drink or putting my arm around her. “I don’t like that,” she’d say in a snide tone; as if it was her goddamned mantra.

  Sometimes, when we were out with friends, she flirted with other guys, as if that proved her independence. It was infuriating. Why did I put up with it?

  Love? No.

  Loneliness? Perhaps.

  Or was there a more insidious reason? Did the emotional abuse satisfy a need I wasn't aware of?

  Just last week, at my birthday party, she had told me her plans to leave, to do charity work in Africa. Then, I got a one-two punch of fuck-my-life: zombies overran Miami the very same day, trapping her and everyone else in my apartment.

  Did any of that actually matter now? She was alive and the others were dead.

  My shoulders sagged under a thousand pounds of pressure, as the recent memories flashed through my mind in a split-second. If I didn’t do something, no one else would because no one else was left.

  A short young woman had lurched from between some parked cars, attacking our friend Alex first. I could still remember the sight of the zombie’s teeth tearing a stringy chunk out of his forearm before he could react. He had jerked his arm free, and run away screaming, but his cries had attracted the horde.

  Our friend Roger was halfway between Katie and I, another victim of Alex’s mindless reaction. His body lay on the ground, being torn apart by zombies that were neck-deep in his immense stomach. His body shook and trembled as the infected rooted around inside of him, feeding on his organs. Other zombies stood around, leaning in eagerly to join the feast.