The Creeping Dead: Book 2

by Edward P. Cardillo

  “Yes. I don’t want her waking up a monster in the back seat with Robbie and Lenny. We’ll have to put her in the trunk.”

  Mrs. Holly shot her a look of disapproval. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

  “I’m not taking the chance with my son in the back seat. End of story.”

  Mrs. Holly nodded, but she didn’t like it.

  Lena reached inside the car, grabbed the keys, and dragged Tara back around to the trunk. She opened it, juggling Tara with her other hand. There were blankets inside over the spare tire.

  “Help me get her in.”

  Lena grabbed the blankets, holding onto Tara with her other hand. She threw them onto the pavement and held Tara with both hands again. Mrs. Holly grabbed Tara’s legs. They slid her inside, her legs bent at the knees to fit her inside.

  “What are you doing?” asked Tyrell. “Why are you putting her in the trunk?”

  Lena crouched down beside him and looked into his eyes. “Your mom took off her arm to stop the spread of the infection. If it didn’t work, she’ll wake up a zombie. We can’t have her in the car with us if that happens.”

  “She’ll be perfectly fine in the trunk,” added Mrs. Holly. “We need to leave now. It’s dark, and it’s unsafe to stay here out in the open like this.”

  “Get in the back with Robbie and Lenny,” said Lena. “We’ll make sure your mom is nice and comfortable, and then we’ll get out of here.”

  Mrs. Holly grabbed the blankets from Lena. She rolled a couple of them up and slipped them under Tara’s legs to elevate them. Then she covered Tara with the third blanket.

  Lena slammed the trunk shut. She ushered Tyrell into the back seat. Then she and Mrs. Holly got back into the car. Lena put the key in the ignition and killed the lights. She began to drive back into town, back to the police station to get Tara help and figure out what to do next.

  Chapter 11

  Chief Holbrook was rallying the troops. “We need to barricade the front doors! Pacelli, I want you and another spotter with rifles on the roof! I want a bird’s eye report of what’s going on in the streets!”

  The several officers left in the station were taking stock of weapons and ammunition. Reports and updates were coming in from various state and local agencies, as well as federal—anything from the Department of Health to the Department of Defense.

  Holbrook was trying to get status reports from the officers out on the streets. The response had been eerily underwhelming. There were mostly a few officers who had found a nook to hide in after their patrol had been overwhelmed by the dead.

  He hoped Becky was one of them. He hadn’t heard from her since the attack on the beach. He had already lost her sister to the dead two years ago. He didn’t want to lose her, too.

  His cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, saw who it was, and answered it. “Are you okay, hun?”

  “We didn’t make it out,” said Lena. “The army raised the bridge. Stonewall’s been overrun.”

  “I know. We’re getting reports in from everywhere that the whole Eastern seaboard is under attack. Get back here, to the station.”

  His radio crackled. It was Pacelli. “There’s dead everywhere, Chief.”

  “Hold on a second…” Holbrook put down his cell and got on his radio. “Roger that, Pacelli. Keep me posted. Don’t fire unless any try to get into the station.”

  “Roger that, Chief. Over and out.”

  Holbrook picked up his cell. “Everyone all right? Did you run into any trouble?”

  There was a pause. “We picked up Lenny and Tyrell Bigelow. We’ve got Tara in the trunk. She’s in bad shape.”

  Holbrook knew why she was in the trunk. “She was bitten.”

  “Yeah, but she blew her arm off with your shotgun to try and stop the infection.”

  “Jesus,” gasped Holbrook. “She’s going to bleed to death.”

  “Mrs. Holly put a tourniquet on her to stop the bleeding. She needs medical attention.”

  “We’re cut off,” said Holbrook. “You can get to the mainland by way of Oceanside Terrace, but they’re overrun, too.” He heard Mrs. Holly talking to Lena.

  “Hello?” said Lena.

  “I’m still here, hun.”

  “Mrs. Holly said that her neighbor two doors down is a retired surgeon. Dr. Potts. If we can take her there, she may have a chance.”

  “I don’t like you driving around town while it’s infested with the dead. Plus, we don’t even know if this Dr. Potts is home, or even alive for that matter.”

  There was silence on the other end. “I can’t just let her die, Jim. I’ve got to do something. She’s a hero…her son’s already lost his father.” She said that last part in hushed tones.

  “I’m going to try calling his landline,” said Holbrook. “Let’s see if he’s even home before you go out of your way.”

  “We’re safe as long as we’re driving. We’re in town again. The dead seem to be dispersed pretty evenly. As long as they don’t bunch up, I think we’re okay for the moment.”

  “Okay. Mrs. Holly doesn’t happen to have his phone number on her?” He heard Lena relay the question.

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  “What’s this Dr. Pott’s first name?” He heard Lena repeat the question to Mrs. Holly, who answered her.

  “Harold.”

  “Good. I’ll call you back in a few minutes. See if you can find a place to hide.”

  “Okay. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” Holbrook hung up. He knew that name, Harold Potts. He had no idea the man was a retired surgeon.

  He grabbed his Smuggler’s Bay phone book off the table behind his desk and rifled through it until he found a Harold Potts. The street matched. He punched the number into his cell. The phone rang.

  “Hello.” The voice sounded faint and hoarse.

  “Hello, is this Harold Potts?”

  “Yes…it is…Who’s this?” The man sounded elderly.

  “This is Chief Holbrook of the SBPD.”

  “Hello, Chief.”

  “I understand you’re a retired surgeon?”

  “Yes…Chief, the dead are back. They’re everywhere.”

  “Yes, I know Harold. We have a wounded woman. She attempted a field amputation with a shotgun.”

  “My goodness.”

  “Yes. There’s a tourniquet on her, but she needs medical attention.”

  “I’m sorry, Chief…but I’m not equipped to do anything…”

  “Dr. Potts…Harold…if we don’t help her, she’s going to die.”

  “What about the hospital in Stonewall?”

  “Sir, we’re cut off from the mainland. Have you watched the news?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Then you know the whole East Coast is overrun.”

  “Yes…I do.”

  “You are our only hope. This woman is a hero from the last attack. She lost her husband in it, and her son will be an orphan if he loses her. He’s only seven years old.”

  Silence on the other end. That last part apparently got to Harold.

  “I’ll need some supplies.”

  “Yes!” Holbrook grabbed a pen and paper. “Go ahead.” He started writing down a list of things, such as peroxide, antibiotics, needle, threat, and gauze. When Harold had finished the list, Chief Holbrook put down his pen and ripped the list off his pad, shoving it into his pocket. “Thank you, Dr. Potts. We’ll be there real soon.”

  “I’ll expect you. And call me Harold.”

  “Yes. Thank you, Harold.” Holbrook terminated the call. He dialed Lena, and she picked up on the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “I got a hold of Harold Potts. You’re going to go to his house, but first you need to pick up some supplies. He said you could get them at the CVS.”

  “In the middle of the zombie apocalypse?”

  “Lena, he’s retired. He doesn’t have the equipment in his house. I’ll go with you.”

  “No,
you need to be at the station. I can handle this.”

  “Are you sure? The dead are everywhere.”

  “It’ll be easier if I head straight there. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “I’ll text you the list of supplies. Don’t stop the car unless it’s safe. Call me when you get there.”

  “Got it.”

  “And Lena…”

  “Yes?”

  “Be careful. I don’t want you getting killed over this.”

  “I’m not some helpless damsel. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” Lena terminated the call.

  * * *

  Marie was next to the Frog Bog, crouched behind one of the pillars. The rest of the gang were all behind her, waiting for her next instructions. Vinnie and Dharma nervously eyed the pier, keeping an eye on the advancing dead from the Raging Rapids. They tripped over bodies, falling to the pier, but they kept getting back up and were closing the distance.

  Marie looked towards the left. The boardwalk was largely empty, except for a few of the dead shambling. They seemed to be heading in the same direction, towards one of the storefronts. She looked the other direction. Down the boardwalk, there were several zombies milling around, but most had apparently taken to the streets.

  Marie turned back to the group. “Okay, we’re clear to the left. But, we’re going to have to pass a small group, but they’re all headed for the same storefront. Probably cornered some poor soul…We stay all the way to the left, hugging the fence, behind the benches.”

  Everyone in the group nodded. Marie took the lead, circumventing the Frog Bog and the Water Gun Race booths, sticking to the left. The others followed behind her. The coast was mostly clear, except for the few dead now staggering over to…

  Oh, shit, thought Marie.

  Dharma gasped and grabbed Vinnie’s arm, nearly yanking him off balance. “The Sunglass Hut!”

  Marie stopped and turned to the group. “Dharma, are you sure your parents are in there?”

  Dharma looked panicked. “I think so. I’m not sure.”

  Nancy frowned. “Why else would those zombies be all heading for the booth? They have someone cornered.”

  Dharma now grabbed Marie’s arm. Her eyes pleaded with her. “We have to help them!”

  “I can take Ali and the rest to Vinnie’s pizzeria,” offered Salvatore. “You guys can help Dharma’s parents.”

  Marie didn’t like the idea of being separated from her children again. “We go to the pizzeria first, then a few of us will double back to help Emily and Ira.”

  Dharma squeezed her arm tighter. “They might be dead by then!”

  Vinnie looked up and down the boardwalk. “We’re sitting ducks if we’re just going to stand here and argue. You guys go ahead, get to the pizzeria. Dharma and I will figure something out.”

  This time, Salvatore touched Marie’s arm. “Really, Mom. I can do this. You help Mr. and Mrs. Ross.”

  The young girls they picked up back at the pier watched him with a mixture of anticipation and admiration, especially the older one. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere on earth but where they were now.

  Marie gave him a long look. She didn’t like it, but she knew he was right. Hell, she was impressed that he was stepping up, although she was certain hormones had more to do with it than heroism. “Here, take my gun.” She tried to shove it in his hands.

  Salvatore pushed it away. “No. You’re going to need it.”

  Marie nodded, her face solemn. “You be careful. Get right to the pizzeria. Don’t stop for anything.”

  “Knock on the back door,” said Vinnie. “They won’t be able to lift the security gate without making a lot of noise and leaving themselves vulnerable.”

  Salvatore nodded. “Okay,” he said to his sister, the girls, and Nancy. “Let’s go.”

  Marie, Dharma, and Vinnie waited, watching Salvatore lead them down the boardwalk, hugging the fence. They passed the Sunglass Hut without being noticed by the dead inside.

  After they had gotten away without incident, Marie turned to Dharma and Vinnie. “Okay. We creep up slowly and real quiet-like. Let’s see if we can get a look inside.”

  Just then, Marie’s cell phone rang. She quickly grabbed it and answered. It was Salvatore. “What?”

  “The dead are pounding on a closet door. Someone’s in there, trapped.”

  “Okay,” said Marie. “Get to the pizzeria. Text me when you get there.” She hung up and set her cell phone to vibrate. She wanted to get the text, but she didn’t want her phone ringing at an inopportune time, alerting the dead.

  “Who was that?” asked Vinnie.

  “Sal,” said Dharma.

  Marie nodded. “He said they’ve got someone trapped in a closet.”

  Dharma nodded. “The supply closet. My parents must’ve run in there to get away from them.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” asked Vinnie. “We only have one gun.”

  “We cause a distraction,” said Marie. “Lure them away. Then one of us can get whoever’s in there out.”

  “I’ll cause the distraction,” said Vinnie. “I’m fast.”

  Marie nodded. “You have to lead them out. Stay close enough to keep them on you, but far enough out of reach.” She knew it had to be Vinnie. She was too out of shape to run with him, and Dharma wanted to rescue her parents. “I’ll help Dharma.”

  “Got it.”

  They crossed the boardwalk to the storefronts without incident. They crept up to the store to the right of the Sunglass Hut unnoticed. There was a zombie stumbling around a few storefronts down to the right. It saw them, shrieking in response, but it was moving slowly.

  Marie leaned in close and whispered. “Don’t worry about that one yet. It’s alone. I’ll deal with it if it gets close. Focus on our task at hand.”

  Vinnie and Dharma nodded. As they mentally prepared themselves for their perilous task, they didn’t notice the young dead girl dressed in pink walk up the ramp from the beach. She limped over towards them, eyes fierce and teeth bared.

  “Foooooooooood!”

  Marie, Vinnie, and Dharma all jerked their heads towards the other side of the boardwalk and saw the young dead girl pointing at them.

  Marie was stunned. “Did that thing just talk?!”

  “I didn’t know they could do that,” said Dharma.

  “They can’t do that,” said Vinnie.

  But, they didn’t have any more time to discuss it. The dead from inside the Sunglass Hut came spilling out onto the boardwalk.

  “Oh, shit,” gasped Vinnie.

  Marie raised her gun hand, training it on each zombie as it passed them. They hadn’t been spotted yet.

  The little dead girl in pink pointed at them and shrieked. The other dead began to turn and look.

  “We’ve got to get the fuck out of here!” said Marie.

  “My parents!” insisted Dharma.

  They had nowhere to run but inside the Sunglass Hut. Marie ran inside first. Vinnie grabbed Dharma by the hand and they followed.

  Dharma shook her hand free and ran towards the door, pounding on it. “Mom! Dad! It’s me, Dharma!”

  Vinnie and Marie were looking around the hut for something, anything, they could use. They traded looks, and then, in some unspoken agreement, they shoved the two, large wooden center displays towards the entrance, toppling them over. Dozens of designer knockoffs spilled to the ground.

  The closet door opened, and Emily and Ira Ross emerged, throwing their arms around Dharma, startling her. Dharma quickly pushed them away to get a good look at them. “Are you guys okay? Were you bitten?”

  “No,” said Ira, watching Vinnie and Marie barricade the entrance to the store. “Are you okay?”

  Dharma nodded. “Thanks to Vinnie and Mrs. Russo.”

  “Oh, thank God!” gasped Emily.

  The dead were converging on the store, crunching the cheap sunglasses underneath their clumsy feet. The toppled displays blocked the bulk of them, but several were
slipping in along the sides. The rest were crawling over.

  “We’ve gotta get out of here!” shouted Vinnie.

  Marie plugged one in the head on the right, then one on the left, its fingers nearly grazing her arm. She backed away as they dropped to the floor, tripping up the dead pushing in from behind them. It bought them an extra few heartbeats.

  Ira pointed to the back of the store. “Everyone, out the back door!”

  There was a glass door behind the counter with the cash register. There weren’t any zombies at the door. Emily went first, throwing it open. One-by-one, they exited the hut, descending a small set of steps, and landing on the sidewalk below.

  The dead were right behind them, shoving the door open. They all tried to squeeze through the narrow doorway simultaneously, which slowed their pursuit. It looked like a Three Stooges gag. It was almost comical.

  Marie looked around. The dead were everywhere, wandering the streets of Smuggler’s Bay. Jesus, there are so many of them. Where’d they all come from?

  Vinnie pointed down the street to the left. “Let’s go. My pizzeria’s three blocks over.”

  He took the lead, dashing down the sidewalk, Dharma, Ira, and Emily in tow with Marie bring up the rear. She was huffing and puffing. Her face was red and slick with sweat.

  There were screams in the near distance, some living, the others from the dead. There were empty police squad cars scattered along the street, but no cops in sight, except for a few bodies in various phases of consumption. Three blocks into town, Vinnie saw a squad car with flashing lights creep past. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his father, who picked up on the third ring.

  “We’re two blocks away,” said Vinnie.

  “Come in through the back. Marie’s kids and Nancy are here.”

  Vinnie hung up the phone, but he kept it in his hand.

  They reached the back of his father’s pizzeria. Vinnie’s father opened the back door and waved them over. “Hurry up!”

  Vinnie, Dharma, Ira, Emily, and Marie all entered the pizzeria, and Vinnie’s father quickly closed the back door, locking it.

  * * *