Flesh-Eater (Book 1): Fear the Fever

by Stacey Broadbent

  “We found the mice, and the tag belonging to this place. That’s how we ended up here,” Zeke explained.

  “Sounds like you have had quite a time,” Caleb said. “I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for you all.”

  “Just tell us you can fix this, Doc,” Zuckerman said. “So it’s not for nothing.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Caleb collected the samples and took them across to one of the other labs. He took a dropper and extracted some of each sample, placing a drop of each into petri dishes. He left them to process, while he went to extract a sample from both mice. “I need someone to help me. Here, put these gloves on.” He threw a pair at Zeke. “I need to get a sample of its blood. Can you hold it down for me?”

  “Sure.”

  He hovered his hand above the mouse, waiting for the right moment. He grabbed the tail and pulled it from the jar, as it jerked its body to and fro. He managed to get it down on the table, one hand clamped over the neck, the other pinning down the rear end.

  Caleb inserted the needle, pulling back the plunger. “Okay, that should be enough. You can put it back in the jar now.”

  Zeke did as he was instructed. “Now what?”

  “Now, I run some tests. You guys should relax. Help yourselves to something to eat in the cafeteria downstairs if you like. I’ll let you know, as soon as I know anything.”

  “Thanks, Caleb.”

  “No, thank you. We have a real shot here, Zeke, and it’s all thanks to you.”

  As Caleb walked to the lab, he quickly stopped in to check on Caitlyn. “How’s she doing?” he asked Tammy, who was still sitting vigilantly by her side.

  “She’s been sleeping the whole time. I think the fever might be starting to take hold of her now, she’s been quite restless the last few minutes.”

  “How long does it normally last for? Before…”

  “I don’t really know. I haven’t actually seen anyone turn yet.”

  Caleb nodded, “Oh, okay.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I, ah… I’m going to need to take a sample from her too.”

  “Oh, of course. Go ahead.” She stepped away from the couch, making room for him to work.

  “Thanks. I’d better go run those tests now. Hopefully I can help her before it’s too late.”

  “You will,” Tammy said, a look of purpose on her face. “I know it.”

  COLTON

  Colton had been watching Harper since he first saw her on the monitor, destroying the freaks. There was something intriguing about a woman who could wield a weapon like that. He waited until she had had something to eat, and was sitting at a table by herself.

  “Harper, was it? Mind if I join you?” he asked, taking a seat anyway. “I watched you out there,” he motioned out the doors to the parking lot. “You’re pretty badass. You mind me asking what you do, or rather, did for a living?”

  Harper raised an eyebrow, “why d’you want to know?”

  “No reason, just curious. I’ve never seen a girl fight like that before.”

  “Well, that’s probably because we’ve never had the dead come back to life before.”

  “Good point,” he grinned, leaning back in his chair. “So you’re not military or anything like that?”

  “Nope.”

  “A cop?”

  “Nope.”

  He chuckled, “straight to the point. I like that.”

  Harper sighed, rolling her eyes. “Are you seriously trying to hit on me right now?”

  “What?” His face reddened, and he shook his head, sitting straighter in his chair. “No. I mean, who would do that? Right?” Harper cocked her head to the side, folding her arms across her chest. “I mean, not that anyone wouldn’t want to hit on you. I’d definitely hit on you, it’s just… I mean, that would be in bad taste, right?” He fidgeted in his seat, this was not going as he had anticipated. When he looked back at her, he saw that she was smirking, clearly enjoying his reaction. “You’re fucking with me?” he asked, laughing and flicking the mop of hair off his face.

  Harper laughed too. “Yeah, I’m fucking with you.”

  “Well, in that case…”

  She grinned at him, leaning across the table as if about to divulge a big secret. “I’m fucking with you, but you’re right. It would be in poor taste, hitting on a girl amidst what could be the end of the world.” She braced her hands on the table. “Let’s get through the next few days first. You can try your luck then.” She winked at him, as she stood and walked out of the cafeteria, not giving him a chance to respond.

  Colton chuckled to himself. She was his kind of woman.

  “She must like you,” Zeke said, joining him at the table along with Chad and Zuckerman. “We haven’t really seen her smile much lately, let alone, laugh.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He rubbed his hand along his jaw, thinking about how to word what he was about to say. “Look, I don’t wanna sound like a dick here, but,” he paused, searching for the words. “Harper is… she’s our family. Don’t go messing with her just for the hell of it, okay? I know she comes across as this hard chick who can look after herself, and believe me, she can, but she’s also vulnerable right now. She’s lost a lot these last few days, and the last thing she needs, is someone dicking her around.”

  “Hey, I totally get it. She just looked so sad, I wanted to make her smile,” Colton said, shrugging his shoulders.

  Zeke eyed him, trying to decide if he believed him.

  “We’re just protective of her, is all,” Chad jumped in. “You’re a good guy, we can see that.”

  “Thanks. And don’t worry. I won’t do anything to hurt her.”

  “Damn right, you won’t,” Zeke said, unconvinced.

  Harper popped her head around the doorframe. “When you’re all done with your pissing contest, Caleb wants to see us in his lab.” She turned on her heel and carried on down the corridor.

  “How much of that did you hear?” Zeke asked, falling into step beside her.

  “Enough.” She sighed. “I don’t need you fighting my battles, Zeke. I’m a big girl.”

  “I know.”

  “Colton is harmless. He’s just having a bit of fun. In light of everything, I don’t see any harm in it. Go easy on him, okay?”

  Zeke smiled, “Sure. I just want you to be happy, Harper.”

  “I know. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll get there. We all will.”

  CALEB

  Caleb went back over his data, double checking his workings. He needed to be sure, he didn’t want to give them false hope.

  “What’s up, Doc?” Zuckerman asked, walking through the door and taking a seat on the edge of the desk. “See what I did there?” he joked.

  The others all filed in behind him, including Tammy, who had been reluctant to leave Caitlyn’s side. “Have you got some good news for us?”

  “Well, I can’t be certain without further testing, but I have a theory about what’s happening and why,” he paused, glancing down to his notes. “When our bodies are infected by a virus, we produce antibodies that bind and neutralise the infection, and then there are T cells, which are sent to destroy the virus. This particular virus is attacking those antibodies and mutating the T cells.” He looked up, checking that everyone was still following. “The blood from both Zeke and the mutant mouse, have elevated levels of metabolites, which I would expect with the supplement trial. However, they also have extremely high levels of nitrogen and potassium. I believe this is what is causing the mutation. Levels this high can bring on fevers, nausea, confusion – and that’s just a few of the side effects.” He looked directly at Zeke. “The levels in your blood are higher than I’ve ever seen before. You shouldn’t be alive right now.”

  Zeke raised his brow, folding his arms across his chest and inhaling sharply. He knew he was lucky to be alive, but hearing Caleb confirm it, somehow made it more real.

  “Do you know why I’m still here then?” Zeke asked.

  “I
ran several tests, and the only similarity between all of your bloods, is that you’re all O negative.”

  “Caitlyn too?” Chad asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, I don’t think she’s immune.”

  “Oh, okay.” They sat in silence, letting this newest piece of information sink in.

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “Where did the nitrogen and potassium come from?” Zeke asked out of the blue. “You said there were high levels of nitrogen and potassium as well. Where did it come from?”

  “That, I’m not sure of. There has to be an outside factor here. Subject L, or mama mouse, as you like to call her, escaped from here over a week ago. She must’ve been exposed to something else. Something made up of those components. Perhaps a fertiliser. They are quite often found in those.”

  Zeke leaned forward from his perch. “We did a crop dust the night before my father got sick. He thought he’d poisoned himself,” he said, beginning to pace the floor. “We do use a nitrogen based fertiliser, but it was pesticide that we had dropped.”

  “Is it possible that there was some cross-contamination?” Caleb asked. “Maybe some residue left over from fertilising before the crop dusting?”

  “I guess it’s possible. My father is… was usually so careful.”

  “So, mama mouse got covered in pesticide or whatever, and that went into her bloodstream and created mutant zombie babies?” Zuckerman grilled.

  “Basically, yeah. That’s my theory anyway.”

  “What we really want to know is, is there a cure?” Tammy asked hopefully, her fingers twisting a strand of her hair like she did whenever she was nervous. Chad came to stand behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders in support.

  “Well, have you ever heard of Encephalitis?” Blank stares met his, so he went on to explain. “It’s an infection in the brain. I think this may be a never-seen-before strand. I think it attacks a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It controls functions such as thirst, and hunger. The pituitary gland…”

  “Okay I think I can speak for all of us, when I say, we have no idea what you are talking about. Just tell us, can you fix it?” Zuckerman interrupted.

  Caleb pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “I think I may be able to make an antiviral drug using Zeke’s blood sample, to stop it from developing past the fever stage. Luckily you are all universal donors. The only thing is that it would have to be administered before they die. After that, it’ll be too late to take effect.”

  “Caitlyn?” Chad asked the question on everyone’s minds. “You can make her better?”

  Caleb coughed uncomfortably. “That’s the thing. We don’t have enough time to run any tests… I can’t be sure that it will work…”

  “She’s going to die if we do nothing. If there is even a small chance that she may come through this, then we have to take it, right?” Chad asked the group. “It’s a risk, I know, but what’s the alternative?”

  “We don’t know what it will do to her.”

  “Anything’s better than becoming a zombie,” Tammy agreed. “I think you should do it. She doesn’t have much time left.”

  “I agree. Think what it will mean if it works,” Zeke said. “We’ll be able to cure so many people.”

  “Is everyone on board with this?” Caleb asked, looking around the room. Everyone bobbed their heads up and down in agreement.

  “What can we do to help?” Zeke asked.

  CAITLYN

  Voices kept fading in and out. She couldn’t distinguish who was who, or what they were saying, but she knew she wasn’t alone. She only wished she could talk to them. She would give anything to have Tammy or Harper wrap their arms around her. To take away the pain in her stomach. She felt as though someone had punched her in the gut and she didn’t like it.

  She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn’t do as it was told.

  She tried to wiggle her fingers when she felt someone pick her hand up in theirs.

  Nothing would work.

  She wondered if the tears she could feel, were actually running down her face, or if she was imagining it. She wondered if maybe she had died, and this was her punishment for losing her Mommy and Daddy.

  Her arm was being lifted and something was wrapped around the top, near her shirt sleeve. It was pulled tight which made her arm feel tingly.

  Ow!

  Something sharp had stabbed her. It really hurt and she wanted to pull away, but she couldn’t.

  Mommy, Daddy…

  CHAD

  “Now what?” he asked, gently stroking Caitlyn’s forehead.

  “Now, we wait.”

  “And, that’s it? How long will it take?”

  “I wouldn’t like to speculate. This is the first time I’ve administered one of my experiments on an actual human being. We just have to keep an eye on her,” Caleb said, disposing of the syringe. He unclipped the tourniquet around Caitlyn’s arm and removed his gloves, throwing them away. “We have to be prepared for the fact that it may not work. Or we may have been too late.”

  “It’s okay, Doc. We know the risks. We’re not going to blame you if anything happens to her.”

  “Still.” He waved his hand toward them. “I feel responsible for all of this. L was under my supervision and I let her get away. Not to mention, turning you away at the gates. If it wasn’t for me, Caitlyn wouldn’t even be in this situation.”

  “But she is, and if it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t even have a chance of survival. No-one blames you,” Tammy soothed, patting his knee.

  “Thanks.” He rubbed his hand across his face, it had been a long day.

  “Caleb? I was wondering. You said that this will stop the virus from progressing?” Zeke asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “So people have to actually be infected before we can help them?”

  “With the antibody, yes. If I could get the data to Atlanta, where the CDC is, they may be able to come up with a vaccine. I don’t have the resources to do it here.”

  “Sounds like another road trip is in order,” Zuckerman grinned.

  “You’d willingly go back out there?” Caleb asked.

  “We’re immune, remember?” Zuckerman winked. “You didn’t think we’d abandon you just when it’s getting good, did ya, Doc?”

  Caleb laughed. “I guess not. This really means a lot guys. Thanks.”

  “Don’t thank us yet,” Zuckerman added. “We’re taking all the credit!” he hooted, slapping his hand across his knee.

  Chad and Tammy had offered to watch over Caitlyn while everyone else went to rest for the night. Caleb had made them promise to wake him if there were any changes.

  They sat by her bedside, talking softly to her, trying to coax her to come back to them. They told her of their plans to go to Atlanta as soon as she was strong enough to travel, and how Zuckerman planned on taking all the glory. Chad spoke fondly of the times he had babysat her, and the fun they had had. He told her that he had always thought of her as his baby sister.

  After a while, Chad could see that Tammy was getting tired, though she wouldn’t admit to it. He convinced her to get some sleep while he kept watch.

  She curled up on the other couch, closing her eyes. She mumbled, “Just for a few minutes.” Her quiet snores soon filled the room, making Chad smile. He made himself a coffee and settled in to the chair beside Caitlyn’s makeshift bed.

  “Come on, Caity,” he said, using her nickname. “It’s time to wake up now.” He studied her face. He couldn’t be sure that his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, but he thought she looked as though some colour had returned to her cheeks. He realised that her breathing was no longer in short sharp gasps, but had evened out. Either the antibody was taking effect, or she was about to turn. He couldn’t even think about what that would mean. What he would do.

  He reached out, placing his hand on her forehead. She felt cool to the touch, no longer burning with the fever. Her skin was clammy to
touch and she was still yet to move.

  He set his coffee down on the table, needing his full concentration. He gripped her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. “Come on, Caitlyn. You’re strong, you can beat this. Come back to us.”

  He watched as one of her fingers flexed in his hand. “Caitlyn?” he said. This time there was a definite squeeze of his hand, and her eyes fluttered. “Caitlyn? It’s me, Chad. I’m here with you,” he said a little louder.

  “What’s going on?” Tammy asked, sitting up.

  Chad looked at her and said only three words.

  “She’s waking up.”

  EPILOGUE

  Tammy scanned the CD collection at her new home, searching for something to listen to while she prepared dinner for her little family.

  Once they had arrived at Atlanta, they had stayed a few days to allow Caitlyn time to fully recover before heading back to their hometown of Worthington. They still hadn’t had word from her parents, but each day, Chad would head over to Caitlyn’s, hoping that they would return. In the meantime, they had taken up residence in his home. His parents were still in Florida, and it seemed like the safest place for them to be, with its high fences and multitude of windows to keep watch.

  Town had been pretty well overrun when they had arrived back. The few people who had survived, either kept to themselves, or had ventured further in hopes of finding refuge.

  Tapping her feet to the music, Tammy busied herself in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of omelettes. She chopped onions and tomatoes that she had found in the bottom of the pantry, and grated some cheese to sprinkle on top. Luckily for them, Chad’s parents had kept a fully stocked pantry and fridge. They had enough food to last the four of them for quite some time before they would have to resort to scavenging.