Bacteria Zombies

by Jim Kroswell

  ***

  Renaldo wandered aimlessly down the corridors of the hospital where his dear Samantha died. He was lost somewhere between self pity and vengeance. The hallways was quiet even though he knew there were people behind the doors, in their beds, covered in sores and completely infected with germs. He walked, each leg in turn in front of the next. He had the odd suspicion that someone was behind him but when he turned his head he saw no one. The face of Samantha flashed in his mind and he couldn't help but to think that her face had been contorted to look like some sort of monster. It would haunt him forever he knew. He heard a foot step behind him, but it sounded like that made by a small person. He flicked his eyes to his left but again there was nothing there. He felt somewhat like he was walking through water and something felt surreal to him. This time he turned his head completely around and what he saw astounded him. There appeared to be a group of children and he found it odd because they had no adults with them, they were accompanied by no nurses or doctors. He then looked more closely and saw that their faces resembled the monstrousness of his girlfriend. They were infected and they were in a pack like a pack of rabid wolves. They started to run towards him. Their faces were a shade of purple and they each had scars and bruises covering their bodies. One boy had red hair that, along with the infected sores on his face, made him look like a horrific clown. He wasn't sure whether he should stand his ground, they were children after all, or take off running. Whatever the case, they began to run faster towards him. There were at least ten. He decided to go with his first instinct and turned abruptly around and ran as if his life depended on it for it most certainly did.

  ***

  Wesley had sores all over his body. He could barely see, as pustules had formed around his eyes and his left eye was completely sealed shut. He yearned for his father to come home. He felt something strange rise within him. He was lying on his bed with his mother down stairs making some more soup to nourish is body when he felt some strange urgers arise and he arose from his bed. He looked around the room and looked as it he were looking at it through water. His arms stretched out in front of him even though he did not mean for them to. It was as if his body were doing all sorts of thing he did not mean for it to do. He walked towards the door and his mind swam inside of what he felt was almost another mind. He went downstairs and could hear his mother yell out, "Wesley, what are you doing out of bed. You shouldn't be out of bed, Wesley. Please go lay down." But that did not deter him. He turned the corner to the kitchen where he could see the back of the head of his mother. He was not his own self. Something else was urging his motions. He walked over to the drawer that held the knives. Then things happened very quickly. He wasn't sure, it all happened so fast. He looked down and his mother lay in a pool of blood. The wife of Dr. Samuels was dead. Wesley let out a blood curdling scream. It did not stop for several minutes.

  When Wesley could collect himself he went back upstairs and curled himself into his bed blankets. He closed his eyes tightly and refused to open them.

  ***

  Terrence Lawson's plan was working. He was watching it on the local news. People were being killed everywhere. He had enacted his bacterial servants and they were working on the brains and nervous systems of his victims. He had programmed the bacteria to act upon his command, and they were doing just that. He could control the carnage, all with the flip of his finger. He told the bacteria when to kill and how much to kill. He could have them work in windows of time, or have them kill humans until everyone was dead. This first installment of death was just a test. He wanted to see if it was working, and it was. Lawson stared at his computer screen and where there were red dots before, now there were purple, signifying the turning on of the bacteria and the imminent violence to follow. He loved seeing the lavendar fields on his computer screen, as now the percentage of infection was up to 44%. His plan was working and the world was being launched into a living hell.

  The air was still in the room. The sky was grey outside and Lawson looked over and through the glass. The clouds were heavy with intention as Lawson was thinking about his domination over these ants of people. His head began to hurt thinking about all that he had yet to do. His place was the dooms day maker and there was not much more behind his facade other than destruction. Lawson began to type a letter. He had one person to whom he did communicate, a fellow evil doer if you will. His name was Bernard, only one name. This was the man whom Lawson confided in. He was a character Lawson had come across in his business dealings with his cover company XLaw. Bernard was of a similar ilk. Bernard understood Lawson and just as Lawson was an outcast of society, Bernard was an inside member, but he was not the inside member you wanted in your group of friends. Bernard loved to trick people, he was a weasle by nature and he enjoyed the con. He knew everyone and instigated his hate and connivery everywhere. Bernard knew the nature of Lawson and used it for his purposes. When Lawson divulged to Bernard his plans with the mutant, or rather quite conceived, bacteria, Bernard knew he wanted to be on the inside of this, as to be on the outside meant certain demise. Bernard had a dark face and always wore dark clothes. He had a long black mustache that jutted out at either end several inches. He was the villain in every way although he truly did not see himself that way. He felt he was a rat that would be squished by the world if he did not use his cunning would not survive the traps laid out for rats like him. Lawson began his correspondence, "Hello Bernard. The plan is going swimmingly. Many have already died. The bacteria is responding exactly as I planned and you can rest assured the rest of the world will fall shortly. Now is your turn." Lawson hit send.

  ***

  Samuels knew he had to take action but first he needed to reconnect with his home base. He picked up the pay phone on the corner. He dialed the number he had dialed so many time before, calling home, but no one seemed to pick up. It rang forever until finally he heard a young boy's voice. "Wesley, hi, it's Dad." "Oh, hi Dad. It's good to hear your voice." "I can't believe you're up, you should be in bed, are you feeling okay?" "I feel a little better now." "Can I talk to Mom?" "She's in the shower right now." There was silence for a moment. "Oh, well, tell her Dad called. I'm just finishing up some business here and I'll be right back." "Dad, please come home fast." "I will Wes. Take care of your mom and tell her I'll be there soon." "I will. I love you Dad." "I love you too Wesley. Be good and go back to your bed, okay?" "I will. Bye." Dr. Samuels listened to the phone hit the receiver. He felt there was something strange in Wesley's voice but could not put his finger on it. He looked over at the rental and decided there was nothing more he could do there. He would return back to the hospital and to his son and wife.

  ***

  Renaldo had just escaped the mad, sick children. He had no idea what had just happened. These kids were obviously infected. Renaldo did not want to stay in one place for too long. He headed down the hallway looking into offices, mostly empty, of the hospital administration. He then peeked in to a door window where the title outside the door said Dr. Samuels. Renaldo opened the door to the room where he found Dr. Samuels sitting at his desk. "What is going on Doc!" Renaldo had recognized the doctor as one that had come in to see Samantha, one of the what felt like 20 different professionals who were always checking on her. Dr. Samuels looked tired and looked up at Renaldo drearily, "I don't know son, I don't know." "Doc, there are rabid kids chasing people. They're sick, something's wrong with them, they're running around in packs like dogs, viscious dogs." "What are you talking about? You had a sick girlfriend, didn't you? How is she?" "She's dead, she's dead," and Renaldo broke down to the floor, onto his knees, crying. "It's okay. You're going to be okay. I'm so sorry about your girlfriend. This crazy sickness is getting everyone. She was infected, I'm sorry." "But it's crazier now Doc, I tell you, these kids, they're infected and they're chasing everyone." "Calm down, what are you saying?" "I'm saying that these kids, they looked just like Samantha, with puss and sores and their faces were all covered in sores, they looked just like he
r and they were crazy, chasing me. I don't know what's happening." Dr. Samuels let this sink in. Obviously the infection was having other effects. He would have to investigate further. What had Lawson done? It seemed there were now other effects of his madness. The infection was obviously driving people insane as well. "Describe their chasing you." "Well, there were a lot of them. It almost seemed like they were prowling the halls looking for people, like zombies out trying to find people to eat. I swear they wanted to eat me! I just ran and ran and I don't know how I lost them, but when I didn't have anymore energy to run, I turned around and I didn't see them anymore. I took a lot of doors and stair cases. I can't remember anymore. I'm tired and I'm hurt and I'm sad and I'm confused. Doctor, the world has gone crazy. Everyone is sick. There are so many patients in rooms. I've never seen a hospital have so many patients before. Now they're all coming alive like zombies." The doctor had a stone face. He had not encountered these crazed patients himself and he felt that maybe he and Renaldo needed to go out and find some more of these zombie patients. "I'd like for you to come with me. I need to see this." "I can't go back out there. I can't see those people again. No way!" "Please, you know what they look like. I need to investigate this." "Well, I guess I can, but I'm scared." "There's no need to be scared. Everyone is just sick. They are infected with a bacteria, a strain of bacteria that is very dangerous, but it's only dangerous to the ones infected with it. You and I should be fine. Just avoid physical contact with the infected ones. Do you understand?" "Whatever you say, but I'm telling you, this bacteria is pretty dangerous, to everyone." "All right, let's go. Remember, no touching and try to stay at least three feet away from them. Here, wear this mask, so you don't inhale it and get infected." "Oh man, you're worried about getting infected. Believe me, that's not what you have to worry about. These kids want to eat you, I swear it. I know when something wants to eat me." "Just put it on." Renaldo complied and the two went out slowly together.

  They walked down the hospital hallway, which now seemed as if it were bereft of all hospital personnel. In fact, it was something of a ghost hospital. Silence permeated the air and something strange hung there as well. The doctor and Renaldo walked, step by cautious step, looking in the windows of the shut room doors. Renaldo stopped in his tracks and his vocal chords seemed stuck under water. He couldn't move and Dr. Samuels noticed his frozen position. He walked over and looked through the window Renaldo was stuck in a frozen glare over. What he saw made his stomach sick and he immediately felt as if he would throw up. It appeared to be three patients in hospital gowns hunching over a fourth person, an orderly, eating him. Chunks of skin and hair could be seen flying in the air as the three tore into the hospital worker with no sense of control. The frenzied feasting rendered the two men observing the scene immobile. The doctor did not know what to think. This was outside of his expertise. He wasn't sure whose expertise this was inside of.

  ***

  Bernard had meet Lawson during drug trials of a major profit making venture. Now he considered Lawson a partner in a different kind of venture. He knew Lawson didn't see it the same way, as Lawson was a lone wolf type of guy, but Bernard saw the opportunity to work with a very smart man and when working with very smart men there is always room for more profit. Bernard, if one had to choose an animal from the animal kingdom to describe him, would be a leech. He leeched the blood and life out of everything he touched and for him, blood was money. Bernard helped to facilitate Lawson's ambitions. Now Lawson was enacting his plan and he was counting on Bernard. Bernard looked through his files. He was in his office, which was dark, and he called out to his assistant. A young boy scurried in, "Mr. Bernard, how can I help you?" "I need everything you have on the bacteria files. I have some work I need to do." "Right away, Sir."

  ***

  Wesley covered his head with his blanket. He had no idea what was happening to him. He didn't know how he was going to explain the horrible sight that was in the kitchen. He told himself that he didn't do it. He could not take another breath knowing what he had done so he chose to believe that he did not do it. He was sure that a monster took possession of him and did those bad things to his mother. He would never hurt her. But now she was gone and his father would know that it was him. He had to explain it to him, he had to tell him about the monster, the monster that came inside him and did this to his mother. He was so sick he could barely think. He knew he was just a boy, but he had to pull it together. He felt his mind clear slightly. He thought about cleaning up the kitchen but he could not bare to go down and see what was there. He would have to stay under the covers until his father arrived. He knew his dad would come but he hoped with every molecule in his body that he would hurry.

  ***

  Dr. Samuels pulled Renaldo away. "Come on. We have to keep moving. This is worse than I thought. You're right. They're transformed into something, I'm not sure what. I've never seen human being act this way. They're monsters. We need to get out of this hospital." Renaldo was too stunned to talk. He literally could not move his tongue or lips. He simply nodded.

  They found the exit as quickly as they could. Dr. Samuels knew he had to get home to his son. He and Renaldo made their way to the parking lot. It was empty and had an eerie feeling. Renaldo and Dr. Samuels were completely silent as they drove in the car to Samuels' house. Renaldo sensed the tension and worry emanating from Samuels. Samuels was worried. The creases in the corners of his eyes seemed to grow deeper with each minute. He sensed something was very wrong and blamed himself for not going straight to the house from the airport. This was something his wife would fault him for. She would be angry at him as she always was, for putting his work above his family. The trees they passed were all green. He thought it was a funny comparison, the green trees, alive and well and oblivious to the human world, which was in chaos. They approached the house and all looked fine from the outside. "You can wait here, Renaldo, I'll just be a minute." Renaldo nodded again. He felt it was all he could do these days sometimes.

  Dr. Samuels stood at the entrance to his house which he no longer slept at, hadn't for months since he was thrown out and made to live in an apartment house down the street. He fumbled for his keys in his pocket, felt their jagged edges on his finger tips, pulled them out and proceeded unlock the door. Wesley must've heard the commotion at the door lock because Samuels could hear his son's feet pitter patter on the stairs leading down and to the front door. As the door opened Samuels caught a glimpse of Wesley and it seemed all of his hesitations and fears from before gave way to relief at seeing his young sick son. Wesley yelled out, more out of habit, "Dad, you're home." He rushed towards him and threw his arms around his legs, only to recoil seconds later and look up at his father with a ghastly look of fear and dread on his face. "What's wrong Wesley? I'm home now. You look so much better, you can get out of bed. Where's your mother?" The dreaded question came like a load of bricks too heavy for a young child and his eyes welled up with tears which turned into full blown sobbing after half a second. "Wesley, Wesley, what's wrong?" Samuels now knew his instincts had been spot on, as they usually were. Something was terribly wrong and his boy was about to tell him. Just then Samuels turned around and saw Renaldo walking up the drive way. "Oh good, come over here, something is wrong with Wesley." But when Dr. Samuels looked at Renaldo he noticed something was wrong with his eyes and that is when he noticed that there were some sores on Renaldo's face. "What's wrong Renaldo?" It seemed Renaldo once again lost his ability to talk and he was coming on Samuels quickly. The dark tuft of hair on Renaldo's head blew in the wind and seemed to grow larger as he came down with a blow onto Samuels' head. The doctor's instincts for survival kicked in and he lunged his foot into Renaldo's mid-section, thrusting him backwards from the door several feet, which allowed Samuels to slam and lock the door. Renaldo must have been infected and now he too had turned into one of these monstrous beings from the hospital. "Wesley, take me to your mother now." Doing what young children do, he did not warn his father, but
grabbed his hand and lead him to the kitchen. Dr. Samuels felt his legs get weak and gave out on him completely when he saw his dead wife covered in blood on the kitchen floor. Who could have done this? He thought. It could not have been his little, sweet son. No, that could not be. He looked at Wesley to glean some kind of information. Wesley looked at him blankly, as children do who have just been caught doing something horrible but cannot quite understand the gravity of their action, when he exclaimed, "The monster came in and did this Daddy," to which Samuels let out a sigh of relief. His son was not responsible for this, how could he be, that was foolish for that even to have crossed his mind. Obviously someone broke in and did this, some other infected person. "The monster did this, I couldn't stop him. The monster came into my body and told me to pick up the knife and hurt Mommy." Dr. Samuels face contorted into a position it had never take, a look that epitomized utter horror. He could not live in this reality and he let out a deathly howl. Wesley ran into the living room and buried his head amongst the couch pillows. Samuels looked down at the mangled, lifeless body of his wife and fell to his knees sobbing. That was when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Renaldo trying to open up the back door of the house. Samuels had other issues to attend to and would have to compartmentalize his grief for another time. Right now he needed to save he and his son from the more immediate impending danger.