The Z Strain

by Matthew Isaiah Crawford

  In a whisper, April finally broke the silence. “How long do you think we’re going to be able to hold up here?” Dennis set down his cup and pondered the question leaning back in his chair. Though his mind had been occupied for hours by that very same thought. He grabbed hold of his wife’s hand gently stroking the back with his thumb.

  “We have some options, but to be honest I’m not liking any of them.” He paused and leaned back in his chair. “Thought about a boat. Thought about heading for the coast, but I figure a lot of other folks probably had that same idea. Fool idea to think you could find some deserted island anyway. And who knows, maybe we get there and there are no boats, then what?” April shook her head, she didn’t like that idea much either. Thought about heading North, not knowing how well these things handle the cold, but that’s a fifty, fifty shot at best. Hell of a long way to get far enough north that they might freeze. Then I thought about digging a tunnel so we could get in and out safe, maybe hunt for food, but I figure that’ll bring trouble sure enough. Probably sooner rather than later. We got about a month’s supply here, we got the genny for power, though I’m reluctant to turn it on. Figure the noise might bring trouble. I don’t know dear.” April seemed less than satisfied with the answer. She didn’t know what she expected, but that wasn’t it. “So, I guess being safe here tonight is enough for now, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

  “Okay... I love you Dennis.” April was trying not to cry, but she could feel the tears brimming behind her eyes. She had never known fear, not like this.

  “You too baby.” Dennis didn’t know what else to say. He knew his wife wasn’t happy with the answer he gave, but he honestly didn’t know what to do next.

  Rising from the table Dennis stretched his back as he walked over to the window letting out a deep exasperated sigh as he went. He walked over to the window and bent over looking through a gap between two pieces of wood, he looked out into the woods. The only light the half-moon casting an eerie yellow light over the forest.

  Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of movement. His eyes darted to the right over by his truck. His eyes didn’t leave the truck as he leaned over and grabbed his compound bow from behind a chair along with a quill of six arrows.

  “Ape, wake up the boy.” April was about to ask why but then saw that he was staring out the window and sliding the quill onto his back at the same time. She got up from her seat, moving quickly and quietly into the back room.

  “Doug? Douglass? Wake up.”

  “Huh, what?” Doug sat up in bed, confused at fist as to where he was.

  “Come on, your daddy needs ya.” She said. He was on his feet and in the living room on wobbly legs.

  “Doug, come over here boy, bring your rifle.” His father said, that woke him up. He walked over and grabbed his rifle that is over half as tall as he was from against the wall. “There’s someone out there, stay here at the window, and keep aim toward the truck.”

  “Okay daddy. Be careful.” Douglass could hear his heart beating inside his ears.

  “Always am son.” Dennis pushed slowly out the door and moved along the side of the cabin. In the dim moonlight he could still make out a form standing near the driver’s side door. He looked back at the window and saw his eleven-year-old son standing at the ready. A beam of pride surged through him. He returned his focus to the truck. Definitely something there, definitely something the size of an adult human. He took to one knee near the corner of the porch where he had a clean view of the mass standing next to the truck. He pulls the arrow back holding the quill against his cheek.

  “If you value your life do not move.” Dennis ordered with a clear and authoritative tone. He had expected a creature to turn and come for him, instead the mass froze, and hands slowly raised above its head.’

  “I didn’t know anyone was home, I was going to try to take the truck. I’m sorry, please don’t kill me.” The voice of a young man came from the shadows.

  “Turn around. Slow. Keep your hands over your head.” Dennis said. He remained the same posture his arrow trained on the man’s chest.

  “Yes sir. I mean you no harm.” He said turning toward the cabin slowly. “There were these things, I mean, I guess they were people, but they were all fucked up and.” The boy stopped speaking when he saw that there was a man with a red plaid shirt on one knee with a bow and arrow pointed at him. Dennis eased the tension on the bow, but kept it trained on the man in front of him.

  “What’s your name son?” Dennis could see that it was a kid, late teens early twenties, he was filthy. His Nirvana shirt was ripped at the chest and there was mud on both knees.

  “Kevin, Kevin Chambers.”

  “Where you from?”

  “Nashville.”

  “How’d you find you way up here?” Dennis asked.

  “My friends and I were actually on a road trip to St. Louis.”

  “And.”

  “And we hit this group of people walking in the middle of the road. My friend Ian and I ran this way, but Ian died. Paul ran the other direction. I don’t know what happened to Paul.” Dennis didn’t respond. The moon glinted off the metal tip at the end of the arrow. It made Kevin want to keep talking. “I’ve been running for an hour. This cabin was the first thing I’ve come across. I was honestly only praying that the truck would start. This place didn’t look like it had any residents. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean no harm.”

  “Come on inside. Mind your hands, my boy still has his sights on you.” Kevin glanced over toward the window and could just make out what appeared to be the end of a barrel poking out between crooked wooden slats.

  “Yes sir.” Kevin said keeping his hands above his head. Dennis got up and began walking towards the door. He made eye contact with the boy and waved his hand towards the ground as if to signal to stand down. The gun barrel disappeared from the window. Dennis walked through the door into the cabin, April was standing all the way in the back corner of the dining room like a trapped animal prepared to run either direction.

  “Were okay Ape, he’s just a lost kid.” Just as the words passed his lips a branch came down on the back of his head. Kevin was through the door jumping over Dennis as he was falling to the ground. He closed the gap between Doug who was pulling the rifle up and turning towards the door when Kevin made impact. Driving Doug into the wall the rifle went off into the ceiling. Kevin put his foot in the boy’s stomach and yanked the rifle out of his hands.

  Douglass looked at the intruder in the middle of their living room now holding his rifle. Kevin drew back his left hand and backhanded Douglas who fell to the corner covering his face. April started screaming and cowered down into the corner. Kevin strode across the room and pointed the rifle at April. He slid the bolt forward loading a new round.

  “Alright bitch, tell me where the weapons and the keys to that truck are.” Her eyes raised up to meet his, they became wide and defiant.

  “You don’t need them.” She hissed.

  “Don’t make me kill your family, just give me what I want.”

  “You don’t need them, you’re not going to make it.” That struck him, a confused look spread across his face. He looked down to see a blade sticking out of his abdomen. He reached down and touched it, not believing it to be real. It was. His hand moved off of the trigger and to the back of his shirt. He could feel the blade coming out the back, and his shirt soaked with blood.

  “Aw shit.” The gun dropped from his hand and he fell to his knees. “It didn’t even hurt.” Kevin said as he fell face first onto the hardwood floor.

  “Doug, you okay?” Dennis said pulling the machete out of Kevin’s back. Dennis’ hand went to the back of his head which was throbbing. It came back a little bloody, but nothing to be alarmed about

  “Yea, I’m good Dad?” Douglass said picking himself up off the ground.

  “How about you, your head is bleeding.” April asked walking towards him with a hand towel outstretched.

&nb
sp; “I’ll be okay.” He took the washcloth from his wife, holding her hand tightly for a moment before applying the towel to the back of his head

  Sunday

  Bitterroot Valley Montana

  Sunday, August 18th, 1:36 AM

  Floyd parked the truck at the end of the road. He knew there had been a handful of protocols set up for entrances and exits into the compound. He moved on foot, pausing occasionally to make sure he wasn’t being followed. When he was sure he moved into the middle of the road and proceeded towards the compound with his hands over his head. When he came up close to the treehouse a voice came out of the darkness.

  “Identify yourself.”

  “Floyd Osborne.”

  “Come on up.” Said the guard at the top of the stairs the guard spoke again. “Turn to the right, keep your hands over your head.” Floyd did as he was told. When he dropped down off the walkway into the room there were four more men with guns drawn.

  “Strip” One of them said. Floyd wasn’t surprised, he knew the protocols, had to check for bites. He stripped down to his white cotton briefs and knelt down on the floor. After a few moments one of the guards spoke behind him.

  “You’re clear, get dressed and go see David. Now.” Floyd did as he was told and ran inside still trying to put on his left boot.

  Inside he was met by two men he knew to be David’s personal assistance. He was led inside David’s office and the two men sat him down facing an empty desk. The two men remained in the room backing to the corner and holstered their weapons.

  David, their elected leader strode in the room. He wore blue jeans that were a little too tight and had a bright plaid shirt tucked in to display a large silver and gold belt buckle. His long hair is currently pulled back into a ponytail which Floyd was thankful for. David was much more intimidating when he had his hair down.

  “Well. What the fuck happened?” David asked dropping into his seat.

  “I’m sorry Dave, it was just Carl, man there was no stopping him, and he needed my help. He’s. He was my best friend. I had to help him. I’m really sorry man.”

  “So, tell me what happened?”

  “That place is fucked city man.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yea, he almost made it back out with one of the Hummers, but he got swarmed.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Well, I had run across the building drawing them out.” Floyd explained.

  “Describe it. Give me details.” David said leaning forward.

  “They move fast, faster than the way they depict them in the movies. And they move with a swarm mentality, one shift at the front of the pack and the entire swarm shifts with it. The masses pile up and swarm over.”

  “How high?”

  “Well, the ten feet to the top of the hummer didn’t take long. I saw em piled up against the fence, probably hit fifteen feet before it collapsed.”

  “Jesus. We need to make some changes, we need to secure the second-floor windows.”

  “Oh man, yea, didn’t think about that.” Floyd said. David rises and walks around to the front of the desk. He places his hand on Floyd’s shoulder. “Floyd, you know going with Carl was wrong yea?”

  “Yes sir.” Floyd put his head down. “I know.”

  “But you did bring us some very valuable intelligence.” David said. With that Floyd perked up.

  “Thank you, sir.” He said excitedly.

  “Go downstairs, get yourself something to eat. We got a lot of work in front of us.” Floyd rises from his seat and walks down the hallway past a guard standing in the hallway. Dave turns to the guard once Floyd exits. “Send Snyder and Callahan in.”

  “Yes sir.” The guard says. He turns, and jogs down the hallway. Moments later two men walk through the door. As Ted Snyder and Bill Callahan stand next to each other in front of the desk they look like they could be brothers, but they aren’t of any relation. Both stand about six foot, both have a thick brown beard, and scraggly brown hair. They even have matching red plaid shirts on today.

  “Have him watched closely, give him some work in the basement. Put him on shells. I’m sure Whitaker could use a break from it.” They both nodded in unison. “And we need to shore up the second-floor windows A.S.A.P. Floyd says that they swarm and pile up against the buildings. So, let’s get that done and think on some ideas on how to fortify the compound. I want ideas in a half hour. Make sure you tell Smith, Cooper, and Barnes. We need to rethink our defensive strategy.”

  “Yes sir.” They both echoed and departed the room.

  East of Tipton Iowa

  Sunday August 18th, 3:29 AM

  They exited the south side of East Moline just before sunset in a black and gold Chevy Tahoe that belonged to one of the other police officers. They crossed over the highway and headed North East around Davenport. As they passed the welcome to Iowa sign, they exited onto a side road. Sticking to the farm country and keeping to the byways and back roads. They hadn’t met any resistance since leaving the city.

  Joel had taken over driving a little after midnight. He had mentioned something about being a night owl. In Gary’s mind that was apparently a volunteer for the night shift. Gary had taken over his seat in the front and was now sitting with his head bobbing in his chest. All the others had fallen asleep in the back seats about an hour ago.

  Joel was having a hard time staying awake. Nothing was playing on any of the radio stations, and the only cd in the car was Garth Brooks. Everyone but Nancy had passed on the idea of playing it. So, he sat in silence staring off into an endless abyss. The blackness of night was divided only by a narrow beam from the headlights illuminating the unchanging road ahead and the endless rows of corn.

  He didn’t even have time to react when out of the darkness there appeared five people standing in the middle of the road. The Tahoe jolted and rocked as Joel tried to avoid hitting the people. All the sleeping passengers were immediately awakened their eyes wide. Most reached out for something to grab hold of. Joel’s eyes were equally wide his knuckles showing white as he gripped the wheel with all his strength trying to control the vehicle as it fishtailed.

  “Jesus Christ what the hell was that?” Asked Andrew rubbing his eyes.

  “Pedestrians.” Joel said laughing maniacally. He looked into the rear-view mirror. In the dim red of the tail lights two bodies can be seen on the side of the road, one of them was still trying to crawl towards the departing vehicle.

  “Fuck.” Joel exclaimed turning to look back again.

  “I was having a good dream man!” Robert complained from the back seat.

  “What, what is it?” Gary asked.

  “I was at this party with this fine girl Tina.” Robert closed his eyes reliving the dream.

  “Shut up asshole, he was talking to Joel.” Nancy interrupted.

  “Motherfuckers broke the headlight. It was already hard to see out here.” Joel complained.

  “Maybe you should slow down a bit. It’s not a race.” Gary said looking over towards the instrument panel.

  “Yea, yea.” Joel said. He looked down at the speedometer and saw that he was doing 70. He backed it down to 45.

  “I’m starving, and I need to go to the bathroom.” Nancy said as she yawned and stretched in the back seat. Gary couldn’t help but notice her figure as she did but looked away quickly.

  “Yea, me too, we should start looking for someplace we can stop. There’s got to be a house out here somewhere, right?” Gary said looking out the window.

  Several minutes pass as they all scan the unchanging landscape.

  “God, I think my bladder is going to explode.” Nancy said crossing her legs.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t see anything.” Gary said.

  “There! A farmhouse, and it’s got a gate all the way around.” Joel yelled eagerly pointing off to the right.

  “Do it.” Gary said pulling his sidearm. He ejected the magazine, checked to see it was full and slams it back home. He chambers a round and rests
the gun on his lap. Seconds later he hears the others doing the same behind him. He silently prayed that one of them doesn’t accidentally shoot anyone else. He didn’t get the impression at the station that any of them had much experience with a firearm.

  Pulling up the long driveway the left headlight illuminating a long metal gate. The Tahoe comes to a stop as Joel jumps out of the back seat, runs over, and opens the gate. Joel backs the large SUV up to the front door in case they have to make a hasty escape.

  Gary, Nancy, and Robert went to the left side of the house checking the front door first. Gary looked through the front window and saw no lights or movement. His hand went to the brass door handle, but finds it locked firmly in place.

  Andrew led Joel, Walter and Sarah around to the right-hand side of the house under a green parking awning and into the back yard. They checked window after window, but none were found to be open. As Andrew turned the corner and took a step up onto the back porch he froze in place when he heard a shotgun being racked somewhere to his left.

  “You move and you die.” Came a scratchy voice from behind the shotgun.

  “I’m sorry, we didn’t know anyone was home. We were just looking for someplace to hold up for the night.” The old man turns to the left sensing movement from the other side. A flashlight his being shone in his eyes, blinding him. His finger tensed against the shotgun trigger.

  “Officer Gary Ford. East Moline police department. We mean you no harm.” Gary turned off the flashlight and put his hands in the air.