Merit Badge of the Undead
Page 4
that’s the coolest thing I’ve seen on a campout!”
Jimmy’s dad smiled and wished he had taken Jimmy along to see that. It was a pretty awesome sight. The men only made it a few more feet before the concussion from the explosion hit them. They looked around and saw the fireball in the general direction of camp. Without a word, they both started running.
Cheshire
Jimmy’s mom was watching the local news to keep track of the storm line approaching camp. She was worried about them getting wet and maybe catching a cold. “They’re scouts and they’ll be fine,” she said to herself. She got up and walked back to the kitchen. “I’ve got that cold pizza in the fridge and I don’t have to share. Doesn’t get any better than this.”
Laurie pulled out the styrofoam container from last night’s dinner out of the refrigerator. She placed two cold slices of pizza covered with vegetables on a plate and into the microwave. “Two minutes should do it.” The phone rang. Laurie saw that it was Megan another mom from down the street. Her son and husband were on the campout too, and mentioned that they should do a “ladies night out” since the boys were away. Laurie didn’t answer it. She looked forward to some quiet time all week and didn’t feel like going out. Day old microwaved pizza with an ice cold can of coke sounded infinitely better than paying for an overpriced meal and driving who knows where for drinks. “I’ll call her back after I eat, then I’ll have an excuse not to go out,” she thought.
“Hi, this is the Pierson’s, we can’t come to the phone right now. Please leave a message and we’ll call you right back.”
“Laurie! Are you there? Laurie if you’re there pick up. Hello? Turn on the news. Something’s happened. Call me back as soon as you get this! OK?” – click.
Laurie didn’t even hear the message. She was staring at the television and listening to every word the reporter was saying.
“Once again, there has been a large explosion reported near Devil’s Hopyard Campground. No one is being allowed within miles of the area as the military is cordoning off the entire town and has blocked most of the roads leading in or out at this time. Officials tell us that local residents will be evacuated by both truck and helicopter starting immediately. Evacuees will not be allowed to bring pets or any personal belongings as time is of the essence. Small FEMA camps will be set up in neighboring Salem to handle the displaced residents.
The explosion followed a release by the Department of Homeland Security only minutes before indicating that the FBI was closing in on a suspected terrorist traveling in the western part of the state. Reportedly, the suspect had constructed some type of crude dirty bomb and was making his way towards Boston without using the interstate. DHS is not commenting on whether or not the explosion is linked to the suspect. However, local sources have reported receiving 911 calls worried about unusual military activity in the area just prior to the incident. According to our analysts, the fact that no one is allowed in and evacuees cannot bring anything out is consistent with an effort to contain radioactive fallout from the explosion. If these events prove to be associated with the bomb suspect, this would be the first terrorist attack on American soil in over a decade.
We will stay on the scene to provide the latest updates as they come out. Lisa, back to you.”
“Thanks Evan. Again breaking news for those of you that just joined us. There has been an explosion in East Haddam, Connecticut. DHS has set up a phone number for information. Anyone with family in the area is asked to call….”
Laurie didn’t blink. She didn’t even take a breath. She stared at the television in disbelief as did the parents of every other scout camping with her son and husband that weekend.
Scout Camp
“Where’s my dad? Where did he go?” Jimmy was yelling at one of the other dads.
“I don’t know son. He and Robert’s father left a while ago. They were hiking up the ridge to watch the weather. They’ll be back soon.”
Jimmy was unconvinced. Why would his dad take off without saying something? Was he disappointed that Jimmy didn’t want to go on the campout? His mind wandered and Jimmy started blaming himself and believing the worst: that his dad was hurt in the explosion or dead or just plain abandoned them.
Just then Jordan stepped in and spoke up. “Look, we know there’s a fire and it’s not far from here. It’s raining out and none of us want to stay here at camp. Let’s get everything packed up and in the tents. We’ll just stay here until Jimmy and Robert’s dads get back. But, if that fire gets any closer we may have hike out.”
Jordan looked over at Scott. “You and I should hike into the woods to check things out. Maybe we can see the fire and then decide if we need to leave camp. Is that OK with you Mr. Johnson?”
Not really expecting to be in charge, Mr. Johnson responded, “Sure. Just, ah, don’t go too far, stay within earshot.”
“OK. Scott, grab the first aid kit just in case.” Jordan picked up his canteen, Scott pulled the first aid kit from his pack and they headed towards the edge of the field in the general direction of the explosion. The fire was no longer visible, but a column of thick black smoke and debris could be seen rising into the storm clouds.
Outside of Camp
The last fireman was running through the woods and kept up a good pace for the first few hundred yards. He was knocked to the ground by the explosion along with his pursuers. It took him several seconds to get back to his feet. The monsters only cared about their prey and gained ground while the fireman stood for a moment and tried to reorient himself. He started to become fatigued as the chase wore on. He started to shed the heavy fire gear. The fireman quickly overheated even with the cool rain soaking his clothes. His helmet and jacket were quickly discarded and he continued on in just overalls and a shirt. His pace slowed with each step as exhaustion set in. The monsters were not far behind and the distance between them shrank more quickly.
The fireman stepped on a fallen tree and slipped on the wet and rotting wood. His foot rolled and he felt a searing hot pain as his ankle snapped. The fireman fell to the ground and tried to muffle his scream. Realizing he didn’t have much time, he pulled himself up and stood in the wood facing the direction from which he came. He could barely stand. Running was out of the question so he decided his only option was to stand and fight. He found a sturdy branch on the ground and prepared to use it as a bat. He took several practice swings and decided he was ready. The fireman stood there for the longest minute of his life. He could hear the constant shuffling of feet across the leaf covered ground, twigs snapping and branches breaking as the clumsy dead walked over anything that was between them and the fireman.
The first creature to materialize in the woods looked like one of the EMT’s. It was missing part of his arm and his blue uniform was stained nearly black from dirt and blood. The man’s eyes were bloodshot, red and unblinking. His mouth hung open trying to make sounds or form words, but the hole in his throat left him without the means to speak. The fireman stood his ground until the EMT was within striking distance. Then he swung the branch with every ounce of energy in his tired arms and hit the EMT on the side of the head. It knocked the thing off balance but not over. He swung again and again until the EMT fell to the ground disoriented.
The fireman heard something behind him and spun around, “Sam? God dammit Sam!” The fireman was angry, furious at Sam and swung with every ounce of power he could muster…and missed. He lost his balance, slipped on the wet ground and fell to the ground. Sam pounced on the fireman, pinning him to the ground. “Noooo. Sam, please no. Sammm!” Sam opened his mouth and stale rotten blood and saliva spilled out as he proceeded to devour the fireman’s neck and shoulder. The EMT joined Sam by gnawing on the fireman’s leg. It took several minutes for the fireman’s gut wrenching screams to subside. When they did, it signaled the brutal death of the last accident survivor. The virus now surged through his oxygen starved b
lood. Soon the fireman would become one of the awful creatures he spent his last breath fighting.
Scout Camp
Jordan and Scott froze in their tracks as they heard the horrible tortuous screams coming from the woods directly in front of them. The rest of the scouts heard them too. Mr. Johnson yelled, “Boys, you’d better get back here. Now.”
Jordan and Scott remained still hardly breathing as the desperate cries from the woods suddenly stopped. The rain made it difficult to see anything in the woods from where they stood. The two scouts could almost distinguish several grey silhouettes lumbering in the woods. The figures appeared to be roaming the woods and getting closer. It was difficult for the boys to gauge the distance between them and the ghostly figures in the shadows. The thunder started to roll more loudly as the storm approached the campground. The wind turned the leaves on the trees and started whipping at the boy’s raingear. “Right now guys! Let’s go,” yelled Mr. Johnson with more fear than authority.
The boys’ skin tingled with electricity and the damp hairs on their arms and neck stood on end. An ear splitting crack of thunder built slowly and exploded as a blinding arc of lightning struck a tree deep in the woods. Everything under the