Merit Badge of the Undead

by Brian Robillard

woods not far from accident. 911 services are getting flooded with parents wanting to know if they’re OK.”

  Hannah spoke up, “Are they?” Dave gave her a look that clearly said she was only to listen to this conversation.

  “We don’t know. The predator with the electronics package was in place prior to the strike. Even if the scouts tried to call 911, it would’ve been jammed so right now we don’t know if they’re OK. I think we have to address this quick.”

  “The press will eat this up and hammer us if even one of those kids so much as bruised an elbow in the explosion.”

  Rich spoke up, “It’s worse than that. We’ve been reviewing the initial radio calls from Fire and EMT’s on site. It’s not real clear, but it looks like our tech, Danny, probably fled the scene before they arrived.”

  “Meaning?” Dave said.

  “Meaning that he’s probably still out in those woods.”

  “He knows too much about what’s happened. He might.. “

  Rich cut him off, “Dave. The medics reported a lot of blood on scene and there was a second 911 call that reported someone covered with blood acting suspiciously. I think Danny might have been exposed to the virus during the crash.”

  Dave stared blankly at his phone letting this new information sink in. He began to feel ill, took a step back and seated himself in the nearest chair. “My God. He probably had more than enough time before the detonation to wander clear of the zone.” He sat hunched forward stunned at this revelation. His neatly packaged contingency plan just fell apart. Dave ended the call without saying a word to Rich.

  Hannah almost had tears in her eyes and began pleading with her boss. “Dave. It’s time to do the right thing. You’ve got a bunch of innocent kids stuck out in the woods and if Danny was exposed...if he’s sick, Dave. It’ll spread like wildfire. If he reaches that campground…” Dave looked up and made eye contact with Hannah, “For God’s sake, their just children.”

  Knowing she was right, Dave picked up his blackberry and reluctantly began to punch numbers.

  Campground

  Frankie waited for the attack, but the instant he expected pain there was nothing. Instinctively, he looked up, but events were moving faster than Frankie could perceive. There was a sickening sound of flesh separating as he saw the creature’s head tilt precariously to the side. Its mouth was still closing trying to bite Frankie, but no longer attached to its body it fell harmlessly to the ground. The creature’s body soon followed hitting the muddy ground like a bag of wet concrete.

  Frankie finally screamed looking at the decapitated body laying next him. “It’s alright Frankie. It’s alright.”

  Frankie looked up into the rain and saw Jimmy’s dad standing above him. He was soaking wet and holding a machete and dripping with thick dark blood. Frankie was flooded with conflicting feelings of fear and disbelief.

  Jimmy’s dad knelt next to Frankie, placed his hand on his shoulder and calmly spoke to him. “It’s OK son. He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe now. Me, the other dads and the rest of your friends will keep it that way.” Frankie started to get up very slowly, unsure if it was really safe. He looked around and saw smiles on everyone’s face. A wave of relief passed over him and Frankie threw his arms around Jimmy’s dad and gave him a tight hug. Still kneeling, Jimmy’s dad hugged him back with one hand while keeping a grip on the machete. He wasn’t convinced that the danger had passed and was determined be ready for the next surprise. “It’s O.K. Frankie.”

  The entire campground erupted in cheers after seeing the scout leaders bolt out of the woods and slay the last creature. Jimmy was beaming at the sight of his father, the hero. He instinctively ran across the field towards his dad. He saw him kneeling with Frankie. Jimmy’s dad looked up and smiled at the sight of his son. He released Frankie and stood up. Jimmy saw his dad throw the machete into the ground where it stuck like an arrow and opened his arms just in time to embrace him. Father and son stood in the pouring rain hugging each other without speaking a word. The wind blew and more thunder echoed across the campground but neither one let go.

  After a few minutes, Robert’s father stepped up to Jimmy and his dad. “Nate, everyone’s accounted for and in pretty good shape except for Rudy. His hands are pretty raw, but I think we made out pretty damn good considering.” With his arm still around Jimmy, his dad heartily agreed. “Unbelievable really.” He looked up raised his voice, “These guys did amazing. Unbelievable scouts.” More cheering and applause erupted from the group. “This storm is stilling blowin’ pretty hard. Let’s get everyone together and get the hell out of here.” With a final rowdy shout the boys began to disperse happy to be leaving soon.

  Robert’s father pulled the leaders together while the boys started to gather. “You sure it’s safe to go back?”

  “Just as safe as staying here.” Jimmy’s dad stated.

  “What about all the stuff?” He said pointed towards the tents and cooking area.

  “Who cares? Let’s just get them somewhere safe and worry about everything else later.”

  “OK. What about those?” Mr. Johnson asked as he pointed to the two creatures pinned to ground.

  “Keep the boys busy.” Jimmy’s dad said matter-of-factly and fixed his gaze on the creatures. He let go of Jimmy and pulled the machete from ground. The group had been breaking up, but one by one they stopped what they were doing or saying and watched as Jimmy’s father marched over to the creatures.

  Jimmy’s dad stood over one of the writhing putrid squirming bodies. “I don’t know if you understand me and I don’t know what happened to you, but I’m gonna make sure you can’t hurt anyone else.” He raised the machete and without pausing brought it down on the creature. His blade severed the head and the monster finally lay still. Jimmy’s dad took two deliberate steps and paused next to the second creature. He looked down and noticed it was wearing a uniform. For one moment he felt pity for horrible creature and the next he separated its head from its body without blinking.

  He held his blade up and studied it closely. The rain quickly began washing away the congealed blood and shreds of flesh from the blade. He had slain three monsters with his machete, his ‘Excalibur’, but felt no remorse. He simply had done what was needed. He wiped his blade clean on his shirt tail and sheathed his weapon.

  Jimmy and the others said nothing as they watched his father complete his gruesome task. The camp stood silently. There were no cheers or protests. The sound of the rain and wind were relegated to background noise. The scouts felt at ease now that someone finally took charge and unapologetically ended the nightmare. An uneasy calm settled over the camp.

  Just as the group started to relax, a figure burst out of the woods on the far side of the clearing. He appeared exhausted and was stumbling more than running towards them. “Hey! Get away! Run! Run now!” He continued to scream and waved his arms. The man’s clothes were stained with blood. The weary campers just stared at the man. Nothing they imagined could be worse than what they had just been through so no one was motivated to listen to the stranger.

  Mr. Johnson spoke first. “God no. Is that another one?”

  Jimmy’s dad gripped the handle of his machete and said, “I don’t think so. He doesn’t move like the others and he’s talking.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, but just in case get the boys back.” Jimmy’s dad drew his machete and walked out ahead of the group to meet the stranger. He raised the machete to his side signaling that he was willing and capable to use it and the man slowed to a walk.

  “Hey. You gotta get these kids out of here man.” He paused and bent over for a couple of breathes. “You don’t know the hell that’s in those woods. Just run. Run that way.” Soon the man stopped his plea as he noticed the dead corpses on the ground. “Maybe you do know.” He stated.

  Jimmy’s dad stood firm. “We know and we took care of it
. I don’t know you or why you’re here. What I see is some ranting stranger running at me covered in blood.” He said adjusting his grip on the machete.

  The man eyed the blade and with renewed confidence and stood up straight. “Look, my name is Dan Freedman. I work for, look I was in the truck and there was an accident. These people, these things.” Danny couldn’t decide how much to tell or what these people would believe. “Look we were carrying something in our truck, a disease. Some virus that we couldn’t control so we were shipping it to Boston so it could be destroyed.”

  “What like the bird flu or something?’

  “I wish. Within seconds of contact it would multiply exponentially and infect the host. It must have been released when the vials broke in the crash.”

  “Who did it infect? The firemen? Medics?” Jimmy’s father asked angrily as he pointed to the tattered uniforms on the decapitated creatures laying on the ground.

  Danny broke eye contact and looked away. “Yes.” He said meekly. “But they weren’t the only ones.”

  “There’s more?!”

  “Yes. Look they’re all infected, mad…dead.”

  Jimmy’s dad lowered the machete and began to grow concerned. “Dead? Then why run?”

  Danny pointed at the bodies, “They were dead too…before you chopped their heads off. They become like rabid animals, hungry,