Her first attempt to get off the sofa did not go well, her stomach, head, and muscles protesting the sudden movement. She fell back into the cushions, causing Archer to dive off and bolt into the kitchen. Alissa gave her senses several seconds to settle down and tried again, this time much slower. Everything still ached or churned, but she made it to a standing position and staggered across the living room, trying to get her footing. As she entered the kitchen, Archer ran over to his empty food bowl and began another chorus of high-pitched whining.
“Shut up, cat,” Alissa teased.
Alissa crossed over to the sink, filled the glass with cool water, and drank. The liquid moistened her parched mouth and throat. Unfortunately, it did not settle as well with her stomach. After the first few gulps, she felt the bile rising and spent the next two minutes heaving into the sink. Once Alissa hacked up the last chunks of vomitus, she turned on the faucet and flushed the mess down the drain, and then refilled the glass. This time she drank slowly, spitting out the first few mouthfuls to clean her mouth.
Archer stared up at her, his head tilted at an angle.
“I’ll be all right.”
Archer walked over to her, slapped her leg a few times, and meowed.
“You’re all heart, cat.”
Alissa took a plastic container of catnip treats from the cabinet and poured half a cup into his bowl. Archer shoved her hand out of the way to get to the food. Alissa placed the container back in the cabinet and took the glass of water upstairs. Five minutes later, she had stripped out of her bloodied clothes and stood beneath a steaming hot shower. She took extra care cleaning herself, making certain she washed away all the blood and gore, then stood under the pulsating stream for several minutes. It had the desired effect. The throbbing in her head subsided, though that could have been the three Aleve she popped before turning on the water. The aches in her muscles lessened, with the downside being she became more aware of the intense pain in her side and the pinky on her right hand. When she finally shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, she tamped herself down with a towel.
The bathroom drawers and medicine cabinet had everything Alissa needed to tend to her wounds. Her pinky had full mobility, but it hurt like a son of a bitch when she moved it. Using bandages and an emery board she broke in half, she created a makeshift splint for the finger. The ribs were not as easy to care for. Alissa checked herself in the mirror. A heavy bruise formed beneath the ribcage under her left arm, a black and blue seven or eight inches long and three or four inches wide. The area was extremely tender, causing her to wince when she pressed against it, but not the excruciating pain she would have expected with a broken rib, nor did she suffer from chest pains or trouble breathing. The bruise should heal in a few weeks. Until then, it would be uncomfortable.
Slipping on her comfort clothes—a three-year-old pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt with the faded logo of Mount Washington on the front—Alissa pocketed a roll of bandages and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Pulling open the freezer, she scooped a handful of ice into a drinking glass then rummaged around the contents until she found a frozen bag of peas. She filled the glass with water and took everything into the living room, placing it on the coffee table and switching on the remote. The television had been tuned to the Hallmark Channel but, instead of showing some sappy romance, it played a newsfeed from CNN about the crisis. Alissa did not listen, instead preoccupied with placing the bag of peas on her bruised ribs and securing it with one of the bandages, which took forever when trying that maneuver alone. At first, the bag chilled her, but after a minute the cool felt good on her throbbing skin. Leaning back, she concentrated on the news.
The situation had deteriorated rapidly since yesterday. Outbreaks had occurred in most major cities in America and, according to unconfirmed reports, in hundreds of small towns and cities across the country. The major anchors switched from the newsroom to on-the-scene reports from various locations. Every segment showed death and chaos but, since most of the reporters were kept at a safe distance from the center of the action, nothing on the screen compared to being in the middle of the nightmare. The closest accurate representation occurred in Los Angeles were a busty blonde and her cameraman were overrun on live TV by the deaders. Three of the things tackled the blonde and tore her apart before the connection was severed and switched back to the stunned anchors in the newsroom. Alissa switched from channel to channel. Each station broadcast pretty much the same reports. MSNBC ran cell phone camera footage downloaded to the Internet taken by someone making the obligatory Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia; the outbreak had occurred inside the Great Mosque near the Kaaba and, within minutes, thousands of pilgrims had turned and were feeding off those nearby. Similar footage came out of Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, and Beijing, although the video from Beijing also showed government troops gunning down living and living dead alike.
Alissa switched over to BBC America. Almost every country with an open press reported similar outbreaks in major cities and towns, with the symptoms being identical. Even those countries like Iran and North Korea that maintained tight control over their media could not prevent rumors of the outbreak from reaching the west through the Internet and cell phones. Like their American counterparts, none of the European or Asian pundits could identify what caused this pandemic.
Changing to local news stations offered no hope. In fact, Alissa found it more frightening because it hit so close to home. The Boston stations described in detail the spread of the virus. The closing of the bridges over the Charles River and the disabling of the Tobin Bridge had stopped the advances into Cambridge and the North Shore, although only temporarily. Routes 90 and 93 served as a conduit for the virus, much like arteries in the human bodies. First responders in the metropolitan area had been overwhelmed and even the National Guard could not stem its advance. The outbreak had spread as far north as Melrose, Stoneham, and Woburn, as far west as Waltham and Newton, and as far south as Dedham, Milton, and Braintree. Similar occurrences were reported in Portsmouth, Concord, and Manchester in New Hampshire, although the outbreaks in the first two cities had been contained so far.
Switching through the channels, she came upon the beginning of a live news conference on FOX News’ affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia with Dr. SanGiovanni of the Center for Disease Control. The doctor announced the others who stood behind the podium with her and then read her prepared statement. Alissa turned up the volume.
“Please save your questions until I’ve given you all the facts that we currently have. Unfortunately, we don’t know much. As you all are aware, an unidentified virus has broken out in every major city and thousands of small cities and towns across the United States. We’ve been unable to identify the virus or where it came from. All we know is that the virus is highly contagious and turns violent those who are infected. The CDC has been in contact with the White House and most of the country’s governors. For those locations not already under martial law, we strongly recommend that everybody stay indoors. If you’re home, stay inside, close your windows, lock your doors, and do not let anyone in. If you are at work or school, shelter in place and wait until this virus either burns itself out or the authorities can get to you and transport you to a save location. I know a lot of people are going to try and make it home to be with their loved ones and we can’t stop that. If you do, consider that the more people who are around you the faster this virus spreads, so if you do travel you are taking your lives into your own hands. Are there any questions?”
Every reporter in the auditorium raised their hands. SanGiovanni chose an African-American gentleman seated in the front row.
“Irv Tucker with WXIA News. You suggested a moment ago for people to close their windows. Does this mean the virus is airborne?”
“No,” SanGiovanni responded. “Every report that we’ve received so far indicates the only means of spreading the virus is through the transmission of bodily fluids, in most cases by the infected biting the inte
nded victim. However, it’s too early to determine if this is the only way to spread the infection, so we’re urging keeping windows closed as a precautionary measure until we know more about it.”
“When will that be?”
“I honestly can’t say. However, the CDC is working closely with the World Health Organization and other scientists across the globe to isolate the virus and find a way to stop it. Next question.”
Again, dozens of hands went up. SanGiovanni pointed to a redhead in the third row.
“Melissa Murphy, BBC. I have a two-part question if you don’t mind.”
“Go ahead.”
“You said the infection is spread by the exchange of bodily fluids, mostly through the infected biting the victims. Could any type of fluid exchange result in infection, such as getting their blood on you?”
Alissa’s eyes popped open. She had been covered in deader blood all day.
“It’s too soon to determine. We’ve obtained samples of infected blood and tests are being run at Fort Detrick in Maryland to determine all the unknowns. So far, we’ve had no reported cases of anyone being infected who has not been bit. Once we have anything further, we’ll let you know.”
The answer only partially calmed Alissa’s fears.
“Next question,” began Melissa. “With regards to the infected biting their victims, we’ve heard numerous reports of the infected also eating their victims. Can you comment on this?”
“I can, but I don’t have much to tell you. We’ve also heard reports of victims being eaten and torn apart, but none of them have been confirmed. We’re trying to track down the authenticity of such reports because, if true, it could be an indication of what type of virus we’re dealing with.”
“How so?”
“We could be dealing with a new and highly-virulent form of rabies. Again, let me stress that nothing is certain right now.”
The hands went up. SanGiovanni chose a middle-aged man with greying hair and glasses seated at the far end of the second row.
“Mark Bellamah, MSNBC. Given that the virus broke out across the world at approximately the same time, do you think we’re experiencing a biological weapons attack?”
“I’m unable to answer that question. You’d have to ask the CIA, the Pentagon, or the FBI. However, in my opinion, considering the outbreak has occurred across the globe and affected every nation, I believe it’s naturally occurring.”
“Could it be a terrorist organization?”
“I doubt any terrorist organization would have the technology and the resources to develop a weapon so sophisticated and distribute it so precisely. Again, that’s a question best answered by the intelligence community.”
SanGiovanni pointed to a burly gentleman in the fifth row. “Go ahead.”
“Wallace Wayne from SBS World News. If those killed by the infected are coming back to life, do we have to fear that those already dead might also come back?”
SanGiovanni shook her head. “We’ve received no reports of the previously dead being reanimated, only those who have been killed by the infected. Let me also clarify that the reanimation process is not based on when a person is bitten and infected but on when the person dies. Once an infected person passes on, they reanimate within a few seconds and begin attacking others. We’ve had—”
An older Asian lady standing off to the side stepped forward and interrupted the doctor.
“What do you mean reanimated? Are you implying that people are being killed in this outbreak and are coming back to life?”
“N-no.” SanGiovanni stumbled to correct herself. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“But that’s what’s happening,” noted Wayne. “We’ve had numerous reports from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne of people being attacked, bitten or eaten, and then coming back to life to attack others. You’re not getting that here in the States?”
“No,” she said, the shock evident in her tome. Most of the other reporters shook their heads and stared at one another, confused.
“Is this true?” asked Bellamah. “Are the victims of these attacks dying and coming back to life?”
SanGiovanni hesitated as all eyes in the auditorium focused on her, waiting her response. She swallowed hard and uttered a single world. “Yes.”
Pandemonium broke out at the news conference, with everyone jumping to their feet and shouting questions. Three men emerged from off stage, each wearing dark suits and ties with a microphone draped over their ears. One escorted SanGiovanni off stage, the second escorted the others away, while the third stood behind the podium, shouting over the cacophony of questions.
“This news conference has concluded. We’ll let you know when the next one is scheduled.”
The camera panned out, showing the chaos that had broken out in the auditorium as reporters in the newsroom commented in the background.
A part of Alissa wanted to finish that bottle of Stolichnaya.
Someone knocking provided welcome relief from the nightmare playing out on her TV screen. Picking up the Glock and pushing herself off the sofa with a wince, she crossed over to the front door and opened it a crack. Nathan stood on the other side, still in his uniform, and holding a brown paper bag and a Styrofoam holder containing two large drinks.
“May I come in?” he asked, raising the bag and drinks. “I’m bearing gifts.”
“You don’t need to bring gifts.” Alissa opened it all the way. “But if you have food and coffee, I won’t complain.”
Nathan stepped inside. Being a cop, he immediately noticed the Glock in her hand. “Where did you get that?”
“I took it from a dead State Trooper in the ER.”
“Are you serious?”
Alissa frowned.
“Jesus. What the Hell did you go through last night?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” She led the way into the kitchen. “Right now, I’m starving. What do you have?”
“Two sausage, egg, and cheese bagels from the deli and two large coffees, black no sugar. I figured you could add your own.”
As Alissa retrieved napkins from the cupboard, Nathan passed out the food and coffee.
“I’m surprised anything is open.” Alissa sat down and passed Nathan a few napkins.
“People here are trying to keep things as normal as possible, which isn’t easy considering what’s going on. The mayor and the chief issued an order last night that if anyone leaves the island, they will not be allowed back.” Nathan unwrapped his bagel sandwich and took a bite. “In fact, you were the next to last one allowed through the roadblock.”
“I’m lucky.” Alissa unwrapped her sandwich. “It’s horrible out there. Much worse than the news is reporting.”
Nathan took a sip of coffee. “Fill me in.”
Alissa spent the next ninety minutes describing in detail everything that had happened to her from the moment she first entered the ER. Nathan listened intently, never once interrupting her, allowing her to vent all the pent-up emotions. Only when she finished, ending the story with falling asleep drunk on the sofa, did he respond.
“I can’t believe all you went through. You did good out there.”
“I did good?” Alissa had a bitterness in her tone, not toward Nathan but toward herself. “What about all those people I told you about? Do you think I did good by them? I let them all die.”
Nathan said nothing. He took the plastic lid off his cup, placed a spoon inside, and stirred the remains of his coffee. “What was the name of those two you left on the roof of the hospital?”
“Courtney and Sophia.”
“Why didn’t you take them with you?”
“I wanted to, but Courtney knew Sophia would never make it so she decided to stay behind.”
Nathan nodded. “And the doctor. Wasn’t he dying when you found him?”
“Yes.”
“And the patients. Were any of them able to safely make it out of the hospital?”
“No. But—”
Nat
han held up his hand. “If any of the Labor and Delivery nurses made it to the lobby with those babies, how far do you think they would have gotten?”
“Not far.”
“And those two you met in the pizza shop. Jim…?”
“John and Maria.”
“What happened to them?”
“I told you. Maria went back into Boston to save her mother.”
Nathan stopped stirring, placed the spoon on the table, and sipped. “The teachers and the kids at the school. How long do you think they would have survived outside the building?”
“Enough. I see where—”
“How long?”
“They would have been lucky to last ten minutes.”
“I thought you tried to save that cop on the Tobin Bridge.”
“He was too heavy for me to pull up.”
“But you tried?”
Alissa sighed. “Yes.”
“Hmmm.” Nathan finished his coffee and replaced the lid. “It sounds to me like you did everything you could for those people.”
“How can you say that?”
“Courtney made the decision to stay on the roof and spare Sophia from the nightmare going on inside the hospital. You gave up one of your Glocks, which you needed, to give them a more humane way of ending their lives. The same with that patient you overdosed on morphine.”
“What about the other patients?”
“They were not your responsibility. The nurses on that floor abandoned them. They’re the ones who must live with their consciences. You couldn’t have saved those people in the hospital and the kids at the school.”
“I could have tried,” Alissa sobbed.
Nathan placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed gently. “You would have gotten them all killed along with yourself. You didn’t have to stop and offer them hope. You didn’t have to help the nurses in Labor and Delivery, and they decided to make a break that got them killed. I would have done the exact same things you did.”
Alissa’s mood lightened. “Really?”
“Well, I probably wouldn’t have taken the time to put that one patient out of his misery, but you did. Even when the shit hit the fan, you showed a level of humanity most others wouldn’t.”
Nurse Alissa (Book 1): Nurse Alissa vs. the Zombies Page 10