Decay: A Zombie Story (7 page)

INTERVIEWER: “Are we to understand all of the patients examined have become fully infected by the virus?”

JOANNE SANDERS: “That is correct, other than the two I mentioned previously, all patients have exhibited full infection after a period of time. Once the infection takes full effect, there is no readable pulse, and the person’s body temperature rapidly drops, to the point of being unidentifiable by our thermometers. The patients become 100% non-communicable as well.”

ANDREW HELMS: “For those of you just tuning in, that was a previously recorded interview with Doctor Sanders of Massachusetts General Hospital. It was recorded approximately twenty-four hours ago. Still, no cure for the Arthriphagy Virus has been found. Mass General has locked off a quarantine area for those infected with the virus. And, as of fifteen hours ago, the staff at Mass General has temporarily locked their doors, not allowing anyone seeking medical assistance into the facility. However, if you are out there, and seeking medical assistance, military bases have been stationed throughout the New England area, as well as New York City and upstate New York. However, rather than seeking these bases yourselves, government officials are urging everyone to stay indoors, locking all doors and windows. Rescue squads have been released and will be looking for any and all survivors. On that note, I would like to go live via satellite to Officer David Stephens in Danvers, Massachusetts.”

DAVID STEPHENS: “Well, right now, we are securing several buildings in the area. The National Guard, police service, and surrounding towns’ fire departments are here to help and things seem to be coming together. At this time we have dispatched eight search and rescue helicopters throughout central and eastern Massachusetts, as well as several ground units. If you’re out there, stay put, stay safe, and if possible set off some flares or make some signs to help us locate you. But, if you’re out there, we will find you and relocate you to our current safe zone.”

ANDREW HELMS: “What exactly do you mean by ‘current’ safe zone?”

DAVID STEPHENS: “Should we have to relocate our base. Springfield had a large safe zone, but they began to become overrun with the infected, therefore what was left of the base had to relocate to Warren, Massachusetts. They too have many search and rescue teams searching central and western Massachusetts.”

ANDREW HELMS: “And, has your team had to deal with Arthriphagy carriers since setting up your safe zone?”

DAVID STEPHENS: “Yes, we have. Currently, we have teams going through the building behind me, and one other building, clearing them of any infected people.”

ANDREW HELMS: “And, may I ask, by what means are you ‘clearing out the infected’?”

DAVID STEPHENS: “Unfortunately, we have resorted to putting down the infected by using deadly force—one bullet to the head. So far, there is no other known method of killing the infected other than severe trauma to the head and or brain. We do have a small containment zone of a dozen infected—”

(A static coating forms over the satellite feed.)

ANDREW HELMS: “Officer? Officer Stephens?”

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “Hello? Officer Stephens? It appears that we have lost our satellite feed to Officer David Stephens. Nonetheless, search and rescue teams are all over the state of Massachusetts, so stay where you are, and they will find you.”

FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “Welcome back to ‘Channel five Emergency News.’ This is Andrew Helms. The time is now 11:47 p.m., on June 14th. The recent epidemic of the Arthriphagy virus—or A. Phagy as it is now being referred to as, has now spread throughout the Great Lakes region of the United States. All we can tell you now is the whole country is under a state of emergency. At Midnight, we will be going live via satellite to the White House where we will hear directly from the President himself. And, as an update, we’ve been told search and rescue teams are still traveling via helicopter only. I repeat: no official ground units are traveling as search and rescue. Hope is not lost for those out there. Many helicopters will be traveling all over the state of Massachusetts. Signs on roofs and flares are still highly recommended for those still looking for rescue…

“This just in, Massachusetts General Hospital has been evacuated. All staff and patients unrelated to the Arthriphagy virus have been moved to a safe zone in Warren, Massachusetts. The safe zone in Danvers was evacuated not long ago, and the National Guard, military personnel, police and fire rescue, and volunteers have moved across the state borders into a safe zone in Hampton, New Hampshire.

“I’m being told we are going live via satellite right now to the White House, to hear from the Secretary of Defense.”

CUT TO: WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ROOM

(Many people are raising hands and shouting questions in a chaotic fashion.)

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: “Please! Please! Quiet! The President will be available shortly. However, I have some information and will be able to answer any questions you may have. It is evident that the Arthriphagy virus has spread throughout most of the Eastern states. Health inspectors are speculating the possibility of it being an airborne virus. Also, many believe it could be an act of terrorism. We would like to say that this is not likely.”

(A few people in the crowd raise their voices.)

“Please! The other possibility is a biochemical infection resulting from a spill or accident of some kind. We have officials throughout New York and New England searching for evidence to support this theory, however, nothing has become evident as of yet.”

(A couple people shout out some questions again.)

“I’ll be able to answer your questions in a moment. Let me tell you what we know to be fact. This virus is highly contagious; the main transport for the disease is via a bite. Though this is definitely one way the disease can be caught, it is not known if it can spread in other fashions. We do not recommend any direct contact with the infected.

I will now take your questions.”

REPORTER 1: “The virus has spread to the Great Lakes, what, if any, plans of containment do you have?”

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: “Safe zones are being established in each state across the country, as well as in Canada and Northern Mexico. We have no doubt that within the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours we will have everything under control. Next question please.”

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “This just in. We will be going live to Doctor Charles Porter at the National office of the Entomological Society of America in Lanham, Maryland.”

ANDREW HELMS: “Evidence has shown us that the Arthriphagy virus is primarily spread through bite wounds. What we would like to know is: would it be possible for this rapidly spreading disease to be transported through the bite of insects such as mosquitoes or ticks?”

DR. CHARLES PORTER: “It is uncertain at this time. But, diseases such as Malaria, Lyme and the all too familiar West Nile can be, while Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Human Papilloma Virus cannot. This Arthriphagy virus is extremely complex with how quickly it can spread. Therefore, it is only a matter of time until we can be sure if insects such as mosquitoes could be a possible mode of transport.”

ANDREW HELMS: “So, do
you
think it’s possible that the Arthriphagy virus could be spread through mosquitoes?”

DR. CHARLES PORTER: “It certainly is possible. However, the rapid decay rate evident in human hosts infected with the virus does bring forth the idea that the virus would simply kill mosquitoes, or even ticks.”

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “That was Dr. Charles Porter from the Entomological Society of America, offering us a somewhat different, yet relevant view on the Arthriphagy epidemic.

“The time is now 11:55 p.m., on June 14th. We are still expecting to hear live via satellite from the President of the United States at midnight.

“As an update, the A. Phagy virus continues to spread throughout the United States. Good news however, over ten rescues in the state of Massachusetts have been reported in the past hour. Again, search and rescue teams are out via helicopter only right now. We strongly urge those out there, seeking rescue, to stay somewhere indoors, somewhere secure. If you’re just tuning in, we suggest making some sort of a sign on your roof, allowing search and rescue units to locate you easier. We also highly recommend the use of flares, especially now, when it is dark out.

“Safe zones are now being established throughout the United States, including those states currently free of infection. Current safe zones established in the New England area are officially being patrolled by the National Guard. For an updated listing of these safe zones, please tune in to the AM radio stations listed below.”

(A list of locations and AM radio stations appears on the bottom of the screen.)

“Updates will be made to this list as necessary. And this list will be shown throughout the remainder of this broadcast. However long that may be.

“This just in, a search and rescue helicopter in Lakeville, Massachusetts, has been taken down. At what first appeared to be a mob of people seeking rescue, turned out to be a group of hosts infected with the virus. All search and rescue units in New England have returned to their respective safe zones and have suspended any search and rescue missions until daylight.

“We urge the people still out there to stay put, and if you are using flares or any other limited resource to seek rescue, please stop until daylight. Ration these resources and as long as I am on the air, I will do my best to tell you the best time to use them.

“The time is now 12:01 a.m. on June 15th. We understand the President of the United States will be available shortly with any and all current information that may be available. And we apologize for the delay.

“As we return to the rescue helicopter story, we’re now being told that the helicopter was landing in the backyard of a residence in Lakeville. We do not know the exact number of casualties at this time. Though we can tell you, the helicopter took off with three rescuers from the safe zone in Warren, Massachusetts. Whether or not these three people were volunteers or National Guard soldiers, we cannot be sure at this time.

“For those of you just tuning in please do not use any limited resources such as flares until otherwise directed to as all search and rescue units have been suspended until daylight. I repeat - all search and rescue units have been suspended until daylight. An updated list of locations and AM radio stations are scrolling along the bottom of the screen. I’m being told that we have received a previously-recorded video from the safe zone in Warren, Massachusetts. This should be available shortly.

“Also, we still plan to go live via satellite to the President of the United States. We apologize again for the delay. I’m being told we are now switching over to a video previously recorded at about 1:00 p.m. yesterday.”

CUT TO: MILITARY SAFEZONE

(Three soldiers stand in front of a large fenced-in area of a dozen infected people stumbling around aimlessly, and a few against the fence, reaching for the soldiers.)

DENNIS HARDY: “Hello, America, I’m Sergeant Dennis Hardy. Here we’ve got about a dozen of these infected... We’re here to show you some safety precautions you should take if you should encounter an infected person.”

(One of the three soldiers slowly unlocks the gate to the fenced-in area.)

“What we’re going to do is let one of the infected out to show you just how to take care of them in a one-on-one situation.”

(The soldier removes the lock and chain, and simply holds the gate shut while the other two soldiers hold long poles in the area, keeping the infected people back.”

(The soldiers carefully let one out and hold a few back. One infected person steps out of the area and is pushed with the poles towards Dennis, who quickly holds up his pistol towards the infected, now stumbling towards him)

“Okay, here we go!”

(Dennis backs up quickly and doesn’t fire his gun.)

“You gotta stay on your feet. Don’t let ‘em get too close to you. Okay, what I’m about to do is show y’all what is not affective in killing these things.”

(Dennis stops and shoots his pistol once. He shoots the infected in the left arm, towards the shoulder. The infected stumbles backward for a moment before regaining its balance.)

“As you can see, this is hardly affective.”

(He shoots the infected person in the right knee. It falls but doesn’t appear to be in pain.)