My Dead World (16 page)

Too much was happening at the same time.

Dog barking. People scurrying.

Cars making an escape.

I stopped, turning back. Vince held Hannah. He was looking at me with desperation. I ran over to him. “I can still take her.”

“Daddy, no.” Hannah cried.

“Here.” He handed me his child.

“Daddy! No!” Hannah extended her body toward Vince, reaching for him, as I took her into my arms and perched her on my hip.

“It will be okay,” I said. “He’ll come for you.”

Vince walked backwards. Where was he going? To get his wife? To help at the community center? As I prepared to turn back around, I heard a sound of defeat. The crack of wood rang through the noise of commotion. I darted a quick look to my right, and saw the doors of the community center blast open. Eight infected rushed out knocking Boswick on to his back. Lev was always wearing his tool belt, and in some sort of Thor move, he whipped out his hammer and just started swinging at the infected.

I was scared to death and nearly unable to move. Fearful for Lev, for Boswick, my inability to see clearly what was going on made matters worse. I did however see Vince, and I had his daughter in my grasp. In the midst of the mayhem, getting her to safety had to be my goal. I made eye contact with Vince as a reassurance and backed up. Before I even turned, an infected sailed into Vince, slamming him to the ground. There was no hesitation by the infected, he immediately, starting clawing at Vince.

Hanna cried and screamed in my ear. I cupped the back of her head and charged to the truck.

Luckily there were no infected around. I opened the truck, put her inside and said, “Stay here.”

I shut the door and raced around the front of the truck at the same time Lisa emerged from the manager’s office.

“What’s happening?” Lisa called out.

I opened the driver’s door. “Get in!”

She had only taken a step toward the truck before the three barks from the stray dog rang out and the animal leapt at Lisa.

Its front paws hit into her and the weight of the animal caused her to stumble back against the side of the building.

He jumped up violently at her, his jaws snapping toward her neck. Lisa fought and pushed. I looked to make sure Hannah was still in the truck, then I ran for Lisa.

I wasn’t sure what I would do to help or if I could, but when I saw the blood on her, listened to her cries. I had to try something. Looking around for something to use as a weapon was nearly useless. All I had on me was my phone and that wasn’t going to help. I peered in the back of the truck and saw a gas can. At the very least I could hit the rabid animal with that. I extended my arm into the bed of the truck, eyes focused and watching Lisa. I felt as if I was moving in slow motion. I just couldn’t move fast enough.

Finally, Lisa, with a growl of her own, shoved the dog with all of her might. The animal dropped down to the ground, landed on its back and rolled.

Lisa lunged forward into the truck, and as the dog caught its bearings, I too jumped in, slamming the door just as the dog came for us.

It was relentless. He barked ferociously, jumping at the driver’s door. His slobbering jaws dripping with blood snapped at us from the other side of the window.

Then, Lisa sobbed.

“She’s hurt,” Hannah said.

In all my fear, I lost sight of that and turned toward her.

“I’m sorry,” she cried. “I’m sorry.” Her arms were bloody, as was her neck. She released a sob and softly said, “Lev.” Her eyes were focused outward.

Looking through the windshield I saw Lev approach. His father’s arm was draped over his shoulder, with Lev aiding him to walk.

The dog
, I thought.
Didn’t he see the dog?
Just as I registered that thought, the dog still growling and barking away, Lev let go of his father, strode toward the truck, and without missing a beat swung down.

I didn’t see what he did. I only heard the yelp.

It caused a thick feeling in my gut at a sound that caused me to instantly and whole bodily cringe. I closed my eyes.

Bang.

I jolted.

Lev pounded on the hood of the truck and grabbed his father. “Start the truck. Now.”

I nodded and started the pickup. Infected came our way and they moved faster than I thought they would. Through the mirror I watched Lev help his father in the back end, then climb in.

Ahead of us, they were coming. Closer and closer to the truck.  Once I knew Lev was secure, I tossed the gear in reverse, cut the wheel, backed up full speed and didn’t stop until the truck did a one eighty. The thumps and bumps against the metal of the pickup and under the tires as I cascaded backwards, made me sick to my gut. They told me I hit something or someone.  Once I faced the direction I needed to go, I checked the mirror again to make sure I hadn’t lost Lev or his father. Seeing they were safe in the bed, before the infected reached us, I put the truck in drive and took off away from Big Bear.

I couldn’t think. I had a hard time processing anything.

Find it,
I told myself.
Find that calm and strength.

We made it off of Big Bear Property, through the swing gate and passed two straggler infected. I looked at them. They moved slowly. Much slower than the infected at the camp. My foot nearly hit the brake. The ones sauntering on the road were less frightening. So why were the ones at Big Bear such a threat?

Trying to make rhyme or reason out of everything was a chore.

Hannah sobbed hysterically, Lisa moaned and stifled her crying as she grasped her arm. I was more worried about her neck. I kept peering through the rearview mirror at Lev. He sat, back against the window, his father leaned against him. How badly were they hurt?

What happened at Big Bear? How did it get so out of control so fast?

I guess I was focused on what pool house man had become instead of what he was before. I had forgotten the process. Bite or no bite, the illness came, then the delirium, the rage and then attacking. That started before the body died. The infected didn’t turn once, they turned twice.

‘Somewhere in the process they die … and keep going,’
I heard Lev’s voice in my mind.

Until they physically stopped living, they were a danger more so than the stragglers. The ones still alive jumped, ran fast, broke down doors, could climb our fence … and as Paul did, climb out a window.

Before Paul turned the final time, and I told myself he had, he was violent. He thrashed in his room, tried to get out.

Just like the infected at Big Bear.

Despite not being a medical professional, I was fast learning the virus, probably better than my brother.

There were five phases.

Infection, illness, rage and delirium, undead and then death. Whenever that occurred.

Animals weren’t brought in to the equation before the Big Bear fall. What about the stray dog?

Did he snap and turn at that very instant, or had he been unstable? By his stomach he was visually infected but was he the reason that the virus moved through Big Bear so swiftly? Or was Bobby right?

‘There are those who will get sick and those who will not.’

A part of that made sense, a frightening sense. Katie was bit and still hadn’t shown any symptoms, Paul on the other hand, was bit and got sick instantly.

‘There are those who will get sick and those who will not.’

Would everything we had done: quarantining ourselves, making sure we were clear of the infected, was it all in vain?

Animals, insects, rodents, tainted water or a sneeze, it was all irrelevant. After all was said and done, and the prospect was scary that there were those of us, even bit or exposed, despite our best efforts, would be the only ones left standing.

Bobby said there were those who would not get sick.

My eyes shifted to Lisa as we hit the driveway to our cabin. Her head tilted my way and her eyes connected with mine.

“Hang in there,” I told her. “Please.”

She breathed heavily. “I need to start drinking again.”

“You go right ahead.”

“Am I infected?” she asked.

I wanted to tell her I didn’t know. That according to Lev’s theory, more than likely she was. I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t say that. All I could say was, “I don’t know. You were bit by a dog.”

Before she could question, before she could say anymore, I spotted Cade and my father at the fence. They were opening it, Lev must have radioed ahead. That would be the only explanation for them waiting.

We were home and safe at least for the moment. I would put the risk of an attack in the back of my mind and focus on getting Lisa, Boswick and Lev the help they needed. That was first and foremost in my mind.

<><><><>

Cade shined. It was obvious that emergency medicine was his calling. He clicked into some sort of mode, similar to what he had done with Paul.

My father was a pillar of strength, holding Lisa’s hand, and telling her it was going to be all right. I didn’t know if it was. I didn’t know anything.

Cade knew there were injuries and before we arrived, set up a triage area just off the back porch. It allowed him access to the water heater and well house. He had Bill, Edi and Manny to thank for that. Manny hooked up an old tent off the back porch roof and Edi brought the two cots they had in the RV. Bill senior created a hammock.

As cold and harsh as it seemed, if they were infected, their blood was too, and they couldn’t be inside the house or near anyone.

Truth was, I only saw the triage area. I didn’t know what was happening. Once we arrived, I got out of the truck and they drove to the back.

I introduced Hannah to the girls. She was older than them, and I told her how important it was that she was there and would be around my daughters. She seemed fine with that until Katie in her, ‘everything is black and white’ glory said to her. “Where’s your mom and dad? My dad’s dead, is yours?”

In my best recollection I couldn’t recall what I did different with Katie. Addy was compassionate, Katie was twisted. Addy drew flowers, Katie drew disturbing images.

I got the girls settled with some lunch on the front porch. I didn’t want them far from me. While my father and Cade helped the injured, I immediately started getting spikes ready. No longer was I casually whittling, annoyed with each swipe of the blade against the wood. I was frantic. I had to be. Those spikes needed put in place, and fast.

I tried not to worry, but I did. How bad were Boswick, Lev and Lisa?

I didn’t want to go back and ask because a part of me didn’t really want to know.

I listened to the girls as I whittled.

“What happened? Did you see?” Addy asked Hannah.

“The sick people were running and attacking.”

Addy gasped. “Is that what happened to Lisa?”

“No, a dog bit her.”

The Katie asked. “Did they kill the dog?”

“Katie. Not everything ….” I turned my head to her and saw Lev. My words trailed. “Is about death.”

Lev stood on the side of the porch and walked around, taking a seat next to me. “Cade said I was too big to be standing around doing nothing.”

“How are you?” I asked.

“Upset. I feel like I failed my father.” Lev reached for one of the planks of wood, leaned forward and pulled a knife from the back of his belt. “I could have been faster.”

“You were fast enough. I should have let you kill the dog.”

Katie screamed. “He wanted to kill the dog and you wouldn’t let him?”

“Yes.” I answered.

“Mommy?” Addy questioned. “Was this after Lisa got attacked?”

Hannah answered. “Before.”

Talk about a wave of guilt. I was smacked with it. “So what about you? You’re … you’re not hurt?”

Lev shook his head. “Well, I got a bruise on my shin. No bites or scratches. Nothing.”

“How is that possible? Your father was surrounded.”

“Wow, make me feel worse.”

“I’m sorry.” I laid my hand on his knee. “You’re very lucky. We ...” I withdrew my hand and started on the spike again. “Are lucky nothing happened to you.”

Addy called from across the porch. “How’s Lisa?”

“Um … I don’t know,” Lev said. “It was hard to determine. I wish I did. Cade is working on them and I know Mrs. Reis was helping clean wounds.”

“Mrs. Reis?” I questioned. It seemed odd that an eighty year old woman was working triage even if it was only two patients.

“She’s a retired nurse, from what I gathered. I mean retired for a while. But she’s one more notch up than anyone else here on the medical ladder.”

“And your father?” I asked. “How bad is he?”

“He’s bloody, but Cade is trying to determine the extent. It’s a blur to me. It’s my father, you know.”

“I know.”

“So until Cade comes and talks to us, we wait. Listen to the girls talk and wait.”

“No, we also need to make spikes. Because we need to secure this camp. I have a feeling ….” I said. “We’ll need to be ready soon.”

<><><><>

It was a good hour and a half before Cade came to the porch to tell us what was going on. “You guys are working pretty quick on those,” he nodded at the spikes.

“We’re trying.” I said.

I saw his shoulders lift as he took a deep breath, then Cade looked at the girls. “Hey ladies, can you guys go in the house? I have to talk to Niles and Lev.”

Katie whined as she stood, “Grown up talk.”

All three girls went into the house, and that was when the front came down.

Cade leaned against the railing and ran his hand down his face. “I need a drink.”

Lev and his damn tool belt. What didn’t he have in that? He reached into a side snap pocket and pulled out a small flask, handing it to Cade. “Medicinal purposes.”

“Yeah, well, I need medicine.” Cade took a drink, then another and handed it back to Lev. “You said the dog was infected. How did you know?”

“Aside from the fact that it attacked Lisa?” Lev asked.

“No.” Cade waved his hand. “That dog could have attacked her in a panic. How do you know he was infected?”

“His belly,” Lev answered. “It was dead. Dead flesh. That settled blood.”

“Necrosis.” Cade nodded. “How long was that dog in the camp running around?”

“Days, a week,” Lev said. “He’s the reason people are sick.”

“I’m gonna have to agree. We’ll need to keep an eye on the little girl, just in case,” Cade said. “Your father was not bit. He had …” Cade indicted to his chest. “A huge scratch, like he was clawed down the front of his chest. A couple on his arms, one on his neck. I was able to suture them. Lisa needed sutures, not as many. Looked like the dog couldn’t reach her to get a good bite and only nipped.”

I nodded. “He was jumping and biting.”

“The good news is, the injuries on both of them aren’t fatal.”

“The bad news?” Lev asked.

“Unlike with Katie,” Cade said. “Both your father and Lisa are showing signs of infection. They’re already warm to the touch, the veins around the wounds are spidering and the skin is turning.”

I watched Lev, his head lowered.

“I believe,” Cade said. “It’s the location of the injury that determines how fast the virus shows up. Although both of them had multiple injuries. I haven’t told either of them they’re infected. I won’t. I want them to rest and be emotionally stronger when I tell them. Besides, these are people you love. You want every second you can with them.”

“What you’re saying is you want to wait as long as you can before making any decisions,” I said.

Cade nodded. “Which brings us to a problem. They need to be quarantined. It’s unfair to have them sleep on cots on the back porch, but realistically, we can’t bring them in the house. We already sealed off one room, do we want to seal off another? We can’t take a chance of them being in a communal area. So …” He clapped his hands together once. “Any suggestions?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” Lev said. “You guys feel like taking a ride”

<><><><>

I don’t know what I expected Lev to say. He had an idea and that was good enough for me. I didn’t question. When he suggested we arm up, I knew exactly what he had in mind.

“Can you shoot?” Cade asked me.

Lev answered. “She’s an excellent shot. Or at least she was.”

“I still am.”

We took my father’s SUV. Lev’s truck was out of commission until he sanitized it. How long the virus was in the blood was a question I would have to ask Bobby.

Our destination, as crazy as it sounded … was Big Bear.

We talked about the plan and what we would do once we got there. Lev had estimated about thirty infected were out of the community house and would be waiting to attack.  The main plan was to get one of the rental RV’s. There were three parked on the property. One hadn’t been used. That would be the quarantine place for Lisa and Boswick.

The other thing that Lev mentioned was the radio system. We needed that, but if that was an impossibility, we’d have to return without it.

The important thing was the RV.

We all had our part. Mainly we had to be ready to shoot. No second guessing.

The swing gate was still open when we pulled onto the property. When we arrived at the main camp it was oddly quiet. A part of me feared we were being sized up for a sneak attack.

Parked in front of the manager’s office, I glanced through the windshield at the camp.  Blood was everywhere, body parts scattered about along with partial bodies that had been ripped to shreds.

The infected had a field day pouncing on and attacking their unsuspecting and innocent victims.

Cautiously we stepped out of the SUV, keeping our senses tuned in and weapons raised. Sounds of moans filled the air, but not from the infected. From those who had been mutilated and lay dying surrounded by puddles of their own blood and insides.