Dead and Forsaken (13 page)

“
Those things are nothing
like us.” I barked.

“
People kill each other
every day too.” said the tech.

“
Yeah they killed you but
they didn't eat your insides like a McDonald’s cheeseburger.”
I responded.

“
Where did they come from?”
asked the doctor. “Why are they doing this? How can we stop
them?”

“
This not the appropriate
time to discuss this!” I whispered.

I put my fingers up to my lips to
signal them to be quiet but before we all could clear the entryway
one of the forsaken looked up from its meal. He stared at us with
his glossy and crazy eyes then belted out a loud moan.

“
GRRRRRRR!”

The
rest of them rose to their feet and their mangled bloody frames
began to hobble down the hall toward us

“
Move people!” I
screamed. “Get to the ER doors.”
“GROOOWWWL!”

We
rushed down the hall as fast as we could. When I got to the corner I
glanced over my shoulder and saw them tripping moaning and still
shuffling toward us. Even after a couple more turns I could still
see a half dozen shadows moving toward us and hear the footsteps
closing in. The rest of the group was waiting nervously outside the
doors.

“
We are going to die out
here!” cried the frightened tech. “We are going to die!”

“
Shut up! Shut up! Don’t
say that!” someone else yelled.

I
made it to the doors and called out to Sandoval. He was supposed to
be on the other side of the door waiting for my signal. It seemed
like it took him minutes to answer but it was only a few seconds.

“
Knock knock mother fucker!”
I said beating on the door.

When
the door finally opened he came out with his gun ready to shoot.

“
It took you long enough!”
he whispered.

“
That’s the police for
you!” I said with a smile. “Late as usual!”
Sandoval hustled the survivors through the door as quick as he
could. I glanced back at the ghouls perusing us one last time before
closing the doors.

“
GROOOWWWL!”

As soon as we barricaded the doors
back up the banging and knocking started.

“
BANG! BANG! BANG!”

Their banging and moaning grew
louder and louder but the doors held.

I
found Dr. Black and let him know we found healthy survivors. A quick
examination by Dr. Sanchez and Okonkwo confirmed it. The visually
upset Dr. Khan was sweating and shaking uncontrollably.

“
They're crazy!” he
said. “They're all crazy!”

“
Don't worry doctor.”
responded Maria. “Everything's okay now.”

“
They killed everybody in my
lab. Everybody!” he whimpered. “Whatever you do don't
let those things bite you or get there blood into your mouth or
eyes! This thing is highly virulent! People get infected from the
direct contact with their blood or saliva!”

“
He’s right! Coming in
contact with blood and body fluids from bites must introduce some
sort of pathogen into the victims’ blood stream!” said
Dr. Black.

“
We had a lot trouble down
here also.” added Maria.

“
Trouble you say!”
asked Dr. Khan with an attitude. “Those bastards ate my
employees!”

“
I know sir! I watched a man
kill his own mother!” Maria said taking his arm.

“
Something is wrong with
their eyes.” Dr. Khan said as he stared off into space.

“
What are you people
worried about?” asked Dr. Green. “Those things are slow
as hell and dumb as shit! We just need to use our superior
intelligence to think our way out of this. Unlike those things
outside we have the ability to problem solve and use tools!”

“
I beg to defer Sir!”
responded Maria. “We have no idea what they are capable of!”

Dr. Khan also explained that he
followed CDC protocol procedures while testing the blood samples he
received from the ER. This included an antibody and antigen test to
help identify certain infections and disorders. He also ordered a
biopsy from the cultures that were collected so he could run a
comparative analysis with other samples already on file. He was
waiting on further test results when the killing started.

“
When I ran a diagnostic
on the samples of blood you gave us under the microscope it was like
nothing I have seen before.” stated Dr. Khan.

“
The parasite, bacteria,
or virus is definitely present in their blood. It has a short 2 hour
incubation period before it begins to do damage. The transformation
will happen faster in children because there is less area for the
disease to travel. Within hours all bodily functions will start to
shut down. Once it gets in the blood the pathogen quickly infects
other healthy cells. The victim’s white blood cells tried to
defend their bodies from the invading foreign microorganisms but
they were devoured and mutated. The mutated cells changed shape and
turned color. After that the pathogen replicated itself and
destroyed the rest of the normal cells in the process. These new
killer cells divided again and continued to reproduce until they
eventually killed the patient.”

“
We know that their dead
genius!” said Dr. Green. “We just don’t understand
how they wake back up! Quit dodging around and give us some real
fucking answers!”

“
Maybe everything else
dies but their brains remain functional.” said Dr. Black.
“When they wake up they are transformed into something else
less human and more animal.”

“
That I can't make an
official diagnosis without a full post mortem work up!”
explained Dr. Khan. “By all accounts the cells and the
patients were dead but alive at the same time.”

“
The original sightings
were near the border but we don't know if that's where it
originated!” said Dr. Alexander.

“
Officer Robinson can
you come with me?” asked Dr. Black. “You need to see
this.”

I started following
him to the doctor's lounge along with Sandoval. When we got there an
updated news report was about to start. The local news station was
in full panic mode. The newscaster was sweating badly. His tie was
undone and he looked worried. I had seen his show before and this
was completely out of character for him. A large stack of papers was
scattered on his desk. He was arguing with someone off camera right
before he started to talk.

“This
is David Morales reporting live from Phoenix. All citizens must
evacuate the city now. The newly forsaken dead have infested the
suburbs of Glendale, Tempe and Mesa. The estimated death toll
continues to skyrocket! We will stay on the air as long as we can!
We are in the grips of highly contagious disease that spreads
without prejudice and affects all races, sexes, and religions. It
took us hundred's years to tame this desert valley but in the last
couple of hours the city we know is gone. On every street we have
been subjected to scenes of death and murder. Men, women, and
children are being eaten alive. Everyone the undead kill will rise
back up and kill someone else.

The cities hospitals and
clinics have already been saturated with victims. It is hard to tell
how many people are dead or alive. The police, fire, and emergency
services have ended. Sporadic and violent riots are breaking out in
the streets. Thousands of people are leaving in cars or on foot.
Police and fire officials are using sirens and speakers to tell
people to leave the city. Evacuees should take Interstate-17 or
Interstate-51 north if they are trying to flee. Be prepared for
traffic jams and roadblocks. The highway patrol and the Department
of Transportation have converted inbound roads to handle the
outbound evacuation traffic. They have also closed all the roads
leading into Phoenix. Take only the clothes on your back and other
important basic supplies. Residents are flocking to local stores
clearing food, water, and other supplies off the shelves. Checkout
lines are stretched to the back of the stores. Residents who
decided to stay in their homes are buying plywood, nails, and other
basic survival items.

Looters are hitting malls,
grocery stores, and gun shops. Desperate mobs of people are breaking
into businesses and private property taking cigarettes, jewelry, and
liquor. Fights broke out at several Circle K gas stations because
patrons had to wait hours in long lines for fuel. Managers and
owners called police but they were too busy battling the forsaken.
Some of the other looters are foolishly using the chaotic situation
to take luxury items like TV’s, stereos, and new cars. Right
now we are going to take you live to one of our reporters still
inside the city.”

The screen switched to an
attractive female wearing a camouflage helmet and flap jacket over
her skin tight red dress. The temporary base was buzzing with
activity. She was standing in front of a military plan on a runway.
Military helicopters buzzed overhead. Machine gunners hung out the
sides scanning the ground below them. Soldiers weighed down with
heavy packs were loading supplies onto the plane. Their commanding
officer barked out orders using a microphone. Just behind them in
the background was an endless line of several more helicopters
prepared to take off.

“Thank you David. This is
Chantel Thomas reporting live from Deer Valley Airport. Just moments
ago the governor and her staff along with the mayor and city council
fled the city by private plane. The politicians flew to safety in
Flagstaff. It will act as the temporary state capital. Northern
Arizona has no reported cases of the rising dead. Flagstaff has
prepared to take on new refuges. Medical supplies from the Red Cross
and additional military personnel will be flown into Flagstaff's
Puliam airport. Pallets loaded with food and water will start
arriving tomorrow. The military will follow strict quarantine
protocols and expect an influx of new cases. They will set up a base
at the Flagstaff Medical Center. A team of scientist and trained
disaster personnel will meet them there.

The White house is afraid that
this could spread and threaten the whole country. The have requested
help by observers and virologist from the World Health Organization
in Geneva, Switzerland. They will help the C.D.C. identify and
isolate the bug. Just south of North Phoenix where I am tonight F-16
fighter planes from Luke Air force Base are bombing local
neighborhoods in a move to eradicate the dead. National Guard
Soldiers are also patrolling the streets providing security and
assisting with the evacuation. So far aide from F.E.M.A. and the Red
Cross has failed to reach the hardest hit areas. They will try to
expand the search and rescue operations. It is scary and dangerous
grunt work and requires the help of every soldier available. Most of
them are carrying M4 semiautomatic rifles and pistols. The Soldiers
are traveling through darkened streets only illuminated by their in
Humvee or truck headlights. Helicopters flying overhead are using
loud speakers to tell citizens about extraction points and times.

Entire subdivisions needed to
be evacuated. Medics accompany each team so that they can do on the
spot assessments on residents they encounter. It was hard to
differentiate between the sick and the healthy in the dark. Outside
this airport the soldiers have stopped all traffic and are pointing
their guns at a convoy of vehicles traveling toward us. We are all
relying on them to keep us safe. One by one people are being
admitted inside the blockade. They are clustered at the gates
pleading to be let inside the safe zone. Hundreds of families with
small children and elderly family members are waiting at the check
point. Others were camped outside sleeping in their cars, tents, and
makeshift shelters made out of tarps. The fence outside the main
gate has been turned into a makeshift memorial and place to post
info about the missing. Every available inch of space is covered by
pictures and personal messages to families and friends. There are
too many faces to count or remember. Messages suggest where to meet
up or simply said I am alive. Several people gathered on the inside
of the gate grasping pictures tightly in their hands. They wanted to
see if any of the new arrivals had seen their missing family
members. Others wandered through the crowd.

All evacuees are subjected to a
strip search and bite check. Anyone that doesn't agree to the search
is turned away. The military will euthanize anyone sick or diseased
in a humanitarian manner. They were easy to spot with their glossy
eyes and washed out skin tones. The soldiers killed them by causing
blunt force trauma to their brains. They were rounded up and then
herded at gun point to a field next to the air strip. The infected
civilians were then lined up one by one. The entire group was forced
down to their knees and told to bend their heads down. Then one
soldier was chosen to walk down the line and shoot a single shot
from his rifle into their skulls. The rest of the soldiers rounded
up the infected remains and burned them. Some people already
infected or bitten refused to go through the military checkpoint. A
group of them tried to bypass security and run the blockade but
were……”

The TV flashed for a second and
then went to the emergency broadcasting signal. That’s when
the supply of power from the city failed. The TVs in the patients'
rooms and the staff computers all switched off. Right at that moment
the lights went out in the room and then the hall. A wall of
darkness fell over the city. People all around us began to cry out
in fear. They were desperately trying to locate their family and
friends. Staff members tried to encourage everyone that things were
okay. I went into the main hall and yelled out to everyone.

“
Everybody please stay
where you are. Do not try to move around in the dark. Stay against
the wall and we will come to you.”

The only light inside the ER came
from the exit signs and flashing emergency lights at the end of each
hall. The life support monitors and ventilators only had a half
hour of battery power. Since we had no power it took only seconds
for the air conditioning exhaust fans to come to a halt. With the
temperature in the triple digits the loss of our air cooling system
could prove deadly. The generator would not change that. It only
powered the emergency lights and red emergency outlets. The sound of
crying broke the eerie silence. The darkness only exacerbated the
commotion. It created fear and triggered an uneasy anticipation of
what could happen next.

******

Even though we lost power news
reports continued to come out about a horrible chain of events
taking place. The Governor ordered Arizona National Guard troops
preparing to deploy to the Middle East be diverted to the Valley.
The rest of the military already on the ground converged on south
Phoenix and hit back with all the firepower and resources they had
in place. Additional troops and military hardware were also been
deployed. They put up a noble effort but that section of the city
was lost after only 40 minutes. When it was reported to military
command hundreds of Guard soldiers and non commissioned officers
began leaving their bases and going home. They felt that training
only two days a month was not enough time to deal with this
particular crisis. They talked the talk but didn't walk the walk.
Underneath all that bravado they were scared shirtless. The whole
scale desertion and evacuation helped to spread the epidemic
further. No one stood in the forsakens way. State officials admitted
that they knew what was going on but wasted precious time doing
anything about it.

******