Decay: A Zombie Story (8 page)

“See? Naturally, this will knock him down. But, if you’re looking to kill this thing permanently, this ain’t the way to go. Now, I will show you the only way to permanently kill one of these things.”

(As the infected person struggles to stand up, Hardy walks over to it and shoots it point blank in the head. The back of its head opens and dark crimson blood bursts out and sprays the ground and fence behind as the infected person falls back to the ground and remains motionless.)

“You see, the only way to kill one of these things, is a bullet in the brain. In a situation where you cannot get a head-shot, the most effective thing to do would be to go for the knees. It makes it almost impossible for one of ‘em to get up. Now, we understand not everyone out there owns a firearm. So, we will now show you some options, using more household objects—”

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “We’re sorry for the interruption. But, we will be going live via satellite, to the President of the United States right now.”

CUT TO: OVAL OFFICE

PRESIDENT: “My fellow Americans. June 13th is a day that will live in infamy. The United States of America has seemingly become overrun with a virus that has been labeled the Arthriphagy virus. This is containable and, without a doubt, curable. I ask those out there to seek refuge somewhere safe and secure, especially those on the west coast. Where there is little sign of infection, for safety sake, please relocate yourselves to your local safe zone. Those on the east coast, outside of a safe zone, please stay where you are. Signs on the rooftops are helpful to our search teams and listen for helicopters. We have teams all over the country, as well as the best doctors in the world developing a cure as we speak. In no less than 72 hours we will have this situation entirely under control. Remain at your current location until our search and rescue units locate you. This is an obstacle like no other. But, we will overcome. America will overcome. Mankind will overcome. May God be with us through these trying days.”

CUT TO: NEWS STUDIO

ANDREW HELMS: “That was the President of the United States live via satellite. The time is now 12:20 a.m. on June 15th. Nearly two days since the outbreak of the Arthriphagy virus. We will be going to the Channel five emergency broadcasting system. Please stay tuned to your local A.M Radio stations. Thank you. And, good luck to everyone.”

(Andrew gets up, takes out his earpiece, and walks away from his desk. The desk sits, empty for a moment. The screen switches to a logo reading ‘CHANNEL FIVE EMERGENCY BROADCASTING STATION’ and a ‘no service’ tone.)

FADE TO BLACK.

PETER

T
hat was it… This broken news has revealed that a virus has begun sweeping through the country, and it looks as if it began somewhere in New England. The lack of knowledge presented in the interviews and various news segments was absolutely terrifying. It sounds as if the people infected with the sickness are actually considered dead. I don’t know what to think about that… It doesn’t seem real—it couldn’t seem real.

It appears as if the government has been doing all they can to keep things together, but the whole thing seems too big, too surreal. They’ve asked Canada and Mexico to construct safe zones. It has only been a couple of days and they expect it to spread that far? It makes me wonder if they’ll be able to contain it or if the President and everyone else just said that to make those listening feel a little better.

We could be here for a long time, I feel…

THIN HOPE

PETER

I
t had been a couple of days since the last news broadcast. We’ve hooked up an A.M. radio and have been monitoring it ever since. Other than a pre-recorded message reading off the safe zones listed on the news, we have heard nothing. We raided the paint section of the store today. Jen and Tara began painting some large tarps which we will try to hang from the roof. Samantha is working with them too, but Jen told me she hasn’t been doing much of anything—just sitting and being real quiet, barely saying a word all day. I suppose no one can blame her as she has taken the loss of Robbie very badly. I haven’t taken much time to sit and think about it, but then again, I’m still here with Jen and any other thinking I’ve been doing has been about my mom and if she’s okay. The last we heard, Canada had set up safe zones, but there was no infection.

While the girls readied signs for the roof, I pointed Mike in the direction of incoming stock. I knew from my past experience working here for Robbie’s dad, that a lot of new stock comes in at the beginning of the summer and I wondered if there would be anything useful—especially camping gear and whatnot. While I watched from the window, Mike was opening more boxes than a kid on Christmas, trying to find anything of use.

Also, I found half a dozen flare guns packed in automotive
crash kits
. We decided to keep one with us at all times in case a helicopter flies overhead—which has yet to happen. I keep thinking I’m hearing one off in the distance, but it’s likely my imagination.

After the broadcast went off the air, we decided to pull our resources. We filled jugs of water from the tap to save in case the water shuts off or becomes unsanitary—Mike’s idea. Also, we raided the office and vending machines.

We got dozens of cans of soda and a box full of candies and snacks—everything from M&M’s to Hog Lumps. We also gathered first aid kits in case of any injuries. However, the injury we are all trying to avoid would not be cured by some gauze, salt sniffers or Band-Aids. The hardware store was shaping up to be a pretty well-stocked shelter for this small group of people, but one thing we didn’t have was gasoline.

There were bottles of oil in the automotive section, but in accordance with Massachusetts law, we couldn’t have gas in the store. We all agreed that gasoline was a must-have for the car Tara brought here. There are many reasons the car may come in handy. For instance, if we needed to leave it would be a hell of a lot quicker if we had a working vehicle. Tara has claimed that the car is in good working order and is also pretty fast—perfect for our situation.

Also, gasoline would be a necessity for the small generators that the store sold. If we lost power, the generators would be a huge help, especially if we ever came across food that would benefit from being heated.

Soon enough, Mike came from the stock room holding some boxes—motion sensor lights. Earlier, he’d asked me if I thought the store either had any security cameras or sold anything that could work.

I told him it wasn’t likely. Robbie’s dad had
cameras
installed that would face the register, but the thing is—they’re fake. They are in plain sight and I guess his hope was that the idea of surveillance would simply deter any thieves from robbing the store. So, Mike presented the idea of motion sensor lights as a makeshift security system at night… If any of them stumble in our direction, we would see them coming.

However, Mike and I shared the same concern about the idea. If one or two were walking near the store and set off the lights, would a dozen from down the street notice and create a bigger problem? We decided to put them aside and possibly talk to everyone else and come up with some sort of idea.

JEN

T
ara and I finished making a large sign on some twelve foot square paint tarps. We took black paint and wrote ‘HELP’ and ‘SOS’ on the tarps. Soon, a couple of us will attempt to get them onto the roof. Peter and Robbie put a big sale sign up there once, they said it was a pain to do, but we had confidence that we’d be able to get it done. Tara seemed like a very nice and competent girl. She seemed sad about all that has happened, but we’ve been keeping ourselves busy and that seems to be helping her cope with—or perhaps avoid—her problems.

Also, Mike and Peter have been talking about getting some gasoline to keep in canisters if we need it. I think it’s a good idea, but I don’t know about them walking down the street half a mile to the nearest gas station.

Their plan seems to be taking some gas cans sold here at the store in a couple shopping carts and just fill them up. However, Mike was concerned that the pumps would be off and they would have to find a way to override the system or something. He was also concerned that people may have come and looted the gas already.

Peter doubted that though, using the rationale that if there were looters in the area, they probably would’ve come here for the
weapons
, tools, and other supplies.

Eventually, Peter and Mike gathered us together and asked who wanted to go onto the roof to put up the sign. Peter said he would go with one other person to help him—since he had actually gone up there before. Mike offered to stay here and keep a look out by the front window.

So, I offered to go up with Pete. Tara would help Mike by just being available to let us know if anything happens—that being said, we will be on the roof and may even see things before Mike. Throughout all of this, Sam had retreated to the backroom again; I don’t think she’s sleeping, probably just lying there thinking—or not thinking.

Next, Peter and I grabbed the tarps and various supplies to hang up on the roof—tape, hooks, zip-ties, etc. We were also bringing our flare guns as we decided we could wait up there after hanging the signs and attempt to flag over any rescue crews, should we see anyone in the skies or off in the distance.

MIKE

T
ara and I waited by the front display window of the store as Jen and Peter went up to the roof to hang the signs. We sat with our arsenal of weapons in case of any A. Phagy carriers stumbling into our area.

I was curious about what Tara had been through—but I didn’t want to pry. However, after sitting in silence for a while, she began to tell me how her boyfriend had run away from his car and she found it abandoned.

She seemed broken up, yet hopeful that he’s alive somewhere. I let her hold onto that thin hope as I told her that he’s probably okay—even though I was sure he was now walking the streets with the rest of the infected. This made me a little upset as I thought about how others would probably think that about my Ellie.

But, it was different… Her mother took her to the safe zone once this thing was reported. They weren’t running around the town somewhere like Tara’s man was. I had to cling to this idea.

Soon, we began to hear a noise coming from above us. At first, it startled me as the sound was so unfamiliar. Then, Tara said, “It sounds like they made it up to the roof…”

I felt a little stupid. Of course it was them walking on the roof. I guess the idea of what we were looking outside for has skewed my judgment a little. Nonetheless, they had made it onto the roof which means we’re halfway there.

As Tara told me about her boyfriend, I couldn’t help but think of nothing other than my daughter. I’m sure what she’s going through is terrible, but I just can’t imagine losing Ellie—this is something I simply will not accept. We’re getting out of here and I am going to find her.

I began thinking about Pete and Jen on the roof, affixing the signs and using the flares to flag down a helicopter or maybe some National Guard transport vehicle patrolling through town.

Suddenly, my day dreaming was cut short as I heard Tara gasp at the sight of half-a-dozen infected creeps stumbling in our direction several yards away in the street.

I stood and watched the ghouls for a second as they stumbled alongside one another, seemingly with purpose. I grabbed the gun and a large shovel as I continued watching them for a moment, hoping they would turn and start in another direction. No such luck.

They walked with an intent I hadn’t seen before. There was no question, they had noticed Peter and Jen on the roof and they had begun their deathly pursuit.

As I noticed the sound of frantic steps—Tara likely running onto the roof, I decided to head out there and try to take out the infected. Wielding a shovel and a shotgun, I quickly unlocked the door and headed in their direction.

PETER

W
e had attached one of the signs using zip-ties to some old rusty hooks that had been used to set up the sales signs in a more normal time. Suddenly, as we worked on getting the second sign up, Tara came running onto the roof, almost slipping on the slightly slanted tile.

“There’s a bunch…” Tara began before Jen cut off her screaming, “
Look!
”

We all stared out at the parking lot and witnessed six infected people staggering in our direction—one even reaching its bloody and pale arm our way. Then, Mike came running out of the store with some gear in his hands.

“Mike!” I shouted to him.

“He went out?” Tara asked excitedly.

Mike paid no mind to our screaming as he approached the closest one and swung the shovel like a baseball bat—collapsing it’s skull into its brain. The remaining undead all set their sights on Mike after this and began coming towards him from all sides. I began to yell nonsense at the undead, trying to take their focus off of Mike. I was on a roof and they weren’t going to be able to reach me whereas Mike was in a much more vulnerable position. However, this didn’t seem to be working, they had their lifeless eyes fixated on Mike and were not going to stop.

Mike raised the gun, ready to shoot, as we looked on helplessly and anxiously. I really hoped we wouldn’t have to use the shells, but I’d rather be out of ammo than have Mike become lunch for these monsters.

Their dried lips curled over their gnashing teeth as they stumbled towards Mike, boxing him in. Mike fidgeted around, trying to find an exit route as he put down the gun and raised the bloody shovel once again.