Read The Plague (Book 0): Day Zero Online

Authors: Ryan Cecere

Tags: #Zombie Apocalypse

The Plague (Book 0): Day Zero (3 page)

BOOK: The Plague (Book 0): Day Zero
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Chapter 5

 

“Jared Wheeler & Emily Ortiz”

 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Poughkeepsie, NY

9:38 p.m.

 

The air was fresh and the night breeze was cool. The dark sky was filled with bright stars, no clouds were floating around to disrupt the pitch perfect night. Jared and Gary sat outside with a beer in their hands. Gary was looking up at the sky, deep in his own thoughts.

“Have you ever wondered what life would be like if one morning we woke up and the world changed forever?” Gary asked Jared, not letting his eyes wander from the stars.

“Depends on how the world changed,” Jared sipped his beer.

“I was thinking along the lines of if you were the last man on Earth. If everyone just vanished without a trace.”

Jared took another sip of his beer. “Sounds like some science fiction shit you got going there.” Then, after a few seconds of silence, “I don’t know. That’s a little deep, even for you.”

Gary looked at Jared. “Even for me? Just ‘cause I’m black doesn’t mean I can’t have deep thoughts my man.”

“Didn’t mean it like that, Gary,” Jared laughed. “All I’m saying is that if I was the only man left in the world that would suck because I have a beautiful girlfriend that I wouldn’t see anymore.” Jared scratched the back of his head. “Emily’s been acting really strange with me these past few weeks. I hope I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Gary nudged Jared on the arm, “Maybe she wants a real man, like myself.” The joke had no effect. “Maybe it’s just that womanly time of month, Jared.

“For three weeks?” Jared turned to Gary.

Gary put his hands up. “You’re right. My bad. Look, she loves you, you got to trust that everything is okay and will work out. Emily isn’t the kind of girl who cheats or hides stuff either. It might seem like she’s hiding something, I know, but maybe something is just on her mind that she doesn’t wanna talk about right now or maybe is waiting for you to ask her about.”

“I have asked. She won’t budge.” Jared finished the last of his beer and tossed it into the garbage can. “Could it be financial stuff? She’s working at a deli, and me, I’m just some struggling writer who can’t finish a short story or book.”

“Look, I’m not in a relationship, so I don’t exactly know what to say. But what I do know is that Emily loves you and she wants to be with you forever. The best thing to do is talk to her.” A moment went by without either speaking. Jared picked at his nails, searching for words. Gary got to his feet. “Jared, I gotta call it a night, got work tomorrow morning.” Jared also stood. “If you need anything, just give me a call.”

“Thanks, Gary.”

Emily and Jared had been together for almost six years; since they were seventeen years-old. Emily quickly fell for him because of his charming personality, with the bonus that he always protected her. It was the middle of the school year when they had first met. Emily was arguing with her then ex-boyfriend, during the time they just broke up. Her ex was abusive and lashed out at her with his friends present. Jared happened to be walking down the pathway by the football field when he noticed. He quickly sprang to her aide. He didn’t go down without a beating from all three—in the end, he was the true victor, winning her heart.
No matter what, Emily, I will always be there for you
, he told her time-and-time again, sounding like a broken record. Hearing those words is something she never got tired of.

Jared made his way into his house. By the time he locked up, Emily was just getting out of the bathroom. The air bursting out of the room felt like she had been spending time in a sauna. Emily was exiting with just her towel on. Jared stared deeply at her brown marble-like eyes. He embraced her still wet body, smiled, running his fingers across her smooth cheeks. “I love you,” he said.

Emily smiled back, a bit confused and blushed. “Umm, I love you, too. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just wanted to let you know.”

“You sure, Jared?” Emily asked, off the look he was giving.

“I’m sure. I’m gonna turn in for the night, okay?”

“Oh, okay. I’ll join you soon.”

Jared gave her a huge, passionate kiss before making his way to the bedroom. Emily stood at the door frame for a moment, her hand moving gently back and forth around her stomach. She wiped the tear from her eye, and shut off the light.

 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

7 a.m.

 

The Emergency Alert System sent a sonic wave into their eardrums, awaking them from a good night’s sleep.

The following message is transmitted at the request of the U.S. government: the dead have risen and are attacking the human race. At this time, it is expected that more attacks of this nature will continue to occur at a rising rate. It is unknown at this time what virus has caused the dead to rise. Symptoms include initial nausea and vomiting, bad fevers, numbness to any body part where you’ve been bitten, and unconsciousness. Anyone infected has been reported to turn into zombie-like creatures. Stay indoors, stock up on food and water. Do not—and we repeat—DO NOT attempt to engage these creatures. Certain areas have already been quarantined; many more will be soon. The U.S. government is taking full action to stop this virus. Do not attempt to intervene. The U.S. government will take any necessary actions. Stay with your family. Be safe America… and God Bless Us All…

Another clip played after the EAS. A news reporter spoke, “…What could this outbreak be? Some form of a government conspiracy? An act of terrorism? A virus?” After speaking, the dead burst through the doors, tearing the chubby news reporter and cameraman to shreds.

The next clip that aired showed Reverend Devon speaking at the chapel to a group of scared men, women and children all barricaded in. “This could be one of two things: the wrath of God… Or there is finally no more room in hell, and the Devil himself now walks among us in this darkest hour
.”
Just like the previous clip, the non-infected were overpowered by the dead.

Emily grabbed onto Jared’s shoulder, preventing him from opening the bedroom door.

“Jared! You cannot go out there. It’s not safe.”

“We can’t stay trapped in here either, Emily.”

“We have to stay inside until this thing blows over.”

“Emily, have you seen the same clips replaying over and over again on the TV like I have? This is it. It’ll never blow over.” Emily didn’t say a word. “One minute.”

“No.”

“One minute is all I need.” Jared pinched open the blinds. The streets were empty. “There’s nothing out there. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

“Jared…”

“We’ve been stuck here for the last two hours. Stay here.” Jared grabbed his coat and headed outside.

 

To his left, a pair of cars were compressed together, almost as if they were hit by a runaway train. The rest of his view was normal, untouched. Except for the fact that there was nobody, alive or dead, roaming the streets.

Jared made his way around the driveway. As he approached the corner of the house, a hand reached over and grabbed him. Jared swung around, gasping. He took a deep breath, calming down. It was Emily. “What are you doing outside?”

“I’m not staying inside alone.”

“I told you to stay put.”

“Forget it. I’m sticking by your side. Where is everyone?”

“Good question.”

Emily covered her mouth in fear once they turned the corner. A corpse lay in a pool of blood mid-way down the driveway. She clung to Jared like a magnet. “Is he dead?” Emily stuttered.

“Stay close.”

Jared and Emily took precarious steps towards the corpse. As they neared closer, the smell was horrendous. Both had to cover their noses.

Jared knelt down by the corpse.

“What are you doing?” Emily asked, nervously.

“Making sure the guy’s dead.” Jared squinted. “Something isn’t right.” His eyes widened, “Emily, we need to get out of here.”

The corpse moaned and grunted. It turned its head to them, teeth showing, ready to bite. The corpse lunged at Emily, taking her down and twisting her ankle in the process. “Ah!” Emily screamed. She held its face back. Desperately it attempted to gnaw a good chunk of her skin off.

“Get off her!” Jared yelled. He latched himself onto the corpse and flung it off Emily. It thudded against the ground.

He grabbed her by the hands, helping her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a sprain, I think,” she said, feeling the sting of a knife poking the inside of her ankle.

The corpse crawled to its feet. “We need to go, now,” Jared hurried.

With her arm wrapped around him, Jared led Emily back up the driveway, only to be stopped by another zombie in their way. “Shit…”

The two zombies backed Emily and Jared against the fence.

No matter what, Emily, I will always be there for you
. Those words rapidly ran through his mind—and hers—as the zombies closed in on them.

Chapter 6

 

“Eli Dalton”

 

Tuesday, October 14, 201
4
Lake George, NY

6:05 p.m.

 

The rusty pickup truck—filled with dust and mud, obviously not cleaned (or thought of being cleaned) in months—rolled into the driveway of a white, two-floor home that was two miles—in either direction—from its neighbor. If not further.

He wiped his face with the red bandana he kept on the dashboard.

It had been a long and painfully stressful day at work at the Saratoga & North Creek Railway where he did maintenance work. Eli got into words with his supervisor. The two have butted heads since his first day. Eli was a short-tempered individual and from the start his co-workers knew he wouldn’t last until the end of the year. They were right, and could’ve placed a bet on it.

This time it got serious. Fists were thrown—resulting in him getting the boot. But that wasn’t the last of it. Eli went to extreme measures and smashed the windows and dented the body of his boss’ new car.
Don’t ever fuck with me slim-bags!

Eli cursed under his breath as he grabbed his toolbox from the trunk and snatched his green flannel from the passenger seat. He angrily slammed the driver-side door shut before heading up the porch. There was only one cigarette left in his pack, adding more on to the already crappy day.
Son-of-a-bitch
. Eli shook his head, grabbed his lighter and lit the cigarette.

After several long drags, he felt himself unwinding. He smirked to himself. There was only one more thing he needed.

A beer.

Eli dropped himself in a chair and grabbed a beer from the cooler that had been waiting for him all day.

The sun was setting; his porch lights turning on. He took another drag of the cigarette, then, chugged half the beer in one go. “Ah,” he exhaled, slouching back. Eli rested his eyes; only for them to be abruptly opened by the piercing sound of sirens off in the distance.

Must be Gabe,
he thought.
Crazy fuck always running from the cops.

Eli looked over to his right, he couldn’t tell what he was seeing as the sunlight was glaring right into his face. A dark figure limped its way up to his house from across the road. “Who goes there?” Eli called out, putting his hand on his forehead to get a better visual. The figure got closer and he could see it better now: blood covered the hill-billy’s torn up overalls.

“What the…,” he muttered. “Hey, get the fuck outta here, man!” Eli demanded. “I don’t want trouble coming up to my doorstep.

The hill-billy replied with a stretched out “
Uhh”

Eli grabbed his keys from the small, round table and picked up the claw hammer from his toolbox. “What the fuck did I just say?” Eli walked down the steps. “Are you gonna listen to me or am I gonna have to beat some sense into your dumb-ass?”

As he got closer to the hill-billy, he noticed something off. Eli halted. The guy’s skin was discolored, his eyes bloodshot.

“Christ…,” Eli muttered
.
The hill-billy hissed and darted for Eli. Eli backed away, running back up the steps stumbling. He fumbled around with his keys, trying to find the one that unlocked his front door. The keys slipped from his sweaty fingers.

Without any time to pick them up, the hill-billy lunged at Eli, pinning him to the door. “Ah!” The hammer dropped. Eli struggled with the undead man. “Let me go,” he screamed.

The hill-billy got a hold of Eli’s long hair and yanked his head towards its teeth. Eli remembered how it was limping its way to him, and he shoved his boot with so much force into the injured knee that he heard a pop. The hill-billy hissed again. Eli pressed his hand against its face and shoved it hard enough to where it tumbled and rolled down the steps, smacking against the concrete pathway.

Using its fingernails to dig into the grass and dirt it pulled itself. Crawling.

Eli grabbed the hammer and walked cautiously down the steps. He raised the hammer as high as his long arms could go, with the intent to bash this thing’s head in. Just as he was about to swing, he noticed two more figures coming down the road. Then a few more, and a few more after that. All of them moved faster than this previous one. From down both sides of the road, to the open fields across the property, to even behind, he was surrounded.

“What in the world…”

 

Eli bolted the front door behind him. Its hinges screamed in agony—sounding like they could pop off at any second, as the gang of the undead whacked the palms of their hands against the splinter-filled wood.

He opened the closet located in the hallway between the dining room and living room. He pulled the string down, flooding light to a room that was mostly forgotten over the years.

He parted his jackets and more of his flannels out of his path, revealing a rack of rifles, and a drawer containing ammunition. The closet wasn’t the only place in Eli’s house that had a stash of weapons lying around.

Eli grabbed the double-barreled shotgun and the box of buckshots. He poured the shells onto the dining room table, scattering them about, some dropping to the floor. Then, he loaded it.

Last time Eli used any of his guns was back a few years when him and his old man would spend an entire weekend—just the two of them, hunting for game all day, from sunrise to sunset. Hours went by. Neither of them said a word.
Always remember to make sure it’s fully dead before you bring it home, Eli,
his old man would say. Eli was uncertain to why that quote by his old man played in his head for a situation it had nothing to do with. Nonetheless, he would make sure these creatures would surely be dead once he got done with them.

But, that was before his old man’s accident… After, the guns sat in the closet collecting dust.

He grabbed his telephone and pressed 9-1-1 with determination, to only be greeted by a busy signal.

“Fuck!” he spat.

Realization settled in. Could this be the end of the world? How many people were alive? He had to find out.

Eli booked it into the living room and turned on the television. Every channel he flicked to lit up with the Emergency Alert System. All the headlines read the same thing: A national outbreak spreading like wildfire, all starting on the East Coast. Within an hour other cities and towns were overrun. Some channels were kind enough to show live-action footage of the chaos. Zombies terrorized the living. People were being ripped to shreds on live T.V.

Nobody could stop it.

Eli gulped, and slowly sat on his couch. His eyes didn’t leave the screen. They couldn’t look elsewhere, no matter how hard he tried to stop watching.

To his side, glass shattered into pieces, scattering along the carpet. The noise sent Eli up on his feet. A few zombies tried to climb through his window at the same time, getting themselves stuck.

He aimed, waiting for them to make eye contact.

Then he pulled the trigger.

BOOK: The Plague (Book 0): Day Zero
9.71Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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