Outbreak The Beginning (The Outbreak Series Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter 7

Entering the house, the dogs are barking, bending down I rub each of them. Baby Herk is jumping around giving me kisses. I smile at him. He’s an amazing dog, goofy and sometimes acts stupid but still all the same, loveable. Then there’s Rufus, I’ve had him since he was born. Now that’s my baby, he’s 14 years old, he’s my old man. I stand up while they are still jumping up on me. I know they smell the blood. I really need to go shower away this day. Walking into the living room I see Tabitha watching the news. From what I can see, it looks like Hell on Earth. Buildings are burning, hospitals are overflowing with the sick and they are telling you to stay home and don’t go out.

“Hey mom, oh holy shit you look horrible,” Tabitha says.

“Yeah well I feel like it too. Are the boys taking showers? I need to go take one then we can talk about everything once we’re all together. Is John here?” I ask.

John is Tabitha’s boyfriend, they have been living together for almost 2 years. They have a cute little apartment in Salem, south of us. It’s where you have to go if you want to the major stores. Berlin Center only has 2 gas stations and nothing else. Can you say Hicksville!!

“Yes the boys are taking showers, they looked like you!! And yes John’s here, he’s outback,” she said.

I open the sliding glass doors. The dogs decide they need to go out. Steeping onto the deck I watch the dogs run around the yard. John walks over to me and stands beside me. I look at him from the corner of my eye, I know he wants to say something, I just don’t know why he doesn’t come out and say it already, it’s not like he’s shy. I finally break the silence. “What’s up?”

He looks so glum. “It’s finally happening isn’t it Egypt? Those things are fucking zombies!! They’re eating people. The world’s coming to an end isn’t it? We’re all going to ….”

I stop him from saying anymore. “Listen John, I’m tired, I’m stressed, I’m hungry and I stink!! So tell you what … yes something is happening, it’s not official that they are zombies … as of right now they’re still calling it the flu. Personally, yes I’d say that’s what they are. And last but not least, it’s not the end of the world and we’re not going to die. Do you hear me? We are not going to die! Now I need to get cleaned up, so why don’t you go unpack Tabitha’s truck and my SUV and store the stuff in the house. DO NOT open the outside gate for anyone unless it’s my mom and dad got it?”

“Yeah I got it! What room do you want us to take?”

“Take the one downstairs on the far side of the basement. Because believe it or not I think we will have more family coming in the next few days and weeks. I want to keep the extra one upstairs for mom and Hank.” Turning around, I walk back into the house. Shit I forgot the dogs. I yell for Rufus and Baby Herk, they come running in and I shut the screen door. I see that Tabby is still watching the TV. “Hey Tabby, why don’t you go make us a snack while I jump into the shower?”

“Ok Mom, just give me a second.”

I look into her eyes and I can tell she’s really afraid. It breaks my heart that I can’t make this all go away. Turning, I walk right into Nate.

“Hey Mom, you taking a shower?”

“Yep sure am … hey can you watch out front, while I take a shower?” I look him in the eyes and I know he knows what I mean.  He pats his lower back and winks. I nod approval and start walking down the hallway. I enter my room, my private heaven!! My bed is piled high with purple and pink pillows and man that comforter is thick and silky. I have a little night stand next to my bed then there’s a door that leads to my office. Right after that in the corner are two windows, in front of them there is an oversized chair with a little table and light with crystals hanging from it. Then there’s a door to the left of that. That leads to a private patio with a water fountain. I have my favorite wicker set out there. Then there’s a huge bookshelf with tons of books that I need to be reading, well now it looks like I’ll get the time to read soon. Rubbing my hands down my face I walk into the bathroom, I reach in and turn the shower on. I know I will have hot water because I have three hot water tanks -- one for this bathroom, one for the hallway bathroom and the other one for the downstairs one. I hate running out of hot water and the boys are always taking showers and then there’s the endless mounds of laundry that needs to be done. It’s comforting to think of mundane things.

I start to take my boots off, man these are trashed too, I take off my shirt and unbutton my jeans. These really stink, I hate having to burn them, they are my favorite jeans. I strip naked and check the water temperature, it’s perfect, stepping in I sigh, man this feels good. Lifting my face to the water, I let it run down my body. Putting my hands on the wall I start to relax, thinking back to what I’ve seen today, I’d say it sucked. Grabbing the body wash I scrub myself down to remove the blood then next the shampoo.

Ok I’ve spent enough time in here, there’s so much to do. I start drying myself off. I wrap a towel around my hair and wrap the other around myself. Walking back into my bedroom I go to the closet to get some clothes, this time I pick out a black t shirt, that says “I don’t bite much” and a pair of skinny jeans. I go to my dresser and grab a hot pink bra and matching undies. Slipping into them I get my jeans and fight to get the t shirt on. Guess I better dry off better next time. Walking back to the bathroom I grab my brush and sit on my bed. I start brushing my hair out once that’s done I go the bathroom to look in the mirror my hair still looks good, this time it’s black with blue ends, I love doing weird things with my hair. I grab a hair tie and head to for my shoes. Go figure they are flip-flops that flap down the hallway while I pull my hair up into a ponytail.

Looking around as I get to the dining room I see all the kids sitting in the living room watching the TV. I lean up against the wall and start watching it too.

The United States still can’t get through to China, at this point we have to assume there’s no one left. We also have to assume this is not a flu outbreak but the scientists don’t know what’s going on. We are in a state of
emergency. The officials are telling everyone to
stay
inside, avoid contact with the infected. There will be updates every hour on the hour…..

Shaking my head I push off the wall and go into the kitchen, opening up the refrigerator I grab a DR Pepper Cherry and crack it open. Taking a drink I look around the kitchen, wow we need to get the stuff we got at the gas station put away. There isn’t any space to be had.

“Hey guys why don’t you all come in here, we need to talk and make this place secure,” I say. Walking over to the dining room table I sit down. Everyone joins me.

“Tabitha I could sure use a snack. So here’s the plan, we need to board up all the lower windows, someone needs to make a list of everything we have, the extra stuff is in the closets in the storage room in the basement and the storage room in the garage. I also want everyone armed at all times, you just can’t be too careful and before you all say it, no I’m not over reacting. Tabitha, John, you weren’t at the school today or at the quilting shop parking lot with Hank and I. This shit is going to get worse, much, much worse and I think that we will have to protect ourselves from those things plus regular people trying to take what we have. Does anyone have any questions?”

“Mom are those things zombies? I saw you shoot one in the heart and it didn’t even slow down. You had to shoot it in the head. That’s what it took for that thing to stay down.”

“Liam, I really don’t know what they are but from all the movies we’ve watched they sure act like zombies. So for now let’s not worry too much about what their called just know you have to shoot them in the head. DO NOT THINK TWICE JUST SHOOT!!”

We chow down on what Tabitha prepared. It’s really simple, sliced fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. Looking at the kids, I know they are scared. Hell I am. But now is the time we will have to pull together.

“Ok … Nate and John will board up the windows. Nate, you know where everything is.”

Nate nods his head.

“Tabitha … go into my office and grab a pad and take stock of everything we have.”

“Liam, get all the guns and a couple of boxes of ammo for each. Plus take stock again of what we have.”

Chapter 8

“I’ll do the odds and ends and burn our clothes from today, plus I’ll start making phone calls, we need to keep checking up on Mimi and G-dad. Also, Liam when you’re done go check the latest news for any new information.”

They all get up, throw away their plates like they’ll never use them again and take off to do what I asked them to. I continue to sit there and put my head in my hands. Letting out a big breath I stand up and take my stuff into the kitchen. I put on rubber gloves, grab a garbage bag, march down the hall and enter my bedroom. I grab the clothes that I have to burn and stuff them in the bag with the rubber gloves. Turning around I notice a little black pouch that must’ve fallen out of my pants pocket. I pick it up, untie the opening and stick my fingers inside and pull out a crystal bracelet. Rubbing it with my finger, I stare at its beautiful purple stones. I still don’t know how it got into my pocket. Looking at the little black bag I see there’s a note inside. Pulling it out I unfold it and scan what’s written.

Remember I love you always, John.
How did he get that into my pocket? Tearing up, I put the note and the bracelet back into the little black bag and set it on my dresser. I don’t have time for this now. I head back to the kitchen, grab the boys’ clothes stuffed into Walmart bags. With my hands full I exit through the sliding glass doors and out shoots the dogs. Any chance they get, they run for it. I cross the yard to the burn pile. Throwing the clothes on the pile of sticks that I put there the day before, I grab the charcoal lighter fluid and squeeze some all over the pile. I take out my lighter from my pocket and light a piece of paper. When there’s a good flame I throw it on and it instantly catches on fire. I stand there watching the black smoke spiraling.

I glance over at the RV’s that are parked at the side of the house. I think tomorrow we need to get them moved and ready in case family comes and needs a place to stay. The back yard is a safe place to keep them.

I better go in and check on everyone, see how they’re doing. It’s already 3 pm and I have to make something for dinner. It’s not like I can pop over to the drive-through at McDonald’s anymore. Walking back to the deck with the dogs harassing my feet, I pause and listen to Nate.

“Look guys, we gotta trust Mom. She knows how to keep us safe. I trust her completely and you guys should too. I mean she took out a dozen of those zombie things at school and didn’t think twice about it.”

“Nate’s right,” Liam says. “If she’s boarding up the front of the house then it’s definitely not going to get better, in fact it’s going to get worse.”

“Mom knows what’s she’s doing, John and if you don’t like it or you think you can do better get out. My Mom’s in charge and that’s that and if Liam won’t give you a gun then you better believe that’s coming from our Mom, she won’t let anyone handle a gun unless they’ve had training,” Tabitha says.

“Well I should have a gun and I do think it’s overkill boarding up the windows. What are those things going to do, try and get us?” John says.

At this point I’ve had enough, walking in with the dogs following me. I slam the screen door shut. They all look over to me. Both Liam and Nate have grins on their faces.

“Liam, give the dogs a treat.” I turn to John. “Now listen up, if you don’t like how I’m doing things here then get the hell out, we don’t need you. But know this, I’m your best chance of making it through this. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I’m not saying it’s going to be fun. I’m just saying I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you alive. And if that means you can’t have a gun right now. Then that’s the way it is. I find out you even touch a gun John and I will break your fingers. You need to be trained by one of us first. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“No Egypt, I don’t. Why do you get to be in charge? Who made you the boss?” John says.

I give him my most evil grin and say, “John this is my home not yours. There’s the door if you don’t like it. You better understand how things are going to be early on rather than give me this shit later down the road. Now do you understand?”

“Yeah Egypt I guess I do. I better go help Nate with the windows.” John skulks off.

As he and Nate walk off, I look at the others. Shaking my head I stand there. Who does he think he is? This is my house, my rules. I don’t care if he’s the second oldest here at the moment. He will listen or he’s out. I’m not jeopardizing the safety of everyone for that little prick. And oh yes he can sure act like one.

Tabitha walks past me and punches my shoulder, grinning and goes into the kitchen to start putting stuff away.

Liam walks over and gives me a hug.

I wrap my arms around him and realize what an amazing young man he’s becoming. He’s my hugger that’s for sure. Pulling back, I ask, “So Liam, what do you have for me?”

“Well Mom, you know I love you but dang if you don’t have an arsenal down there.”

Liam hands me my pink 9mm and I put it in my waistband.

“Nate and Tabitha have theirs as well and as you know I didn’t give one to John. What are we going to do about that Mom? I think he needs to be armed.”

“I know. How’s about tomorrow you take him out back and practice with him? Go careful on the ammo. It’s got to last us. But your right he needs to know.”

“Yeah Mom I can do that!” Smiling at me he sits down in the living room and starts watching the TV. Both dogs jump up in the chair and lay down with him like they always do. Smiling, I turn around to go back outside and start making phone calls. Sitting in my favorite chair, I run my hands down my face. So this is it, the beginning of the end. Grabbing my phone I start to dial my Mom. After the second ring she answers and I listen.

“Hello honey, how are you holding up? Have you been watching the news, they are calling them things zombies. I can’t believe this is happening, this is a nightmare. What are we going to do? Hank says you got things handled down at your house and he’s boarding up our windows. He’s really scaring me.”

“Mom, just stop please, let me talk and I’ll try to answer everything.”

“Ok honey I’m listening.”

“Mom I need you to do a few things, okay? We don’t know how long before the phone service goes dead? I need you to call my sister and Aunt Nancy and see what they’re doing. Tell them they can come here when it gets really bad. And before you say it, I know they will give you a hard time. Tell my sister to bring her RV. It adds a place for someone to stay. Mom this isn’t going to get better. This is going to get worse and the faster we can all be together the better off we will all be. Hank’s a smart man, he will realize that coming here is the best. I know he won’t do it right now but he will. So I need you to start getting your stuff ready. And Mom, tell him the boys will be coming down for the two RV’s tomorrow some time.”

“Ok honey but this is all so unbelievable like those zombie movies you love … I use to laugh at you for saying this might happen ... I even thought you were just a bit crazy for stocking up. I’ll call everyone and tell them what you said. I don’t know what good it will do. Most are stubborn.”

“I know Mom, but just do what you can. That’s all we can do.”

“Ok honey, I love you. Tell the kids I love them too.”

“I love you Mom. Now get to it. I have to get things done and ready.”

Hanging up, I just don’t know what to do about the rest of my family. A few act like they know it all, that I’m the stupid one. Rubbing my neck I know I should be up and getting things done. But I’m getting tired. It’s been a very long day, more emotional than physical. There’s so much to do and I really hope we will have enough time to do it. I hear hammering and smile, knowing Nate and John are hard at it.