Against Zombies Box Set, Vol. 1 | Books 1-4 Page 5

  “Oh, yeah. I can’t do that, but when you’re done I’ll be glad to take him back.” Nancy places Pierce in my waiting arms. “We would love to have another one, but it just hasn’t happened yet. So, I’m going to steal yours so I can get my baby fix.”

  “I think that can be arranged.” I smile at her as I walk to sit in the corner, behind the recliner, trying to block most of what I’m doing from view.

  Pop calls the meeting to order. “I believe everyone is here that lives close enough, so let’s get started. What do we know?”

  “Not much yet. The news here in Tennessee is reporting things as usual,” Allen informs the group.

  “I believe our extended family are the only ones not at school today,” Nancy adds.

  Kellie, Brad’s other sister, chimes in. “So are we just crazy?”

  “Emma, what did you see out there yesterday?” Kathryn, Brad’s mom, turns the room’s attention on me.

  I adjust the blanket to make sure I’m decent, and think about how to answer such a loaded question.

  “My doctor’s appointment was yesterday and the nurse checked me in, telling me the doctor would be right there, but he never came. I waited about twenty minutes and things got almost eerily quiet.”

  Everyone is still staring at me, and while I’ve gotten used to Brad’s big family, it still bothers me to be stared at, but I continue. “There was no one in the building. I grabbed baby Pierce and headed out to the parking lot, but didn’t see anyone at first. This guy came around the corner, walking kind of funny, and then I saw the blood on his clothes. I took off running to the van, got Pierce buckled in and got out of there. It wasn’t until I was on my way here and got gas that I saw he had followed me and smeared blood on the side of the van.”

  “Did he attack you?” one of the men asks.

  I’m still not sure who everyone in the extended family is, so I answer him as best I can.

  “Once I got in the van I didn’t see anything, and he was moving too slow to really say that he attacked me. He did follow me, which really freaked me out when I saw it at the gas station.” I take a deep breath and squeeze Pierce a little closer to my chest.

  “There wasn’t anyone around panicking or screaming. In fact, you would have thought it was the weekend because the complex I was in was completely empty. If it hadn’t been for the unlocked building, I would have thought I was imagining things.”

  Pierce makes a protest at the way I’m holding him, so I try to fix him without being obvious.

  “Honestly, I wouldn’t have worried or come out here if Brad hadn’t have called. Stranger things have happened in the city with shootings and stuff, so I didn’t think much about it,” I assure them. “Brad just didn’t want to take a chance with it being just me and the baby.”

  “Sweetie, I appreciate that you’re trying to downplay this, but if Brad thought it was worth a call from overseas, then we can’t take this lightly,” Kathryn states.

  “Grandma, I’ve been monitoring social media and the less monitored black sites. Everyone is scared. The only real events have been in large cities here in America: Salt Lake City, Utah, Springfield, Missouri, and Charlotte, North Carolina,” Andi explains while fiddling with a tablet.

  “There’s nothing in those cities. Why would they have a zombie scare? Doesn’t make sense,” Pop grumbles loudly.

  “Actually, Pop, these cities all have one thing in common that we know of; they’re all international flight cities or have major national flights going through them at any given time.” Andi turns her tablet to face the room. “Major cities, but not big enough to cause a national panic. The only cities that have gone on lockdown are these three. All the other cities are anxiously awaiting to see if there are any more outbreaks, or if there are any reports of “zombies” wandering the streets.”

  “Well, if Brad called, then that means the government is preparing for it to hit America in full force. Could there be instances occurring overseas and the news stations just aren’t covering them?” I pipe in. “On the way here, there was a brief mention, and then the station went back to playing music. What if there’s a blackout on actual news so that people don’t run through the streets screaming and bring the “zombies,” or whatever after them?”

  Now that I’ve spoken in front of everyone, it seems I can’t stop making comments.

  “So you didn’t run into any problems on the way over here from Knoxville?” Pop questions Kellie and Clayton.

  “The roads were clear, even though we left early this morning. People were getting ready for a regular day. There hadn’t been any school cancelations or closings.”

  Dawson and Haley, Andi’s parents, walk into the room. “Great, it’s the ’rents. Yo, what’s up?” The simple head nod explains so much as to the reason Andi had come to Nana and Pop’s instead of heading home to her dad and stepmom’s house in Charlotte.

  While everyone in the room waits their turn to get a hug from the newcomers, I finish nursing Pierce and place his tiny head on my shoulder to burp him.

  The room slowly settles down again, and everyone waits for the newcomers to fill us in on what the world looks like.

  “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. I haven’t got that many years left. What’s happening in Charlotte?” Nana prods her youngest son.

  “The congestion is terrible. Worse than hurricane weather because everyone is leaving the city. Normally, the biggest die-hards stay with their homes and plan to weather it out, but I believe the entire city was trying to evacuate,” Dawson informs the group.

  “But Dad, did you actually see anything that could even be considered a zombie?” Andi looks up long enough to glance at her dad, then returns to the tablet she’s working on.

  “By the time I got out of downtown, the reports were saying it was a hoax, but then screams would erupt and people would run past with wounds dripping blood. So I’m going to say that it’s really happening.” Dawson’s face pales as he recounts what he had witnessed.

  “Right. So I’m going to check off the box ‘didn’t see a zombie,’” Andi mumbles sarcastically.

  Haley was obviously used to Andi’s comments. “The few times I saw someone who had been hurt last night, there weren’t any “zombies” following them. The box store I work at got really busy last night around seven, when most people got home from their jobs. Instead of the normal items we run out of like batteries, bread, and milk, the customers really cleared the store out. I haven’t seen it that sold out except on Christmas Eve, or from the Black Friday sales.

  “We knew there would be lines out of the city last night, so we decided to get started in the daylight. At least we could see if the world was going to end,” Dawson jokes, but turns serious as he continues. “This morning, we woke up to helicopters circling the city. They were focused on the downtown area and the hospital districts. As we left, the military was already downtown doing sweeps. They were closing off roads and sending people back to their homes.

  “I was scared that they would force us to go back, but they were more focused on keeping people out of the off-limit areas. When we went on an overpass and got to the top, you could see the line of cars leaving in all directions, but there was a long line of Army Humvees headed into the heart of the city.”

  “We were barely able to make it out of the city, blah, blah, blah.” Andi snickers.

  “Adrian! Be respectful,” Pop admonishes.

  “The military presence tells us that Brad was on the correct track. This is coming into the cities and spreading. Unlike some of the movies you’ve seen, this illness isn’t turning people into “zombies” as soon as they’re infected. Even if they can contain the ones who have been infected, I don’t think we’ll have to worry immediately because it will take a while for people to really head to the mountains,” Mason, Brad’s dad, speaks for the first time.

  “Mason’s right. We need to act like this is the end of all time and build up our mountain.” Pop’s head nod includes his six
children that are present. “Dawson, Allen, and Clayton should go into Gatlinburg and bring back supplies that we can use to fortify the fences in the lower areas where people are bound to come.

  “Girls, I need a few of you to go into town and grocery shop for things that will last a while like canned goods, boxed goods, and I want you to stop at the seed store and order the list of plants I’ll send with you. They can deliver them for us and the rest of us can get the fields ready for them.” Pops puts his family army together. “The rest of you are dismissed to watch over the kids and meal prep. Also, we’re going to need someone to organize the medical supplies and make a run to one of the bigger cities tomorrow.”

  “I can reroute some of the larger trucks so that we can go hijack them.” Andi volunteers.

  “No, ma’am. We are not going to start robbing people. The world hasn’t officially ended yet so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Pop draws the line in the sand as to where the family’s moral line will be drawn, even if the world ends.

  As the group disperses, I get up and follow Nana into the kitchen. “Is there a job that you want me to do?”

  “Not at the moment, dear. Just make yourself at home and after lunch, the girls will go up the mountain to see Granny Earlene. She’s going to want a peek at her great-great grandbaby.” Nana moves around the kitchen with ease, getting items out of the freezer for lunch.

  Nana seems to sense that I’m unsure of how to proceed, but continues to move on with her preparations, leaving it up to me if I want to talk about it.

  I readjust Pierce in my arms and gently bounce him.

  “I think I need your help…” I start, but I’m not sure of exactly what I need.

  “Are you having trouble with being a new mommy and not really having a job or title?” Nana asks.

  My amazement must show because she’s explained it without me even knowing what’s really wrong.

  “Here, can you peel the carrots for me?” Nana asks, giving me an appraising look.

  “Sure. Pierce can sit in the bouncy seat.” I sit it on the table right behind us as I pick up the peeler to tackle the carrots.

  “What type of work were you doing before Pierce was born?” Nana shakes her head, frowning. “I can’t remember.”

  “I did several different types of jobs during college, but I was going to school for data entry and IT. I got sent to many different companies and got to teach them how to update and improve their efficiency by using their computers.” I sigh as I pick up another carrot to peel.

  “I really thought that when I had Pierce I would be content to stay at home, and I do love my little man.” I turn to give his little foot a squeeze. “It’s just that I’m not really doing anything important except counting how many ounces he eats and how often he poops. You know?”

  “Aw, sweetie. It’s a hard adjustment at first, but taking care of such a precious bundle is the most rewarding thing in the world. Yet, some of us aren’t meant to stay at home all day because, well, our minds would go to mush. Why don’t you go into the study and use the computer to put together a spreadsheet of what a family of over a hundred people will need to make it through a year?”

  “Oh, no, ma’am. I’m peeling carrots, but when we’re done here in the kitchen, then I might sneak away and use some computer time.” I grin at Nana. “If only I had a reliable person to watch him while I was doing that?”

  “Hmm, I think if you were to disappear and even take a nap, no one would even notice.” Nana winks at me. “Then, when the group gets back for lunch you’ll feel much better.”

  “Honestly, I’m fine. If I had more children than just Pierce, I might be more tired. Last night was amazing and plenty of rest to last me until tonight.”

  “There! That is the last of the carrots that we need peeled so run along, and I’ll take care of this little man while the soup cooks.” Nana starts speaking words that only a baby can understand, so since I’m not needed anymore, I almost run to the study.

  I glance around furtively, hoping no one caught my escape. I close the door and boot up Nana’s computer.

  Since we’re in the rural mountains, Wi-Fi and wireless are words rarely used here. You could always hook a satellite up, but when there are large trees in every direction, it’s not always the best option.

  Nana and Pop have DSL internet, and it’s so slow. I boot up my email and while I wait for it to load, I open a spreadsheet. What on earth does a family of over a hundred people need to survive a few years? Food is a must. And clothes. Baby Pierce will outgrow all his clothes in the next year. What if he gets an ear infection and we need medicine? A list. That’s what I’m supposed to be doing.

  Time passes quickly and two hours later, I stretch and realize that my email should have uploaded. There’s an email from Brad.

  I excitedly open up my missive.

  My darling Emma,

  I hope that you and Pierce are both okay and that you made it to Nana and Pop’s. I hated that I had to scare you like that, but the situation is getting urgent. The illness over here has spread like wildfire. We don’t know what started it, but several infected people showed up about three weeks ago and we sent them to the infirmary. When they died, they reanimated and started biting the staff. Of course, we did what the army always does, we shoot people. So the first infected died, but what we weren’t expecting was the staff who had been bitten to start dying from their bites. We have managed to contain it here in the camp by burning the bodies. The countryside surrounding us has been greatly affected, so much so that we have pulled out of our camps and returned to the main base where there are bigger walls. We are on a shoot on-sight threat level. I expect us to be pulling out of here in the next few weeks if conditions don’t change. This is all classified and obviously, I would get in trouble for telling you this, but I know that you are with the Jackson clan and you need all the information you can get to stay alive.

  Stay on the mountain with the family. Don’t go back into the city. So far, this sickness doesn’t spread unless you are bitten or scratched by one of these things. We’re not sure if it’s a head shot or a heart shot that stops them, but we have been shooting until they’re not moving any more.

  My family has survived many different wars. Okay, it’s been a few years since the Jackson clan had to do anything like that, but they will make sure that you and Pierce are taken care of.

  I love you, babe, and I hope we can see each other soon. Kiss my boy for me.

  Brad

  I sit and stare at the message Brad had managed to get out to me. So this is real. The only difference this time is that the Jackson clan might be going to war against the dead. A shiver runs down my spine. The world is ending. I should at least be able to have one good meal before I tell the family what Brad had to say. Feeling that I’m on the way to the executioners, I go out to join the family for lunch, forgetting the email that is still open on the computer.

  Cooper

  Jessica and Trish sit at the table in stunned silence as I explain my absence while the world fell apart.

  “When I called and told you to leave, I tried to do the same thing. Security was gone so I followed the protocol and wiped the system clean. The roads that had been so congested were almost empty just a couple of hours later, and there weren’t any people running around, so when I saw someone come around the corner I didn’t think anything of it. The person wasn’t moving very fast, but I was in too much of a hurry for it to register.

  “Part of his face was hanging to the side and there was a hole where his stomach should be. He lunged toward me and I barely had time to pull my knife out. Trying to put a knife blade into someone’s temple isn’t as easy as the TV shows make it out to be.”

  “Did you kill him?” Jessica asks.

  “He was already dead. I just gave him some peace.” I grimace at the memory of his bloodstained hands reaching toward me and latching onto my backpack.

  “It took three tries before he finally fell to th
e ground and stopped moving. I heard screams coming from the alley so I moved down the street in the opposite direction from home and the distant lines of traffic out of the city.”

  I lift the warm cup of coffee to my mouth and try to still the shaking of my hands. Both my wife and her sister sit in silence, waiting for me to continue.

  “The few blocks seemed to stretch into miles, and I finally slowed down enough to take a deep breath. The last office building on the edge of downtown was a private firm. I’d heard of them in passing, but as I came close I saw the front doors open and instinct made me duck behind the fountain as two men came out. It looked like the two that had been in my office, but I couldn’t be sure so I followed them a few blocks back into the city.”

  “Why would you go back?” Trish reaches across the table to grab my hand. “It wasn’t safe.”

  “I needed to find out where they were going next. They were obviously on some kind of mission and if we could stop them from accomplishing it, we needed to.” I smile at my wife’s concern. “I was thinking of my family, but at the same time, the needs of the many outweighed my desires.”

  “The guys didn’t get far because the screams from that alley were because a group of…” I pause, trying to think of how to phrase it best. “Well, I’m just going to say “zombies” because they were dead humans in a group, mindlessly headed toward the two ninja like men.

  “The two men didn’t even pause when they saw the zombies. In fact, they walked toward them and started trying to talk to them.” I just shook my head at their stupidity.

  “They wanted to have a conversation with the zombies?” Jessica asks incredulously.

  “Yeah, it was weird.”

  “Could you hear what they were saying?” Trish leans in closer, forgetting that what I mean is that I was close to these killing machines.

  “It wasn’t quiet, but with the noises the group of about ten people were making, it was hard to hear. ‘Hey, you don’t have to keep pretending. The timeframe we hired you for is over, but you have to go to the arranged place to get paid for your gig.’ The first ninja, I don’t know if it was Steven or Gary, but he walked over toward the group and they jumped him. It didn’t take the other guy long to realize that these things were real and he started shooting.”