Respect for the Dead (Surviving the Dead Book 1) (5 page)

“The CDC is now discouraging the public from using hand sanitizer as it seems to speed up the rate of infection.”  The male news anchor stated as the female anchor took over in a dramatic serious tone. “Coming up next on your six o’clock news, our top story is the continuing team coverage of the flu epidemic.  We’ll have all the latest closings and cancelations including this evening’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions.”

Steve McDaniel looked up at the clock and noticed it was getting close to time to go to work.  His father sat with him in the living room watching the end of 5:30 news.  “This is crazy.”  Mr. McDaniel muttered.  “This new flu epidemic is completely out of control.  The government should have had some kind of plan in place.  Two weeks ago there were reports of the Epidemic in Asia, then last week it showed up in New York and in a matter of days it has spread across the country.”  He said as the advertisement spoke of whiter teeth in two weeks. 

Steve nodded, “The Speed at which this thing has spread and the lack of information has a lot of people panicked.”

“So many people are already sick that local hospitals and governments can’t get help to people who needed it.  Many businesses and services are already closed.  This is only causing more people to panic.” Mr. McDaniel’s annoyance was clear in his tone. 

“I heard there were reports of riots in some of the larger cities and there were strange rumors coming out of Europe and Asia that there was a complete breakdown in law and order. Some of the more populous places like Mexico City are under Marshall Law.”  Steve noted without much concern. 

“Your new car is waiting for you are Draydon’s ford.” The cheerful announcement concluded followed by the theme music for the newscast. 

The six pm news started with reports from Moscow.  The international reporter explained the situation there.  Anyone trying to leave the city or who were out on the streets without a pass were being shot on sight.  Tokyo’s uninfected were being evacuated to the other islands and even to Korea.   Rumors had spread that it was a terrorist attack gone wrong.  This lead to violence in Detroit against its Muslim population leading to rioting and the fortification of several city blocks by the Muslims.  The Detroit police were unable to respond because of so many officers being ill.  The Fires had been burning for three days already.  The Mayor and Governor had requested the National Guard help but what they had received very little assistance as the army was spread so thin already.

Steve threw the magazine he was reading on the coffee table and stood up.  “Where are you going?” Questioned Steve’s father, the concern evident in his voice as he eyed Steve. 

Steve laughed.  “The schools might be closed but the distribution center is open.”

  “I really think you should stay home.”  Replied his father.   “I think we need to be ready to get out of town if things go bad.  I told Beth to have Wes and his mother ready, but since Reg is sick they don’t want to leave.” 

“Dad, I’ll be fine.”  Steve shrugged. 

“Things are starting to get bad.  I want to be sure you’re safe.”

“Seriously Pops, we live in the most boring city in the state.  What do you think is going to happen?”  With that Steve gave his father a smile, a pat on the shoulder, and headed down the hall toward his room.

Steve walked the short hall to his bedroom.  The door to the room next to his was halfway open.  Steve pushed it the rest of the way and leaned against the doorframe.  He looked in at his younger sister and shook his head smiling.  She was lying on her back one knee up with her other leg crossed over it bouncing her foot.  Her long hair lay in loose curls fanned out on her pillow.  She was reading. 

“You still reading that?”  He asked.  No answer came.  “I thought you’d make it through a kiddy book like that quicker.”  He goaded.  Beth looked over the top of the book.  Steve was smirking at her.  He knew calling it a kiddy book would annoy her.

“This is the third book in the series and it is NOT a kiddy book.”  She responded. 

“I thought you girls were into the mopey vampires not the kiddy wizards.” An aggravated huff was her reply. He knew he was getting to her so he persisted.  “Ya know I hear the vampires are all sparkl….ow!”  He was hit by a pillow thrown with excellent aim.

“You know I think that whiney girly stuff is crap!”  She gave him her most menacing look.  “Now knock it off!”  She retorted. 

“Just kidding sis, relax!”  He laughed.  Now that he had her annoyed it was time to finish the job before he left for work.  “So, uh did Wes loan you that one too?  By the way I never did ask, how did your date with him go?”  He asked in a would be casual tone.  She shut the book and glared at him for a moment then her face softened.

“Since you seem sooo interested, yes he did loan me this one as well” then she sighed, “We didn’t get together.  Corey flattened his tires, then his mom wanted him to stay home to help her take care of Reg.”

  “So that asshole Corey messed with Wes’ car?”  He replied angrily.  “His brother was a dick too.” 

She returned to her book.  “The immature jerk.  Because that will win me back, destroying my friend’s property.”   

“That asshole.”  Steve mumbled.

“Yeah, He is.”  She sighed.

“So why did you date him?”  Steve fired up at once. 

“What does it matter it’s over now?”  She shot back.  She wasn’t about to be lectured by her Brother.

“Well let’s see.  He acted like he owned you.  I never liked the way he treated you and he always looked down on us.  You know all he wanted to get from you….”

  “Yeah well he never got it!”  She shot back angrily. “And even if he did it is none of your business!” 

“That only made him try harder” Steve huffed. “And it is my business I’m your BIG Brother.”  He straightened up to emphasize his height.   She laughed at the gesture.

  “You…Um I can trust you and Wes right?”  Steve asked

  “What do you mean?”  She set her book aside and stared questioningly at her brother.

“I mean the more you… You and Wes have known each other forever… and you decide that he’s the one.  But believe me sis.  I mean Wes is great and all but he may not be the guy for you for forever and…I just don’t um think you should.” 

“NO!”  She cut in “not that, which again is none of your business, I…yes you can trust us.” 

Steve began to turn toward his room, “Oh, well Wes is a nice guy and like a said you’ve known him forever.  Hell, he used to be here all the time.  I always thought you guys would be good together.  I don’t know why you didn’t date him before.”    

“I don’t know... He’s sweet but, well...I don’t know.”

“Oh was he not cool enough? Or is he really gay? ” Steve asked.. 

“What?  No!  He’s just.”  She stammered.

  “A geek” Steve stated simply.

“Yes, but that wasn’t it.”  She defended.

“You’re a geek so it’s perfect.”  He smiled. 

“I am not!”

“Steven!  You’re going to be late for work!”  Yelled their Father.  “And since you’re not going to college you need this job.”

“Don’t start Dad!  I’ll go next year.” Steve grumbled.

“Great!  So I can have two of you at school at the same time!  Thanks for that. ”

“I thought you wanted me to stay home today?”  Steve responded

“That was before you started to fight with your sister.” Their father sighed.

“We’re not fighting!”  Steve and Beth both called.  Then they started to laugh. 

“We’ll talk when I get home.”  Steve eyed his sister. 

“Like I have to wait that long. You’ll call me on your lunch break.  Get a girlfriend, loser!”  She laughed. 

“Love ya sis.  Maybe I can set up a Lord of the Rings, Star Wars date for you and Wes.” he laughed and ducked out of the doorway as another pillow flew at him. 

“Only if you play Dungeons and Dragons with us afterwards!”  He heard her yell.  “I know where you keep your twelve sided dice!” 

The smile that had played on her lips slowly slid off as she picked up her book.  Finding her page she stared but couldn’t start to read.  Steve’s words had stung a bit.  Why had she dated Corey and not Wes?  She always told herself it was because Wes never made a move.  It was easier to convince herself that he just wanted to be friends than pursue something more that friendship.  Was she really that shallow?

The group had already surrounded the cabin, with more coming out of the woods.  John loaded his shot gun and watched as they closed in.  He heard their thumping shuffles on the wooden porch.  Spying through a gap in the dusty blinds he noted that the main group continued past the tiny house along the wood line.  John slowly inched his way back from the window.  A cool breeze stirred the dust in the room. 

Finger nails scrapped across the old metal screens.  He readied the gun, aiming at the open window.  There was a thump on the door followed by another.  A slow pounding started on a window and the continued scraping on the screen had John aiming from door to windows.  He backed further and further into his room.  The curtains rustled in the breeze, causing John to spin back toward the open window. 

The breeze brought with it a foul stench of decay into the room.  A ragged finger was caught in one of the holes in the screen.  Flies buzzed in through the hole as they crawled off the ragged flesh.  Several pieces of skin clung to the barred metal.  John blew out the breath he was holding.  Then screen tore and grey green hand slid into the room. Sheets of flesh tore off while it reached in.  Gagging on the stench and disgust John’s mind filled with terror.   Rushing forward in panic and desperation he slammed the window with all his might.  The hand broke free from its owner and flopped uselessly to the floor.  The pounding on the windows and door increased.

Surveying the hand, John smiled.  His relief was short lived as a window cracked.  He waited for a moment, but the window held.  He hurried down to the cellar.  Returning with several boards and a hammer he hastily barricaded the door and windows.  Grabbing boxes of shotgun shells out of the closet he loaded the gun to capacity.  Shoving the barrel to the broken pane he waited until one of them pressed their face against the glass. 

The air was filled with exploding flesh and the smell of gunpowder. 

“Dammit!”  Wes grunted as he surveyed the flattened tires of his car.  Anger got better of him and he kicked the rubber.   

“They are not going to unflatten no matter how many times you go out and stare at them.”  His mother sighed wearily from the door, “Come back in I need your help.”

Wes followed his mother back inside and over to the couch to check on Reg.  He was pale and sweaty. 

“Can you make some more tea please?” 

Wes made his way to the kitchen and watched as his mother attempted to get Reg to drink something.  Returning to the living room Wes handed his mother the beverage. 

“Reg, honey, try to drink this.  It will make you feel better.”

“My head….hurts so bad….”  Reg moaned. 

Wes ran to the bathroom to grab a bottle of aspirin but found they were all empty.  Returning he found his mother on the phone.  “I’m on hold It says the wait time is 2 hours!”  Say cried hanging up.  Tears were welling up in her eyes.  She swiped them away trying not to let Wes see.  He pretended not to notice while he knelt down next to Reg. 

“I’m sorry, we are out of aspirin.  I will run out to get some.” Wes covered his nose as he pretending to scratch, Reg’s putrid breath turned his stomach.  Reg’s skin was like marble, grey and white hanging slacked on his face, his lips were white and chapped.  A shudder ran through Wes as he felt the cold hand of Stepfather take his hand.

“I’m ok,” his words barley a whisper, “you shouldn’t try to go anywhere.”

“Unbelievable!”  Wes turned to see his mother’s look of anxiety and anger.  “How can I get an ambulance if I can’t even get someone on the phone for several hours?”

Wes remembered the news item from his radio.  He made his way next to his mother in the kitchen.  Turning his back to Reg.  “I heard this morning… they said there is no room in the emergency rooms so we can’t take him there.  The Hosptials are all full. ” He whispered.   

“So what do we do?”  She whimpered.   

Their whispered conversation was instantly cut short when Reg sat up.  They waited but he simply moaned and lay back down on the couch.   “My stomach…so hungry.” He groaned. 

“I’ll make you some soup.”  Wes’ mother perked up.  “He hasn’t eaten since he got sick.”

“Anything I can do to help?”  Wes asked.

“No honey, I…no that is ok.”  She patted him on the arm and began to bustle around the kitchen.  Wes looked over at Reg.  His eyes were closed as he lay on the couch.  Trying to shake the fear building in him Wes wandered back upstairs to his room. 

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Wes became lost in worries.  A vibration and a familiar tune caused him to just.  Frantically he fumbled in his pocket to extricate his phone with some difficulty.   

“Wes have you seen the news?”  Beth demanded without preamble. 

“No, well I heard the hospitals are all full.  Mom was told it would be hours before even 911 would answer.  What have you heard?  What is happening?  Have they made any progress in finding a cure?  Dad is really bad off.”  

“No, in fact they don’t seem to know anything.  People are locking themselves in their houses or trying to get out of the cities.  People are walking around with surgical masks and oh.  They said people should avoid contact. And the CDC said something about hand sanitizer seeming to speed up the infection.”  Beth spoke quickly, panic in her tone. 

“Yeah Mom heard that already and threw out every bottle in the house.  I swear she was a junkie on that stuff. She was always on me to use it.  She must have thrown out, like ten bottles.”  Wes sighed and rubbed his face with his free hand.  “Beth, I don’t know what Mom’ll do if something happens to him.” 

For a few moments neither spoke, “He is my Dad; he is more of a father than that other bastard ever was.”  Wes continued as a tear ran down his cheek.  

From downstairs a painful hacking cough traveled to Wes’ ears.  He listened as his mother fussed over his stepfather.  “I’m worried.”

“I know, but he’ll be ok.”  Beth’s gentle voice soothed him. 

“He’s never hit us, or gotten drunk, I think I’ve seen him have like two beers the entire time they’ve been married.”  Wes was rambling and Beth let him.  This was all information she already knew.  Wes had basically lived at the McDaniel house when he was much younger.  Beth’s father had actually beaten up Wes’ real father at one point right after Wes’ mother finally got the courage to kick him out.   Reg loved Wes’ mother and Wes loved him for being so good to her. 

“Thanks for always being there for me.”  Wes smiled into the phone. 

“Thanks for being there for me.  I will never forget what you did when Mom died.  Without you Steve would have done all the cooking, and that might have been the end of us all.”  She gave a laugh squelching the sob that threatened. 

A long silence stretched, interrupted only by the sounds of coughing and moaning from downstairs. 

Beth broke the void, “Aunt Marge just arrived.” 

“What? Oh the book, yeah it starts to get fun from there.” 

They spent several minutes discussing the books and the first two movies they had watched together.  The conversation was enjoyable and made Wes forget how worried he was.  That was until Reg started coughing again a dry that rasping cough that sounded truly painful.

“I gotta go.  I need to help Mom.  It sounds like we need to get Dad to a hospital even if we have to take a number.” 

Beth wished him luck, “Remember if things get bad, Dad will get us out of town.”  She said goodbye and hung up.  Wes listened as Reg coughed and coughed then moaned.  He heard his mother call for him.  Then he heard Reg start coughing and coughing then suddenly stopped.  Wes froze, with his hand on the knob of his door.