Holy Crap! Part 1: Bite out of crime

November 3, 2008

I’m thinking canned turkey with canned sweet potatoes, canned sweet corn, and boxed mashed potatoes, with that quick mix gravy for thanksgiving, it still a few weeks off, but, if I start looking for this stuff now it might work. Ugh maybe when all of this is over I’ll buy a farm some where and grow my own fresh food. Despite the Zompocalypse I wanted Marek to feel like it was ok to have happy moments of normality, that I would take care of him, of course I couldn’t even take care of myself let alone a 5 ½ yr old but the calmer he was the better he’d listen, I looked at him, curled up with Walker on top of his sleeping bag; Walker had been my neighbor’s dog…

Sorry, I have a feeling I’m giving you the impression that everything is okay and we’re just peachy. Let me start from the day, that if I knew then what I know now, I would have joined the Gun of the Month Club.

It was Friday morning November 7th of 2007 I had just gotten off work and was at the gas station filling up my rental, stupid blazer I missed my MDX I hoped that I would get it back soon, some brain dead teenager had ran a stop sign and t-boned me with her daddy’s truck luckily on the passenger side, which happened last week, it had taken me five days for her damn insurance company to get me a rental and I was paying $20 extra a day for the bigger car. I leaned on the Blazer resting my head on it hardly listening to the anything I was tired, just letting the cheesy music from the gas station flout in my ears the slight murmuring of people, and then my ear caught part of a conversation that startled me back into the real world. Did I just hear some one say that a group of people were attacking and biting people? That can’t be right. Course this town is so dull that it wouldn’t surprise me if someone was trying to make some drama just for something to do. Probably some stupid joke. The gas handle clicked and I placed it back in its cradle, I quickly got in and started the car cranking the heater it was unusually cold even for November, I plugged in my iPod not wanting to hear morning talk radio and headed home.

The sun was just over the clouds when I got to the stairs of were I lived. I headed towards my apartment, which was on the third floor. I had asked for it specifically when I was looking at the apartment complex because I worked the grave yard shift and didn’t want to be woken up by people thumping there music or people who walk with a heavy foot. Fucking Trevor. He was the reason I ended doing a double last night. Thomas told me he went to the hospital because of a bite to his arm. Dumbass. If he’d treat his dog better then it probably wouldn’t have bitten him. Funny what you take for granted when everything is taken from you. Obviously it wasn’t the tail end of a bad joke I heard at the gas station. I should have enquired more about what I had heard and things might have changed for the better but, like human nature you never want to connect the dots till it’s too late.

I stopped at my front door staring at a piece of paper that said
Went to hospital Mareck is with Mali
Damon
Pulling my cell out of my pocket and speeding dialing my sister I got no answer and instead of waiting for her voicemail I hung up then hit speed dial again this time for Damon’s phone, he did answer.

“What happened, and why didn’t anyone call me?!” I demanded

“Thought we’d be home before you.” Damon sighed in to the phone

“But?” I raised and eyebrow turning for the stairs and heading down

“The doctor was almost done dressing her bites..”

“Wait she got bit?” I interrupted

“Yes some fuctard outside of blockbuster attacked your sister the minute she stepped out of the store, we got him off of her but she had some nasty bites and almost lost a few fingers, a couple of guys there wrestled him to the ground.” He explained, “Anyway the doctor was almost done when Adela said her arm was burning and she felt really cold, doc said it was because the bite had almost severed her fingers and to go to her family doc tomorrow to have the dressing changed and they’d show her how to do it her self, then she passed out.” He finished, he was worried and I could hear it not that he was trying to hide it.

I’m on my way, I’ll…”

“No, its ok, you need to sleep. Though you think you can take Marek to daycare I’m sure
Mal would like to get some actual sleep. I’ll pick him up later” Damon said this apologetic

I stopped nearly at that bottom of the stairs “When did you bring Marek back?” turning around and climbing back up the stair.

“After they had Addie in a room.” He sighed.

“Please call me with any news, ok?” I asked

“Yeah, get some rest. Bye” and the line went dead

I knocked on Mali’s door, Mali was short for Malivalaya, but I could never say her name so she asked to be called Mali, and she had no problem with that, I heard Walker her mix moot whining behind the door, he never barked I thought that was going to be a problem when she first got him, but she was a lonely old woman who hated cats, her son was some big shot lawyer that hardly came. The door opened and Walker jumped on me immediately licking and whining , I pushed him off .

“Ok down boy, nice to see you too.” I patted him on the head. “Where’s Marek?”

Mali smiled “He just woke up, I could keep him if you’d like.” She offered.

I looked at her tired face, considering it, no I thought don’t take advantage of people.

“That’s ok Mali, he’s been going on and on about macaroni day all week so I think he’d be upset if he missed it.” I chuckled

“Tia Lina?” Marek ran to the door, “Mommy got bit by a man.” He exclaim with a worried look.

“Ya se, tu pappy told me.” I answered in Spanglish, my father was half Brazilian half Bolivian and wanted us to learn Portuguese and Spanish, My sister only taught Marek Spanish not wanting to confuse him.

“Come on kiddo, let’s got get you ready for mac day.” I smiled

He ran back put on his shoes and jacket and ran back, we walked back home, which was conveniently next to my neighbor’s, unlocked the door and took down the note Damon had left, we walked in Marek went to his room to change, I went to the kitchen put on some coffee, that probably wouldn’t let me sleep when I got home but I didn’t care.

“Tia have you seen my pack?” Marek yelled from the back.

“Did you look in the closet?”

“NO! Oh I found it.” He said coming out of his room and climbing on to a chair, despite his age Marek spoke rather well for a 4 yr old, he was a bit small, but neither of his parents were tall, Adela my sister was 5’3” only and inch taller than I, and her husband Damon was 5’8”

I poured a bowl of cereal and placed it in front of Marek, when the coffee was done I poured it in my thermos, and waited for him to be done, then we head down and I strapped him in to his buster seat, and off we went.

At the daycare I noticed that some of the ladies where nervous, and whispering to each other.

“What’s up?” I asked Sarah

“Have you heard the news?” she asked almost squeaking, I shook my head

“Some group of people is goin around attacking people, but here is the thing, they’ve gone crazy because of the virus.” Her eyes were so wide I thought they’d pop out.

“I’ll keep an eye out for them, don’t let them in if they get close.” I winked, maybe I should take Mali up on her offer, but then I shook my head.

“Marek, ben aqui.” (Come here) Waving at him.

He ran over gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, I hugged him tightly and said “Be good, call me no matter what ok?” he nodded and ran back to a group of kids, I turned and left.

As soon as I walked in to the door around 8:15 it hit me that I was tired, walking in to my room I hung up my gun belt, with Marek at daycare and no one else home I didn’t see the need to put it in the gun safe didn’t even take out the clip, which was a blessing in disguise, I placed my iPod on the cradle turned it on, set the sleeper on it for 90 minute, got ready for bed and in less then two minutes I was out, the coffee hadn’t kept me up like I thought I would have.

I rolled over groggy looking at the clock it looked like a blurry 12:49 something had woken me up, I listen Walker was barking, strange I thought he never barks, I sat up and listen intently there was banging on the Mali’s door. I sat there rubbing my face, then I heard screaming from next door, I jumped up ran grabbing my gun in the process, undid the deadbolt yanked the door open, and squashed myself to the wall sliding as fast as I could without reveling myself to who ever was attacking Mali, I peek around the open door seeing a guy on top of Mali clawing and biting chunks out of her. I pointed my .45 caliber Beretta at the man and yelled, “GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!” He didn’t move. It was like he didn’t even hear me.

So ran toward him I kicked him in his side as hard as I could sending him flying sideways. I wasn’t going to shot and risk hitting Mali. Walker was barking and growling, he ran up and grabbed onto the guys sleeve and started jerking, Mali lay on the floor gasping, he had bitten her neck and blood was gushing out. He turned around, and for the first time I recognized him, it was Adrian from across the hall, his face was void of any expression despite that he was baring his teeth and hissing at me, I noticed blood stains on his shirt and deep gashes all over his body, his eyes were a milky brown and looked dead, I took a step back trained my gun at his chest. “Stay down I don’t want to shoot you Adrian.”

He lounged at me, I pulled the trigger twice hitting him in the chest, it barely jerked him, he kept coming at me, my brain went on auto then ‘take him out.’ I stared ‘NOW’ my brain yelled I raise my gun to his face and pulled the trigger for the third time, the back of his head exploded everywhere, he landed face down at the entrance.

I stepped over him, running to the kitchen and grabbing a dish towel and picking up the portable phone dialing 911 as I leaned over Mali pressing the towel over her neck, she was gasping for air, clawing at my sleeve. Why weren’t they answering, then a beep sounded and the machine said all “911 emergency all operators are busy please hold for the next available personal.”

“What the fuck!” 911 doesn’t put people on hold. EVER.

I looked at Mali’s eyes wide with fear and desperation, I dialed again this time.

“911 what’s your emergency?” said the voice on the other end

“I need an ambulance!” I growled

“What is your address?”

“4125 North 3250 West apartment 11K.” I spat looking at Mali, there was some much blood, and her eyes seemed heavy and ready to close, “Stay with me Mali!” I spoke loudly.

“The will be there in 30 minutes” the voice over the phone told me.

“The fuck? I’m not ordering a pizza, I need help my friend is dying and I Just shoot my neighbor!” I was yelling in to the phone, there seemed to be a lot yelling coming from every where.

“I’m sorry all units are busy. They’ll get there when they can, stay on the line.” Said the voice, I hung up

“Ok since there not coming to us, we’ll go to them.” I told Mali, she gasped one last time and closed her eyes

“NO MALI, NO STAY WITH ME!” I wanted to start CPR but with all the blood I didn’t know if it was Adrian’s blood or Mail’s so I just started chest compressions, but after 4 minutes I felt her pulse, nothing; she was gone, there was too much blood on me on every thing, walker whined.

I stood up shaking, what the hell was happening, how could all the unites be busy I shook my head I felt like I was out side of me looking in, just then Mali opened her eyes, and moaned, I just stared at her, yep kept right on staring as she got to her feet and came after me snapping her jaws and her arms raised. I backed up quickly and then stumbled a bit when I reached the little step her apartment had that led into her living room. Just as I was regaining my balance Mali lounged at me. I intern lounged to my side and avoided this thing that had taken over Mali. Not even getting to me feet I crawled on all fours to get to the door when I heard a growl behind me and it was Mali who was crawling after me with her teeth showing and no feeling in her eyes. I stumbled to my feet not taking my eyes off of Mali and then something took my legs out from underneath me and I fell back hitting my head on the lower part of the stair banister, at least that’s what I was told, and pain shot through me and everything went fuzzy I was on the floor and I was seeing stars, I felt someone grab my ankle, I tried to focus but my vision was too blurred to see straight, I saw some thin line flash and then heard a pop and a thud, Mali had been thrown off me to my right, then some one stepped over me and I heard another sickly pop, I shook my head my vision focused I looked up it was Josh from across the hall.

He held out his hand and I took it he pulled me easily to my feet I swayed a bit and he grabbed my shoulders until I was steady.

“Are you ok?” Josh asked looking into my eyes

I nodded then looked down at the floor “You killed Mali” I stated dumbfounded

“Well it was either her or you, and I figured since she was trying to bite you it was her.” He was still looking at me.

“Yeah, thanks I’m ok.” I replied and he let me go. “What’s happening?”

Josh shrugged “I’m not sure but there is a lot of military and hazmat people running around, I think they might be evacuating the city.”

“The city…” I whispered with wide eyes “Marek!” I turned for the stairs, but Josh caught me by my wrist.

“You might want to put on some shoes, and uh… some pants for that matter.” He smirked, looking me up and down.

I looked down and realized that I was just in my sleeping tank and panties blushing I ran apartment closing the door, but just as the door closed I remembered I had left my gun at Mali’s I had set it down to help her, I opened the door and sprinted down the hall into Mali’s apartment hearing Josh chuckle, running out heading to my place Josh was till there with a huge grin on his face, I stopped at my door. “Do all guys think of sex, even though there is an old dead women on the floor.” I closed the door but not before hearing

“I love the flowers.”


(Ok people first story ever, sorry about the errors I tried really hard to fix them. Enjoy)