The Virus by Lee, Damien (summer books txt) 📕

going until he found a suitable farm. He made for the driver’s seat, but a distant scream stopped him in his tracks.

He turned, trying to pinpoint the person in distress. The fields were empty. He listened again. There was no further sound. He shook his head as he opened the driver’s door, certain that his sanity was wavering.

When he heard the scream again, he knew he wasn’t going crazy. He dashed to the back of the van. In the distance, he saw movement; a trio of people being chased by another three across the fields. He knew he had to act fast. Sprinting back to the van, he restarted the engine and swung the vehicle into a nearby wire fence. The barrier gave way without resistance, and once again Frank found himself leap-frogging over mounds of cultivated earth. The fleeing people came into view as he neared. Two women and a bearded man were out front. The three pursuing them were closing in. Frank floored the accelerator, unsure whether he would catch up before the creatures claimed their first victim.

With a shriek of delight, one pursuer lurched forward and dragged the bearded man to the ground. A pang of guilt swept through Frank as two of the creatures tore into their prey. He didn’t slow as he neared. The man was a lost cause. He focused on the two women ahead of him with the remaining zombie in pursuit.

He pounded the horn, beeping intermittently as he approached. The creature was unfazed, its eager eyes fixed on the nearest woman. She shot a glance behind her and screamed for help when she saw the prison van.

Not willing to damage the van further, Frank veered left until he was side by side with the zombie. The creature regarded him with a glare before reaching towards the woman. Frank swung his door open, smashing the zombie on the back. It stumbled and fell, missing the woman by inches. Frank accelerated until he was level with her.

“Get in!”

The woman ran around to the passenger side as he pulled to a stop. “Did you save the guy?” She wheezed as she jumped into the seat.

“He’s dead.”

The woman nodded, not a sign of empathy shrouding her flawless features. She ran fingers through her long, blonde hair, tying it back into a ponytail. Her steely blue eyes fixed ahead as Frank took off once again.

“Let’s catch up to her before any more of those things come,” she said.

Frank looked ahead at the figure in the distance. He pushed the accelerator harder, decreasing the gap between them and the fleeing woman.

“You know these people?” he asked, casting a curious look towards his passenger. She shook her head. “Do you know what the hell’s going on?” He pressed.

“Let’s just pick her up first and we’ll share stories when we’re safe.”

Frank scoffed and looked back at the woman ahead of them.

He beeped his horn as they approached, waiting for her to turn around. She kept running, oblivious to their presence.

“Hey, lady!” Frank bellowed as they drew level, but she still didn’t respond. He frowned at his passenger. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s deaf.”

With a scowl, Frank pushed the van further until they were within the woman’s line of sight.

“Hey!”

He waved an arm through the window until her eyes locked on the van. She stopped and hurried over as they slowed to a halt.

“She hasn’t been bitten, has she?” Frank murmured.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

Frank leaned out of the window as she drew near. “Are you okay?” he asked.

The woman looked at him with a frown before launching into a tirade of indecipherable jargon.

“Are you sure she hasn’t been bitten?” Frank asked after a couple of seconds of the gibberish.

“She’s deaf. She communicates through sign language.”

 Frank observed the woman’s actions, trying to understand what she was saying. When she brushed a hand under her chin, he realised what she meant.

“The guy with the beard? He’s back there.”

The woman glanced in the direction and stared at him with wide eyes.

“He’s dead.”

Frank dragged a finger across his neck to ensure she understood. She put a hand to her mouth and began to bawl.

“Oh, shit.”

He swung the door wide and jumped from the van. But as soon as he walked towards her, the woman whirled around and bolted towards the peak of an embankment.

“Wait!”

He ran after her. The passenger door slammed behind him and he heard his companion join the pursuit.

“We need to get out of here,” she said as she caught up to him. “There could be more of them.”

Frank scanned the area as they ran after the woman. There didn’t seem to be anyone else around. The woman reached the peak of the embankment. She tried to slow, but her feet slipped from under her. Frank watched in horror as she tried to turn. In an instant, she had vanished over the side. The pair dashed forward until they reached the peak.

They peered over the top, assessing the steepness of the other side. It was a huge drop. It was then that Frank observed the scene beneath them. A mangled sheep’s carcass lay at the bottom with the deaf woman sprawled nearby. Atop her was a second sheep. It had finished eating its own kind and now feasted on her. Its white fleece was red with congealing blood, its ravenous moans audible as it devoured its prey.

His new companion put a hand to her mouth and turned away, heading back to the van. Frank followed her, the image of the sheep tearing through the woman’s stomach lingering in his mind. He had no idea the virus could spread to animals. He still didn’t know if it was a virus. He jogged to meet his passenger as she approached the vehicle.

“Okay,