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

 Ben rushed forward, tackling the man to the ground. Amy followed. Jumping over the pair, she stood on Norman’s head, pushing his face to the side.

“Ben, there’s a hand fork by your side,” she said, motioning to the garden tool in the flowerbed.

He nodded. Keeping his bulk pressed on the man, he felt blindly for the fork. Norman fought hard against his oppressors. He arched his back, with muffled growls sounding beneath Amy’s foot.

“Got it.” Ben said, bringing the tool into view. He rose to his feet, placing a boot on the man’s chest. Amy twisted Norman’s head, exposing his right ear. In an instant, Ben drove the pointed tips into the man’s temple. He applied force, pushing the metal prongs deeper. Amy looked away as a startled cry came from Norman. Ben stomped on the handle, plunging the fork down to the hilt. She could feel the corpse shudder beneath her foot, its muscles twitching until it finally lay still.

“Are you okay?” Ben asked.

Amy nodded, swallowing hard before responding. “He was my neighbour.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She looked away, fighting to keep the tremors out of her voice. “Shall we go back to playing Billy Burglar?”

She motioned towards the kitchen window, casting a glance at Norman. She couldn’t help but wonder whether her family had succumbed to the same fate. What if they were already dead? What if she was too late?

“We need something to smash it,” Ben said, tearing Amy away from her morbid thoughts. “Any ideas?”

“Try Norman’s garden.” She led Ben over to the wall. “How about something on that barbecue?” She pointed towards the fixed appliance near the conservatory doors. A series of cooking utensils hung from the grill. They shimmered under a caressing breeze.

“Yeah, maybe. I’ll go have a look and see what’s there.”

Amy stepped back as Ben hoisted himself over the wall. He landed with a soft thud on the other side before stealthily moving over the lawn. She looked back towards Norman’s corpse, ensuring he hadn’t moved. The body remained still; the trowel handle jutting skyward. She looked back at Ben as he examined the contents of the barbecue. A frown creased his face as he spotted something next to the glass doors.

“I’ve got something even better,” he hollered. She watched him stoop down next to the conservatory windows. Before he could grab the item, a heavy thud sent him staggering aside.

“Fuck!”

Amy moved along the side of the wall, searching for the cause of Ben’s outburst. When the glass panels came into view, she saw the decrepit form of Norman’s father slamming the door in a rage. His muffled roar showered the glass in crimson spittle.

“I think you should get out of there,” she said

“Yep.”

Ben stooped down and retrieved the hammer he had spotted before rushing back to her. She stepped aside as he vaulted the wall, keeping her eyes on the glass doors of the conservatory. Ben raised the hammer before her.

“Good call.”

She followed him as he approached her kitchen window. Without hesitating, he swung the hammer towards the glass. The metal head collided with the top corner of the window, creating a web-like crack. He swung again, connecting with the centre of the glass, causing it to shatter. The pair jumped back as the diamond shards scattered across the floor. Ben stepped forward. Taking off his jacket and wrapping it around his palm, he brushed the remaining shards aside.

“You live alone, right?” He unwrapped his hand and spread the jacket over the window ledge.

“Yeah.”

 “Are there keys in the back door?”

Amy nodded.

“Okay, wait here, I’ll open the door for you.” With that, Ben vaulted the windowsill and disappeared inside her home.

Amy waited, looking back at Norman’s motionless corpse. Seconds passed before she heard the rattle of keys. The door swung wide, with Ben stepping back to allow her entry.

“Nice place.” He smiled.

“Thanks.”

The kitchen was as she had left it, discounting the particles of glass scattered everywhere. She carefully walked over the broken shards, cringing as the crunch beneath her shoes filled the silent house. Eventually, the hallway came into view. Amy continued to step cautiously as she left the kitchen behind. Her mobile phone was on the table near the front door, but to reach it, she had to walk past the living room.

“What are you waiting for?” Ben asked. “The house was secure when we got here.”

“You’ve got me spooked now,” she hissed, keeping her eyes fixed on the open door as she passed. With a deep breath, she rushed the last few steps and grabbed the phone. The list of missed calls brought tears to her eyes. She quickly scanned through them all. Her mother and grandparents had each tried to ring many times. Not waiting a second longer, she dialled the first number.

18

“What do you want?”

The demand came from within the house. Frank looked past the barrel of the shotgun, trying to see through the gap in the door. A wrinkled eye topped with a furrowed brow was the gunman’s only displayed feature.

“What do you think we want? Let us in!”

Frank could hear the zombie drawing near. He felt a tug on his shirt as Lisa tried to get his attention.

“C’mon.” She urged.

Frank shrugged away her grip, maintaining his locked stare with the elderly farmer.

“Are you hurt?”

“What?”

“Are you hurt?”

“We fucking will be if you don’t open this door!”

An enthusiastic shriek caught Frank’s attention. Tearing his eyes away from the farmer, he watched the undead woman as she neared. Drool spilled from her mouth. She fixed the pair with wide, crazed eyes. Frank turned back to the man.

“We’re gonna die out here. Let us inside!”

The farmer considered the option as the undead woman reached the end of the