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

field. She raced over to the pair with arms outstretched. With a growl of disdain, the farmer swung the door wide and turned the shotgun on her. A deafening blast caused Frank and Lisa to recoil as the woman’s head exploded into fragments. They watched the twitching body fall to the ground before turning back to the farmer.

“Look, we’re not injured and we don’t mean any harm; all we want is a safe place.”

The elderly man regarded the pair with a frown.

“Okay,” he said after a moment of deliberation. “But there’s not much food here and I’ve already got a house full.”

He stepped aside to allow the pair entry, closing the door behind them. The hallway was dark and humid. A slit of light shone through a gap in one of the boards. Motes of dust danced in the fleeting light, disturbed by the arrival of the pair. Frank scanned the narrow confines, trying to take in his surroundings. He listened to the snap of bolts and rattle of a chain behind him. Once finished, the farmer motioned for them to follow him.

“We’ve got two more joining us,” he announced as he led them into the lounge.

Frank looked around at the four faces in the room. He counted two women, and a man seated on the couch with a lone woman sat on a rug near the empty fireplace.

“Make your own introductions. I’ll be back in a minute.”

They all watched the farmer hobble out of the room.

“I’m Louise.” the woman on the floor smiled. She was painfully thin with sharp features. Her hazel eyes danced between the pair, staring at them expectantly.

“I’m Frank,” he muttered.

“And I’m Lisa.” She grinned forcefully, digging Frank in the ribs.

“I’m Simon.” the chubby man on the couch raised his hand. His swollen face encompassed his tired eyes. Like pissholes in the snow, Frank thought. Simon placed an arm around his equally obese spouse. “And this is my wife, Elaine.”

Lisa nodded warmly as she turned her attention to the last, unidentified, female. Sensing the gaze of the group, the teenager looked up. Streaks of purple ran through her long black hair. The flickering candlelight was reflected in the various piercings adorning her face. Her cold, blue eyes stared at Lisa.

“Tina,” she uttered shortly

“Nice to meet you, Tina. So, who’s the old codger?” Lisa motioned to the door.

“His name is Ronald Carter,” Elaine said. “He’s a lovely man.”

“Yeah, he seems quite the charmer.” Frank scoffed, rolling his eyes as he approached the window. Peering through the gap, he saw no sign of the infected. He sighed indignantly as he turned back to the room. “So what the hell is going on here?”

Simon shrugged. “You know just as much as us.”

“No, I don’t. All I’ve seen is a bunch of guys eating people. Then they get up with their guts hanging out and go after others. That’s it.”

“Well c’mon you must have been living under a rock.” Simon chortled. “Don’t you own a TV?”

“They don’t allow them in Harrodale.”

The smile slid off Simon’s face. The group regarded Frank with wide eyes. Even the teenager’s interest had been caught by the abrupt announcement. Frank looked between them until his eyes settled on Lisa.

“So he was a prisoner.” She shrugged. “Who gives a shit?”

“I do!” Simon snapped. “Harrodale is a high security prison. Only the worst criminals are kept there.”

“That’s true,” Elaine said, gripping her husband’s arm. “He could be a killer or a rapist.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Frank said. “Sex offenders don’t last five minutes in there.”

“So you’re a killer then?”

Frank didn’t respond.

The group regarded him with a horrified expression as Ronald returned to the room.

“What’s up with you lot?”

“Ask him,” Simon answered, pointing an accusing finger at Frank.

“What’s the matter, have you been bit? Are you one of them?”

Frank made to answer but was stopped by an outburst from Elaine, her dark curled hair bouncing as she jumped to her feet.

“He might as well be. He’s a serial killer from Harrodale.”

“Serial killer?” Frank scoffed. “Serial killer implies I’ve killed loads of people. I only killed one.” He looked around at the horrified faces. “Disregarding the zombies I’ve killed today, of course.”

“I’m not having a serial killer in my house,” Ronald said.

“I told you, I’m not a serial killer. I’ve gotta kill someone else before I get that title.”

“Get out!”

Frank remained still, glaring at the farmer. After a brief silence, the old man shrugged his shoulders.

“Fine.”

He approached the shotgun propped up against the wall.

In an instant, Frank darted forward, grabbing Ronald before he could seize the weapon.

“Don’t even think about it, old man.”

“Let go of me!”

“I don’t want to hurt you, but if you’re a threat to me, I won’t think twice about becoming a serial killer.”

“You don’t frighten me. And I’m not having the likes of you in my house.”

“What if those things get in here? How many bullets do you have?”

Ronald looked pleadingly at the others, but nobody came to his aid. “Enough,” he stammered.

“And will you have time to reload? Who’s going to back you up? This guy?” Frank pointed to the obese man who stood next to the couch.

Ronald’s eyes flicked to Simon before returning to Frank. “They—They won’t get in here,” he stammered.

“How do you know that? You’re gonna have to leave, eventually. What if those things are still outside?”

He released his grip as the farmer sighed dejectedly.

“You need me,” Frank said. “I’m not going to harm any of you. If everyone keeps cool, we might survive this.”

“Oh, please.” The teenager rolled her eyes. “We’re not going to survive this. Nobody will.”

“Why not?” Lisa asked.

“Because this is the end of the world. The virus isn’t just here. It’s