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

“What?”

“She just rang. Look. Look.” She ushered him over to the machine and pressed the playback button. The heartfelt message floated around the room once more, with all eyes focused on the farmer.

“Amy. She’s alive.”

As the message concluded, Ronald wiped tears from his eyes. He sniffed hard as he picked up the phone.

“I have to let her know I’m okay,” he said, more to himself than to the others. He retrieved a leather-bound book from a nearby drawer and skimmed through the pages. The group watched as he punched in a phone number.

“Damn it. It’s saying it can’t connect.” He slammed the receiver down and turned to the group. “What does that mean?”

“Maybe she hasn’t got a signal.” Lisa offered. “Try again in a bit, you might have more luck.”

“Don’t wait too long,” the teenager said. “All communication will stop shortly.”

“What?”

“Have you guys never seen a zombie movie?” She laughed. “First communication goes. Then you say goodbye to electricity, running water, and before you know it, you’re living like a Neanderthal rubbing sticks together to make fire.”

“She’s right,” Lisa said. “Give it a few minutes, then try ringing again.”

Ronald gnawed at his fingernails as he paced back and forth. The group watched, all except Frank, who had taken to the window once more.

“Where are your animals?” he asked after a while.

“What?”

“Your animals, where are they?”

“I only have a dozen sheep. They’re in the next field across, and I got chickens in a coop outside. Why do you ask?”

“Because the animals are turning as well. We saw a sheep eat a woman earlier, it might have been one of yours.”

“Jesus Christ.” The farmer groaned, running a hand through his wavy hair.

Frank eyed the troubled look on the old man’s face. “What is it?”

“I’m just thinking. Gordon Chesterfield’s slaughterhouse is only ten miles away. He’s one of the biggest distributors of meat in the country.”

“So that means he has animals there?” Lisa asked.

“Hundreds. Farmers send him their stock to be slaughtered. Hell, I used to send my cattle there.”

“Shit, let’s just hope they don’t head this way.”

Ronald tried the phone again. After a few seconds, he growled and slammed the handset back down.

Minutes passed with the farmer becoming more and more agitated. Eventually, the silence was broken as Louise got to her feet.

“Erm, Ronald?” She began, slowly approaching the man.

He looked up at her, chewing another fingernail. “What?”

“Is it okay if I use your bathroom?”

He nodded shortly.

“Thanks.”

“Top of the stairs, first door on your left.”

“Got it.”

Louise stepped out of the living room and into the hallway. The area was dark; something she wasn’t accustomed to during the early hours of the afternoon. She blinked hard, trying to adjust her eyes to the gloom as she made her way up the stairs. The candlelight was enough to illuminate the living room, but darkness blanketed the rest of the house. A shuffling sound greeted her as she reached the top of the staircase. She turned, startled by the noise. She located the source behind a closed door.

“Mrs. Carter?” She uttered softly. She stared at the door. Through the gloom, she could see it had been barricaded shut. Four thick planks adorned its wooden frame. Deciding to ask Ronald when she returned, she made for the bathroom. That was until a small opening in the door caught her eye. She had to look twice, but sure enough, towards the bottom of the barricade, was a small rectangular hole. She stopped and studied the gap. It had been crudely cut out of the door, leaving a hole the size of a large letterbox. She stooped down, trying to see into the room beyond. Her eyes could not penetrate the darkness, but her ears picked up a faint whisper coming from within.

“Mrs. Carter?” She repeated, slowly approaching the gap. “Are you okay?”

The whispers grew louder as she neared, but not enough to become decipherable.

“What are you saying?” Louise turned her ear towards the gap. A sudden, delighted shriek came from the room.

“Mrs. Carter, are you—”

Her sentence was cut short as two hands sprung from the darkness. They grabbed the sides of her head, pulling her toward the gap. Louise screamed as her face was pressed up against the door. When she felt teeth clamp around her nose, she screamed louder. With a vicious yank, the nose was ripped off, leaving the woman sprawled on the floor, blood gushing from her face. As the zombie chewed hungrily, Louise let out another scream.

The first shriek caused every member of the group to flinch. While the rest of them exchanged alarmed glances, Frank grabbed a candle and made for the stairs. He bounded up, reaching the top as another scream sounded. The yellow glow illuminated Louise. She lay cowering on the floor in a crimson puddle, holding both hands to her face. The sound of eager chomping came from a boarded-up room.

“What the hell happened?”

Louise continued to howl as the rest of the group reached the top of the stairs. Each held a candle, contributing to the flickering light. Hearing their arrival, Frank turned and rounded on the farmer.

“Your wife’s a fucking zombie!”

He looked towards the hole in the door before staring back at the man with wide eyes.

“Have you been feeding her?!”

“She’s… my wife,” Ronald whimpered. “I couldn’t kill her.”

“Well, that’s a shame, because now I’m going to kill both of you.”

He grabbed Ronald by the neck, pinning him helplessly against the wall.

“Stop it!” Elaine whimpered.

Frank ignored her. He pressed his arm against the farmer’s throat, crushing his airway.

“Frank.”

The voice was Lisa’s. He pushed harder, watching as Ronald turned a dark shade of purple. Lisa jerked his shoulder.

“Frank!”

“What?”

He snapped