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

“We’re the ones who saved you,” the blonde woman told him. “I’m Lisa, this is Frank, and that’s Tina.”

Amy looked around at the familiar surroundings of her childhood. Everything was the way she remembered it. Framed photographs were fixed around the fireplace. Many of the beaming faces belonged to her. The old oak coffee table stood proud in the middle of the room; the centrepiece surrounded by the rest of the furniture. The worn sofa that had been there longer than her years was still pointed towards the aged TV set. Then her gaze fell on the lone armchair; her grandfather’s ‘throne’ as he so often called it. A pang of grief gripped her stomach. She tried to dismiss it, focusing instead on the continuing conversation.

“That was some pretty reckless driving,” Frank said, eyeing Ben with distaste. “I’m guessing you’re a taxi driver?”

“Security,” Ben retorted. “What about you? Gunslinger? Cowboy?”

“Serial killer, actually.”

The remark came from an obese man as he, and a chubby woman, joined them in the living room. Amy looked from the couple back to Frank.

“You’re a serial killer?”

“Aren’t we all? You must’ve killed your fair share of zombies by now?”

“None.”

“Somehow I’m not surprised. I’m guessing you’ve had your bodyguard here doing all the dirty work.”

Ben lunged forward but stopped short when the man forced a shotgun beneath his chin.

“Play nice doggie, or you’ll be put down,” Frank said.

Amy grabbed Ben’s arm, willing him not to continue. After a tense silence, he tipped his head back and returned to her side.

“Good boy. Now if you want to stay here, you have to help out.”

“With what?” Amy asked.

“Put it this way, your grandparents were hardly stocking up when this zombie epidemic hit. We need supplies. First thing tomorrow, we’re heading to the nearest town and ransacking it. If you want to stay here, you’ll help.”

“Not likely,” Ben replied. “At first light, we’re leaving.”

Frank glared at the man. After a few seconds, he raised the shotgun again.

“If you’re not going to help us, then I see no use for you.”

“What’re you gonna do? Kill us?”

“No. I’ll give you five seconds to leave. After that then, yes, I’ll kill you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Really? What if I tell you this fat cunt wasn’t lying when he said I was a killer?” He motioned towards the chubby man stood by the kitchen.

“I wasn’t,” the man urged, shaking his head rapidly. “He’s from Harrodale.”

Amy looked back at the gunman who grinned smugly at Ben.

“Make no mistake; I’ll blow your head off without thinking twice.”

Before Ben could answer, she butted in.

“Okay, we might help you. But first, answer me this; did you kill my grandparents?”

Frank scoffed, lowering the shotgun once more.

“Your grandmother was already dead when we got here. Soon after, your grandfather killed himself.”

The news hurt. But Amy had experienced far too much grief for the shock to sink in.

“Where are they?”

She watched as he nodded towards the window. “With the rest of the dead.”

Amy closed her eyes. She exhaled slowly as she turned back to the two men.

“Okay, we’ll stay the night, and we’ll help them,” she whispered, trying to stop the tears from flooding her eyes.

“What?” Ben spat. “I’m not risking our lives going into town when it doesn’t benefit us.”

“Shh! It does benefit us.”

“How?”

“We can’t get very far without transport, can we?”

Ben looked towards the window, realisation showing on his face.

“Your car is in no fit state to drive,” Amy continued. “I say we go to town, we help them out, get a few things for ourselves and take a car while we’re there.”

Ben and Glen nodded. Amy turned to face the rest of the room.

“Okay, we’ll help you,” she said. “But can we please stop all this negativity? We’re in this together, right?”

“Right,” Lisa smiled. “We’re not bad people. Even Frank here has a pleasant side.”

The man twisted his face into a sickly grin before rolling his eyes.

“Let’s just be civil to each other from now on.”

“That’s fair enough,” Amy said. “So where can we sleep?”

“Wherever you want.” Frank shrugged, sitting down in the armchair.

“Can I take my grandparents’ room?”

“Sure.”

“What?” the obese man gasped. “After everything we went through to clean that damn room?”

“What can I say?” Frank said. “It was her grandparents’ house. If she wants to sleep there, she can.”

“This is ridiculous!”

“Okay, we’re gonna turn in,” Amy announced over the man’s indignant grumblings. “We’ll see you guys tomorrow.” She motioned for her two companions to follow her.

“Go on, I’ll be up in a sec,” Ben said.

Amy looked back at him with a frown. “Fair enough, are you coming, Glen?”

He nodded, following her to the doorway, but Amy didn’t leave. She turned, watching as Ben stepped forward.

“Got a problem, friend?” Frank asked from the armchair.

“I don’t know yet.” Ben sat on the edge of the coffee table to face Frank. “If we help you, you have to help us.”

“Are we not doing that by letting you stay here?”

“No, this house belongs to Amy’s family. We’re letting you stay here.”

Frank eye’s flitted to her before drifting back to Ben. “The rules have changed pal. It’s survival of the fittest now. We hold all the weapons, which makes it our house. So don’t try anything funny.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Ben said. “But weapons or not, if you go into that bedroom at any point, I’ll kill you.”

“Why the fuck would I wanna go in there? I admit it’s been a while since I’ve seen a threesome, but two fellas popping a lass does nothing for me.”

Amy saw Ben’s back tense. He squeezed his hand into a fist as he leaned forward.

“It’s not like that,”