Stained (Zombie I Am Series Book 1)

By Mike Mauthor

A swift outbreak changed Lin Matthew's world forever.
A mysterious new student enrolled in Beaver High.
And a popular television show brought betrayal hence endangering Lin and his friends' life.

Stained is a different take of a zombie tale like no other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Mauthor
• Release date: Feb 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476393797

Mike Mauthor

-Book Reader ( Fav: Sphere and Pay it forward)- Movie Lover (Fav: too many to list)-Reality show Watcher ( Fav: survivor and big brother)This might sum it up but I'm also...-Ambitious Author(my blog:novelpro.weebly.com)- twitter follower (www.twitter.com/mauthor)- lay-back kind of guyI think that's enough about me, how about you?

Book preview

Stained

Or

Stained (Zombie I AM series Book 1)

by

Mike Mauthor

SMASHWORDS EDITION

PUBLISHED BY:

Mike Mauthor on Smashwords

Stained

Copyright 2011 Mike Mauthor

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Prologue

Chapter One: The Wristband

Chapter Two: Beaver High

Chapter Three: Their Stories

Chapter Four: The Catch-up Class

Chapter Five: Eating like a Pig

Chapter Six: Stained

Chapter Seven: The Search

Chapter Eight: Pick-up

Chapter Nine: Birthday Party

Chapter Ten: Versus

Chapter Eleven:Alice’s Knight in Shining Armor

Chapter Twelve: Absence and Lies

Chapter Thirteen: A very raining visit

Chapter Fourteen: Lin’s Plead

Chapter Fifteen: At the Dip Dish

Chapter Sixteen: The Discovery

Chapter Seventeen: The Chase

Chapter Eighteen: Trapped

Chapter Nineteen: Inside the Cage

Chapter Twenty: Radio Report

Chapter Twenty One: At the Hospital

Chapter Twenty Two: Joyride

Prologue

The Matthew Residence

At the base of the chesterfield couch, Lin’s back slouched on it as he swayed from side to side, an aggressive look cast on his face. His hands viciously tapped on the buttons of the videogame controller. His eyes pierced at the large television screen at the parlor cabinet. He bit his lower lip in frustration. The macho game character named Mack Powers had lost another life. Lin had one more life left. He pressed a button and the word Pause spread across the screen.

Maybe a snack would fuel my strength to finish level five with only one life left, Lin thought. With his left hand, he reached into the family size potato chips and slammed it right into his mouth. He clomped on it with great satisfaction, ignoring the crumbs that dripped from his lips onto his worn-out gray shirt. Grabbing the two-liter Mountain Dew soda from the corner of the coffee table, he guzzled it. He placed the two-liter back at the small, cup coaster. He idly wiped his greasy hand against his rugged jeans. A slight burp escaped from his mouth before he unpaused the game and continued to play. His fingers jammed at the buttons more violently than before. He had to complete the level, failure was not an option. He didn’t want to start this level all over again, not since he’s gotten this far. It has been three hours straight since he played the newly brought videogame titled The Fifth Forsaken. It was the latest game in The Forsaken franchise. He couldn’t wait to play it today. He had even decided to skip the church function this Saturday for it. His little sister, father and mother were there while he stayed at home. It would be another hour before they returned back.

From the corner of Lin’s eyes he saw how messy the parlor was. He would need to finish level five and clean up the place before they arrived. He now wished he had played the game in his room instead of the parlor but his reason rushed back at him. He wanted to play the videogame on a big screen. His small television at his room wouldn’t do the game justice. He had the rest of the time to play it up in his room; this was his only opportunity to play it the parlor without his parents’ refusal. Lin’s body now moved as Mack Powers moved. He pressed the buttons, hoping Mack Powers wouldn’t fall within the chasm on the ground. Lin smiled, Mack Powers succeeded in passing through the obstacle without dying. Mack Powers was now in the forest. Lin moved Mack Powers ahead when all of a sudden, from behind a thick bush; a sinister man with a sword cropped up and slashed Mack Powers. He fell down while the evil character smirked. The large television screen spelled GAME OVER, across the screen with a countdown beneath the word. Lin dropped the video game controller carelessly, upset. He didn’t finish the level. He had to start all over again.

He struggled as he stood up from the floor. He yawned, stretching his body. He felt sluggish. He had so much to do before his parents came back. He also felt sleepy. He longed to get a good sleep in his bed but he knew that leaving the parlor like this would get him in serious trouble. He covered his mouth as he yawned again. He didn’t realize how much of a mess he had made. He gazed at the crumbs that sprinkled across the couch and coffee table. Both the Oreo and chocolate chips remained on the coffee table, yet morsels of crumbs somehow reached the couch. He needed to vacuum the carpet. With a long sigh, he went to the cleaning pantry in the kitchen. He brought out the Spic and Span table cleaner along with a vacuum cleaner. He picked up each of the remaining cookies and placed them neatly into the box. He set them back in the refrigerator. He brushed the crumbs from the coffee table and the couch unto the carpet. Using the table cleaner, he sprayed it and cleansed the top with a clean rag. His final task of the day was the vacuuming and he did it as quickly as humanly possible. After some minutes drifted by, his mouth opened extremely wide, yawning. He was glad the cleaning was done and over with; his body couldn’t take working around any longer. Lin rushed to the pantry and put back the cleaning supplies. He grabbed his video game equipment, cradled it in his arms and climbed up the stairs to his room. He placed the video game system close to his television set and jumped into his bed. He closed his sleepy eyes and before he knew it he dozed off.

Lin’s ears heard a mixture of banging and distant screams. Lin wasn’t sure if he was imagining these noises. He rose his head up, waking up. A small yawn gushed out of his mouth as he stretched both arms in the air. He scratched his black, messy hair. Locks of his black hair slightly brushed his forehead. He could still hear the banging. At first he thought it was coming from his room but found it was from the main entrance door.

Did they forget their keys or something, Lin wondered. This was a very unusual behavior from his parents. Maybe it was his little sister.

After all Mackenzie is stubborn and stubborn children usually do the most stupid things, Lin thought, smirking at his own words of wisdom. Maybe mom and dad dropped her off to run some errands or something.

The banging was constant. If the bang got any louder, Lin predicted the door would break apart. He strode out of his room. He wondered how his little sister could hit the door like that. Was he sleeping that long not to have heard her? Was she that angry to hit the door with such violence? Even if she was angry, Mackenzie doesn’t have enough strength to make such an earsplitting noise. A hefty, sumo wrestler would be more likely. Lin was now at the stairs and his eyes stared at the door, taken aback. It was broken. The bang has now brought a crack at the mid section of the door, splinting it. Lin now heard constant screams coming from outside. Lin knew something was wrong. Whoever was out there was trying to get in the house by force. It wasn’t his sister out there. It was a stranger, perhaps a burglar.

Stop hitting the door or I’ll call the police, Lin shouted at the maniac that continued to bang the main door. Lin’s yell made the individual stop suddenly. Lin calmed down, happy whoever it was obeyed him. However, Lin thought he still needed to call 9-1-1 in case this person might lurk around the house. After climbing down the stairs, he went toward the parlor’s phone by the end table next to the couch. Reaching it, he noticed his cell phone was there also. Lin forgot he left it there. His stomach growled, he needed something to eat.

A few pizza rolls wouldn’t hurt, Lin thought, taking his cell phone with him instead to call the police. He proceeded into the kitchen while dialing 9-1-1. He held the cell on his left ear while opening the refrigerator with his right. He heard the constant beeping sound from the other end. The phone line was busy. Lin narrowed his eyes, wondering why this was so. His stomach grouched again as he decided to stow his cell inside his jean’s pocket. He knew he needed solid food, pizza rolls wouldn’t do. Lin’s hand reached for the lasagna in a plastic container when a loud crash caught his attention. Lin rushed out of the kitchen to see what the ruckus was at the parlor.

A stone boulder stood on the carpet ground, surrounded by shards of glass. From the broken window, three pale, sickly looking people fought to get into the house. Lin stared in horror, frozen by the unusual sight that stood at a distance before him. Their skins were pale gray, mouth smeared with some sort of thick, red slime. They moaned and growled incoherently. Outside, the bone chilling screams became more real to him. It made Lin realized the seriousness of the situation. In a nanosecond, the air seemed to have change from normality to an end-of-days feel to it. Lin shook off his state of shock and began to race toward the stairs. The intruders rushed after him. Lin climbed the stairs two at a time to run into his room. He slammed the door shut, panting. His heart beat rapidly. He hadn’t run with such haste in his life. He couldn’t calm his heart down, fear had made it worse.

Seconds later the door pounded. Lin didn’t know if it could stay locked for long. From his pocket Lin removed his cell phone and dialed 9-1-1 again while staring at the door, frightfully. This time the phone line was dead. This wasn’t good. For some reason Lin called his friend, Jerry, and it rang for a long time. The thunderous banging at the door made Lin flinch each time. The center of the door cracked, the wood splintered. It wouldn’t be long before they would get inside. Lin couldn’t process what was happening. All he knew what that those sickly people wanted to cause him harm. Lin remembered how they surged fiercely at him. The way their dead, bloodshot eyes gazed at him, like he was some kind of entrée to devour, like he was something to feast on. Jerry didn’t answer his cell so Lin hung up and placed it back inside his pocket. He decided to head toward the window, maybe he could jump from there and escape. Once he arrived he shoved the curtains aside. What he witnessed from his window stunned him for seconds. The neighborhood was in total chaos. Scattered cars blocked the drive way. Little, sick-looking children chased after an elderly man and began to bite him. A woman in her business attire pointed a gun and shot a man rushing toward her. More of the sickly people outnumbered the average, scared individuals.

This must be some kind of dream, he concluded, his eyes still glued at the bedlam scenery. Lin pinched his arms and cried out. This was reality. This wasn’t a dream at all. His face was drenched with fear. What in the world is going on here? The banging of the door never ceased to stop. With all his strength, he raised the entire window up as he felt the balmy wind. Lin hunched his back, about to carry his left leg over the window when a red-haired sickly woman burst through the broken door, her mouth gushed out thick spittle along with blood. Her face was pallid gray and very thin. Her carnivorous gaze on him brought chills all over Lin’s body. It wired his body to get out of the room pronto. The others sickly individuals joined behind her. Lin’s body crossed the window and he was about to fully fall out of the window when someone caught his right elbow. The red-haired sickly woman has gotten hold of his ankle. Lin now dangled upside down from outside the window. Lin screamed in horror and shook his body violently, fighting the hold of the pallid woman. He would rather have an awkward fall outside than to be taken by those hungry creatures. The woman lowered her neck down to his ankle and it seemed to Lin that she longed to bite it. Lin wiggled himself so hard that his right foot slipped out of his shoe as his body now fell and landed with a thud on top of the side porch roof. He lay there for a moment. A twinge of pain overtook his body but overall he was alright. His face tiled up at the window, the three sickly people gawked at his presence, determined to get him as they shifted forward in unison, attempting to get out of the window.

They certainly know how to use their brain, Lin thought as he watched their stupidity. He slowly lifted himself up, his body ached a bit from the fall but was glad that that the side pouch roof was build last year, all thanks to his mother demand. His cell phone rang. Lin retrieved the cell from his pocket and answered it.

Hello, 9-1-1? Ther— Lin shouted but was cut off.

No, this isn’t 9-1-1, this is your mother, her worried voice from cell receiver said.

Mom, Lin cried, somehow hearing her voice felt better than an 9-1-1 operator, something weird is going on at our neighborhood, you need to hurry here—,

I know baby, her mother said sobbingly, They attacked the church function.

Are you guys safe, Lin asked them. He glanced at the chaos on his neighborhood.

Yes, we are boarded inside the church’s basement. The door is pretty strong here. she said quickly, How are you doing?

Not so good, mom, please send help to get me out of here, Lin cried to her.

Where are you? She asked.

Outside, on top of the porch roof, Lin said, Mom, you’ve to get some help,

Look for a weapon honey, find something to defend yourself, Lin’s mother replied tearfully. Lin looked wildly on top of the porch roof. Only a stranger’s yellow Frisbee lay at the edge.

There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, Lin said on his cell. Lin took a glance at the ground again and wondered if he could make it there. Soon he realized it wasn’t a good idea. Five sharp-teeth, saliva-drooling, dogs barked at him: two golden retrievers, a bull terrier, a German shepherd and a poodle. Their eyes, the same as those at the window, wanted to tear him apart. Lin backed away. His only chance was to get to the rooftop.

I gonna go, Lin said, I’ll call you later,

No, don’t han—, his mother said but Lin cut it off and placed it in his pocket.

With one shoe on he limped toward the trellis beside the porch. Filled with vines, it reached all the way to the top of the house. He sure was happy his mother planted those over the side of the house. To make his climb easier to the top, Lin removed and tossed his remaining shoe in order to have an easy climb. Now on it, Lin feared the trellis wouldn’t hold his weight. The dogs rushed toward his direction, their paws against the trellis as they attempted to break it to make Lin fall. With nerves of steel, he climbed upward, struggling not to think of falling. The wind whizzed by him, making him more unease. Yet with extra caution, he kept climbing and to his surprised he made it close to the roof. Then he lifted his body over the top of the roof. With his back on the roof, lying down, he puffed out a long breathe, thankful that he didn’t fall. The dogs continued to bark from the ground. A small smile formed on Lin’s face at his success. He got to his feet and removed his cell phone. He went to the last number.

I’m on the rooftop, mom, Lin said with great happiness.

It’s your dad, Lin’s father said, concerned, Are you sure you’re alone? Lin rushed at the edge of the roof, where his bedroom window was at, and peeked at it. The people hadn’t jumped out of the window, in fact it sounded like they were no longer there. The dogs remained at the trellis, barking at him. Lin was sure he was alone.

I’m alone, dad. I don’t think they can climb up here, Lin replied.

Thank God, okay just stay put, okay. he said. The cell receiver became quiet. Lin heard little whispers from the other end; he guessed his father was explaining the situation to his mother and sister. Maybe he was reporting to them that everything is fine. With the phone still at his ear, Lin squatted down, sitting on the roof. The phone remained at his ear. Lin ignored the constant barking of the dogs.

Honey, stay there okay, we just heard the news that Special Forces are handling the matter, Lin’s mother said, A couple of them are coming to our neighborhood.

Finally, Lin said. He stood back up and looked straight ahead. He went at the front of the house and from a far distance, beyond the wandering masses was the incoming line of army tanks along with a hefty truck. He was relieved to see such a sight.

I’ve seen— Lin said but a clamorous crash interrupted his conversation on his cell. Lin spun around and gasped at the thin, sickly arms. The sickly people had punched the top of the roof, creating a hole on the roof from the inside. They had made it into the attic. More hands protruded, making the hole larger than before. Lin screamed at the phone,

They’re coming! They are on the rooftop.

No, oh no, Lin’s mother cried. Removing the cell phone from his ear, he checked whether he could jump from the front of the house. Lin saw that it was too high and there was nothing to break his fall. Lin held his cell phone tight in his right hand as he went around the hole filled with stretched out, sickly arms. He checked the backyard. It was empty and quiet. It seemed very eerie in that everything appeared normal while the front yard was a battle field. The backyard aluminum awning could break his fall which was better than falling straight to the ground. Lin glanced at the gap in the roof and noticed that a man was halfway through the rooftop. Saliva gushed out of his mouth as he groaned at Lin. He looked away and jumped. He landed on the backyard awning, making a huge dent. He forced himself back up. He took a peek from the roof to the ground and smiled. It wasn’t far of a jump. So Lin jumped and tried not to land on his feet. Rather his body rolled on the grassy ground till it stopped. A sudden pain attacked his body but it wasn’t too bad as Lin shook it off and got on his feet.

He hurried onward, gazing at the distant trees over the paling fence. But, without warning, someone plunged through the side paling fence and tackled him down. His cell phone flew out of his right hand, his mother’s worried voice barely audible. Lin shoved the sickly, elderly man away from his body as he attempted to bite him. He struggled to get back up and as he did so the sickly man was right behind him. Lin sprinted but soon tripped over a hidden rock amongst the grassy yard. He fell facedown and the sickly man bit his upper arm, digging through his flesh like a pit bull. Lin screamed. He’s never felt so much pain in his life. With all his energy, he shoved the man away from him. Blood streamed out of his arm. He felt weak. Lin turned to face the man but for some reason the sickly man was now disinterested in Lin. He spun away and headed elsewhere. Lin’s eyes blinked slowly, his body was drained out of energy. His brain felt clogged up. His mouth felt watery. He noticed the cell phone from a distance and crawled toward it. He picked it up then stared at it. His brain didn’t know what he was holding. His body now craved food. He stared at the cell for a moment, trying to remember why it’s so important. He barely heard his mother cry, asking if he was alright, asking if he escaped from those creatures. The craving in his mind and body won over his entire body. Lin’s eyes became dazed. He flung the phone against side paling fence, breaking it. Lin was gone; he was now one of the sickly people.

Chapter One: The Wristband

One Year Later

Are you Mr. and Mrs. Matthew, a petite nurse with puffy cheeks asked the couple that had arrived. She cradled a clip board at her right arm and donned the standard white nurse uniform. Mrs. Matthew nodded her head, yes, we are.

Could you follow me, please, she said in a prim tone. She ushered the worried parents across the bleached white hallway. Overhead, low florescent light illuminated their pathway. Mrs. Matthew clutched onto the strap of her handbag, a nervous habit she has when she was uncertain of what’s to come. Mr. Matthew took his wife’s right hand and held onto it in comfort. She shifted her attention to him. Mr. Matthew formed a small smile, his gesture that everything is alright. She accepted his answer. Mrs. Matthew glanced at