Outbreak

By D W Towle

The Dead Chronicles; eries by D. W. Towle, is a journey through the tragic days when the dead start to rise and walk the earth, feasting on human flesh.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781304830456

Book preview

OUTBREAK

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ZOMBIE

Intimately tied to the conception of the modern zombie is the zombie apocalypse, the breakdown of society as a result of zombie infestation, which has emerged as a prolific subgenre of apocalyptic fiction and been portrayed in countless zombie-related media post-Night. Early media references to the term zombie apocalypse include an October, 2008 Dread Central blog previewing the then in-development 2009 film Zombieland, which did include the term in its dialog , as well as an earlier April, 2008 Wired blog unrelated to the film. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread (usually global) rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization. Victims of zombies may become zombies themselves. This causes the outbreak to become an exponentially growing crisis: the spreading zombie plague/virus swamps normal military and law enforcement organizations, leading to the panicked collapse of civilian society until only isolated pockets of survivors remain, scavenging for food and supplies in a world reduced to a pre-industrial hostile wilderness.

- Wikipedia

© Jurassic Publishing 2012

All Rights Reserved

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Chapter 1: Outbreak

Laughter echoed off the white walls of the room as Aryka began packing away her things. Hey Aryka, you should come hear the weather man's joke. It's hilarious! bellowed one of her fellow reporters. Smiling, Aryka brushed her brown hair out of her face and turned to glance at the three men sitting at the break table. It was obvious they were staring at her for more than just the fact that they were talking to her.

I'd love to stay and chat but I've got things to do, she said making one of the reporters frown and stand up. When she looked away to place her car keys in her purse, he stopped a foot away from her. Sighing she spun around on her heel, Yes Ronald?

The chubby reporter smiled and scratching his head started to speak, his nervousness shining like the sun. I-I was wondering if you wanted to go for dinner sometime Aryka? I mean, not tonight but you know, maybe, Friday night, or our next night off work?

Despite the fact that she wasn't interested in Ronald, Aryka Siring was too nice and polite to say no. Plus she was going on thirty nine years old and was still unmarried. So she traded away her honesty for politeness, I'd be happy to go with you Friday night Ronald, she said.

The reporter's face lit up like a light bulb as he grinned ear to ear. Oh great, I'll get reservations set up and everything! Do you have a place you prefer?

Aryka slung her purse over her shoulder, Anywhere will be fine Ronald. Ronald's grin grew bigger than Aryka thought possible.

Alright I'm looking forward to it Aryka, he called after her enthusiastically.

Aryka waved without looking, she didn't want him to see her face of discontent but as soon as she was in the hall on the opposite side of the wall she heard him bragging to the others.

Did you guys see that? Bang, on a date with her, I'm a lady killer! Aryka rolled her blue eyes cynically already in disbelief that she had said yes to the forty year old virgin…

Walking outside into the cool fall breeze, she wasted no time clip clopping across the parking lot to her car. Inside she found her change of clothes and sat down in her car. She changed into jeans, hoodie, and tennis shoes. She then took the slip of paper from her purse and read the address out loud to herself, 115 West Doty Street.

Nodding and still clutching the piece of paper, she backed out of the parking space and drove out into the night. It was nearing eight o'clock and visiting times only lasted until nine, so she had to hurry. But Aryka had lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin her whole life, so she knew some shortcuts.

In a matter of minutes she had made it across the busiest part of the city, a smile plastered on her face as she parked alongside the street behind a squad car. Looking out her window at the Brown County Sheriff's office, her eyes moved to the left to spot a building labeled 115. The Building of Public Safety - or as most people would call it, jail.

Aryka opened the door of her vehicle and began to get out when she froze. Slowly she sat back down in the car frowning as she took out her cell phone and stared at it.

Without even trying her fingers dialed in the number and soon the phone was against her ear as headlights of another vehicle passed on West Doty Street.

Finally an older man's voice responded, Hello? it asked. Who is this?

Aryka smirked, You're daughter father, how are you? There was a shout in the background, probably him telling her mother that she was on the phone.

I'm wonderful sweetheart, I managed to catch you're report on that car accident last night. I'm glad no one got hurt, people don't know how to drive nowadays, Aryka chuckled at this. Her dad always had that effect on her, making her laugh, but the conversation she called for certainly wasn't going to please him…

Yeah I know it's terrible, anyways, I called to tell you I'm visiting Keith, her voice went dull on the second part of the sentence. On the other line of the phone she could hear nothing but her father's raspy breaths. Aryka stared out the window, frowning unhappily as she ran a hand through her hair. Look he's my brother and if you're not  willing to come and vis-, he cut her off rudely.

HE IS NOT MY SON! Don't you ever say that Aryka, he is a criminal, and nothing more! Do you think we changed our last name for no reason!

Aryka felt her eyes get watery, she desperately wanted to hang up but instead she listened to the lecture. Aryka, Keith had his chance, and you had yours. There's a difference between you two, you succeeded, he didn't, do you understand?

Aryka sighed, Yes father, I understand. She didn't even notice the county deputy moving towards her vehicle from the office.

Good, now do the world a favor and leave that forsaken jail… Aryka, I love you. Aryka ran her hand through her hair again, lost for words at the moment. Finally she said the words she was looking for.

I love you too dad. There was then a sudden beep as she hung up and put the phone into her jean pocket. She then stared straight ahead taking a deep breath just as the hairy face appeared in her window scaring her.

The deputy signaled her to roll down her window and the news reporter obeyed. Good evening ma'am, any particular reason you've been sitting here in this car for five minutes outside the county jail?

Aryka glanced at the Building of Public Safety then back to the deputy shaking her head.

No, sorry, I just had to make a phone call. I'll be on my way. The deputy smiled and moved away from the car.

Have a nice night, he called as she sped away. As soon as she rounded the first turn tears began trickling down her face. She had failed Keith again…

Chapter 2: Take Him

The woman on the television set's mouth opened and closed again and again. Sitting on the sofa, a dark haired teen sat watching. Her brown eyes watched the screen unmoving, despite the fact that there was no sound audible. Suddenly she burst out laughing, it was an abnormal sounding laugh but her dad entered the room smiling.

The teen looked at him pointing at the screen excitedly as he nodded - Why did you do that? One of the people on the television set was screaming. The channel was Comedy Central, so that explained why Katrina was laughing, someone had done something funny.

Not understanding how she could watch it without sound, he turned his attention back to Katrina who was contently watching again. Hey Katrina, he said, the teen sat ignoring him completely. Hey Katrina, he repeated, still the teen didn't budge. HEY! Katrina, suddenly the teen turned to him smiling, her brown eyes sparking with interest.

You're stepmother and I are going out, make sure you remember to change Jake before bed, okay? The sentence was spoken very slowly and Katrina had nodded at the end giving him thumbs up.

Smiling happily her father buttoned up his jacket and turned to see his wife step out of the kitchen in her jacket. Ready? She beckoned cheerfully, Oh wait did you tell Katrina to... she caught on when Katrina nodded at her and began waving goodbye.

She copied her wave and so did Katrina's father. They moved to the door eventually shutting it behind them. Katrina now had the whole apartment to herself with her five month old baby brother.

The teen smiled warmly and turned her attention back to the television. Her eyes instantly locking with the actions of the man speaking, and again she laughed.

Suddenly a female scream broke the peaceful hum of the television, but Katrina sat staring like a statue. Again the scream repeated, it wasn't coming from the silent television but outside of the apartment down the hall.

Instead of a normal person, who would try to figure out what the commotion was, Katrina stood and walked into the kitchen. She reached into the kitchen cabinet and took out an orange plastic vile of white tablets. She didn't even notice the door slam shut as her parents ran into the kitchen yelling, Katrina, Katrina come with me now!

Her dad ran into the kitchen grabbing Katrina's arm fiercely, pulling her out of the kitchen past her stepmother who was soaked with tears. Katrina caught a glimpse of scarlet on her arm as she passed her, then looking at the door she watched it shake. KATRINA, COME ON IN HERE AND TAKE JAKE!

Yanking them to the closet Katrina protested, Nooo, I don't want to go in there! her voice came out screeching but her dad understood her perfectly. Pulling her inside the closet he spun his daughter to face him.

What the hell is going on? Katrina demanded trying to leave but her dad pulled her back in making her drop the vile of pills in the living room. Katrina knew something was wrong. She froze.

Katrina, listen to me, okay? Stay in here, watch Jake and don't let anything happen to him! If something happens to us, take Jake and protect him…OKAY? He shook his daughter, Okay?

Finally Katrina nodded unhappily and sunk down against the wall realizing something was definitely wrong. Her father then slid the closet door shut and ran into the kitchen where his wife was frantically running her bloody hand under the sink huffing in pain.

When he looked over her shoulder he saw the water running was nothing but red, then the door shook again. I think he's trying to break in! his wife screamed instantly making him run