Dead To US: Omnibus II ( Episodes 4-6 ): Infected States Of America

By Aaliyah Abdul

Dead To US: Omnibus II contains the final three episodes ( 4-6 ) of the new zombie apocalypse series.
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The story begins in the state of North Dakota. A deadly new flu virus has crippled a small Native American community. The older generation was the first to succumb to the virus, leaving those under the age of 25 left to wonder how far and wide the virus had spread.

With noway to communicate with the outside world, and winter fast approaching, 22 year old City Morrisseau knew the situation would only worsen. But after receiving a cryptic message from a dying member of the community, City was certain that the time wasn't on the side of the living.

On their last tank of gas, City and his sister's fiancé, Alex Little, departed for Bismarck in search for a vaccine. Instead, they discover a situation far worse than either could imagine.

This is part one of a new zombie series inspired by the "zombie ant fungus", Cordyceps, as seen on the TV series, Planet Earth.

Choices will be made, secrets will be revealed in the final episode of Dead To US: Infected States of America

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaliyah Abdul
• Release date: Jul 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781501408311

Aaliyah Abdul

As a fan of the zombie and horror genres, I've made it my goal as a writer to craft interesting and unforgettable stories and realistic characters. To the reader(s), thank you for joining me on this endeavor. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Dead To US: Omnibus II ( Episodes 4-6 )

Thank you for reading.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

Epilogue

About the Author

Dead To US: Omnibus II

Written by Aaliyah Abdul

All Rights Reserved 

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and certain places are fictitious products of the author's creation. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written consent of the author.

Includes the final three episodes of season one ( each sold seperately ).

Thank you for reading.

Cover image(s) provided by flickr under the Creative Commons Liscence

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Episode IV: FRANKIE

ONE

Trapped with no place to run.

He never thought it would end this way.

Dozens of eyes rimmed with blood peered through the window with a feverish intensity. Sharp fingernails carved a violent path on the windshield, etching a canvas of dread into Alex’s nerves. Beneath their snarls and moans he could hear glass cracking under the weight of the infected mob’s determination.

Alex turned the ignition switch in a desperate attempt to start the pickup. But the vehicle’s stuttered response proved that his efforts were in vain.

Damn it! Alex shouted, banging his fists against the steering wheel. I didn’t come this far just to die like this! 

His head snapped in the direction of glass shattering. Half a dozen hands reached through the fractured driver’s side window and latched on to Alex’s jacket. He pushed away from the door, freeing himself from their clutches. Alex forced his boot into their rotting faces, but the infected weren’t stopping. With an insatiable desire – the need to feed on fresh brains – the infected broke through a passenger window.

The boy next to Alex scampered to the floor, and kept out of the infected’s reach. Use the lug wrench, mister! he said, crouching to the floor as far as possible.

Beating the infected back with vigorous kicks, Alex reached across the seat and grabbed the lug wrench. A male infected forced its face through the broken window, ripping off its own skin and flesh. Alex plunged the lug wrench between its eyes and retracted the weapon.

After the infected crumpled to the ground, another – a female – stepped into its place. Its swarthy complexion, long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and white clothing caused Alex to pause.

In his mind he saw Casey, the woman he loved, the dead mother of his dead child. Alex couldn't look away from her haunting, accusing eyes.

Without warning, a gunshot rang through the air, snapping Alex back to a cold reality. Dark blood trailed down the infected female’s mouth and nose, her body yanked from the window. The infected surrounding the door danced and jerked as their bodies were riddled with bullets. As they fell, Alex fixed his gaze on an armed man wearing military fatigues.

Not these guys again!

Where’s the kid!? the man said as he fired his weapon at one of the infected.

Alex hesitated. You’re not going to stop until you get what you want, aren’t you?

The man ceased shooting, and shifted his attention to the truck’s passenger. Peter? Are you in there?

Y..Yes, Peter replied.

Let’s go! Your mother’s with us! the man said.

Mom!?

Alex stepped out of the pickup, allowing Peter to dart past him. Where is she? Peter asked.

Peter! came a woman’s voice from up the road. She stood in front of a white Dodge Ram, waving her hands in Peter’s direction.

Mom!! Peter said, running up to his mother.

Alex turned to the armed man. You...you’re not here for me..?

As the infected dared to move closer, the man riddled the mob with bullets. I’ve no idea who you are, but if you want to come with us you’d better move your goddamn ass.

A lone infected zigzagged through the snow, oblivious to the meals seated inside the vehicle. The lone infected soon joined a larger group in the parking lot. Though the Ram was beyond their reach, Alex knew that if any one of them left the vehicle, the infected would descend on them in a heartbeat.

He wondered if the other survivors knew the same.

We need a new plan, the man in the military uniform said. We’re going to waste more ammunition than we have if we go back down there.

It’s not a waste if we can help Jessica, the teen said.

We’re not going back without those antibiotics, Elliott, the silver haired woman said.

Then we’re not going back at all, said Elliott.

Alex raised his cuffed hands. Excuse me for interrupting, but could one of you free me of these?

Why are you handcuffed anyway? the teen asked.

It’s not what you think. My name is Alex. I was abducted by a group of crazy soldiers, but I managed to get away from them.

A military group? Was it SubRosa? the teen asked.

You’ve heard of them?

Boy, have we. They were all over Gadeston, keeping the place under lock and key. Elliott used to be one of –

Shut your goddamn mouth Stafford! Elliott barked.

I’m really getting tired of you telling me what to do, Elliott, the teen said, sitting up in his seat. He turned to Alex. "Yes, he was a member of SubRosa. The teen then shifted his attention to the silver haired woman. And that spore cloud I was talking about, Ivy, it passed over ours heads days ago, with the virus."

You know about that too? Alex asked.

Seems everyone knows about it, Ivy said. Except me.

Peter and I haven’t heard of this, the mother said, holding her son close.

Yeah, well, now you know, the teen said. He sat back in his seat, grasping the bandage covering his eye.

Did this spore cloud rain the virus down on all of us? Are we all infected? Ivy asked Elliott, searching for an answer in his eyes.

There's no time to discuss this, Elliott said, turning his attention to the infected strolling away from the truck. We need to worry about our next move. That pharmacy is out of the question.

Let’s just – the teen began, running his hands through his hair. Let’s go to my uncle’s ranch. He treats children. He should have some medicine on hand.

Where does he stay, Finn? Ivy asked.

I don’t remember exactly. I haven’t visited him in a while, but it’ll come back to me once we get on the road.

He’d better not be out of the way, Elliott said. This truck doesn’t run on goddamn air.

Ivy threw the Ram into gear. "We’ll walk the rest of the way if we have to. That’s what good people do for each other."

Good people, huh? Elliott scoffed. Good people are usually the first to die.

Alex sunk back in his seat. Sitting next to a child Peter’s size, and two other adults left little room in the rear seat, but Alex wasn’t about to complain.

He was safe.

He couldn’t believe his fortune. Or was it misfortune? He was surrounded by other survivors, and one of them was a member of SubRosa. Elliott’s companions seemed comfortable around him, despite knowing his background.

But did they know who SubRosa was, or what the private military group was all  about? How much did he know about Madison, about the Nero Virus? Could he trust this Elliott?

Could he afford not to?

As Alex gazed at his cuffed hands, his thoughts drifted back to Troy Yates and the others he couldn’t save. Not knowing their fates weighed on his heart. His mind wouldn’t ease until he knew what happened to them all. But with SubRosa holding them at gunpoint, Alex was convinced his friends were dead by now.

He dragged his hands through his dark hair and leaned back. Casey’s dead. Piper’s dead. City and Jacy are gone. Broken Horn was burnt to the ground. The only thing that seemed permanent now was the Nero Virus and the infected it spawned.

But does it have to be this way? What if Madison was the answer, the only person who could stop the contagion? What right do I have to hide her if it meant saving lives, sparing others from the same pain I have to live with?

The bumpy transition from asphalt to gravel was the first sign that they were traveling to a rural area. A wide open terrain covered with treeless hills unfolded as far as the eye could see. A hint of light burned through the clouds, causing the snowy landscape to glisten and sparkle.

As his gaze lingered, shadows moving across the field caught Alex’s attention. Two canines, yards off the road, sprinted parallel to the truck. Are they chasing us?

Dogs running behind vehicles wasn’t uncommon, but there was something different about these animals. Alex stared long and hard, but couldn't see any sign of the Nero Virus on the fast moving dogs.

Maybe something is chasing them, something hungry.

I did what you told me, mom, Peter said. I was strong, strong enough to leave the pickup after you left.

"Didn’t I tell you not to do that?" the mother said.

"I know, but I really needed to go. I wasn’t afraid. I figured that if you could face those cannibals, then so could I."

I’m just glad you’re okay, the mother said, kissing her son on the forehead. I wish you could have held it a bit longer, though.

I was fine. Mister Alex was there. He showed up out of the blue, so did the cannibals.

They were after me, Alex said. I saw the truck, and made a run for it. I’m sorry I put your son in danger like that.

It’s all right. He’s with me now. That’s all that matters. I’m Seina by the way.

Good to meet you, smiled Alex. He turned his attention back to the window expecting to see the dogs, but they were gone.

You’ve got to be kidding me, Finn said, peering out the windshield. Dozens of infected staggered around the narrow road, blocking the Dodge’s path. Is that the group of locals that chased us before? They’re still here.

It can’t be the same ones, Elliott said.

Hold on, I might be able to go around them, Ivy said. She shifted the truck into gear, and drove off road at a snail’s pace. The infected were in no hurry to move out of the vehicle’s way. 

There needs to be an infected crossing sign here, Finn joked.

Elliott, Finn, either one of you want to clear us a path? asked Ivy.

I’ll take care of a few, Finn said, grabbing the shotgun. He motioned to lower his window when Alex urged, I wouldn’t do that!

Why not? Finn asked.

If you so much as crack a window, the infected will know we’re in here. They’ll be all over this truck in a minute.

Are you serious? asked Finn.

Yes, trust me.

That’s strange. I wonder why that is.

I wouldn’t linger in this area for too long either. They might catch wind of us.

They don’t seem very interested in moving out of the way, Ivy said. After she maneuvered the truck around three infected the vehicle’s left wheels dipped deep in the snow. The wheels spun in place, searching for traction.

Crap, Ivy said.

This is no time to get stuck, Elliott said.

Ivy shifted the truck into four-wheel drive and straightened the wheels. Don’t worry your teeth white, Elliott. I know how to handle this, she said. Ivy tapped the gas pedal, but the wheels continued spinning. Shifting to reverse didn’t help much either. The truck could only move a few feet before the left tires started whirling again.

You’re making it worse, Elliott said.

I know what I’m doing, Ivy said. The gears she shifted sounded as irritated as her voice. The truck rolled forward, but climbing over a mound of snow and mud wasn’t an easy task. An infected turned its attention to the hindered vehicle.

Slimy green vines coiled a bloody path down the infected’s widow’s peak, curving in-and-out of its eyes. It had to be blind as a bat, but the enticing odor of the living tickled its nose. There was a meal close by, the infected could taste it. And with each step, the smell grew stronger.

Let me have the wheel, Elliott told Ivy. She ignored Elliott’s request and turned the steering wheel from one side to another. Give me the goddamn wheel, Ivy.

Why don’t you get the hell out and push!? Ivy said, turning her angry gaze to Elliott. You lied to me about Gadeston, didn’t you? Admit it!

This isn’t the time to discuss that, Elliott said.

How many people did you and SubRosa murder that night? Ivy demanded.

Are you going to give me the wheel, or will I have to take it from you?

Can you two save it for later? Finn asked, noting the blind infected’s approach. Some of these locals are starting to notice us.

Ivy peered over Elliott’s shoulder, and saw the infected lurking closer to them. You’re right. This can wait until later, she said, returning her attention to the steering wheel. We’ll be on the road again in a second, she said.

Applying gradual pressure to the gas pedal, Ivy corrected the tires. The wheels spun in place as the Ram slid on the frozen terrain. Ivy mashed harder on the acceleration, dismissing everything she knew about driving in the snow.

After a tense moment the wheels found enough traction to pull out of the stuck. Ivy steered the truck back on the road, leaving the curious infected behind.

*   *  *

Snow covered and devoid of life, the rolling hills extended for miles. The narrow road constricted as dirt replaced gravel. It was an out of the way place, with not a house or car to speak of. Not even the infected were anywhere to be found. But Finn was convinced his uncle was living out here, somewhere.

They drove a few more miles when the first house they had seen in over an hour came into view. It was a white, two-story house that blocked the sun with a steep roof. A red barn rested fifty or sixty yards away from the house, its doors held open by a cinder block.

A white wooden fence, just tall enough to keep in three Delaware hens, enclosed the property. Curious, the hens raised their beaks as the Ram rolled up, then returned to pecking at the snow.

Finn's uncle never considered himself to be a farmer. With the ongoing economic uncertainty, owning chickens, a dairy cow, and a couple of horses was more of a necessity than anything else.

Alex watched the chickens as the truck moved parallel to the fence. Were they infected as well? The animals didn’t show any signs of the Nero Virus. As if it mattered much. Encountering creatures as simple minded as a chicken would be a welcomed