The Z Virus: Outbreak

By Brent Miller

On a regular school day in a small California town, a mysterious outbreak begins at a local high school. Students and teachers all around start turning into blood-thirsty creatures, and just three students are able to escape the school grounds to make their way home. It is not long before they realize they may be the only people in town still alive.

Learning quickly to adapt to an unimaginable environment, they must find a way to survive. When Dustin Grey and his friends start to piece together the truth, they realize that saving their own lives will not be enough. With determination and ingenuity that cannot be taught in a classroom, it is up to Dustin and the few survivors he meets along the way to form an unlikely team that must fight to protect its own and save all of humanity from . . . the Z virus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466944763

Brent Miller

Brent Miller wrote his first novel at age thirteen. He wrote his first series as a hobby, but at age sixteen used the experience he gained to write the first book he would publish for a teen and general audience. Brent is currently a high school senior in Arizona.

Book preview

Prologue

The helicopter blades whirred, picking up speed as the chopper prepared for takeoff. Blake Bracy led his squad on board, all of them carrying their standard issue weapons, ready to fight in a war.

They were ready to fight one because that was exactly where they were going. Their assignment was greater than any of the members of the squad could understand. This group could end the war before it even began. Or, they could lose it.

The men all ran on board the helicopter, and it slowly rose into the air. None of the men had even been briefed on this mission. Only Blake truly knew what his men were being sent to do. He didn’t even know where he’d begin if he were to tell his men.

The men sat, waiting for the helicopter to reach their destination. The enemy had a base in their own country, in a secluded forest near a small town called West Creek.

Sir, Private Sanders started, facing Blake. Who is it that we’re being sent to fight?

Blake knew the question was coming. What was he supposed to tell them?

That’s above your pay grade, solider, he said with a smile on his face. He wanted the comment to seem as though he were joking. He wanted the soldier to feel like it would be an easy mission, something simple and worth joking over. Honestly, Blake was terrified of what the research had led to, what had been unleashed.

All due respect, sir, but I think we deserve to know what may kill us, Jackson said. He was always outspoken. Blake should have known that if any soldier was going to push him into talking, it was going to be Jackson.

Don’t worry, Private. The risk isn’t that great with this mission.

That’s your clever way of avoiding what we want to know.

It’s a bug, Jackson. That’s what got out of the lab, and that’s what we’re going to West Creek to kill. A bug.

The men didn’t believe him; they thought he was just being sarcastic, but he wasn’t. Blake was telling them the full truth—the military was hunting a bug—a bug that had the capability to kill everyone in existence or worse. A bug that, unless stopped, would bring on the apocalypse.

Chapter 1

Dustin Grey looked down at his book, pretending to read. His English class was so boring. It was just reading from the book and answering questions, every day. He started to care less and less. He hadn’t been very tired before going into that second period class.

The teacher talked from the front of the room, startling him out of his half-asleep state. He checked the clock, then looked down at his paper. He was over halfway done, and he’d be able to finish. He just really didn’t want to.

When you’re finished, turn your papers in up front, Mrs. Carson said. Dustin looked around, and he noticed a kid sitting next to him. What was his name? Tim? He was acting really strange, rocking violently in his chair.

Are you all right, son? Mrs. Carson asked.

Huh? Tim sounded weary, but he didn’t stop shaking. Oh, I’m fine.

What happened to your arm? The teacher pointed to his arm, which was wrapped in gauze. Tim slowly glanced at it, not seeming to understand the question.

Oh! This crazy rabid dog bit me. I got a shot, though.

I think you should go to the nurse’s office, she said. Tim nodded, and he headed off. He didn’t remember the pass, and Mrs. Carson rushed to give it to him.

Dustin had wondered what that was all about. It seemed odd, but Tim was a strange kid sometimes. He just let it slip his mind as he finished his work. It was the last thing on his mind when the bell rang, and he headed into his history class.

He realized that Tim must have been sent home when he wasn’t there halfway through the class. It hadn’t bothered him then, but he wished it had. Nothing so strange ever happened in his town. West Creek was a small town, and everything that happened in California happened in bigger places.

In his hometown, a bike being stolen made the front page. That was what his town considered news; it was a boring town. Dustin snapped his attention to the class again, trying not to think about how boring his town was. Instead, he thought about how boring his class was. That didn’t keep him much more awake.

This girl named Darlene was reading. Suddenly, everyone in the class turned their heads to the door. There was a noise coming from the hall, not the usual sounds of the school, but a groaning that just grew louder. Eventually, Darlene quit reading, too distracted by the sounds in the hallway. She turned to Mr. Bates, the history teacher, with a questioning look on her face.

Keep reading, I’ll go outside and find out what’s going on, he said. She nodded and started reading again. Dustin hated when they read aloud, but it kept him from having to do it himself. He was fine with that because it allowed him to focus on the more interesting things that were happening, like whatever was going on out in the hallway. He didn’t have to worry about not finishing some mundane assignment when all they were doing was listening to some teacher’s pet read.

Mr. Bates ran into the room a few minutes later and locked the door. He was obviously trying not to appear panicked, but something was bothering him. He walked quickly to the phone and dialed a number. The whole class was staring at him now.

Yes, hello. I need security in room 507. Well, in the hall. There is some kid walking around, and I think he needs some help. There was a pause.

What’s going on? Darlene asked. She was always the first one to want to find something out. Her curiosity wasn’t necessarily bad, but it was slightly annoying sometimes.

Mr. Bates held up his hand, causing his sleeve to slide down his arm slightly. Dustin noticed it, and the rest of the class obviously did too. There were teeth marks on his arm. When he saw that they were uncovered, he pulled his sleeve up, but the students were troubled.

All right, thank you, Mr. Bates said. He turned his attention to the class and said, There is a young boy out there, and something’s wrong with him.

Who was it? Josh asked.

Did he bite you? Andy wondered aloud.

Yes, he bit me. I can’t disclose who it was, that isn’t my place. Let’s just . . . He was interrupted by a fit of coughing. Let’s just continue with the lesson, okay?

It was Tim, wasn’t it? Dustin asked. He had a strong feeling that it was after the boy’s fit earlier. He didn’t know why it was so necessary for him to bring it up; he just felt like he needed to know.

Dustin! Whether it was or not, we have no need to spread the information, Mr. Bates responded. He was trying to cover it up, but it was obvious that Dustin was right. The teacher’s face displayed very clearly everything that his words tried to hide.

Does anyone . . . He started coughing again. Does anyone have an answer for number 1? he asked. He had to talk through his coughing.

Of course, Darlene raised her hand. Mr. Bates walked toward her desk, but he didn’t say anything. He stood by her but didn’t call on her. Instead, he took her arm. All the students, especially Darlene, stared at him as though he was crazy, but no one made any move to stop him.

He affirmed he was with what he did next. He lowered his head, and he bit her arm. She screamed in pain. She tried to get away, but he wouldn’t let go. Dustin stood and pulled him off her. He staggered back, looking at her. He mouthed the word, sorry but was unable to actually make a sound.

What’s your problem, Mr. Bates? Dustin asked. He was surprised and rather angry at the teacher; otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have been so rude. Dustin stood to his feet and grabbed Bates’s shoulder.

The teacher didn’t respond to him. At least not with words. He just groaned and lurched backward. Dustin was knocked off the man, and he tripped over the desk. He hit his head on the desk behind it, then fell to the ground.

Darlene had already run screaming. She tripped along the way, probably over nothing. She was just panicked, and that made her fall. Dustin was near the end of the row, so she wasn’t far from him.

Kids were standing up all over the class. They were starting to get scared, and they didn’t know what to do. They just wanted to get away from their teacher, who had quite apparently gone totally insane. People ran, some to the front, and some to the back of the room.

Dustin struggled to get to his feet. He was dizzy from having hit his head. He glanced at Darlene and saw her dragging herself toward him. He told himself that she was probably just trying to stand up, as he was, but something was off.

He saw Josh get up and run, but Mr. Bates dove and tackled him, then he bit the young man, as well. Dustin felt like he was going to vomit. He wasn’t sure if that was from the fall, hitting his head, or the sight—probably all three.

Dustin rolled over and struggled to all fours. He was taking a minute to adjust, and everything was a blur. He felt something on his back, and he fell forward. Dustin rolled over, and he felt the person fall off.

Darlene rolled into the leg of the desk. A classmate, Andrew, rushed over to Dustin and reached out his hand. Dustin gratefully accepted his help. Dustin used desks to brace himself, trying to get to the front of the room. Things were clearing up, but it was still hard to see.

Darlene grabbed his leg, then threw her head forward to bite at him. John, who was running up behind them, stepped on her head. She let go of Dustin, and John offered Dustin his shoulder to help him walk.

When they got to the front, Andrew helped Dustin on the other side. The two were helping him toward a broken window. Others had escaped through the door, but some didn’t want to go back there.

Dustin was disoriented, and he had no idea why either Josh or Andrew was helping him. He hadn’t said many words at all to those people all year, but they jumped to help him the second they saw he was in trouble.

Dustin turned his head just in time to see Mr. Bates rushing at them. He tried to warn them, but he couldn’t get words out fast enough. John was on the floor before Dustin could even react. Dustin kicked Mr. Bates off Josh, but the crazy old man had already bitten Josh’s leg.

Andrew let go of Dustin, who was leaning against a wall for support. Dustin was slowly able to stand on his own two feet, and the world was coming back into focus. Andrew helped Josh get through the window.

Andrew was fully willing to climb back through that window to help Dustin, and he started to. Dustin, however, waved his hand as he walked toward the window. The spinning of his world had already calmed down, and he was able to walk on his own.

Dustin realized, though, as he got closer to the window, Andrew’s hand was extended for help. Just not for the help of the person, he thought. Andrew needed help; he wasn’t offering it—Josh had a hold on the young man’s leg. Andrew fell to the ground. Dustin stepped back, wishing there was something he could do but knowing there wasn’t. He stepped on a hand, then turned the other way. Dustin backed into a corner, looking for a way out but fearing he just couldn’t possibly find one.

* * *

Ben’s second hour was directly across from the nurse’s office. His chemistry teacher was reviewing things Ben already knew again, so he was staring off into space. Space beyond the window, that is.

He saw as Tim entered the nurse’s office. He wouldn’t have noticed it, but he was walking differently. It was weird, that was all. He didn’t pay any mind to it, though. Tim was a strange kid, anyway.

When the bell finally rang, Ben was headed to his drafting class. That was easily his favorite class of the day. That was the class where everyone wanted to be in his group. Sure, he was smart, but everywhere else he was a nerd. He was beyond doubt the best there at building houses, so here Ben was the cool kid.

As he entered the room, he hurried to his work station. Mr. Riley already had the projects laid out. Ben was, as always, the first person there. He started working on his house, wanting to get it finished so he could have the last half of the class for finishing touches.

His partner, Carly, was one of the few girls in the class. Most people wondered why a girl like her would take that class. She was a thin girl, with long brown hair. Her green eyes looked happily at Ben as she walked in.

Ben didn’t worry about why she took it. He was just glad that she did. Not only did he get to have a class with her, but also it was the one where they always got to work in groups. They always got to work together.

Hi, Ben, she said with a smile. She was always so happy. Ben stared at her, then looked down at the house quickly.

Hi Carly, what’s up?

Not much, just waiting for a certain guy to ask me to Homecoming. Why did she have to mention that? It was such a sore subject for Ben. He’d been dreaming of asking her, but she had said for the past few days she was waiting for some other guy.

That’s cool.

Want to know who?

Not really.

Oh why? she asked. She seemed hurt, and he had no clue why. Well, it’s just this guy. He’s got brown hair, blue eyes. He’s kinda short, for a guy, barely taller than me, but I think that’s cute. She had a different kind of smile on her face.

Look, I didn’t want to know because . . . Ben saw the mirror behind her and realized something. There was no way that she could be . . . No, why would she like him? That just didn’t make sense.

Okay, I get it, sorry for acting so desperate. She turned away, looking incredibly embarrassed. That was when Ben finally understood.

Wait, what? Ben had seriously not expected that. He had no idea why a girl would think of him like that, especially her. He’d never been able to say a logical sentence to her that wasn’t about houses. He was speechless. I just thought you meant someone else . . . A groaning from the hallway interrupted them. Ben had never been more thankful to some weird thing that happened. The school nurse stumbled into the room.

When Mr. Riley went to greet her, she just randomly bit him. A thought crossed Ben’s mind, but he let it pass. He had been playing way too many video games and watching way too many movies recently. She was just acting like a total freak. Why? Who knew, but there was no way it could be that.

The problem, though, was that she didn’t just stop. She bit someone else—one of the students on the other side of the room. Mr. Riley started to yell at her, but his words became slurred. The light in his eyes faded, and he bit a student, as well. Ben backed into a corner, taking Carly’s hand. She seemed comforted by the gesture. He picked up their house they’d been working on; the wooden model was actually heavier than it looked.

Someone crawled toward them and grabbed Carly’s leg. She screamed, and Ben quickly stepped on his head. He slammed the house into another person and then picked up a few of the pieces of wood that flew.

He fought his way out into the hall with Carly. It wasn’t bad out there, but people rushed out of his class and into others. Ben took Carly outside, but he noticed she was walking weird. Ben had noticed she was wearing high heels earlier but hadn’t thought about it.

He put his arm under her legs and picked her up. He was glad she wasn’t heavy. He wasn’t really a strong kid. Not weak, either, somewhere in between. Still, it wasn’t like he worked out on a regular basis, and he wasn’t sure how far he’d even be able to carry such a light girl if it weren’t for the adrenaline rush.

Ben carried her outside, then set her down. He closed the door to the hall. He had no idea what was going on, but he wanted to get away from it. More importantly, he wanted to get Carly away from it.

Carly, Ben said. If the school doesn’t cancel it, due to these crazy people, do you want to go with me to the Homecoming?

I’d love to, she said. She coughed, then looked back up at him. She leaned toward him, but he didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t kissed anyone before. He just leaned and tried to copy the movies.

* * *

Madison sat in the nurse’s office. She had already missed first period, since cheer practice ran on late, and now she was missing second. She didn’t really mind, she just had a big test she’d have to make up.

It’s just a sprain, the nurse said. I called your parents to let them know.

They aren’t coming to get me, are they?