Dawn Of Destruction

By A.E. Stanfill

The residents of the small town of Brownsville, Texas are about to wake up to a nightmare.

As the undead roam the streets and feast upon the flesh of others, nobody understands what is going on, or what has caused this to happen to their quiet little town. Ex-Marine David Combs is also a resident of the town, and like many others, his life has been turned upside down.

On the hunt to find and save his daughter from the undead, he is also looking for answers... and revenge against the ones that caused it all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Dec 9, 2022

Book preview

1

THE DAY THINGS CHANGED

It was just another normal day in Brownsville, Texas. Spring was in the air now the bitter cold had ended. The flowers had started to bloom and the leaves of the trees were turning green. The townspeople were walking the streets, wearing their short-sleeved shirts and sunglasses. They were all treating each other like neighbors and best friends, oblivious to the events that were taking place around them.

Little did the townspeople know their lives were about to change for ever. Something evil and sinister was about to be unleashed that was going to wreak havoc upon this little town. Men dressed in black uniforms stood outside of the town’s water supply. It seemed as though they were arguing about something when the sheriff arrived on the scene. Annie Simpson had made the call; she lived close to the reservoir and had witnessed what she believed was evildoing while she was out walking her dog.

She was closing in on 85 years of age and always seemed to call the police over every little thing, which was often. But Sheriff Adams knew well enough that if he didn’t check it out, he wouldn’t be left alone until it was looked into. I be damned – the old snoop was telling the truth, the sheriff muttered. Not that he cared what people would be doing out here, this of course was the town’s local hang-out spot.

These guys were dressed differently, though, definitely not part of the local crowd who usually showed up here. If he had to guess, he’d say these strangers were military, possibly marines of the black-ops variety. He should know since he was considered a military brat himself. When he exited his vehicle and approached the men, they didn’t seem happy to see law enforcement in the area.

Is there a problem here? Adams asked.

No sir, the tallest replied.

So what are you guys doing out here, then?

Government work.

Such as?

This has nothing to do with you, Sheriff. This is a government project that is classified. Leave or we will be forced to subdue you by any means necessary. The tall one must have been the ranking officer as he did all of the talking.

Sounds like a threat to me, the sheriff retorted.

No threats, only a friendly conversation between two members of law enforcement.

About that time, two more of the officer’s men walked up from the hill that led down towards the reservoir. They were wearing gas masks and carrying some sort of container. Without thinking, Sheriff Adams drew his gun. Until I find out what’s going on here, all of you will be coming down to the precinct with me. He was unwavering in his commands and no wasn’t going to be an answer he would accept.

Think about what you’re doing, Sheriff. Walk away or I can’t stop what will happen next.

Put your hands in the air now! Adams demanded.

Do you have a family, Sheriff?

That’s none of your business.

If I were you, I would focus more on them instead of us. They’re going to need you. Or you can die – choice is yours.

Upgraded to threatening an officer of the law. I’m placing you under arrest.

The man in charge shook his head with a look of disgust on his face. I was hoping to avoid a problem such as this. Oh well, this is what I’m paid well for. He held up his hand as if to give a signal to someone off in the distance. Not a second later, the sheriff fell to the ground with a bullet hole in the back of his head.

What do we do now, Sir? one of the other men asked.

Dispose of the body. Then get rid of the container. After that, we take our leave.

Won’t the townspeople notice their sheriff being gone?

I will take care of that. Besides, in a few days, it won’t even matter.

The men saluted each other and parted ways, the ranking officer leaving his soldiers to take care of the dirty work while he made a few phone calls. A couple of days later what was once a normal town had turned into a war zone. Neighbors were attacking each other, vehicles were used as weapons and, to add to the horror of it all, it looked as though some were attacking and eating each other’s flesh.

Ex-marine David Combs had woken up to what he believed would be just another day in his ordinary life. Eat the breakfast his wife had ready for him downstairs, send his kids off to school, then kiss his wife goodbye before heading to work. Not that he would complain about his life, it was better than being down in the trenches being shot at every day, worried that if he fell asleep he might not wake up, or if he did the enemy might have him captured. He left with his head held high, he was a war hero, a man who saved lives and took lives, all in the name of his country.

But that was the past and this was his present and his future. A life as a husband, a father, and a shrewd businessman was all he needed to keep him happy. David made his way downstairs expecting to break up a fight between his son and daughter, as always. This time, though, that didn’t happen; it was unusually quiet in the house. Maybe his wife, Darlene, had handled it before it got started, he thought to himself.

When he got to the kitchen ready to eat and talk with his wife and kids, no one was around. The room was empty, something he wasn’t used to – in fact it never happened in his household, especially with his wife running such a tight ship. Honey! Kids! Where are you guys? he called out, surprised that there was no reply to his shout.

Is this some kind of… His words were cut short as he entered the living room to find his son lying face-down on the floor. Gavin! he cried. He rushed over to his son and knelt down beside him. Unfortunately, it was too late; Gavin was already clearly dead. When he turned him over, he saw his face had been gnawed at by something or someone, though it was unclear by which. The boy’s throat had also been ripped out, which was more than likely what caused his death.

David lowered his head and began to cry for the loss of his son, but his mourning would be short-lived. The shuffling of feet caught him by surprise and he jumped up and turned to see his wife slowly walking toward him. Darlene, thank God you’re safe. He looked down at Gavin again, realizing he couldn’t let his wife see their son the way he was. Stay where you’re at. Trust me, you don’t want to witness this.

But his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as she kept moving forward. That’s when he noticed that something was off about her. Darlene’s face was deathly pale and the whites of her eyes were turning almost yellow. On top of that, she was making odd moaning and gurgling noises and moving slower than what she usually would. Darlene, are you all right? No words came from her, just moaning and groaning as she approached.

David thought that perhaps she was in shock after surviving a brutal attack. He went to console his wife and ask about their daughter when she unexpectedly lunged at him, trying to sink her teeth in his flesh. Instinct took over and he stepped to the side and shoved her to the ground. He felt bad about what he had just done to his wife and went to help her up. To his dismay, she went to bite him again. David jumped back and kicked her in the face, sending her flying backwards.

He assumed that would stop her but it didn’t; she crawled her way after him, still making that God-awful moaning noise. His first thought was to wonder if she was sick. His second was to ask himself if she was sick enough to hurt their son. His mind started to trail off and his thoughts were now on his daughter again. That is until his dead son was up and walking, though not alive, by any means.

True, Gavin was up and moving somehow, even though his throat was hanging out of his neck and blood gurgled from his mouth. He made the same awful moaning noise as Darlene as he slowly approached. David tried to move but Darlene had his foot in her grasp. Let me go, Darlene! Don’t make me hurt you! he shouted.

He came to the realization that his wife was gone; whatever this creature was that had hold of his foot was no longer her. David lifted his free foot in the air. I’m sorry, my love. I will see you again on the other side some day. He brought his foot violently down upon her skull, crushing it like a melon, not once, not twice, but three times altogether. Her grip on his ankle loosened, she was a motionless heap of dead weight on the floor. She wasn’t moving or making moaning noises like before; this time she was truly dead.

David had no time to think about what his next move should be – he still had to deal with his son. As much as it pained him, he knew deep down that it had to be done. He couldn’t very well leave the empty shell of Gavin running around, hurting others. He allowed his son to get close enough that all he had to do was reach out and snap his neck. All that was left was finding his daughter and dealing with her if she had befallen the same fate.

Danielle’s day started off the same as that of any college student. She woke up and took a couple selfies. After she got dressed, she got her stuff together and quickly made her way to her first class. Late as usual, Danielle, she muttered. The professor is going to kill me for being late a second day in a row. She made a mad dash down the hall and towards the elevator. She pushed the down arrow a few times but it wasn’t responding. Great, the power is out again. she mumbled.

It was obvious that she was going to have to use the stairs again. Oh well, it wasn’t the first time and sure as hell wasn’t going to be the last. Finally she made it to the bottom floor. She paid no mind to the fact that there wasn’t anyone there to greet her as there usually was. That, though, was the furthest thing