Chapter 3
The Words
Alexa
Her home, The Heartland
A few moments before
11:59:59:32
Alexa let out an expansive sigh, rereading the letter again. Her mother has sent her another novel crammed onto three pages, in her tight neat handwriting, words sprawling across every inch of the paper, front and back. Her mother was never one to waste. In a world where it was possible to communicate in an instant, she still wrote her daughter a handwritten letter every week. It always amounted to the same two points, when are you getting married? Followed immediately by; When can I expect grandbabies?
Throwing Her arms into the air, letting the papers loose to fly and fall to the hardwood floor, cover her eyes with another great sigh. If it was up to, the perfect wife, Sasha Cole, Alexa would only have attended one of the Great Academies to find a husband. Sasha saw no need for higher education. 'Why go to school when your husband can provide’ was a common response when Alexa would talk of her aspirations, to attend the Academy of Knowledge. Life had become so frustrating since high school, then it was practice and study. Easy.
“I miss being an Archer!" Alexa suddenly shouts out. If only her eyes were open, she would have seen what many others were being shown at that very moment.
Elsewhere
12:00 a.m.
0:00:00
Boulder City, The Heartland
Andrew
“What do you think it means?” Howard asked in his deep soothing rumble.
“Shiiit! Betchya, it means I’m a ninja motherfuka!” Jeremy’s high nasally voice is a squeak, after his lanky friend's rumble. Holding his pudgy arms together ham sized fist coming together, swinging wildly with an imaginary sword, stopping mid-swing, his eyes glazing over slightly. “You guys!!! I’m a Ninja!! Like for real. The words changed; it says Welcome Ninja! Wh-what? They changed again?”
Andrew heard none of this for his concentration was on the words that had appeared suddenly in front of him moments before.
Welcome! Hello, and Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. The Company is pleased and grateful you have chosen to take this first step with us. Into the great unknown that is the zombie apocalypse. We will begin immediately due to the nature of the Zombie Apocalypse: Now! Who are you?!
Try as he might Andrew could just not get past the words floating in front of him. Zombie Apocalypse!? Seriously, this is a joke, right? Who am I? I’m Andrew Milton. Former all-star Q-, A sudden shake of his shoulder pulls him out of his head.
“Hey man, did you get any of that?” Luis, hand still raised asks him. Howard and Jeremy were staring at Andrew expectantly.
Realizing he hadn’t heard anything he can only manage a strangled, “uhh, what?” Shrugging uncomfortably with three pairs of eyes intently locked on him.
“Duuude! Where did you go? Ughh screw it, check this out, my gran used to tell me stories of a fabled warrior society, from before we came north and joined with the other clans. I always wanted to be one, so, I am an Eagle Knight!” Deeping his voice and practically shouting. Luis quickly gets a glazed look on his face, eyes scanning left to right, lips forming words silently as if reading something.
Andrew, having had to focus past the words obstructing his view, refocused back on them and began to think. Why are they so quick to accept it? Unless. Snapping his fingers and pointing at Jeremy. “Man, I hope this is a good trip because I told you last time not to do it again. I was crapping nacho cheese for a week! You know I love my pit fights though. Of course, I am a Gladiator.” Suddenly the words changed
Welcome Gladiator!
As the words changed further Andrew grew less certain that it was a joke.
Gladiator class:
The gate lifts, all you can see is light, but the deafening roar of the crowd reaches you before you take your first step. AHHH! You the mighty Gladiator, are a force of devastation with a great arsenal at your disposal. This force you wield isn’t just of destruction, it is also an art and dance, to which the Gladiator strives to perfect. Wooing the crowd, taunting his foe, all to be at the top. Sturdy and flexible the Gladiator can both dodge and take a hit with skill. Now, go forth and let no foe stand before you unless they lay prostrate in awe of your greatness Gladiator *See Status screen for more.
Andrew could not believe his eyes, it seemed like one of those holo-games the other three were always going on about. He had, of course, joined in a few sessions with them, but was nowhere near as comfortable with going into some fantastical world of make-believe to fight, when just outside the walls was all more adventure and battle than one could desire. After the screen with the information on the Gladiator had appeared, no new words had appeared to replace them. Just as he started to wonder where this Status screen would be. With his eyesight clear he could see that the others were all looking at something at the base of the incline that led up to the back door, making deliveries easier.
“Yo, Clara, you ok girl?” Jeremy shouts out breaking the stillness of the quiet midnight calm, causing Andrew to jump slightly. Clara's only response is to take a slow, heavy step forward, her head tilted down at an odd angle. "Hey, Clara, you hear me???" Jeremy shouts again waving his arms from only a few feet away, having moved closer. Again, no response, so Jeremy looks back at the others with a shrug, eyes wide. Andrew and Luis shrug while Howard always a bit of a chicken is furiously shaking his head back forth no. Turning to focus back on the oddly acting server, he is surprised that she is even closer despite her almost drunken gait. In the still air, Andrew could hear a low raspy noise, an odd whispering hum coming from the girl. Jeremy asked the girl again, his voice catching a bit “Hey, what’s that all over your shirt? It looks wet.”
Instead of answering, Clara’s head slowly lifts from the odd angle on her chest, all over her white dress shirt is a large dark spot, glistening wetly in the moonlight. As her head raises the first thing Andrew noticed is that her once vibrant green eyes are now a sickly glowing yellow, the next thing he noticed was the large dark stain that spread from her mouth and spread down her neck and chin, turning her once pristine dress shirt a dark red. Glistening wetly in the moonlight. Andrew wasn’t the only one to grasp, before anyone could do more Clara lunged forward, her delicate mouth opening far wider than should be possible, latching onto Jeremy’s shoulder. Only to pull away just as abruptly taking a large chunk of flesh with her, some of the skin tearing and leaving a trail dangling as she chewed the chunk in her mouth. The sound of chomping seemed to last an eternity before all hell broke loose.
Jeremy flung Clara down and began shouting and crying, “my shoulder! Bitch just bit my shoulder man, what the fuck!?
At the same time, three other voices cried out.
“What the fuck?!?”
“Holey shiiiit!”
“Dudddddddddde!”
Suddenly Clara is back on her feet and flinging her small frame onto Jeremy's pudgy frame, arms clamping around his neck before latching her teeth into Jeremy’s other shoulder. Causing Jeremy to cry out. With a burst of strength, Jeremy swings one of his ham-sized fists to knock the crazed petite server off him. His foremost knuckle connected with her petite nose; the crunch of bone audible to everyone present. Instead of releasing him from the amount of pain and agony she must be in, Clara instead came back in for another bite, Jeremy barely managed to react in time, getting his arm in time for her to take a meaty chunk there instead of his nose like she had been heading for.
“Ahhh! Somebody get this crazy bitch off me!!!” Jeremy's panicked shout snaps Andrew and the other two out of their stupor springing into action. Andrew and Luis each grabbed one of the now snarling and snapping woman arms, trying to pull her off Jeremy only brought more cries of pain from the large man, “she’s digging into my neck!”
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“Aww Ring man, no! She got you, good man.” Howard's deep voice filled with emotion. Tugging on the small fingers digging into the base of each shoulder. It was like prying Iron.
“So?”
“Everyone knows that shit is contagious!!”
“Ugh, pffft as if, what do you know? She just took some fat!” A little panic entered his voice.
“No man you infected! Ugh, we gotta get you some help.”
“How about you two shut the hell up and get her hands free!” Luis snaps at the two bickering friends.
While they had been going back and forth Andrew and Luis were able to get Clara’s legs from the vice grip around Jeremy’s waist and had pulled the vicious woman away from him and Howard, parallel to the ground, only her hands were keeping the struggling and blood-covered pair connected. Howard slowly began to pry off her fingers one by one more Jeremy could not help as he was keeping Clara’s snapping jaws from more of his flesh.
One by one, Howard pried each finger off freeing her left hand, with a struggle the thin man can force the petite girl’s small arm against her side. He realized something then, “Uh guys?”
“What” Jeremy’s snap was the first reply. The agony is clear even through his normal whine.
“How am I supposed to pry that arm off if I can’t let go of this one?”
Silence follows Howard’s question as the others are struck by the same question. A narrow escape from Clara’s snapping jaws causes Jeremy's whimpers to snap the others back to focus. with great pull, Luis and Andrew pull as hard as they can on Clara’s legs, at first it doesn’t seem to work but with a ripping sound the three fall backward, Andrew landing on his bad knee with a cry, Luis falls with Clara still in his arms, not wanting to land with her he lets go, as they were of a similar height Clara falls over Luis and hit her head on the wall that separates the incline from the alleyway.
The still and quietness of the moment after the large crack is overbearing as Andrew listened to the others breathing, Luis was letting out a great gasp after having rolled away from where the crazed server lay. Jeremy’s voice was a whiny groan as he let out a little gasp of pain with each inhale. Howard’s breath was surprisingly calm, even compared to Andrew's heavy and rapid breathing, he was still standing and looking down in the ally where Clara had fallen after she and Luis had separated. Another moment that lasted an eternity had to be the third one tonight, broke as Howard spoke in a deep whisper.
“You know I wasn’t lying before; it is contagious. I don’t know if there’s a way to stop it, man.”
Luis seemed to be the only one coherent enough to respond. “Huh”
“There were rumors that zombies had popped up in the Slums a few years ago.”
“Yeah, I heard about those, but those were just rumors, weren’t they?
“I heard they Had to burn down a couple of stacks, killed a lot of people man. I have some family that lives there. They said it’s true”
“I don’t know man, isn’t that Rolf and Finn that live there?”
“Yeah? So”
“Aren’t those two always making up stuff to sound cool, to their cuz in the neighborhood?”
“No man, they like to joke around. I believe them.”
“Pffft,” Luis scoffs at Howard. “Besides, I’m pretty sure there haven’t been any zombies, since the Camp a few centuries ago.” Seeing the confused look on Howards' and the agony and annoyance on Jeremy’s face he lets out a great sigh. “You guys need to lay off the dust and flouris cur man, Long story short it got really bad quick.”
Andrew had been looking at Luis as he talked with his back to the front of the building where Jessica had come from, he was paying his friend close attention until a sudden movement caught his eye. There seemed to be a fog rolling in and it was making it harder to see far. Yes, right there! There it was again; a shape slowly came shuffling towards the group. The longer Andrew watched the more shapes he could see slowly coming up behind the first.
“Guys.” He cut off Luis midsentence looked at his best friend intently. “Look,” he gestures with his head towards the oncoming shapes. “I think we should go inside.”
Meanwhile…..
Mike
Mike Newman sighed coming to from his brief meditation keeping his eyes shut. Tonight, was a rough one, it was like the entire line was trying to piss him off. He tried to keep his cool, he did, it was like broil and sauté were having a contest that could take just the right amount of time where it was getting long but not enough for the customer to notice. He couldn’t figure out what was going on, he had his best line up too Tuesdays were always busy. Normally he didn’t take a break while working but today he needed to bring himself back to the center. Perfect time while those lazy good for nothings were out having a ‘sanctioned’ smoke break. Two of them didn’t even smoke they just went out there to get paid to do nothing. Hearing what sounds like a high-pitched scream Mike's eyes open, instead of being greeted by the shelves of the dry storage he is instead greeted by a set of words.
Welcome! Hello, and Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. The Company is pleased and grateful you have chosen to take this first step with us. Into the great unknown that is the zombie apocalypse. We will begin immediately due to the nature of the Zombie Apocalypse: Now! Who are you?!
Mike frowns and scoffs after he finishes reading the translucent words, muttering to himself, “I’m Mike Newmen, CHEF dammit!” While it was his people’s belief to accept the world as it is, this was getting to be a little much. That’s why Mike stuck to creating food, all tangible magic. Swatting at these strange words in front of him, the words changed.
Welcome Chef!
Changing again after Mike had finished reading.
Chef Class:
As the world moves, and eons come and go, one constant remain. I’m hungry! From creatures of air land or sea to the bountiful harvest of the soil, you can create not just mouthwatering savory concoctions of depth, but memories and emotions that can last a lifetime. The world is filled with ingredients and it’s up to you to unlock the potential and create unique and potent masterpieces. Go forth and move the world with your craft Chef! *See Status screen for more.
Before Mike has a chance to wonder what a Status screen is the back door slams open banging against the wall, snapping his head up before he hears shouting and someone crying.
“Get some towels!”
“I’ll Get tape!”
“NO clean towels moron, you want his shoulder to rot off?”
“It just won’t stop bleeding man!!”
Mike was very confused, but after comprehending some of what they were yelling, and recognizing the voices, he quickly runs to the main prep room. A large open room with several tables along one wall and stoves next to a pair of deep sinks along the opposite, with the dish area, set up on the far wall of the dry storage and walk-in freezer. In the very center of the room was a steel prep table.
Sprawled out all over the table and having left a trail of blood from the back door to the table is the porker behind the stacks, Jeremy. Shirt off with two gaping holes, blood oozing from both, despite Andrew and Luis pressing towels to each shoulder not having a great effect a puddle already formed beneath him. Howard With a heavy sigh Mike knew what he would have to do so he might as well be about it.
Andrew.
Andrew looked, up from where he held the soaked towel his eyes wide with his panic. Where he saw Mike casually walking away from them as if nothing was happening. Why isn’t he helping? What’s he doing? As he was about to call out Jeremy lets out another cry of agony bringing his focus back to his bleeding friend. Looking back down at the blood-soaked towel with even more gushing around it. It just would not stop! Andrew was never too keen on medical info, but he was pretty sure even with Jeremy’s size he shouldn’t have this blood coming out and still be conscious.
“H-hey man, I think we have to stop this blood, n-no w-way he can have much left,” Howard said in a broken sob. Having come back holding a roll of masking tape.
“Well, if you would keep the pressure on instead of looking every few seconds. It just might stop. Now, move so we can save Fatso here.” Mike says pushing Howard out of the way, bending over to inspect the shoulder Luis pressing down on, despite his obvious effort blood continues to ooze past the already dripping towel. “Press harder.” He snaps at Andrew as he peels back the cloth, agony erupting from Jeremy as he lets out a cry, lifting slightly before his head drops down, hitting the table with a solid thump
Mike's actions reveal the gaping wound, oozing blood with a never-ending stream of blood. Several layers of flesh, muscle, and fat could be seen. The teeth marks along the top only broke by several strands of ripped flesh were pressed inside from where they had been pressed into the wound. The gruesome sight causes Mike to pull back a look of disgust twisting his thin lips. Jeremy has passed out Howard couldn’t handle the sight and ran off, towards the back door where the bathrooms lay. Immediately the sound of retching and liquid splashing.
What in the heck happen? Did something come over the wall?” Mike asked pushing the towel back down. And walking away towards the sink.
“It was Clara man!”
“She went crazy!” Andrew and Luis speak softly on top of one another
“Put pressure on that” he motions to Luis as he walks towards the sinks. Snapping over his shoulder as he washes his hands. “Don’t mumble speak up, now what are you two talking about? Do we need to call the guard or not?”
“No” Shouts Andrew
As Luis shouts “Yes!”
“Make sense! Those looked like teeth marks. That girl talks a lot but no way she could have taken a bite out of someone that size. Even someone his size.” Mike says his nasal voice no longer shouting. As he came back carrying the First Aid kit normally kept in the manager's office.
“No dude, seriously, it was” Jeremy ads coming back in wiping his mouth.
“What, like a zombie?”
“EXACTLY!”
“EXACTLY!” Andrew and Luis shout on top of each other again.
“Pfft, you kids know we haven’t had an outbreak in centuries.”
“Ya huh, what about the rumors a few years ago.”
Mike scoffs at Howard and glares at him.” Everyone gossips over nothing trust me.” Looking back down at Jeremy as he begins to pull out a couple of packages of bandages, gauze, and a large bottle with a cloudy liquid. “He will either turn or he won’t, not much we can do about it. Now, hold him still this is going to burn.”
After some maneuvering with Howard on Jeremy's feet, Luis and Andrew remained on the shoulder they were already attending. Mike straddles Jeremy like one of the Circus performers on their fantastical beasts. Mike removed both bloody clothes slowly, luckily Jeremy remained unconscious only letting out a few murmurs Andrew couldn’t understand. As Mike got the bottle ready, he began to tell them what he thinks they should do. Having to shout over Jeremy's scream. As he heavy-handedly poured the solution into each wound before stuffing wads of gauze into one hole spraying more of the bottle on top. Cover each with a thick bandage and several layers of tape.
“Alright, so if he can remain awake after this, we will make our way to the guard station just down the road. Hopefully, he won’t have turned by then, that hinges on the chance there is a healer there at this time. If so, he might have a chance. He’s lost a lot of blood though, so I don’t know.” Mike looks down at Jeremy with a frown, the pain too much and unable to remain awake and had passed again into unconsciousness. Before glancing at Howard who looked quite green.
“You going to puke again?
“n-No I’m good”
“Good, I changed my mind. You go get the guard and I’ll have these two go bring Jesse and lock her in the bath-“
Andrew couldn’t be faster to shout, “NO.” Two others echoing on top of his yell.
“Don’t be a wus! She’s small you should be able to outrun her easy with your long legs.”
“Please don’t make me go out there again. She, not the only one!” Howard says getting hysterical.
“THERE ARE NO ZOMBIES ANYMORE!” Mike shouts at the top of his lungs, causing the others but Jeremy to fall silent, the loud shout bringing him slightly awake. The silence hangs for a moment, until.
*Thump*
Five heads snapped in the direction of the back door.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump**Thump
The pounding began. It started with a few hands thumping quickly turning into a nonstop pounding on the back door. The group was silent except for Jeremy's labored breaths. Andrew like the others is frozen, unsure what to do when the pounding from the back is echoed by another from the front. The sound of breaking glass.