Dead Meat (Book 4): Dead Meat [Day 4]

by Clausen, Nick

  For the second time today, Nasira finds herself trapped inside a car with a group of undead outside.

  “Holy hell,” Henrik says, looking out and finally seeming to come completely to his senses. “This is not good …”

  “I know! How do we get out?”

  “We can’t, there are too many.”

  Henrik points, and Nasira follows his finger. The rest of the undead are joining the party, and soon the car is surrounded on all sides. The girl pinned by the window is still biting and pushing at the glass.

  “It’s only a matter of time before they work their way in here,” Nasira says. “I don’t know how much longer the window will hold.”

  Henrik doesn’t seem to hear her; he has pulled out his phone.

  FOURTEEN

  Dan strides back and forth in the kitchen, constantly checking the windows facing the courtyard. Any minute now, the white Prius will come into view. He can’t wait to see them again, Mom, Dad and Grandma.

  Ozzy comes into the kitchen, glances at him briefly, then goes to his bowl of water and begins drinking.

  William follows a moment later, rubbing his forehead and looking tired. “I’ve been down there all day. Figured I’d better get some daylight while I still can.” He nods towards the living room. “So, those assholes are still outside, huh?”

  “Yeah, they’re very persistent.”

  William bites his lip. “Maybe we should all just pretend like we are The Beatles or something, you know?”

  Dan stares at him. “What?”

  “Like, we’re the world’s most famous rock band, and those outside are just fans trying to get an autograph.”

  Dan can’t help but smile.

  “Come on, be honest,” William goes on, “wouldn’t that be a lot easier to deal with? I call dibs on Ringo.”

  Dan just shakes his head. “Did they say anything new on TV?”

  William shrugs. “The prime minister held another press conference, addressing people of the town, urging them to stay indoors and to not attempt to leave. She said they were working hard to get the situation under control, that more soldiers had arrived from Copenhagen, and that they would soon find a cure.”

  “A cure?” Dan frowns. “For what? Zombie-itis?”

  William snorts. “That’s funny. No, they’re calling it the Rhabdovirus, because they believe it’s an unknown string of virus related to rabies or something.”

  Dan throws out his arms. “It’s not a virus. You can’t vaccinate people out of it. It’s something completely different. Like, some dark Voodoo magic, or whatever.”

  “Right, you call her up and tell her that. I’m sure she’s all ears.”

  “You don’t believe me?” Dan asks.

  William holds up his hands. “Hey, I’m with you a hundred percent, man. I’m just saying, I don’t think anyone in the government is going to listen.”

  Dan sighs. “You’re right.”

  William leans against the counter, folding his tattooed arms across his chest. “It was uncanny, though. She kept talking about it like it was some sort of disease. I think that’s how they need to look at it, because that’s something you can fix, you know? I’m not even sure they know the zombies are dead. Unless they’ve caught one and dissected it, but I doubt they’d gone that far already.”

  “Has it spread beyond town then?”

  “They didn’t say outright, but they mentioned something about something going down in Aarhus, too. They didn’t want to confirm it, though.”

  Dan gets a sinking feeling in his stomach. “That’s not good. What will happen if they’ve already spread to Aarhus?”

  William lifts himself up onto the counter. “Okay, here’s what I think. I think it depends on the military. She tried to sound reassuring at the press conference, but I don’t know; I mean, how many people live in this town? Almost thirty k? How many of them are brain eaters by now? Are the military going to be able to keep all those fuckers back if they decide to go look for fresh hunting grounds? Not to mention how large of an area they’d need to seal off. If they’re only blocking the roads out of town—and I’m sure there’s hundreds if you count them all—then what’s preventing the zombies from just walking across the fields instead? I saw on some video footage they were sending in helicopters, but come on, they’d still need a thousand of those to patrol the whole area around town. So, all in all, I’m not having high hopes. Not to mention if it’s spread to Aarhus, that’s even worse. A lot more people, a lot bigger city to seal off. Honestly, I think this will turn into a nationwide problem within a day or two. Then, God knows where it’ll go from there.”

  “That’s uplifting.”

  Both Dan and William turn to see Mille standing in the doorway.

  William throws out his hands. “I’d rather be realistic than uplifting. That gives us a better chance of surviving.” He looks at Dan. “Hey, did you ever get a hold of your dad?”

  “I did. They’re coming here.”

  William is busy scratching his elbow, but now he looks at Dan and raises his eyebrows. “They’re coming here? When?”

  “They should be here any minute.”

  William jumps down from the counter. “Seriously? Did you tell Holger?”

  “No, not yet. My dad just called me, like, five minutes ago, and—”

  “Why did they leave home?”

  “It wasn’t safe anymore.”

  “Have they been in contact with any zombies?”

  Dan frowns. “Of course not! They’re not stupid.”

  “Well, did you consider asking us if we’re cool with you inviting your family to our hideout?”

  “They’re not staying, if that’s what you’re so worried about,” Dan says, feeling irritated with William for reacting like this. He also feels a little guilty because he actually did invite them to come and stay. “They’ll just pick me up, and then we’ll be out of your hair.”

  “Oh, really? And where are you planning on going?”

  “What’s that to you?”

  “I’m just curious. I’m sure you’re aware you’re currently at the safest place in like a thousand miles. You’re really going to waltz out of here and just wing it? Just hoping you’ll find somewhere else safe that isn’t already overrun by other survivors?”

  “So what if I do? What do you care? As long as you’re safe.”

  They have both raised their voices now. They’re not shouting, not yet anyway, but they will be soon, Dan is sure of it. To his surprise, however, William replies in almost a whisper.

  “Look, I already lost one friend who made a stupid decision.”

  The fact that William just called him his friend catches Dan off guard. He blinks. “I … well, I’m not going to get myself killed, so you don’t need to worry.”

  “You will if you leave.”

  Mille has been following the conversation silently, but now she speaks. “Hey, no one needs to leave. We’ll figure out a way.”

  Dan sends her a thankful look.

  William also looks at her, but his demeanor isn’t exactly the same. “Easy to say, harder to do.”

  “Nothing is easy to do anymore. But I think we can manage Dan’s parents staying here, at least until we find another solution.”

  William scuffs. “Sure, why not invite everyone we know?”

  Mille crosses her arms. “You’re being a real selfish dick, you know that, right?”

  “It’s called making sure we survive.”

  “No, it’s called making sure you survive.” She points at his chest. “It’s all about you, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, I guess it is! I like surviving, is that so bad?”

  “It is,” Mille retorts instantly, “if it means you’re not willing to help other people.”

  Dan looks at William, who doesn’t answer right away. His heart speeds up, fearing this will become an all-out fight.

  “The bunker was built for a maximum of four people,” William argues with assumed calm. “You he
ard Holger say so yesterday, didn’t you?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And we are already four people here, in case you didn’t notice. It’s about food rationing. I’m thinking about the long run here, not just how we’ll make it till tomorrow.”

  “Then I’ll eat a little less,” Mille says. “And I’ll sleep on the floor. If that’s what it takes, I’ll be glad to do my part in helping out.”

  William rubs his temple. “We’re not helping anyone if we’re ruining our own chances of making it. Then we’ll all be dead, not just Dan’s parents.”

  “Don’t talk about them like that,” Dan blurts out, feeling a surprising cold towards William. “You’re saying it like they’re already dead.”

  William is about to reply when there’s a sound from the hallway, and Holger enters the kitchen. He’s carrying a big plastic tray overflowing with fresh vegetables, his hands are dark with dirt, and his face is red and sweaty from being out in the sun.

  He puts the tray on the counter, then runs the back of his hand across his forehead, wiping off the sweat, but leaving a trail of dirt. “Darn it, it’s the hottest summer I can remember,” he sighs. Then, apparently noticing the less than cheery mood, he looks around at them before addressing William: “What’s going on? Is anything wrong?”

  William takes a deep breath. “Dan’s parents are coming.”

  “Oh,” Holger says. “Coming where?”

  “Coming here.”

  “No,” Holger says, shaking his head. “No, that’s not possible. We’re already four people, I told you, we can only—”

  “I know, Holger, I was just reminding Dan. We were talking about maybe—”

  Dan’s phone rings. He pulls it out. “It’s my dad,” he says, then answers the call. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Dan? Listen to me … we need help.”

  Dan can tell right away something’s very wrong at the other end of the line. Both from the strain in his dad’s voice, but also because someone is shouting shrilly in the background.

  “What is it?” Dan breathes.

  “We’re trapped … in a car … about a mile up road from where you are … we can’t get out … there are six, no, seven of them right outside …”

  Dan feels his stomach drop to somewhere below his groin. “I’m coming, Dad,” he hears himself say, walking towards the front door.

  He’s stopped as William grabs him hard by the arm, staring at him intently. “What is it?”

  “You need to find someone who can drive,” Dad goes on, and now Dan can tell William is also listening. “We need another car, this one is crashed … and we can’t get out unless someone lures them away …”

  Dan looks at William. “We have a car. And someone who can drive.”

  “Woah, hold on,” William begins, but Dan ignores him and turns away.

  “We’re coming, Dad. Just hold on. Are you … are you all okay?”

  “Yes, we’re fine. But you need to hurry, Dan.”

  “We will. We’re leaving right now. Just hang—”

  Someone screams again in the background. Dan doesn’t catch the words, but there is unmistakable terror in the voice. It’s a woman’s voice, probably his mom, although she sounds different.

  “Move away from the window!” Dad shouts. “Get in the back, Nasira!”

  “Nasira?” Dan repeats, confused. “Dad, who’s there with you?”

  “There’s no time to explain! Please, just hurry, Dan! One of the windows are open! It’s a matter of minutes before they make their way in!”

  Dan’s stomach drops even farther. “Okay. Okay, we’ll hurry. Hang on, Dad!” He hangs up and turns to William, who’s looking back at him with a mixture of anxiety and skepticism. “Come on! We’ve got to go, now!” He makes for the front door, but when William doesn’t follow, he stops and turns back. “Come on! What are you waiting for?”

  “This is a mistake,” William says, shaking his head slowly. “You heard him. The zombies are already in the car.”

  “No, not yet, but they will be if we don’t help them!”

  “We can’t!” William throws out his arms. “We can’t leave here, Dan! I won’t! We might be cut off, and there’ll be no way back! We’ll die out there, don’t you get that?”

  The fear swirling around in Dan’s stomach rushes up into his chest, turning to fierce anger. “I don’t care! That’s a risk I’m willing to take!”

  William crosses his arms. “Well, I’m not.”

  It’s all Dan can do to not throw himself at William. Instead, he points to the courtyard and the road beyond it with a trembling finger, then screams at the top of his lungs, spittle flying from his mouth: “That’s my family out there, you piece of shit! I’ve already lost my sister! I watched her fucking die right in front of me! So fuck you, you coward! If you’re not driving me, I’ll fucking walk!”

  William blinks and uncrosses his arms. He frowns. “What the fuck did you just call me?”

  “I called you a coward!” Dan shouts, grinding his teeth. “That’s what you are! You call me a friend, but you won’t help me! Shows what you’re worth!” Dan turns to leave, then realizes he’s not done, and turns back around. “Don’t you think I’m fucking scared? I am! I’ve been terrified for four days straight! But I’m not going to hide here while my parents die!”

  He doesn’t wait for William to say anything, he simply turns and leaves the kitchen. The front door is locked, so he fumbles with the many locks. Some of them turn, others slide.

  “Wait!”

  Dan looks back and sees William in the doorway. Dan shakes his head firmly. “I’m not waiting another minute …”

  “Well, you’ll have to,” William says, pointing. “Because they’re right outside.”

  Dan looks at the narrow window next to the door and sees two zombies standing on the other side, groping at the door. He gasps and steps back, horrified at how close he got to opening the door. “I’ll … I’ll climb out of a window, then,” he says, going back into the kitchen.

  “You can’t,” William says as Dan shoves past him. “They’re all barred up. Unless you want to go upstairs and climb out onto the roof, then jump down.”

  Dan stops dead and throws out his arms in frustration. “How the fuck do I get out of here?”

  “I’ll show you,” William says. “I’m coming with you. We take my car.”

  Dan rounds on him, squinting. Then, he nods. “Fine. But we need to hurry!”

  William turns to Holger. “We’re leaving through the Narnia exit. We’ll be back within half an hour.”

  Holger looks very uneasy, shifting his weight back and forth, but he doesn’t argue.

  “Narnia exit?” Dan asks.

  William doesn’t answer. “Ozzy, you’re coming with us.”

  The German shepherd was obviously only waiting for the word, because it jumps forward, whining eagerly, like a kid desperate to get off the bench and join the game.

  William goes out to the tiny room with the stairs leading to the first floor, Ozzy right at his heel, and Dan follows along. He looks to the window, which is very high up and very narrow, and he’s just about to tell William there’s no way they’re getting out through there, when William opens the cabinet under the stairs.

  To Dan’s surprise, there’s no shelves or anything else inside the cabinet; it’s completely empty. William reaches in and presses the back wall. A click, and the wall swings open, revealing itself to be a secret door.

  “Get the name now?” William asks with a brief smile, finding his phone and activating the flashlight. “I’m the one who came up with it, by the way.” Then he squeezes into the cabinet and disappears into the darkness.

  Ozzy needs no further invitation, but rushes after his owner.

  Dan does the same.

  A short staircase leads down half a story, then a claustrophobically narrow and dirt-smelling hallway proceeds straight ahead. Dan follows the light of William’s phone for what feels like several yards.
Then they reach another staircase, and William jumps up and pushes open a hatch, revealing a strip of daylight as he peeks out.

  “Okay, coast is clear,” he whispers. “But we need to be quick.”

  He lifts the hatch open all the way and climbs the rest of the way up. Ozzy is right behind him, and Dan follows suit. Suddenly, they’re standing at the farthest corner of Holger’s courtyard, right next to William’s car.

  Dan looks in amazement at what looks like a sewer cover from above ground, but as William closes it again, he can tell it’s only a well-crafted paper-mache imitation.

  “He thought of everything,” he mutters, forgetting for a moment all about his parents.

  “Yeah,” William says, opening the back door to his car and allowing Ozzy to jump in. “And why do you think I parked right here? Come on, get in, before they notice us.”

  Dan throws a glance towards the house. The two zombies are still clawing at the front door, and another three are standing by the kitchen windows. Through the glass, he notices Holger and Mille both looking out at him.

  “Come on, Dan!” William calls, starting up the car.

  Dan quickly gets in, just as the zombies—apparently drawn by the sound of the car engine—turn this direction and begin staggering for the car.

  William guns it, and the car roars, speeding out of the driveway, gravel flying everywhere.

  Neither of them notices the white Prius parked behind the garage, its engine idling quietly.

  FIFTEEN

  Mille watches from the kitchen window as they drive off.

  The zombies, who had been waddling towards the car now realize it’s hopelessly out of reach, turn around and stagger back to the house, resuming their tireless scratching at the windows and the front door.

  She shutters at the sight of the expressionless faces and turns away, looking instead at Holger.

  The host is standing in the middle of the room, looking at the floor while his lips move with no sound. It looks like he’s debating internally what to do now.