The Early Days Trilogy: The Necrose Series Books 1-3

by Tim Moon

  “No need.” His voice boomed from the top of the staircase. He slowly hopped down each stair. “All is well outside. No sign of trouble. What did you get?”

  Pulling the zipper tab, Ben opened the duffle and held it open for everyone to see. He held up a shin guard. Chadwick tipped his head to the side and blinked.

  “They can protect our shins and our forearms. Extra protection for when we go on raids or whatever,” Ben said.

  Chadwick picked up a catcher’s mask. “Brilliant, mate. I’ll wear this for sure. Can’t have those bastards chewing off my beautiful face.”

  The girls snickered at that.

  “I figure we can use the jump ropes as trip wires and the big rope has a ton of potential uses,” Ben said.

  “We got spooked off,” Anuhea said, clearing her throat. “At some point we need to go back to check the cafeteria.”

  “There’s more sporting gear too,” Ben added. He stood up and looked around. “Where’d Oliver go?”

  “Hiding from those books no doubt,” Nancy said. “He’s okay.”

  “What do you mean by spooked off?” Chadwick asked.

  “Charlotte heard someone inside the school, while we were packing the sports gear. So, we decided to leave and go back later for the rest,” Ben said. “It was more unsettling than when we took out the first load of bodies and that car drove by.”

  Nancy gasped. Chadwick already knew and had obviously heeded Ben’s advice not to tell his mom. He gave his friend a small nod of appreciation.

  “It’s fine.” Ben continued. “We’re certain they didn’t see us. It was weird though. Our drive back was long and convoluted to make sure no one followed us. Anyway, that’s why we went somewhere else for the second load. We didn’t want to risk running into them again.”

  “Smart,” Chadwick said. “It’s a little exciting though, right?”

  Nancy scoffed. “How do you figure that, young man?”

  “We knew there would be other survivors,” Ben said, backing up his friend. His mom was startled and was overreacting to the news. “It was inevitable we’d run into someone eventually.”

  “That doesn’t mean they’re good people to know,” Nancy scolded.

  Ben frowned. No one had said anything about getting to know the strangers.

  “Does it change anything for us?” Chadwick asked.

  Ben shrugged. “Just another problem to deal with. Not only do we have humans to keep an eye out for, but the zombie runners too. Don’t forget about them, and don’t assume it’s a human just because it’s moving quickly.”

  Chadwick groaned in remembrance.

  “Almost forgot about them.” Nancy’s brow furrowed.

  “We need to stay vigilant,” Anuhea said. “Our setup here is nice, maybe nicer than other folks and that might not sit right with them. I’d rather head to the hills, but if we have to stay in town, we need to get serious about our defenses.”

  “Our wall worked well the other day. What else can we do?” Charlotte asked.

  “Board up the windows, reinforce the doors, set up traps and barriers outside, start the vehicle barrier on the road behind us,” Chadwick said with a wave of his hand. “That’s off the top of my head.”

  “All of that and then some. I like how you’re thinking, man,” Ben said, holding his fist out. Chadwick bumped it. “Let’s get started tomorrow morning. First, we need supplies. Mostly food but we’ll look for other stuff too. Now that we know for sure that others are out there, we need to collect as much food as we can before they do.”

  “Or scavenge what’s left over,” Anuhea muttered.

  “Exactly. Supply and demand. In times like these competition breeds conflict, so the more we collect now, the better off we’ll be in the long run.” Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “For now, let’s get someone on the rifle upstairs, keeping an eye out. Charlotte, would you mind?”

  She nodded. “No problem.”

  “Anuhea and I will go over the map and plan out a raid for tomorrow,” Ben said, unfolding a map on the coffee table. “Then I’ll take over guard duty upstairs.”

  “What about me?” Chadwick asked.

  “Take a load off. I’m sure you’re tired of staring outside. Tomorrow, you, Charlotte and my mom can rotate guard duty while we go out,” Ben said. “And during your breaks, it’d be awesome if you put together a plan for the defenses you mentioned.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Mom, do you think you could spend time going through the books with Oliver?”

  She looked up at him with a faint smile. “I think that’s doable.”

  “And perhaps a garden plan?” he added.

  “I’d love to, honey.”

  “Thanks, mom.” Ben turned to face Anuhea and gestured at the map. “Shall we?”

  75

  State College, PA

  Vanessa sat alone on the couch, hunched over with her elbows on her knees, staring at a map she had spread out on the coffee table. The map was from the store she had run too after losing April to the infected. Her eyes lost focus as they had so many times since she had sat down, blurring the colors together into an amorphous blob.

  What am I doing?

  Vanessa’s mind raced in a hundred different directions that somehow managed to tangle and crash into each other. She wanted to sleep. She had to get some rest. Yet every time she had managed to doze off the night before, she had jolted awake from night terrors. In real life, the attack had been quick. In her dreams, the worst moments dragged on for ages.

  April was such a brave woman, and strong too. She shouldn’t have been the one to fall prey to the infected. April should have survived. What right did Vanessa have to live?

  Blinking hard several times, Vanessa tried to focus on the map again. She had intended to look for something. What was it?

  “Damn it,” Vanessa muttered, rubbing her temples.

  Her brain was a bowl of melted gelatin. Using it drained strength from the remnants of her will. Vanessa leaned back on the couch and threw her arm over her eyes, burying her face in the crook of her elbow. She was lost with no idea of what to do; adrift on the ocean like a piece of wood bouncing around on the waves.

  She had been content to keep April company. Her long terms plans had died with Steve Edwardson, and then she had found April. Every day since then had been focused on the day-to-day slog of survival and the long wait for Mike to show up. It had suited her just fine; thinking too far ahead had felt overwhelming. That sense of being overwhelmed came crashing back with a vengeance. With no friends, family or civilization left, she had all the free time in the world and absolutely nothing to do.

  Vanessa bit back tears and leaned back on the couch to stare at the ceiling. Sitting alone in such a large house felt weird, cavernous. She covered her eyes with her arm, hoping to block out the anguish flashing through her mind. Silence played weird tricks. It gave her brain room to work and a chance to process what it had witnessed – the stress of horror and loss.

  She sighed.

  Mike would never show up, she knew that. Not after this long. If he had somehow avoided the infected, then the bombs or the fallout had taken him. She would never get the chance to pass along April’s message.

  Vanessa’s arm slid off her eyes and thumped onto the couch. She had an idea. Slowly, reluctantly, she stood and stretched her body. Her ass had fallen asleep from inactivity and the muscles tingled with renewed circulation.

  She climbed the stairs to the office. The sound of her heavy breathing from just that small amount of work made her smirk as she rummaged through a desk for a pen and paper. When she had found what she needed, Vanessa plopped down in the leather desk chair and began to write a quick note, relaying April’s last message. Just in case Mike did show up. A note would fulfill the obligation to her friend.

  The words Vanessa scribbled on the paper made her eyes sting with emotion. A tear drop splashed on the ink, smearing a few letters. With a heavy sigh, she finished and the
n folded the note. Mike’s name went on the outside in all-caps. She carried it downstairs, propped it up on the dining table and returned to the couch.

  What was the map for again? Ah, right, where can I go? She thought. Where would I be safe?

  She sniffed at the thought. It was obvious the Necrose virus had spread nationwide. Worldwide. Its reach was unavoidable.

  Should I just stay here? Can I settle for merely surviving?

  As far as she could tell, no semblance of order or civilization remained intact. She wouldn’t be going back to teaching class anytime soon. The FBI was unlikely to arrest her given the state of the nation. What else could she do with her life? Should she still be concerned with Black Tide?

  Are they still hunting me?

  Her jaw clenched at the thought. After uploading and sharing the documents, the media had picked it up and spread it far and wide. It had been too late though. The virus spread quickly, engulfing the nation in a fight to remain functional. The police and military had lasted only a week before heavy losses caused them to withdraw. That was the last she had heard of a coordinated resistance.

  She couldn’t believe what the company had done. What the hell was the point of creating a deadly virus if you risked falling prey to it? Vanessa frowned. Unless Black Tide had an antidote. Was it possible?

  Vanessa chewed her lip. It seemed unlikely that the company could kill everyone. No, the management team, or whoever was responsible, would have a plan to stay safe. They probably had security teams as well.

  The clouds shifted and the light coming in through the front room window grew too bright. Vanessa squinted against the light to check the streets before pulling the curtains closer together. All she needed was enough light to read the map.

  Where was Black Tide located?

  Steve Edwardson had worked in Great Falls, Virginia near Washington, DC. He was a researcher which meant there had to be a lab there. They might have something useful. If not, she could at least make them pay for the death of her friends and family. She glanced at the pistol beside the map. Her nerves felt raw. Not just about Necrose-7A, but about them getting away with her brother’s death.

  A fire seemed to kindle inside Vanessa, now that she had something productive to do – a purpose where she could focus her energy. If there was an antidote or vaccine, she would find it. If there were any surviving Black Tide executives, she would kill them. Not matter what; she would do whatever it took to make sure Black Tide didn’t get away with starting an apocalypse, unscathed.

  76

  Early morning sun filtered through a partly-cloudy sky. The trees had lost their leaves, the flowers had died away, and yet the frost-tipped grass glowed bright-green under the rays of the sun. A cold breeze blew from the Gorge, chilling Ben’s ears.

  He stood on the porch surveying the neighborhood, as he often did, his AR-15 cradled lovingly in his arms. An old hiking backpack hung from his shoulders, filled with food, water, and ammunition. Everything they might need for the day’s raid.

  “I’m all set,” Anuhea said as she pushed through the screen door.

  “Great,” he said with a smile, grateful that someone had oiled the noisy hinges.

  Chadwick was on guard duty upstairs, and the others were busy with their own chores. Ben and Anuhea strode towards the east end of the block, turning once to wave to Chadwick. Ben wanted to find a van, so they could transport all the supplies they would be collecting.

  Anuhea had no problem keeping up with Ben’s pace. In fact, it seemed like she was slowing down for him. Her short legs moved quickly. Ty had always teased him about being slow, often referencing his last name as evidence. The fond memory brought a sad smile to his face.

  “Are you looking out for anything in particular?” he asked her, hoping she’d slow her pace to chat.

  “When we get to a store?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “Not really. Almost everything is valuable now. You?”

  “Medication for my mom,” he said. “She doesn’t talk about it much, but I know it’s a problem.”

  “Is she already running low?”

  “Not exactly, but her meds have an expiration date. I’m not sure how we’ll manage to get insulin in the long-term.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry to hear that.” Anuhea began to adjust her ponytail. Ben watched her long, dark hair swing in the breeze. “We’ll figure out something.”

  “I suppose,” Ben said. He felt his face growing hot against the cool breeze, so he looked away. He didn’t want to think about it.

  They slowed near the car wall to scan for threats.

  Ben checked the left side of the street. “All clear.”

  “Same here.” Anuhea climbed over.

  He was close behind her and after he landed in the intersection, they both dashed across the open road to the next block. They walked past the truck they had used to transport the bodies since their mission required something a little quieter.

  And not drenched in gore. The lingering stench necessitated keeping it away from the neighborhood.

  “I want to get a van,” Ben said.

  “Ah, yes. A good old-fashioned grocery-getter.” Anuhea chuckled.

  “We are going shopping.”

  They walked up a driveway to check the first garage door. Four garages later, they found a white soccer-mom van. It had one of those stupid stick figure family stickers on the back and a “Baby on Board” bumper sticker. In Ben’s experience, those people were often terrible drivers. The van’s interior only affirmed his prejudice.

  “Did they ever bother cleaning this thing?” Anuhea said with disgust, peering through windows marred by sticky handprints and smeared goop.

  “No joke.”

  Bits of cereal and cracker crumbs were all over the seats and floor. A toy car lay on the seat next to a chewed-up action figure and a tall sippy cup that appeared to still have liquid inside. Ben scrunched his nose up at a grungy-looking car seat with a myriad of questionable stains. Garbage filled the passenger side foot well, and that was just what they could see through the windows.

  Ben lifted the garage door while Anuhea took a knee and raised her rifle. Once they could walk in, Anuhea went to open the door inside the garage. Ben gave a nod and rushed inside the house with his rifle raised, and she fell in behind him. The first room on the left was a laundry room. The right side was the kitchen. They moved through the rooms as quickly as they could.

  The house was in only a marginally better condition than the van. The floor was a veritable minefield of toys and random pieces of clothing. In the hallway, Ben nearly rolled his ankle on an action figure. He gritted his teeth and kicked it aside.

  “Can you believe this fucking mess?” Ben asked. “Who lives like this?”

  Dirty hand prints stained the walls, which featured an impressive collection of scrapes, dents and deep gouges in the dry wall. The bathroom mirror was cracked, and the shower had a dirt ring that looked permanent. Ben felt dirty just walking through the house.

  “Their field of fucks lies fallow,” Anuhea said.

  Ben snickered until they came to a long-dried pool of blood in the hallway.

  “Damn,” he said.

  A wide streak on the floor led to the front door with several smeared hand prints on the walls. The hair on Ben’s neck stood up. They didn’t find any bodies or infected though.

  In the backyard, Ben saw a dog’s body. It’d been chained to a dog house and its emaciated body was curled up at the end of the chain. Turning away, before he went into a rage, he began searching for the van’s keys. Ben was about to check the dining table when Anuhea yelped and ran into the room.

  “What?” he asked as his heart tried to leap out of his throat.

  “I saw a mouse,” she said, visibly shivering. “And I found these.” She held out the keys in one hand and covered her mouth with the other. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “Nice job, scaredy cat.” Ben smirked.

&nb
sp; She punched his shoulder.

  “What the hell?”

  “Don’t tell anyone about the mouse,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

  Ben held a fist to his mouth and bit his cheek to hide his amusement. It didn’t work. He had to jump back to avoid getting hit again.

  “We should take the seats out of the van,” Anuhea suggested when they entered the garage.

  “More space for supplies.” Ben opened the van and stepped back when the smell hit him.

  She covered her nose. “And less… yuck.”

  “Should we ditch this junk heap and keep searching?”

  Anuhea shifted back and forth on her feet. “If we give it a cleaning it should be fine.”

  Ben eyed her skeptically.

  She motioned towards the van. “Come on.”

  “Okay,” he said with a shrug.

  After they removed the seats, it was easy to see the leftover gunk on the floor. The van was an ant’s wet dream. Crumbs and bits of cereal were strewn over the floor. Ben found a broom and began to sweep the van out. He uncovered an old grape rotting under an empty candy bar wrapper and a rotted apple hiding underneath a clump of dirty napkins. With the doors open, the stink began to fade which made it bearable.

  Ben glanced into the back of the empty van. “There we go, less yuck.”

  “I won’t say I told you so,” Anuhea said.

  “May as well have,” he muttered as he plopped down into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and rolled the windows down for fresh air. “And we’re off.”

  The van lurched backward, rolling down the sloped driveway. They exited the neighborhood in the opposite direction from their house. Ben set the old pharmacy store nearby as their first stop. It was the place his mom normally restocked her medicine.

  Five minutes later, Ben drove past the small shopping center on the corner of the intersection with Mill Plain Boulevard. The shopping center was barren, not a soul in sight. The pharmacy looked dark inside but appeared to be untouched. None of the windows were broken and only a few cars sat nearby in the parking lot. That might mean infected or survivors inside though.