The Demented Z (Book 3): Contagion

by Derek J. Thomas

  The Demented: Contagion

  A novel by Derek J. Thomas

  Version 1.0

  Copyright © 2015 Derek J. Thomas

  All Rights Reserved. The Demented: Contagion is an original work of fiction. All characters and concepts are solely owned by Derek J. Thomas. Names, characters, places, concepts, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events or actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  This book is dedicated to Elgin High School in Elgin, Oregon.

  Chapter 1 - Understanding

  The red blood stood in stark contrast to the brilliant white snow. Liquid life continued to seep out of the large wound, pouring across the snow, eating away at the frozen crystals. A rising cloud of moist breath lingered in the air above a pair of dark nostrils before the lungs let out one final puff. A few last leg twitches and then the body went eternally still.

  Tom never liked to see an animal suffer and he was glad his aim was true. The lung shot went clean through, quickly sapping the deer of life. The small buck had barely made two steps before falling to the snow where it now remained. Its emaciated body was a testament to how afraid animals were to be down in the valleys where food was much more plentiful. Each deer Tom got for his family was thinner and thinner. He would be lucky to get a useable forty pounds of meat.

  Already dreading the hike, he pulled his face away from the rifle scope and began gathering his gear. Dark would be coming on soon and it would take some time to clean up the deer and pack it back to the cabin. After he shouldered his rifle and ruck, the slow trudge through the deep snow began its rapid energy drain.

  The 300 yard shot had looked deceivingly close. The hike required a drop of nearly 200 vertical feet into a ragged ravine, followed by the tedious climb back up the other side. A rocky outcropping sat just below the deer’s body. This is where Tom now stood with one boot up on a medium sized boulder, trying to catch his breath. He remained in decent shape, but climbing through deep snow really sapped it out of him.

  While standing there he thought he heard something. He surveyed all around him, but found only flat white snow and gray rocks. It had sounded like rocks rubbing against each other. No wind. Maybe the sun was warming rocks, beginning to melt some of the snow, forming voids that rocks would shift into. He pulled his binoculars and took a slow sweep around. Nothing. In the mountains sounds could echo for miles. He still felt uneasy. A sense of dread he couldn’t quite shake.

  One look at the sun, barely clinging to life above the mountains to the West, reminded Tom he better move.

  He swiftly made the last of the climb and began working on the deer. This was the part he didn’t like and no matter how many times he did it, it never got better. His hands were freezing and the warm innards were little comfort. He occasionally paused to check all around him. To survive in this new world, where everything was out to get you, required constant vigilance. Caution hopefully bought you another day. Recklessness surely bought you never ending rest.

  It was just as he was placing the last quarter into his pack that he saw movement in the ravine below. A dark form was working through the rocks, climbing steadily up the mountain. Has Hank finally returned? Tom pulled his binoculars to get a better look. The figure was dressed in thick winter garb and had a hood pulled up over his head, hiding his identity in dark shadow. Not Hank. He continued to squint into the binoculars. Who then?

  Darkness was beginning to fill the ravine. A quick glance at the fading sun let Tom know there was less than an hour of light remaining. Even with no rest, it would take that long just to get back to the cabin. He put away his binoculars and shouldered the heavy pack. Rifle in hand, he began side-hilling to where the ravine carved between the two hillsides.

  Rather than point his rifle directly at the approaching figure, Tom kept it at low ready, knowing he could quickly bring it to bear if needed. The person was making fast, confident work of the steep terrain.

  “That’s close enough. Let’s hold up right there.” Tom shouted when the figure was within a dozen paces. The figure pulled to a stop and looked up at him. Tom was surprised to see a woman’s face under the shadowed hood.

  She didn’t seem at all surprised by his command. “Hank sent me.” Was all she said, and that was enough.

  Those three words hit Tom hard. He was both relieved to know Hank was alive, but also a weight sunk to the pit of his stomach. Why was it not him returning? It had been nearly a week since he left on a scouting trip. Food, supplies, and information were his goals; none of them should have taken more than a few days.

  “Are you armed?” Tom asked, already knowing that she had a rifle slung on her back.

  “I have Rudy on my back and Jerry on my hip.”

  Named her guns…weird. I guess we’re all weird these days. He was glad for her honesty. “Come on up.” He glanced around. The light was quickly fading and the temperature was dropping rapidly. “We need to hustle.”

  As she neared, he said, “I’m Tom, but I have a feeling you already knew that.” He was surprised to see her up close. She was much too young and beautiful for this rugged world, probably in her early twenties, although Tom was terrible with ages.

  “I did. We can talk once we reach shelter.”

  Tom hesitated for a bit, expecting her to say something further. When she didn’t he said, “At least tell me what is going on.”

  “I will, I just don’t want to get caught out here at dark.” She said while beginning to walk past Tom.

  He reached out, placing an arm in her path. “Hold on. You have to understand. My family is back there and I’m not taking someone I don’t even know back to them without knowing what is going on.”

  She paused, thinking. After a moment she turned to Tom and nodded her head in understanding. “Hank’s in quarantine. Said you would know what to do.”

  “What…what do you…why?” Tom stammered, unable to decide which question to ask first.

  She reached out and rested a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “I will tell you everything, but we have to get out of the open.”

  Tom couldn’t argue with this, having been a survival trainer he knew that hypothermia could kill just as easily as the demented. “This way.”

  ******

  Because of the fading light, it took a little more than an hour for them to reach the cabin. Up on the flat they could just make out the soft glow of candlelight in the cabin windows. As they approached, Tom could see Kelly pacing back and forth inside. Occasionally she would pause and try to peer out one of the windows.

  Before Tom even made it partway through the front door, Kelly ran over, wrapping her arms around him. “I was so worried. You’re never out past dark.”

  Despite the cold outside, Tom was sweating from exertion, and the heat coming off the wood stove hit him like a blast furnace. “I know. I’m sorry.” He stepped further into the room, making space for his new friend.

  “Sam is getting worse, he…” Kelly stopped when she saw the girl behind Tom. Creased lines of worry crossed her face. She knew company would not be good. “Come on in hun , it’s freezing out there.” She stepped over to the small kitchen table and began tidying up the few items on it. “You need anything? I can warm some water on the stove.”

  Tom and the girl began stripping off their heavy winter clothes.

  “Just water would be great.” The girl said.

  “I’m Kelly.”

  “Hannah.”

  “I bagged some food…a small deer.” Tom said while pointing back to the front door. “Left it out on the porch.”

  Kelly headed for the door. “Good job…boy did we need that. I
will start cutting and wrapping while you two talk.”

  Tom pulled out a wooden chair and then moved to the other side of the table and pulled out his own chair. “Old fire watch cabin…back when they used such a thing.” He said while sitting down. He looked around. “Not much, but the view is great.”

  “Any view that lacks infected is great in my book.” Hannah said. She took the seat Tom pulled out and said, “Hank said you guys have been isolated since their return. How much do you know?”

  Tom knew exactly who she meant by “their” return. “Not much.” He sat looking up at the ceiling, thinking back. “The spray…the choppers sprayed for a couple weeks. Must have been two, three days that we didn’t see any. Any we did see seemed dead.” Tom shook his head. “We thought they were done. Should have burned ‘em all. When they came back we headed for the hills. Been up here ever since, scrapin’ for food, but like you said, no infected.”

  “So you haven’t heard about the spread. It got lots worse. Nobody knows what was in the spray, but after they came back it became contagious.”

  “What…what do you mean?”

  Hannah replied, “It spreads…the rage spreads.”

  Tom sat forward in his chair. “Contact or air?”

  “Difficult to say. Fluid to fluid contact for sure. People have been bitten, others have turned but nobody knows the level of contact. Takes anywhere from a day to a week for them to get a high fever. Once the fever hits they turn in less than twenty four hours.”

  Tom sat back, letting out a huge sigh. He shook his head and said, “Demented or the slow ones?”

  “Most call the slow ones undead or walkers.” She glanced over at Kelly working at the kitchen counter. “Anyway, both.”

  “How can that even happen?”

  “That’s why I’m here. Hank said you’d know.”

  Tom let out a nervous laugh. “Like I said, I’ve been up here since the spraying. I didn’t even know it was contagious until now, how would…” He hesitated for a bit, thinking. “I do know one thing…where the spray came from.”

  “Let’s start there.” She glanced at the dark kitchen window. “We’ll have to wait until morning.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa…I can’t go with you.” He looked over at Kelly. “I’ve left these guys before, thinking I could make a difference. All it did was get people killed and put my family in danger.”

  “I…we could really use your help.”

  “I made a mess of things. I was a mountain man, expedition trainer…not a combat expert. I taught people how to find food, make a shelter, stuff like that.”

  “That’s not what Hank said.”

  “He’s crazy. If you wanted to make it in the Rockies or…or the Himalayas, I’m your man, but this stuff…” Tom looked around with his arms held out. “Sorry, but I am not a zombie survival expert. You need an ex-Seal or Delta guy or any other flavor of military hotshot.”

  “We’ve got a couple of those. We need you…you find a way, at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

  “Find a way?” Tom let out a low chuckle. “I found a way to get people killed. I made a lot of mistakes…many that cost lives.” Starting to get choked up, he stood and moved over to the kitchen counter. “I think about things every day. All the changes I would make. All the decisions I would alter. Won’t bring anyone back…they’re gone because of me.”

  “Think about your future.” Hannah looked around the tiny kitchen. “Is this what you want for your family? If we don’t find a way to stop this there won’t be anything left.”

  Nobody said anything. Only the sound of Kelly cutting at the deer could be heard.

  After a couple long minutes, Hannah said, “Think about it. I’m leaving in the morning.”

  He nodded his head and then looked over to Kelly. “How is Sam doing?”

  “His breathing has picked up…shallow and quick. Fever is about the same.” She said while continuing to work on the deer.

  Hannah said, “Fever? Have you been around any infected?”

  Both Kelly and Tom gave an emphatic “No.”

  “He alright, some antibiotics would help.” Kelly added.

  Tom stood in place, watching his wife work. They were everything to him and he couldn’t imagine leaving them again, but he couldn’t imagine them living in this world either. He looked back at Hannah. “I need to think it over.”

  “We could really use you.” Hannah said with a little more desperation than she meant. She needed this. She had never admitted it to anyone, but her harrowing escape from Seattle was both the most terrifying and exhilarating time in her life. After surviving those intense days she never felt so alive. Since then the mediocrity of the day to day was not nearly enough. She had to do more than just survive. “The council wants action.” She finally said.

  Council? Tom wondered, but let it be for now. “Hank, why isn’t Hank with you…you said something about a quarantine, is he okay?”

  “No visible signs of trauma. The council deemed it necessary when the scouts found him.”

  ******

  Just like any other big decision, Tom and Kelly laid in bed whispering back and forth, wanting to come to an agreement they could both sleep on.

  “I can’t leave you two.” Tom said.

  “I know, but think of Sam growing up in this.”

  “He’s already lost so much…his innocence…it haunts him.”

  “His night terrors. Tears me up.”

  “What I don’t get is why they need me?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Everyone seems to think as an expedition trainer that I am somehow both prepared for zombies and a combat expert. Zombies…seriously? I’m no good under pressure, quick stuff.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit honey. You’re a good man, you did what you thought was right.”

  “Do you think I should go?”

  “I don’t want you to…if there is any chance of stopping this…I don’t…what do you think?”

  “I’m worried about you guys.”

  “We’ll be fine up here. They stay low…away from here. You know we can take care of ourselves.”

  “Boy, isn’t that the truth.”

  Chapter 2 - Contact

  “I shot my dad in the face.” Hannah said. The orange glow of morning struck her face from the side, making her tears glisten like dew.

  Tom was struck speechless by the words.

  “I never got along with him growing up, but I still loved him. Toughest thing I ever did. He had already killed my mom. Over time my vision of his rage filled face, covered in gore, has morphed into the dad I knew…eats at me…” She quickly wiped the tears away. “Never told anyone…sorry not sure why I did now.”

  “I’ll do it.” Tom said.

  “That’s not why I told you.”

  “I know. Kelly and I decided earlier.”

  Hannah nodded her head. “Thanks. We can make a difference.”

  “To the military base…that’s where the spray came from. After that, I don’t know…might come back up here.”

  Hannah nodded again. “I understand.”

  Kelly and Tom had already said their goodbyes. She had plenty of food and supplies to last nearly a month. She could always hunt if needed. When she had said they could take care of themselves it was no exaggeration, but Tom had Hannah draw her a map to the compound just in case.

  Before leaving, Tom knelt down beside Sam’s bed and ran his hand through the little guy’s hair. His head felt hot to the touch and his face was pale. “How you doing buddy?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Daddy’s going to head down the mountain and get you some medicine… get you feelin’ better.”

  Wet tears began to pool at the edges of Sam’s eyes. “I don’t want you to go.”

  Tom’s throat tightened seeing the little guy so sad. He held back tears, knowing he needed to stay strong. Even with Sam’s pleading eyes squeezing Tom’s heart, he said, “I won�
�t be gone long. Some medicine will get you all fixed up. Mom’s staying here with you. She always takes care of you…right?”

  Sam reluctantly nodded his head. “Yeah.”

  “Okay then, you watch out for her too. You’re the man of the house until I get back.”

  “Man of the cabin Dad.”

  With a final pat on the head and a smile, Tom said, “That’s right buddy.”

  Tom met Hannah back in the kitchen. She was fully geared up and ready to go.

  “I’m guessing you already have a plan.” Tom said.

  “Back to the compound to get supplies and another couple bodies. From there we can head for the base.”

  ******

  Miles stood over her sleeping form, debating how he should kill her. Gray moonlight spilled in from a narrow window directly above the head of the bed. Any sound would easily be heard in the surrounding shacks. He reached over her and silently lifted the unused pillow next to her head. His heart raced with anticipation. He wished he could make it last like he used to, but times were different now.

  Clutching the pillow to his chest, he closed his eyes and slowly sniffed at the air, breathing in the aroma. This is what always lasted longest. Weeks later the scents would still linger in his memory, placing him right here again, if only in his daydreams. There were times that he would catch a whiff of something and instantly be taken back to one of his kills, reliving it in every delicious detail.

  One final draw on the musty air and then he pushed the pillow over her face. At the same time he placed a knee on each side of her hips, using the weight of his upper body to hold the pillow tight. Her struggle began immediately. First, she went for the pillow, trying to determine what was covering her face. Next, her hands went to his arms, pushing and pulling in an attempt to get him to let go. Her legs kicked and her hips ground upwards, trying to get his body off.

  Miles was prepared for what came next, it always did. Full panic took over and she began scratching desperately at his arms and trying to reach his face. Her legs jerked and kicked rapidly. Not much longer and all of her movements slowed and eventually stopped all together.