Respect for the Dead (Surviving the Dead Book 1)

by Shawn McLain

  Inserting several keys without luck, Matt whooped when the button clicked up. “Ha! Got you bitch.” Matt threw open the door and scrambled up into the cab. “uh sorry.” He smiled sheepishly at Gillian. She shook her head then spun toward the shouting.

  “Hey! Hey! Get away from there!” Archie came lumbering down the steps, dropping one huge bag, then another. “Get the fuck out of my Truck!” The third bag hit the ground with a thud. Pulling his gun he watched the woman scamper into the cab.

  Gillian pushed Matt over to the driver’s side. Two loud clangs hurt their ears as bullets bounced off the armor. Archie fired another shot it struck the side mirror shattering it. Matt turned the key and fired up the engine.

  “What about him?” Matt jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at Archie who was trying to reload his gun while running after them.

  “Leave the murdering bastard.” Gillian replied flatly.

  Matt nodded, slipped the truck into drive and pulled forward. Gaining speed, he watched as Archie stopped running after only a few feet and aimed at them. He got three more shots off before Wendell stood up behind him.

  Wendell’s teeth ripped into Archie’s shoulder. Spinning in pain Archie backed into a man missing an arm. He had a hole in his chest that oozed thick coagulated blood. His remaining limb encircled Archie’s neck as the man bit off his ear. Archie emptied the gun into Wendell even as the man bit through Archie’s face.

  Matt watched the body fall from the arm before he turned the corner into the alley next to the city building.

  Passengers

  Martin slammed into the wall on the other side of the alley. Trevor and Devin spilled out behind him. The rumble of a large engine stopped Trevor in his tracks. The Armored truck was bearing down on him. Catching the shocked man under the shoulder, Devin slammed him against the wall next to Martin.

  Matt had been so intent on watching the attack behind he barely noticed what was happening in front of the truck. Gillian gave a shout. Matt swore and swerved as three men ran out in front of them. The side of the truck scrapped against the brick wall crushing a metal trash can in its wake.

  “Stop! Stop!” Gillian shouted bouncing against the door. Matt slammed on the breaks throwing Gillian forward against the dash.

  “Careful!” She shouted.

  “Sorry, I’m not really a truck guy and you should be wearing a seatbelt.” Matt pulled his forwards angrily showing her.

  Pushing herself back up Gillian frowned at Matt and his seatbelt. Seeing her door blocked by a wall she scrambled out of her seat and hurried to the back door. There was already pounding on it. She peaked through the small gun port at the man beating on the door. He looked terrified yet unhurt.

  “Back up!” She shouted through the hole. “Not YOU!” She shouted at Matt. Throwing the door open she reached out to help the first man in.

  Devin jumped into the back of the truck next to the woman in a lab coat. Together they pulled Trevor in. Martin had hit the wall hard and was having a hard time catching his breath. It took Trevor, Devin and Gillian to pull him up into the truck.

  The door Martin had burst through burst open sending chips of brick flying. All four turned to see the dead spilling out into the alley. Trevor fell back, kicking his way deeper into the truck.

  Devin grabbed one door, Gillian the other, the steel clanged shut. Devin slammed the bar down securing the doors. Three torn and bloody fingers poked through the gun port. Devin jumped back as pounding on the doors and sides filled the truck.

  Matt peered over the back of the seat at the new arrivals. His eyes widened with recognition as Martin sat up. “Hey you’re the Mayor! My Dad worked for you.”

  Martin looked up at Matt, a sad smile crossed his face, “Yeah you’re Terry Schmidt’s kid.” Martin looked at the empty seat next to Matt. “Sorry.”

  Matt’s face fell for a second, “thanks” he muttered.

  Trevor jumped up, “get us out the hell out of here!” He cried and pointed out the front window.

  The alley was quickly filling with the undead. Matt checked the mirror. Behind them the dead continued to pour out of the City building and were now joined by others coming from the street.

  “Go!!!” Came the collective shout from the back. Urged by the passengers and the fear swelling with in him, Matt slammed down the accelerator. Metal screeched then was replaced by heavy thuds as he freed the truck from the wall. Thick congealed blood painted the hood as body after body bounced off. Those in the back were thrown to and fro as the truck rumbled over the fallen dead.

  Bursting out of the packed alley they crossed Main Street and flew down the next alley. It was clear of the dead. Trash cans now took the full brunt of Matt’s harried flight. Devin was at Matt’s shoulder, “Turn Left and head down Maple, left man left!” Devin shouted.

  Slamming on the breaks, Matt turned the wheel with all his might. Devin flew forward. The truck skidded, Matt stood on the gas. Devin was now upside down in the passenger seat. One of his feet collided with Matt’s head. Dazed by the impact, Matt shook his head attempting to clear it. His vision began to clear, the blur before his eyes became an oncoming car. Matt screamed slamming on the breaks. The tires protested loudly, the interior of the vehicle was filled with thudding bodies and cries of pain and fright. He fought with wheel but lost. Metal crunched against metal and the heavy truck abruptly stopped.

  Silence filled the truck for a moment but was quickly replaced by grunts as Devin fought to extricate himself from under the dash and moans of those in the back. Martin was smashed against the seat. His weight was not helping Devin. Gillian and Trevor were tangled in a couple of money bags and each other. Matt’s forehead was bleeding from where he hit the steering wheel. Dazed he looked over the hood of the truck. Steam was rising from the hood of the station wagon he had just hit. Inside the car two people were moving slowly.

  “Holy Shit, I’ve only had my license for a month.” Matt moaned.

  “I’ll give you a pass kid.” Martin grumbled trying to help Devin up.

  “We need to get them out of there.” Gillian spoke rising slowly with the help of Trevor. She pointed at the crowd of zombies who were moving toward the wreck. “We’re not alone!”

  Matt tried his door but it was pinned against a wall. Devin, finally upright, threw open his door, tumbled out and ran to the car, Gillian following closely behind.

  All Bill could see is white. His head felt like it was covered with a pillow, his hearing muffled. It was just a horrid dream… Wait, I was driving. I’ve been in a crash. Pushing the airbag out of his face Bill looked at the smash hood of his car. “Beth, Beth you ok?” He placed a hand the girls back. Her head rested on the dash.

  Pain stabbed at Beth’s head as she slowly pushed away from the cracked dashboard. “I think I’m ok. You?”

  Bill reached over and wiped some of the blood from her forehead. “I’m fine.” He replied.

  “What happened?”

  Before Bill could answer Beth’s door was wrenched open. “Come on we have to get out of here. They are coming.” Gillian shouted and pointed down the street.

  Devin opened Bill’s door and was helping him out of the totaled car. Grabbing Gillian’s outstretched hand Beth pulled herself freer. Standing unsteadily she saw the way to the only open door on the tuck was blocked by the wreck. Gillian began pulling her around the back of the car.

  They made it halfway to the open door, “Wait my bag!” Beth shouted. She ran back to the car. Reached in the back and grabbed her backpack then hurtled around car. The approaching mob at the end of the street caught her attention causing her to stop at the back bumper. The zombies were shuffling closer. Their moan rising as they approached. Beth studied their faces she could see the hunger there. She saw their arms outstretched, reaching for her. Something in her memory, something about respect hit her.

  “Come on!” Gillian screamed from the open door of the truck.

  Beth turned back to the truck and ran for the door.
Getting one foot on the running board she paused, gave the horde the finger, jumped in and slammed the door.

  “We ready?” Trevor asked from the back annoyance evident in his voice. Matt had gladly vacated the driver’s seat so Devin could take over. A banging on the back door caught his attention so Matt went to one of the gun slots to investigate.

  He peered out and quickly drew back. “Nobody we want with us.” He stated as he turned around and sat on the floor. He looked up at Beth. “Hey, I’m Matt.” He held out his hand, taking it Beth replied,

  “Hi, um Beth.”

  Devin put the truck in reverse. Metal creaked and scrapped as they pulled away from Bill’s wrecked car. They were jostled as they ran over the thing at the back door.

  “Now what?” Gillian asked.

  In front of the truck was a crowd of the undead. Devin looked in the mirror. They were surrounded. The pounding on the back increased.

  “Run them down. They are already dead.” Martin stated flatly.

  Devin looked back at him, saw the look on his face, put the truck in drive and drove into the crowd. “We have to get to the evacuation point.” Devin exclaimed loudly trying to mask the sound of bodies bouncing off the front and crunching under the wheels.

  Matt looked over at Bill. “Hey, sorry about your car.” Bill simply shook his head.

  Haven

  Steve didn’t even swerve as the third zombie bounced off the hood while they drove in silence back toward the city. Wes barley even flinched when the side view mirror was ripped off when Steve whipped around an abandon bloody car, clipping a mailbox. Wes tried to call Beth again and again he was met with nothing but annoyance.

  “No luck?” Steve asked frowning as he took a sharp right to avoid several crashed burning cars.

  Wes barely looked up as the car veered around the corner. He just shook his head, “still saying all the circuits are busy. Not sure how that is possible.” Wes followed the sight of several zombies standing over a decapitated corpse, “Looks like most people are too dead to make calls.”

  As if to further emphasize Wes’ point Steve turned the car around a corner and came to a quick stop. A crowd of zombies filled the road right in front of them.

  “Better find an alternate route.” Steve growled.

  Wes pointed to the left. “That way, I think I saw a truck.”

  Steve quickly threw the car in reverse; he turned the wheel and headed in the direction Wes noted. The road was clear of debris and zombies. It was only a few seconds until they saw a red SUV speeding in the direction of the Ball Park.

  “Clear the way brother.” Steve shouted to the car in front of them.

  For the next four blocks the SUV did just that. It smashed through rubble and zombies alike. Steve kept as close as he dared. Wes held tight to his seatbelt. “Hang back a bit will ya? Just in case, ya know the driver gets in trouble. We don’t need our plow to end up as our trap.”

  About halfway along the fifth block and still too many from the evacuation point the other driver made the mistake Wes feared. The SUV had been increasing speed the longer they followed it. Steve had just commented that the driver must have been standing on the accelerator as the speedometer register seventy. Wes shouted a warning when the SUV smashed into an abandon car that came rolling out of an alley. The SUV hit it dead center. The rear of the SUV flew into the air when the truck came to an instant stop.

  Steve hit the brakes, stopping several feet behind the crashed truck. Wes and Steve looked at each other then back at the crashed car. “Do you think they are dead?” Steve asked.

  Wes gave a shrug, Steve let out the clutch allowing his car to cautiously approached the wreck. Steve stopped, slipped the car into neutral and pulled the emergency break. He reached over the seat and grabbed his rifle. Wes checked the camber of his gun gave, Steve a nod and opened his door.

  Slowly they approached the crumpled truck. Steam issued from under the hood. Steve took the driver’s side Wes took the passenger’s. Keeping his gun ready Wes looked in the backseat and saw a pack. He noticed the hilt of a gun sticking out of it and a rifle barrel against the seat.

  He approached the front door and jumped back. A woman was staring at him. Her mouth was moving with her teeth scraping the window, like she was trying to bite him. He stared back for a moment. He knew she was dead but couldn’t stop staring. Looking at her he realized she had only been dead a very short time. It must have been the crash that killed her, he thought. Looking closer he observed her head was at an impossible angle, her neck must have been broken. The zombie just bit at the window, glaring and chomping at him. Wes gave her the finger and opened the back door to grab the pack. Throwing it over his shoulder he grabbed for the rifle, it was stuck. Wes was trying to free the weapon when Steve tapped on the window. Wes waved him off.

  Approaching the driver’s door cautiously Steve looked in. The seat appeared empty. He looked in properly and that is when he saw him, half of him. Moving forward he looked at the front of the truck. Sticking halfway out of the windshield was a man in his mid-forties. His graying hair caked with blood and broken glass.

  Steve shook his head. “Sorry…I wish you could have made, WHOA!”

  Jumping back Steve raised his rifle. The man twisted to look at him, his arm flopped uselessly next to him as he tried to turn and grab at Steve.

  “They’re toast!” Steve yelled. “Come on let’s get to the Point!”

  Wes was still struggling with the rifle when Steve ran around the truck to see what was keeping him. The zombie in the front seat growled and moaned.

  “Forget it! Let’s go” Steve yelled to the younger man.

  Wes gave a mighty tug, freed the rifle and ran back to the beat up mustang with Steve. “Thanks for your help. Wish you didn’t die.” Wes muttered to the back of the crashed truck.

  Steve backed up and took a side street, then turned back along another road toward the ballpark. The silence in the car was deafening.

  “You alright?” Steve asked.

  Wes merely nodded. Steve turned back to the road and swore. A small orange tiger cat darted out in front of the car. Steve pulled the wheel, Wes let out a yelp of fright. The car went into a skid. Steve fought to regain control. The tires screamed. Wes was thrown back against the seat as the seat belt grabbed hold. The car jumped the curb, slamming into a pole.

  Wes’ flailed; his head flew forward while his body was tight to the seat. In the impact his glasses had flown off onto the floor. His vision blurred he tried to reach them but was held fast by the seatbelt. Next to him Steve was fighting to deflate the airbag. “Bam!” Wes’ inflated. “Oh that was helpful!” Wes growled coughing on the powder released by the deployment.

  Steve finally got the airbag down. Wes found his glasses. Turning the key the engine protested. Trying again the Mustang whined and sputtered but refused to turn over. The last few hours of abuse had been too much. The car refused to start.

  “Grab your gear we’re on foot now.” Steve said while turning to grab a pack. Wes turned and grabbed the other one. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and death. Wes had his gun out scanning the street for trouble. Steve held both rifles, he tossed one to Wes. “Come on this way.” He yelled.

  Live Update

  Tamera Allen had been working for six days straight. She was practically living at the station, having slept there for the last two nights. She was the newest member of the news team and the youngest. She was determined to prove herself to the other reporters and management. So she could move out of this town as soon as possible. She had it all planned out, Harrisburg in two years and Pittsburgh in five.

  Mike Hillman was a twenty year veteran of the station. He had seen pretty much everything from steel mill strikes to horrible accidents. He was as jaded as they came. His cynicism and apathy bothered Tamera. Today was no different. Mike was his usual grumpy self as they bumped and jostled down the road in the old Ford van that was converted to a Live truck. Their assignment for th
e day was the Hospital.

  The closer they got the more Tamera got excited. The road was packed with cars, people in robes, pajamas or street clothes where either stumbling toward or being helped to the cots or areas on the grass with blankets. Police were directing traffic away from the front of the building, trying to keep a clear path the entrance. Mike saw an officer he knew gave him a nod and was waved through.

  Tamera couldn’t contain herself any longer, “Finally we are going to go live from some action. Not our usual…We’ll the area is clear now but that’s not the way it was an hour ago! Look at this, it’s a freakin zoo.”

  “Glad the suffering of others can bring you such joy.” Mike grunted.

  Tamera chose to ignore him. He pulled the truck up on the curb as close as he could to the Hospital. There were people everywhere. Some were covered in blankets other in coats. Doctors and nurses hurried through the sick trying to reassure relatives and loved ones.

  The late afternoon sun began to lengthen the shadows as Tamera took the camera out to start shooting some video. Mike was busy setting up the transmitter for their live update. Tamera returned with the camera. Mike continued to get set up as Tamera hooked up her mic and put in her earpiece.

  Talking to the studio Tamera asked, “What was that Jim?” She had to force the earpiece tighter into her ear. “Yes Mike and I will be ready in two minutes.” She spoke into the microphone. Mike frowned at her and continued setting up his tripod and cued the video she shot.

  “Jim! Jim! I think you need to come to us sooner something is up!” Tamera shouted into the mic causing her photographer to pull his headphones away from his ear. “They are coming to us now.” She yelled. Mike could not hear the producer but knew they were on when Tamera started talking.

  “We are here at county hospital where patients have been arriving for the last couple of days. As you can see the emergency room has spilled out onto the street.” Mike reached behind him and rolled the tape then flipped the switch from the live feed to the deck while Tamera kept talking. “Officials are asking the public to please stay in their homes and to only bring loved ones to the hospital for emergencies. Hospital staff have been overwhelmed with…..Mike come back to me.” Tamera shouted. Mike clicked the feed back to the live camera shot. He panned around to what Tamera was pointing at. “It appears the National Guard has arrived to assist the medical staff…” A scream behind Tamera made both her and Mike turn quickly back to the hospital.