by A. Rosaria
DEAD QUARANTINE
Zombieclypse Book 1
By A.Rosaria
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2012 by Alex Rosaria
This e-book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Also By Author
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Excerpt Ghost Worker
CHAPTER ONE
The shrill ringing of Ralph’s old-fashioned wind up alarm clock echoed inside his still groggy head. He banged his arm sideways against the nightstand. He flailed his arm in the air, hitting the stand again, and patted the surface, searching for the clock. Growing frustrated with the incessant ringing, Ralph groaned and muttered words that were better left unheard. He swiped the clock from the nightstand. This early in the morning, and with the ringing still going on in his head, it was difficult for him to form any coherent thought let alone utter anything remotely sensible.
He lay in bed for a long while, staring at the ceiling. Slowly, it dawned on him that it was Monday. God, why did he set the alarm to go off so early? Why had he set it anyway? Of all days, today was the day it would have been great if he had overslept and missed school. He shook his head, grunted, and sat up straight. His eyes still fuzzy, he looked for the clock. It had landed near the front leg of the bed. He put it back on the nightstand. It was just past six.
No, oversleeping wouldn't have kept him from school. Mom knew he had a test today. She would have kicked him out of bed and lectured him about not slacking off because it was his senior year. Heck, he didn't even know what he wanted do after he graduated. He should figure that out first, before worrying about grades. Not that his grades were that bad, thank you very much, for his unduly efforts the previous year.
With his father on a business trip, his ten-year-old sister, Ginny, still snoring on her bed, and his mother usually waking up at around seven, he had the bathroom to himself. Nice, dry, and clean, not so much after he was done showering. At seven, mom would come downstairs to make his breakfast and after breakfast she would go upstairs to get Ginny ready for school. That one had more trouble waking up than him. If you allowed her to sleep in, Ginny would sleep all day and the next one. Both their parents were punctual beings, so he wasn't sure where she got it from. His mom had a biological clock that went off at exactly the same time every day without fail. It beat waking up scared shitless by a ringing alarm clock.
At six thirty, Ralph sat at the kitchen table freshly showered, wearing jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. He was reading a comic book. Sure, he should be studying for his history exam, but why bother studying now? He hadn’t done anything in the days leading up to the exam. Cramming just before having to leave for school would amount to nothing.
Mom had been sneezing last night. She had probably picked up the much-talked-about flu. Was it even flu season? He wasn't sure if his mom would be able to drive him to school today. He had not heard her wake up. He might have to go on his bike. Or maybe he should ditch classes today. There was no sense taking a test you knew you were going to fail. It was too bad that he couldn’t ditch this exam; the school administration would tell his parents and probably fail him on the test, making it more difficult for him to graduate on time. With everything going on, like not knowing what to do after graduation, he really didn't want to also have to deal with grades and stuff. Life was already difficult. His second semester didn't need any drama. He sighed and grabbed his history book. It was a thick book, a very thick book, one without many pictures. He should read a chapter, then maybe he could manage a grade better than an F, and he might get a second chance if he tried hard enough.
He heard stumbling on the stairs. He glanced at the clock. Five minutes before seven. She did it again. Even having a cold did not stop her from waking up on time. He doubted that even death would stop her. She came downstairs, coughing.
“Good morning,” he called out.
His mother lumbered up to him. “Not much good this morning. I see you got up early.”
She looked pale. Strands of long black hair were plastered to her forehead and cheeks. Thick cushion grooves etched her face and a swatch of black was smudged under her eyes. She looked like crap.
“You look nice, Mom.”
She plopped down in the chair opposite to him.
“Finally you decide to study?” She pointed at his comic next to his history book. Her voice was raspy.
“You don't look so good.”
She smiled. Her smile was like sunshine in bad weather. It made everything look better than it was; it made her radiate in a way that he could not help but smile back. He loved how his mother could smile and laugh despite obviously feeling like crap.
“But Ralphie, didn't you say I looked nice just a moment ago?”
He hated to be called Ralphie. He only tolerated it when she called him that. “I lied.”
“Not nice lying to your sick mother.”
She laughed. A burst of coughing cut her laugh short. He ran to the sink and brought her a glass of water. Worried, he watched her take the glass from him. He had never seen his mother ill; she always seemed to be healthy even when they all were down with something. She never got sick. So, to see her with a cold this bad was a little disconcerting.
“Seriously, are you feeling all right? I'll stay home if you need me to; it's not a problem, really it's not.”
It wasn't only so that he could skip his test that he offered to stay home; it genuinely worried him the state she was in. Maybe it would be better if she rested instead of driving him to school.
She swallowed the water in one go, put the glass on the table, and looked up at him with tired eyes. “It's just a cold.”
“But—”
“And in no way are you going to get a free pass on that history exam of yours.”
She saw right through him not wanting to take that test, but she did look awfully pale. “It's not about that at all. I want you to take a day off and rest. I could call the school and tell them that I'll be late and I can take Ginny to school for you. My test is this afternoon; I won't miss it if that is what you are worried about.”
“No need to take Ginny to school today. She is staying in with me.” She sighed. “I shouldn't
have kissed her goodnight. Now, she has whatever I caught.” She touched his cheek with the tip of her fingers and tapped. “You're a good boy. Don't fret; it's just a cold. There is no reason for you to go out of your way and bicycle to school. I'll drive you.”
She raised a hand, stopping him from saying anything. “Really, it's just in and out the car for me, not that big a deal. You just try to get some studying done before going to school. You only got fifteen minutes left; make the best of it.”
She left him sitting at the table and waggled to the kitchen to make a quick breakfast for them. He looked guiltily at her as she went to work on the bread and tea, wishing she would only let him take care of things just for today.
Stubborn as she was, she wouldn't even let him get out of taking this exam even when he needed to. Knowing her, nothing he said or did would convince her otherwise. It would likely take her being bedridden before she allowed him to take care of her. Mothers. However, that was the way they were, all caring and self sacrificing. He shook his head while he opened his history book and leafed through it. The words swam in front of him. He closed the book and shoved it aside.
“I'm going to look in on Ginny.”
Before his mom could react and call him back to keep studying, he flew up the stairs. Ginny's room was next to his. He was about to open the door when he remembered that she now liked her privacy. It wasn’t strange, considering she was growing up into a little woman. He knocked.
“Ginny, it's me, your favorite brother.”
A faint grunt was all the answer he got. He took that as a yes and entered her room. Her four walls were plastered with goofy looking guys and snappy looking girls. Stars from whatever kids’ shows played now days on television. Not his thing, by far not his thing.
Ginny held her bed sheet to her chin. Snot ran from her nose. She turned her head toward him. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and rubbed it off against her bed linen. Ralph made a mental note not to sit on the bed. At least she looked better than mom did, not pale, no dark patches under her eyes, only a runny nose. Was she trying to skip school and succeeding where he failed?
“Hey, sis, how are you feeling?”
“I guess I'm all right. I'm allowed to stay home today and sleep in.”
She quickly shut her eyes and started snoring hard. He poked her side and tickled her. She giggled, pushing herself away. “Stop, stop, Ralph, I can't take it anymore.”
He kept at it until she started begging and choking on her laughter. She tried pushing him off. Her face started turning tomato red and she sneezed. As droplets hit his face, he recoiled. “Eeuw, that's gross.”
So much for staying bug free. He was all over her, tickling her and forgetting that her bed and she were a germ-infested war zone. These germs were now marching inside him, preparing to kick his ass. Maybe he could stay home now, seeing as how he was sure that he would be ill by the end of the day. Nah, with his luck, it would linger and he'd get sick late Friday—just in time to spoil his weekend.
“Now I'm going to get ill, you little meanie.”
“Serves you right, harassing your poor, little, sick sister.”
“You are not little; you're growing like a tree. I saw your piggy bank too; that thing is bursting with dough. You are an overgrown rich kid.”
She slapped his shoulder. “You’re so mean.”
He rubbed her hair. “No, I'm not. I love my little sis.”
She looked wide-eyed at him. He was not known to voice how he felt very well. If he thought about it, this was the first time he had said he loved her in a long time. He always thought it was obvious. He liked being around her. How many big brothers bothered with their sisters? He didn’t know any that did.
“Aahh, Ralph.” She got teary eyed. “I love you too.”
Okay, now it was getting uncomfortable. Too mushy for him. He remembered why he preferred to keep things to himself. Seeing her under her bed sheet like that, all fragile, I love you just slipped out. He did love his sister, his mother, and his dad, who he didn't see that often. They would go hunting this fall, and just like last time, he hoped it would be a blast.
Ginny pulled the sheets away and got out of bed. “I’m going to tell mom.”
She ran for the door. He grabbed her before she could run away. “Oh no you won't.”
“Yes I will,” she said mockingly.
“Ah come on, don't.”
She was still pulling to get free. There was not much strength behind the pulls. She was a strong girl; it must have been the bug that weakened her. She really should rest. He grabbed and turned her around. All play left him; concern shadowed his brow.
“Sis, please go back to bed. You're not well.”
“You don't have to worry about me. Mom said it is just a cold.”
“Still, humor me and get some rest. Tomorrow we'll play again.”
She nodded and hopped back into bed.
From below, he heard his mother yelling for him to come down. Breakfast was ready. Before he left, Ginny grabbed his hand.
“Thank you.”
He looked at her. He knew why she was thanking him, but he just couldn't say it again.
“See you later, sis.”
He left without telling her one last time that he loved her.
CHAPTER TWO
Her mother's car had been repossessed. Envious, Sarah watched as the other teenagers got into their parents’ cars. The luxury to be taken to school was one that many took for granted. Not her. She knew better. Her walking shoes fit snugly, the right support for the long hike she had ahead of her. She wore tight-fitting jeans and a red, long sleeve turtleneck blouse. It showed her figure nicely. Fashionable and practical. To protect herself against the cold autumn winds, she had a short, black leather jacket on. Really, she didn't mind the walk. It kept her in shape and the hour and half it took gave her time to think. And she had a lot to think about. Everything seemed to change her senior year.
The sun barely broke away from the horizon, and the morning dew was cool. She wouldn't be doing a lot of sweating as long she took it easy and didn't try to make it to her destination within an hour. It was nice weather for walking, but not so much for jogging.
Sarah had asked her mother if she could stay and take care of her baby brother while she went to look for a job. Things had been hard since her mother got laid off from her job in administration at an accounting firm. Every bill that came went directly into the shredder. Her mother didn't like to be confronted with the fact she couldn't pay them. Sarah feared the day when the collectors would come to collect, and they would take the house and kick them to the curb.
Would Jake still like her if she was homeless, eating out of trashcans whenever her stomach ached for food? She giggled. He would have a fit. How would he be able to be seen with a beggar for a girlfriend? She wondered, not for the first time, if he really loved her. He had told her he did not so long ago when they had skipped class together to go to a motel room just outside the city.
It had been different since then. He stopped making an effort to be nice to her, and it was difficult to keep the peace between him and Lilly, her best friend. He behaved like he owned her. She didn't like that feeling. She hated it. She hated it when her mom's boyfriends, who thought she should be grateful that there was finally a man in home, did it. It didn’t matter how short their stay was. Just because they felt they were the man, didn't mean she had to respect them.
It was also why she would never again ask Jake to drive her to school. The one time she did, he sat, all puffed up, behind the steering wheel and was all over her that day at school like he was her provider. The big shot jock, who had the prettiest girl in town. She smiled. Sure, he could say things about her beauty. Overtly exaggerated in her opinion, but she didn't mind the flattery at all. She liked the attention she got being with him. At school, at least, she was someone. She was as complacent to his behavior as he was.
No, it was not him who had changed after they had sex; i
t was her. She had been thinking a little too much about it all. Nothing really changed after they did it. He was still the same guy, and she... her thoughts trailed off as she saw a line of yellow buses pass by. It kept going for about a minute. She had never seen so many at the same time. All were old school buses like the one she rode in elementary school. She used to take one to school every day, before she outgrew buses.
As far she knew there were no events in town. Although, she had not been keeping tabs on things. In between babysitting her brother while her mom was out on a date with her new boyfriend and studying for her history test, she had done little more this weekend. Her mom had come back late Sunday with the sniffles and kissed her and her brother before going to sleep. It was gross; sick people were gross, spreading their germs and infecting people. Her mother must have caught it from her boyfriend. Too much lip-locking must have gone on that day and too little staying away from that creep. They were always creeps. Her mother always picked the worst, as if she did her best not to pick a guy like her father. It was as if she didn’t want to be reminded what a good man he was. He wasn't the best father, but he tried, honestly tried, and he was taken away before he had the chance to get it right. What he lacked in social skills, he made up for with an abundance of goodwill. Goodwill cut short in a car crash.
The crash didn't kill him; it was his goodwill that did. He died, all for some woman he didn't know. A woman he failed to save anyway. He wasted his life for nothing and left his family behind without support. The woman had run a red light and hit his car from the side. Her car rolled and ended up on its side. He tried to get her out. Gasoline had leaked out, a spark must have lit a fire, and an explosion followed. And now, her mother dated outgoing, selfish pricks. Yesterday, it was a prick that gave her a bug that she passed on to little Benny with a well-intended goodnight kiss. And what about her following in her mother's footsteps dating Jake?
Sarah sighed. Too much trouble. She would have rather stayed home. Her heart had broken when she heard Benny cough and hack. His whole chest heaved and his body twisted with each cough. A baby shouldn't be ill. He should enjoy life, be spoiled. Benny was the only good that came from her mother's life after the death of her father. And Benny was the only thing that made her home life bearable.
