Tainted Reality (The Rememdium Series Book 2)

by Ashley Fontainne

  Despite the dire situation and subject matter, Everett chuckled. “You’re right on that point. However, it would require me to get close enough to extract rancid blood. Newsflash: I’m squeamish. My aversion to blood, and all the gooey shit inside the human body, were major sources of disappointment to my family. They all expected me to be a—oh, how did my father put it—ah yes, a legitimate doctor. However, suffering from emesis and syncope barred me from pursuing a career as a physician, much to the dismay of my parents.”

  Dirk furrowed his brows. “Stop throwing out words I don’t know. What is syncope?”

  Everett stood and walked over to the desk across the room. “It’s the clinical term for fainting. Or, as my lab partner liked to say, passing the fuck out.”

  Dirk rose and clapped his big hand across Everett’s back. The man was strong and Everett had to force himself not to wince. “Don’t you worry, Doc. We’ll handle the gooey shit so you won’t take a swan dive. Porterfield and Warton volunteered to venture topside. Considering all that’s going on, I doubt it will take long for them to find you a test subject.”

  Everett sighed and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He felt sick to his stomach. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

  Dirk stopped at the door. “Nope.”

  They walked down the hallway in silence for a few minutes. An unanswered question from years ago resurfaced. Before he forgot, Everett decided to ask. “Why was the project named Rememdium instead of Remedium? Dr. Flint never got around to telling me.”

  A sad, lonely smile crossed Dirk’s lips. “Do you recall the conversation we had, not long after I rescued you, when you asked how I became associated with Dr. Thomas?”

  Everett nodded.

  “Then there’s your answer.”

  Everett thought about the terrifying tale of Dr. Thomas and Dirk in the jungles of El Salvador, and how Dr. Thomas lost his wife and children. The answer slapped him in the face. “A play on words? In memoriam? For his wife and children? He wanted a cure found in their memory?”

  This time, Dirk’s smile was genuine. “See? You’re the only one who’s figured it out. Even Dr. Flint didn’t know, which is why she never shared the answer with you. As I mentioned before, you’re our only hope. I’m assuming you aren’t a religious man, so instead of nicknaming you the new savior of mankind, I’ll simply start calling you Obi-Doc-Kenobi.”

  “And you said you don’t possess a sense of humor. Here’s another newsflash: I may be a nerd, but I’m not a Star Wars fan. I’ve always been a Trekkie. And you’re wrong about my religious views. Though I don’t agree with any particular sect, I am one of the few who believe science proves we are a created species.”

  The look of surprise on Dirk’s face made Everett smile. “You continue to surprise me, Dr. Berning. I certainly never thought I’d hear you say those words.”

  “When I graduated college with my degrees, I was an adamant atheist. To me, nothing was real except physics, chemistry, and math. When people posed questions to me about life, death, humans having a sense of morality, among other things, I brushed them off as simple-minded fools. My perspective on life changed when my children were born.”

  “How so?”

  “I looked into their faces, marveling at the immense complexity of the human eye. In awe of just that one piece of anatomy, I felt a shift in my beliefs, though I never vocalized them. However, after losing my entire family, I cried out in despair, cursing God for taking my loved ones away. While in the midst of my outburst, it dawned on me I was talking to an entity I didn’t believe in. I wanted answers—needed to know what happens after we die. Because I couldn’t grasp the concept those happy, full-of-life individuals simply ceased to exist.”

  Dirk stopped as they reached the door to the main lab. The eye scanner had been removed, allowing Dirk to push the metal door open. “Interesting. I’m still on the fence about numerous things myself. However, I am certain about one.”

  “And that is?”

  “That the dead can walk again.”

  “See? Something that makes absolutely no scientific sense, yet here we are. The unbelievable just became reality.”

  “What’s happening hasn’t changed your views? I mean, if you believe in some sort of divine creator then aren’t you pissed off what he or she is doing to us?”

  Everett grimaced. “How do you know it isn’t our own mistakes with what was entrusted to our care that has fucked up the world?”

  A shadow of sadness crossed Dirk’s face. “I don’t. That’s where you come in. Figure this out, Obi, before there’s nothing left to save. I’m a little rusty on my Star Trek trivia, so forgive me if I butcher the phrase—but it’s time you boldly go where no man’s gone before.”

  Everett stepped inside the lab and looked at the bustle of activity from the others. They buzzed around the room, working in a collective harmony. Everett was surprised at how much progress they’d made.

  Without looking up, Kevin Warton added, “Screw prospering. I just want to live long. Get your motor running, Doc.”

  SETTLING IN - Saturday - December 20th – 1:46 p.m.

  “That’s everybody. Got them all situated in the beddin’ and outdoor section. Curt’s helpin’ get tents set up, and the Addison clan and Jesse are coordinatin’ water and food. Pastor Trent got a head count. We’re at two-hundred thirty, includin’ us. Now, hold still while Ms. Jane here patches you up, Sis.”

  “My, but aren’t we bossy?” Regina replied, a look of irritation spreading across her bloodied, dirty face.

  Reed tried not to cringe at his sister’s appearance. The wound was ugly, and Reed knew she had a concussion. She’d taken too many blows to the head, and had been unconscious for over thirty minutes while at the school. The dark circles under her eyes and lack of color in her cheeks made him worry about her health.

  Those issues were bad enough, but what bothered Reed the most was the haunted look in her eyes. The stress of the situation, and the weight of her position and the responsibilities she shouldered, made his tough sister look almost crazed. Reed knew she was pushing herself way too hard. The human body and mind were only capable of handling a certain amount of anxiety and trauma before rebelling.

  Regina tried to walk away, but Reed grabbed her arm. “I’m not kiddin’. Sit down. The edges are turnin’ red which means infection. While we still got fresh water and a surgical nurse handy, you’re gonna hold still for a bit and let the others help. The crowd is antsy to hear from you, and they’ve already seen you lookin’ like shit. You’ll need to command respect and confidence when you address them. If they see any signs of weakness, it will only heighten their fears. No arguments.”

  Regina huffed. “Fine. But don’t think I’m doin’ this because you ordered me to. I’m doin’ this for Jesse and our freaked-out guests.”

  Ignoring his sister’s smart mouth, Reed turned to Jane Richmond. Seeing her lovely face, knowing she was still alive and near him, made Reed smile. Even though her gray hair was a mess and she wore no makeup, it didn’t matter to Reed. To him, Jane looked more beautiful and alive in her dirty scrubs, a hint of pink dotting her full cheeks, than she did in high school.

  He’d been secretly seeing his high school sweetheart for the last three months and had worried about her safety. When he saw her in the crowd at the high school, Reed nearly jumped out of his skin. “Okay, she’s all yours, mouth and all. Can you slip her somethin’ to keep her trap shut for a while?”

  “Brother—don’t you even start. I’m exhausted and you’re dancin’ on my last nerve, which is thinner than one of those wispy hairs on your head.”

  Jane shooed Reed to the side and examined Regina’s ugly gash with careful, tender movements. “You two haven’t changed one bit since high school. Still goin’ at each other like two feral cats. Reed? Don’t you have someone else to rescue—or annoy? I’ve got a lot of work to do here and don’t need her gettin' excited. I need her to hold still. Using a sewing kit as ins
truments will take a lot of concentration on my end. Oh, and probably a bit of pain on yours, Chief. Don’t shoot me when the stingin' starts.”

  The smug look on Regina’s face made Reed laugh. She winked, acknowledging all was forgiven, and then sank into the lawn chaise Reed set up for her earlier. They both knew the banter stemmed from Reed’s deep-seated worry about her health and safety.

  Satisfied his sister was in good hands, Reed left the makeshift triage area near the pharmacy counter and headed toward the center of the store. The whispering voices of so many people converged together like the collective cheers at a football game. Wincing at the loud noise, Reed picked up his pace. If they were to stay safe and hidden, at least long enough for the military to leave, the decibel level needed to be taken down several notches.

  Motion from his right caught Reed’s attention. His muscles tensed until he realized the form was Regina’s secret love interest, Kyle Pender.

  “How’s the patient? Wait, let me guess: non-cooperative?”

  “That’s puttin' it mildly, Kyle. You know Regina—she’s a pistol. Harder to handle than a slippery hog. Why you decided to take on the challenge of datin’ her, I have no idea.”

  Kyle’s eyes widened for a split second then he nodded. “No doubt. Tougher than a wild razorback, too. Wasn’t aware she told you about us.”

  Reed stopped just shy of earshot of the passel of citizens. “She didn’t. I’m just perceptive.”

  “Hmm, sort of like she is. Guess you’re happy Jane’s safe.”

  A grim smile tugged at the corner of Reed’s lips. “Small town livin’. Gotta love it.”

  “With all the shit hittin’ the fan, I must admit I’m glad we ain’t in a big city. I don’t even want to imagine how tough others like us got it, tryin’ to control thousands upon thousands of people.”

  Reed snorted. “At the rate things are progressin' here, I wonder if there are even thousands left to corral.”

  Instead of answering, Kyle turned his attention to the throng of residents in front of them. “I’m surprised our little group is semi-calm. I figured once they arrived here, they’d flip.”

  Following Kyle’s gaze, Reed said, “They’re still in shock, Kyle. Right now, they’re simply glad to be alive. When reality sinks in, they’ll freak.”

  Kyle blew out a huff of air. “Doin' my best to make sure that won’t happen. I sent Bailey and Allsop to the front of the store a roll of black plastic and instructions to cover up the glass doors. For a while, that will keep the visual of dismembered neighbors hidden. The glass will keep out the foul stench from their remains, at least temporarily. While Jane is fixin' up Parker, we should probably take care of the others in automotive and the six I bagged in pet care. They’ll start stinkin’ soon if we don’t.”

  “Agree, however, where in the world should we put their remains? The proper thing to do would be to bury them, but that’s too risky. No tellin’ how many more are lurkin’ outside.”

  Kyle rubbed his unshaven chin. “I know it’s morbid, but I was thinkin’ put them in the dumpster outside and burn them? The heat would kill any remainin’ contagion, don’t you think?”

  Reed chewed on his lower lip while considering the options. Unfortunately, no plan was perfect. “We still don’t know what’s causin’ all this, so I’m a bit concerned about burnin’ bodies. What if the heat doesn’t destroy the sickness and it gets carried away in the smoke?”

  “Parker said that was the military’s plan back at the jail,” Kyle pointed out.

  “Then that settles it—I say we don’t trust any plan those bastards put in place. I noticed a refrigerated trailer out back that looked like it had just been unloaded of material. Let’s move them there and keep the trailer doors locked tight until we learn more about what’s goin’ on.”

  Reed watched a group of about ten children, all appearing under the age of eight, sitting cross-legged on a giant pile of multi-colored pillows. In the midst of all the chaos and upheaval, they weren’t deterred from playing. Someone had provided them with coloring books and crayons from the toy department, and in silence, they shut out their fears by applying vibrant hues to the grayish-white pages.

  Nodding toward lawn and garden, Kyle said, “Let’s get us two wheelbarrows and some tarps.”

  The duo turned and headed right, winding their way through the aisles in silence. After procuring the tools necessary, including two safety masks and gloves, they journeyed to automotive.

  Things had been chaotic when the convoy arrived earlier. Their unwanted interaction with over twenty of the dead freaked everyone out. Stopping long enough to take aim and fire, it took the group several minutes to clear the parking lot. Then, they had to usher the terrified citizens inside before they became a meal if some residual corpses were hiding, so Reed hadn’t had a chance to learn what happened to Susie.

  When he asked Regina about the girl as he led his bleeding sister to the pharmacy, the only response she gave him was a solemn shake of her head. Reed knew from the dejected look on her face the girl hadn’t survived.

  “What happened to Susie?”

  Kyle swore under his breath. “It’s my fault, though I think the chief decided to put the heavy burden on her shoulders. I made a stupid, rookie mistake. Set my gun down close enough for the girl to grab through the metal slats. She was attacked by Clara Singleton. The girl took a tire iron and damn near split the old gal’s head in two. Didn’t matter none because she kept comin’. I shot Mrs. Singleton and then Parker ran inside. She tried to comfort the girl, but it was no use. She was beside herself. I heard a noise behind me, turned around for a split second, and Susie snatched up my gun. She blew her brains out right in front of us all.”

  Reed shook his head in disgust. “Dear Jesus, God in Heaven. Had the girl been bitten or scratched?”

  “She said no, but when she noticed blood on her shirt after splittin’ the old broad’s skull, well, I think that’s what sent her thoughts over to suicide. She feared contamination.”

  “Fear seems to be just as contagious as whatever the hell we’re dealing with,” Reed said.

  “No doubt.”

  They were only a few aisles away from automotive, yet the distance didn’t matter. Reed smelled the sour, rank stench of death. The foul, coppery odor of dead tissue and blood made his stomach lurch.

  “Let me go inside and open the gate. Should make this easier, if that’s even possible,” Kyle offered.

  Reed nodded and Kyle disappeared through a small door to the left. Reed closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing. The smell of rotting flesh brought memories back from the first time he’d seen dead bodies.

  He’d only been with Border Patrol for less than a year. A concerned citizen called and reported an abandoned semi-truck about eight miles from the border. Reed accompanied two others as backup, naively assuming they would find a delivery driver with a blown tire.

  He'd been way off base.

  When the SUV they were riding in topped a small rise, a horrible, rank odor wafted across the desert. A dilapidated vehicle that looked as though it had been driven through a battlefield, so dirty its original color was indiscernible, rested in silence over fifty yards away. Sgt. Reardon extracted masks from the glove box and handed one to Reed.

  “Welcome to the real world, Newberry. You’re about to see what happens when illegals hitch a ride with someone they don’t know. They pay some bastard claiming to offer a better life across the border then get dumped off like yesterday’s garbage.”

  Unwilling to show any fear or hesitation, Reed never said a word as they made their way to the back of the truck. When the sergeant opened the doors, the sights and smells of thirty rancid bodies overrode Reed’s bravado. When his shocked gaze landed on three children at the feet of a woman, their thin arms entwined with each other in a last ditch effort to offer comfort to one another, Reed’s stomach revolted. He spent the next ten minutes throwing up behind a mesquite tree, fighting the tears of d
isgust and sadness with each heave.

  The sound of the metal door opening brought Reed back to the present. After securing his mask, he pushed the wheelbarrow until he reached the entrance, stopping next to Susie’s stiff body. The blood and fluids from her wound had turned dark crimson. One shoe was missing and her shirt was coated in dark mahogany.

  “Let’s get her first. We’ll need to be careful with Mrs. Singleton,” Kyle said.

  Nodding, Reed gritted his teeth as the two men worked in tandem. They wrapped the girl’s body in the black plastic tarp and hoisted her light frame into the wheelbarrow. After spreading out another large section of the plastic next to Mrs. Singleton, Reed pushed the disgust at her appearance down deep while grabbing her legs.

  Kyle put his arms under her shoulders and they rolled her body onto what would be her grave shroud. “I’ve seen a lot of dead people in my day, but never anyone who looked like this. The color of the skin…all those weird, bluish lines all over her body? Disturbin’ doesn’t come close to describin’ it. Almost looks like roots took up residence under her skin.”

  Reed bit his lip. “The eyes—the way they turn solid black—that’s what gets me. Well, and the fact they crave flesh. I hope whatever this shit is ain’t airborne.”

  “If it is, then Walmart will be crawlin’ with undead shoppers interested in nothin’ they offer on the shelves.”

  Reed chuckled softly. “I see why my sister is drawn to you. Your sense of humor is just as twisted and sick as hers.”

  Kyle rolled the remainder of the plastic over Mrs. Singleton’s corpse. “You know what they say about humor—it’s insanity’s next of kin.”

  Turning his head, Reed looked around to ensure they were still alone. Satisfied no one had followed them, he grabbed the handles and pushed the wheelbarrow forward. “We should keep to this back aisle so no one sees us. Let’s get these two situated in the trailer then get the others. It’s gonna take a few trips to remove six bodies.”