Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour

by Jake A. Strife

  I blushed like mad as my mind raced with ideas of what she could mean.

  She lightly pushed me to the floor and carefully straddled me this time. I held my breath as she took her fingers and put them under her tube top. She started to pull up parts bit by bit. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t take it. But I didn’t want her to stop. I wanted; I didn’t know what I wanted. But why resist? The world had ended.

  She pulled her flannel shirt closed and wiggled.

  “Guess what I'm not wearing now?” she giggled, and the roundness of her breasts filled out the shirt.

  All of my blood rushed south, but then the vault trembled and the gears of the door started to click and clank. My head snapped back to see the door cranking open.

  “We can get out! We’re not trapped!” I cried.

  Kessa glared down at me and shook her head.

  “W-what?” I asked.

  “Oh it’s nothing,” She said and crawled towards her boots, pulling them on. I could see enough sideboob to know I'd screwed up big time. The sexiest girl ever had been on top of me and what did I do? I knew I'd be beating myself up over it for awhile. I would just have to add it to the list of screwups.

  The thick tension had me barely able to breathe, but still I said, “I'm sorry.”

  “Don’t be, Zach. Getting outta here’s important. It can’t always just be about me and my wants and my needs.”

  I didn’t like the way she said needs.

  Her heart ached, but I didn't feel so well physically. On top of the cuts and bruises, I now had an aching below the belt.

  “I’ll be out here.” I sighed and walked away with my tail between my legs.

  Kessa mumbled something as I left. The bright morning light illuminated the room. On a support pillar just before me, I spotted a note held up by a dagger; one of Wesley’s daggers. I rushed over to the pillar and tore down the paper, sticking the dagger through a belt loop.

  It read:

  “Zach, I’m writing you a note because I don’t know how else to say it. I need to leave. I have stuff I need to do. People to find, places to see, that kind of junk. Your journey is going to lead you south to the big city, Houston I’m pretty sure.

  You see, when we were searching Epic Impossibilities Games, I found some reasons you’ll want to move on. One reason was a letter. I left it rolled up in a bag of food supplies, weapons and ammunition. It’s hidden in the corner under the seventh teller station.

  I’ll let you read it since it's addressed to you, but don’t run off just yet. Finish this one.

  My goals take me north. I know what caused this. You know the zombies! I may be able to stop it before it gets even worse. So I charge you with this. Stay alive. I want to see you again because I never got to tell you that secret I mentioned last night. And keep Kessa kicking too, not like that pervert! I mean alive! She’s hot, and I wouldn’t mind tapping that if you don’t develop the balls!

  So this is goodbye, or it was hours ago after I tricked you into the safety of the bank vault. Zombies were in here last night, and you would never have known. But I killed them and cleaned the place up a bit. So anyway, yeah, I’m not good at this! So grab the supplies and start on the road south. I’d avoid any freeways, though, especially if you plan on taking a car.

  Peace out brother, I look forward to seeing you again, and nailing that pretty thing you perhaps lost your virginity to! HAHAHA!

  --Wesley James

  P.S. You better remember it!

  Some things Wesley said made me want to punch him, but for the moment, I rolled up the letter, anxious to see the other. But who wrote it?

  I walked to the teller stations and counted down the line until I came to the seventh. I pulled open a cabinet, and a duffel bag sat shoved inside. There were four handguns, the typical kind the police would use. I wondered if he’d hunted down dead cops for those. Also, I found a long black pump-action shotgun and even an Uzi. I couldn’t guess where he’d found that.

  I dug deeper, past cans of food and bottles of water until I found a large yellow envelope at the bottom, with my name written in large letters. I pulled out the letter to find soft and feminine handwriting.

  It read:

  “Zach, it’s me, Jessie.

  I don’t know if you’ll read this, or if I’ll get to finish writing it. But I wanted to let you know how I feel about things.

  When we were children, and you came to my eighth birthday party, I had a lot of fun. You were my favorite guest, although we hadn’t spent much time together. I had a crush on you. It was the best birthday ever, even though you missed the piñata and hit me so hard it sent me to the hospital with a concussion.

  I don’t blame you at all for that! You had to wear a blindfold, and couldn’t see me. I was trying to sneak up and give you a hug. It was entirely my fault. Then my parents didn’t let you ever come over again. And of course as you know the school found out, and they expelled you. No one cared that I told them it was an accident. That’s when you became friends with Tiffany from what she told me.

  I hope you find yourself rekindling that relationship with Tiffany. I know she liked you even if she wouldn’t admit to it. That’s just how she was. She didn’t know how to express herself. I’m sure she will take care of you now. I had hoped we could be together, you know? I was hoping you would ask me to prom in the spring. I watched you in class every day, hoping so hard that you would talk to me. I’m glad we got to spend some time together these past few hours, even if the zombies are everywhere.

  As of now, we're all okay.

  I lied. Jeff just came to me with Dave. He wasn't bitten, but he has a long gash across his chest. Someone or something slashed him across the chest. He's delirious, so we don't know. Dave needs help, so we can’t stay here. That said, we won’t be here when you get back.

  After some debate, we’ve chosen to head south to Houston. We wrapped up Dave, but it won’t last for long. So all I can hope now is that you find this envelope, and you’ll at least know how I feel.

  Tiffany: Take care of him like I never got to. Please. Thank you. You were my best friend forever and always. Okay, Tiff, stop reading now.

  Zach: I wish you three the best of luck. Maybe we’ll meet again one day, if it’s not too late.

  ---Jessie

  P.S. I love you

  I folded the paper and put it in my pocket with the one from Wesley. A whirlwind of emotion ran through me.

  I zipped up the duffel bag and found a clock on the wall. It was just past nine. Plenty of daylight remained. We’d have to get to the road soon; the trip to Houston would be long, and of course, we were going no matter what. We would find the Gamer’s Guild. I wanted to talk to Jessie, and at least tell her of Tiffany's fate.

  I walked back to the vault and found Kessa sitting, cross-legged on the floor, back in her tube top. She looked up. Pangs of guilt hit me. I could still choose Jessie, who said she loved me. My head hurt as Kessa stared at me longingly, with adoring eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  I didn’t have the guts to tell her. I had to lie, for now.

  “We’re going to Houston. I have family there.” I spoke the worst lie of my life.

  LEVEL 13 – SAFE ZONE

  Kessa trotted on the road beside me. “Been three weeks and ya haven’t told me yet, sugar.”

  “Not told you what?” I kicked a rock, which bounced into the ditch.

  “What family do ya have down there?”

  The edge of the woods rested to our right and every time the wind blew I aimed my gun, expecting a Corpse attack. Out of 151 times, I'd been right about six. This time, again, no undead showed its ugly face.

  Kessa wore a smile on her face as she spun in front of me and walked backwards. Even without her pigtails, and a dirty face, she still looked sexy as heck.

  I forgot her question after falling into her deep eyes. “What did you ask?”

  “I asked what family do you have in Houston?” She blew th
e hair out of her face.

  “Oh, um, an uncle.” I lied again.

  I did have an uncle, but I barely remembered him. He came over all the time when we lived up north, but those memories were just as fuzzy as the ones of Tiffany and our youth.

  Kessa lifted her leg, and put her shoe to my chest; she'd lost her boots a week prior, and we shopped at an abandoned shoe store. “You must have been close to go all the way there! I wouldn’t make that journey for anyone in my family.”

  “But you’d make it for me?” I asked.

  She lowered her foot, and hopped next to me, throwing her arms around my neck. “Is that so hard to believe?”

  I fell into her eyes again.

  Kessa said. “I’m just glad you want me along.”

  I did want her with me, but if and when we made it to Houston, I didn’t think she’d feel the same after.

  Out of nowhere, I felt lightheaded, and the world spun. I stumbled off the gravel road and into a tree.

  “Are you okay?” Kessa gasped, rushing to my side.

  When she touched me, electricity flew, and I felt a bit better.

  “I got dizzy there for a sec,” I murmured.

  She supported my weight as I leaned my head against her chest, which as always felt cozy and warm. She made me feel safe and secure, but I wanted another chest; I wanted Jessie’s.

  Kessa put her wrist against my forehead and gasped. “You’ve got a fever! We need to find a resting place, and a pharmacy.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said, knowing to stop, would delay our trip to Houston.

  “Zachary Mastiff.” She started up with a parental attitude for the 80th time.

  I made up another lie. “We can’t stop. Once it’s dark, we’re screwed.”

  She lifted her matter-of-fact finger. “Ya got an infection from yer cuts. We need antibiotics.”

  “Okay, mom.”

  She took a step back, looking hurt. “No way. If I were, I wouldn't want to be on ya like, 'Whoa!'.”

  “What?” My eyes widened. It'd been three weeks, and she hadn't made another attempt at

  seducing me.

  Kessa giggled. “Forget I said that.”

  We continued walking, a heavy, hormonal silence in the air.

  Mid-afternoon came before we ran across something and it just so happened to be a tank.

  The armored vehicle faced south, the way we wanted to go.

  “It’s a gift from m'Lord!” she cried and circled the tank.

  As she climbed onto it, I shook my head. “I doubt that.”

  “Of course, it is!” She sang, pulling open the hatch.

  Kessa fell back as if blasted off her feet. I made a mad dash to catch her and skidded on my knees. She landed safely in my arms, but she flailed reaching to her gun holster.

  An echoing groan from inside. Kessa leaped out of my arms and started climbing back up.

  “If a Corpse is in there, just leave it!” I said.

  “No way! We need this tank!” she argued.

  Without an entire army caravan behind us, we could easily be swarmed. Although it would probably crush more than a handful of the bastards, until it ran out of fuel.

  “This isn’t a good idea.” I moved to find an easy way to climb up.

  The Corpse inside sounded furiously slamming around inside.

  I called to her, “Kessa?”

  She should have just shoved the gun inside and fired, but instead, the crazy girl jumped inside.

  “Wait!” I cried, scrambling up the side.

  She grunted and made a bunch of ‘hyah’ sounds. It repeated several times and finally the noise stopped. I made it to the top, drew my gun and waited.

  “Are you okay in there?” I asked.

  “Yep.” She said, as casual as could be. “Couldn’t be better! Well, except it stinks like heck! We’ll have to keep the hatch open as we go.”

  I peeked inside and then reared back. The smell nearly knocked me off the tank, too. Not even a Corpse smelled that bad. Once my stomach settled, I covered my face with my shirt and climbed inside. There I found Kessa standing over a dead Corpse, dagger in its head. There were three bodies, all torn to shreds with blood and guts everywhere.

  All of them were in military garb. The three had died with frozen looks of pain on their faces. One thing seemed odd. I leaned in close to one. Why hadn't they turned?

  “Why aren’t you trying to eat me?” I asked.

  Of course, he wouldn't answer. The only way they couldn’t have turned is if they were immune, but what were the chances of that? Three of them all together, in the same military unit? No, that didn’t make sense.

  The answer hit me like a brick.

  “These guys aren’t undead!” I grabbed Kessa and squeezed her hands tight.

  “I had noticed they weren’t trying to chew on my toes. Ya know like you do in your sleep?”

  I blushed. The embarrassment never ended with her.

  “You’re lying!” I said quickly.

  “Nope.” She grinned.

  I shook my head. “N-never mind that! These guys aren’t zombies for a reason!”

  “Why is that?”

  “They must have been vaccinated! There’s a vaccine for the virus!” I cheered.

  “They’re still dead.” She nudged one with her boot.

  Excitement overflowed from my being. “Don’t you get it?”

  “Nope.” she lifted the Corpse and threw it out the hatch.

  I had to explain. “If people can be vaccinated, they won’t turn. Our chances of survival have increased.”

  “We don’t have the vaccine, sugar.” Kessa poked her head outside and froze.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  Kessa peeked back inside. “This was the only tank, right?”

  “Only one I saw.” I said.

  “Then can one tank stand up to another?”

  “I don’t know?”

  “Come here, quick!” she said.

  I climbed onto the ladder and froze. A tall, muscular man appeared right next to us. He wore a tight, black, long sleeve shirt, and held a rifle, which he pointed straight at us. I didn’t get a better look because parked not far behind us was another tank.

  “We didn’t do it.” I held up my hands.

  The soldier prodded us out with his gun and then another three appeared, two in helmets. They led us off of the tank.

  “A couple o’ kids.” The older man, with a thick gray mustache, said. His eyes looked tired and jaded. Did he mean to kill us, or save us?

  “Either of yins bit?” He asked.

  I looked at the two other soldiers who held assault rifles pointed directly at us, visors covering their eyes.

  “I asked, are either of yins bit?” He spat on the ground and lifted his assault rifle to my head.

  “N-no.” I finally managed to choke out.

  “You sure?” he sounded disappointed.

  Kessa swallowed hard. “We're sure!”

  “Well then get in the car, can’t just leave y’all out here to die.” He snorted and motioned to the green and brown Humvee a few yards away.

  “Can we trust them?” Kessa whispered as we walked to the rumbling vehicle.

  Did I trust the soldiers? Heck no, I didn’t. But my curiosity had been piqued. They wore the same colors as the dead guys in the tank, which meant that they were on the same team, and these guys could be vaccinated too, and I wanted to learn all about it.

  I shrugged. “We should go with them.”

  “Are they going to Houston? What about your uncle?” she asked.

  “For now, they're at least facing the right direction. So why not get a ride?”

  “We ain’t going to Houston.” The tall man jumped from the tank, landing with a thud.

  “How close to it?” I asked.

  He held out his hand. “Not too, too far. The name’s Biggs.”

  I almost laughed as I shook his hand, “Seriously?”

  “Yes, I see y
ou catch the reference.” He squeezed my hand so tight my knuckles popped.

  “Where’s Wedge?” I asked.

  “She’s right here.” A woman climbed out of the Humvee.

  Unlike the soldiers, who were all muscles, Wedge seemed to be a delicate flower. She wore a camo dress that cut off a few inches above her knees. She wore combat boots and had curly blonde hair tied back in a bun.

  “You guys are all joking aren’t you?”

  Kessa looked at me and cocked her head.

  “Why are you mocking them?” She asked. “They have guns.”

  Wedge lit up a cigarette. “Well except Biggs here. He’s called that because he’s a big crybaby.”

  “Hey!” Biggs snatched the cigarette from her mouth and stamped it out.

  “There’s a lot of video game references and before that the names came from Star Wars, Biggs, and Wedge.”

  Wedge shrugged, and reached for another cigarette. “We were named after those references. Our parents were nerdy as it got.”

  Biggs leaned against the tank. “Yup.”

  “So you’re siblings.” I reasoned.

  Wedge nodded, and before she could light up the death stick, Biggs snatched it again.

  “I told you to quit.” he said.

  She rolled her eyes and put her lighter away.

  “All right, enough jibber-jab.” the mustached man said. “Lo and Lu are going to operate the tanks.”

  Biggs ran his hand through his short black hair, “Alright, no problemo. I get claustrophobic anyhow.”

  “Inside, kiddies.” Wedge held open the door.

  I stepped halfway inside, but dizziness swept over me. I fell back, and Wedge caught me.

  “You’re burning up, kid.” She pulled me inside and sat me in a seat.

  I held my face in my hands. “I got pretty cut up in a fight with some religious extremists.”

  “Good thing we have enough med supplies back at the base,” Wedge said.

  Relief washed over me. Maybe they could be trusted? If so, we were in safe hands, and would finally be able to relax and not live on edge, scared of becoming a Corpse’s meal. The mustached man drove, and Biggs sat beside him.