Viral Evolution (Book 1): Retrovirus

by Winters, Leigh

Mike watching on with Lizzie for a moment as Ray begins to succumb to the strain himself.

  Tommy turns back, shouts toward his friend, "Mike!" before turning again to follow after John, Danny and Jennifer once more.

  Mike grabs Lizzie’s hand. "Lizzie."

  Lizzie looks to Mike with horror, as they then turn sharply to follow after the others, and soon enough they're moving onto the street the car was left parked.

  All sprinting, making their way as fast as possible toward the awaiting vehicle and then jumping in on their arrival with the infected soon moving into the street further back behind them.

  John moves into the drivers seat placing the keys into the ignition then starting the vehicle.

  Jennifer moves in sitting on Danny’s lap, with Lizzie moving across to the middle as Tommy looks back toward the direction they had come before sitting in.

  Mike takes the front passenger seat then looks to John and his torn shirt.

  "John, the USB."

  John looks across to Mike then down to his pocket, seeing the tear and the missing USB drive.

  John immediately turns with his hand braced over his torn pocket and head motioning back for the loss of the valuable information stored on it.

  For a moment he appears to wonder where he could of lost it as he looks to Mike who tells him.

  "Ray found it. He was at the depot behind us."

  Sadness rolls over Lizzie’s eyes as John moves on to ask.

  "Where is..?" as Mike cuts in on the question.

  "He didn’t make it."

  Tommy settles in the backseat with the door now closed as he turns looking through the back window, before moments later turning back to the front voicing to both Mike and John as the infected head up the road closer toward them.

  "Guys! I don’t mean to be rude, but, can we get the hell out of here!"

  John clearly disappointed with himself on losing the drive quickly puts the car into gear, as Tommy looks out the back with Jennifer looking momentarily before turning back toward the front.

  John puts his foot on the accelerator then drives the vehicle out onto the road gaining speed.

  The traffic appears to build, with John overtaking a utility truck while dodging another vehicle before turning and driving down a side street continuing West.

  Back at the family home, Sue continues to race around the house gathering the essential items which includes the kit of supplies from under the stairs made up of medical, survival, dried foods, canned and water with sleeping bag for each member of the family.

  Sue passes them to Sean and Charlotte who also help shift into the back of the SUV now in the garage.

  Sue unlocks Johns cupboard, finding weapons with ammunition and loading all of them into the SUV herself.

  Sean and Charlotte take items from their bedrooms along with some spare clothes with a jacket out into the back of the vehicle.

  Sue then gets a few items for herself and John. She then moves on entering Danny’s room proceeding to pick and choose what she thinks he needs.

  With everything prepared, Sue calls to Sean and Charlotte who are already on their way.

  "Come on kids it’s time to go."

  Sean with Charlotte in tow come past with items of their own moving out again toward the vehicle, as she then locks up the house before heading toward the garage herself.

  Sue upon entering the garage, throws items in hand into the back, then turns moving to collect the spare gas containers and proceeds to place on the drivers side into the back of the wagon.

  Charlotte and Sean both appearing curious to know.

  "Are we coming back?"

  "We’ll meet your father back here soon with Danny."

  All enter the vehicle as Sue immediately turns the key in the ignition, as the radio broadcasts ongoing updates while she proceeds to reverse down the drive out onto the road turning out and then driving forward heading toward the local gas station as Sean leans out toward his mother.

  "Mum, has Dad found them?"

  "I hope so Sean"

  Both Sean and Charlotte in the back seat look across to each other, hoping they will see their older brother again as the vehicle heads down the road.

  It soon becomes apparent within the streets as they head toward the gas station, with people also packing up any belongings into their vehicles or driving West and in some cases with a full load inside.

  CHAPTER 18

  Unexpected

  John continues on as traffic appears to build once more, moments later he turns the vehicle driving down a side street and upon this route they all move steadily away from town.

  They all appear to relax a little when moments later, a vehicle moving from the side street comes crashing into the front passenger side of Johns car spinning it around in the process with Jennifer on impact hitting her head on the rough plastic hand rest at the top side interior.

  Blood soon appears from a gash across the side of her head, as she puts her hand up to and holding down on it for the pain.

  With all occupants stunned, somewhat dazed from the sudden unexpected impact from the collision, although Danny’s attention however quickly turns to Jennifer who is still on his lap.

  Jennifer with her hand up to her head, with blood appearing between her fingers and now dripping on to Danny.

  "Dad quick! The first aid kit, Jennifer’s hurt!"

  John taking note of his words gets out of the car, moves to the trunk, and retrieving the first aid kit before moving back to Jennifer.

  On his approach with cars weaving while dodging the scene, John looks up briefly upon hearing the helicopters in the distance and knows they don’t have long.

  Tommy with Mike also exit the written off car as the driver at fault gets out of his and flees the scene.

  John opens the back door, then the first aid kit while looking to Jennifer and Danny who begin getting out of the vehicle.

  Lizzie shuffles across the back seat, then upon exiting the vehicle, looks toward the helicopters in the near distance with Mike before their eyes move down to road level in the direction of the city as Tommy turns to Mike.

  "We need a vehicle!"

  Upon Tommy saying this, Mike quickly turns to him and nods agreeing with his eyes wide.

  "Heck yeah, we do!"

  Mike looks around for an abandoned, or any vehicle they could use as Tommy moves around to the trunk.

  Mike tries to wave down a few oncoming cars who weave past them with panic stricken drivers which Tommy soon notices.

  "It’s no use Mike, they won’t stop!"

  Mike soon gives up then turns to Lizzie, then back to Tommy who's looking into the trunk and soon finding Johns tool kit in the side compartment.

  He opens the tool kit to find a screwdriver and a Swiss army knife that both quickly enter his back pocket.

  The three then move toward John who is finishing up the bandaging around Jennifer’s head while standing up against the vehicle, as Tommy begins to look forward on a few vehicles up ahead and then quickly turns back to the five on Mike's question.

  "How is she?"

  John briefly turns to Mike to answer.

  "Nasty knock, but she’ll live."

  With a nod of some relief before moving off, Tommy goes on ahead as they hear machine gun fire back in the distance.

  "Thanks Dad."

  Jennifer smiles at Danny upon hearing then looks his father.

  "Yes, thank you!"

  John places a hand on his sons shoulder, as Mike and Lizzie move off together after Tommy.

  "No need to thank me, just doing what needed to be done."

  John's eyes move back toward the city for a moment, with Danny’s following after a brief moment with Jennifer, who also looks toward the city before turning back to Danny and John to let them know.

  "I’m ready!"

  Both John and Danny look toward Jennifer who appears focused considering, although s
omewhat knowing she will be alright as Danny responds with a smile.

  "Sweet!"

  With the nodding of his head John looks over both.

  "There’s our cue!"

  All three turn, heading off after the others with Tommy well ahead looking for a suitable vehicle and soon finds one.

  Then using the butt of the screwdriver smashes the drivers window which sets off the alarm. The alarm echoes down the street as people run by on foot and vehicles race by with the infected rapidly approaching.

  Tommy proceeds, reaching his hand inside to unlock the door, and quickly makes haste to disconnect the alarm.

  Mike arrives with Lizzie soon after, as the helicopters move in closer with the odd terrified civilian screaming as they run past.

  Sirens with cars crashing together being heard coming from beyond, back further down through the streets.

  Tommy clears the alarm then pulls apart the ignition with the screwdriver to get to the wiring.

  John, Danny and Jennifer join them, as John looks back before turning his attention down toward Tommy.

  "You’ve done this before too then?!"

  Tommy while cutting the wires, then peeling the plastic from them looks up briefly in response to John.

  "It’s been a while, but it’ll sure come in handy today."

  John with a smirk, raises his eyebrows then looks over across to Mike as he does toward John.

  Mike now smiling, slightly shrugs his shoulders while nodding his head to agree with Tommy as John appears to say to them both. "Sure does!"

  Behind them the influx of pedestrians fleeing from the oncoming infected, soon grabs their attention again as they hear piercing screams echoing down the street coming toward them.

  With everything unfolding beyond, not only is it the general public who are fleeing, but uniformed officers and military soldiers have also abandoned their positions yet still turning on occasion and firing in defense as they run away.

  The infected outnumbering those who are not, and many sacrifices being made by comrades to protect their own.

  Meanwhile inside the building adjacent to the vehicle Tommy is hot wiring, a man looks out through his apartment lounge window appearing to of heard his cars alarm sound off, as he then sees outside while looking down onto Tommy and the others before voicing to himself.

  "Oh no you don’t!"

  Mike looking toward the city, turns back toward Tommy.

  "How are you going there Tommy?"

  "Almost done."

  Mike turns again toward the others who look to the city with John, while also looking up at the military helicopter in close proximity above.

  The mounted machine gun on the helicopter continues to fire off rounds down toward the street at the infected.

  More vehicles come recklessly down the street driving people down while in fear of losing their life.

  The Car Owner comes racing out of his front door with his bag and hand down at one side.

  Tommy places the two wires together to start the car, then as the motor starts he turns up toward the group while he stands.

  Mike turns to Tommy with a smile, while the rest of the group however briefly look focused on preparing themselves for what is coming toward them.

  The car owner storming out on approach draws his hand up toward Tommy, revealing a pistol and fires off one round straight into the temple of Tommy’s head.

  Mike is stunned stepping back, the fired shot frightens the whole group who jump with Mike witnessing the bullet go through his friend as they turn to the car owner.

  The remainder of the group turn to see Tommy’s body fall hitting the ground, with Mike screaming out his name and motioning forward. "Tommy!"

  The man now sees the group for what it is, raising his gun toward them all, then to Mike as he begins to motion toward the drivers door before looking to step over Tommy with the gun still pointed at Mike.

  John not knowing the car belongs to the man, quickly draws his handgun from his pocket as the car owner points in a threatening manner toward Mike.

  In an instinctive reaction to protect his friend, John fires two rounds into the top chest of the man sending him backwards into the inside of the open door as Mike slightly ducks from the shots as the car owner falls backward over the pavement.

  Danny, Jennifer and Lizzie remained shocked and almost sick from seeing Tommy and the car owner now in critical condition as Danny voices in shock.

  "Dad?!"

  John looks to Danny briefly, then over to Mike as he races to Tommy, who looks at his friends head before turning to the car owners gun now laying on the ground.

  The man lays there taking his last few breaths as the gun lays next to him, with Mike picking it up and pointing it down toward the car owner’s face.

  Lizzie looks to Mike shouting while shaking her head.

  "Mike?!"

  Lizzie’s voice grabs Mike’s attention as he looks back at her slightly, then down toward the man with tears in his eyes from losing his friend.

  Mike however moments later begins dropping his arm in the process while pulling the gun away and leaving the man in his final few moments alone as John then jumps into the drivers seat.

  Mike in shock turns to Lizzie, then to the vehicle as Jennifer with Danny move into the back seat.

  Danny screams out, "Mike! Lizzie!" as John follows on "Get in!" although both have already begun to move around to get into the car.

  Jennifer looks through with Danny coaxing them on, as John puts the car into gear with his foot on the brake, as they wait momentarily for Mike and Lizzie to get into the car themselves.

  With John looking out the rear vision mirror, he appears to see a few of the infected come into view in the distance before turning his attention to Mike with gun in hand and to Lizzie even though they're heading in.

  Lizzie begins to moves in on the back seat closing her door.

  Danny looks back then forward with Mike moving into the front passenger seat, as the infected come charging up from behind, although still a few hundred meters or so away.

  Jennifer turns back watching their approach voicing as Mike slams his door closed. "Go, go, go!"

  John puts his foot on the accelerator to the floor while pulling out, as the infected close in on them with Danny turning to look out the back window with Jennifer as they begin to speed away together in the vehicle.

  CHAPTER 19

  In Full Flight

  The news is now well broadcast across the airways and television networks with many people eager to get out of town taking their friends or family with them.

  A build up of traffic has been encountered along the way toward the gas station with Sue now waiting in line to fill up the SUV and containers.

  People frantically push or shove past each other, filling their vehicles to the brim with some beginning to drive away without paying.

  The attendants, with staff inside are all trying to keep some form of order and retrieve payment while preventing some to leave the forecourt however soon being overrun by panic stricken drivers keen to exit the city who leave pushing past in a hurry.

  Sue now being able to finally move forward pulling in at the side of the pump, then releases the petrol flap before she turns to her children sitting on the back seat.

  "Stay here you two, and whatever you do don’t unlock these doors!"

  Sue looks for a brief moment through the rearview mirror then around before quickly exiting the vehicle, moves to taking the nozzle and pulling it away from the pump pressing fill with the gas soon entering the tank.

  Sue stands there anxious, looking around back and forth from everyone then back to the rolling numbers on the pump.

  While the vehicle is filling, she moves to unlock the back door and quickly removing the two containers then proceeding to fill upon the tank becoming full.

  Abusive words now being voiced from some drivers behind her in frustration and to
hurry up.

  She looks out to them briefly with the container filling, seeing the helicopter in the sky close by toward town and the sound of rotors becoming clearer as the first container becomes full while briefly looking out before placing the cap to turn tight.

  "Already?!"

  With a further sense of urgency, Sue quickly opens the second container to fill, seeing the helicopters appearing closer with every passing moment and leaves the container to fill while she puts the first one into the back of the SUV.

  Sue places it in the back, closing the door, looks into the building noticing a staff member who appears to be looking up at a monitor, turning and running toward the main doors.

  As Sue turns back to retrieve the second container, the driver from the vehicle behind her comes rushing in, knocking her into the side of the pump which forces Sue to lose grip of the car keys with the driver looking down to her.

  The somewhat larger man in his mid forties with a short fuse and takes the meaning of equals to a whole new level stands over her for a moment.

  "I need some too you know!"

  The driver then collects the second container for himself, placing the lid before tightening and taking back to his own vehicle throwing it in on the front seat of his car before swiftly driving round although slightly into the rear of the SUV.

  With screams appearing now in the distance, the driver in the process, knocks down stands outside in the forecourt as he speeds off leaving Sue slightly bruised, to slowly pick herself up and begin looking around for the keys to the vehicle.

  With all forecourt attendants now heading toward their own vehicles as she looks up toward the city hearing the screams coming from further up the road.

  Becoming louder with every passing moment, Sean and Charlotte look up to the helicopter appearing now seeming almost overhead.

  With Charlotte looking out of the vehicle over toward her mother, she then turns to Sean who’s still looking out and up toward the helicopter.