The Creeping Dead: A Zombie Novel

by Edward P. Cardillo

  She grabbed her car keys and jerked the front door open, slamming it behind her as she raced down the stairs to her car parked in the driveway.

  As MacAteer opened her car door, she noticed a car at the base of her driveway blocked the exit. Her skin went cold when she saw the driver side door left ajar, and she realized whose car it was.

  She looked around for Yost. He must’ve arrived sometime in the night, when she was out cold in a wine-induced coma in her living room. There was no doubt that he was turned by now. He had to be.

  She wouldn’t be able to pull out of her driveway with his car blocking the way. She cautiously walked down the driveway, her heels making loud footfalls on the blacktop.

  When she reached Yost’s car, she looked around again before sticking her head in. Dammit. No keys in the ignition.

  As she pulled her head out of his car, MacAteer heard a gurgling, growling sound. She spun around and saw him standing there, pale as a ghost with the tell-tale raccoon eyes, baring his teeth at her.

  She saw his set of keys clipped around one of his belt loops.

  “You asshole!” she shouted at him. “You had to call the CDC, didn’t you? A parting shot, I guess.”

  He just stood there, staring at her, his lip curled up in a sneer.

  “Well, I guess it’s just as well. I mean, I pretty much handed you down a death sentence…You couldn’t just leave well-enough alone, could you?” She looked up at the dark, overcast sky. The wind picked up, and she stood downwind of Yost.

  MacAteer was used to the smells of piss, shit, puke, and pus, but this was different. This was death.

  “Well, I don’t suppose you want to give me those keys, do you?”

  Yost grunted and make gargling sounds in his throat.

  “I didn’t suppose so.” MacAteer pulled her shoes off her feet, and gripped one in each hand with the heel pointing out. She had to make do.

  MacAteer didn’t know why he just stood there, cocking his head sideways, watching her. Why wasn’t he attacking? “Alan, not only were you stupid as a human, you make a stupid zombie.”

  Was he…smiling?

  She heard footsteps behind her, but it was already too late. Arms swung around and gripped her in a bear hug as teeth bit down into her neck. MacAteer screamed, but more out of outrage than fear. Outsmarted by a zombie.

  Yost shambled over and sunk his teeth into the shoulder opposite where the other zombie gnawed on her neck. They brought her down to the ground and began opening her gut, pulling out innards like they were garland.

  MacAteer kicked, yelled, and spat as she was slowly eaten alive in her own driveway.

  * * *

  Lenny Krueger dragged in the pool furniture, stacking it in the pub in anticipation of high winds. His hat had already blown off his head twice as he worked. His mother hadn’t been feeling well, so she was delegating orders to staff.

  As he dragged a lounge chair into the pub and lifted it on top of a building stack, he saw his mother leave the front office, looking sallow, shuffling her feet as she walked.

  He watched her go into the empty pool area. Nick grabbed chairs on the other side of the pool. She made to walk in his direction, but Lenny was startled when he saw her walk right into the deep end of the swimming pool.

  He ran out and let himself into the pool area, crying out to Nick. “M-m-y M-m-mom! She f-f-fell in the p-p-pool!” He wanted to jump in to save her, but he didn’t know how to swim.

  Nick looked up, hearing the splash. When he heard Lenny, he dropped the chair he currently held and ran to the edge of the pool to look where Lenny was pointing.

  Sure enough, walking on the bottom of the deep end was Alice Krueger.

  “She’s not coming up for air!” cried Nick. He kicked off his sneakers, took his phone out of his pocket and threw it on the grass behind him, and dove in to rescue her.

  Lenny looked on as Nick grabbed under her arms and tried to pull her up. She turned around in the water and appeared to grapple with him.

  Nick struggled to bring her up, but he was running out of air. He let go to come up for a breath, but Alice’s arms were around him, holding him tightly.

  Lenny gasped in horror as he watched Nick try to break free and swim to the surface.

  After a brief struggle, Nick inhaled water, and his body slowly became still. He stared up at Lenny, wide-eyed, wearing a terrible expression of shock mixed with regret.

  Alice Krueger took bite after bite of Nick, chewing on him as if he was a slab of beef, and the two became enshrouded in a cloud of crimson.

  * * *

  “Where the hell is the Mayor?” shouted Holbrook. “I can’t get him on the phone!”

  “I don’t know,” said his secretary, Clarice. “No one knows.”

  “I’ve got the press waiting outside for a statement, and I need his final approval, or he’ll have my guts for garters.”

  Joann burst into his office. “Chief, we’ve got more cases of the bitten attacking their families. There’re calls coming in from all over the Bay.”

  “I’ve been in touch with the CDC earlier this morning,” said Holbrook. “They’re tracking down the nursing home Sophia Russo was in. They’re telling me about bodies from last night moving on their slabs in the county morgue. What the hell is going on, here?”

  Joann looked flabbergasted. “I don’t know what to tell you, Chief, but the press is getting antsy.”

  “What press? A couple of local papers that nobody reads.”

  “Still, the longer you wait, the more it looks like you’re trying to hide.” She saw Holbrook lost in thought. “What is it?”

  “It’s what that Lenny Krueger told you about Sophia Russo.”

  “What about it?”

  “The part about her trying to bite him. We got a call this morning from Russo’s shrink at the nursing home. Her husband tried to bite her and her son.”

  “Maybe the CDC is right, and this is an epidemic.”

  Holbrook stood. “That means Sophia Russo was patient zero.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Joann.

  He rounded his desk. “To the holding cells. Marie Russo knows something about this.”

  “Do you think she was telling the truth about her mother-in-law and husband attacking her?”

  “I think we’re holding an innocent person.”

  Holbrook opened his door and entered the bullpen. He stalked past desks and headed for the stairwell, but there were more than a couple of reporters blocking the way. A few of the bigger news stations were in attendance. When they saw him, their faces lit up, and they turned on their audio recorders and cameras. As he approached, they blocked the way and shoved the recorders and cameras in his face.

  “Chief Holbrook, do you have any information on the riots and murders that occurred on the boardwalk yesterday during Circus Faire?”

  Holbrook held both hands up. “Unfortunately, there were a few trouble makers who tried to ruin a day of family fun. I believe my officers responded quickly and appropriately to address the problems.”

  “Was it true that the attackers were biting, and in some cases eating their victims?”

  Holbrook stepped forward, and the reporters encircled him in a feeding frenzy. They smelled blood in the water. “It is true that the nature of the attacks was particularly brutal, but we’re looking into the possibility of drugs and even illness as being behind the attacks?”

  “Is it true that there have been more attacks of a similar nature today?”

  “I can’t speak to the nature of today’s attacks just yet, but once again, we’re looking into drugs or an illness.”

  “Is the CDC involved in the investigation?”

  “Yes,” said Holbrook, “I called them myself. They’re looking into the possibility of an illness.” He was careful to stay away from the word ‘epidemic.’

  “Chief Holbrook, there’ve been reports of bodies in the morgue suddenly moving of their own volition. Care to comment?”
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br />   “Okay, that’s enough. I’ve told you all I know. When I find out more, you’ll be the first to know.” He shoved his way past the reporters and descended the stairs to the holding cells.

  Joann stepped forward. “All right, I need you to clear the area. We’ve a lot going on right now. The Chief will have more information for you at a later time.

  Holbrook cursed under his breath as he took the steps two at a time. He hated being in front of the camera answering questions. He wished Chris was here. Holbrook was no politician. Chris was the one with the silver tongue.

  He walked into the holding area and saw Marie Russo sitting on her bench in her cell. Her mascara was streaked down her cheeks, and her eyes were swollen and puffy.

  “Tell me again what happened in your house.”

  Marie looked at him. “I told you everything I know.” She sounded defeated.

  “Well, why don’t you tell me again?”

  “There are other attacks, aren’t there? Like what happened to me.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “It makes sense, doesn’t it? Sophia bit my husband, and he turned into one of those things. She probably bit others when she was out wandering around.”

  “Not only that,” said Holbrook, “there were attacks yesterday at Circus Faire. There were people attacking the parade and spectators. Sick people. They bit some people, and today it appears the bitten are attacking their families.”

  “Now do you believe me, Chief? Why would I attack my own husband? I loved Mario. He was already dead, and he tried to kill me.”

  “I want to believe you, Marie.” He really did. “What about Billy Blake?”

  She rubbed her eyes, weary with exhaustion. “It’s true. I had a couple of drinks with him. I never should’ve. He did make a pass at me, but I rejected him.”

  “Did you murder Billy Blake?”

  “No, I didn’t. I might’ve felt like it, but I didn’t, and now my only alibi is dead.”

  “Can the kids attest to the fact that you were home that night?”

  “They knew I was home. They didn’t watch me all night. By the way, how are they?”

  Holbrook smiled. “They’re with Mike. He’s showing them a good time.”

  “Were they at Circus Faire yesterday?”

  Holbrook looked down at the floor. “Yes, but they’re all right.”

  “So, what now?”

  “Truthfully, I believe your account of what happened in your house. Lenny Krueger reported being attacked by Sophia Russo. He said she tried to bite him.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “Yeah, he’s okay. We found his mother at the bottom of the Ocean’s Gate swimming pool.”

  “Oh, my God.”

  “Yeah, apparently, she was eating one of her employees who jumped in to save her.”

  “Jesus Christ.”

  “I don’t have any evidence putting you with Billy the night he was murdered.” Holbrook grabbed his key ring and opened her cell. “You’re free to go.”

  Marie looked at him in disbelief.

  “You can go collect your things from Joann upstairs. I’m sure your kids are anxious to see you.”

  She stood and stepped out of the cell. “Do they know?”

  “Not yet. Not unless Mike told them.”

  Marie sighed. Holbrook put his hand on her shoulder. “For what it’s worth, Marie, I’m sorry. I’m sorry about your husband and mother-in-law, and I’m sorry for detaining you. Just doing my job. I had to look into it.”

  “I understand, Chief.”

  Holbrook walked her upstairs and pointed her in Joann’s direction. When Joann saw her, her expression was sympathetic. She took her to get her things.

  Holbrook dashed out the front door and headed to his squad car. He was making a quick stop home.

  Chapter 20

  “Okay, let’s line up all of the sandbags along the bottom of the roll down gates to stop water from coming in,” said Mike.

  Salvatore and Alessandra filled bags with sand. Randy and Mike grabbed the bags and lugged them over to the gates, laying them side-by-side.

  Mike had already taken the children around the amusement park, shutting down all of the rides and locking the gates. Salvatore had particularly found it ‘cool’ to see the place dark and dormant. Alessandra had said it gave her the creeps.

  Nancy popped outside for a moment. “This damned storm is costing me money.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Randy. “The sandbags were free.”

  “I mean that if I’m closed, I’m not making money. On top of that, I’m paying you two on a day when I’m not bringing any money in.” She looked at the children and smiled. “It was a good idea bringing the kids, Michael. I was able to send the other employees home. They’re working harder than Randall.”

  “Bite me,” said Randy under his breath.

  “Only you would be excited about child labor, Nancy,” said Mike.

  “Child labor. You make me out to be some kind of monster.”

  “If the shoe fits,” said Randall a little too loudly.

  Nancy shot him a look. “Hey, kids, as a token of my appreciation, when you’re done, you can pick something out from the concession stand.”

  Mike looked shocked at her gesture. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  Nancy saw his look. “Oh, come off it. I was a kid once, too. A million years ago, but I was a kid once.” She popped back inside the arcade.

  The wind howled, and the waves on the beach thrashed, the surf encroaching farther up toward the boardwalk.

  “Let’s get this done so we can get out of here,” said Mike. He looked over his shoulder and saw Vinnie and Dharma walking toward the arcade.

  “We thought you could use some help,” said Vinnie.

  “Your timing is impeccable,” said Mike. “Grab some bags.”

  Vinnie and Dharma threw their backs into it, and they all lined the edges of the arcade twice as quickly.

  * * *

  Holbrook pulled up to his house and parked his squad car in front. The light drizzle turned into a downpour. He got out and darted up his front path, letting himself inside his house.

  “Lena! Lena!”

  She looked concerned as she ran down the stairs. “I was upstairs packing. What is it, honey?”

  Robbie bounded down the stairs. “Daddy!”

  “Good. I want the two of you out of town, ASAP.”

  “Is everything all right?” asked Lena, worried.

  “It’s not safe. There’ve been more attacks, and soon we’re probably going to have to evacuate. There looks to be massive flooding. The ocean’s already halfway up the beach.”

  “More attacks?”

  “Yeah. The CDC thinks it’s the beginning of an epidemic, one that makes people violent and dangerous.”

  “What’s an epidemic?” asked Robbie.

  “It’s a bad sickness that spreads,” explained Holbrook.

  “I’m almost all packed,” said Lena.

  “Good. I’ll wait, so I can see you off.”

  This frightened Lena. Was it that bad that they needed a police escort? “Okay, Robbie, get your bags and bring them down,” she said.

  Robbie ran up the steps and returned with a duffel bag. He ran back up and brought down a backpack stuffed to the brim.

  Holbrook grabbed both bags, shouldering them both. “Keys,” he said to Lena.

  She fished them out of her purse and handed them to her husband.

  Holbrook ran outside, popped the trunk to Lena’s car, and tossed in his son’s bags. He left the trunk open and came back inside as Lena dragged luggage down the steps. He grabbed the luggage from her and half-dragged, half-carried the bags to her car, where he threw them into the trunk.

  Holbrook slammed the trunk shut when he heard a loud banshee wail from the next block over the sound of fat raindrops pelting the car. The shrill cry sent a chill down his spine, and his hand unconsciously rested on his gun.

 
He ran back into the house. “You have to go. Now.”

  Lena grabbed a jacket for her and Robbie. She grabbed his hand as Holbrook rushed them out the front door.

  He locked it behind them and escorted them to the car in the driving rain.

  Lena noticed his hand on his gun. “Jim, what’s going on?”

  “Tell your sister I said hello.”

  “What about you?”

  “I have to be here and see things through. I’ll be okay, I promise. You two have to go now. Later, the bridge is going to be mobbed with traffic.”

  Robbie hugged him. Holbrook bent down and kissed his son on the cheek. “You be good at your aunt’s house. When I get there we’ll play some games, have some fun. We’ll all be together, like Christmas, but in August.”

  Lena kissed Holbrook deeply. “Be careful,” she whispered.

  “I’m always careful,” he said. “Now go, and drive safely.”

  Lena stood there a moment in the rain, drinking in the sight of her husband as if it might be her last. The gesture gave Holbrook the willies because somewhere, deep down, he knew that was a distinct possibility.

  She and Robbie got into the car, and she pulled away as Holbrook heard more shrieks and gunfire a block away.

  It was time to begin the evacuation of Smuggler’s Bay.

  * * *

  Randy, Salvatore, and Alessandra feasted on candy bars. Mike helped Nancy lock up the office and storerooms in the back when they heard gunfire. It was a popping sound that resembled that of firecrackers.

  “What was that?” asked Alessandra.

  “Probably just a bunch of teenagers setting off firecrackers.

  Mike and Nancy emerged from the back.

  “Were those gunshots?” asked Mike.

  “Don’t be stupid,” said Nancy. “Why would there be gunshots?”

  Then there were more pops, louder this time.

  “Those are definitely gunshots,” said Dharma.