Infected the series Book 1 chapter 5

The skies opened up releasing drops of water, spraying along the windshield as my truck pulls into the warehouse garage. The flood lights from the ceiling shined brightly on the car. It was blinding. I stop the car on the cold gray cement and step out. The door behind me closes. Sean jumps out on the other side. We look around the large grey room. The walls reek of a dreary corporate hell. There are rusty iron stairs to my left, the railing has fallen off and lays across the floor in a puddle. At the top there is a light which I could notice from below.

“SAM, GO TOWARDS THE LIGHT!”  Suddenly blasts from the speakers in the ceiling. The voice is the familiar deep tone of Casey which echoes across the hall breaking into my ear drums. I look towards the light and cautiously begin to walk up the stairs holding tightly to the wall. Behind me Sean is clanking and smashing his way up the stairs. At the top of the stairs there is a large glass window shows a small office with the lights on. The walls are a gross yellow that is neither bright nor dull but almost dirty. There is a desk pushed up against the glass window, behind it sits a dirty leather chair that is facing the door, on the other side of the room. I tap the glass with the butt end of the woodpecker scythe. The chair slowly rotates towards us. Casey is sitting in it His body relaxing up along the back of the chair; he is wearing a tight black tank top with a small hole along the side and old tattered jeans. Casey’s hair has grown longer and his bangs are hanging on the side of his face which has a huge grin on it. Casey never smiled when he was happy; this was a smug smile of a cruel self satisfaction. In his eyes we were here to stay. His eyes sparkled behind his hair that gave you a clear image into his mind. He is pointing at the bronze metallic door to my left.

Sean pushes hard on it but it is does not budge. I look at Casey he is still sitting there eyes glistening and a large smile on his face. I sigh and look at the bronze colored doorknob there is a small hole on the door knob that was installed as a safety precaution. If the police needed to get in they could easily pick the lock. I could probably pick it with a shoelace like when I was a kid. I pull of my shoe and shove the auklet into the hole. The door releases a low click. I turn the knob and fling the door wide open. Casey turns to me clapping slowly and sarcastically.

I expected some kind of happy and joyous welcome yet from Casey that was not the case. “Yo” was all he said to me. No hug, no handshake or high five, I did not even get a fist pump. Casey’s eyes catch Sean. He is silently sizing Ackerman up in case a fight was ever to break out between the two. Casey’s eyes stop at the kitana dangling from Sean’s hip. Without word or expression Casey bypasses me and unsheathes Sean’s blade. I feel Sean’s temperature silently rise. He never let anyone touch his blades and he did not even know Casey. “Nice blade” Ackerman’s eyes bulge behind his glasses. He looked at me expecting me to  do something for him.

“Casey this is Sean Ackerman” was all I could muster up to say.

“Hey, nice blade” Casey mumbles not really interested in the person as much as the blade which he so eloquently twisted in his hand. “Here, I approve” Casey hands the blade to Ackerman; who snatches it away fearing Casey would change his mind. This way” Casey walks abruptly towards the wooden door in the back of the room. Sean sends me a glare that is screaming to kill Casey. I ignore it and follow Casey out the door and down the stairs to another gray cement room. In the center of the room were a series of couches arm chairs and tables gathered into a tight circle. Casey silently leads us towards the group of chairs. Each person in the chair slowly comes into view. Matt is sitting on the couch closest to us his back is facing us. Next to him is a girl with hair that is long and dark that curls up tightly around itself. She is sitting on the other side of the couch leaning up against the arm rest. I do not need to see her face; her tan body tells me that she is simply Nicole Maldonado, Matt’s girlfriend. They never seemed to be dating mainly because Matt was never one for public displays of affection. In public they acted like friends, which is what they have been for many years. It was not until the Infection broke out that they came together. When Nicole’s parents were killed she went to live with Matt and his family. Since then they were inseparable. I was not surprised to see her here. She was tall and quite beautiful.  She was not someone you would expect to have spent most of her life studying self defense and earning a black belt. Her personality was vibrant and bubbly with a hint of wit and social satire. Matt has always been the opposite of her. He was quiet and more often than not reserved. On the couch to the left of them is Sarah, her short body and leaned up against Freddie’s shoulder, Sarah and Freddie were very close. They had already dated for a year before the infected broke out. They lived together in Sarah’s house for a while. Freddie was about my height but much more tan his dark body and long hair reflected that of Sarah who was short and was about as pale as a dead body, she kept her hair just beyond her shoulders. Freddie’s is flung around Sarah’s body pulling her close as he lays his head atop hers. Finally farthest from the group is Erik lounging listlessly along the couch, his hair sits along his forehead just above his eyes pale blue eyes. He is focused on Kayleigh, who appears to be asleep resting her head on his lap. If there were ever a couple to publicly be intimate it was these two. Erik looked up at me and gave a thin smile. The smile portrayed the thought “I would get up and shake your hand but there is dead weight on my legs.” I smile back at him. Everyone begins to slowly notice my existence and introductions and “hellos” ensue. Hugs are something I missed from the old days. I was always a big hugger and when you live alone there are very few people to hug, none actually.

A big yawn comes from Kayleigh’s chair she slowly rises and stretches throwing her large chest into the air. Erik was obviously looking subtlety is not his strong suit. She lets out a heavy groan and rubs her eyes open.

“Sammy!!” She squeals to life lunging from the couch towards me, latching onto my neck and knocking me to the ground. “How have you been?” she pulls me up from the ground by my wrist. “Sammy what happened to your hand?” she points to my right hand that is riddled with tiny scabs and cuts. The image of the madman who lives in my reflection comes into view.

“Nothing” I pull my hand away covering it with my other hand. Kayleigh is staring at me concerned, her face is a pinkish red as if she is about to cry. I hate seeing girls cry. It makes me feel like I have done something wrong. “No, no, I am fine, don’t even worry about it. I just fell earlier today that is all.”  I give a goofy, toothy grin. She smiles back.

The sound of barking echoes from over my shoulder. It is Leila. I forgot about her and the animals in the car. “Excuse me!” shout down towards the group, half way up the stairs. Leila rarely barked. Something must have gone wrong. I pass through the office where Casey sat and stand at the top of the iron stairs. Leila is barking loudly. I run down the stairs and pop the trunk. She sat on the edge of trunk and looked at me. Her eyes seemed frantic. I calm her stroking her head gently. She jumped out almost wrapped herself around my legs. Somehow Leila always had the ability to make me smile. I look up as Cleo comes lumbering over to the edge and half jumps half falls out landing on the ground only to prop her body back up and go onto her merry way. I was not going to see her for the rest of the night but I knew that in the morning she would magically be right there nestled into my side. I then grab Babe. He is complaining about his box I can hear him purr loudly. I pop the locks and in a flash of black fur he is off to explore his new surroundings. Babe will be back in an hour after he has gotten himself into every nook and cranny of this place. Actually make it two hours, I joke to myself.

I closed the trunk and something strange caught my attention. I noticed a motorcycle in the corner. I swear it was not here when I came in. I walk over to it, Leila’s chain dangles behind me. It is a bright red with the word Yamaha, boldly written on the side. I reach out and touch it. It is still warm. The bike seems relatively new, I can still clearly see my reflection in the engine.

“Sam!” Kayleigh is behind me. I did not even hear here walk don the stairs. In turn with a goofy grin on my face. “Save the crap.” She says her face is a bright red. “What is the matter?” she says, “you seem…” there is a long pause. I can see what she wants to say. The word she is looking for is, depressed, suicidal, “different” Kayleigh never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings. It was never in her to be mean to a friend.

“What do you mean?” I smile at her. “Nothing is different”

“Sam, you used to smile and be happy” Kayleigh started. “You seemed to almost light up a room but now…” there was that long pause again where Kayleigh knew what she wanted to say but would never actually do it. “You seem like you are lying to us. Almost like every smile is pasted on and fake.” She is getting closer to me. I back up feeling for the motorcycle behind me, but there is nothing there. I turn. The motorcycle disappeared. It was just there I saw it felt it. My mind must have been playing tricks. It seems to happen more frequently. The less I sleep the more mind plays with my emotions stringing me along like some kind of toy. The screams of my nightmares appear in front of my eyes only to vanish into the darkness. “Sam!!” I turn around. Kayleigh is staring at me. My face is red and drenched with cool trickles of sweat running down my cheeks. My heart is racing and lungs pounding with each labored breath. I look at Kayleigh. It is the first time I have really looked at her. I notice a slight bump protruding from her stomach.

She is pregnant. My body shakes and I collapse on the ground in a fit of exasperation.

“To be honest Kayleigh,” I say. “I have not been sleeping well” I look at her without my mask. For the first time in a long time someone could see how I really feel. My face is a haggard mess of wrinkles and anxiety, held together by large purple bags that engulf my eyes. I lean my head on my knees and sigh heavily. “How is it you are so calm, so relaxed?” I look up at her, her eyes are glassy almost as if she as about to cry again. I can’t stand to see her like this.

“I trust Erik to protect me, just like the people in there trust you to protect them” She gives me a look that sends chills down my spine. “They trust you to be there for them just like Erik and Casey are here for me.”

“But who gave me that power?

“They did, they knew you would be there for them.”

“What if I fail, what if I am not good enough for them how can they trust me so much?” Kayleigh sits down next to me her body emanates this warmth that seems to envelope me; it is both calming and terrifying. My eyes catch hers. Suddenly she slaps me on the back of the head.

“You won’t! That is why they trust you.” She stands up and looks at me her eyes caring yet almost furious. I blame hormones. “Now go to bed sleep” she points in a motherly fashion towards the stairs. I get up and pull my bag from the car. She leads Leila and me up the stairs back towards the common room. It is empty now. It seems that everyone has already gone to sleep. The room is dark and empty, it echoes’ with every step that rolls through the room.

I follow Kayleigh through the halls to a large metal door; it is a light aluminum which ruffles as Kayleigh pulls the door wide open. She reaches into the dark sliding her hand up against the wall until she flips the switch. The florescent lights ignite the room. It is almost blinding yet when everything fades I see a room packed with boxes and old containers that held what appeared to be trash. In the front of the small compartment was an old queen sized bed. The mattress was old yet seemed comfortable enough to enjoy. Leila was quick to jump up and make herself quite at home. I pulled my blanket and pillow out of my bag, and laid them across the bed. I fell into them and watched the dust cloud arise around me.

Kayleigh laughed as I sat there and choked on the dust. “Well Sam, I am going to let you get comfortable.” She smiles and goes to leave.

“Kayeigh,” I call out from the bed. She turns “Thank you for taking us in on such short notice- oh and congrats on your baby.” I smile. This one is real and natural. I think Kayleigh noticed that and gave me a smile back as she rubbed on her stomach. I closed the door behind her. I found a plug and began charging my phone. Then I sat there on this old bed. There was no sleep. I did not expect any so I just found myself sitting there entrenched in my own thoughts and ideas. I am the leader kept running through my mind whirling with images of me, well leading I guess. There would be no sleep tonight just me and my thoughts. A tingling sensation rushed through my body. I looked at my book-bag which appeared to almost glow with a bright yellow hue. It draws me to it; slowly I pull on the zipper revealing the bible which I threw in just before I left my house. The pages glistened and binding shined I opened book and began to read.

Genesis 1-1 “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” Time flew by, the night passed singing along in hymns and tales of lions and floods, whales and serpents. The world around me faded to a dark gray only lit by the shining light from the book which I kept close to my eyes. Hours blurred and life disappeared. Until I finally hit the end of Genesis “So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt” I closed the book and looked around the room. Babe had found his way in while I read. I look at my phone sitting in the charger. It was officially five in the morning. It is time for me to head to sleep.

My body suddenly felt weak and listless I dropped the book and felt my head hit the pillow hard against the old mattress sending dust into the air. I did not move sleep came easy that night. There were no nightmares no screaming. There ere no dreams that night. It was a heavy dreamless sleep. The world spun as I stayed there without movement or thought floating a lone in my dark dreamless world and believe it or not, I was happy. Not that it was dark or dreamless but that it was sleep. It was true sleep without any distractions from the outside world.

I woke up at twelve in the afternoon. Gazing around the room through squinting eyes blurring everything into a misty mix of lights and colors like first grade water color painting. I try to sit up but there is something holding my blanket down. Cleo is her girth and glory has made herself quite comfortable pressed up against my stomach. She is sleeping on top of the sheets. Leila is at my feet and Babe is on my pillow. I am a lucky person to have such great pets. We are a pack and to be quite honest Leila is pack leader. I quietly slide out through the covers but they all wake up and see me. Their eyes follow my every action every move each breath is in perfect sync with mine. I pulled out some clothes and threw them on. I swing the door open, the sound of aluminum crumpling in my hand. I stepped out into the hallway. I hear the sounds of the animals rising from the bed.

Each one has a distinct sound letting me know that they have moved without me actually looking. The first one was Cleo, her large body made a heavy thump along the floor as she waddled to my left. After her was Leila the sound of her chain clanged with each step as she made her way over. Finally was babe, who was all but the sound of a bell chiming. He slowly wound his way through Leila’s legs then mine. He did not go near Cleo. He has come to learn that she would immediately hit him across the face with her nails like the many times before.

I smile at my pets as we walk down the hall towards the common room. The smell of eggs rises from the stairs. I look down and Nicole is sitting cooking eggs over a small electric griddle. I knew it was not Kayleigh. She is not really kitchen friendly. Everyone’s eyes turn to me. I sit down next to Casey and leaned my head against his shoulder. I could hear his skin begin to crawl. His face was turning a dark red.

“I missed you last night.” I cried in my most effeminate voice. He got up and moved next to Erik, his eyes still glaring at me with venom. Everyone’s eyes were still locked onto me. Leila barks at e as I lay on the now empty couch. She is standing the walking in place and barking. She has to pee. “Hey Erik” I call out “Do you have a courtyard or something?”

“Yeah” He rises and begins walking towards the garage. I dutifully follow with Leila and the cats with me. Through the halls which have become familiar to me. We marched along through the garage passed my car into another garage. There sat three large trucks. Then finally we entered into a back room. That must have once been the employee lounge. On the right side was a huge glass window that covered the wall. Outside was a small but beautiful courtyard. The green grass surrounded a white gazebo. Erik took his keys off his belt and put them into the bland wooden door that creaked open while rusty flakes fell from the brass brackets. This door had not been opened in years.

Other than the grass and gazebo there was no color in this courtyard. The large concrete walls made it seem like I as walking into a prison yard. All I needed were some barbells and a basketball court. Even then there would still be more color than now. Leila and the cats ran out into the grass. Babe was an outdoor cat before the infection but has never been out much recently for obvious reasons. Now he is running following after Leila as she sniffs around. Erik and Cleo are standing behind me. They both seem to be watching me, waiting for me to do something. I won’t, there is nothing for me out here.

I look at the sky. It is a dark gray creating the image of a ceiling for the room. A droplet falls onto my face and slides down my nose. The smell of heat filled my nose, it was about to pour. The sky erupts in a loud clap of thunder releasing the ocean with water that has travelled the world. Leila looks at the water and runs towards the door with Babe following closely. We rush into the room and close the door behind us locking it. Leila shakes her body spraying water all over Erik. He gives me an angry glare. He was not really an animal person. He was also not much of a speaker. Erik’s actions always spoke louder than his words. So when he gave me the snake eyes I knew he was not in a good mood.

The rain pressed up against the glass each droplet drumming creating a symphony of smashing sound. As we walked through the complex the sounds lowered to a mere whisper.  In the center room everyone was lounging about the couches. Matt and Sean were in the corner talking about something or another while Nicole half read, half listened. Freddie was eating eggs and Sarah was taking some for herself. Casey was of course nowhere to be seen. Kayleigh spread herself along the couch, just lounging.

When Erik and I walked in all the Activity stopped. Even Casey appeared in the room. All eyes were locked on me. They wanted something yet I have nothing to offer. I am one of them.

“Sam, what are we doing today?” Sarah finally says breaking the awkward silence. All of them lean in, all except Kayleigh. She just sits there with her eyes barely making contact with mine. She has a smug look on her face and a content grin gracing her lips.

“Today we will…”  My voice trailed off. I realized that my decision had a huge impact as to whether these people lived or not.  “Today we will leave. I will give each person address for their GPS.” I said, my voice evoked a false confidence but it was enough to drive home the point. “Everyone go pack.” The people frenzied and flurried to life leaving the room an empty mess.

            “Well done” Casey slowly claps from a distance. “Where are you going?”

            “No clue yet” I smiled we each let out a cynical laugh that could be heard through the echoing walls. “But could I ask a favor” Casey does not answer I will ask either way. “Could we maybe borrow those three trucks sitting in the garage?”

            “Take them, they just take up space” He throws the keys from his belt. I catch them and smile like a kid who just got his license. I was so overjoyed I hugged Casey. I could feel him cringe but I did not care I was happy.