Chapter 6 : THE FIRST INFECTED

The lights died.

Sharon froze.

For a few seconds the only noise that could be heard in the resort was the wind beating against the windows.

Then came the scream.

An elongated, distorted sound pierced the air from somewhere outside the resort.

Sharon's hand tightened around her weapon.

Alex was already at the window.

"Stay inside."

Sharon shot him a glare.

"Don't tell me what to do."Then don't get yourself killed."

Nevertheless she moved to stand beside him.

Outside the world was consumed by darkness save for the emergency lights that flickered around the entrance gate. One of the lights failed and went out.

Sharon's stomach twisted into a knot. She knew this feeling.

The silence before everything goes to hell.

In her past life the first night had been oddly devoid of noise. Everyone had stayed in their homes, watched the news, and believed that the government would take care of the problem.

But then the screams had started. And by morning entire districts had been emptied.

This was different. This was happening too fast.

Alex took out his phone. "No signal."

Sharon pulled out her own phone. "No signal."

"How long?"

"Ten minutes."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Ten minutes since what?"

"The network failed."

Now it was Sharon's turn to look at Alex in surprise. "You knew this would happen?"

Alex said nothing.

"Alex."

His gaze met hers. "I suspected."

Her suspicion only grew.

Before she could say anything else a heavy blow landed against the outer gate.

BANG!

Sharon's breath caught in her throat.

BANG!

Alex immediately pulled out his weapon. "Get away from the windows."

Sharon refused to move.

A shadowy figure emerged beyond the gate. Then another. And then five more figures appeared.

Sharon's heart pounded in her ears.

They were people. Or rather, the corpses of people that had once been.

Their clothes were in tatters and their skin was the color of the grave dirt, but it was the blood that coated the face of one of the figures that made Sharon's blood run cold.

Then the man in front lifted his head.

His eyes were milky white.

Sharon whispered, "Infected."

Alex turned to look at her. "You recognize them."

Her mistake became obvious to her. "Anyone can."

"No." His tone was icy. "Not that quickly."

The infected practically tossed themselves at the gate.

CRASH!

The metal gate groaned under the impact and bent inwards.

"How many?" Sharon took a step back.

"At least twenty."

Twenty! The outer wall of the resort could keep them out, but the security gate was a simple addition meant to keep out curious teenagers.

Sharon grabbed her radio. "Security team?"

Only static answered her.

She switched to another channel. "Security team!"

Nothing.

Alex turned towards the control room. "The power blackout disabled the main security system."

Sharon cursed under her breath. She had spent a small fortune making sure this place was secure, and she was not about to lose everything on the first night.

"Generator."

"You have one?"

"Two."

A small, satisfied smile played on his lips. "Of course you do."

"Stay here."

She turned to go, but Alex grabbed her wrist.

Sharon stiffened. His skin was warm against hers.

"What?"

"Where are you going?"

"To turn on the generator."

"I'll come with you."

"I can do this by myself."

"I know." He didn't let go of her. "But I'm still coming with you."

Their eyes locked on each other and, for a brief moment, Sharon forgot about the infected that were trying to get into the resort.

Once more the walls of the gate shook under the weight of the infected.

Alex finally released Sharon. "Move."

They sprinted towards the electric generators. The emergency lighting corridor was virtually dark, but Sharon knew the layout of the place because she had inspected it herself.

She reached the metal door leading to the machines and stepped inside a small chamber where two industrial sized generators stood.

She turned on the first one.

Nothing happened.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

Alex knelt next to the first generator. "Fuel line."

"What?"

"It's clogged." He opened the front panel. "Someone tampered with it."

Sharon's stomach dropped. "Someone?"

"Yes." Alex turned to look at her. "This wasn't random."

He pointed at the clogged fuel line. "Someone wanted this place to be without power."

Sharon's expression hardened. There was no doubt about it. The infected outside the gate weren't the only problem. Someone had sabotaged her resort.

"Can you fix it?"Give me two minutes."

Sharon turned away from the door. "I'll buy you five."

She stepped outside.

Alex looked up. "Sharon."

She turned to face him. "Don't be ridiculous."

She smirked. "Are you worried about me?"

"Only about having to save you."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

Then Sharon disappeared into the darkness.

Outside the front gate the infected had breached the first section of the barrier.

Sharon raised her weapon, the closest infected lunged forward, and she shot it dead.

One more came at her from the side and Sharon took careful aim before shooting it as well.

More of the infected appeared past her and behind her.

All she could do was back away against the wall as her heart pounded in her ears. This wasn't supposed to happen this quickly. Her plans had gone perfectly until now.

Then a gunshot rang out from the watchtower.

One of the infected fell.

Sharon looked up to see Alex standing by the repaired generator.

Suddenly the resort's floodlights turned on, casting an ominous glow over the compound.

The infected shrieked and rushed forward, only to be stopped by the reinforced metal barriers that shot out from the ground.

Sharon exhaled in relief. They were safe enough.

Alex came closer. "You did good."

She looked at him. "Was that a compliment?"

"Don't get used to it."

She smiled at that, but then Alex's expression changed. His gaze went to the road that led to the resort.

Sharon followed his line of sight.

A car was approaching, its headlights off. Slowly it passed the entrance gate and stopped.

The driver's door opened and a familiar face emerged.

Sharon's blood ran cold at the sight of him.

"Michael."

Her ex-husband was standing in the shadows beside the driver's seat. Next to him stood Lisa.

Michael raised his hands. "Sharon!"

He looked genuinely afraid and desperate. It was nothing compared to the composed man that had left her to die in her past life.

"Please," he pleaded, "we need your help."

Sharon's face remained inscrutable.

Michael approached the barrier. "The city is in ruins. You're the only one I know that is prepared for this."

Of course he had found her. The only question that remained was who had told him where she was.

Sharon turned to look at Alex, who in turn was already watching Michael, his expression dark.

"Who told you about this place?" Alex asked.

Michael swallowed. "I..."

Before he could respond a phone ringing out somewhere not belonging to either Sharon or Alex interrupted him.

Michael slowly pulled out his mobile phone from his pocket. His expression changed as he looked at the screen and answered the call.

"Hello?"

Sharon tensed. Michael's eyes went to meet hers.

The caller spoke for a few seconds.

Then his face drained of color. Michael slowly lowered the phone.

Sharon gave him a long, hard look. "What did they say?"

Michael looked into her eyes and his voice trembled. "They said... They know you're here."

Sharon's heart stopped.

Alex immediately raised his weapon.

Then every light in the resort died. The generators shorted out at the same time.

From the depths of the forest, where there should have been nothing, came the sound of hundreds of feet walking towards the resort.

Hundreds of infected.