Chapter 6

An unearthly bellow from the other side of the field stopped my victory dance short and was a harsh reminder that I needed to get out of here. I raced back to the truck and was about to jump in when I heard a scream from inside the school. My heart dropped to my stomach as I thought of all those kids in there. I looked in the back seat and saw that Marcus and Melissa were huddled together right next to Johnathan's car seat. Johnathan was looking paler by the second, but I took heart in the fact that his chest was still rising. I stared at Marcus for a moment trying to decide what I wanted to do and what the right thing to do was. I think he must have read my mind because he looked down at Melissa then shook his head desperately, begging me not to go. I spied my cell phone on the seat and an idea came to mind.

I ripped open the truck door and tried to ignore the sounds coming from behind me. I hopped in and grabbed the phone hoping that this call to 911 would go a lot better than my last one.

"911 what's your emergency?" said the dispatch and I almost slammed my head against the wheel as I recognized the voice from earlier.

"Yes, this is Vicki Andrews. Yeah... it's happening at the school now."

There was silence on the other end, and I checked my phone three times to make sure she had not immediately hung up on me.

"Okay, the police are on the way. Do you have any children with you right now?"

This time I checked the phone to make sure that it hadn't transported me into a parallel universe where this lady had suddenly turned nice. After the morning I have had, I wouldn't have been shocked at anything now.

"I have my own and one other a little blond girl named Melissa."

"Melissa? Melissa Brady?" the woman breathed in shock and almost hope.

"I'm not sure," I told the dispatcher. "Melissa, honey, what's your last name?"

"Brady. Melissa Brady and I'm five," she said almost proudly.

"Yes! Brady. Is she related to you?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes! She's my niece!" the woman said brokenly through the phone, it was obvious was she was crying. "I thought her mom was going to keep her home today because of the weird virus going around."

"Well, I have her now. Where do you want me to take her because I have to get home and get my son up to the hospital," I said.

"No! Don't go to the hospital!" the woman shouted. "It's being evacuated because of whatever those things are."

I slammed my head against the wheel in frustration. What was I going to do now? Johnathan needed a doctor and I needed to get to Darren! In a split second, I decided to go to him. It would be better if we were all together anyway.

"Okay, I'll head to my house. Do you still have my address?" I asked.

"Yes, I've got it. I'll meet you there in ten minutes," she said and disconnected.

I tossed my phone on the seat next to me and started my truck as the sirens began to wail behind me and people began racing out of the school. I sped away from the area with a guilty conscience, but I also knew deep down there was nothing more I could do for them. Not to mention my stomach was twisting with dread wondering what I would find when I got home.

"Mom? What's wrong with those people?" Marcus asked as I began to race home.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," I admitted. "Melissa, your auntie had said something about a weird virus, do you know what she meant?"

I risked a small glance back as her little curls bounced when she shook her head.

"Mommy just said she didn't want me getting sick because people were starting to get sick and then they get mean."

I watched the road as my mind raced a mile a minute. It was simply unbelievable. It sounded like something out of a science fiction novel or a television show, but there was no denying the fact that people were truly getting sick and attacking other people for no reason. It was inherently zombie-like behavior and suddenly I felt foolish for dismissing the people for all their zombie mania, I seriously wished I could go back and pay attention to what they had been spouting off now.

I stomped on the brakes as people poured out on the streets especially around the supermarkets and gas stations. Those things quickly increased in numbers and would crouch and then start chasing or attack whoever was closest. Astonishingly, right in front of my eyes, they were changing, and it was unbelievably fast how it happened.

"Is Johnathan going to become one?" Marcus finally voiced the worried thoughts in my mind.

I looked back at Johnathan and could watch as his face grew paler and gaunter. His breathing continued to become increasingly shallow.

"I don't know baby," I told him, unable to come up with a reassuring answer.

He sat back in his seat and went quiet. Either no more questions came to mind, or he suddenly realized he didn't want the answers to them. I understood his silence and I welcomed it. I also had a lot of questions running through my head and felt the same way towards them, I really didn't want them answered.

We pulled up in front of our house after what had honestly felt like the longest drive of my life despite how fast we had gone.

I shut off the engine and turned to the children. "Okay, I'm going to go get your father. I don't want you to open the door to anyone unless they say the password. Do you remember the password, Melissa?"

She nodded. "Pico Pete," she answered dutifully.

"Good job!" I praised her with a smile then turned to Marcus with a serious look on my face. "Do not open it even if it's me or Dad without asking for the password, do you understand?"

He nodded solemnly and pulled Melissa closer to him. I looked at him for a moment reveling in the fact that my son could be so young yet so responsible.

"I love you," I said softly.