Horror Fan Fiction ❯ Death Comes Knocking ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

“...Reports coming in from all over the east and west coasts, now even from the breadbasket region...”

“...appears as crazed men are attacking random people without provocation...”

“The CDC have released a statement telling everyone not to panic, that this is just an extremely contagious virus, and that they and the government have the situation under control.”

James and the rest of the group sat watching the news bulletins scroll by after they had finished watching movies for several hours.

“Sure as hell looks like they have it under control don't they?” remarked dan.

“Damn, that looks bad, look at the injured people.” Jennifer said in awed tones to the group.

“Hey, you know what all this looks like James? Amy asked

“What?...oh...sorry, sorta spaced out there...like the beginning of a zombie movie?” James said as he rubbed his stiff neck.

“Yeah, it sure does, but that cant happen, I mean, zombies aren't real ya know, there just made up.” replied Jennifer. “There's no way that's what is going on, its probably just gangs or terrorists or something.”

“That could very well be the case, we don't know. The news will tell us more.” Adam said.

While the little group went on discussing the information the news channels were dishing out, James sat slumped in his chair in thought. “I wonder what the national guard base down the hill is going to do, I say they'll get called up rather soon.” he thought out loud. Apparently everyone else heard him.

“Whoa, I forgot about them being down there. Yeah, I think your right man, the governor or the president should be calling them up soon.” replied Amy.

“Ah, im really sure that they will, seems like they need all the help they can get out there.” James sighed deeply, and looked at the clock. “Shit, its almost five, I think we should probably get outta here soon. Roxy? Do you think I can come stay with you, Dan, and Amy tonight? Im in the mood for a few beers.”

“Hell, you know your welcome anytime my large friend.” grinned Roxy.

“Yeah I know, well, let me call mom and tell her im not coming home, she should be home by now.”

James walked out the door into the empty hallway to call home on his cell phone. The phone rang. Then rang again, it rung a total of seven times before he got the answering machine. Shit, he thought, she should have been home by now. “Hey mom, its me, im just calling to tell you I wont be home tonight, that im spending the night with some friends, and could you do me a favor? Don't go into work tomorrow, I've got a bad feeling or something, well talk to ya later mom, love ya, bye.”

“You get her James? Asked Amy.

“No, she wasn't home.” came the worried reply. “She should have been home almost an hour ago.”

“Ah, don't worry about It buddy, she probably had to stay late. Roxy told him.

“Your probably right, she's old enough to take care of herself.” he chuckled. “Come on Roxy, lets go do some drinking.” he grinned.

So, the four friends said their goodbyes to the others, and left to go to Roxy and Dan's house. Meanwhile at the small national guard base less than a half mile down the road, Major Noah Horne received a frantic cell phone call from his only daughter, 25 year old Leah Horne, who live on the outskirts of Washington D.C.

“Daddy? Are you there?” came the frantic voice of Leah.

“Yeah hun, what is it?” replied the rough voice of her father.

“Oh dad, im scared to death, I'm driving down a back road outside of D.C... I don't know what to do!” she said in a voice in near panic.

“Tell me what's going on Leah, I'll see if can help you any.” said Noah, trying to speak calmly, although his heart was beating faster and faster by the minute.

“You know the rioting the new has been talking about all morning? Well I went in to work this morning not thinking about it, and about noon, in came Tommy staggering into the lobby of theoffice, he was white as a ghost, with blood all over his face and arms...he was missing almost all of his fingers daddy!” she sobbed.

With growing apprehension, Noah tried to calm his daughter down. “Shhh baby, calm down, tell me what else happened Leah.”

Leah choked back her sobs, trying to steer her car and he emotions safely through the evening. “Five of us came over and tried to wrap his hands up, stop the bleeding, but it wasn't working to well, we asked him what had happened to him. He told us all that he was walking down the Wendy's a few blocks away for lunch when a couple of crazy jumped him, screaming and bitting at him, he had tried to punch one of them in the face, but the guy had grabbed his hand, the bite off most of his fingers. Somehow he managed to get away and stagger back to work. By the end of his story he was pale as a ghost, he looked like he was dying.”

She had to fight back tears when the memory came back to her. “Then he did just that daddy, he died...we all just stood there not knowing what to do, then maybe a minute later, he just sat straight up and bite right into the neck of Stan! He started eating him daddy! It was horrible, the rest of us just stood there dumbfounded by what was going on, we barely noticed that Stan had died, and he too sat bolt upright, the came for the rest of us, that's when we ran for it. I ran down the hall to the parking lot while Stan and Tommy ran after us, screaming the whole time, somehow I managed to get away when they dragged down Jenni and started to eat her, they were eating her alive dad!” she cried to her father. “Ever since I've been driving, trying to get out of this city, its happing all throughout the city dad, I've never seen anything like it, even the national guard and military were being pushed back and attacked by these crazy people.” she finished her story after collecting herself.

Noah sat there through the gruesome tale, you would have been hard pressed to see any emotion or movement come across his face, save for the worry and fear he felt for Leah.

“Hun, you're still several hours out from getting here, do you think you can make it?” he asked the distraught young woman.

“I don't know daddy, im scared to death some of those people will try to attack my car, I've seen a few of them trying to get into a few houses out here.” she told her father.

“Listen sweetheart, see if you can get down her, but be careful, don't stop for anyone, just drive, and if you don't think you can make it here. Head down to Fort A.P. Hill, I've got several friends there that will know you're my daughter, just ask for general Mcgrath, they'll keep you safe for me.” He thought for a second. “ In fact Leah, I want you to head straight there, it's the closest place to you that I know you'll be safe on ok, alright sweetheart?” he told her.

“Alright daddy, that sounds good, ill do what you say...Im going to get off of here dad, ill head down there, don't worry about me, ill be fine,...and dad, I...I. love you.” Leah said.

Somewhat taken aback by the unfamiliar words, he spoke after a few silent seconds. “I love you too Leah, get there safe, and stay in touch if anything else happens, ok?

“Yes daddy, I will, bye.” with that, his tiny little daughter turned off her cell phone.

Noah sat there in thought for several minutes, things must be really bad for her to tell him she loved him, she rarely ever said that to him. Even though he knew she did, it was still extremely surprising to hear her say that. He had heard reports from several of his old army buddies, each one of them getting more and more gruesome and frightening. One of them had told him that he had lost half of his command in less than 15 minutes, almost 300 men and women, drug down and eaten John had said. Eaten? There was no way that other people could be eating other people. A sudden memory he had from when his daughter had been in high school. She had blackmailed him into watching Night of the living dead with her. That movie gave him nightmares for weeks.

But there's no way that is what's happening now, zombies weren't real! Just as he was finishing that thought, Corporal Johnson knocked at the door and let himself in.

He saluted then went on hurriedly, “Excuse me sir, but we have received urgent orders to call the national guard up and send them to the Washington D.C. front.” the young blonde man told his superior.

“Thank you corporal, send out the word to for the national guard to assemble in the main hall in 2 hours.” he told him. “Also tell them to bring their families and as much supplies as they can conveniently carry in their vehicles.” He knew they would be hard pressed to leave their families alone with the recent events, and he also knew had some time to think, for the soldiers all lived scattered about the mountains.

“Their families sir? The corporal replied.

“Yes their families, corporal!” He snapped to the young man. “You are dismissed corporal, send out the word. They are to report as soon as possible, do not forgot my orders Johnson.”

Corporal Johnson snapped to attention and saluted, “Yes sir!” with that the man left the room to gather the scattered force of 750 men and women.

After Johnson had left, Noah sat deep in thought, running through all the information he had gathered throughout the day. Men attacking other men at random, eating those they attacked. Those that were killed rising up and eating other innocent people. No, Noah had a hunch that the battle to stem the virus or whatever it was failing, disintegrating more like it.

He had made his decision. He was not going to send his men into a losing battle to face a horrifying death. He knew this was treason and he would face a court marshal, but had a suspicion that their would be no military panel to court marshal him in a few days. No, he would make his stand here, in familiar territory. Hoping that he would be able to withstand an assault that many of his peers were withering under.

With a small smirk, he said silently to himself. “I would gladly face a court marshal, if all this turned out well, if not, ill be ready for whatever may come.” with that said, he turned his attention over to how he was going to stay alive the next few days.