Chapter 1
The inside of the bathroom stall was the most peaceful place that Gabriel could sometimes find.
Work just seemed to drag on. Who knew there could be that many people who were upset with their cable? Most people didn’t complain about their internet, and few complained about their phone service. Of course they’d need a phone to call and complain about that…
The combinations of those thoughts filled him with laughter; but the despair of the following thought was usually enough to drive any humor away with the next category of call he would take, “My TV ISN’T WORKING!!!”
God forbid a person miss Judge Judy!
And that brings us back to Gabriel seeking peace in the john. His phone beeped, his break was over. He turned off the alarm, as much as he hated using it to track his breaks, but even more, he hated having Monsignor George breathe down his neck about it. George would walk up to you, put his arm around your shoulders in a Leave it to Beaver embrace and wiggle his fingers in your face. “Fifteen Minutes per four hours,” As friendly as he tried to sound, his lips would peel back into a sneer whenever he’d say that. Then he’d add, delayed beyond any gentle pause or comfort… “Buddy!”
Standing Gabriel pulled up his pants as he went to button them his pocket knife, fell to floor with a metallic clatter.
“DAMNIT!” He hissed under his breath.
From outside the stall a voice commented, “Somebody’s dropping more than change in there!”
Gabriel opened the door, flashed a sour look at the source of the fake and cheerful voice, once he saw who it belonged to, it only filled him with distaste and disgust. Knowing who it was, only made it easier for him to stoke a little anger. Gabriel didn’t know him personally, especially didn’t want to know him. It was the curly mop headed tattooed guy from Southern Division, the one who would seek out coworkers with low cut shirts and stand next to their cube waiting for a good view. It didn’t help that this guy’s goofy grin reminded Gabriel of someone, or something, he just couldn’t figure out who!
After washing his hands, Gabriel had to walk right past Mr. Creepy who just flashed him a sickly smile.
Again creepy guy looked like someone who Gabriel was supposed to know. More annoyed he headed back to the floor, at that moment a scream echoed down the hall, through the call center.
Gabriel sped into the floor only to see a crowd gathered by the rear door of the building. Someone was calling for an ambulance. He tried pushing his way through only to hear, “Give her room, she needs air!”
At that point he decided that he was intrigued but not that intrigued so he wandered back to his cave. Amazingly Creepy Guy had beaten him to his own cube! There he stood, in his cube, talking to Gabe’s buddy Dave.
“Hey Gabriel, sorry to startle you in the can,” Creepy Guy said, while offering his hand.
Still spiteful, Gabriel grudgingly shook it, “No biggie.”
Gabe’s phone range and saved him from more forced polite interaction with Mr. Creepy. “JJ guys, sorry I gotta take this.”
Dave smiled, “hey ask your wife if she and I are still getting together later?”
Flipping Dave the bird, Gabriel answered, “Only if your wife will tell my kid to come out soon!” Dave laughed.
Turning away from his coworkers, he answered his phone, “Hey Babe!”
“Hi handsome!” JJ said.
Gabriel colored up a bit. Dave laughed even harder.
“What’s the story beautiful?” He asked. Gabe started gnawing on his middle finger, being sure to aim it squarely at Dave and Creepy Guy who for some reason hadn’t wandered off yet. Besides what else are best friends for, but to harass mercilessly?
“I don’t know if you’ve been listening to the news, but there’s been an outbreak of Super-Rabies, HERE!” She said. Gabe could sense more than a little distress in his wife’s voice.
Stunned at the news, he stammered, “What do you mean?”
“I mean people are biting each other, people are going crazy! Right here in Phoenix! It’s here!” She said, her voice strained.
“Calm down babe!” Gabe was trying to think quickly of a way to reassure his upset wife. “I’m sure it’ll turn out to be as bad as Hurricane Season 2006 turned out to be.” Gabe desperately didn’t want his wife to hear his worry. “I’m sure it’s a false alarm, extremely exaggerated.”
“Gabe I’m nervous, there have been over a hundred bites so far in the last hour!” She said. “People are dying from it!”
“Over a hundred?!” Gabe was in shock, one hundred people!
“There not all dead, but I’m scared, I’ve locked the doors. I don’t want to take the girls outside.” JJ Said.
“Ok Babe, I don’t blame you. I’ll catch a ride with Dave.” Gabe just couldn’t believe the Super Rabies was here! One Hundred People!?!
“Ok, I got the shotgun, the girls are watching TV. Please come home as soon as you can ok?” She added, “Have Dave check on Mindy?”
“I love you babe, I’ll be home ASAP!” Gabe hoped he could deliver on that.
If JJ had gotten out the shotgun she was really scared. He turned to Dave to tell him the news when his phone rattled a txt.
*LOCAL NEWS: Due to a surprise outbreak of the so-called Super-Rabies the governor has closed all state offices after dozens of related fatalities. The National Guard is expected to be called out within the hour. The Government recommends that for your safety, stay indoors and DON’T GET BITTEN! This NUZETXT brought to you by Havens. Eat Fresh, Try Havens!
Gabriel turned to Dave. “Dave have you talked with Mindy?”
“This Morning.” He said.
“JJ just told me the Super Rabies is here. Then I got this txt.”
Dave interrupted, “Hanson says that Linda got bitten!”
“Oh My…” Gabe’s mind was now racing, Super Rabies, inside the building?!?
Gabriel showed Dave the TXT with the Havens ad.
“Holy Crap!” Dave said! “Hanson, tell us what happened!?”
“Well Linda over by the backdoor got bitten, just a few minutes ago…”
Screams erupted from the group still gathered around their collapsed coworker.
Someone started screaming, “Oh my god! There’s so much blood!”
As one, Gabriel and Dave stood for a better view.
What they saw made Dante’s blood turn cold. Linda was not yet standing, but clearly visible through their other coworkers rushing away. She was covered in blood! It had started to congeal on her shirt, and it was dried on her neck and arms. She looked like a crimson demon, blood blowing in bubbles and mist from her mouth and nose.
But the reason for the renewed screams was the return of what Gabe guessed was the original biter. A large Indian man, with his Tohono O’ohdam braid clearly visible had just rushed into the office through the backdoor. Standing close to six foot six, his long arms hung at his sides, clenching into claws. His entire face was covered in blood with bits of tissue matter stuck in his hair and on his face.
The few cable employees who had not run away screaming stared, eyes wide. The fear readily visible, a predator didn’t need to smell it, it was not hidden.
In true predator fashion the massive biter stood absolutely still, eyes wide, scanning the room, never stopping; until he found his target. With a roar he leapt at another of the cable jockeys, Gabe thought her name was Carla. Being clear across the room, there was no time. By the time he’d be able to rush to her side, Carla would be dead.
Gabe’s next thought was what a poor defensive weapon his pocket knife would be. He glanced at Dave, startled to see a large ASP Baton suddenly in his hand.
“Damn Dave!” He said.
“What you like my big stick!? It’s the new 35”” He said.
Gabe smiled. Dave had that effect on him.
“Do you have your truck?” Gabe asked.
Dave nodded.
“What’s in it?” Gabe asked.
Dave said, “Two nine’s, plenty of ammo. I just hope I’m parked close enough.”
“It’ll have to be.” Gabe said. “Let’s keep these cubes between them and us; we’ll break for the door at the last minute.”
Again Dave nodded.
Moving carefully between cubes they could now hear Carla moaning and growling sounds. Even more disturbing was the sloppy wet chewing.
Dave seemed to lose his footing for a minute.
“You ok?” Gabe asked.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Dave replied.
“It’s just morning sickness shake it off!” Gabe smiled. He wasn’t feeling so in control of his stomach either.
Dave led around a cube and ran into Linda crouched over another unidentified coworker.
She spun and hissed at them. When she took a swing at Dave with a bloody hand he blocked it with his ASP then twisted, reached back and McGuire-d Linda just above her jaw.
More screams and the sound of broken glass echoed from the front of the building.
“Let’s get out of here!” Dave shouted!
They kept moving and ducked below the tops of the cubes. Gabe didn’t want to disturb the Indian Biter. It looked like Dave didn’t want to either.
They made it to the door just as two new biters rounded the hallway in the office. The biters merely staggered and stumbled but when they saw Gabriel and Dave they both let out shrieks similar to Linda after she was no longer Linda.
“RUN!” Dave yelled.
Gabe jumped at the door, hitting the bumper bar. The Indian biter jumped up from his Carla-meal, growled, and rushed the door. As they rushed outside Dave moved to close the door.
Gabe yelled, “Forget it! RUN!”
Without looking back Gabe ran out into the parking lot. He saw Dave’s shiny Tacoma parked about sixty five yards down. Without breaking stride he forced himself to scan the parking lot for other biters, trying desperately to keep tunnel vision from controlling him, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
He could hear Dave hard on his heels breathing hard, trying to control his body and his fear.
BANG! Metal slammed against wall. Gabe heard the door crash open behind him. Gabe knew that all three biters were now seeing him flee and nothing encourages a predator like food in flight.
“Dave, where are the nine’s?” Gabe managed to choke it out between gasps.
“One, under each front seat.” Dave replied.
Beep! Beep! The Tacoma’s parking lights flashed. Gabe knew the doors were now open. He could hear the sounds of biters behind him and Dave. He’d closed the distance with the truck by half but the biters were only about fifteen yards behind Dave, if they were lucky.
Thirty yards.
Twenty yards.
Ten yards.
He slammed into the door breathing hard trying to focus, trying to slow his breathing. Trying to get his motor skills under control.
On his first attempt he fumbled with the handle. Then it was open and he reached under the seat. The biters sounds increased in volume, a terrifying crescendo behind him. His hand found hot metal.
He knew it. Clutched it like a life-line and spun back towards the building, punching the familiar handgun, the SigP229 out away from his body. He easily slipped into the familiar modified weaver stance he knew so well. The closest biter was only a few steps behind Dave, arms flailing wildly, face contorted in excitement.
“DAVE! DOWN!” Gabe commanded!
Dave knew his friend well and trusted him. There friendship had withstood time and trial. He did as his friend ordered, sliding down towards the truck, as if it were third base. Distance was not the object, but it succeeded in getting Dave out of Gabe’s sight picture.
Time Disappeared.
Gabe felt the trigger beneath his index finger. He saw the three dots line up on the biters upper torso. Recognized the biter as a blood covered Mr. Creepy.
Gabe pressed the trigger once. Twice. Three times.
Three shots. Three hits. The LAPD wishes it were half as good!
The first bullet pierced Mr. Creepy, who was even creepier, covered in blood, just between the collar bone and the sternum. The second just under the jaw and the third went through the upper jaw just under the nose and caused a shower of red mist and bits behind Mr. Creepy’s head.
Gabe immediately turned his focus to the other two biters as Dave scrambled around the truck. Not wanting to shoot someone who was sick, Gabe started shouting at the other two biters who’d stopped twenty yards away when he’d killed Mr. Creepy. “Stay back! Don’t make me kill you!”
He could hear Dave fumble with his keys. “Come on Dave. Keep it together. Let’s get out of here, but we need to get you in the truck.” He said this without breaking his sight of biter number 2 and the Indian biter.
Dave grunted and Gabe heard the truck door open. He started backing up towards the open door, but the sound of running footsteps behind him made him lurch around to cover his back. He spun in time to see Dave shoot four times at another biter who’d come around the side of the building.
Dave yelled “lookout” as he turned towards Gabe and brought his gun to bear.
Gabe dropped to the ground, hard, trying to spin back to his unprotected back in time to biter number 2 eat a face full of Dave’s 9mm.
“Stupid! You know better!” Gabe said to himself as he got to his feet warily regarding the still hovering Indian biter. Suddenly the door of the building flew open behind the remaining biter as more cable employees rushed out. They didn’t appear to be bitten, but the way they ran guaranteed they thought they were chased by someone who had.
Dave had the truck started and was trying to back out when the Indian biter turned to chase the fleeing office employees.
Gabe raised his gun, so many people running beyond his target, he didn’t know if he could risk it.
Dave yelled again, “Get in the truck!”
Gabe wasn’t even all the way in the truck with the door when Dave burned rubber out of his parking spot and then swung his nose towards the menacing biter.
Realization dawned on Gabe as two more biters raced out of the building and into Dave’s expressway. All he could do was hold on as Dave raced the engine and the truck sped through the parking lot.
Dave had to swerve but he managed to hit all three visible biters. After disappearing beneath the hood of the small truck, the Indian biter’s Tohono O’ohdham braid bounced up onto the hood of the truck along with a bloody wet knot and meaty bits still attached to it.
Gabe gagged. After he had calmed his distraught stomach he asked Dave for a reload. Dave opened his center console and past the CDs, the snacks, and the box of Trojans there were a dozen neatly centered magazines full of ammunition.
Gabe grabbed a magazine for the Sig and ejected the mostly spent magazine from his gun. Then looking into the console he realized that yes, there was a box of Trojans, and he laughed. He laughed so hard that Dave looked over to make sure that he hadn’t lost it.
Dave looked confused and the look on his face caused Gabe to laugh even harder.
When he’d finally gotten his giggles under control Gabe pointed to the condoms.
“Too little to late eh?” Gabe was still trying to keep from laughing. “When is
Mindy due again?”
This time Dave flipped him off, which caused Gabe to laugh all over again.
Then they saw up ahead a fire truck had rolled over and a crowd had gathered. As they got closer, Gabe and Dave recognized the herky, jerky, stumble of a biter; thankfully not on the hunt.
They saw a woman walking away with a pretty blue sun dress on. She was carrying a fireman’s’ boot. The boot still retained much of its former owner’s appendage. This biter was attempting to figure out the best way to retrieve her newly discovered meal.
Turning in disgust, Dave turned onto the on ramp to the freeway. “C’mon let’s get home to our wives.” He said.
biters, guns, guts and gore, we want more.