Outbreak: Alaska Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Though locations in this story are based off of actual places, they take place in a fictional realm. No characters, businesses, or names are real entities. If any resemblance occurs it is purely coincidental.
This story contains drug use and violence, but do not take that as an endorsement of either action. This story is meant for adults, and as adults use your own conscience and you are responsible for your own actions. In no way am I responsible as an author, nor is any website which this story is made available, responsible for your actions. Do not do drugs, do not kill people.
This work is the sole property of its author and may not be reproduced for any purpose without express written consent of the author.
If you have questions or comments feel free to contact the author at johnashton07@gmail.com . Any correspondence will be responded to, and I always enjoy hearing from readers. Please keep criticism polite. If you have suggestions I am all ears, but just plain rudeness is... well, rude. Enjoy!
The alarm blared in his ears like a bomb. Cam rolled over and slapped the keys of his laptop, and the alarm stopped. His stomach growled, but Cam knew better that to search the empty cupboards. There was no food in the house, and if there was it was not his. He sat up from his mattress and felt the cold breeze coming in from the crack in the door. He pulled the blanket back over his shoulders and wrapped it around him.
"Do you have to set an alarm for 8am every day? I am trying to sleep here!" a muffled voice called out from the couch next to Cam.
"Oh stop your bitching Jess. Go back to sleep." Cam said throwing a pillow at Jess to make her a little more upset.
"Cam! Ass hole!" Jess said throwing the pillow back. "Do you have any weed?"
"I am going to get some in an hour or so." Cam said. "If you get some e' I may share it with you for some."
"I have 6 pills left, so get a lot..." Jess mumbled falling back to sleep.
Cam pushed his mattress against the wall of the living room and walked down the hallway. He knocked on the door to the bathroom and entered. He looked up to see the room was in fact occupied already.
"Damn it Cam, can you wait?" Alan said shooing him back out.
"Can you answer when I knock? Good lord!" Cam said closing the door. "If the door doesn't lock, it is kind of necessary to say something or people are going to walk in."
"Then buy a new knob, bro." Alan said pulling the door open and walking out.
"Did you wash your hands?" Cam asked.
"Nope." Alan said running his hand down Cam's arm. He walked down the hallway to his room laughing.
"Gross..." Cam said running into the bathroom.
Cam turned on the shower and slipped out of his boxers before stepping under the water. The warm water soothed the muscles that were aching from another night on the old mattress. He let the water run through his shaggy brown hair and down his pale skin. When the soap had rinsed from his skin and hair he turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. Stepping out of the shower he saw that the mirror had fogged over and reached out the wipe it off with his forearm. Looking in the mirror he noticed he may have lost a little weight since he started staying in this house. He was skinny, but not unhealthy looking. The heat of the water had turned his skin to a red glow, which he knew would fade to a pale tan with a few minutes time.
"Oh shit, sorry" another man said closing the door.
"What the fuck? Do you guys not knock?" Cam said pulling jeans on and walking to the door.
"I need to pee, don't have time to knock" the man said when Cam opened the door.
"Preston, just go." Cam said pushing past him.
"Yes, sir!" Preston said giving a mock salute before closing the door.
Cam let out a light chuckle before heading down the hallway to the living room again. He grabbed his coat and a bag from the corner before heading out the door.
"Don't forget the weed!" Jess yelled before the door closed.
The temperature had to have sunken to -20 overnight. It had already been a long winter and it was only January. Who knew that Alaska would be this cold? Cam looked over the dark driveway and was relieved that no one had parked behind his car. He opened the frozen door with a little bit of effort and prayed that the engine would start. He let out a breath of relieve when the engine groaned to a start and the exhaust started billowing from the rear. He turned on the radio and listened halfheartedly to the news, the only channel that would come in from the driveway.
". . . the man was said to have been intoxicated by a new drug on the streets. The victim is currently in critical condition. In other news Alaska's marijuana dispensaries are set to open at 9 o'clock and customers have been lined up for hours. Staff are assuring customers that they have enough in stock for anyone who is wanting to make a purchase."
Cam shifted the car into gear and backed out of the driveway and down the street. The roads were slick, but it was nothing he was not used to by now. The sun was just starting to lick the horizon, and the dim glow of light made the drive a little easier.
As Cam pulled around the corner into the parking lot, he could see the first groups of people walking into the ABC dispensary building. He pulled into an open parking spot and dreaded stepping out into the cold, but opened the door none the less. The cold swept in and stepped out and into the long line of people waiting to enter the building.
"Freezing cold isn't it? I could go for something warm to drink about now." A man said walking up to stand in line behind Cam. "How about you?"
"It is Alaska. It gets cold. There is legal weed though so it kind of makes up for it now doesn't it?" Cam said.
The man laughed and reached his hand into his pocket. He pulled out a small bag with powder in it. The powder was a dark purple.
"Would you like some? It is new and gives a real rush. Weed is great, but it isn't even close to this." The man said.
"Umm, I think I will pass." Cam said with a chuckle. How could someone be trying to sell drugs outside of a pot dispensary? Is he crazy?
"Your loss." He said. He opened the bag and stuck his finger in it scooping a bit of the powder into his nail and sniffing it off. The man gave a shudder and tucked the bag away.
Cam approached the man at the door, and provided his I.D. Stepping into the building he was in awe of the diversity of products that were for sale. He decided to pick up an ounce of bud, and a few kinds of edibles. It was a bit more expensive than the prices he was used to, but the fact that it was legal was a good selling point.
As Cam turned to walk out he saw the man who was selling the purple powder again. The man's eyes looked fogged over, and there was something different about the pigment of his skin. He started shaking slightly; almost like a seizure but not nearly as intense, but it was stronger than a shiver. As soon as the shaking stopped the man lunged at the closest person to him, a young lady wearing shorts as cold as it was outside. The woman yelled as the man sunk his teeth into the woman's collar bone and dragged her to the ground. The guard grabbed the man off his victim and slammed him to the wall, as the remaining customers swarmed out the door.
"Are you ok?" Cam asked, walking up to the woman to help her to her feet.
"I think so. He got me pretty good though. Am I bleeding? What the fuck!" the woman said staring at the man in disbelief.
"Do you have him? What the fuck is his problem?" Cam said looking to the security guard holding the crazed man to the floor.
"I got him. Police are on their way, go on and get out of here." The guard said struggling to hold the man in place. "Calm the fuck down ass hole! OWCH! Motherfucker if you bite me again you are in for a beating."
Cam was walking out just as the police were showing up. An officer walked past Cam and up to the woman who had been assaulted. Cam was just thinking that the whole thing was pretty crazy, and the police had shown up pretty damn fast when the first gunshot rang out. The second shot was the only motivation that Cam needed to get in his car and start driving. As Cam drove off he heard another gun shot before he turned onto the road and back toward his home.
Cam tried to shake the events of the last few minutes from his head as he sat in the drive way. He told himself that he was hearing things. It must have been a shelf or two that had fallen over. Yes that is what happened.
Cam came to the front door and was shocked that it was locked. He knocked and heard Alan yell out.
"Who is it?" Alan shouted.
"It is Cam let me in, I forgot my key." Cam said.
Cam could hear a loud scraping and Alan swung the door open and pulled Cam inside. He slammed the door shut as soon as Cam was inside and latched it. Alan pushed the couch in front of the door, pushing Cam out of the way.
"Umm, what the fuck is this?" Cam said. "Are we having another tazer war? If so, I am not playing."
"No. Have you been listening to the news? There are riots in Anchorage. They are saying it is coming here and people are going crazy." Alan said peeking out the window.
"You are joking, right?" Cam said. "Like I said, if I get tazed by any of you right now I am going to flip out."
"No one is getting tazed. People are supposed to stay inside and away from windows." Alan said closing the drapes.
"Is that Cam?" Jess said walking out of the bathroom. "Shit man, I thought you were done for. People are going crazy! Did you see some shit?"
"Um. Yeah... I guess. No. No what the fuck are you guys talking about?" Cam said collapsing onto the couch.
"The riots? Did you see anything?" Jess said.
"No. I mean yeah there was some crazed druggy that bit people, but there are no riots." Cam said.
"Were you bitten? What the hell bro?" Alan said grabbing Cam's arms and looking for any sign of bites.
"No, let go of me." Cam said pulling his arms free.
"Who was bitten?" Preston said as he came around the corner holding a machete.
"Preston no one was bitten, put that shit away." Alan said.
Alan turned around to turn up the news on the TV. The camera panned a scene of people running down the street, being chased by another crowd of people whose eyes looked just like the man in the dispensary. The camera fell to the ground as the camera man was tackled to the ground. It fell at an angle where you could not see the action, but the man who had done the tackling was struggling on top of the camera man and blood shot over the camera lens.
The shot turned to a blue screen before the news desk was back on the TV. The anchors just stared forward for a few seconds before one of them ran off screen.
"It appears that the police have lost control of the situation, and the riots are intensifying. We recommend that people stay in their homes until order can be restored. Stay tuned to this station for further updates." The remaining anchor said before the screen went black and the emergency broadcast began. Instructions to stay indoors and away from windows repeated themselves for a few minutes before the TV was turned off.
"Was that man just eaten by that other guy?" Jess asked.
"Umm, I don't know." Cam said. "The guy at the dispensary had eyes that looked like that guys'. They were all clouded over and bloodshot."
"Zombies man. This is it." Preston said. "I knew it would happen one day."
"Shut the fuck up man, really." Alan said.
"No! Think about it. They are going around biting people, they are strong enough that the police haven't been able to stop them. What other explanation is there?" Preston said.
"Man you are crazy. These people are just rioting, they are not undead rising and killing people. Get a grip." Cam said.
"I could really go for some weed about now." Jess said. "Cam, did you manage to pick some up?"
"Yeah, it is in the bag." Cam said pointing down to the bag by the door.
Jess opened the bag and pulled out the container of weed and loaded it into a bong nearby. She lit it up and inhaled. She let the smoke settle in her lungs before exhaling and sat back on the other end of the couch.
"Might as well enjoy the apocalypse." Jess said with a chuckle before passing the bong to Cam.
"Amen to that." Cam said taking a hit himself and passing to Alan.
"You guys are really getting high right now? People are killing each other!" Preston said throwing his hands in the air as Alan took his hit.
"Does that mean you are not smoking?" Alan said letting the smoke out of his lungs.
"You guys are incredible." Preston said standing up and walking down the hallway to his room.
Cam let out a chuckle as the feeling of relaxation settled in his limbs. The bong made its way around the room a couple times before it was cashed. The group all settled into seats and turned on the radio hoping to get some music. As usual the only station they could pick up was the news.
"Police are telling people to stay indoors and away from windows. People are advised to quarantine anyone bitten whether or not they are showing violent behavior. We have unconfirmed reports of similar riots in cities across the nation.
Thank you Greg, we go now to Hannah who is in Eagle River. Hannah?
Yes, I am here in Eagle River where police have set up barricades on the Old and New Glenn Highway. Wait. Someone is coming down the road. Yes they are walking down the Glenn. Police are approaching the man, what is this? The man is running at the barricade! (Gunshots) Oh my god! The police have shot the man! He is still running! He tackled one of the officers! (Yelling and gun shots) They have shot the man again! An officer has been bitten and is being taken to the side of the road. (Gunshot) Dear god! They shot the officer!"
"Stop recording!" A voice yelled over the radio before it went to static.
"What the fuck? Did you just hear that?" Cam said sitting up.
"What was that?" Jess said shooting up from her position, kicking the bong over in the process.
"We are not sure what just happened. We seem to have lost the signal from Hannah, we will get her back when we are able." The radio continued.
"I am too high for this..." Alan said turning the radio off. "I think we better stay inside."
"No shit" Cam said.
Cam, Alan, and Jess all stood up to head down the hallway. Cam knocked on Preston's door and opened it slightly. Preston was pacing in his room holding his machete again. The room was plastered with different melee weapons of all shapes and sizes on the walls. Preston had always been a bit on the eccentric survivalist mentality. Hell all of them were, but Preston took it to another extreme.
Preston had grown up in Alaska. The lack of sunlight had affected his skin to remain pale. He was slightly taller than Cam and on the lanky side, but he had some muscle. His arm had a biohazard symbol tattooed on it, which seemed slightly ironic in this situation. His arms flexed holding the machete and when he looked up to see Cam and the others his green eyes flashed a little fear, but held their gazes unwaveringly.
"Did you hear the radio man?" Cam said stepping into the room.
"What did I tell you? It is happening." Preston said.
"Alright, but before you go slashing through the horde we need to figure out what is going on."
"Where is Rick? Is he still sleeping?" Alan said peeking down the hallway. "We should make sure he knows what is happening."
Alan walked down the hallway to the next room. He knocked twice and opened the door. Rick was laying on his bed. When Alan stepped in he kicked a small bag with purple powder in it out from under his feet. In the process his foot tapped the wall with a light tap. At that sound Rick sat up straight in his bed. Rick was on the heavier side of average and upright stood about six foot tall. His typically brown eyes had taken on a slightly milky cloud and were heavily bloodshot. He lunged forward off the bed and fell short of Alan into the wall.
Alan backed out of the room and slammed the door. After a few bangs the door collapsed below Rick who turned to look down the hallway at Preston who had stepped out of the room. Preston hesitated a few seconds until Rick got himself to his feet and slammed down the hallway into Preston's body taking him to the ground. Preston was able to roll him off, but not before Rick grazed his teeth into Preston's cheek. Preston let out a scream and swung the machete down on Rick before he could make another go at him.
"What the fuck!" Alan said peeking back from the living room.
"RICK!" Jess said running down the hallway.
"Don't." Preston said holding out his arm to stop Jess. "He is gone."
"What the hell did you do Preston?" Cam said pushing Preston to the wall.
"He was turned." Preston said.
"Did he bite your cheek man?" Alan said looking at the red mark on Preston's face.
"I... I think so. It happened so fast." Preston said putting a hand to his cheek. He pulled his hand away and saw a thin glaze of blood. "Shit."
"I am fucking done with your zombie bull shit. I am calling the cops. What the fuck Preston." Cam said pulling out his cell phone.
"Shit... I am going to turn." Preston said leaning against the wall and sliding down.
"SHIT! No service. Anyone else have reception?" Cam said dropping his phone.
"All lines are down." Alan said dropping his as well.
Cam grabbed Preston by the collar of his shirt and threw him into his room. Preston laid where he fell and closed his eyes, tears welling up and falling down his cheek, which was now flowing blood pretty steadily.
"Get yourself cleaned up, you are staying here until the cops come. What the fuck man?" Cam said.
"Should we clean Rick up? What do we do?" Jess said.
"No, you can't fuck with a crime scene." Alan said.
Cam closed Preston's door and slid a chair under the knob. He grabbed Jess and Alan and went back to the living room. Jess sat on the couch and cried while Cam and Alan sat in silence. It was a few minutes before the pounding started from down the hallway. It started slowly, but became a constant pounding. Through the walls and door they heard screaming and wailing but they did their best to ignore it.
"Try the phone again. What the fuck why can you never get the police when you need them?" Cam said.
Alan dialed 9-1-1 into his phone again, but received a recorded message. He put his phone on speaker as the message repeated itself.
"All emergency services are offline. Citizens are advised to stay indoors and away from windows. If someone has been bitten quarantine them immediately and wait for help to arrive." The message played one more time before the phone disconnected.
"I don't want to be a zombie! Kill me!" Preston yelled through the door, still pounding.
"Shut the fuck up Preston you piece of shit!" Cam yelled through the wall.
"Please! I feel weird. It hurts! Kill me now!" Preston yelled.
Jess let out a squeal and Alan wrapped his arm around her. Cam stood up and started pacing. The pounding and yelling continued from Preston's room but no one responded. Eventually the pounding started to weaken and slow. Eventually it stopped, and Preston didn't yell anymore.
"Finally. Just sit there Preston. Fuck!" Cam said slamming his fist on the wall.
There was a loud bang on the door, followed shortly by another. The pounds returned but with no pattern behind them this time. It sounded like Preston was slamming against the door with his whole weight. Cam stood up and grabbed a bat from the corner of the room and headed down the hallway.
"Cam what are you doing?" Alan said moving his leg out of the way and keeping a hold on Jess.
"I am going to shut that ass hole up. Fuck waiting for the police." Cam said before stomping down the hallway.
"What the hell?" Alan said standing up and following him. "Cam hold on!"
Cam had the chair out from the knob and turned it to open the door when Preston slammed into the door. Cam was thrown against the wall of the hallway as Preston flew out of the room against him. Preston's eyes had gone blood shot and his face was torn up, like he had smashed into the door too many times. His cheek had started to rot back, making the bite mark look more gruesome than it originally was.
Alan grabbed Preston by the shirt and tried to pull him off of Cam, but the shirt tore and he was left holding a portion of fabric instead. Cam was on top of things, however and put the bat between his face and Preston's. Preston proceeded to bite into the bat, cracking his front teeth which fell out when he opened his jaw again.
"Get him off of me!" Cam yelled as he struggled to get free of the surprising weight of Preston.
Alan grabbed Preston's closest arm and gave it a firm pull, throwing off his balance. Preston turned his attention to Alan, who was now on the floor. As Preston opened his now deformed jaw, Cam swung the bat at his head. Preston collapsed to the ground on top of Alan.
"Get him off of me!" Alan said sliding out from beneath the weight of Preston's body. "Is he dead?"
"What the hell is going on!?" Jess said coming around the corner.
"Go back to the living room!" Cam said while pulling Preston off of his brother. "Go!"
The three of them rounded the corner and collapsed onto the couch. As they caught their breath, tears started welling in Cam's eyes. He began to sob and Jess leaned over putting her arms around him. Soon they were all crying and hugging, trying to process what had just happened.
After what seemed like hours they collected themselves and dried their eyes. Cam pushed himself up and began to pace the room while searching his body. It finally occurred to him to check for bites. The others followed suit, and they all let out a breath of fresh air when none of them found anything suspicious.
"We need to get out of here." Jess said drying her eyes more.
"What are you talking about? We can't leave! Police are shooting people outside!" Alan said.
"I can't stay here." Jess said, starting to breathe more rapidly. "We need to leave. We need to go!"
"Maybe we should. I don't think I can stay here either." Cam said glancing down the hall.
Rick's body was starting to let off bad smells and soon Preston's would as well. The hallway was covered with blood now. The three of them finally decided that leaving was a good idea. Alan walked down the hallway to his room, stepping over the bodies, and collected up a few things into a backpack and came back to the living room. While Alan packed, Cam ventured into Preston's room and grabbed a few weapons from the wall. A few knives and a sword fit in his bag well enough, but the axe and a longer sword he gave to Jess and Alan. Before they left the house, Cam turned to take one last look at the scene which only hours ago he would have never believed he would see. He closed the door and the three of them loaded themselves and the bags into his car and they backed out of the driveway.