Resident Evil 1. Chapter 1

He slapped in a fresh mag and quickly tapped it to make sure it had locked in position, then released the charging handle on his M4 loading in a fresh round. "On your six Vic!" He shouted across the street to his partner, Officially Staff Sergeant Victor Mendoza.

One of the dead had stumbled out from behind a car to close for comfort. Vic let his M4 hang as he pulled his sidearm. He put a round through the beasts skull before re-holstering his weapon in favor of the M4 as they moved on. The two of them had been in and out of trouble longer than Julias cared to remember. This time however, wasn't anything like the others. Julias wasn't having any fun and he damned well knew Vic wasn't either.

Julias had joined the Marines on his 18th birthday looking to break out of the downward spiral his life was taking. Vic had followed him into the recruiters station and didn't sober up until it was to late. To be honest he didn't think Vic sobered up until the third or fourth day into basic. Victors mouth usually kicked in about the same time the booze wore off. He could still see his Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Reyes towering over Vic, screaming down at him. "What's a matter recruit, this isn't what your pretty ass signed up for!"

Julias remembered watching as Vic looked up, his eyes narrowing as he made contact with Reyes. He had seen the look enough times to know the alcohol was out of his system. "No sir!" Vic shouted back. "Recruiter promised me I was gonna get laid and I aint seen nothing but dick since I got here."

Julias had bitten down on his tongue trying desperately not to laugh as the other three Drill Instructors materialized out of nowhere to swoop in around his friend. Vic glanced around making eye contract with each of the three new DIs surrounding him before locking glares with Reyes once again. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly before speaking. "Maybe the recruiter was right, looks like I'm gonna get laid after all." Julias couldn't help but laugh and the two of them had ended up in the pit for the next two hours. Needless to say it had turned out to be a long thirteen weeks.

The two of them had graduated basic with honors and Vic had signed up to try out for Force Recon soon after basic training. This time it had been Julias that made the stupid decision to follow. The training was grueling and it turned out to be just what the two of them needed. All of it now seemed so distant. They had been in the Corp together for the last seven years and as Vic liked to say. "Lovin every minute of it."

The Corp had been a turning point for the boys and they knew it. They had never been anything less than deadly professional in the field. However, the two of them still had a knack for finding trouble when they weren't. Vic liked to think trouble found him, but Julias was pretty sure it was Vic that was out doing the searching. Either way, it was a good thing the two of them could swim, because more often then not the two of them were in deep.

They had actually been working on their breast stroke not two weeks prior. The two of them had gone out to one of the local bars around base that had been overrun by a group of Navy boys fresh out of the academy. Vic wasn't necessarily one to go looking for a fight, but he definitely wasn't one to back away. He was, as he liked to refer to himself. Five feet and six inches of Marine corp whoop ass.

Julias couldn't remember what had set of the marshmallows, but he could remember seeing the fight coming. He had done his best to steer his buddy in the other direction. Vic even seemed content to trade insults as Julias backed him away, heading for the door. Firing back a comment of his own after every short joke they hurdled, the verbal barbs coming from all around the bar. Even a few racial jokes flew his way, Vic simply threw a finger over his shoulder as he walked away.

They were just pushing open the doors to leave when the spokesmen for the group threw the last and final words of the night. "Couple of stupid ass Jarheads! At least that one was smart enough to know when to walk away."

Vic froze in his steps glaring up at Julias. Doing the smart thing, Julias let go of his buddy's shoulder. He stood there shaking his head before turning to follow his friend. There wasn't anything more to do, even he would agree that was just a little to much lip to take from any one squid. By the time he turned around Vic was already going to work as tables cleared around the bar. The numbers weren't in their favor but like hell he was letting his buddy fight this one alone.

They found themselves limping into the Colonels office the next morning. Standing at attention for the next two hours as the Colonel read off all the violations of conduct in their personal records. He finally finished, leaning forward and placing both of his forearms on the desk. "Now I've got half a dozen Navy big wigs calling me demanding action be taken and I cant let this one slide boys."

Long story short, the two of them were getting sent on some scrub mission while the colonel figured out what to do with the two of them. The Colonel claimed the orders came right down from the top, but they both knew that was a pile. They were going to be detached as a personal escort for a close friend of the president on some vital project. Some baby sitting garbage.

"You remember how to change diapers?" Vic had asked Julias as they left the Colonels office. He remembered closing his eyes and shaking his head at his friends comment. He had reopened them and slapped his friend upside the back of his head. "You know its that kinda shit that gets us into these messes." Vic just shrugged at him, rubbing the back of his head before turning and walking down the hall. "You know, the way you hit maybe your ass should have joined the navy." He added as he walked away, leaving Julias to shake his head again before following.

Vic was already waiting outside when Julias stepped into the bright morning sun, dawning his cover before his second foot hit the pavement. It was still early in the morning and already the sun beat down unmercifully adding to the headache that had plagued Julias following the previous nights activities.

Vic stood an equal distance from the door and the curb, muscular arms intertwined across his chest.. His stance sideways keeping a dark tinted SUV in his field of vision as he glanced up at Julias. He made brief eye contact before turning and heading for the vehicle as Julias followed behind. A suit exited the vehicle opening the rear door as they approached. Tall and well dressed, of Asian descent wearing nothing but black, from the over confident sun glasses on his head to the shoes on his feet. He stood at the door arrogantly and it was clear to Julias that he had a very high opinion of himself.

Vic must have picked up the same vibe. He stopped before entering the vehicle, turning to face the man. "Morning sweetheart." Vic smiled at the man waiting for a reaction. Julias was sure there was about to be a repeat of last night as the man in black focused in on Vic and leaned his head down. He smiled back and followed it up by blowing a kiss at his aggressor. Vic broke eye contact and disappeared into the back of the vehicle. Julias nodded briefly with the man as they made eye contact before joining Vic on the inside.

The SUV had been modified and Julias took a seat next to Vic at the rear of the vehicle. It was moving the instant the door closed and the man in black took a seat across from them. He stared blankly out the window as the vehicle sped down the street. Next to him sat another well dressed man. A set of small glasses adorned his face as he beamed happily back at the two. "Good morning gentlemen, my name is Don and I have very high expectations from the two of you." He said as he extended his hand to the rear of the vehicle.

Not two weeks prior and that memory seemed so distant, so long ago. He forced the thought to the back of his mind as he knelt down next to the body of one that had fallen. This one however, wasn't like the rest, just as dead, but different. His chest was a mess and steam rose from the quickly cooling blood that covered his ragged body. Flowing from the half dozen holes that peppered his chest. His shirt had been ripped open and it was apparent that someone had tried, or at the very least had hopes of saving him. A bloody path had been plowed in the snow to his left starting halfway up a staircase that led into some sort of hardware retailer. Bloody finger marks ran the length of his face where someone had closed his eyes for the last time.

More gunfire erupted nearby and he left the corpse without another thought moving in pursuit of the action they had been chasing. His partner shadowed him on the opposite side of the street as they moved on. They had been searching for survivors all morning as their ammo supply quickly dwindled.

The world had gone to hell in a hand basket in just over a week and it was all that pencil necks fault. The second they had touched down in Grand Rapids, things had gone sour. One of the larger cities in the state of Michigan. It had so recently been home to a sprawling city that boasted some of the most advanced medical treatment and research facilities in the country. A number of specialized facilities devoted to cancer and children's medicine. Universities and colleges from around the state were setting up roots tapping into the vast resources the city had to offer.

It was home to a number of minor league sports teams that based themselves out of the VanAndel Arena. The city was an up and coming powerhouse that was making a name for itself on many fronts. Now all it would be known for was death. Too many bodies lined the streets. If he remembered accurately from his short briefings a little over 200,000 residents called the city home. That number doubled easily if you included the surrounding townships and smaller cities that composed the greater Grand Rapids area.

Many of the residents on the outskirts and bordering areas had surely escaped in time. The problem was that far to many inside they city had not. Julias wasn't willing to wager a guess at how many had fallen but it wouldn't surprise him if that number had made its way over 50,000. The city was literally crawling with the damned. One was to many, how high it would climb Julias had no way of knowing. The one thing he did know was that Don would not get away with this, of that Julias was certain. He would make damn sure to track him down and wring his scrawny little suit neck. When he cleared this mess that was.

His mind was wondering and that was dangerous. Putting the thoughts on hold he slowed his pace through the snow just enough to line up a shot on another of the decaying monsters that plagued the streets. A .223 round burrowing through an already opened wound on the side of its face. The round continued on through the back of its head spraying the contents of its skull in a crimson shower.

A small part of Julias envied the man he had just left to cool in the snow. His troubles were over. The nightmares that broke the plane of the dream realm could no longer haunt his soul. In so few days he had seen enough death┘ done enough killing, he was sick of the whole mess. A small nagging part of him was ready to just let go┘ to let go, and let death.

As it stood his chances for survival dwindled with each round wasted putting down a beast who's numbers were to great to count. He knew it, his partner knew it and apparently so did the dead who funneled into the streets after them.

Everyone had panicked in the beginning, not them. The idiots at the news and their 'Riots,' as they called them in the beginning. It had started small but the disease spread at and exponential rate. What was one turned into ten within a day. Ten climbed up past one hundred over night. A hundred turned into thousands and thousands climbed into tens of thousands. They thought it was some new strain of the flu. They were wrong and the mistake cost them dearly.

The first victims were taken to the hospital but not before spreading the madness. Emergency rooms soon crowded with the infected. The Morgues stacked up and the hospitals festered with infection. They had escorted Don into one of the local facilities only a few days into the outbreak and already it stunk of death. People went about their daily lives ignorant to the deadly truth. They went to work, went shopping, content to let the authorities deal with the problem as they simply avoided any troubled spots by driving around or quickly through as the calamity of the situation gained momentum.

Him and Vic knew the city was dead but the hush put on by the media only made matters worse. The middle of the city was gone and their terrible advice to stay inside and report any disturbances to authorities had killed them all. If they had organized early and fought back things might have been different. As it stood now half of the houses in the city now served as crypts for a sleepless dead. The other half were running the streets, desperately searching out the last of the survivors. Searching out Julias and his partner.

Everything had gone down wrong, yesterday being the apex of destruction. The panicked call for evacuation midday had been the final nail in the coffin. Panicked motorists speed to get out in horrible road and weather conditions quickly piling up accidents and sealing off all major highways and roads out of the city. Now stuck outside they panicked, running for cover, to get back home, looking for a safe place to hide. With so many outside, the dead took complete hold of the city.

The previous day had been nothing short of a blood bath, purging the last vestiges of life from the city. A rare few clung to life fighting desperately to stay alive. Most of the living were in hiding. Sporadic groups banned together making a run for a safer place, to get out, the results more often than not deadly. Some of them snapped turning on each other only adding to the confusion. Yet others rose in the face of carnage giving selflessly to help and save others, to many times at the cost of their own life. The city was a mess.

When pickup hadn't arrived and that little rat had disappeared, leaving behind even his own personal bodyguard, it had all made sense. It was no coincidence that they had showed up for the outset of this plague. They had been brought in to assure its success and left for dead. They had found enough information, left by that little rat in his haste to escape. Enough to connect the rest of the dots, they would make sure he paid.

They spent the previous day in vain saving lives only to watch them fall days, hours, sometimes minutes later. The carnage was complete, the city was dead. Hell they probably were too, they were to stubborn to quit breathing. They hadn't seen Kai in the last six hours and there was no doubt in his mind that they wouldn't again. It wasn't unreasonable to think he had made it back to the station with the kids but it was doubtful. Either way Julias wished he was here as the dead continued to crowd in from all directions.

The footprints in the snow leading away from the body were easy enough to follow. The long running strides were a good indicator. The dead thankfully lacked the coordination to move at anything greater than a quick shuffle. The path broke to the left and Julias took a knee against the backside of a small brick building. He turned waving for his partner to follow. His weapon up scanning the street as his buddy sprinted the distance to join him tapping him on the shoulder as he passed. With that he was up and moving for the other side of the street under the protective cover his partner would lay down should anything appear.

More rounds echoed close by and Julias couldn't help but wonder if the living they chased were that poor a shot or if the shit was really that deep up ahead. Either way they were closing in fast and would soon find out. The road continued on up a hill and he could see the overpass to one of the city's highways. The bridge was a complete mess. Snow covered vehicles littered the road and at least two of the monsters walked the maze of metal that covered the bridge.

His partner called a halt at the base of the bridge looking down onto the highway, his eyes tracking down, over and back up. He glanced back over at Julias holding up two fingers and signaling a second pair of tracks before nodding his head and motioning forward as he began weaving his way across the bridge. The cold air split twice as Julias fired, tracked and fired again. 62 grains of jacketed lead carved through bone, pulping brain matter and continuing on into the sky behind. Two more of the beasts fell to the snow where they would rot come spring. The visible threats down permanently, Julias began slowly weaving his own way across the bridge.

His partner a few car lengths out front had already begun firing into the group that waited beyond the bridge. Their attention had turned in a hostile direction at the sound of the previous two rounds cracking the air behind them. A few continued on, stumbling off down a street that broke to the right a couple hundred yards past the bridge, slowly disappearing behind the cover of the buildings that lined the road. A single working traffic light blinked an ominous yellow in the distance as if to warn them to turn back. The soft light shining down on the last of the ghouls as they took the corner at the end of the block.

Stupidity, stubbornness maybe a combination of the two drove them on. Perhaps it was the last vestiges of hope that fueled them onward. Onward and into the majority of the beasts that had turned and began shuffling back through the cars leading to the bridge. The bridge, and the warm hopeful flesh that was crossing it.

Three of them had already fallen to his partners fire when he added in his own. The two of them fired and tracked, each shot placed with countless hours of practice and preparation. The dead fell to the ground steadily as they continued onward quickly making it onto the street the bridge now to their backs.

The tracks had come back up onto the road and around to the right side directly in front of Julias. The second set of tracks much smaller in size, the gait about one third the length of the original. Whoever it was they chased, a small child was with them, that knowledge fueling his determination to find them.

He had seen enough of the little ones wandering hungry in the snow over the last few days, even had to put a few of them down. A part of him dying with each little body his rounds ripped apart and left to rot on the street. All the while a fire grew inside as he embraced the anger that fueled him onward. His determination raging as the two of them continued forward.

A good number of the dead littered the road in-between cars they passed and Julias was able to answer his own previous question. The shit was really that deep. They fired taking down another half a dozen of the monsters as double that number stumbled out into the streets replacing the fallen. They covered ground quickly weaving between the cars closing the distance on the corner.

Julias picked up the pace as the rapid staccato beat of gunfire nearby exploded into the air. Rounds had been going off regularly for the last ten minutes but this grouping was different. The rapid fire pops echoing over the rooftops hinted at desperation and then fell silent. Mere seconds past and the rapid paced fire resumed with the same desperation, again coming and going in a matter of seconds.

Across the street his partner was jogging forward drawn in as the rapid fire added a sense of helpless urgency. He followed along jogging the last hundred yards to the corner of the block slowing only once to put down another of the beasts.

Julias stayed a good ten feet from the edge of the building as he took the corner weapon up and ready. He was greeted by the backs of the dead still chasing the one they had yet to spot. His partner sprinted across the street and past him into the next block. The gunfire had died since the two big outbursts and Julias couldn't help but fear they were to late.

His partner froze in front of him holding up his hand in a tight fist. "You hear that?" Julias strained to listen in over the howling dead so nearby. He concentrated sorting through the ringing, the moans. Listening intently as they ebbed and flowed together. Then for the briefest of moments when both came together and lowered at the same instant it was there. There was a woman screaming┘ but not for help. He had heard the pitch before, fear and death. They were to late, he stood listening and watched his partners shoulders slump in the slightest way. The weight over another death adding to the burden he had taken up a week ago when it all started.

He had just started to shake his head when another round split the air. He was running full tilt the second the round clapped out and Julias was running to catch up. Driven on by the hopes of life. His feet pounding down the snow and crushing the previous path carved by the living. They dodged the dead pushing and shoving there way through without the time to care. Scabby hands clawed at them as they pushed onward taking a left and following the footprints between two houses and into the backyard of one.

The yard filled with the dead unable to cross a small chain link fence that held their path. To many to run through, the two of them unloaded rapidly. Bone splintered and blood exploded into the air as the damned fell to a furry of lead. They were jumping bodies before the last of them hit the ground. His partner still ahead of him leapt the small chain link fence at the back and was off running the second his feet hit the ground.

Julias slapped in a fresh mag on the run before jumping it and following behind as another shot echoed further in the distance. He hit the ground and sprinted to catch up rushing through the empty yards and in-between another pair of houses that lead into the next block. The two of them burst into the open of the street leaving the houses behind and had their weapons coming up on instinct.

She screamed and they lowered their rifles, his partner sprinted to catch her as she attempted to run past. Away from them and for a group of the beasts heading down the road. Julias brought up his weapon tracking the group as his partner caught her in a few quick steps and tackled her to the ground. The damned meanwhile closed in as he wrestled to calm her on the ground.

Julias opened up on the crowd downing two of the beasts as they approached, they still had time but it was short. "We need to move!" He shouted glancing just as the woman swung up, landing a solid blow on the side of his partners face.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. This kind of reaction was not uncommon and it wasn't the first time in the last week that one of them had taken a shot. He had gotten bloodied by a lady not two days ago and his buddy had been ribbing him about it ever since. He was just glad to know he would be able to return the favor as he watched a stream of blood trickle from his partners nose.

He spun around eyeing the street in the direction the woman had come from only to see more of the monsters heading for them. Further on down the street a large group of them crowded on the ground feasting on a victim blocked from sight. His mind connected the feasting with the cries of death so recently sung through the frigid air. All the while his eyes tracked further down the street professionally registering and labeling every threat that stumbled through the snow.

Left to right, then back again his weapon up, online. The targets still too far to even consider engaging. He was so busy getting a count that he almost missed it the first time. Jerking his vision back to the left side of the road, his eyes focused, his mind wondering if he had really seen what it told him he had.

The round went off load enough to dispel anymore question as to their existence. They were there, a rather tall man dragging a small boy amidst a crowd of the dead, stepping over the one he had just put down. "HEY!" Julias shouted down the road as the two hurried up the steps to one of the houses. "WAIT!" They must have been to far away, the man showed no evidence he had heard anything and quickly disappeared from sight.

At the last second the boy looked over from the porch down the road and raised his arm to wave and with that, was pulled inside, out of view. "The kids down the road, we gotta move." Julias said as he turned making eye contact with Vic, who still struggled in vain, wrestling with the hysterical woman. It was obvious his patience had warn thin and Julias watched as he brought his arm back delivering a devastating blow to the side of the woman's face knocking her instantly unconscious.

He got back to his feet pulling the woman up, and in a show of strength hefted her dead weight up and onto his left shoulder. "Lets move." He said nodding at Julias, and the two of them took off in the direction of the boy. Houses passed quickly by and the number of dead littering the street added up quickly. Julias was quick on the trigger and wasted little time clearing a path to the boy. They had made it half a block when the boy came back out onto the porch waving again. There was no sight of the man but they would be able to reach that area soon enough.


	2. Chapter 2

The alarm wailed loud in the dark. His eyes came open as he rolled over spying the steady red numbers that read 5:15. Aidan reached over quickly shutting it off and sat upright as he tossed his covers off. The cold winter morning greeted him eagerly and he stood searching the darkened room for clothing he could use to battle the morning chill.

Their ears came up as he got to his feet but his two dogs stayed curled on the floor waiting. "Lets go." With that they both jumped up and ran to the door. He grabbed the hoodie Havok had been curled on top off and slipped the hair covered, pre-warmed garment on before opening the door. Their paws clattered lightly as they made their way to the back of the house quietly.

Early morning was the only time his dogs seemed capable of moving slow and quietly through the house. It was a good thing too, had they made enough noise running through to wake up his daughter they would have inadvertently woken up his wife. If she woke up someone was going to get beat and it was never good to start the day with a beating.

Aidan put their leashes on and opened the door. A freezing air swept over his bare legs as he stepped outside, down a couple of stairs and into the deep snow that had been accumulating the last week or so. He instantly regretted going outside in his boxers as he waded into the back yard, snow nipping at his exposed lower legs. The chilling temperature had him shivering within seconds, the only thing more uncomfortable than the chill was the cold induced, urge to pee.

"Go potty." He said to Tasha, who was still sniffing around in the snow looking for the perfect spot. She began circling and finally squatted down in the snow as Aidan danced about moving his legs up and down trying desperately not to piss himself. The cold was no big deal to the two of them complete with their own winter coats. They had been bred for this weather, they loved it. It wasn't that Aidan didn't, the snow could be fun, but he wasn't a Siberian husky and he was dumb enough to step outside in boxers with no shoes on.

The moment she finished he was dragging them back through the snow and in the door. The leashes came off and he bolted for the bathroom barely making it in time. That behind him, he put the dogs back in his bedroom. Havok instantly took his old spot on the bed flopping down on his pillow next to his wife. He closed the door quietly and tiptoed his way back to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and popped in one of the small children's chewable vitamins he had always been so fond of.

Back to the living room where he had laid out his clothes for the day on the coffee table the night before. There was little else to his morning routine, he had always preferred the extra twenty minutes of sleep compared to a shower and breakfast. Besides, he worked in a grocery store and he could always find something to eat when he got in.

He tossed his cuffs and extra mag pouch into the shoulder bag he had ready. They were always a bit uncomfortable in the car and he could easily put them on once he was at work. Again he opened the door to his bedroom walking quietly through the darkened room to his wife's side of the bed. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you." He said. "I love you too." She croaked sleepily.

Back around the bed to his nightstand. "Be good." He whispered to his dogs, petting each of them on the head for half a second. With that he grabbed his holster and Glock sliding them inside the waistband on his left hip. Once it was seated correctly he pulled the weapon and ran a finger down the right side of the slide checking that a round was loaded in the dark. The indicator was popped, the weapon was hot. He carefully re-holstered the handgun on his hip before opening the drawer on his nightstand.

The outline of the .357 was barely visible in the low light, he lifted it from the drawer and grabbed the seven rounds next to it before turning to leave the room. "Ill see you later." He said back to his wife as he opened the door. "Be careful." She responded, only to be cut off with a loudly whispered. "Nope." It was tradition, she always told him to be careful and he always made a point of making sure she knew he wouldn't. The door closed and he kicked the chamber on the magnum to load in the rounds he had taken with him.

The weapon full he placed it inside his shoulder bag on top of the cuffs and mag pouch, as well as the extra mags and boxes of ammunition he had loaded into the bag the previous night. Aidan was licensed to carry concealed pistols and did so readily. He was actually one of three managers at the store who carried. The little grocery store had been robbed to many times in the last few years and on two separate occasions rounds had been traded.

Aidan thankfully had yet to be put into one of those life and death situations. A good number of his friends on the other hand... were not as lucky. He wasn't some gun touting, loose cannon, he just wanted to be able to defend himself if the need arose. The store he worked at was for lack of better words... ghetto. Each passing year seemed to bring with it, a rougher crowd and more problems. It was however, a good job. Not to mention the same one he had been doing since he was sixteen years old.

He knew the store and its customers in and out and truth be told he kind of enjoyed going rounds with the crack heads he caught stealing. It kept him on his toes and gave him a chance to go hands on without fearing any legal repercussions. It had gotten to the point that it was no longer would he catch someone. It was almost a store game, a daily competition. How many would they catch. Besides, who was he kidding, it was fun watching Jimmy tackle people.

Asides from the store there was a lot of weird stuff going down in the city. The news had been nothing but reports of violence and looting, rioting and bizarre murders for the last week. Grand Rapids was no stranger to violence or shootings. Gang violence on the south east side had almost guaranteed a healthy dose of problems for the last few years, but the steady increase across the city over the last week was out of place.

This was no centralized problem, the madness had been popping up across the city even in the richer neighborhoods. It was for that reason that Aidan brought the extra firepower with him that day. That and he had two days left before Christmas and planned on heading to the Silver Bullet after work. Two birds with one stone was always good medicine. He needed to pick up a few things for his brothers and what better place to do it than a gun store.

There was nothing better than watching the look on his mothers face Christmas morning when his twelve year old brother opened up a foot long hunting knife and started slashing wrapping paper. "Did you really have to buy him that?" He could see her face and hear the words already. It was the perfect gift, mom hates it and little brother thinks you're the coolest person in the world. Two birds with one stone.

The presents gave him an excuse to be there. Being there gave him an excuse to spend a half hour on the range. Shooting was like riding a bike and playing most sports. Once you've learned it your not going to forget. At the same time, if you don't practice regularly... your gonna be ugly when you step on the field. With the stuff going down in town Aidan figured it couldn't hurt any to brush up and stay in touch. Besides, it had been at least two weeks since he had sent any lead down range and he was due to shred some targets.

With that he headed for the door, stopping only to blow a kiss at his daughter through the door to her room. Some days she would wake up while he was leaving and he would be lucky enough to give her a hug, change her diaper and tuck her back into bed before leaving. He paused outside her door hoping, but alas, she slept soundly, safe and warm in her bed. Dreaming of her two doggies or perhaps her cat Keke climbing the Christmas tree in the living room. She always got a kick out of seeing the little cat poke its head out from between the green branches.

Busted luck for Aidan, all remained quiet, at least the feeling was coming back to his toes. Thankful for that he moved along to the back door. He zipped up his fleece hoodie, threw on his coat and dawned his hat. Never a fan of gloves he shouldered his bag and opened the door to the snow and cold, this time a bit more prepared. Michigan was well known for its lake effect snow but the last few weeks in particular had been especially brutal. The snow fell heavy this morning and the tracks he had made not ten minutes prior were already covered with a fresh layer that hid their presence.

At least half a foot of the white stuff covered his car. "I'm about sick of this." He mumbled to himself as he used his arm to clean of the portion over his door before opening it. The car came on the first try and he tossed his shoulder bag into the passenger seat and snatched the scrapper of the floor. The defroster got turned on full blast before shutting the door to clean the rest of the car.

A 94 Cutlass Supreme. His first and only car, she was getting old and he knew it. She was reliable if nothing else, not to mention she had a wide wheel base and handled like a champ in the snowy weather he would be facing this morning. This car had been through it all with him, the once bright red coat now a bit faded, a few dents, a few scratches.

The car had made a run over 300 miles down to Cedar Point on a donut when the front left tire blew out just outside of Grand Rapids. It had taken him to the lake when he was still chasing after the woman that would become his wife. It had wisped them safely away on their honey moon. It was this car he drove his daughter home from the hospital in. It was character, it was memories, and he would be lucky if it lasted another winter.

For now she held, the car was no quitter. The snow removed and vision clear enough through the windshield, the two of them set off for yet another early morning drive across town. He put the car in reverse and hit the gas picking up momentum as he backed out of his drive way. The plows had been through recently and if he didn't hit the mound at the end of the drive way hard enough he would get stuck. She wouldn't let him down, he gave it a little more gas right at the end and snow exploded as the two of them carved their way into the street.

The ten minute drive to work was an easy twenty to thirty with snow covered roads. However with the uprisings happening and the increasing violence Aidan had been taking a long path the last few days. More time on the roads but it had actually turned out to be a quicker drive. Skirting his usual path and hoping over into East Grand Rapids he was surprised to find the roads plowed cleanly and often.

Really it shouldn't have surprised him, East GR was a well to do, rich community of lawyers and doctors who padded every part of their lifestyles with the things money could buy. Thinking it wouldn't apply to their snow removal and street cleaning was a bit naive on his part. As it stood it worked out well for him, clean roads to drive on and safer neighborhoods to pass through.

Every channel on the radio seemed to be devoted to local news. "We believe it to be a new strain of the flu virus. Once contracted victims have overwhelmingly reported feelings of nausea and severe headaches, followed by spells of violent vomiting. These symptoms give way to a fever induced coma which sets in just a few short hours after initial symptoms surface. The temperature of the fever rises so high that the brain literally burns itself out. Patients are clinically dead within an hour of coming down with a fever. The problem is, they are not staying...'

Aidan flipped the channel, some of that sounded new but he was sick of hearing about this stupid flu bug. He was sick of the news in general the last week or so. Droning on and on about the new wave of violence and rioting. For them to add this flu crap in was even more asinine. They had been whining about different viruses for years now trying to scare the populace into some sort of fear driven stupor. If it wasn't the Avian flu it was SARS. If it wasn't SARS it was mad cow disease. And now┘ if it wasn't mad cow disease it was apparently some new flu.

He always kind of felt like people brought all these things on themselves with their dependencies on medicines and antibiotics, to easily prescribed. This leading to an overall weakened immune system in the community. The flu wasn't going to kill you but year after year people flooded there systems with medications to battle the virus and Aidan was convinced that each time you let medicine fight your battles, your body forgot that much more about its own defense.

People were out of touch, they never let their kids play in the dirt. Always afraid of some infection, and it wasn't just the populace. Aidan was convinced the stupidity displayed medically was at least half the fault of the doctors who labeled everything and anything for no reason at all. If he didn't know better he would think every kid had asthma, he knew they all had allergies. Every single kid under the age of eighteen had some form of A.D.D or A.D.H.D. Not to worry though, there was a diagnosis and a drug for all of it!

It was ridiculous, half the time he would here some stupid parent tell him about their children's problems he wanted to slap them across the face. Take their child outside and roll them in the dirt, then hold them to the ground and let his two LONG HAIRED, dander carrying huskies lick them clean. Now granted there undoubtedly had to be some real cases out there. Still, people had cried wolf one to many times and he was sick of it.

"Way to contract the bug is through direct contact, if you see anyone exhibiting the symptoms you are highly advised to stay away and contact the local..." More of the same, he didn't even know why he bothered with the radio anymore. He flipped the seek button again listening in as more of the nonsense filtered through his speakers.

"Once bitten its to late. Again we urge anyone who makes contact with one of the infec..." He had heard enough garbage for one day. People had really flown the coup this time. Once you had been bitten? What kind of crap was that. He was sure of it now┘ people were as dumb as he thought. Apparently now you needed to be told it wasn't smart to let other people bite you. WOW news flash.

He switched the radio over to CD and the familiar tunes of The Cranberries flooded Aidan's speakers. He didn't give the news a second thought and twenty minutes later he was pulling into his usual parking spot behind the crooked light post. It had been a long standing joke that the pole would fall on his car one of these days but he didn't buy into it. He listened to the last lines of Dreaming my Dreams, shut of the car and took a deep breath. The car door opened and he started the long walk across the unplowed parking lot for another long day at the heights.

The door was frozen shut as usual and Aidan had to kick it of its tracks to break the ice open. The warning on the alarm pushing him to move faster as he scrambled to open up the metal gate behind the door. He almost slipped running to the counter, jumped it and punched in the code. The droning beeps shut off instantly and he moved to the back hall and punched in.

Aidan counted down the office and prepped the drawers for the morning cashiers. Dave the meat manager scrambled in a few minutes late and swaggered his way back to his domain without speaking. Aidan really didn't care, things were pretty lax around the store and most of the employees had been working together for years. It was after all, a very small family owned and operated store that had been passed from generation to generation for the better part of the last century.

The building was located only blocks from the house Aidan had grown up in. It was located in one of the nicer neighborhoods in the city, Alger Heights. It was a fairly small building sandwiched in-between the local hardware store and various other small local businesses. There was a killer pizza place across the street that ended up getting calls for lunch on a regular basis. Like the store, it was small but man could JB's make a pie!

The store was composed of only five smaller isles, probably half the length of your average supermarket. The front end housed the dairy coolers across from the checkouts. The frozen isle ran the length of the store back to the produce coolers which ran the width back into the bakery section. For as small as it was it still housed a good number of products and surprisingly boasted a full service, you name it we got it meat/deli case complete with a hot-case that was a favorite for the local businesses at lunch hour.

It was a far cry from most modern grocery stores but what it lacked in size and product was readily made up with familiar and friendly service. Aidan always felt that it was the continued friendly interaction that brought the regulars in and kept the small business going. Without that personal touch, or for that matter the well known personnel that made up the employee list the store would surely have gone under long ago.

The front end prepped, he moved back to the produce department, which he ran, and looked over his inventory in the back room. From the numbers in the office and the shape of his cooler in back it was apparent that the weekend had been a good one. Little product remained in back which was great when dealing with perishables. He grabbed a flat top, loaded up the few remaining cases of goods and moved to the floor.

Aidan was glad he had ordered heavily for today, the shelves would need it. A big snow storm and a little unrest on the news was always sure to have people clamoring into the store to stock up and stay home. The shelves were devastated and he soon lost himself clearing out beaten and bruised fruit, cleaning containers and prepping the isle to refill it.

Carts in and carts out, time passed quickly as he hurried to beat the morning customers. He failed and they began to wander past him heading to the back corner of the store to raid the donut shelf. A brief hello here and there but for the most part everyone was quiet this early. He didn't mind, it gave his mind a chance to wonder as he moved in on the fresh vegetable section.

"Guess whose late?" His brother Jake asked on his way to the back for a load of dairy. It wasn't really a question, he may as well have just said, Hey Aidan Jimmys late again. Nothing new in the heights, he shrugged his shoulders and continued cleaning the case. It was depressing how bad the quality of lettuce was this time of year. At least a full case was on its way to the mission.

Mondays were always a big day for the mission following the weekends picked over sales. Out with the old in with the new, such was life, such was Monday. Aiden was just glad he had the ridiculous Christmas songs playing to make fun of all day. Between Jake and his friend Jimmy there never was any telling how a well known Christmas carol might get reworded for a good laugh. All of that contingent on when Jimmy decided to show up. He would meander in eventually, until then Aidan had Henry Connick Junior to sing by the time.

Aidan was halfway through refilling the display when the first scream broke out shattering the monotony of the music playing. He froze and listened as the shrill cry dragged on. Everything seemed to fade away. The music, the familiar rattle from the coolers. It seemed as if the entire world was content to focus in. Only to fade out, so that alone, this blood curdling scream had center stage. Mid scream Aidan tossed the lettuce in his hand back into the box. He was running down the isle, around the corner and sprinting for the front of the store.

Rounding the corner it was obvious who was screaming, a young woman knelt on the ground in plain site bellowing out. She was holding someone in her arms, blood pooling all around. She stopped screaming as Aidan ran to their side and knelt beside them. The woman's arms were wrapped desperately around a mans chest, clinging helplessly to him. Blood poured from a huge wound in his neck as he convulsed.

It was too late for him and the look on this woman's face said she knew it. She stared blankly at the back end of a check out lane, her lips pursed and trembling, tears streaming freely from her bright green eyes. Aidan had just opened his mouth to speak when another scream erupted behind him. Wheeling around and to his feet he ran past the chip displays at the front of the store.

He spotted it the same time the owner Ralf did. Konni, Ralf's wife was on the ground buried under the bulk of a rather large man as she tried desperately to fight him off. His teeth clamped down as Aidan rounded the corner. Biting deep into her forearm ripping away a massive chunk of flesh. Blood pulsed from the wound and the tone of her screams change instantly from fear to pain. The man lunged again, tendrils of meat still hung wet from his mouth, clinging to his chin.

Babying her wounded arm the man came down biting into the top of her shoulder and neck. Clothing ripped away, her scream intensified piercing Aidan's ears as more flesh came away mixed with the green material of her work shirt. The mans head rocked back from the bite, flesh trailing down his chin as droplets of blood sprinkled his face. Aidan had closed the distance and grabbed the man by the shoulders whipping him backwards, off Konni and onto the ground.

Ralf rushed past him in a blur jumping on the man before he had even come to a rest on his back. Aidan moved in to help contain the man when he caught the first glimpse of his face. Covered in gore, blood dripped from his teeth as he opened his mouth and groaned. Flesh from Konni's shoulder gargled in his mouth as his sorrowful song pierced Aidan's heart. Searching his darkest dreams and dredging them to reality. The man was haggard, his eyes swam in a pale hollow haze, as if he was dying... as if he was dead. Aidan froze petrified as his mind tried to process what his eyes beheld.

He suddenly wished he had paid more attention to the news over the past week... on the ride to work. They had said something about the violence, something about being bitten. His mind raced to connect the dots, the increasing violence across the city, the looting, the rioting. This man had to be a part of the growing crisis, it was clear that he was sick. Maybe he was infected with that flu bug they were talking about┘ But why was he biting people?

Ralf was on top of the man punching him repeatedly. There was a sharp crack when his nose gave way. Ralf punched on. The man clawed up at him and when Ralf had finally spent his rage he grabbed at one of the mans outstretched arms to turn him over, yelling. "Get on your stomach!" He had the man flipped and was reaching for his hand cuffs all the managers carried.

He was just putting the cuffs on the first arm when this haggard man grabbed Ralf's opposite ankle with his free hand. Ralf's patience had been spent moments ago, he tightened down on the arm lock until there was an audible sound of bones snapping. The beaten man continued pulling himself for Ralf's ankle. Oblivious to what should have been excruciating pain. Something else popped in his arm as he dove the remaining distance to Ralf's ankle and bit fiercely into it.

Ralf screamed as the man bit through his pants, through flesh and muscle, shredding tendons down to the bone. Blood instantly soaked through his pants and Ralf fell onto the service counter holding himself up through sheer determination. Taking his free foot he stomped viciously onto this mans head repeatedly until he could free his bitten ankle from the mans grasp. "Do something!" He screamed as he stumbled past Aidan in obvious pain. The man on the ground had yet to show any signs of pain and slowly began lifting himself from the ground. He stood wobbling, as Ralf continued screaming at Aidan to act.

Yet he stood silent and motionless as the man turned, the sight of his face disgusting to lay eyes upon. From the punches and subsequent kicks, his nose had literally been caved into his head. His right eye socket was shattered and collapsed giving his face almost a deflated look. Blood poured freely and covered most of his pale bluish skin. He lifted his head and moaned, the chunk of meat he had stripped from Ralf's leg fell from his mouth wetly slapping the ground as it landed.

It was then that Aidan noticed... A huge chunk of flesh was missing from the right side of his neck. The edges of the wound ragged, the front of his shirt covered in blood down the right side. As if he had been bleeding before all of this┘ as if someone had bitten him prior to this mess. Again Aidan berated himself mentally for turning the news in the morning when they had spoken of being bitten. Everything was wrong and he had yet to figure any of it out.

"Shoot the fucker!" Ralf screamed from behind him, but Aidan wasn't willing. The man was sick, of that he was sure, but he couldn't take the mans life, the guy needed help. "Sir, I need you to sit down, were gonna get you some help ok?" Aidan pleaded with the man looking to regain control of the situation. He didn't appear to hear a word spoken, his head rolled drunkenly between his shoulders as more blood spattered to the floor.

"Do it Aidan!" Ralf screamed. Aidan spun shooting him an evil glance before turning back to the man still regaining his balance near the counter. He needed to move fast if he wanted to save anyone. He had noticed there was a lot of blood on the floor around Konni when he had shot Ralf the look. He swallowed hard summoning his courage and took a step towards the man.

"Sir are you ok?" His hand stretched out for the stranger and this time he had his attention. The mans head came upright instantly, his mouth snapping at Aidan's quickly retracting hand. A couple of his teeth broke from the force of the bite, pieces of bone fell rattling to the tiled floor. His gaze fixed on Aidan's with a devilish look, his intentions clear.

The mans arms came up as he took his first staggered step in Aidan's direction and the world froze for half a second. For the first time that morning his mind was clear, the thing was evil and he had to stop it. Not to mention being the target of the beast had him scared out of his mind. There was no way he was letting that freak anywhere near him.

The other half of that second was filled with a defining boom as he put the first of three quick rounds into the mans chest.


	3. Chapter 3

Blood and body pieces exploded out his back. Three .40 caliber hollow point rounds went to work with devastating effect at extreme close range. Aidan's gun tracked him to the ground, only as a formality. No one took that kind of punishment and got back to their feet. Then again, nothing about this situation sat right with him. That in mind he held his weapon on target as wisps of smoke rose from the barrel.

Aidan waited as the man writhed on the ground. People screamed all around him and yet he waited. He knew it could take a few minutes for someone to bleed out but the man was dead. His rounds had torn through to many vital organs, one hole punched neatly through his chest, directly in line with his heart. It shouldn't have taken this long and he was still moving. Fear built as Aidan kept the weapon on target, the guy should be dead and last time Aidan checked, the dead were not supposed to move.

As if that wasn't enough, he sat up groaning, a thick blood gurgling in his throat. Aidan stared horrified at the creature. His finger slowly tightened on the trigger until the pistol jerked back in his hands. Once, twice, three more times. More lead carved through the mans chest shredding his torso as all manner of gore sprayed the chip rack behind him. "Stay down!" Aidan yelled as the creature again fell to its back.

He knew it was pointless, if it took three it would take six. Already the beast was struggling to right itself. Aidan couldn't help but wonder what was really going on in his city. This was no flu bug, this thing wasn't even a man anymore and if the news was right for a change! Once bitten its to late... The thought frightened him. If that was the case, if these demons were the cause of the violence plaguing the city Aidan was in big trouble. In the store alone, at least three more people had been bitten this morning.

Aidan tried to reason his way out of believing what was before him, he couldn't find a way. How many of these creatures were there already? How long did it take for someone to make the change? He began to panic staring down at the creature, as it again began sitting up. The need to run, to hide, overwhelming.

It wasn't his way and right then, right there, he channeled all his fear through the bright tritium sights at the end of his gun. He brought the weapon up, online with the beasts forehead as it hissed angrily. Spraying blood in his direction through a broken mouth. The trigger depressed and the round crashed through the beasts forehead, its head jerking back violently. The body collapsed back onto the ground and didn't move again.

"Aidan!" Jake yelled, as he rounded the corner to the front of the store. He opened his mouth to speak again but Aidan cut him off. "911 Jake." His brother ran past without question and picked up the phone. Aidan was still staring at the corpse he had just put down, unable to look away. Crying, screaming, noise all around. His ears still rang loudly from the multiple shots fired.

So much so, that he almost missed the sound of the sliding doors as they activated. The noise went by unnoticed as he stood stunned and overwhelmed. When they hit the end of there tracks the familiar noise finally dragged him back from the lucid numbness that gripped his entire being.

The realization had him moving, running past the fallen body. "Were closed!" He yelled hoping the unknowing customer hadn't seen to much already. The realization that it could be another of the beasts chilled his heart as he darted around the corner. Luckily, as that person came into view he instantly recognized him. Jimmy had decided to show up .

Late as usual but always there. He could easily see the woman gripping the man in a puddle of blood from where he stood, concern apparent through the dark features of his face. "Turn off the door and lock it." Aidan shouted at him as he took the headphones off his ears. Unquestioningly he turned to comply with the order.

Within seconds the door was secured and the two of them stood silently by the front counter as Jake hung up the phone. "I tried like ten times." he said. Aidan stretched out his arms and shook his head silently asking... And? "Busy." Was his reply.

"She's not breathing!" Ralf's voice quivered as he spoke. His eyes darted around searching the familiar faces at the front of the store. Searching for help, for reassurance, for anything. He was on the verge of losing it, kneeling there next to her body, his wife, his love. Blood had already flooded the ground in a large ring around Konni's neck, she was dead but no one was willing to say it.

"The hell is going on?" Jimmy asked as he turned to stare at Aidan. It wasn't just him either. All eyes had focused attention on him waiting. Maybe it was because he was the older brother, the manager. Most likely because he was the one with the gun. For whatever reason they all looked to him for answers, for something.

He turned away, locking eyes with the first woman he had seen. She was still clinging to the man on her lap sobbing silently. "How is he?" He, like Konni was dead, but it was all he could think to say. Her head hung low, hair covering the sight of her face. Tears bounced freely off the cheeks of the man she held. She didn't need to speak, no one did, they all knew he was gone.

"Well?" Jimmy asked, still trying to figure out what he had walked into. Aidan locked eyes with him as he moved past. "Ill explain later, we gotta go now!" Jake didn't need to be told twice, he jumped the counter as Aidan moved for the door, Jimmy close behind. He turned as they moved. "Come on lady we gotta move."

Her eyes never came of the man on her lap, she didn't care what Aidan said. He called Jake and Jimmy in close and they spoke quietly before approaching her. "I'm not leaving him." She said in a hoarse voice. Aidan knelt down beside her softly brushing the hair from her face. He gently raised her chin until their eyes met. The same green eyes, now glazed in a haze of despair. "We need to get you out of here." Aidan spoke low trying to comfort her, trying to reason. "NOOO!" She cut in, fire returning with new life to her eyes.

They didn't have time for this and to be honest Aidan was a little bit scared kneeling so close to one that had been bitten. Jimmy and Jake both knelt on opposite sides and leaned in gently placing their hands on hers. "Its not safe here, you have to come with us." Aidan pleaded with her. She lowered her head and began crying again as he spoke.

Jake and Jimmy each held one of her hands. "Its gonna be ok." Jimmy said hoping to reassure her. She wasn't budging, her head shook back and forth as more tears ran the length of her cheeks falling onto the loved one she clung too. "No, I'm not leaving." She said, as her head sank further down into her chest.

Aidan nodded to the guys and at the same instant they pulled. Each of them strong, they had no problem easily unraveling her arms from the dead man that she clung so desperately too. Aidan was moving the second he nodded and grabbed a hold of the deceased's ankles. The second her arms cleared his body he pulled back and dragged the body a good ten feet as she screamed, struggling to free herself from the strong arms that held her. A bloody smear stained the floor in the wake of the limp body being dragged from the girl's warm arms.

The boys held on and lead her screaming to the door as Aidan pulled up the rear. Jake held tight around her waist and actually lifted her from the ground as Jimmy unlocked the door and pulled them open. "Ralf lets go!" Aidan ordered. "Now!" He added stopping briefly as the doors opened. It was a waste of breath. Ralf knelt next to his wife's body without moving and Aidan wasn't going to make a fight of it.

He had been bitten. Aidan didn't know for sure that Ralf would change into one of the demons he had so recently faced. But he would rather not take the chance, it was better to leave him. The doors were open and Aidan moved across the parking lot jogging through the snow to catch the others. Ralf stayed.

"Where too?" Jake asked, he had the woman on his shoulder now and was waiting for direction. "My car." Was all Aidan needed to say. The three of them jogged across the parking lot as Aidan dug into his left cargo pocket for his keys. It was still early morning and cold. Aidan wished he would have grabbed his coat as he turned the key and opened the door.

He pressed the button to unlock all the doors and quickly opened the rear door for Jake to put the girl in. She went in without a struggle and now seemed content to follow. Perhaps coming to grips with the cold reality of the brisk winter morning. Then again, it was possible she no longer cared about herself, her will to live had bled out on the floor with her loved one. Either way, Jimmy got in the other side and they sandwiched her in the back without an escape route.

Keys turned, Aidan threw it in reverse and backed out of his parking space at the rear of the lot. He flipped on the wipers to clear the fresh layer of snow from his windshield before switching to drive... And slammed on his brakes not two seconds after the car began lurching forward.. "NO!" Aidan threw the car in park and slammed his right hand repeatedly onto the dash board. "What?" Jimmy asked. "Lets get outta here." Jake cut in, Aidan ignored them.

He opened his door and left the car running. "Ill be right back, stay low and keep your eyes peeled. I left my bag inside." Whether they heard it all or not he really didn't care, he was already turned back and running for the open doors to the store. "What about your bag?" Jimmy shouted from behind him but he ignored the question. He was already slowing as he neared the open doors to the store, afraid of the possibilities that had already become realities in his mind.

Aidan could hear Ralf screaming before he entered through the open doors. Out of sight, somewhere in the store, a desperate cry, begging for help. The body Aidan had dragged off the girl was gone. The trail of blood the only evidence it was ever there in the first place. "Someone please!" Ralf screamed louder than before and in obvious pain, there was no time for him.

As chilling as his pleas were, they paled when compared to the realization that just now hit home like a ton of bricks. Still Aidan refused to believe it, the dead didn't get up and walk around. He grasped for an explanation, any explanation. Maybe the man wasn't dead! Maybe he was hurt bad but still alive... and Ralf was trying to drag him back to Dave, trying to get help.

Besides, Konni's body was sprawled in the same position it had been when they fled the store. If the dead were up and walking she would be too. It was a stretch, but it was all he had. Aidan simply refused to believe what all of his senses were telling him was now fact. Either way he wanted to move fast in case he was wrong. In case Konni had yet to stand again.

For now she laid still next to the man Aidan had shot, on the ground next to the counter. He jumped it and pulled out his keys to the office. The door opened and he tossed one last nervous glance at Konni's body before entering. The office was small, Aidan grabbed his coat of the hanger on the far wall only feet away and slipped it on while sparing a glance at the stores security cameras.

For years a single camera mounted above the pop coolers at the front of the store captured the grainy images of customers coming and leaving as they entered through the main doors. Following the first armed robbery that all changed. Ralf had decked the store and parking lot out with fifteen new cameras that gave anyone watching a pretty good look at most spots in and around the little store.

The results paid in full when the store was robbed a second time shortly after. The cameras captured most of the action including a gun battle that had left one of the robbers dead on the store floor. A second limping away with multiple gunshot wounds and a third leaving the other two in his dust as he ran for his life. They also captured the frightening incident in full, allowing the manager responsible for the shootings his due credit as a hero leaving him free of investigation.

Aidan was hoping the cameras would give him a glimpse of Ralf before he left. He scanned the tiny screens quickly but the only movement to be seen was Dave in the back room working on a pallet and stacking his product on a flattop. Aidan grabbed the phone in the office and flipped on the intercom. "Dave, get out of the store." He paused for a moment. "And be careful on your way out, bad stuffs brewing." Aidan hung up the phone and watched as the big man turned from his load and began a slow walk to the front of the store.

He would want answers but Aidan didn't plan on being around when he showed up to ask. He grabbed his bag off the ground and shouldered it, pausing only to unzip it and remove the magnum. Enough time had been wasted already, he needed to get out, he needed to get home. Aidan popped the cylinder to verify it was loaded for his own peace of mind. Brass shined back at him, the cylinder slammed home and he opened the door.

She stood feet from him, her green shirt soaked red with blood. Aidan stared into her glazed brown eyes as the door closed behind him. In one motion he cocked the hammer and brought up the .357 as she hissed hungrily in his direction. His heart sank and a fear that was becoming all too familiar welled in his chest. "Please don't." It was a worthless plea, he knew it before the words left his mouth.

The man before her, he was a complete stranger and Aidan had struggled to act. Each tug on the trigger pulled him further down a road he feared travel. He had been raised by both family and society to respect and protect life at all costs. His conscience said no while his most primal instincts told him to squeeze. This was someone he had known for years and in the half a second he had to think he knew he wouldn't be able to do it. Until she moved.

She took her first step towards him and he pulled the trigger without hesitation. Fire erupted from the barrel, the weapon bucking in his hand as a .357 magnum jacketed hollow point round made its best attempt to rip her head off at the shoulders. Blood and brain matter mixed showering the milk display to the rear as her face exploded out the back of her head.

Aidan couldn't help but stare as her body collapsed limp to the floor. His insides twisted in agony as the realization of his action set in. What was a breathing person so few minutes ago. A friend of his lay dead and mutilated on the ground. His eyes drifted slowly up from the gruesome scene as his mind searched for the answer.

He prayed silently for God to make it go away. He begged to be waken from the nightmare he lived. Aidan closed his eyes, Ralph's screams fading as his mind overloaded, unable to maintain reasonable thought. He felt as if he was drowning helplessly, his feet still attached to the ground. His body tingled and the world disappeared in the darkness of his mind. He was going to faint and he knew it. Each breath came labored as little droplets splashed rhythmically into his watery tomb hypnotizing him further into the trans that gripped his soul. His lungs burned for air as his body shut down.

Yet deep within he was stronger than that, something in the back of his mind fought through the haze screaming at him to move. The splashing continued as Aidan opened his eyes. Breathing in deeply he watched as wet chunks of brain matter slid from the display, slapping the tiled floor on impact. His stomach cramped and he vomited the apple he had for breakfast onto the floor.

It was time to move. Over the counter and back to the doors. Ralf was still screaming for help. Sad and desperate, it was a cry for an end to his pain. It was to late for him. Dave never made an appearance and for that Aidan was thankful. He doubted he could explain the scene and the front of the store and he wasn't sure he even wanted to try. He ran through the open doors and didn't look back.


	4. Chapter 4

The questions started before the car door even closed. "We heard shots, what took so long?" Jake asked from the back seat. His arm was around the woman's shoulders and she had her head buried in his chest. "Nothing." Aidan responded, as he put the car into drive. "Lets get the hell outta here." Jimmy added, but the tires were already spinning. They hit the street and made a hard left sliding through the turn, leaving a wave of slush in their wake.

Aidan's parents lived only a few short blocks from the store. He wasn't sure just how bad things were, or for that matter would get, but he wanted to be ready. He needed the phone bad and it wouldn't hurt to get the rest of his family moving. "So what's the plan?" Jake asked as they sped down the street. Aidan ignored him and flipped on the radio.

"Safe. We repeat, it has become evident that the spreading violence is a direct result of this new sickness." The four of them sat in silence as the car sped over frozen roads fishtailing its way through the deep snow that had yet to be plowed. "Authorities are urging everyone to seek shelter and to avoid contact with the infected at all costs. Stay away from windows and out of sight. If one of the infected are spotted, residents are encouraged to call 911. Emergency personnel have been called in from all over the state to help battle this growing epidemic."

"We will stay on the air for the duration of this crisis to bring you... What? What do you mean they're here? Outside the building? How many of them are there?" Microphones shuffled audibly on air as the three morning talk show hosts shoved them aside. The voices on air came through distantly as they peered from the windows of their studio, perched high above the snowy streets of downtown Grand Rapids. "Someone call security." "They're everywhere... there has to be at least twenty of them." A new voice cut in.

"More... look down the street, there are even more coming." "Make sure security gets the doors locked." "Go to commercial!" "We need to get out of..." "GO TO COMMERCIAL!" The air went dead as Aidan whipped the car into a turn skidding his way onto his parents street. The back end of the car glanced of the side of another car parked along the side. He regained control putting the petal to the floor and speeding away without so much as a thought of stopping.

They took the last block in silence as they hurried down the street Aidan had walked so many times as a child. The familiar scenery did little to calm his nerves as he sorted through his clouded thoughts. He would have more time to think on the drive home, to collect himself. The brakes came on houses away and the car slid its way to a stop blocking half of the driveway.

Aidan bolted from the car and sprinted for the house, the others close on his heels as they ran up the stairs to the front porch. The street was quiet, but not one who had been at the store believed it would stay that way. Pushing the door open Aidan stood silent guard as the other three passed through closing it behind them.

Stairs broke to the right leading to the second floor where most of his family probably still slept warm and cozy, oblivious to the woes of a day that had just begun. Past and old French door to the left, the house opened into the living room. Family pictures and holiday decorations smothered the far wall and mantle over the well used fireplace set into the wall, sandwiched between built in shelving. All of it glimmered in the low light of a Christmas tree that alone illuminated the room still dark in the early winter morning.

Presents controlled the immediate vicinity sprawling out from the base of the tree. Already great in number it was a token force. Christmas lived all year round in Dads heart and he spent eleven months of the year getting ready for the take over. His love for the holiday had spread among his young children as they grew and Christmas had become a monster in the DeLeeuw house. Christmas Eve the tree would call in the remainder of its forces for an overnight assault aimed at taking over the living room.

It had come close on a number of occasions and if not for the many volunteers Dad would call in Christmas morning, it just may have. The battle was often long and bloody, between the wrapping paper grenades and paper cuts. The common nerf dart to the eye, even the occasional football to the back of the head. It was a war zone and only the strongest survived. Let alone manage to keep their personal stash from being buried amid a pile of waste paper that would have tree huggers and environmentalists red in the face, stomping their feet and pouting.

Aidan focused back in on the issues at hand, pushing his childhood memories to the back burner. "Dad!" He shouted on his way to the kitchen. Two of his brothers, Ben and Max set down the cards in their hands and looked up from the floor, sleep still heavy in their eyes. Thankfully with Christmas only days away the young ones were all at home on winter break. They could all get out together without delay.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, concern contorting the features of his young face. His gaze followed Aidan through the living room as he waited for a response. Aidan continued on through the dining room and into the kitchen grabbing the phone off the wall and dialing home. Footsteps thundered from above in the old house, pounding down the stairs as the phone began to ring on the other end.

"Hello?" Luisa answered the phone. "Luisa! Is everything ok there?" Aidan asked, speaking so fast he barely annunciated the words. "What?" She asked, as confusion crept into her voice. "What's going on Aidan?" She had probably just recently woken. Evelyn was probably in her high chair eating breakfast. Watching horsy or some other movie that was on her little mind when she woke. The streets around Aidan's house were quiet and clear this morning and the fact that his wife was asking him what was going on was a good sign. It told him instantly that she had no idea what he was talking about. She would soon.

"Luisa listen, I need you to open the gun safe, get everything..." "What are you talking about!" She interrupted. "LUISA!" Aidan shouted into the phone. "Just listen, do what I say." She was silent and he continued. "Get everything out of the gun safe and lay it out. Get all of my camping gear from the basement. Fill up on water and pack a couple of bags for yourself and Evelyn."

"Aidan, your scaring me!" She broke in. "Good!" He responded. "Make sure all the doors and windows are locked. Keep the blinds down and do not go outside. I'm coming home and my family is following. We get there and everyone is heading up north. Give your parents a call. Call your family too, tell them to get out of the city." He probably sounded like he had flown the coup, he didn't care. She could think he was as crazy as she wanted so long as she listened. "Your not buying into this flu crap are you?" Luisa asked, trying to get a handle on the situation. Trying to figure out why her husband was talking about loading up and running up north.

"Its not the flu Luisa... its not some riot. The dead are coming back to life." "WHAT!" She exclaimed. Aidan knew it sounded crazy but it was the truth. "Just do what I said, I'll explain it all when I get there. Give Evelyn a kiss from papa." Luisa had begun crying on the other end. "Aidan." She said starting a sentence before he cut her off. "Its gonna be ok. I love you and I'll be home soon, just get things ready." "I love you too." She said, and Aidan hung up the phone.

He hung up the phone and physically felt tension leaving his body. It did a world of good to know they were ok. He glanced at the clock hanging in the kitchen... just past eight. The day was early, she would have things ready and waiting when he got home. Aidan turned to find his family in the living room talking excitedly with Jimmy and Jake. The girl they had brought with them from the store sat despondent on the couch. "You guys are ok though?" Asked his dad, talking to the others. "Dad!" Aidan said, coming up behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Were good, grab food and water, load up the van meet me at my house. I'm on my way now, I'll wait for you all there."

His younger brother Ted was home from school for the holiday. "What's going on?" He asked coming up from the basement wiping the sleep from his eyes. He searched Aidan's face, standing in his boxers wearing nothing else but his dog tags. "Go put on your angry pants, we got skulls to bust." Aidan said before turning back to face his parents. "Someone give Nick a call, tell him to meet us there." His dad nodded understanding. "Well, you heard him, lets load it up and head over." His dad said, not for the briefest moment questioning his sons judgment or decision.

With that Aidan was moving back through the crowded living room heading for the door. The room exploded in conversation as he walked past leaving them behind. "Be careful!" He shouted whipping the door open and with that he was gone. Jake and Jimmy could fill them in on all the details. He didn't have the time to retell the story. There would be plenty of time when they regrouped at his house. He leapt from the front porch in the same fashion he had since he was young. Landing in the snow and sprinting down the driveway.

Aidan was back in his car and throwing slush down the road within seconds of the front door closing behind him. The snow had picked up again, only adding to the bad road conditions. Normally facing these weather conditions it would take a good thirty minutes to traverse the sloppy roads leading back to his house. Today if he wasn't home in fifteen minutes, Aidan was going to be pissed.

The Cutlass turned right sliding onto Burton, heading east amid a flurry of other cars. Aidan obviously wasn't the only one with somewhere to go in a hurry. Burton was one of the major east, west roads on the southeast side of the city and cars sped in both directions down the snowy pavement. He could only hope he found the other roads less congested or he would be in for one long and dangerous ride.

A large accident already blocked the majority of the intersection before him. Aidan whipped the car into the empty oncoming lanes and jumped the curb into the parking lot of a party store. He managed to squeeze between a couple of cars stuck behind the accident and took a left stomping on the gas as clear roads greeted him ahead. Eastern would take him north a good two thirds of his way home before he would have to turn again.

The neighborhoods he would pass through had been engulfed in the supposed looting and rioting for the last week. After what had transpired already this morning he had no doubts he would surely see more of the creatures along this path. It didn't really bother him. He had dealt with them already, he could deal with more if the need arose. Aidan decided it best not to worry about the what ifs as his car crested the small hill he had been climbing.

The brakes locked and released as the ABS kicked in desperately trying to bring the vehicle to a halt while allowing the driver some control over the vehicle. It came to rest not two feet from the van in front as Aidan blew out a deep sigh of relief. Onward down the hill a good twenty cars lined the road to the front. "You have to be kidding me." Aidan said aloud to himself. Of all the lousy luck there would be a train blocking traffic today. As big a hurry to get home as he was in Aidan probably wouldn't have waited even if it was moving, which it wasn't. He shook his head in frustration, there was no choice but to go around it. He would have to find another path home.

He reached for the stick to throw his car in reverse still shaking his head at his bad luck when the world exploded around him. Glass exploded as his head jerked back, violently slamming into the seat cushion. He was helpless as his car slammed the back end of the car to the front. Aidan clenched up, bracing as his body hurled forward a half second after smashing through the bumper of the van. His head slammed against the steering wheel, a wave of pain coursed through his body numbing his senses.

Somewhere, someone was screaming, Aidan slowly unbuckled his seatbelt as pain came in waves across his body. He knew he had to get out, if someone was hurt┘ he should try and help. He felt dizzy and his vision was waving. Trying to focus, he reached for the handle to open the door as his vision tunneled. There was the slightest shard of a light left as his fingers blindly found the handle. Aidan tried to pull it open but his strength was gone┘ along with the last of the light. He fought the darkness for a few seconds willing himself back. Sleep won.


	5. Chapter 5

It wasn't that Luisa didn't believe her husband. Even though the quick conversation they had on the phone made no sense. She did what he asked. Popped the safe and pulled all his gear up from the basement. She turned the radio on as she set about getting things ready. Hoping for answers, praying her husband was only joking.

He had a habit of taking serious jokes just a little to far. Like the time she was over for Sunday dinner while they were still dating. It was mothers day and instead of a card for just that. Aidan had given his mother a Happy Grandmothers Day card. "Me and Luisa have something to tell you." He had said as his mother opened the card, her eyes going wide upon reading the cover. Her first instinct was correct, that her son was joking. But Aidan had kept at it just long enough to convince his mother for the briefest of moments that it was true. Luisa hoped this was another of those instances. That her husband was only being a jerk, using the circumstances in the city to give her a little scare.

The radio quickly dispelled any hopes of that scenario, every channel was devoted to reporting on the plague sweeping the city. It seemed the disease spreading for the last week could no longer be contained, deaths had reached a critical number overnight and people were to stay of the streets at all costs. Aidan wasn't joking and Luisa was terrified. But Aidan would be home soon, he would know what to do.

The problem was as time passed he didn't show. She had tossed Evelyn into her highchair and put breakfast before the two year old. She would make a mess, but she would feed herself. She popped the gun safe in their closet and started trips down to the basement. Luisa threw all of the gear from the basement in a pile on the living room floor. She packed a quick bag of warm clothes for her daughter, another for herself. By that time cars were pulling up, her in-laws.

Nick was the first to roll into the driveway, his Eclipse tossing snow as it revved down the driveway. Luisa met him at the back door and welcomed him in from the snow. "Aidan's not here yet?" Was all he had time to ask before the van was pulling in, followed by Jaynna's Taurus. Her family spilled from the vehicles, running through the falling snow to the back door. The two dogs howled and yipped in excitement jumping up to greet people as they entered.

"You guys see Aidan on your way?" Nick asked as the rest of the family filed into the house. "He left before us, he's not here yet?" Michelle, their mother asked. "Tony, did you here that?" She asked as their Dad, the last into the house closed and locked the door. "I'm sure he's fine Shelly. He probably just got stuck in traffic." It wasn't enough for their mother. "I don't like this one bit." She said as she began to pace. The woman had given birth to ten children and no matter how old and big they had grown she still felt the need to protect each and every one.

Evelyn was by now surrounded by a flock of aunts. Luisa passed them by to finish packing her bags. It was then that she noticed another woman on her couch. The woman didn't look like she was up for a talk and Luisa was in a hurry. She had to finish packing. Ted was already in the closet passing weapons and ammunition from the safe. Aidan had taken his younger brothers shooting a good number of times. They would go camping, stomping off into the woods looking like they were ready to fight a guerilla war. She always thought they looked a bit silly, but the thought comforted her now.

Luisa was just glad Ted could handle the weapons. Aidan had explained their operation to her on a number of occasions but she didn't remember much of anything. Not only had Ted trained with and fired them. Aidan had forced his brother into cleaning them after quite a few trips into the field. He probably knew the weapons just about as well as Aidan. Soon the safe was cleared, the weapons passed and the ammo carried onto the coffee table in the living room.

They loaded magazines and racked slides, stuffed rounds and pumped shells. Luisa finished packing within minutes as the rest of her family ran around the house finishing preparations, Aidan still hadn't shown. Soon the entire family had gathered in and around the living room, a heated debate raging. Who would stay and who would go. Luisa sat on the couch next to the stranger she had yet to meet. She couldn't focus on the argument, she felt as despondent as the woman next to her looked. She really didn't care who went, who stayed, she just wanted her husband. And for whatever reason, he wasn't showing.

Her mind drifted as voices raised around her. Unable to concentrate on anything but what had happened to Aidan and where he was. Soon her brothers and sisters were moving to the back of the house packing into vehicles once again. She didn't want to leave, but her brothers escorted her out. They would wait for Aidan. She would have left anyways, she couldn't bear the thought of being separated from her daughter and husband at the same time.

Luisa sat in the van next to her daughter and soon the vehicle was moving, soon the tears were falling. "A madder mama?" Evelyn asked, when she noticed her mother was crying. "Mama just misses papa." She responded, smiling at her daughter who beamed at the mention of her father. "I see papa!" She said excitedly bringing more tears to Luisa's eyes. "We cant see papa right now, ok?" She said. "Ey is he?" Evelyn asked, bundled in her little snow suit. "Papas on his way." Luisa told her daughter as the vehicle turned onto the street.

The van moved slow down the road. Aidan's brothers flanked either side, pacing the vehicles, weapons up. They escorted the vehicles the next block before waving goodbyes and turning back. Things really had to be bad if they were taking things this seriously. Soon the vehicles sped away through the snow. Luisa shot one last look through the rear window at the shrinking silhouettes of her brothers walking in the snow. She couldn't shake the feeling that it would be the last time she saw them. Even worse, she couldn't shake the feeling that she would never see her husband again.


	6. Chapter 6

Aidan kept his eyes closed, taking his first deep conscious breath. Four more followed, cold air filling his lungs each time before he tried slowly opening his eyes. His head still hurt and a quick glance into what was left of his shattered rearview explained the pain. He gently probed the gash just inside his hairline. It was tender to the touch and sent new minor waves of pain as he explored the wound. It had stopped bleeding on its own, but was still gewy. A light snow covered most of the windows baring a view of the outside world.

"How long was I out for?" The words spoken aloud enraged the headache already pounding at his temples. Aidan tried turning the keys to no avail, the car was dead. He turned them again just enough to get power to the electronics and turned on radio. Bright Red numbers stuck a knife through his heart. The display read 11:05. He closed his eyes praying silently that his head was playing a trick on him. He re-opened them looking away, afraid to see the same shine back at him. Another deep breath and he looked up

11:06

Aidan sat despondent, wracking his brain. He wasn't quite sure of anything at the moment but he believed he had just lost three vital hours. His car wouldn't even turn on, Lord knows what would be waiting outside when he opened the door. His family would have by now made it easily to his house. Did they leave like planned? Did they even make it? He had to go, had to move now, even if on foot. The morning talk show hosts were back, and broadcasting later than usual. Aidan sat still, gathering his thoughts and his strength. Afraid of the handle and what waited outside.

"A state of emergency has been declared on the greater Grand Rapids area. Residents at the edges and bordering cities who can safely leave the infected area are encouraged to do so. Major accidents have rendered US131 as well as I96 impassible and anyone looking to leave must seek an alternate route. For those trapped within the infected area and can not get to shelter. You are encouraged to make your way to one of the many collection points setup around the city. These safe zones are currently located at..."

Aidan killed the radio, he didn't care. He wasn't headed for any safe zone. Things had obviously gone from bad to worse in the last three hours but none of it mattered. His family might still be waiting trapped at his house. On foot across the city and through the snow, he had no idea what he would soon run into. It was irrelevant, he would make it. He had to.

The floor of his car was littered with half empty PowerAde and water bottles. He had woken up thirsty and drank down a few of them before mixing the remaining water into two bottles. The bottles went into his shoulder bag. Aidan retrieved the .357 and kicked the cylinder out, dumping the rounds out onto the passenger seat. The six good rounds returned to the weapon joined by a seventh fresh round, the weapon, a Taurus Tracker with a four inch ported barrel then returned to the bag.

He knew they were full, but he wasn't taking chances. Aidan pulled magazines to make sure they were topped off and placed them back appropriately. Lastly ejecting the loaded magazine from his Glock. A model 23 with tritium night sights, the first handgun he had ever purchased. Aidan had fired thousands of rounds through the familiar weapon which was precisely why he carried the gun before all others. He retrieved seven rounds from his bag to replace the seven spent earlier, then slapped the full mag back into the gun. Sliding his finger down the right side of the slide, he felt the round indicator popped verifying a round was chambered, then returned the weapon to its holster. One last deep breath and he opened the door.

The street was quiet as Aidan slowly stepped outside scanning the immediate area for possible threats. Snow continued to fall as he surveyed the immediate area. His car was destroyed, the reality made abundantly clear from the outside. It was a truck that had crashed into the rear of his vehicle. He took his time walking back to the blue vehicle, its hood ruined in a similar fashion to that of his own car.

Aidan was apprehensive as he covered the short distance. The snow crunching underfoot the only noise to break the constant wail of distant sirens. His eyes unable to focus, continually darting from vehicle to vehicle, house to house. Every second outside amplified the growing feeling of impending doom. He had been unconscious for the better part of three hours and no help had responded. The distant sirens came and went but had yet to close on his location. He wasn't naive, if they hadn't shown in three hours they simply were not coming.

An unhealthy line of cars stacked against each other backed up the entire distance of the hill to the south. The truck to his rear may have been the first to impale his vehicle, but it was far from the last succumbing to slippery roads and stalled traffic. The driver of the truck was still hunched over at the wheel easily visible through the broken windows. "You ok?" Aidan asked while leaning against the door of his vehicle. He didn't expect a response and reached for the handle pulling the door open. The man was middle aged, a light scruff covered his neck and face in a dark brown, asides from the facial hair his color was bad.

Aidan reached out cautiously placing two fingers against the pale blue skin below his jaw line. His skin cold to the touch, no pulse to be found. There was nothing to be done. Aidan left the door open, taking a few steps back, this time paying more attention to his surroundings. A good number of the vehicles in the metallic conga line sat silent, doors open and fresh tracks leading back up and over the hill.

Many of them remained closed but Aidan left them be. He didn't have the time to check them all. Not to mention, the stomach to find out how many waited dead behind door number one. He argued with himself that some might be hurt, in need of help waiting in pain as he had been. If they were he didn't have the resources to even begin dealing with the trauma he would surely find trapped and bleeding in the pile up he had just walked out of.

He paused briefly, rationalizing his decision then began walking down towards the train. It sat as it had hours before, still, motionless on the track. The cars he passed likewise sat motionless and empty, the few with closed doors he looked quickly past. There was no one in sight. Thick patches of red dotted the road in several spots daring to break up the overpowering layer of white that laid claim to the street. Others must have been injured, or worse.

It was surreal walking down a street he had passed over countless times before. These blocks usually bustling with traffic and pedestrians now sat still. Amid distant sirens, the world felt silent. So empty, so strange... so alone. Save the howling wind that almost cried as it swept past Aidan, he very well may have become trapped in the silence of his own mind. Doomed to battle the demons that lurked in every empty car, in every snowy shadow. Sealed in the emptiness that was this stretch of road, so cold and distant.

He had half a mind to return to his car, close the door and wait for help. It would have to come eventually and he would be safe there. His car had kept him safe all these years without fail. Even amid the terrible accident he was in the process of walking away from, the Cutlass had stood its ground one final time. He glanced over his shoulder at the familiar vehicle beaten and crumpled between two other vehicles. It was the only familiar thing he had left and he found it surprisingly difficult to walk away.

Aidan paused briefly, half turned between the train and the safety that was his old car. In his mind walking away from the vehicle amounted to walking away from safety. It wouldn't move again but it could still protect him. The lie built in his mind giving way to a complacency that would surely have cost him his life had he given in.

He had to get home and he knew it. Nodding at the hulk of his car he turned his back on it, and began to walk away as the wind picked up. Maybe the bump on his head was worse than he thought. Everything about the world seemed content to play into his fears. Even the wind had found a way to transform itself into something strangely eerie. Aidan had heard the wind howl before, he had heard it whistle even rustle through the trees. What he had never heard before was the way it cried today. He paused briefly listening in as it swept over him, when he realized it wasn't the wind that cried.

The sounds of hungry moaning filled the air, carried onward by the cold wind. Aidan froze listening, panic gripping his heart as the voices rose in volume, calling to one another across the distant snowy blocks. They had to be close by, he couldn't move. To afraid to look back, he gripped the strap on his shoulder bag and ran. His eyes locked onto the rail cars as his legs pumped furiously.

Unwilling to glance even briefly to the side he bolted as fast as possible straight for the train. Aidan knew it was stupid but it kept him going. If he didn't see them, they didn't exist, it was down right childish and he clung to the belief as he jumped a coupling between two cars and hit the ground ready to run.


	7. Chapter 7

Landing on the other side of that train was another world. He would have jumped right back over, had his path home not been directly through these streets. The line of cars Aidan left on the other side was matched by a eerily similar line leading off in the opposite direction. The possibilities he had fled afraid from daring not to look... They were realities on this side. Blood soaked the ground half a block up as a group of monsters feasted on at least one victim. A stream of blood cut a crimson path through snowy sidewalks.

Aidan ran fast and low to his left, diving behind the abandoned cars and covering himself from the sight of the feasting. As luck would have it, he went unannounced. He closed his eyes and blew out the long breath he had been holding since landing just this side of Hell. The images already burned into his mind followed easily through closed eyelids filling his mind with the vision of the three feasting on the fallen.

Large chunks of flesh stripping away from the ragged body as the damned feasted. Blood soaking the clothing they wore into death, oblivious to the cold. One of the three was shirtless. Blood ran freely down his open chest splashing a vibrant red to contrast the cold blue that underscored what had once been a dark brown color of skin.

Aidan opened his eyes taking in deep slow breaths and calming himself. He was armed and in good shape, there was no reason for him to panic... at least not yet. He glanced back at the devilish scene, taking in his surroundings. He had to move and he had to move quick. The longer he stayed here the greater the chances he would be discovered.

The feasting were focused in on their meal and Aidan crawled from car to car on his hands and knees. Slush sent chilly needles through the bare skin of his hands. He wanted desperately to stop and warm them, but the sound of flesh being stripped from the bones was enough that he kept on. He scrambled quickly past the group and crawled another half a block past them before stopping to shake his hands dry and warm them.

Leaning against a car Aidan spent the next few minutes blowing warmth back into his hands before continuing on. His knees already wet and cold, would have to wait. More of the monsters were wailing nearby and he wanted to get as far away as possible. Staying low he ran along the line of cars on up the street stopping occasionally to scout ahead and to the rear. It would only take one of those freaks to spot him and blow his cover.

The area to the front clear Aidan continued on never straying to close to the cars for fear that one of the damned waited out of site ready to grasp out and pull him in. The blocks fell quickly underfoot as the cold air scratched at the back of his throat. He soon found himself at the corner of Franklin and Eastern. Breaking away from he line of cars he had been shadowing, he passed quickly over the sidewalk to the corner of an old apartment building that stood at the corner.

The blocks meant little in general but the world to Aidan. Familiar with his path home like the back of his hand. He had labeled numerous intersections as checkpoints or goals if you would. Franklin and Eastern was checkpoint/goal number one. When running he had always pushed himself onward in a similar fashion. If he could make it to a certain point in the run he could push on to the next. Once he made it to that point he could find the strength to make it the next leg.

It worked to motivate him through some long and grueling runs throughout his life and he didn't know why it wouldn't work now as well. If nothing else it gave him small goals to overcome and keep his mind occupied on moving forward instead of focusing in on the death that gripped the city. He wasn't ignorant to his circumstances but feared a shutdown should he focus all his energies on the overwhelming problems at hand. Section by section he could handle. In the back of his mind he knew the goal was home, but for now he only needed to make the next leg of the journey.

Aidan moved slowly to the corner of the building glancing quickly around the corner. He spotted one of the infected stumbling about halfway down the block. Nothing close caught his eye so he peaked his head around for a longer look. There was the one he spotted earlier dropping down out of sight. Another head bobbed up coming into view over the trunk of a small car. Flesh hung loosely from its mouth as it chewed eagerly at the meat.

The monsters must have had another victim on the ground. He continued scanning the intersection as gunfire erupted in the distance. They were the first shots he had heard since waking up and they stirred something inside. A distant comradely for a stranger unseen, engrossed in the same nightmare he found himself party too. He knew there had to be others alive, it was just nice to hear them. Whoever they were he wished them luck and hoped they were giving these beasts hell.

There was something childish and simple about having someone else. Knowing that others were experiencing the same evils, fighting the same battle. It garnered a confidence inside, Aidan knew he was going to be ok. As if to underscore his newfound confidence, a woman began screaming uncontrolled and irrational. Then again what was rational about anything that had happened today. In the mess that had become the city there was absolutely no way of localizing the screams. They could be bouncing of any walls and coming from any number of blocks surrounding his area.

Either way, the screams cut off quickly, hopefully whoever she was had gotten safely away. Her cries of fear echoed in Aidan's ears, a reminder of the stakes. Confident, yet grounded he set off across the intersection low and quick. He hit the other side taking cover between the ongoing line of cars and buildings then continued on north for his next mental checkpoint. A few blocks away and up a rather big hill, he was making good time and planned on keeping it that way.

The more blocks he passed in silence the more the urgency of the situation dawned on Aidan. It was becoming abundantly clear that these monsters were spreading at a rapid pace. The deeper into the city he moved the louder the battle grew. Gunfire rose to the skies echoing on a cold wind that came blowing snow, determined to keep visibility to a minimum. He had traveled nearly two blocks amid the crescendo of one battle. The only noise loud enough to pierce the constant gunfire erupting were the screams. Those of the damned, the dead... and the dying.

On more than one occasion Aidan found himself tempted to stray from his course in an attempt to locate the survivors battling it out. Choosing instead to stay his course and follow the seemingly endless line of cars onward into the unknown stretch that lay ahead. Many of the vehicles passed sat silent and abandoned, more showed signs of damage as he continued on. A few spots even contained multi car pile ups much like the one he had so recently walked away from.

Aidan weaved his way among the metal hulks peering through the heavy snow. Searching the horizon for threats. At times when the wind calmed and the snow died briefly he would catch a quick glimpse down one of the many roads that fed into Eastern. Already they teamed with activity. The dead and the living locked in a battle for their streets... Their neighborhoods. A battle in which only the winner walked away. The poor info given had taken to long to get out. Now it was to late and the living fighting to survive only enlarged the problem in their desperate attempt to stifle it. Everyone that fell added to their numbers as the beasts multiplied rising from death to stumble about in the cold streets.

Aidan paused briefly at the bottom of a long hill that would take him to his next checkpoint. Squatting along side an abandoned dump truck he briefly caught his breath surveying the steep road ahead. Sirens whined and gunfire continued in the distance. Blending into a symphony of chaos as if to accentuate the screaming that now seemed endless and constant. A rather large graveyard composed the entire block to west, sitting off to his left. It would continued on for another block at the top of the hill.

His uncle had taken him through the park with his brothers what seemed like ages ago. The cemetery boasted some of the oldest markers around. If his memory served correctly a good number of civil war vets and soldiers occupied many of the crypts that littered the large expanse. He had peered into them wide eyed and apprehensive as a boy. Hoping to catch glimpse of something macabre, perhaps gory as his little imagination had run wild.

Now he wanted nothing more than an uneventful trip past as quietly as possible. The ideals of ghosts and ghouls so appealing to the young mind no longer seemed so far fetched. The way the day had been going Aidan really didn't think it would surprise him to see some apparition rise from one of the old crypts to walk once again amongst the living.

Rise or not there would be at least one shadowy visage moving along the graveyard. Aidan had every intention of moving like a whisper in a dream, silently past the old markers. The only evidence to his presence the tracks he left in his wake as he weaved between the line of cars beckoning him into the distance. Falling snow covering any evidence that the shadow had passed through at all. Half a dozen of the monsters walked the block oblivious to the warm flesh that ran quickly by... and then it was gone.


	8. Chapter 8

Aidan crested the hill leaving them to wander behind as he moved through the intersection of Eastern and Hall. His second mental checkpoint, he was making good time and best of all, had managed to avoid contact with the diseased thus far. The intersection had a couple of the monsters walking around. Empty searching eyes scanning the crossroads. Aidan bolted low for the middle splitting a couple of cars and pausing between them to regain sight of all threats.

His head came up slowly, peering out from between the vehicles eyeing the dead, visualizing their paths.

THUMP

To his left movement inside the car he leaned against jolted him into action. Springing to his right, he slammed into another abandoned car. His heart racing, reaching for his pistol, he ignored the wave of pain that shot through his shoulder. Jerking it free of its holster, quickly placing it between himself and the unknown threat waiting in the car. Aidan started inching slowly away, the weapon on target. Still to afraid to take his eyes from the car as his instincts screamed for him to run, to move faster away from the unknown.

Yet something nagged at the back of his mind and he found himself stopping... then moving back towards the car and noise that had spooked him. The beasts would have been moaning, relentless in their attempt to escape the car. Or so he figured as he moved in close, peering through the frosted windows. The dark outlines of two small frightened faces pierced the ice coated windows staring back.

Aidan glanced over his shoulder locating the diseased before reaching for the handle and pulling the door open slowly hoping to avoid any noise... any attention. It came open to the sounds of a low whimper as the little girl farthest away fought back tears that had obviously fallen just moments before. Their hair braded in similar fashion, huge brown eyes gleamed with life begging Aidan in a silent plead for help. The family resemblance was instant and Aidan knew right there he couldn't leave them alone. Not here... not now.

"Where are your parents?" Aidan asked, his voice low, eyes darting from the girls to the dead wondering close by. "We don't... know... where mommy... went." The older of the two managed to stutter out, in between deep breaths that often accompanied a long cry. "Lets get those sear belts off, you guys are gonna come with me ok?" The older one nodded approval and began unbuckling herself while the younger one continued to whimper and look around confused and sad.

Even the low whimpering had Aidan on edge afraid that one of the damned would catch the noise. "Shhh, honey its going to be ok, we have to try and be quiet ok?" He hoped she would listen, if they were spotted things would get interesting in a heartbeat. Relieved Aidan watched as she nodded reaching down to unbuckle her seatbelt.

Spotted or not, the young woman four cars down on the opposite side of the road wailed into the wind. The empty lament sending a fresh wave of fear through the little girl. Her eyes widened as the notes sang out, her head searching for the source of the sad song. Tears sprung instantly to her eyes and ran freely down the little brown cheeks that already carried a tint of red from the previous round. "No honey!" Aidan pleaded, waving her out of the car as he bit down on his cheeks, willing her not to start.

The little lips began to quiver and within seconds, her mouth opened. She was so young, so scared. There was no way to explain any of it. No way to comfort the nightmares she now lived, the fears that only mom and a hug could chase away. She wanted it all to stop... she cried. Low at first, the sob growing as it continued until it pierced the silence of the block.

Aidan couldn't blame her. His face was a bloody mess, he was a stranger and to her he probably looked just as bad as the rest of the monsters that would come for her. He came up slowly daring a look and willing them not to hear. From all sides they moved in, drawn to the sound of the little girls cry. The older of the two was already outside the vehicle and from the look on her face she would soon be crying right alongside the little one.

"Stay put." Aidan ordered her as he unslung the bag from his shoulder setting it in the snow beside her. He dove into the car as the dead closed the distance. They had very little time and he needed to have her unbuckled and out five minutes ago. His plan like most good intentions fell far short of the goal. He must have looked like a demon straight from the bowls of hell. Diving into the car and reaching for the already traumatized girl as bloody as he was.

The look on her face went from sad to fearful in an instant. Her screams raised in pitch as he reached for the buckle. She kicked and slapped at his hands hell-bent on keeping him a safe distance away . Taken back by the vicious onslaught Aidan retreated for half a second. "Its gonna be ok, were gonna go find your mom ok?" He hoped it would be enough but there was no time. The buckle was on the far side of the car and he leaned over the girl taking the little shots all over his arms as he reached for the button that would release her. She slapped at his face, her fingernails digging into skin as she clawed franticly down his cheek.

The belt snapped free and Aidan backed quickly from the car. He got to his feet outside only to find that time was up. One of the damned had already closed in, shuffling its way past the hood of the car onward down towards the little girl in the back. Blood soaked the mans shirt and a bloody stain ran from his mouth, down his neck. His eyes an empty soulless white. It moaned as it made its way along the side of the car.

"Honey we have to go." Aidan whispered. The older girl outside had leaned in reasoning with her little sister as Aidan pulled his glock and tracked the beast on the opposite side of the car. It continued on oblivious to his presence apparently more attracted to the movement and noise coming from the backseat. He shot a quick glance over his right shoulder then off to his left. The others were not far off, the girl needed to come out now. Focusing back in on the closest, Aidan could hear the slush beneath its feet squishing out as it worked its way to the back of the car.

It passed the driver side rearview and the backdoor popped open. "No! This way!" Aidan shouted, but the little one was already out the wrong side. The dead reaching eagerly for her, its arms stretching down for her quivering little form. Inches from her face she screamed with all that she had and Aidan squeezed.

BANG!

The round had no trouble entering the skull at that close of a range and the monster fell to the snow where it would twitch but stay to rot come spring. Both girls now screaming, Aidan grabbed the older one by the hand. Helpless but to watch as the little one ran through the intersection away from them. Away from them and into more of the monsters. "Sweetie stop! This way." Aidan yelled after her, dragging the older sister around the front of the car. The little one turned to look back at him but kept running.

The woman to his right had closed in and Aidan fired a round into her head rocking her back. Before the torn body could hit the ground he scooped up the older girl as she screamed after her sister. "ALEXIS COME BACK! HES GONNA HELP!" They rounded the car and passed between another set in pursuit. Alexis continued to look back at her sister but had yet to stop.

By the time she turned her head to face the direction she was running she was feet from more of the monsters. She screamed and darted to the left as they reached for her. Again she ran as fast as her little legs would take her. Aidan was pounding through the snow as fast as he could go trying desperately not to lose his footing. Alexis did, falling forward into a roll that would carry her the entire length of the rather steep hill she had been atop.

Aidan watched her go and ran carefully past the few monsters remaining. Keeping his distance he started slowly down the hill after the girl, her sister in his arms screaming his ear off. The hill angled down to the west and carried on for almost an entire block. Thankfully very few of the monsters covered this stretch of road. However the few there were, had all either taken after the girl or changed direction to come for Aidan and the girl as they followed behind. They had made it about half way down the hill when the little one came to a stop near the bottom. She pulled herself into a half sitting position and just sat there crying while they hurriedly made it the rest of the way down.

She was soaking wet and shivering by the time they reached her. Aidan set down the older girl and picked up the little one. "Sweetie we gotta get you dry ok?" She gave him a big nod in response as her teeth chattered uncontrollably. He pulled her in tight to his chest and turned to the older girl. "Stay close and follow me ok." Her head bobbed nodding approval rapidly. Aidan quickly surveyed the streets before turning to his right and taking off down the street.

He was off his original path now but there was no way he was taking a walk up that hill in these conditions. Not to mention about a dozen of the monsters were making their way down it to his location. It was a minor setback really, one more checkpoint to add in, a few more blocks to travel. He hadn't planned on the detour, then again he hadn't planned on having two little girls with him either. None of it mattered, they were where they were and the girls were with him now.

The younger girl shivered against him, reminding him that she was in no condition to travel far. Aidan held her tight and they moved quickly down the street. The older girl stayed close behind and managed to keep pace. The dead coming down the hill wouldn't allow them much time but the street ahead was quiet. Aidan started checking doors, the sooner they got inside and out of sight the better.

If by some chance of Fate the first one they tried opened and the three of them quickly stepped inside. A wash of relief flooded Aidan's body as he stepped inside with the girls shutting the door behind them. The warmth of the house instantly renewed his strength sapped from carrying the girls through the snow this short distance. He took a knee setting the little girl on her feet as he sucked in deep breaths to calm his breathing. Each breath warm and welcoming, the smell of house enveloping him as he struggled to catch his breath.

The feeling of relief washed away a half a second after his brain processed the smells he inhaled so heavily. The feeling of warmth subsided into a near panic as he scanned the rooms the hallway opened into. It was the smell of fear and death come to lay its perfume upon this would be sanctuary. The entrance to the house broke of to the left in what appeared to be a living room, straight ahead looked to be a kitchen. The by now well known, empty groan of the undead echoed from the walls. Aidan pulled the girl back into his arms, backed slowly to the door and opened it.

"We gotta go." He said, ushering the older girl back out the door. On his way out he caught a glimpse of two younger boys stumbling into the hallway, death fresh on their faces. Tears welled in his eyes and he shut the door. He dared not give to much thought to the how and why, he just new it wasn't right... it wasn't fair. As they moved away he could here the boys begin pounding on the door. Leaving them behind, they continued on adding distance, the beating fading with each step added.

They slowly jogged through the snow for about half a block before trying again. One after another finding locked doors. Aidan's arms grew tired and his stamina drained with each door tried. He wanted to set the girl down but he had to get her someplace warm fast. Gutting it out they tried another, then another each with the same negative result.

As they walked down the porch of yet another house a clicking noise to the rear had Aidan turning, at the same time drawing his glock to meet this new threat. A woman poked her head from behind the door "Ya'll bit?" She asked looking up and down the street rapidly, obviously afraid of what waited outside. Afraid of what might spot her. "No." Aidan responded as he lowered his gun. "Come on." She said, as she motioned her head back into the house and the three of them ran back up the stairs quickly moving inside. The older woman locked the door behind them the second they were clear.


	9. Chapter 9

Aidan set Alexis down and turned to the woman who had just locked the door. "We have to get this little one dried up and warm." He said, but the older woman was already moving past him. "Come on with me now, my grandbaby is just about your size." The little girl was smiling for the first time as this woman took her hand and led her up the stairs. "Hey do you have any kids my age?" Asked the older of the girls, as she followed the two of them up the stairs.

Left alone to his thoughts Aidan cleared his head and began mentally surveying the house as the girls disappeared up the stairs. Aside from the obvious second floor which the girls had gone up. Windows peppered the walls in almost every room. He dared a quick peak out the front blinds. A single walker had come into view the direction they were heading. Looked to be maybe half a dozen still following them the way they had come. The back of the house revealed another door leading into a fenced back yard. A quick check to make sure it was locked and he was on his way up the stairs to meet with the girls.

The lady of the house met him half way up, on her way down. "Lets you and me have a talk mister." She said, leading him back down the stairs. They ended up in the living room. She sat, Aidan remained on his feet seemingly unable to stop pacing. "The girls are playing but shaken up bad. What happened to them?" She asked. She obviously knew what was going on around town but she wanted to know more... she cared. Aidan didn't know her from adam but he liked her already. "I really couldn't tell you. I found them alone in a car only a couple of blocks from here and decided it would be best to take them with me." He paused briefly, moving back to the front windows and peaking out again.

"What the hell is going on out there?" He asked, it was a half stupid question. He knew what was going on out there. People were wondering around dead, they were eating each other. What he meant to ask was, why the hell is that happening. He locked eyes with her, she knew what he meant to ask. The problem was she had the same question etching lines of fear and doubt across her face.

She broke eye contact and grabbed a remote turning on the TV she had in her living room. Breaking news flashed on the channel displayed. Aidan watched as reporters on the outskirts of the city told tales of horror, fires burning in the background. The female reporter spoke of massive rioting and carnage that was tearing apart Grand Rapids. The cause of these deadly riots still unknown. Police urging everyone to stay clear of the trouble. To stay inside with locked doors until this uprising could be brought under control.

The TV droned on as his mind raced to make connections. It was the same as the radio, there had been a call for evacuation that must have gone out while he was unconscious. The TV switched to a overhead camera showing the center of the mess. Cars lined the roads haphazardly, the highways were bumper to bumper, vehicles covered in a layer of snow, a testament to their abandoned nature. The camera cut back to another reporter. He stood outside in front of what looked to be an accident.

"The evacuation was a doomed idea from the beginning... and soon failed. The road conditions and ensuing panic quickly sealed all major routes in and out of the city. Accidents like the one behind me, the cause of the deadlock. Estimates place as many as 80,000 residents trapped inside. Travel on foot the only means to escape the growing crisis that seems destined to destroy the city."

The reporter paused turning and pointing to his right, waiting a brief moment for the camera to follow his line of sight and focus in down the road. Three of the dead walked along the road a good quarter mile from the reporter. His presence had called to them and they staggered for him with outstretched arms. One of the three tripped on an unseen obstacle disappearing into the snow as the camera zoomed in on the small group.

"As you can see, the infected wonder freely about proving a most difficult obstacle for any brave enough to attempt a escape out on foot. While the disease can only be spread through direct contact, that has done little to stifle the growing numbers of dead now walking our streets. Due to the obvious dangers that accompany an escape out on foot authorities are... OH SHIT!"

The camera scrambled back to the reporter catching his terrified image for only the briefest second as he sprinted past the camera disappearing from sight. "Start the chopper!" He shouted from off screen as the camera panned up and to the right capturing the grotesque image of two more of the dead, stumbling through the space the reporter had recently occupied. The camera captured their bloody visage for the next few seconds and then the camera went wild as the one filming, turned and ran to follow after the reporter.

The channel cut back to the studio where two anchors sat obviously shaken by the recent footage. They traded brief glances, neither one knowing what to say. "Hopefully they were able to get away... we will be sure to keep you updated as to their status..." Another drawn out pause and the other anchor chimed in glancing at his partner in an attempt to regain his composure. "I think that report alone speaks volumes as to the safety of the streets and the dangers associated with any attempts to make a run out."

The channel cut off the anchors going back to aerial footage of the city. Buildings burned freely in many spots and people covered the streets. What used to be people anyways. "We can not stress enough the importance that people secure their dwellings and remain out of sight from the infected." The report continued on as Aidan's mind drifted. His stomach sank and he had to fight back bile in the back of his throat. Things had gone from bad to terrible... and they were getting worse. Best of all, things were terrible and getting worse directly in his path home.

Aidan's attention lapsed, he still couldn't take his eyes off the television. He stared blankly through the screen, through the wall, his mind zoning as the bloody reports continued. "They say it started a week ago when that new flu bug showed up." Gone was the comforting tone that had led the girls upstairs daring to make them smile. "Some flu bug..." She continued. "The disease has been multiplying the entire time. Things got out of control last night and people been dying all day." The TV went on as she spoke.

Aidan blinked breaking the spell that the flashing television had cast. He looked back into the worried face of the stranger who had opened her home. "Things are real bad out there, aren't they." Her eyes began to cloud as she spoke. It was more of a statement than a question, she already knew the answer. She just wanted a reason to hope, reassurance from the strange man inside her house. Aidan didn't know if he had either. He just knew he had to get home, and they had to leave soon.

"Can I use you phone?" Aidan asked, avoiding the question. "Be my guest." She said, shaking her head as she stood and walked into the other room. Aidan again stared at the TV blankly and she quickly returned handing him a small cellular phone. She sat back on the couch managing to look relaxed as he dialed at the phone and walked into the other room. He hoped for an answer, to hear a friendly reassuring voice. At the same time he prayed that they had gone already. The phone didn't even manage a full ring before the other end picked up, his heart instantly sinking into a bog of worrisome thoughts.

"Hello?" The word came quickly, spoken with a great deal of anticipation, the tone came through with a nervous impatience. "Nick! Why are you still there?" The question went unanswered and immediately lost to the tirade of questions from the other end. "Where are you? What happened!" Aidan could hear his dogs barking in the background blending with another voice shouting something about the front window. "I was in an accident, I'm in route, but most of the streets are gridlocked so im on foot and its gonna be a while."

Boom!

The pop of his shotgun was obvious even over the phone. "Ted!... a little warning? Sorry what was that last part?" Aidan could picture his brother rubbing at his ears as he spoke, shaking off the effects of gunshot. "I said I'm in route on foot and its gonna take a while. Who all is there with you?" Aidan asked. "Just me, Ted and Jimmy, everyone else took off this morning. They made it up to your in-laws before things got too bad."

Another round sounded through the phone. "From what they say only the city is bad, either way they're getting things ready in case this mess spreads. You got a guess on when you might be showing up? The sooner we can get moving the better, things are getting a little... errr hairy around here." More gunfire could be heard over the phone emphasizing the last of Nicks words.

"I got a couple of little girls with me. On foot through the snow if we really, really push it we may make it tonight. Depends on what we run into though. How do things look on that side of town?" The dogs were barking again in the background. "Not good at all." Nick responded. "It's a mess over here, we've boarded up the house pretty good but there are a lot of those things moving around. We put down wood upstairs and moved most of the supplies into the attic in case they manage to get in. Pull up the stairs and we can wait them out for quite a while if need be."

"Either way, we're gonna hold out till you get here, just don't go lollygagging around on us." Aidan chuckled at his brothers last comment and shook his head as if he could see. "Alright then, I'm on my way, but if things get too bad just bug out and head up north. Ted knows the way, just make sure you leave me some supplies." Another round popped over the phone. "Aidan we aint going anywhere, so hurry up and get your butt over here." It was settled, now Aidan just had to make it. "Copy that, just tell Ted not to go and waste all my ammo!"

The line went dead and Aidan stood a little taller knowing his family was safe, the immense weight lifted from his shoulders. He closed the phone and walked back into the living room. "Look we cant stay here." Aidan said handing back the small phone. "Just how you expect us to get outta here then?" The woman asked inquisitively. It was still early afternoon, they had hours of daylight left and Aidan's mind began racing.

"How long until the girls coats..." He stopped mid sentence suddenly remembering he had left his shoulder bag sitting next to the car on top of the hill! "This is not good." He began pacing nervously. "This is not good." Aidan repeated. "What's not good?" The woman asked. "Can you watch the girls till I get back?" She seemed a little put off by the fact that he had ignored her question. "Sure." She said cocking her head to the side and raising one eyebrow.

"Back door." He said, but it was as if she had anticipated the words. She was already moving past the stairs through a small hallway and into a kitchen. At the back of the kitchen a few steps led down to the door, more stairs broke to the right into what must have been a basement. She opened the door slowly. "Its only a few blocks away this shouldn't take long at all, hour tops." Aidan did his best to sound confident. "Ill be right back Miss?" "Its Mrs. Jackson." She cut in. Aidan started to introduce himself but the door shut. Maybe she knew what was about to happen to him, she didn't want to know a dead mans name. Maybe she just didn't care. There would always be time to find out when he got back, at least that's what he told himself.

Hearing the bolt lock behind him, Aidan moved quietly through the back yard and jumped the back fence. A quick run through another yard, along side the house and he was scanning the street. To the right another group had formed, bent over feasting. They had something on the ground and it was enough to keep their attention. Off to the left a few more of the walkers crunched through the snow in the direction of the group already feasting. A lone snowman stood guard in the front yard directly ahead of Aidan. A scarf draped around its neck as the festive being stared blindly off into the street. Oblivious to the cold, oblivious to the death that raged around him. His smile a testement to his indifference. Aidan ran quickly from the house ducking behind the cover the snowman provided. He scanned the street one last time before standing. And when he did he cocked his arm back punching half of the sculptures face off. Then took the carrot nose and stabbed it into the top of the cratered head. If only his sister Juli could see him now. It wasnt that Aidan had anything against the man in white. He just needed a landmark for his trip back and this was far from the only snowman built amid the front yards of this block.


	10. Chapter 10

Time was wasting, Aidan needed to get back as soon as possible to get the girls and head out. He needed to move as fast as possible and took off down the street easily dodging the few walkers along his path. With the girls along he would have to spend more time moving slowly dedicated to staying out of site. That was not the case here, He could easily avoid and outrun anything he ran into alone. He hit the intersection with no problems and started off to the left, heading for the big hill that would lead back to the bag he'd left like an idiot.

Bam bam bam

Someone was firing close by, which really wasn't surprising. If anything he was surprised he hadn't heard more. Aidan was just happy to know he wasn't the only one wandering around in this frozen hell. He stayed to the middle of the street straight up the hill. The walkers from the way down had wandered off in other directions, probably chasing other noises and movement since the last warm flesh passed in this direction. The few that did walk the streets were unfamiliar. The sheer number of the dead walking about had to be overwhelming. For now it didn't matter, alone it was easy to avoid any close contact while still keeping a good pace.

It was a decent jog, enough to get Aidan's heart pumping again. The top of the hill came quick, the only monsters to be seen staggered off to the right far enough away that he could get to his back and head back down long before they could stumble close enough to pose a threat. So long as none of the beasts had camped out low, hidden among the cars it would be a quick grab and Aidan would be on his way.

He slowed moving into the sea of cars weary of the dangers that could lay hidden out off sight. Paying careful attention as he weaved his way back to the car the girls had come out of. Constantly scanning around the trunks and hoods of the stationary vehicles before moving past... and there it was. The rear doors still open to the elements as they had been left not thirty minutes prior. He jogged for the hood of the car praying the bag would still be there. Then froze.

Something in the back of his head screaming. There was movement to the left, Aidan's head whipped to the side desperate to take in full view of this new threat. Movement had apparently caught a glimpse of him. His eyes locked onto the images of five young men coming to their feet from behind various vehicles. They walked tall, to fast to be infected. Aidan relaxed, he smiled at them happy to run into other survivors. Maybe they would come with him, they looked to be in good enough shape. The more able hands he could get on board the better the chances he could get the girls someplace safe.

He had just opened his mouth to speak, as they beat him to it. "Hey!" One of them yelled. "What are you doing in my neighborhood boy!" The tone was aggressive, as was the way they moved for him, rapidly closing the distance, spreading to encircle as they closed in. Aidan had thought nothing of it before, the weapons in hand. Now he was afraid, two of them had baseball bats, another carried a tire iron or some other tool Aidan couldn't quite place. Worst of all two of them had and were raising actual guns in his direction.

That was it, all he needed to hear and see, he was moving as fast and as low as possible. Rounding the hood of the car the same time the first bullets starting bouncing off it. He slipped in the snow turning the corner but quickly regained his feet, driven on with a burst of adrenaline. Thankfully his bag was still there, he snatched it up while running past and continued on for the back of the car as rounds continued to smash into metal, glass and snow all around him.

"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Aidan yelled, crouching behind the car. There had to be a chance they would stop, they were probably just scared like he was. Scared and trigger happy. Either way, he shouldered his bag and snatched for his glock like he meant to chock the life out of it. "Get out from behind that car boy!" One of them yelled as they continued putting lead into the vehicle he hid behind. "Your dead boy get out from that car!" Another shouted, following up his motivational speech with a few rounds that slammed into the metal of the frame.

There was no more time, he had to move fast, the gang bangers were getting close and the walkers coming from the other side were getting closer. Aidan didn't think, he just ran. Out from the left side of the car, he took a few steps and quickly dove back behind the cover the car offered. Rounds tearing through the snow he had occupied a half second before. Crawling he made his way low to the right side and came out in a crouch. As he had hoped, the punks were all still watching the left side. By the time they noticed, his glock was already up as he squeezed rounds off into the first one that crossed his line of fire.

He started right and cut to the left spending seven quick rounds, the barrel climbing with each pull of the trigger. Two rounds cut into the first of them right above his waist, the other took a round in his left arm. The force of the round jerking him sideways giving way for the second round to punch its way through the right side of his chest. Both men went to the ground were they writhed, screaming in pain. Aidan ducked quickly back behind the car, mirroring his previous move and came back out the left side to find the remaining three, all now distracted.

When he moved clear of the left side he came out standing. One of the would be thugs was knelt down with one of his injured friends. The other two were watching the right side and quickly moving to counter his change in position. The remaining one with a gun fired wildly as he turned, hoping desperately to bring Aidan down.

Aidan had always been taught, let them shoot first, you shoot best... and he did. He had a clear line of sight while moving slowly off to his left. Rounds whizzed past harmlessly as Aidan opened fire with deadly accuracy. Three rounds entered center mass on the last gun touting thug as he turned firing wildly into the air twisting in pain. His momentum carried him to the ground in a spin, splashing through slush as he landed. The last two had taken off running before the last hit the ground. Aidan tracked them but held his fire, his heart racing. He thought for sure his chest might burst and took in a deep breath in an attempt to steady himself... his shaking hands.

It was working. Another deep breath and time froze for a second as his heart went from pounding, straight to the wet frozen pavement the instant he heard the hungry moan directly behind him. Aidan tried to run but slipped comically to the ground. he spun to his back and put the last four rounds into the monster standing directly over him. Chunks and blood sprayed everywhere in an explosion behind the creature as Aidan blew half its torso out its back. The force of the shots was enough to knock it to the ground and Aidan was back on his feet moving away as it struggled to regain its own.

Four more of the walkers marched close behind the first. All of them let out hungry moans sending shivers through Aidan's already frozen bones. He changed magazines as he moved past the thugs laying broken on the ground. The last one to go down wasn't moving but the first two he'd hit, while in obvious pain were actually trying to get up. Stopping over the still body of the last one he'd shot, Aidan scooped up the pistol and tucked it into his shoulder bag. He shot one last glance at the others before heading down the hill. They called after their friends crawling slowly in the same direction the other two had run.

It was pointless, their friends were long gone and the walkers were closing in fast. Aidan ran down the hill afraid of the screams he knew were coming. Safety to the winds he sprinted straight down through the snow willing his legs to move faster. It wasn't fast enough, the screams from atop the hill pierced the air and cut into Aidan like a sharpened blade. Choking back tears, he ran faster. His lungs screaming for air, he hit the bottom of the hill and ran on. Through the intersection then down another block .

When he hit the corner for his turn he finally stopped, the screaming had subsided and for a moment as he stared down at the snow covered street, all was quiet. He stood silent and cleared his mind as peace washed over him. He lied himself into believing everything was ok and for some reason... it worked.

He knelt and watched the snow softly falling against the world. Closing his eyes he took in deep breaths of cold fresh air. Each breath bringing with it a deeper state of calm as Aidan floated consciously away disconnecting from the cold world around him. Ten minutes passed and he didn't move. His breath came back, the tired muscles in his legs relaxed as the last of the adrenaline passed out of his system leaving him a bit nauseous.

For a moment he was back home with his wife... his daughter. His dogs were chasing the little cat around the house much to the delight of Evelyn. They all crowded around the window and watched snow fall outside. Evelyn wanted to know when Santa was coming, everything was ok. Aidan daydreamed and the world was right again.


	11. Chapter 11

Trey had run for his life before, but he had never been more frightened. He grew up on the mean streets, he was the streets. "We gotta go back J!" Trey shouted, stopping in the street as his friend continued on. The first screams had already begun behind him. He glanced back in the direction he had come, then looked once again at his friend... still running down the road. "Did you hear me! We gotta go back J!"

J didn't bother to look back this time, continuing on in the other direction as fast as his legs would take him, as fast as the snow would allow. Trey was alone, but there was no way he was leaving the rest of his boys that way. And so he turned back in the direction of the screams, back towards the death... alone. The man responsible for it all had fled. Trey caught site of him running down the hill as he ran in the other direction. There were still a bunch of those monsters back this way, but Trey had to help his boys. His set was his family, he couldn't just leave them to die. There was still time.

It was street code, it was gangster. As J had pointed out, it was thrown out the window all together, all to often. Trey was stronger than that. He was scared, but he didn't know how to walk away. The others he left behind were all he had, and the thought of losing everyone he cared about frightened him more than what he had run from. That fear fueled him onward as the screams intensified pushing Trey to pick up the pace, jogging back the last half of the block... he could still fix this, he had to. It wasn't the first time one of his boys had been shot.

He didn't consider himself one to complain. When you grew up the way he had, it really wasn't an option. Like far to many inner city youth, Trey had no idea who his father was, he really didn't care. His mom was around growing up, but only enough that he knew who she was. He had spent time with his grandmother before she passed. More with his aunt. His mom was always in halfway houses working her way back to jail on her way to prison. She had picked up enough nasty habits young that she never got her life back under control.

Trey had actually gotten his start slangin from his moms dealer. Back in 8th grade, maybe it was 7th. It really didn't matter, school never meant anything to him. He dropped out halfway through high school and did what came natural. Drugs, the streets, they masked his father and took his mother. They owed him everything and he intended to call in that debt. It wasn't like he had anything to lose, anyone to disappoint.

The only people he looked up to, the ones he idolized. The big bosses and the rap stars, they didn't know him, and yet they guided his life. His and the lives of his friends. Trey had been rolling with the same set since middle school, about the same time he had started dealing. Their lives a mirror image of his own, a broken family, a desire for something, anything. Maybe it was the void that had drawn them together, formed the bond. They had each other and it was enough.

Drugs, gangs, fights they did it all step by step, side by side. If one of them was locked up, chances were good that at least one other in the group would be taking the ride with him. Trey was only twenty years old but his rap sheet could go for miles. He was what the courts, the pigs liked to call a habitual, a waste of a life. Maybe it was that lack of basic respect, that negligence on the part of anyone and everyone. That failure to care that led him down the dark road that was his life.

At the same time Trey knew it was his own life, his own fault. He alone controlled the decisions and actions that shaped him. He was ok with it. He had spent the last seven years throwing dope, and he made good money doing it. Breaking and entering was childs play, armed robbery... as easy as breathing. Trey liked to think life was all about opportunity. And when opportunity didn't present itself, Trey liked to make his own. He was determined to make it, he would have his day, his car, his girl, his life...

The disease that had been spreading across the city, his streets, his blocks. It was pure gold, and the authorities had no one to blame but themselves. The news lied, that was nothing new. For the last week they blamed the murders, the rioting, everything that happened on him. At least on people like him. It was the delinquents fault, the criminals that were the problem. It was all bull. Trey and his boys were out stirring the pot, and they were making a killing at it too. But that wasn't the problem... that was the opportunity.

The monsters walking the streets, the dead that rose. They were the problem, the fear, the cause of it all. Trey cashing in was a simple by product of a problem that not even the authorities dared admit existed. The pigs swarmed the area the first day or two, after that they stayed out, they weren't dumb. A week later it was to late for them to do anything. The body count continued to rise while Trey's paper stack grew.

Today had been nothing short of a shopping spree. The call to evacuate had everyone running. The cops, the citizens... everyone. He would be a liar if he said he wasn't scared. His instincts told him to flee with the rest. His desire, his greed, they had been to great. He knew now he had made the wrong decision, he just didn't know how things could have gone wrong so quickly.

The cops were gone, either out of the city or in hiding like the rest. When Trey had seen the man walking down the street,he had only seen the opportunity. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine things going so quickly south. It was just supposed to be a quick snatch. They wanted his wallet, his jewelry maybe his cell phone. They confronted the man and for whatever reason Mike had started popping off shots as the man ran for cover diving behind a car.

Trey wasn't blameless, his adrenaline pumping he had added rounds of his own in an attempt to scare the man into submission. They never even knew the guy had a gun of his own until he popped out from behind the car and started unloading lead into Trey's boys... his family. Next thing he knew, Jeremiah and Dante were on the ground screaming. Jeremiah was the youngest of the group, he was only seventeen. Trey rushed to his side and stared into his eyes as his lil homie convulsed. There was so much blood already, Trey didn't know what to do. He was to scared to act, to scared to move.

A second later more rounds were popping off. Trey spun to watch blood spray as more rounds tore into Mike. His boy went down quick, still squeezing the trigger as he fell. It was to much for him, to much for J. The next thing he knew they were running, sprinting away. Jeremiah was screaming behind him, pleading for help. Trey pumped his arms harder, afraid of the rounds that would soon enter his back.

The second he looked into Jeremiahs eyes he had seen death. Its grasp on his friend complete, it called out to him, and Trey knew right then and there that he would die in that intersection, on that frozen pavement. When the rounds never came and his heart returned to his chest Trey froze. It had only been his imagination running wild on him. He had let his emotions, his fears get the best of him. In the situation he found himself, that realization really didn't surprise him. He had been on edge for days now. Still, his friends needed him, he called out to J, but he knew J wasn't coming back, he would have to return alone.

Jeremiah and Dante had been screaming for the last minute as he made his way slowly back to the intersection they had gone down in. The screaming ended only to be replaced by the haunting moan of the dead. The moans that had become so familiar over the last few days. They had kept him awake the past few nights, but now. Here in this intersection where his set had gone down it scared him more than ever. Mike's body lay still where it had fallen, the snow surrounding it bled red as his life coursed from his veins.

Step by step, inch by inch he closed, making his way through the maze of cars. The monotonous moans of the dead now broken every few seconds by a noise more frightening than their song. The slurping noise of the feasting. Trey brought his gun up, inching his way forward. Their bobbing heads the only thing visible over the hood of a car that hid their devilish scene. He was afraid to look as he took the last few steps around the vehicle and cringed.

It was Dante, those monsters had gotten to him. Trey was ashamed of what he had allowed to happen. Afraid he might vomit, he spun from the scene, biting down on his hand to steady his nerves. He ran to the van behind him, hiding himself from the image, the bobbing heads. He took a few deep breaths through his nose in an effort to calm himself. Dante was gone, their was nothing he could do.

He turned, glancing once more at the bloody scene, the eviscerated body that was his friend five minutes before. It was to much. Trey leaned against the back of the van, lost in thought. He wanted to run, but he refused. He hadn't seen Jeremiah yet, there was still a chance. He psyched himself mentally for what he might find and promised himself not to look at Dante again. Then nodding to himself, he blew out one long breath and pushed off the van.

A step later he was rounding the back of the van and he froze. Face to face with the dead, face to face with Jeremiah. His flesh hung stripped from half of his face, a large chunk of his neck torn away. The white gristle of bone gleamed beneath the bloody mess that was his shoulder. Jeremiah was gone, he was one of them now.

Forgetting all about the pistol in his hands Trey went to run. His friends arms up grabbing hold before Trey could escape. The shifting weight, the snowy ground. It was to much and Trey fell with the dead, his boy on top of him. "I'm sorry." Trey said, staring up into the hollow pale brown eyes that lunged for him... and he was. More of the dead appeared above Jeremiah as he lunged sinking his teeth into Treys neck. His blood was hot as it sprayed across his face, the pain wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Then as quickly as the pain had come, it left. His vision swam before going red as the light slowly dimmed around him. He had been right, death was here and waiting for him in this intersection, on this frozen section of road. He had been right... it was his last conscious thought and the world closed in around him.


	12. Chapter 12

Reality hit hard as wind swept snow peppered Aidan's face. A shot of adrenaline brought him back to the present as he opened his eyes. Four of the monsters were just hitting the opposite side of the street to the left. Standing quickly he shifted his attention to the right. The path ahead was clear and he set off down the road leaving the dead behind to stumble along in the snow. To be honest the path wasn't clear, but it was passable. More of the monsters walked the street since the last time he had covered this stretch. All now shifting attention at the behest of their brethren, slowly giving chase from behind. Drawn by the call of the damned, lured as their cries rode the wind seeking reinforcements in their attempt to feed... to increase they're cursed numbers.

One house passed was under siege by a group of what looked to be maybe a dozen of the beasts. Luckily, for the living they were stupid. Aidan watched as a man and a woman ran from the back of the house, cutting across the yard the same way he was heading. He caught glimpses of them in-between houses as they ran pacing him, but he soon lost sight. He stopped for a moment kneeling alongside a garbage can wondering where they had gone. At the same time checking the area ahead for threats. He shot one last look into the backyards hoping for another glimpse of the fleeing couple. There was nothing but snow, and no way of telling where they run off to. Not to mention, he didn't have the time to find out. He wished them well, taking to his feet. Again heading for the house and girls he had left. The headless snowman he left out front as a landmark was only a few houses down. Just past that he could head for the backyard and jump the fence into Mrs. Jackson's yard.

"Heeeeellllllllpppppp!" A woman screamed. Aidan froze and spun, his weapon up and scanning. It had to be the people he had spotted. They must have run into trouble a few houses back. He darted across the street, then slowly began heading back down the block as he looked desperately for a sign of their location. "Help!" She screamed again. They were close. Aidan turned down a driveway weapon up and made his way cautiously to the back of the house.

To the left, a yard over movement flashed along the back fence drawing his attention. A man was leaning over a six foot fence trying to get the woman below to reach up with her hand... she wasn't moving. Motionless, she stared back at the abomination that was just now getting into range for a lunge. Aidan couldn't fire without risking a round passing through and into her. He ran to his right changing the angle of the shot and aimed low moving closer at a quick pace. The first shot missed to the left as he continued closing. The second one quickly followed, striking the monster in its left knee dropping it immediately to the ground as it put weight on a destroyed joint.

Still, she stood motionless, the monster gurgling as it crawled towards her. Aidan ran, stopping maybe five feet short of the thing, pausing briefly before putting a round into the back of its head. The explosion of blood, bone and brain matter sprayed the area. Including the woman, who by this time was in utter shock.  
"You ok?" Aidan asked, running to her side. "Pass her to me!" The man on the fence said. "My brothers waiting in the car, why don't you come with us." He said as he motioned back over the fence. Aidan could see a car idling on the opposite street through a crack in the fence. "The streets are a mess. You'll never make it out." Aidan said, making eye contact with the man on the fence. "We have to try. Come with us." The man said again. "Cant, I got people waiting for me." Aidan said as he boosted the woman, who still wasn't talking. Up the fence where the man waiting helped her over and down. He quietly wished Aidan good luck, then took her hand and quickly lead her down the driveway to the waiting car.

Aidan watched through the fence until they were safely in the car and moving before turning back and heading again for the house the girls waited in. It was a lost cause. Many of the side streets were still clear, but all the major roads Aidan had passed were stacked with traffic and the heaps of motionless abandoned cars. If he thought there was any hope for getting a ride across the city he would have been in a vehicle long ago. If traffic cleared on the way it was still an option, but for now he would have to go the distance on foot.

Aidan moved back to the front of the house and across the street. A few houses down and he was passing the deformed snowman he'd left behind. Heading to the back yard and fence that would lead him to his destination. The path still clear, he jumped the fence and quietly made his way to the back door. It was locked which was good. Aidan began knocking lightly and waited, turning his attention to the noises that carried on the wind. There was more shooting in the distance. The explosive pops softened by distance and the incessant moans that filtered through the still falling snow. A few of the damned bellowed nearby but out of sight. Thankfully, most of the action seemed to be a safe enough distance away. He began to knock lightly again and the door opened.

Mrs. Jackson closed the door behind him and locked it the second he passed through. The girls were at a table in the kitchen eating soup. "There's plenty for you too." She said from behind, moving past him to fill another bowl with the warm liquid. The girls had stopped eating and were staring at him spoons in hand. A great deal of concern etched onto their tiny faces. It wasn't until Mrs. Jackson set the bowl on the table and looked up that Aidan gave any thought to how horrible he must have looked. The same look the girls carried passed over her face briefly before she summoned the courage to smile. "Come with me so we can clean you up." The warmth in her voice was comforting. And with that she was walking down the hall without the slightest hesitation that he would follow.

Aidan stood in front of the mirror in her upstairs bathroom and tried moving, but all he could do was stare. She had taken his coat claiming she could clean it up. He doubted she would be able to get the blood out, but the gesture was well received and thoughtful. He stood there in wet clothes, a mix of sweat, snow and blood causing the fabric to cling to his body. Aidan shivered, staring into a mirror that painted a familiar man, a stranger at the same time. His face covered in dirt and blood. What looked like small pieces of flesh were drying in multiple spots sticking desperately to his face. The only clean skin to be seen ran from the corners of his eyes halfway down his face. Tears had shed despite his attempts to stifle his weakness. He looked defeated, he looked scared.

At the same time a determined stubbornness gleamed in his blue eyes. A complete contrast to the mess that reflected in his direction. He turned on the water and closed his eyes. He scrubbed long and hard, hoping to wash the fresh memories down the drain, alongside the flesh and blood the came free. He could hear the men from the top of the hill screaming for him, screaming for help. He grabbed the bar of soap of the lip of the sink and washed harder, forcing they're pleas from his mind.

Tears mixed easily into the soapy water and after what must have been five minutes of vigorous scrubbing he turned off the water. He stood up and opened his eyes, the man looking back he recognized. Aidan stood silent as the water ran down the red features of his face. Some dripped from his chin down into the basin while other streams ran further down following his neck as gravity pulled the beads along, helpless to the fate that would determine their paths.

The paths that ran along his skin were numerous, each drop of water destined to follow one, or another. Some dared break off forming a new stream, blazing their own path along his face until they too fell along his chest or into the basin. Many times they flowed out only to rejoin a larger path shortly down as they continued to fall helpless against the gravity of their situation. And soon, gravity spent, the water had exhausted itself and only the occasional drop would sneak from his scalp to again brave one of the paths running onward down into its destiny. Aidan grabbed a towel wiping his chin, his face clean.

Even then a few beads dared appear, tempting the fates as they ran along the ground that so many before had tried unsuccessfully. Aidan left them be, a single trail running along the left side of his face. Like the last drops of water he was determined to survive. He would make his way amongst the ruin that had befallen so many before. Besides he was no drop of water, his path was never sealed. Where water had no choice but to fall, pulled down by the laws of nature. Aidan would stand tall, and should the laws of nature dare to reach up in an attempt to pull him down, he would shoot Newton right between the eyes and step over his corpse without hesitation.

The water and quick clean had done a great deal to boost his spirits and Aidan moved back down the stairs feeling more confident than he had all morning. The soup was warm and refreshing. The girls now eager to talk, told their story. How their mother had left the car to see what was holding up traffic and never returned. The older of the girls introduced herself as Candice to Aidan. He told them about his wife, his own young daughter and his dogs. "Are they wuffs?" Asked Alexis when he tried explaining what a husky was to her. "No sweetie, but they kinda look like them." He had responded, a real smile stretching across his face. They talked and the girls smiled as the afternoon wore on. Once they had finished eating they moved to the living room and Mrs. Jackson put on a video for them.

Soon the familiar sounds of his own childhood echoed through the house. As a voice that was unmistakably Burl Ives began recalling a classic holiday story. Aidan stayed and pulled up his bag, alone with his thoughts and his gear. Just him, his guns, Burl and a holly jolly Christmas. The afternoon was already wearing on and light would soon fade from the gray sky. If he was quick they could still get across town tonight but he wasn't willing to move until he had reloaded and sorted through his gear one last time.

A quick checked showed the .357 was still there, and fully loaded. He pulled out the pistol taken off the ground and ejected the magazine setting it on the table. The slide came back smooth as he ejected the live round in the chamber and set it on the table. It was a Ruger 9mm, fifteen round magazine and looked to be in decent condition all things considered. Aidan emptied the magazine, setting each round on the table and when he had finished eleven shiny, full metal jacket 9mm rounds shined back at him. It was his lucky number, he took it as a good sign which was oddly comforting in a way. One by one he stuffed the rounds into the magazine before setting it next to the pistol and emptying the remaining contents of his bag.

One by one he pulled weapons wiping them down to the best of his ability with the resources at hand. Following the weapons he pulled magazines making sure all the mags for his .40 were fully loaded. He set all the other ammunition on the table along side the weapons for a quick mental inventory. The .357 had a full seven beautiful hollow points loaded. There was another twelve of those hollow points. Seven on a speed loader and five lose rounds. His .40 glock was locked and loaded, one round in the pipe, thirteen in the mag. He had three more thirteen round magazines all fully loaded with hollow points. He put one into its pouch on the front of the holster, the other two went into a pouch he had brought for the range, now secured on the right side of his belt. He had another thirty three lose hollow points as well as another full box of full metal jacketed rounds, fifty of them. Then there was the Ruger 9mm with eleven rounds. All said not horrible but it would be a stretch to make it across the city.

Mrs. Jackson had brought his coat back while he cleaned the weapons. It was dirty as he expected, the blood wouldn't be coming out anytime soon. On the up side, the coat was dry and that was good enough for him. He placed the .357 and the Ruger back into his shoulder bag along side the ammo and went to join the girls in the living room. Mrs. Jackson had hung blankets and sheets over all the windows while he was gone. It was a smart idea and would hopefully keep most of the movement and light inside, from displaying itself outside.

Aidan sat leaning against the couch as they watched the rest of their movie. Childish and simple even he was glad to watch it, allowing his mind to drift just far enough that he could forget. He gave up any hopes of leaving that afternoon at some point during the movie. The procrastination of that burden allowing his body to relax further. As the movie neared the end he could actually feel the anxiety building inside, knowing the simple peace would soon pass.

When it finally did end and he looked up, both girls had fallen asleep. The struggles of the day obviously worn heavy on them. "Lets bring them upstairs." Mrs. Jackson whispered to Aidan. He nodded his agreement and as gently as possible lifted Alexis, cradling her while Mrs. Jackson lifted Candice. They did their best to tip toe up the stairs managing to wake up both girls along the way. "Are we gonna be ok?" Asked Alexis, as Mrs. Jackson finished tucking them into her own bed. "Of course sweetheart, now you get your rest in for tomorrow. I'll be up soon ok?" Mrs. Jackson added. "Can you stay till we fall asleep?" Candice asked hopefully. "We sure can." She answered, patting them on the legs. Mrs. Jackson moved and sat on the end of the bed, while Aidan stood in the doorway. The girls clung to each other buried in a pile of blankets and within ten minutes they were sleeping. Mrs. Jackson wished them happy dreams patting their legs one last time before they quietly made their way back downstairs.

It was only five in the afternoon but things were already dark outside. "We have to leave first thing in the morning." Aidan said sitting on the couch. Mrs. Jackson didn't speak, a slight nod of her head the only indication she had even heard him. She grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV before sitting down on the other end. The TV, the same as before, every station still online was giving complete coverage to the cities dire situation.

The reporter and his crew from before had apparently survived their little close call, but that was the end of on the scene reporting. The only new footage coming in was from helicopters overhead. Older shots from the ground looped showing the same bloody images of the walking dead over and over. They wanted information and all they got was gore. "You're husband?" Aidan asked randomly, in-between more of the same. "Somewhere out there." Mrs. Jackson responded. Aidan looked over as her eyes watered up. She said no more and Aidan decided it best to let it go at that.

They didn't speak again, the two of them watching in silence for hours until Mrs. Jackson decided it best to try and get some sleep. She took the stairs as quietly as she could, so as not to wake the girls. As soon as she was up, Aidan went into the kitchen. He drank down a bottle of water before refilling the two he had with him. He placed the bottles back into his bag and took it with him into the living room where he watched TV until his eyes fell heavy. He thought about unplugging the tree in the living room but he feared the darkness of the night.

He shut off the TV in hopes of sleep, it wasn't happening. Every time he closed his eyes faces waited in his mind. The dead, people he knew, people he didn't. All the same, blood dripping from hungry mouths. They waited in his dreams taunting him. Pale eyes set back in hollow faces, moaning as they reached out to grab him. They played cat and mouse with him for hours waiting just beyond heavy eyelids. He was to tired to stay awake and to scared to fully give in to sleep. Part of him knew that they would find him in his dreams.  
The ticking clock on the wall hypnotized him with each second past. Lulling him to the dreams he fought. He stared blankly at the clock for hours as the battle waged in his mind. At some point he lost the ability to tell which of the moans came from outside and which came from his mind. It was a quarter to one when sleep won, and his dreams finally took him.


End file.
