Jake's Undead Nightmare Read online

  Jake’s Undead Nightmare

  1

  Jake opened his laptop. The President made an address to the people. He said it’d be best for everyone to stay in their homes and stay tuned to what was going on. Jake called in sick. He had been sick during the past few days anyway. He decided to head to the clinic before getting groceries. The waiting room at the clinic was empty.

  “Good thing I came early,” he whispered to himself as he walked up to the front desk.

  “How can I help you?” the woman behind the desk asked.

  “I need to see a physician.”

  “What’s the reason for your visit?”

  “I believe I have bronchitis. I’m coughing up a lot of phlegm.”

  “Alright. I’ll need your name and insurance information.”

  Jake didn’t have to wait long before getting called back. A nurse checked his blood pressure and weight and put him in one of the patient rooms. Shortly after, a doctor came in.

  “Jake?”

  “That’s me.”

  “So you’re coughing up phlegm?”

  The doctor examined Jake and diagnosed him with bronchitis and a sinus infection. He was prescribed some antibiotics and sent on his way. He waited at the pharmacy for his prescriptions and went to the supermarket. Like always, he parked far away from the other vehicles. He didn’t trust other drivers.

  “Really crowded for such an early morning,” he thought as he walked to the front door.

  He walked inside. Matthew, his neighbor’s son, was greeting everyone who came inside.

  “Get what you can while you can, Mr. Andrews.”

  “Why’s it so crowded, Matthew? Is it because of what happened in South America and Mexico?”

  “That’d be my guess. I think it has a lot of people paranoid.”

  “I took a few glances on the internet. What do you know about it?”

  “People are getting sick. I know that’s all over the news.”

  “If people are this scared, maybe I should stock up on stuff. Be safe, Matthew.”

  “See you later.”

  Jake pushed his shopping cart to the canned food aisle. It was crowded and difficult for him to get to what he needed.

  “Wow,” he thought. “Seeing this makes me paranoid, too.”

  When he could finally get to where he needed to be, he stuffed his cart with whatever he could get his hands on. Canned carrots, peas, corn, yams, pork and beans, green beans, sardines, oysters, and more filled up the cart. Jake also placed several boxes of oatmeal and bulk packs of noodles. He then pushed his cart to the beverage aisle and stacked seven cases of bottled water on top of his groceries. He checked out and symmetrically placed the food and water in his car.

  “I have to go back in for more,” he said to himself, shifting his walk to a jog. “Something bad is going to happen. Need to be prepared.”

  Jake gave Matthew a façade of a smile and pushed his cart past. He went back into the canned food aisle. He put more food in his cart and went to the camping section. He found many things that made him feel more prepared for an emergency situation. He put flares, a flare gun, water purification tablets, freeze dried meals, knives, flashlights, batteries, lighters, candles, blankets, canteens, a tent, small fire starter logs, boxes of matches, fishing gear, scissors, a hatchet, and a poncho in his cart. He requested all of the nine millimeter, twenty-two caliber, and twelve gauge ammunition.

  “I hope all of this fits in my car,” he thought while he waited for the cashier to ring up his items.

  “So,” said the cashier. “You’re worried about the outbreak, too?”

  “I am.”

  “I see.”

  “If something bad doesn’t happen, I’m going to feel awfully foolish.”

  “I hope everything will be okay.”

  “Me too. How many people have been here since your shift started?”

  “My shift only started two hours ago, but loads of people have been here since then.”

  “I hope the sickness doesn’t reach the United States.”

  “I hope not, too.”

  “People on planes and in cars who crossed into the United States before the borders were closed may have spread the infection.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  Jake swiped his card and waited for approval.

  “I hope you have a great day, sir.”

  “I hope you do. I’ll probably be back for more soon.”

  “Okay.”

  Jake went home, unloaded his car, and headed back to the supermarket. He grabbed a variety of medicines and first aid supplies. Jake was bent on filling up his entire house with food and water. He made fourteen trips to the supermarket.

  “I’ve seen this movie before,” he said before dialing his brother’s number. “I’m not going to go without what I need.”

  2

  Jake decided to call his brother.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Dan.”

  “You sound upset. What’s up?”

  “I spent a lot of money today. I’m not so sure if it was a good idea.”

  “What did you spend so much money on?”

  “Food, water, and other things to help me survive.”

  “Really, Jake? Seriously? You think the sickness in Mexico and South America is going to spread to here?”

  “I do.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “The world is past due for something crazy to happen.”

  “Crazy things happen every day all over the world.”

  “When something bad does happen, and it will, I’ll be ready.”

  “How much money did you spend?”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “Just because you get a lot of business owning a mechanic shop doesn’t mean it was okay to spend loads of money out of paranoia.”

  “Part of me tells me I’m not being paranoid. Part of me tells me I’m being smart.”

  “You’re being crazy.”

  “When this outbreak reaches North America, you’ll be happy I’m your brother.”

  “I have to mow my lawn before it gets too hot outside. Call me later.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  Jake looked at his inventory and walked into the back bedroom to watch some television. Some of the channels were focused on the outbreak. When breaking news about the infection spreading met Jake’s ears, he got in his car and drove to the home improvement store. He bought enough wood and nails to fill his car. He went back home and began boarding up his windows. Cedric, his neighbor, came outside.

  “What on earth are you doing, Jake?”

  “Boarding up the windows.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “You’re acting strange, Jake.”

  “Don’t be concerned with my behavior. I’m just being cautious.”

  “I mean no offense by saying this but you’re acting crazy. Did something happen to you?”

  “You heard about the outbreak, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

  “I’m very concerned about you, Jake.”

  “I believe you. I’m concerned about everyone.”

  “I’m going inside. If you need me, just call.”

  “Okay.”

  Jake boarded up the windows and doors and nailed several dark bedsheets in front of them. He loaded his pistol, shotgun, and rifle and set them in his gun cabinet. He sat down and decided to call his cousin.

  “Hey, Jake.”

  “Hey, David. What’s up?”

  “You see about the outbreak on T.V.?”

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p; “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know what to think of it.”

  “It’s crazy.”

  “I stocked up on food and water.”

  “I did, too.”

  “What did you buy?”

  “Lots of everything.”

  “Let me call you back. The T.V.’s talkin’ about the infection being in Texas.”

  “Wait!”

  “What?”

  “What channel are you watching?”

  “Channel five.”

  “Okay. Call me at some point.”

  “I will. I need to take care of the kids.”

  “Okay.”

  “Talk to you later.”

  Jake watched television for hours. He flipped through channels in hopes of finding out more. David was right. The outbreak was in Texas. People were evacuating to the eastern and western shores and up north.

  “This is going to spread all over the country,” he said quietly.

  Finally, the President came on.

  “My fellow Americans, I regret to inform you that the infection is much more of a threat than we originally anticipated. Scientists are doing their utmost best to develop a cure for this problem. The symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, paleness of the skin, and bloodshot eyes. Do not come in contact with anyone who has been infected. I repeat. Do not come in contact with anyone who has been infected. The infection has reached the United States of America and is spreading quickly. Our military is doing their best. Everyone is doing what they can. Now would be the time to stockpile supplies. No one is sure how long this outbreak will last. Remain in your homes. I will do everything in my power to help you, the people. Do your best to stay off the roads. The roads are crowded. You do not want to get stuck in the traffic. God bless you all.”

  Jake turned off the television. His phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey.”

  “I don’t recognize this number.”

  “Who is this?”

  “Jake.”

  “Sorry, wrong number.”

  His phone rang a second time.

  “Hey, Dan.”

  “You were right.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m going to the store.”

  “You better take your pistol with you.”

  “I will.”

  “Get as much stuff the truck can hold.”

  “I will. I’ll call you back.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  Jake dialed his mother’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, mom.”

  “Did you hear the news?”

  “Yeah. Are you safe?”

  “Yes. I’m at home with Paul.”

  “Do you have a lot of food and water?”

  “We stocked up when we heard about Mexico.”

  “Stay home, okay?”

  “We’re staying here.”

  “I’m going to get off the phone now. I love you, Mom. Tell Dad I said I love him, too.”

  “I will.”

  “Talk to you later.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  Jake’s brother called two hours later.

  “Hey, Dan.”

  “It’s insane!”

  Jake could hear people yelling and screaming in the background.

  “Are you on your way home?”

  “Yeah. I’m about to get in the truck now. Traffic’s going to be outrageous.”

  “I’d say so.”

  “On second thought, I’m just going to head to your place. There’s practically nothing there. I have to go back in the store. I hooked up the trailer. I’m going to pack it full of everything.”

  “Don’t take any bull from anyone. The desperation will make a lot of people dangerous.”

  “Fights have broken out. It’s chaotic!”

  “Call me back.”

  “I will.”

  Jake sat on the couch and stared at the wall. Four hours passed before his brother called again.

  “Hey. What took you so long to call?”

  “Zombies.”

  “What?”

  “Zombies!”

  “No way.”

  “I’m serious!”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  “Watch TV, Jake. I don’t understand why you aren’t.”

  Jake turned on the television to see footage of a small crowd surrounding a corpse. The camera zoomed in to reveal a group of people eating the corpse. It was in Texas.”

  “Hurry, Dan.”

  “I am! I’m going as fast as I can. Even the emergency lane is packed. I’m making very little progress.”

  3

  “How fast are you going?”

  “I’m not going fast at all. I’m sure there are wrecks.”

  “Probably.”

  “There are a lot of people walking and running past the truck. I’ll call you when I’m close.”

  Jake shook his head and threw the TV remote at the wall.

  “I hope everyone’s alright,” he said aloud. “Mom, Dad, Dan, David, Sarah, and Charley.”

  Jake’s phone rang thirty minutes later.

  “Hey.”

  “I had to ram my way through!”

  “You gotta do what you gotta do.”

  “I agree.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “The chaos is getting worse.”

  “How so?”

  “People are fighting. I’ve heard gunshots.”

  “I’m surprised looting hasn’t started.”

  “I’m sure it has in a lot of places.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m almost there.”

  “How are the roads where you’re at now?”

  “Big pileups. Lots of wrecks and the occasional group of people running. Abandoned cars are here and there.”

  “This is only the beginning.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Where will people go? What will people do?”

  “I’m sure a lot of people want to know where they should go or what they should do.”

  “What will we do if we run out of food or water?”

  “Look for more, I guess.”

  “Things are about to get a lot worse. How long will it be until you get here?”

  “I’ll be there in two minutes.”

  Jake grabbed his firearms out of the cabinet and sat them on the coffee table in the living room. He went outside, looked around, and got in his car. He parked the car sideways and against the outside of the garage door. He went back inside the house and barricaded the inside of the garage door with his workbench, a table, and several boxes of tools and junk. He pushed the couches and cabinets against the downstairs door. He went back upstairs and stacked the recliners and loveseat against the front window. He nailed 2x4’s to the inside of all the windows and doors except for the front door and attic door. Jake dragged his bed mattress into the living room and dropped it on the floor. The phone rang.

  “Hey.”

  “I’m outside.”

  “Park the truck and trailer sideways in front of the front window and door.”

  “Why?”

  “To keep zombies and other people from getting in.”

  “We won’t be able to see outside.”

  “There are small cracks between the wood I nailed to the windows. We won’t be able to see past the truck, but we’ll know what’s going on out there just as much as the next person.”

  “Fair enough.”

  4

  Dan arrived at Jake’s house. Jake allowed Dan inside and shut the door.

  “Are the doors and windows locked?”

  “All but the front door.”

  “Let’s get the stuff inside.”

  Jake and Dan began unloading the truck and trailer and packing the house full. Jake saw his neighbor Cedric. He stared as Jake and Dan carried the last of the food and supplies inside.

  “I’m so glad you have an assault rifle.”

  “And a pistol.”
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  “Park the truck closer to the front door.”

  “Okay.”

  Dan did as Jake requested and came back inside. Jake locked the door and sat on the mattress.

  “So we just wait?” Dan asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Jake brought a radio into the living room.

  “Does that old thing even work?”

  “Let me grab some batteries and we’ll find out. We don’t need to be using the TV, Dan. Too much light. We can’t risk it.”

  Jake went to the spare bedroom and retrieved some batteries. He put the batteries in the back of the radio and turned it on. Jake tuned in to a local station. He and his brother listened.

  “This is Jerry Waters giving you the best of news. The time is grim, everyone. Here’s what’s going on. The dead are rising and taking over cities. They’re attacking and eating people. No one knows how this happened. It’s nothing like what you’ve seen on television. It’s far more gruesome. Families and friends are likely being torn apart. People are being eaten left and right. Everyone is in a panic. I wonder if the government has abandoned us. If they have, they’re probably hiding in underground bunkers somewhere. It’s only a matter of time before the infection reaches everywhere. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to broadcast. Unless I’m cut off, I’ll keep relaying news. If I can, I’ll be back on here in an hour.”

  “Looks like we’re in for it, Jake.”

  “Yeah. I hope the water and power don’t stop working.”

  “Why would that happen?”

  “I don’t know. It could.”

  “If that happens, how will we be able to use the restroom?”

  “We wouldn’t be able to relieve ourselves in the bathroom.”

  “What would we do about it, then?”

  “Go in the basement, dig a hole, and cover it up.”

  Dan laughed.

  “It’s not funny, bro.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “How is it funny?”

  “It just is.”

  “You’re the older brother. If anyone should be laughing about that, it’s me.”

  “Just laugh about it, Jake. We need a good laugh.”

  “I don’t feel like laughing.”

  “You’re no fun.”

  “I’m not trying to have fun.”

  Jake’s phone rang.

  “Hey, David.”

  “It’s zombies, Jake.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you and Dan with your parents?”

  “Dan’s with me. Mom and Dad are at their place.”

  “We have food and water, but I’m not sure if we have enough.”