Harrison and Peggy Mortenson had lived next to Brook’s childhood home in the subdivision since 1960. They were nonstop news junkies and had been up most of the night, witnessing the contagion spread worldwide.
It was now apparent to Brook why her dad had committed the unspeakable act upon her mother. She also feared for her brother and the other workers still at the hospital.
“My phone has been acting up and I haven’t heard from my husband since yesterday. This is the first I’ve heard about the contagion that’s going around,” Brook said to Peggy worriedly.
Harrison interjected and told Brook about how the infection occurred and what happened as a result. He added as an afterthought, “The President has issued a declaration of martial law. We are in a world of hurt.”
Armed with this new information, Brook came to the realization that nobody would be coming to investigate what had just happened at her parents’ house, and she surmised the coroner wouldn’t be coming for the bodies either.
She turned to Raven. “I have to go back and get my phone so I can try to get ahold of your dad. I want you to come with me.”
Shaking her head vigorously from side to side, Raven said, “No way Mom.” She bit her bottom lip nervously. “Please don’t make me.” She wouldn’t budge, and wanted no part of going back to Grandma’s house.
Considering the horrors she had witnessed there minutes ago, Brook didn’t force the issue. She reluctantly left her daughter with the Mortensons and went back to her childhood home one last time.
The door was ajar and the house smelled like gunpowder and death. Moving slowly into the kitchen, she could see her mom’s feet clad in the pink slippers she had given her last Christmas. Out of the corner of her eye Brook detected movement. She looked closer; her mom’s foot jerked.
Brook crept around the island and retrieved the shotgun from the bench in the breakfast nook. The ghoul sensed her arrival. The bloody remains that was once her loving mom flopped over onto its stomach and proceeded to crawl towards her, bodily fluids leaving a slick trail along the floor. Her undead mom slowly pursued her into the living room, leaving her no choice.
Remembering what Harrison had told her earlier, she aimed directly for the head. Brook closed her eyes for a second, said a little prayer and thought, It’s not you anymore, Mom. I love you and I’m sorry I have to do this.
She pulled the trigger and the shotgun roared. The second random shell she had inserted happened to be a slug; the round ruptured her mom’s head, peppering the hallway with brain matter, hair and bone fragments. She started sobbing as the realization that both of her parents were now dead suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks. She still had her daughter, that much she knew. She sent silent prayers out to her husband Cade, whom she missed terribly.
Brook ran up the stairs two at a time and went into her old room. Her phone was in her carry-on, where it had been since she last talked to Cade. Bag in hand, she went downstairs heading for the door.
Raven had run from the neighbors’ house when she heard the shotgun report and was tentatively peering into the open front door when Brook descended the stairs. At the first sight of her mom, Raven ran and jumped into her arms. Brook sat on the porch swing comforting Raven; she held her and stroked her hair for a few minutes. Then she sent Raven back to the Mortensons’ and watched to be sure she made it safely.
It took a few seconds of rooting around in her bag, but she finally found her phone and powered it on. It chimed several times letting her know she had missed calls and there were messages waiting for her. She sat on the porch reading the text message from Cade. Her head started spinning at the thought of what was happening everywhere else in the world. The voicemail from Cade drove the severity of their situation home; the tone of his voice on the message said it all. She would surely heed his advice because when it came to questions about their family’s security, she never questioned his wisdom. Brook thought, As soon as we get the Cadillac loaded up we’d better set out for Fort Bragg.
She stood and went back into the house. Standing in the kitchen, Brook stared at her dad’s lifeless form. She heard his voice in her head. “Brooklyn, you get going now, take Raven and get to safety.” Of course it was only her subconscious talking, but she took it to heart.
Brook called her brother Carl. She tried both his cell and the hospital land line but had no luck reaching him. Next, she dialed Cade’s cell and listened to it ring. After the third ring he picked up.