Undead Incursion

Chapter 2

I screamed, thinking the worst, expecting teeth to sink into my neck, but nothing happened.

"Ash, what's wrong?!" I heard a
familiar voice yell, I spun around to see Mia, I pushed her back, still in panic mode as I rushed into the room, I waited for her to get inside and I slammed the door shut, locking it.

"There's some..some lunatic out in the lobby, I almost fucking died!" My heart was pounding out of my chest, my words were shaky as I shut the curtains, I was overcome with fear.

"Come on, you're seeing things, it was probably someone playing a prank." Mia sat down on the bed, checking her phone.

"Do you think I'm kidding? Where the hell were you, by the way?!" I spat, glaring at her, if looks could kill.

Mia narrowed her eyes and stood up to take the scrunchy out of her hair. She leaned foward after she did so and brushed a few strands of brunette hair out of her face.

"Do you want me to call the front desk? To make you feel better?"

I gritted my teeth, I held back from slapping her, why was she treating this like some sort of joke? And the fact she completely ignored my question pissed me off even worse.

"Don't bother. I guarantee the crazy woman down there killed him."

Mia paused and turned around, leaning against the counter as she stared at me. I raised an eyebrow, she was judging me, judging me ever so silently, I could tell, she did that look all the time towards men before she hit on them. I grew impatient with her nonsense and sighed to break the awkward silence.

"Maybe she is on some kind of drug." Mia delivered.

"What drug makes someone do that?" I couldn't think of something that would make a person act in such a way, nor any kind of drug.

Pulling the remote off of the bedside table, I turned the TV on, I ignored Mia's complaints, I needed an explanation, this could be alot bigger than a crazed person who escaped the looney bin. I began flipping through the dozens channels until I eventually reached the local news station. The man speaking looked panicked, glancing behind him every few seconds.

"Breaking news! This is the announcing of a viral epidemic that has spread nationwide. Please tune in for this important announcement."

The usual loud tone of an EAS alert blared out of the TV, Mia and I watched intently and in silence.

"The United States Emergency Alert System has issued a Civil Emergency Alert for the following counties.

This is not a test. A viral epidemic has spread rapidly through local counties in the span of several hours, the illness has dangerous symptoms that include, but are not limited to; cannibalism, superhuman strength, violent behavior, skin loss, hair loss, blurry vision, and convulsions. This illness is highly contagious when an individual is bitten by an infected host, the virus infects the brain, and there is no known cure as of now. To remain safe, stay indoors, lock all windows, place damp towels on and under any gaps under doors, and windows, turn off ACs, and stock in supplies until the virus has subsided. Do NOT attempt to confront any of the infected, any sign of beng affected and you risk the chance of being killed on sight by authority officials. For further updates on this situation, please continue to tune in to your local Emergency Alert System."

I froze, so this was a virus. I swallowed back bile as I looked toward Mia, who's eyes were nearly as wide as mine, she bit her lip for a moment before speaking silently.

"You-you weren't kidding, Ashley."

"No shit! You just now realized?" I snapped, before shutting my mouth in guilt.

"Sorry. But, we need to get out, we need to get home and get valuable things." She began to reach toward the luggage, I scrambled off of the bed, grabbing her arm.

"The news told us to stay inside!"

"Well, I'm not staying in some ratty hotel room for any longer!" She yanked her arm from my grip and put on the near empty backpack which contained only only toothbrushes and toothpaste.

"Damn it, Mia.." I huffed under breath as I walked to the window, peering out as I pushed down a blind. The conditions were worse, police officials roamed the sidewalk with guns, as some of the infected drew close, only to be shot in the head at either far or short range. I gulped, noticing several ambulances speeding down the road. One man layed bleeding on the pavement near a cafe ahead from the hotel.

I finally breathed in deeply and turned to Mia, grabbing the luggage and waiting for a response as she tapped her foot against the wooden floor.

"Alright. I'll go. But we need to be quick, there are more of them outside. Where's your car?"

Mia reached into her jean pockets and the jingle of her keys rang in my ears as she pulled them out. She slid a backpack to me, which contained a bottle of almost empty whiskey.

"It's in the back, not too far in the parking lot, we can get there pretty fast if we run."

I nodded, slipping the backpack on and grabbing my wallet, putting it into my pocket. I pushed a strand of blonde hair from my face as I stood silent for a moment more, taking in a few breaths, in case they were my last, and we happened to get eaten by someone going batshit insane. I thought of my family, what if my brother was dead? I couldn't live with myself, going out to get wasted and leaving him to get torn apart. My stomach churned as I bit my lip gently to hold back tears. I let out a deep sigh, reality setting in, my family was probably dead.

"Ash." Mia called out, I turned my head, my mind being ripped from the thoughts of death. She stood in the doorway, nodding her head the direction to the back entrance. She impatiently placed her hand on her hip as I walked toward the door with her.

"We need to hurry."

I nodded, but frankly, I feared the worst, being killed, or Mia being killed, leaving me alone against the dreadful evil of the world. My palms began to sweat, I clenched my hands into fists, trying to rack up courage, it was now or never, we'd have to go out at some point.

"Alright. Let's go."