Seeds Of Hunger

Chapter 5: Uncertainty

"Shots fired, Shots fired, 6606 Washington Ave. Back up requested." Carter turned the radio down and grabbed the mic to talk to Casey.

"Keep proceeding to the station. The Chief needs this information and needs it PDQ." Carter turned down 1st Street and avoided a parked car in the lane with its lights flashing.

"Roger that Carter. Be careful. Looks like we might already be too late." Casey said as the radio crackled with static, "All stations, All stations, be advised; numerous hostile pedestrians are being reported throughout the area. SWAT teams are being deployed to the following sectors."

Carter keyed the mic to respond but swerved to avoid a pack of them swarming over something freshly dead. Carter didn't look back; he tried not to think that it might have been someone he knew. Carter turned onto 51st and saw the station at the end of the intersection surrounded by parked police cruisers. Carter didn't see a single officer directing traffic and that made his stomach contract into a acid laden ball of lead. Carter brought the cruiser to the outermost wall of cars and parked it, retrieving his Mossberg 590 shotgun and the old 1911 pistol given to him. Making sure the shotgun was loaded, he slung it around his shoulder.

Casey had also gotten his shotgun out but held it in his hands. "I got a bad feeling about this Carter. Where is everyone? No brass, no blood, looks like everyone just parked their cars and just left." Casey looked around the cruisers in front of him and saw nothing; Carter shivered, remembering what happened to Allen.

"Let's go but keep your head on a swivel. I don't want anymore surprises." Carter started making his way through the maze of cars, his Glock out in his hands. Carter and Casey walked through the cars, looking for any signs of struggle and coming up with none. They reached the entrance to the station, amazed that they heard nothing. It was as quiet as a tomb.

"If this doesn't define creepy, I'm complaining to Webster's." Casey said as he opened the gate to the station entrance. Carter entered through the gate his Glock raised looking for any signs of infected. Nothing; even the gate opening didn't make a sound. It was as if the world was holding its breathe while it was waiting to see what happens next.

Carter walked to the blue doors with the emblem of the police force, a eagle wearing the uniform of a police officer saluting someone in the distance. Carter twisted the knob and slowly opened the door, his instincts straining, telling him something was wrong. Carter looked inside and saw multiple police officers hurrying about, many of them looked to be in a state of shock.

"Call the Mayor and tell him we need the National Guard!" Chief Ramirez shouted to a Captain who ran into the radio room to relay the order. Ramirez looked at the door being open and saw Carter and Casey looking like they just saw a ghost. Ramirez walked right towards them.

"What did Doctor Allen say?" Carter never saw the Chief look so dazed; cant really blame the guy considering what's going on, Carter thought.

"Sir we talked to the late Doctor. He said they were conducting experiments with some kind of new plant they found and the pollen the plant produces has parasites that went inhaled produce deadly aftereffects." Carter said holstering his Glock.

"Late Doctor Allen...?" Ramirez asked confused.

"He turned into one of those things, Chief. He talked us and Carter put one in his eye. The Doc said that the parasites eat tissue and work their way into the hosts brain and turns them in basically walking corpses." Casey explained. He slung his shotgun, feeling safer around fellow police officers.

"Zombies. This is starting to sound like an old horror movie. So looks like if any one is attacked they can play put the bullet in the brain. Follow me." Ramirez walked toward the radio room where he had sent the Captain. He held out his hand and the mic was placed.

"All stations, All stations, this is Chief Ramirez. Be advised, infected persons are considered very dangerous and contagious. Severe trauma to the head or brain will keep them down. Shoot them in the head. Save as many of the non infected as you can and escort them back to the station. Ramirez out." Ramirez dropped the mic and walked back out the door heading for his office with Casey and Carter on his heels.

"Gents, I'm not gonna mince words here." Ramirez said as he sat behind his desk. "We face a dire situation. Most of the station is out trying to save as many people as they can. They have orders to bring any survivors back. Right now moms, dads, sons, and daughters are dying in our town. We need every man available to save as many as possible. Head back out into town and see who can be saved. Deadly force is authorized gentleman. We will not let our citizens down. Take what you need and get to it. I'm counting on you." Ramirez stood up and saluted the two officers who returned his salutes. Carter walked out of the Chief's office with Casey right behind him.

"Godspeed, gentleman." Ramirez hoped that wouldn't be the last time he saw them.

Carter got to the main lobby of the station when Casey grabbed his shoulder.

"What do we do now Mirado?" Casey looked like he was about to vomit.

"We do what we can. Find survivors and bring them back here. From now on, let's stick together." Carter trained Casey himself and would like to have back up with him. "If we run into too many of them, we fall back. If we get separated, we come back to the station and hole up until help arrives." Carter just finished his sentence when a frantic call came over his radio.

"Fallback! We're being overrun by these things!" -BANG- -BANG- "SHOTS FIRED SHOTS FIRED! Multiple personnel down! Oh God they're being eaten by them! Lots of them by Sunset Boulevard ARGH!" The radio answered with static.

"We might be too late Casey. Let's go. God help anyone left."