Contamination Prequel (Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Series) by T.W. Piperbrook Page B

him.
    “C’mon you bastards!”
    One of the creatures made a grab for him, and he propelled the tines deep into its stomach, sending it reeling backwards. He pulled back on the handle, watching a rainfall of blood soak its shirt. It staggered, momentarily off balance. He turned the pitchfork sideways and swung it like a baseball bat, propelling the creature into the side of the Outback.
    He squeezed past it and towards the back of the garage. The others were by the trunk now, and he gored the first in the neck. It toppled backward, but Dan persisted, plunging the weapon into the mass of gray flesh behind it, striking each in turn. The creatures tumbled backwards, hitting the floor, and he stood over each of their bodies, ramming the garden tool into one after the other until all movement had stopped.
    When he finished, Dan realized he was screaming. He looked down at the creatures, whose bodies were now covered in gaping holes, fluid spilling from their insides. In all his years on the force, he had never killed anyone. In fact, he often prayed that he would retire before getting the chance. He had seen plenty of dead bodies, but none that had met their demise at his own hands.
    Dan turned his head and vomited on the garage floor, letting the pitchfork clatter to the ground. When he was finished retching, he dragged the bodies from behind the car, clearing a path to the outside.
    He retrieved the keys and started the Outback. He threw it into reverse, and sped down the driveway and out into the road.
    Somewhere, his daughter was in danger. He just prayed to God he wasn’t too late to save her.

14
    T he little girl took off running, and Howard chased after her. His attention had been on the cellphone, so she had taken him by surprise. It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t get far. The phone vibrated again in his hand, but this time he slid it into his pocket.
    They had been standing next to the side of a house when she took off. A few trees lined the perimeter, and she had slipped through them to the neighboring property. He clutched his gun, unsure of what he might run into. The plan had been set in motion, and soon the streets would start to fill with the infected. The contamination had begun .
    Ahead of him, he saw a small shadow slip around to the front of the house next door. Although he only caught a quick glance, he was pretty sure it was Quinn. He thought for a second about abandoning the chase, about letting fate take its course. Sooner or later, she would run into one of them, and that would be the end of it. Saving her now would only delay the inevitable.
    Five years ago, when he had moved to St Matthews, Howard had tried to keep to himself. There was no use in befriending any of his co-workers or socializing with the townspeople—not with what he knew was coming. He tried to focus instead on his training, on honing his physical and mental abilities. After a few years, he had let his guard down.
    He had started engaging in the occasional barbeque, a monthly game of pool. The town’s fate was sealed, he thought, so he may as well make the most of his time there. The Agent leaders had said to blend in to the community—to act as natural as possible.
    Now, Howard felt a tinge of pity for Dan and his family. He had grown closer to them than he had intended. But nobody would escape the contamination. He needed to remind himself of that fact.
    He would be the only survivor in St. Matthews.
    Still, he did intend to find the girl and bring her back to her father. It was the honorable thing to do. He would give them a fighting chance.
    He rounded the corner of the house and stopped short. Two shadows hugged the siding. The smaller figure lay in the grass, shielding her face and whimpering. It was Quinn, and she was cornered.
    The larger shadow turned to face Howard. Its face was a blackened mess, and it snarled at him. He drew back his arm, and then punched the thing in the head, sending it to the ground. It squirmed,