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

upwards, and his muscles bulged underneath his shirt.
    Quinn had always looked up to him. Whenever he visited, he was especially nice. On her last birthday, he had even brought her a stack of books to read—introducing her to some of the classics that he had enjoyed as a child. Now, everything seemed different. Howard seemed different.
    “We have to go back,” he said. “Your father is there.”
    But her mother was too. A pang of fear went through her stomach as she pictured the woman who had been her mother shoving her into the bedroom, knife in hand.
    “Is he ok? Are my mom and dad ok?”
    Howard was looking at the phone again, typing on the keypad.
    “Sure, Quinn. They’re both fine. I’m going to take you home to them.”
    He kept his eyes on the cellphone, but she saw him watching her out of the corner of his eye. He wasn’t telling the truth. She could sense it. But why would he lie? What would he say when they got to her house and the truth was right there in front of them?
    She pictured Sheriff Turner’s body in the living room, bloated and bleeding. Howard hadn’t even checked for a pulse. It was as if he wasn’t concerned about the man. Or he knew something she didn’t. She watched him type away on the cellphone. Who was he talking to? And why were they standing here?
    Howard finished his message. A few seconds later, the phone vibrated.
    Quinn moved closer to the officer. In the dark, she could almost make out the incoming text message. She forced herself to cry again, inching towards him.
    “It’s ok,” he said, but he made no physical effort to console her.
    She was standing next to him now; her eyes were level with the phone. The screen glowed yellow. She shuddered when she read the words.
    Every last one must go.
    Quinn started to run.

13
    D an waved the empty pistol in front of him, but the creature kept coming. It sidestepped Julie’s body and then walked over the body of its dead companion. Its eyes rolled back into its head, and it began to groan.
    He stepped backwards into the kitchen, still holding the gun, wishing he had the time or the means to reload. His palms were sweaty, and he struggled to keep his balance. He bumped into the roll of paper towels and it skittered backwards, unraveling to the end of the tube.
    The creature advanced.
    Dan spotted his keys—they were on the counter to his left. A few steps further, and he could make a grab for them.
    “Stay back!” he shouted.
    The thing’s mouth opened, revealing a row of dirt-covered teeth. If it understood him, the words had little effect. Dan threw his arm sideways, succeeding only in pushing the keys farther down the counter. He made another grab. This time, he was able to close his fist around them.
    He eyed the knife holder. In his haste, he had already passed by it. He could make a lunge toward it, but that would put him in harm’s way. The creature stood beside it, mouth hanging open. He needed to get out of the house.
    He reached behind him, finding the door handle, and stepped back into the garage. He slammed the door closed, and then used his keys to lock it. The creature smashed against the other side, but the door held. For now.
    Dan’s cruiser was where he had left it, and the garage door remained closed. He ran to the car door, fumbling with the keychain. He saw his house key, his locker key, and a slew of others. Where the hell was the car key? Focus , his mind screamed.
    The creature pounded on the kitchen door, shaking it in the frame. Dan located the key and slipped it into the lock. The car was open now. He flung open the door and hopped inside, and then promptly shut it behind him.
    Bam! The kitchen door caved in, whipping against the wall and off the hinges. The creature was loose in the garage now, heading towards the car.
    “Too late, you piece of shit!” Dan cried out, turning the key in the ignition.
    The car fired up and he revved the engine. He reached up and hit the garage door opener, watching it