ZE Outbreak Novel, Chapter 5

continued from chapter 4 Morning of Wednesday, May 9, 2012 I woke up with Amber still asleep beside me. Her mouth hung open just enough to s

continued from chapter 4

Morning of Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I woke up with Amber still asleep beside me. Her mouth hung open just enough to show a trace of dried drool at the corner. Her hair was a mess, a tangle spread over the pillow. Even like that, she was beautiful.

I eased out of bed so I wouldn’t wake her and got dressed. At the bedroom door, I glanced back. She looked peaceful under the covers, her breathing slow and even.

I loved her being in my bed. Not just the sex part, although it was the best I’ve ever had, Amber gave me a sense of a normal life I hadn’t felt in a long time. At the same time, I couldn’t shake the worry. Could she end up being a distraction? I didn’t want to think of her that way, but it stayed in my head.

I wanted to be there for her. I wanted her safe if the virus turned into a full outbreak. But there was Gabriel too. I had to keep him safe, and he came first. I just didn’t know how I was going to protect them both.

I’d had a thing for Amber since the first time I saw her in the lobby of our building. We made small talk while she waited for a taxi. God, I could still remember the tight dress she wore. It was red with a long slit up her thigh that showed off her shapely leg. I knew she was a dancer before she said it. That’s when I found out she was heading out on a cruise contract and wouldn’t be back for at least five months. It was her last night in Philly for a while, and she was led into a bar with friends. We only talked for fifteen minutes, but it stuck with me.

There were nights I thought of her before I fell asleep and mornings when she came to mind before I even got out of bed. I couldn’t say if it was infatuation or just wanting what I couldn’t have. I never figured it out.

On the night she came back five months later, she knocked on my door. In her hand was a gift, a set of coasters made to look like miniature vinyl records, each one printed with a classic rock album cover. She remembered that conversation from the day she left, when we talked in the lobby about my love for The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. She had found the coasters in a shop in Nassau and thought of me.

That was the moment things shifted between us, even if neither of us said it out loud. I can still picture her eyes when she handed me the gift, and I know mine were looking back at her the same way.

At that point though, neither of us could act on that chemistry. She was already signed on to a new contract that started in only three days. We went to a coffee shop while she was in Philly, but we kept it platonic. Friends from afar. It had to do.

Maybe it’s why I pursued no one else. A few women turned my head, but I never went after them. To celebrate a coworker’s retirement at a bar after work, I stopped for a quick beer that came with the phone number of the hot young bartender. As soon as I left the bar, I threw the number away. Maybe it was stupid, but I couldn’t stop thinking of Amber.

While Amber slept, I left her apartment quietly and crossed the hall to mine. Inside, I slipped into my usual morning routine. I put a pot on for oatmeal, cut up some fruit, and let the television run in the background. While it played, I scrolled through the latest news online.

The news was terrible. The virus was ripping through Asia, Australia, and Europe. Countries were locking down, trying to slow infections, and the footage looked like a world on edge. Protests broke out over travel restrictions, with crowds shouting in the streets. Counter-protests pushed back, demanding governments do more. In the US, looting and riots spread. The National Guard was on the streets in major cities, trying to hold the line.

I stood in my kitchen, oatmeal in hand, watching it all unfold. The threat was real, and it was getting closer. I had to figure out how to keep Amber and Gabriel safe when the virus and the chaos finally reached us.

As I watched television, a live broadcast cut in for a presidential press conference. Jay Carney, President Obama’s press secretary, stood at the podium, facing a wall of reporters. He was incredibly calm, but I could tell it was all acting. He said the government was doing everything it could to handle the unrest, and that people should stay in their homes and not put any stress on the police.

Then he addressed the virus. Reports of Zeta in the United States were unfounded, he said. The CDC had given no credibility to any of the claims.

Sitting there, listening to the denials, my stomach tightened. They were saying there was nothing to worry about, but that only made it feel more certain the virus was already here. For a second, I felt my chest pull tight, pressure pushing up into my eyes.

Gabriel and Amber were all I could think about. What would it take to keep them safe? My mind spun through every scenario and every precaution. I needed to get them out of the city before cases started showing up and the lockdown hit. It was coming. Going far away from the crowds was the only way to keep them the infection and the chaos.

But it wasn’t just them. My thoughts started branching out. Jack O’Connor and his daughter. Dr. Cohen, who had been caught up in the first warnings. Was he even okay?

Even Connor and Zoe came to mind. I didn’t see eye to eye with Connor, but I respected him. He had given Gabriel a good life, one I couldn’t have provided. He didn’t deserve to die, and neither did Zoe.

I couldn’t save everyone. All I could do was focus on Gabriel and Amber, and hope the rest made it through.

---

Flipping through my phone after the press conference, I saw a missed call from Connor and a string of texts. I let out a slow breath and hit play on his voicemail.

His voice burst out of the small speaker. "Sam, I can’t believe you went to Gabriel’s school. He was so upset by your bullshit, I had to leave work to pick her up. You don’t understand the effect you have on him. He’s dealing with enough, and you just add to it. I’ve told you this so many times, but you’re still not getting it.”

Then he said the part that landed like a punch. "I’ve spoken to a judge friend of mine, and I’m getting a restraining order against you. I’m sorry it’s come to this, but you’re not giving me a choice. I know you think you’re helping Gabriel, but I have to put his well-being first. You need to stop contacting him. You’ve tried to be a good brother to him, but I don’t know…something’s going on with you and you can’t be around him. I don’t want you dragging him down to whatever you’ve got going on."

The message ended, and I sat staring at my phone. I could have taken it as a loss, but the rules were about to change. A judge’s order wouldn’t mean anything in a few days, not once everything started falling apart. I couldn’t control Connor, but I could make sure Gabriel stayed alive.

My mind was set. I had to get him out, and it had to happen today.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I walked over and looked through the peephole. Amber stood in the hallway, wearing a robe, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. I opened the door, still a little thrown from Connor’s bullshit.

"You know you don’t have to knock," I said.

Amber shrugged, a faint smile on her lips. "I didn’t want to assume anything."

"After last night, things are different. In a good way. You don’t need permission to come by."

Her smile widened a little, like she was realizing I might mean it more than I was saying.

I headed toward the kitchen. "Want some breakfast?"

"Just an apple and a coffee, please," she said, settling onto the couch.

As I grabbed her apple and poured the coffee, Amber’s voice cut through the small space. "Everything okay? You seem...I don’t know, upset about something?"

Amber had a way of reading people, and I wasn’t an exception. Connor’s message came to mind, but I wasn’t about to lay that on her. "I’m fine."

She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly not buying it.

"Anyway," she said, "I need to run to the drugstore for my medication and a few things for my dad. I was thinking of going soon, before it gets too crowded. Need anything?"

That caught me off guard. I needed to get to Gabriel, but I wasn’t about to let Amber head out into the city alone. Protests were ramping up, and the city was more dangerous now than ever.

I handed her the apple and coffee, then sat on the couch next to her. "I’m coming with you. It’s not safe to walk anywhere alone right now."

Amber gave a short laugh. "Look at you, chivalry’s alive after all." She walked next to me, bumping my hip as she reached across the counter to grab a container of almond milk. "Normally, I’d tell you I can take care of myself, but with how crazy it is out there, I’d be stupid to say no."

I leaned closer and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You’re stuck with me now."

She took a bite of her apple. "That sounds perfectly good to me."

---

Stepping out of the building onto Market Street, the noise hit me right away. Market was always busy, but today the traffic had a different edge. Cars inched forward like every driver was racing the clock. Exhaust from idling engines hung in the air, mixing with the smells of hot asphalt, greasy food from carts, and that faint stale scent of too many people packed close together.

The sidewalks were crowded. People walked fast, their eyes shifting from side to side, heads kept low like they didn’t want to be noticed. Everyone could feel the tension in the air, like something cataclysmic was ready to happen. At any moment, Godzilla was going a step over a building and crush everyone. Or some dormant volcano beneath Philadelphia would suddenly erupt.

Sirens wailed a few blocks away. Overhead, helicopters circled, their rotors thumping through the air. From farther down Broad Street came the steady sound of chanting. Either protesters were marching or looting had begun.

Car horns blared nonstop, layering over each other like the city’s own warped soundtrack. An ambulance forced its way through the gridlock, lights strobing, siren wailing as it cut a red light and disappeared toward whatever fresh disaster waited ahead.

Standing at the curb, it felt like the whole city was leaning over an edge. Philly’s usual rhythm was still there, but it was buried under something heavier. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the drop.

Amber and I moved fast down Chestnut Street. When we turned onto Bank Street, the noise fell off. It was quieter there, but we weren’t ready to relax. I still had that feeling like I was being followed. I hated that feeling. I liked to be the one following someone else.

“I’m sorry I have to stop at the pharmacy,” Amber said, walking right beside me. I could smell her coconut shampoo. “I’ve got enough pills for a few days, but who knows if I’ll be able to get a refill after that. It’s for my asthma. It’s not bad, doesn’t keep me from working, but I’m better off not skipping doses.”

“It’s no problem. You don’t have to apologize.”

“Thanks. I also need to pick up my dad’s heart meds. He’s been doing a lot better, but he’s awful about remembering to refill his prescription.”

Just as she finished talking, the sharp crack of gunshots carried in from somewhere ahead. Sirens fired up almost instantly, and the glow of police lights swept through the intersection as cruisers tore past us toward the noise.

I stepped in front of Amber without thinking, my arm brushing across her to keep her close. She grabbed my bicep and rested her chin on my shoulder as we kept moving.

“I’m okay,” she said in my ear. “But I love how you’re always trying to play bodyguard.”

As we turned the corner, Liberty Bell Apothecary came into view. A line of at least fifty people stretched down the sidewalk. It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it still did. Fear makes people want to grab anything that feels like it might keep them alive. And they were probably right. In a few days, antibiotics were going to be more precious than gold. Within a month I’ll be fighting someone over a roll of toilet paper.

Across the street, the CVS looked like it had already seen the worst. Police tape blocked off the doors. Every window was blown out, the sidewalk glittering with broken glass. It reminded me of tinsel on a Christmas tree.

At the back of the line, I stepped out to scan the block. A man stood at the pharmacy entrance, and the shotgun wasn’t the only thing that made him stand out. He had the kind of build that filled a doorway, broad shoulders straining a worn Eagles hoodie. His head was shaved smoothly, a jagged scar running from his temple to the edge of his jaw. He’s not somebody you go toe to toe with. If I had to take him out, I’d study him over a few days and do it when he least suspected it.

"I can’t believe this is happening," Amber said, raking her fingers through her hair. "We’re going to be stuck in this line for hours." She stepped up beside me and let out a sigh. "Sam, I can wait here by myself. You don’t have to—"

"I’m not going anywhere," I said. There was as much chance of me leaving her as there was of me growing wings and taking off.

She wasn’t wrong about the wait, though. We’d be here for hours, and neither of us had that kind of time. She had to get her dad’s meds. I needed to pack, pick up Gabriel, and get out of the city. I’d already burned too much time.

As we stood in line, Amber pulled out her phone, her thumbs working fast across the screen. Her brows drew together, and every so often she’d let out a frustrated sigh, glancing between her phone and the unmoving line.

"My dad isn’t answering. I texted him a few times this morning, but he’s not replying." She put the phone to her ear, listening. "It’s ringing, but he’s not picking up." Her voice dropped as she spoke into the phone. "Dad, it’s Amber. Call me back as soon as you get this."

The longer we stood there, the more my skin crawled. Every minute in that line was a minute I wasn’t packing or getting to Gabriel. I shifted from one foot to the other, staring at the same spot of pavement I’d been looking at ten minutes ago. The line hadn’t budged. "At this rate, we’ll still be here when the virus shows up to take our spot," I muttered.

Amber looked up from her phone. "How’s everything with your brother?" she asked, maybe just trying to keep both of us distracted from standing still.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "I want to pick him up today. But Connor, his adoptive dad, thinks I’m trouble. We haven’t gotten along for a while, and he’s made it pretty clear I’m not welcome around Gabriel. He deals with a lot of anxiety, even has panic attacks. I don’t think Connor gets how serious the virus is. They’re out in the suburbs, sealed off from what’s going on here." I waved a hand at the city around us. "To them, it probably feels like something happening on the news, not something that’s creeping toward their front door."

Just then, the line shuffled forward by two people. Amber groaned. "Sorry," she said again. I barely heard her. My eyes caught movement in a side alley. A guy in a pharmacy apron stepped out of a side door, a cigarette already in his mouth.

"Hold our spot. I’ll be right back," I told Amber. I didn’t wait for an answer. I headed toward the alley, keeping my pace easy, trying not to look like someone about to beg a pharmacy worker for a favor.

As I walked down the alley, I kept my eyes on the worker. He was young, maybe early twenties, leaning against the brick wall with an e-cig in hand. His arms were sleeved in black-and-grey tattoos: a coiled snake, a grinning skull, and a prayer candle inked onto his forearm. They gave him a laid-back look, but his eyes tracked everything, not darting around.

When he noticed me coming, his posture changed. The lazy lean against the wall straightened. His shoulders squared, his chin lifted slightly, and his free hand dropped from his pocket. He wasn’t relaxed anymore. He was ready to see if I was trouble.

"Hey," I said with a smile. "I’m Sam."

He nodded, taking a slow drag from his e-cig before answering. "Javi." He shook his head. "Sorry, man. This door’s employees only."

I paused, running through my options. There had to be a way past him, and I didn’t have time to waste. I wasn’t going to threaten him, and I wasn’t going to start anything. The guy was innocent and just doing his job. He kept watching me, probably wondering what I’d try next. I was wondering the same thing.

Then it came to me. Money still worked, at least for now. When the outbreak hit in full, who knew? Cash would tank in value fast, replaced by whatever people actually needed, like the shelves behind him. This guy could be the Bill Gates of the apocalypse if you knew we had in the pharmacy.

"Listen, Javi, I’ve got a hundred bucks that says you can let me and my girlfriend inside. We’ll grab a few things and be out."

Something clicked in my head. That was the first time I’d called Amber my girlfriend. Maybe presumptuous if you asked anyone else, but I guess that’s how I saw her.

Javi glanced at me, then toward the street at the end of the alley. He looked like he was weighing it out, figuring what it was worth to him. After a moment, he looked back at me.

"Two hundred."

Without hesitation, I pulled the cash from my wallet and handed it over. Javi slipped it into his pocket without counting. "If anyone asks how you got in, it was Peter. Guy’s a dick."

"Fair enough," I said.

I turned toward the street and gave a sharp whistle down the alley. Amber’s head snapped in my direction. She hesitated for a second, then stepped out of line and headed my way. Javi pushed the door open, and I led the way inside with Amber close behind.

Entering through the side door gave me a different view of Liberty Bell Apothecary than the front entrance ever had. Inside, the contrast hit me right away. Out on the street was chaos. In here, everything looked untouched. Shelves were lined neatly with convenience items, health products, and over-the-counter meds. The pharmacy counter stood at the far end, perfectly calm, like the city outside wasn’t falling apart.

It felt surreal, this quiet bubble while the world outside was cracking.

The guards were the only reminder of reality. Armed men paced the aisles, eyes scanning every shopper. They reminded me of stormtroopers from Star Wars. But I had a feeling these men could shoot, not unlike soldiers for the Empire. The whole place felt like a fortress under watch. I couldn’t blame whoever was running it. Without the guards, this place would look like the CVS across the street.

“I don’t know how you got us inside, but thank you.” Amber’s breath brushed the back of my neck, sending a quick shiver down my spine. "Let’s split up. I’ll head to the pharmacy counter, and you can grab whatever else we need."

I shook my head right away, the sporting goods store still fresh in my mind. "No. We stick together. Remember what happened last time we split up? I’m not taking that risk again."

She stepped around to face me, meeting my eyes. After a second, she nodded. "You’re right. Sorry."

"You don’t have to say you’re sorry to me. Ever."

Amber smiled and blushed, nodding her head at me.

We moved through the pharmacy, and Amber grabbed a basket. She started loading it with ibuprofen, allergy pills, a couple bottles of hand sanitizer, and some vitamins. At the personal care section, she tossed in toothpaste and a pack of razors.

When she reached for a box of tampons, I caught the flicker of hesitation in her movement. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell she felt self-conscious. I turned slightly, pretending to study something on the opposite shelf, giving her the space.

I picked up my own essentials: bottled water, packs of nuts, granola bars, and a first aid kit. I already had some of it at home, but I wanted more. I wasn’t planning on coming back into the city anytime soon. A virus like this would rip through Philly faster than a rumor in high school, only this time, people would actually bleed for it. Money wouldn’t be worth anything for long. Water, medicine, and first aid supplies were about to become the only currency that mattered.

As I piled up supplies, Amber glanced at the stuff in my arms and gave me a look, her brow creasing.

“Are you really planning on leaving the city?” she asked. Her voice wavered, and the end of the sentence trailed off like she didn’t want to say it.

“Yeah. We’re leaving. All of us. You, me, Gabriel.”

She let out a quick breath, and a small smile tugged at her mouth. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to come with you.”

“Of course I do. I can’t say what’s coming next, but I want you with me.”

Amber wrapped her arms around my waist and gave me the hardest hug of my life.

When she pulled away, we made our way to the back of the store where the pharmacy counter was. There were only a few people in line, but Amber let out a tired sigh anyway. “I’m so sick of waiting in lines.” She nudged me with her elbow, half smiling. “Thanks for not ditching me.”

She reached behind her, found my hand, and laced her fingers with mine. “I can’t believe how good this feels,” she whispered. Her grip tightened. “What would I do without you, Sam Caruso?”

An older woman in front of us turned around, her eyes landing on our joined hands. She smiled, and even though she was missing most of her teeth, it was a beautiful, kind smile. "You two make a cute couple. Married?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "No, ma’am."

Amber grinned. "We just started dating," she said, squeezing my hand.

"Oh, I see." The woman took a small step forward as the line moved, and we shuffled up behind her. "Starting something new, that’s always exciting. I wish you both the best."

Before I could even thank her, a sharp crack split the air from the front of the store. Gunshots. Screams burst out all around us. People hit the floor or ran for the shelves. The line vanished, and a heavy gate slammed down over the pharmacy counter. Security guards shouted orders, one yelling for everyone to get low. Somewhere to my left, a man called out for help. The chaos flooded in all at once, everything moving faster than I could track.

“Sam?”

I turned to Amber. A line of blood stained the front of her T-shirt. The older woman in front of us slumped sideways, eyes wide, a dark bullet hole at the back of her neck.

I yanked Amber down, pulling us behind a metal display case. I crouched low, keeping my arm over her. “Keep your head down.”

Peeking around the edge of the display, I saw a man running down the aisle. He didn’t make it far before a shot caught him in the back. He crashed to the floor, a carton of eggs bursting open and a box of cereal skidding across the tiles.

“What the fuck is going on?” Amber shouted next to me.

Sudden, loud banging shook the front of the store, each crash sharper than thunder. The next moment, the doors blew open and the crowd waiting outside burst in like a wild stampede pouring down the aisles. People shoved past each other, and screams were flying everywhere. Short pops of gunfire mixed with loud reports of shotgun blasts. Anyone in the way got knocked aside or dragged down by the surge.

Security guards rushed toward the wave, pistols out, firing warning shots that barely slowed anyone.

It was turning into a war zone. I kept my head down, scanning for any shot at an exit. Moving now meant risking a bullet or getting trampled. Amber pressed close beside me, breathing fast. Her eyes jumped from aisle to aisle, searching for a break the same way I was.

continue to chapter 6