Excerpt: Project Z

Project-Z

Chapter 1:
“The initial outbreak will occur seemingly out of no where. At first, misreported incidents of attempted muggings and attacks will occur and the local authorities will be called in to take care of it. Unfortunately, the police are the worst first responders to an outbreak of the Zen Virus. Their first priority being the safety of the people involved, they will hesitate to eliminate the infected and arrest them, only helping the virus spread...” - Project-Z

The bookstore was quite as Walter moved slowly through the rows of shelves, browsing the various books available for him to purchase. Small bookstore only had a dozen shelves, but boasted an extremely eccentric variety of books. One book in particular caught his eye. It was a tan book with “Project-Z” written in black letters on the spine.
“Hmm, this looks interesting.” Walter whispered as he plucked a book off the shelf in the back and read the back cover. “This book details how the Zen Virus was created, it's effects on living beings, and proper offensive and defensive measures to take against the infected to ensure survival of the humankind in case of a widespread outbreak.” Walter looked at it and chuckled to himself as he continued through the shelves, carrying the book under his arm.
“Whatcha find today, Walter?” asked the owner, Moose, as he sat behind the counter, resting his chin in his hand, propped up on the counter. His grey and brown hair and his skinny face seemed an awkward match for his otherwise large build. He had opened the Graceful Moose bookstore ten years ago, and Walter had been one of the most loyal customers to shop there.
“Some odd book called Project-Z.” Walter began as he set the book on the counter and pulled his wallet out of a pocket on the inside of his jacket. “Seems to be one of those weird government conspiracy books, thought it'd be an interesting read.”
“Project-Z, eh?” Moose took the book and scanned it, “That will be $8.15.”
Walter slipped a ten out of his wallet and handed it over the counter.
“I didn't even know I had that book, where did you find it?” Moose asked as he opened the register and slipped the ten in it.
“Keep the change.” Walter said before Moose started to count the change. “And I found it on one of the shelves out in the back. This was the only copy I saw back there though.” He took the book and slipped it into a pocket in his jacket.
“Let me know how it is, I might have to borrow it from you if I can't find another copy in here.” Moose chuckled, “See ya later, Walter!” He added as Walter headed to the door.
“See ya, Moose.” Walter waved back as he left the small store.

The cold, crisp air filled his lungs as Walter zipped his jacket up and threw the hood up over his head. He slipped his hands into his pockets, holding onto the book as he mad his way through the city streets on his way back to his apartment. The streets were bustling with activity, cars and people all moving through the streets and along the sidewalks. Walter fought his way through the of people crossing an intersection. Suddenly, the sound of police sirens pierced the noise. Walter turned and watched two police cars speeding down the road as he followed along it. A few blocks later, another police car sped around a corner and down the street in the same direction, shortly followed by yet another one.
“I wonder what that's about.” He thought as he continued walking towards his apartment a few blocks away. A few cracks of gunfire could be heard in the distance as he sped up his pace to get home. The gunfire grew louder and more numerous as he approached the entrance to his apartment. Two military vehicles flew by, heading towards the gunfire, but Walter didn't notice them as he entered his apartment building.

He pulled the book out of his pocket and thumbed through it as he entered the elevator, pausing to press the button for the third floor. He stepped out of the elevator, putting the book away and pulling out the key to his door. He heard loud music coming from the room across from him.
“Brandon must be having another one of those parties.” He thought as he unlocked his door and went inside, locking it behind him.

His apartment was like a miniature library, full of bookshelves stacked with books. The room was dark, the only light coming from a few windows with the curtains drawn over them. Walter flipped on a light switch and set the book down on a coffee table before going into the kitchen for some food. After fixing himself some hot pockets, he moved to his computer desk and switched it on to check his email, only to find he had no messages in his in box. Walter yawned as he went from his computer back to his couch an began to read the book he had bought as he ate his lunch. Outside his apartment, he could hear more police vehicles and large trucks drive past, as well as the gunshots growing more louder and more frequent. He could also hear the party across the hall and the loud obnoxious music they were playing. Despite the loud noises from outside, Walter ignored it all and focused on his new book. Learning all he could about this so-called Zen Virus and it's origins. And again, despite this new book and all the noise going on, Walter somehow managed to fall asleep.

Several hours passed before Walter had woken up to loud banging on his front door.
“Yo, dude, Walter, man, open the door bro!” came a voice from the other side of the door. Walter lifted himself slowly off his couch and rubbed his forehead. The gunfire in the streets outside only adding to his headache.
“What is it this time, Brandon?” he yelled groggily as he shuffled to the door. Walter unlocked and opened the door, Brandon and his friends immediately piled into the small living room.
“The hell kinda place is this?” Asked one of the guys, Edward.
“If you don't like it get out.” Replied Walter as he moved slowly towards his couch. “What did you want, Brandon?” He asked again as he plopped down over the arm of his couch, letting his legs hang over the arm as he picked his book up again.
“Dude, what's with all the shooting outside, bro? We can barely hear our music over it, yo.” Answered Brandon as he moved to sit down.
“How am I supposed to know, I've been sleeping in here all afternoon.” Walter flipped open the book and turned to the page where he had left off.
“Yeah but, dude, you like always go out every morning and this has been, like going on all day, man. Sure you didn't, like, see anything or something, bro?”
“Most I saw were a few police cars going down the road, I figured it was just some gunfight going on or something. Nothing to worry about. Just go back to your party and get out of my apartment.”
“Listen queer,” Edward interjected, “There's a helluva lot of gunfire and noise coming from outside this apartment building and you've got the only window facing that direction. We didn't come over here to be insulted so just let us look and see what's going on and we'll get out. A'ight?”
Walter snapped his book shut and threw himself up over the arm of the couch and onto his feet in one quick fluid motion. “First of all,” he began calmly as he moved towards Ed, staring him straight in the eye despite the vast difference in size, “who said you could even come in here, eh? All I did was open the door for Brandon and you and your gorillas barged in here like it was the mating ground. Secondly, No, this is not the only window facing the street you dumb ass, there's a whole side of apartments in this building facing that way. Try the guys next door. Thirdly, if you want to see what's going on, just go downstairs and check. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure these things out.”
Walter stood there, looking straight up at Ed. Walters diminutive stature and the sheer bulk of Ed made the encounter look funny to those watching.
“Firstly of all, midget.” Responded Ed, Walter couldn't help but chuckle, causing Ed to get angry. “We tried the people next door, they aren't in so we tried here. Next, we aren't stupid enough to go downstairs where all the gunfire is. I ain't gettin' my ass shot just so you can have a laugh.”
An awkward silence befell the small crowded apartment broken only by the sounds of gunfire and a loud droning moan emanating from outside the building. Walter and Ed stood there glaring at each other. Walter began to say something but was quickly interrupted by Brandon.
“Yo, dude, Ed, c'mon bro, lets just go check the front door real quick, dude. They aren't shooting in the buildings, yo. We'll be a'ight bro.” He said as he broke in between the two, “Bro, let's just go and like check real quick a'ight dude?” Ed scowled and backed away. Walter grinned and laughed quietly to himself.
“Bye now.” Said Walter, as the group walked out, Brandon holding the door open. “Brandon, wait a sec.” he added as Brandon began to shut the door. “If it's something serious, come up here and tell me, ok?”
“Sure, yo, no problem bro. I, like, got your back dude.” Brandon answered before shutting the door and following the other guys toward the stairs.
“I really can't stand those guys.” Walter said with a sigh as he pulled his book out again.
“Stay in a group,” the book said, “as always there is safety in numbers, but do not allow the group to grow too large. Too many people can cause leadership problems: one person says one thing, another says something different. The person chosen to lead is not always the best pick, and the one who knows what to do is often ignored or ridiculed.”
Walter looked up from his book to the covered window, growing conscious to the bangs and shouts coming from below. He laid his head back and gazed at his ceiling in an attempt to fight his growing curiosity.
“You're better than this.” he told himself, “It's best to just not get involved and let things run their course. It's not like I could do anything anyway.” He sat, for the most part, in silence for another moment or two before finally standing up.
“Then again, I might as well at least know what I'm not getting involved in. Not like it's not going to happen if I don't know about it.” he continued as he moved towards the window.
“Now, let's see whats going on out there.” He slowly lifted the curtain out of the way and gazed upon the city street below.

“The hell was that guy's problem? Letting us in the kicking us out like that. Damn queer.” Ed grumbled as the group descended the stairs. “Why the hell do you even talk to that guy anyway, Brandon?”
“Woah, dude, what Walter? Naw man, he's like, cool, ya know?” Brandon descended quickly to catch up with Ed. “You just gotta, like, get to know him, bro. He's a really awesome guy and doesn't afraid of anything.”
“Doesn't... what?” Ed stopped on a platform and gave Brandon an odd look.
“Dude, that guy, like, ain't scared of nuthin bro.” Brandon stopped with him, blocking the rest of the group from going on. “Then again, he like, never leaves that room. So I dunno really.” He looked back up the stairs. “But he's like, always got your back, dude. Knows a lot of stuff, and he's like really useful and helpful and stuff, ya know.”
“Whatever, dude. Lets just go see what's going on out there.” Ed turned and continued down the stairwell. The gunshots were getting more frequent and shouts could be heard.
“How much further is it?” Asked one of the other guys, Finnigan, as they reached another platform.
“Well, let's see, it's a four story building and we we're now on the second floor so, I dunno,” Began Ed as he stopped again and turned around, “Maybe one floor to go you idiot!” he yelled.
“What's got your panties in a knot?” Another guy, David, added under his breath as Ed turned to leave. After a short awkward silence, the group reached the ground floor of the building and reached the door to the lobby area. The gunfire and yells continued to emanate from beyond the walls of the building, but seemed to have grown a bit more distant.
“Now to figure out just what the hell is going on out there.” Ed flung the door open and the group entered the already filled lobby. It must be said, quite obviously, that they weren't the only people who noticed the sounds from outside and investigated.
“How the hell are we supposed to see anything in this crowd?” Shouted Ed as he made his way toward the door through the crowd. Pushing and shoving people out of his way, snapping at them that they should move when he's coming. Like a boss. The group forced it's way to the front entrance slowly. The crowd growing thicker and the commotion and noise flooded the room with screams and shouts from the front.
“Get out of my way damn it!” Ed shoved a couple off their feet and into the crowd, breaking through to the front of the room, stopping dead in his tracks as he saw what was beyond the glass.

“Pick up the phone, damn it!” Walter shouted as he listened to the phone ringing. “Come on, Zack! Turn the bloody music down and pick up the damn phone!”
“Hey, what's up?” Came a voice over the line.
“Zack! Listen to me, quick go lock your doors and windows, I'll be over as soon as I can to help. Just don't go outside or answer the do-” Walter explained, but was interrupted by Zack.
“Yeah, that's pretty cool, but I can't get to the phone right now so just leave your name and number and I'll get back to you later. Bye!” Zack's answering machine recording continued, “Oh, and if this is Walter. No, I'm not listening to music.” The voice paused for a moment. “I'm, um,” It paused again. “I'm cooking, yeah that's it, I'm cooking. Or possibly eating or sleeping or something. But definitely not listening to music. Nope, don't worry.”
“Ahg! Damn it! Zack! Pick up the phone! Crap, if you get this, lock all your doors and windows and continue ignoring everything else in the world and you'll be fine!” Walter yelled before slamming the phone back onto the receiver. Walter paced around the room, thinking about what he was going to do next. “Maybe I should try and make it over there myself.” He thought aloud, “No, the streets are full already, I'd need some help.” He glanced at the book lying on his coffee table. The large, black 'P-Z' on the front cover stood out boldly against the light tan of the cover.
“There's no way that could be it.” He told himself, laughing a bit at himself for even having the thought that the book could be real. “There's just no way.” He said again as he moved quickly to the book, and then back to the window, flipping to a page near the beginning of the book.
“The infected will at first show no signs of life, from the views of even the most professionally trained eyes the infected will be, effectively, dead. However, anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours later, they will show signs of reanimation. Their motor skills will return slowly, their eyes may be glazed over, depending on the time between 'death' and reanimation, and they will begin to move aimlessly.”
Walter looked out the window at the large crowd of people shuffling down the street. The gunfire seemed to have no effect on them, taking shot after shot but rarely falling. The few that did dragged themselves back to their feet and continued moving towards the slowly retreating barricade of guns.
“Their movements will be slow, having diminutive ability to use basic motor skills used for movement. They are attracted to loud noise and bright lights. Use guns only you have already been spotted by them! While they may seem slow, it is this factor which will always cause any survivor to drop their guard and become lax, believing that they will have ample time to reach their destination.” Walter returned his gaze to the street below, the slow moving people continued on steadily. Nothing seemed to be stopping them Suddenly, there came another loud knock on the door.
“Yo, Walter dude, It's me again, bro!” Brandon shouted through the door.
“Not now, Brandon!” Walter shouted as he picked the phone up again.
“I know, dude, but you like told me to get you if it was, like serious dude!” Brandon replied.
“Open the damn door!” Ed boomed as he banged on the door.
“Definitely not for you, I'm on the phone.” Walter responded as he listened to the phone ringing. The answering machine picked it up. “Answer the damn phone!” He yelled again.
“Stop talking to your imaginary boyfriend and open this door damn it!” Ed slammed his fist on the door a few more times. “This is serious!” He readied himself to slam against the door, making his move right as Walter flung the door open, sending Ed flat on his face in the living room.
“Hello, Brandon. So, how did they look?” Walter asked smugly as Ed picked himself up off the floor.
“Asshole.” Ed said as he placed his hand to his forehead.
“How did what look, bro?” Asked Brandon.
“The things in the street.” Walter placed the phone down and picked his book up again, slipping it into his pocket. “How did they look.”
“Like, oh my god, dude they were like freaking weird man. Some of 'em were like totally missing parts of their bodies and stuff. Covered in like blood and ripped clothes and stuff. It was like totally disgusting, bro. Like, dude, man, I saw one of 'em get like totally shot in the chest and it fell over but then it like just picked itself up again and dude, it kept on moving bro. And they like, made this weird groaning noise but that was it bro. Kept trying to like walk through windows and walls and stuff yo, getting blood everywhere and stuff. Freaking hilarious watching them like run into walls and crap.”
“I was hoping it was just a random mob. Ok, look, I know what to do. But first, we've got to go get somebody. Now, I don't have a car but I'm sure one of y-”
“Look here, queer bait, I'm calling the shots here, not you you little prick.” Ed shoved Walter out of the way and stood before the group. “First off, we aren't listening to this kid. Secondly, I think we should just wait till the military takes care of it, we all saw the humvees and trucks out there. We'll be fine. It's not like those things can get inside or anything. We'll be fine.”
“As I was saying,” Walter continued, ignoring Ed completely, “We need to get out of this building, when they get inside, and they will get inside eventually, this place will be a feeding ground for those things. You've seen how many there were outside, if the military were able to control this it would've been over with hours ago. Staying here only means we'll run out of food and water faster, and most likely become one of those things even sooner. Now, if any of you have a car, preferably an SUV we could use to get out of here, I've got someone I have to find. He probably has no clue what's going on and won't until we get there.” The group looked at Walter, then Ed, then back to Walter. Ed glared at Walter while Walter simply stood there like everything was normal.
“Uh, I've got a Mini Cooper we could use.” Offered Ed's girlfriend, Zoey.
“That's awesome,” Walter really likes the Mini Cooper model and seriously contemplated using it even though there would be no room for most of the people. Not that he'd care, he'd help them turn into the things in the street for a chance to drive one. “But we need something that can fit all of us, not just the ones that don't die getting into it. Again, anybody have an SUV?”
“No, but I've got a van that we could probably fit all of us in.” answered yet another one of Brandon's friends, Jarret.
“Great, where did you park it?”
“Oh, just down the- er, street.” Jarret replied, glancing toward the window.
“That's just great.” Ed stated in anger, drawing the groups attention, sans Walters, of course. “Just how the hell are we supposed to get to the damn van if it's down the street?”
“Very carefully.” Replied Walter with a grin.