The Rotting Flesh Book 1: Escatology
Chapter 1: Headlines

“Hey Tom come and watch with me as people risk their life for money” Tristan said increasing the tv volume

“No I’ll pass” declined Tom “besides I have a motor cross tournament to participate in tomorrow” he added as he washed the dishes

It had been two years since their father Jacob Guveyor succumbed to cancer forcing the two boys to work and fend for themselves. Tristan who was the oldest by just three years worked at a local bank while Tom still in his first stage of adulthood was a local motor cross racer. They didn’t earn much but it was enough to keep them fed and happy.

“Bike this bike that, sooner or later you’re going to have to look for a real job man” Tristan said gulping down his beer

“Never underestimate one’s dreams” he replied

“Look I’m just saying, I’m sorry anyway” Tristan apologized

“Like hell you mean it” said Tom “what are you watching anyway” he added walking to the lounge

They lived in a three bedroomed house which was one of the assets their father left them so rent was not an issue.

“People who volunteered to be tested on by getting the new Covid19 vaccine” he replied “you know I just have a bad feeling about this” he added

“You always have bad feelings about everything man” Tommy said sitting next to him “turn up the volume” he said

{“This is Sarah Richton reporting live from Town square clinic where ten voluntary citizens are being injected the new Covid19 vaccine to see if it works. Each of them will receive a lumb sum of 5 thousand dollars after this and if there to be any complications the treatment will be paid for.”}

“Wow 5 grand” Tom commented surprised

“Even if its 10 grand I’d never risk my life not even for you” Tristan said giggling

“Why are you gay?” Tom teased

“Fuck you man” he replied

“Oh you wanna fuck here I am fuck me” Tom said forcefully jumping on top of his brother.

They wrestled for a couple of minutes then Tristan glanced at the TV and noticed something odd.

“Dude, dude look look man!!” he yelled pointing at the TV and Tom diverted his attention there

{“Something has gone wrong with the tests and the injected people are going wild like dogs with rabies. They attacking the doctors oh my God move the camera there. She’s eating the doctor alive. We got to go now”}

“What the fuck is that?” Tom said slowly

They couldn’t believe their eyes it was like something from a horror movie. The people who had been vaccinated had suddenly become inhumanly aggressive and violent. Their appearance changed so much that their skin had become pale and the veins all below their skin darkened becoming more visible to the naked eye. The headlines on every news channel were already flooding with what was going on in Town square. Each channel switched to stream it live. At first people were come thinking it was an act until one of the doctors administering the vaccine was attacked and his throat chewed out. Blood spluttered everywhere within the fence which had been put around the vaccination point. It was the only thing keeping these violent people from attacking the public. As time passed they slammed against the fence and were slowly bringing it closer to giving in however before that could happen the military arrived.

{“The military has just arrived and is trying to calm the situation while the rest advance to the clinic”. There was a lot of chaos at the square, people were aimlessly running up and down screaming. Some yelling for their loved ones who they got separated from in all this disorder. “As we speak the soldiers are firing at these things but they keep coming like nothing is happening. Oh my God what is happening to this world”

“There is no need to panic the situation has been neutralized. So please go on with your daily routines as usual nothing has changed” a soldier said

“General what is going on?” the reporter asked

“Leave that to us, turn off that damn thing” he said covering the camera with his hand}

Tom and Tristan sat staring at the tv in utter bafflement.

“What the fuck” Tom swore

And there was silence.

………………………………………………………

“I have got to hand it to you, whatever happened back there today we haven’t heard the last of it” said Jeffrey an ambulance driver as he drove the bodies of the scientists who had died at Town square to the army hospital outside town

“The human rights bitches are going to sue town square clinic to the ground” replied Ryan his partner

“I hear you partner” agreed Jeff

“Don’t you think it would have been wiser if they had put some wall between us and the bodies at least for privacy” suggested Ryan

“Well thats what we get for working in the military, they say normal ambulances attract unwanted attention so we use a van instead” said Jeff

“This country and its bullshit policies, too many secrets ey” commented Ryan “that's my jam turn up the volume please” he added and his partner did so

“You and Bad Boys Blue, I just can’t figure you out” he commented and turned up the volume

They drove for miles. The base was a bit far out of town, it was much further than the outskirts farms. They sang along to the tunes that were being played on power FM oblivious of anything around them. Something moved at the back, one of the bodies slowly opened his eyes. They had cloudy white pupils instead of normal ones and his face was pale also showing dark purple veins just like the people who had killed them earlier. He looked around then ahead and saw the two singing along. He began slowly dragging himself towards the front, wheezing so much like something big is lodged in his airway. The others opened their eyes too. They all seemed to have difficulty breathing.

The first one pounced onto Jeff sinking his teeth into his throat. Blood splashed onto the wind screen like it was coming from a tape. Ryan screamed as he tried to pull the dead scientist off his partner when another one bit his shoulder. The car swerved left and right until it finally went off road and landed upside down close to a ranch outside town causing Jeff and Ryan to die on the spot.The back doors of the van swung open and the scientists headed towards the ranch.