Carl had been to Pete’s house many times, and so he knew how to get there. Pete’s house was out in the country. There were about two miles between each house. When he drove up towards Pete’s house, he saw Pete’s mother, Linda, packing up and running around. Pete’s 20 year old sister Denise was helping her mother as Pete’s father, Mark, was putting other things into the car.
Carl stopped the car and jumped out, yelling to Pete’s father. “Hey, we need help. Pete needs help.”
Pete’s father ran towards the car. “We were going to come to pick you up,” Pete’s father said to Pete.
Pete was moaning at this point. Pete’s father grabbed him and said, “Pete, you are burning up.”
“He has been bitten, the wound is infected, and we need to clean it up right now,” Charlotte yelled.
“Bitten?” Pete’s mom yelled and started screaming. “No, not my son, no…”
“Let’s get him inside,” Pete’s father said to Carl, who helped Pete get into the house. Charlotte ran behind them while Betty tried to console Pete’s mom.
They put Pete on the couch and Charlotte ran to the medicine cabinet. She came out with some rubbing alcohol and some bandages.
“I’m so cold,” Pete said while Charlotte poured the rubbing alcohol on the wound. Now most of his leg was black.
Pete’s father was fighting back tears when Pete’s younger brother ran towards Pete and hugged him. Normally rubbing alcohol would burn, but Pete just laid there like it was water. His 8 year old brother yelled at Pete, telling him to get up.
“We need to get Pete to the car so we can take him to the shelter. There is a shelter. This religious camp site. They told us to all go there. I bet they can help Pete there,” Pete’s mom said. She had walked into the house.
Charlotte was crying and Pete’s father was standing there doing nothing. Carl yelled.
“OK, let’s all get in the car. Your car is bigger than ours. We can go to the shelter,” Carl said.
“We are finished packing. We were about to load up now,” Pete’s father said.
“OK, let’s load everyone else up and come back and put Pete in the car last,” Carl said. “Betty and I will pack our stuff in the car while you attend to Pete.”
Pete’s father threw Carl the keys to the SUV. “Go and start the car.”
Carl ran out and grabbed Betty’s arm. They ran to Pete’s car while everyone else was in the house.
“Pete will die. We have got to get everyone to the car. I’m gonna need your help on this one.”
“OK,” Betty said with resolve.
They took the few suitcases they had and threw them in the back of the SUV.
There was a loud scream. It sounded like Pete’s brother. Carl gave Betty the keys and started running to the house. He yelled to Betty, “You and Denise get in the car and you start the car.”
Pete had bitten his brother’s nose off. His brother was yelling as his nose was hanging from his face. Charlotte was hugging his legs, trying to wipe on some more rubbing alcohol while Pete’s father was struggling with Pete.
Pete’s mother was at the door, crying. Carl yelled at her, “You gotta get in the car.”
“No, that’s my baby,” Linda said.
Pete’s younger brother ran at Pete’s father and bit a chunk out of his leg. He and Pete both jumped on Pete’s father.
“Come on now,” Carl yelled towards Charlotte, who seemed to be shocked at the scene. He couldn't run into the house because he was holding Linda back, who seemed to want to go into the house.
“Leave me alone. That’s my family,” Linda yelled at Carl. “Get your damn hands off me.”
Charlotte began to walk towards the door, trying not to get the attention of Pete or his brother, who were still taking large bites out of their father.
The horn honked, and Pete looked up. He looked over at Charlotte, who started running towards the door. She didn’t make it, though. Pete tackled her. Pete’s brothercame running towards the door and Carl picked Linda up on over his shoulders like a bag of rice and slammed the door shut. He began running towards the SUV as Linda attempted to get down. Denise opened the door and Carl threw Linda in. He jumped into the car.
“Get out of here,” Carl yelled.
Betty hit the gas, but nothing happened.
“Get it out of neutral,” Carl yelled
They started moving. She didn’t drive long before she hit a tree.
The door of the house was shut, but Carl knew they were trying to get out.
“Is everybody all right?” Carl asked.
“What are we gonna do?” Betty asked.
“Let’s get to Pete’s car. It is a few feet over there, I still have the key,” Carl said.
“Betty, Denise, and Linda, grab a few bags and let’s get going,” Carl continued.
Betty grabbed a couple of the bags and went over to Pete’s car. Denise grabbed two bags and ran to Pete’s car. Carl grabbed a couple of bags and started to the car. He saw Linda running towards the front door of the house.
“Baby, Mommy will make it better,” Linda yelled.
“No, Mommy,” Denise said. But it was to no avail.
Linda got to the door and opened it. As soon as she opened the door, her husband jumped her and began eating her. Linda’s sons continued to the process, and Charlotte joined in.
“Damn, damn, damn,” Carl yelled as he grabbed four bags and ran towards the vehicle. While he ran, one bag fell to the ground. He continued running. But Pete looked up and saw Carl running to the door.
“Hurry up,” Betty yelled.
Itt appeared that Pete was going to catch him. Carl had a few more steps, but he realized he wasn’t going to make it, so he threw one bag at Pete, who knocked it down. Pete looked at Carl, who was out of options when a gunshot rang out.
Carl looked and saw Denise had a revolver pointed at Pete. She yelled, “Get in the car.”
Carl ran and threw the two bags in the back seat and started the car up.
He backed up and turned the car around. Pete’s father and mother and girlfriend and brother ran towards the car, but there was no way they could catch it. Carl hit the gas and got off of Pete’s property.
“I hope you know where this shelter is,” Carl said to Denise.
“I know where we are going. But since we lost all our supplies, how about we stop by the Z-Mart where I work to pick up a few things,” Denise said.
“Sounds good to me,” Carl said as he drove.
Chapter 12 - Mary