Roger drives to work while listening to his pop playlist on Spotify. He could have driven all the way to work, revisiting everything he would need to say at his meeting, but he decided to relax and rest his brain for a while.
He’d been reading that amazing horror manuscript for the last two weeks, taking notes, re-reading it, re-taking notes, and bothering Sam with fake presentations.
Sam loved it, though. Every time Roger asks him for help with work stuff, Sam opens a large smile and says, “Of course, baby, you don’t even have to ask.”
Salyyyter starts singing “DANCE …” when Roger arrives at the office parking lot. The clock is marking 8:00 a.m. He stays inside the car until the song ends, and then he leaves it at the company building.
At 8:05 a.m., Ugly Rat was bitten by the crazy human.
***
After arriving at his desk, Roger goes to the kitchen to grab some coffee. Now that the distraction from the music was gone, his heart started pounding again.
He believed in that book. He knew it could be a big success, which would make him get promoted. Which would make him get more money. Which would make it possible for him and Sam to afford buying that beautiful lake house they’ve been visiting and spending some special holidays at. They’ve talked a few times about how it would be nice to own it and to make their own escape from the real world.
And last week, Roger got an email from the owner of the cabin asking if he was interested in buying it.
He didn’t tell Sam anything. If the meeting went well and the promotion came, he would make a huge surprise for him.
The kitchen had a few people around, talking about the weather and all those kinds of small talk they do in offices to try to sound friendly or build a network on top of being fake and annoying. Roger never liked that. He would enter the office, say good morning, grab his coffee, and go back to his desk.
That’s why he barely had any friends there, and he was fine with it. He had real friends outside of work. The only thing that mattered to him was doing good work and getting recognition and a promotion from it.
The clock marked 8:45 a.m. when people in the office started running around, with cellphones in their ears.
Roger stood up with his heart racing in his chest.
“What is going on?” he asked, holding one of his coworkers’ arms.
“Just watch the news. People are going crazy.”
Roger opened the local journal’s site on his browser. There was a live transmission going on. He clicked on the video, and it started playing.
“… they said they don’t know what is causing people to act this crazy, but if they see you, they run after you like animals,” said one reporter from a street in the city.
“Are you safe there, Mike?” asked the journalist in the TV studio.
“Yes, Julio, for now. But we should start moving soon. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you what I saw. The only thing I’ll say to everyone is that these crazy people are acting like zombies, but way, way worse. Lock your doors and stay safe inside as much as you can.”
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Roger stared at the computer screen for a few seconds, in shock. Was that a prank that someone in the office was doing? He got pulled out of that state when the reporter started screaming.
“Oh my God, they are here. Run, Lincoln, run.”
The cameraman kept the camera pointed in the direction the reporter was looking for a few seconds, then threw it to the ground and started running.
Roger saw a group of three people running toward the reporter and the cameraman before the news channel lost connection.
He stood up and started calling Sam. He was about to go down the elevator when its doors opened, and his boss entered, out of breath and sweating.
“We need to stop this elevator from working and block the entrance doors. They are already here in the building.”
***
Sam picked up his phone, and he sounded scared.
“Babe, did you see the news?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s why I’m calling. How are things there?”
“So far, everything is calm here, but I’m scared as fuck. It looked like The Walking Dead on steroids.”
Roger sighed deeply. He felt his heart tighten inside his chest. He would give anything to be together with Sam in that moment. And he would do anything for that to come true.
“Listen, babe. I want you to load the car with as much food and water as you can and drive to that cabin we love. It is pretty far and isolated, and you will be safe there. I will meet you as soon as I can.”
“No way. I will wait for you here, and we will go together,” Sam said, fighting the tears that were trying to roll down his face.
“No, babe! Listen. It can become very dangerous for you in the city right now. Our home has too many large windows that are easy to break. Do what I said, and I’ll meet you there. I promise. I will leave my office now as well. Hopefully, we will arrive there almost at the same time.”
Roger was afraid Sam would tell him no. Sam could be very stubborn about following orders when he wanted, but Roger was relieved when he said:
“Ok. Let’s hang up then and hurry up. What the fuck is going on? I thought these things would only happen in fiction.”
He loved Sam so much that the thought of losing him made his stomach feel sick.
“Ok, babe. Take care and don’t try to be a hero or help anyone. In this kind of situation, you need to be selfish.”
“You do the same. I love you.”
“I love you more, more, more.”
Roger heard Sam laugh before they both hung up.
He looked outside the window, and shivers went through his body at what he saw.
There was chaos.
And a lot of dead people. Some on the ground. Some running like crazy.
***
Roger ran to his boss.
“Were you outside? How is the situation on the streets?”
Alfie turned around. His face was wet from crying.
“It is the end of the world, Roger. We are doomed. They are everywhere.”
Roger sighed and turned to the emergency exit.
“I need to find Sam. I can’t stay here while he is alone and in danger.”
Alfie opened his eyes wide and started walking toward Roger.
“Are you crazy? Didn’t you hear what I just said? They are everywhere, Roger. You will die in minutes if you go out there.”
Roger knew that it was a strong possibility, but he would rather go out and try to reunite with his love than hide in some building with a bunch of people he didn’t like.
“I’m not asking for your permission or advice, Alfie. I am going, and there is nothing you can do.”
“If you step outside this room, I won’t open this door again. I hope you know that, and that I am being serious when I say it.”
Roger looked around. His coworkers were looking at both of them, paying attention to what they were saying.
“Well, I don’t plan to come back. I need to find my husband, and I’ll try to do it until I can’t anymore. You should run to a safer place as well. Soon, this will be ten times worse, and then you will be trapped here in this building with those things outside.”
Roger turned around and went in the direction of the exit door. He closed his eyes and prayed to stay safe and protected. He was never very religious, but any type of help wouldn’t hurt.
Hold on there, baby. I’m on my way to hug and protect you, he thought before opening the door.
