Page 4

No, not a dream, she thought. I'm in a goddamn nightmare.

Patrick flicked around the dial on the radio, scaling through white noise and the occasional disembodied voice.

"Damn it," he said. "So hard to get any reception here. Hold on a second, I'll find something so-"

Patrick was interrupted by the confident voice of a disc jockey coming from the speaker. The four of them huddled around the radio like it was a camp fire.

"Repeating, this bulletin just received moments ago from Maryland, Cumberland... told news men that murder... examination of the victims bodies shows conclusively that the killers... this incredible story becomes more ghastly with each report. It's difficult to imagine such a thing actually..."

"Damn it. Haven't been able to hold a station for long," Patrick said. "Just snippets."

"And what have you figured out so far?" Harry asked. His skin had turned waxy and pale.

"That... Okay, listen to me, and listen carefully. I'd prefer not to say this in front of the girl, but you need to know to be alert and to be prepared. You might want to sit down."

"Tell me what's going on," Harry demanded. "Now."

"I've seen it with my own eyes, Harry. These murderers... Well..." He swallowed. "They're eating their victims."

Helen brought a hand to her mouth. "They're what?"

Karen began to sob. "Mommy..." She grabbed Helen's hand and squeezed, her palms hot and sweaty.

"I was down in town about three hours ago to get some supplies, and I saw it happen myself. The White's boy, Jimmy. He was just out on the road, walking along, when he got surrounded by them. I shouted for them to stop but they didn't listen. Then, I swear on my life, Harry... One of them bit into his head! He Just opened his mouth and took a chunk from Jim's skull. So, I turned and ran. Locked myself up here. Got out the radio and pieced together what I could."

"Oh sweet Jesus..." Helen took a quivering breath. "Could it be a virus? Like rabies, something like that? Are they diseased?"

"I think it's worse than that, Mrs. Cooper. You see, one of those men that ate Jimmy White? I swear it was Christopher Smith."

"You mean Mr. Smith... Who died last week?"

"Yes."

They all fell silent as they digested the conversation so far. Karen had stopped crying. Now she looked to be in absolute shock. Helen rubbed the girl's back. She'd give anything to have someone do the same to her. To tell her it would all be okay. But she knew there was no chance of that. Harry would sooner shout at her than soothe her. At that moment, she felt very alone.

"Those things turned over our car," Harry said. "We need to get out of here. Do you have your car nearby?"

"I walk to work everyday, Harry. Your best best is to stay put here with me and wait for help to come. The police, the army, someone should be by soon to sort this mess out."

"And if they aren't? Have you heard a broadcast say that they are? Patrick, my cousin is a major in the army, I would have heard something."

"Harry," Helen said. "Now just listen to Patrick."

"I'm done, Helen. I've heard all I've had to hear. If these things are doing what he says they're doing, then I'm not having my daughter near them. I'm getting her away from here."

"If you go out there that's your choice, Harry. But you're going straight to those things and you're not bringing my daughter with you."

"She's my daughter too, Helen."

Karen tugged on Helen's coat. "I don't want to go, Mommy. I want to stay here."

"You hear her, Harry? We're staying put and that's that."

"I think you should listen to them, Cooper."

"Like hell... You're going to get us all killed. We're leaving and that's final."

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