After hearing about the possibility of a zombie outbreak I kept close to Dale even following him into the conference room when Harry called an emergency meeting.
"Megan, you shouldn't be here." Harry told me the moment I walked towards the open doorway and I frowned as Deputy Hawk blocked my path.
"Sorry, Megan but Harry's right. You're not allowed in here." Hawk apologized and I rolled my eyes turning around before I headed back towards the front entrance, shoving my hands in the pocket of my jacket with a sour look on my face.
"Maybe we should let her in." Dale suggested getting an immediate head shake from Harry.
"Coop, while I appreciate the advice she's given us so far Megan's untrained, willful and not part of the Twin Peak's police force." Harry pointed out and Dale just shrugged, resting his hands on the table in front of him.
"I know that, Harry but she's been invaluable in helping us combat this infection. While I know she can't directly combat these infected Megan can still help in other ways." Dale offered and Harry just sighed, looking at Dale who had a smile on his face.
"You won't let up until I agree will you, Coop?" Harry asked getting a nod from Dale. "Alright fine but you're keeping an eye on her."
"Of course, Harry." Dale agreed, looking towards the door and Hawk. "You can come in now, Megan." He called out and Hawk just smiled, opening the door and I coughed standing inches from the doorway.
"I wasn't eavesdropping if that's what you're all thinking." I grumbled, walking straight through the door once Hawk moved out of the way giving me a tiny smile and a nod as I made my way towards Dale. "Before you start complaining about me being in this meeting I'm the one who survived this once before. While I'm not trained or anything I can help you in other ways like information."
"Thank you, Megan. Dale already vouched for you so you're his responsibility now." Harry told me and I looked over at Dale one eyebrow raised when he gave me a tiny nod. "His words not mine."
"Hmph. So have you had any luck with finding that witness?" I asked, leaning back slightly in my chair. Feeling four sets of eyes on me I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You haven't found him yet have you? Guys he could be infected and if he passes that onto anyone else without realizing why he's sick.."
"First of all stop telling me how to do my job, Megan. Second, we were more concerned with the people still in the hospital." Harry replied and I just snorted at him raising an eyebrow at the sheriff who met my gaze.
"Megan, be nice. You're here because I asked nicely." Dale scolded with a faint smile. "We could ask around at the hospital and the diner, see if anyone knows the man."
"I wasn't trying to be rude, Dale. Besides I'm just as worried as everyone else that he could be sick and not know it until it's too late to help could try and make a sketch from memory." I offered as a way of apology.
"That's a good idea. I know he had brown hair, kind of wavy and he was wearing a red plaid shirt." Andy offered and we all stared at him until he just shrugged. "It's kind of hard not to notice someone with blood on their shirt." He added, a slight smile on his face at having helpful.
"Good idea, Andy. Okay so we'll make a sketch from what we can remember." Dale agreed and I gave me Andy a thumbs up, Dale actually chuckling at that.
We set to work identifying the man who had just driven up at the diner, deciding that now would be a good time to grab a coffee. As he drove into the parking lot he scratched at his hand barely even looking at the tiny cut on his left hand. "Must have caught myself when I was rushing out of the hospital. Can't believe what that man did." He muttered to himself as he parked his truck, exiting the vehicle before he started to walk towards the front door letting out a breath when he remembered the man with the cloudy eyes.
Shaking his head to clear it he stepped up to the door coughing a little and as he pushed open the door he saw his favorite waitress, Norma serving another patron coffee. That brought a smile to his face despite the slight headache he could feel between his eyes and as he looked for an empty booth he coughed again. He had barely sat when he felt dizzy and he blinked back dark spots grabbing the menu as he waited for Norma to serve him.
"Hey, Henry. Coffee and a slice of cherry pie right?" Norma asked and Henry looked up as she held out a coffee pot only to recoil her eyes widening when she saw his red eyes. "Henry, what's wrong?" She asked and he groaned, his head pounding as he tried to answer.
When a low moan of hunger emerged from his lips instead she slowly backed away a hand going to her mouth as he started to rise from the booth scratching at the cut on his hand which Norma noticed was red and inflamed. "Nor..maaaaa." He moaned as he stumbled towards her, reaching out with fingers that were grey the sight causing Norma to back up until she bumped into the counter.
"Henry, don't touch me." She told him, pushing him away with the hot coffee pot but he didn't react and in a last effort to keep him from her she hit him over the head with the pot, hot coffee and glass showering him.
Henry just swayed and once Norma realized what she'd done she called out to Shelly, who had witnessed this from behind the counter as had three patrons. "Henry...I'm so sorry." She apologized but he didn't react his head down slightly and she reached out touching his shoulder. That slight contact caused his head to jerk up and Norma saw his milky white eyes as he reached for her, moaning and she cried out kicking him away.
"Leave the lady alone." Chris another patron called out, a heavyset truck driver, who headed over as Norma pushed Henry away slapping his hands away from her when he tried to grab her apron. "I said leave the lady..." Chris never finished as Henry turned his attention to the driver and his words were lost in a gurgle as Henry clamped down on his throat.
As everyone watched on in shock and disbelief Henry tore his throat open, a spray of blood hitting him square in his face. His hands flew to his ruined throat the driver tried to back away but his legs gave out and his last sight was Henry who grasped at his shirt, the infected man's mouth moving to his shirt.
"There, finished." Andy announced and I looked up, rubbing at my tired eyes as Andy turned the sketch he'd been working on for the last few minutes. Since I had nothing to contribute thanks to not being able to travel with the police force to the hospital I had taken a short nap, waking when the sketch was done. "Does that look right?"
"It's great, Andy. Nice work." Dale said and Andy grinned as he handed it over, Dale setting it down on the table. "So he has hazel wavy brown hair to his shoulders, blue eyes and was wearing a black and red plaid shirt."
"Okay so now that we know what he looks like let's go and find him." I said, pushing the seat back though once I was on my feet Harry looked at Dale. "What did I do now?"
"You need to stay with me and no running off." Dale told me and I groaned, sounding so much like one of the undead it sent a shiver down my spine. "I promised Harry remember, Megan?"
"Yes I know that, Dale." I sighed as he rose from the table. "Okay so what do we do now?"
I received my answer when we heard Lucy's voice come through the intercom. "Sheriff Harry, I just got a call from Norma at the Double R Diner. She said that there's been an attack this time by a man named Henry, a regular at the Double R Diner." She told us and I blinked, rushing towards the door only to remember that I was supposed to be following Dale.
Thankfully he's right behind me checking his gun's loaded and ready before we head out into the hallway. Just as we reached the front entrance Lucy rushed out heading over to Harry. "Sheriff Harry, Doctor Hayward just called. It's about Miss Alexandra the receptionist and the orderly."
"What happened?" Harry asked as Lucy thrust a note into his hand. Once he read it he blinked looking towards Dale with a frown. "It's getting worse."
"What happened, Harry?" Dale asked as Harry handed him the note Lucy had given him and I leaned over to read it once Dale had it in his fingers.
"The orderly wasn't isolated was he?" I asked once I read the note and Harry shook his head my eyes narrowing at him. "Then how did he get loose?"
"According to Doc Hayward a nurse in the hospital went to give him some water not knowing how sick he was until she opened the door to the ward they left him and Miss Alexandra in. When she found him strapped to the gurney she tried to free him not knowing exactly why he was tied down and he attacked her, taking a bite out of her left shoulder and arm. She managed to get away from him and Doc Hayward treated her wounds as best he could but she's come down with a high fever he said." Harry explained as Dale handed me a note. "The orderly managed to free himself so we don't know how many people he's attacked Doc Hayward said before he left the phone."
"Harry, we need to lock down the hospital and the diner as well as make sure no one leaves either location until we're sure they're not infected with this thing." Dale told him and Harry sighed, looking over at Hawk and Andy.
"I know you don't trust me, Harry but we need to make sure. Anyone with a bite or scratch needs to be islolated from everyone else until we're completely sure they're clean. Otherwise..." I swallowed, silently hoping that I was wrong and that we wouldn't face what I saw in Raccoon City. "Please for the town's sake."
When I noticed everyone staring at me I blinked noting the stares. "You don't think that I caused this do you?" I asked not liking the way everyone was looking at me until Harry cleared his throat.
"Megan, we don't think that at all." Harry said and I just narrowed my eyes rubbing at the bridge of my nose. "But this sickness started just after you showed up in town."
"You really think I'd do something like this to your town? You think I'm like the monsters that wiped out my home?" I snapped at him, my eyes wide and unblinking as I pointed a finger at Harry. "I had nothing to do with this! I barely escaped and now when I try to help you keep Twin Peaks safe you accuse me of..." I broke off with a cough, turning around before I started to head for the conference room.
"Megan, wait." I heard Dale call out but I ignored him slamming the door the second I entered the room. 'Harry, she didn't do this. The man who tried to attack us at the pond had the sickness and if Megan really spread this she wouldn't have warned us." Dale pointed out as Harry adjusted his hat.
"Coop, we only have her word that she's innocent. Besides it doesn't look good that this all started after she crashed that army truck. For all we know she could have crashed that truck on purpose." Harry countered and Dale just shook his head.
"Harry, you don't seriously believe she caused this outbreak? You saw how she reacted when we brought her back to Raccoon City. She ran away once she saw the crater and even punched me when I kept asking her questions." Dale pointed out and Harry shrugged.
"Yeah I'll admit that Megan did react a little violently when you started talking to her. Alright, Coop I'll trust you on this." Harry finally agreed and Dale gave him a quick smile. "So how do you want to do things?"
"We'll split up so we can check out the hospital and the diner. Lucy, can you check on Megan and make sure she doesn't move from here?" Dale asked and Lucy nodded, happy to help as she hurried towards the conference room.
"Andy, be careful okay?" She quickly told Deputy Andy, giving the younger deputy a quick peck on the cheek when he leaned down. Hurrying away she went in search of Megan ignoring the tiny smile on Andy's face.
"We'll keep him safe, Lucy." Dale called out, getting a few grins before they started to head for the front entrance. Once outside they split up, Sheriff Harry and Deputy Hawk heading for the Double R Diner while Special Agent Cooper and Deputy Andy left for the hospital each group hoping that they weren't too late to stop the growing infection.
"Megan, are you in there?" Lucy called, turning the doorknob. When she couldn't see me sitting at the table she opened the door fully moving into the room before she closed the door quietly behind her. After a quick search she found me sitting in one corner of the room, back against the wall as I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket.
"Oh honey it's okay." Lucy said as she knelt beside me and I just sniffed, tears falling down my cheeks. "They'll be alright."
"That's not the problem, Lucy. Harry thinks I caused this sickness but I didn't. I lost my home because of this virus and he's acting like it's my fault." I whispered, giving Lucy a weak smile when she handed me a box of tissues. Wiping at my eyes I blew my nose. "At least Dale trusts me."
"Everyone trusts you, Megan. Harry's just annoyed because you know more than he does." Lucy commented, sitting beside me. "Men are funny like that."
"So I've noticed, Lucy. I've seen some awful things and I'm trying my best to help. I know I've only been a few days but I like this town and I want to keep it safe." I told her, wiping at my eyes again when more tears spilled from my eyes. "That's why I drove towards Twin Peaks. I was looking for someone, anyone to warn but I passed out behind the wheel. Next thing I know I'm waking up in hospital with Dale and his tape recorder."
"He means well, Megan and he's much nicer than Albert. Believe me." Lucy replied and I raised an eyebrow at me when she sighed. "Albert's another agent like Dale but he's a jerk."
"I thought the same about Dale so I punched him. Now I feel kind of bad that I did that but he made me so mad at the time. Though he has been looking after me and he even got me a room at the Great Northern Hotel which the agency paid for. Oh and before I completely forget thank you for the clothes and everything." I answered and Lucy gave me a smile, patting my shoulder before she climbed to her feet.
"I'll get you some coffee. I'll be right back, Megan." Lucy said, crossing the room to the door and I nodded, picking up the box of tissues and after I climbed to my feet I stretched.
Taking a seat at the table I pulled a fresh tissue from the box, wiping my eyes while I waited for Lucy the promise of some hot coffee making me feel a little better.
"I hope everyone gets back in one piece. At least Dale stuck up for me when Harry accused me of deliberately bringing the virus to his town. Like I'd do something so terrible to anyone after I had it happen to me." I whispered, looking at the table in front of me. "Harry's probably just as worried about Twin Peaks as I am, more since he actually lives here. Maybe when this is all over I could find a place to live."
Pulling into the parking lot of the hospital, Dale left his car followed closely by Deputy Andy who checked his gun as they headed for the front entrance. "Andy, we need to check for anyone who has signs of trauma. If they have any exposed wounds especially bites we need to quarantine them until we can be positive they're sick." Dale told Andy and Andy frowned, looking at the doorway without answering. "Andy, you with me?"
"Yes, Agent Cooper but are you sure we need to tie them up?" Andy asked as Dale reached for the door handle and Dale nodded gently opening the door. "Okay."
"Andy, I know how it sounds but we need to make sure anyone acting strangely doesn't hurt themselves or anyone else. Those people I had to shoot...that was only as a last resort. If we can keep them separated to stop them hurting anyone I'll feel better but we might have no choice." Dale explained, cracking the door open slowly before he peered inside. When no one headed their way he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in.
"So far so good." Andy whispered following behind Dale as they entered the hospital and Dale shook his head moving through the waiting room as quickly and as quietly as he could. That made it as far as the reception desk when both men heard faint groans and Dale paused, Andy just stopping in time when a door further back opened.
As they watched on silent a man stumbled out raising his arms when he saw Dale and Andy standing there and as he stumbled closer they saw that it was the orderly missing a thumb. Shambling towards them he moaned his eyes cloudy and as he wandered towards the pair they could see several more shadows moving past the wall before a man and woman followed the orderly.
"Dale, what's wrong with those people?" Andy asked, staring at the woman who was dressed in a nurse's uniform. Stumbling closer he could see that she had a chunk of flesh missing from her left arm and shoulder, raising her right arm in front of her once she saw Andy. Groaning softly she staggered towards them and as she drew closer she sped up letting out an eager moan of hunger.
"Andy, they're too far gone to save." Dale answered, raising his gun before he aimed the muzzle of his firearm at the orderly who had reached them in less than a minute. Andy flinched when the gun went off and the orderly collapsed to the floor the woman not even reacting as she drew closer. Without a pause Dale took aim at the nurse but as he started to pull the trigger Andy reached out, pushing the muzzle to one side so the shot clipped her shoulder knocking her back but not stopping her.
"We can't shoot them." Andy protested and Dale just shook his head, raising the gun a third time. "Dale?"
"Look at him, Andy." Dale whispered and Andy finally looked at the man who bumped into the body of the orderly nearly falling as he tried to reach Dale and Andy. Once Andy saw that the man had his stomach torn out, his intestines trailing along the floor he swallowed. "I'm sorry to do this but they're not alive. It's a terrible thing to do but Megan was right, once they turn they're not people anymore. If you get a scratch or a bite from one of them," Dale said, pointing the muzzle towards the nurse's temple, "You get sick and end up like that." He added, the sound of a gunshot loud as the nurse staggered falling backwards the bullet sending brain matter and blood flying hitting the last zombie behind them.
Sickened, Andy stared as the zombie kept coming not even flinching at the nurse being shot. Swallowing thickly he raised his own handgun taking careful aim at the man who staggered for them before he fired. Moaning the zombie fell onto the growing pile of undead and as Andy let out a breath Dale clamped him on the shoulder.
"Okay, Agent Cooper. I can do this." Andy whispered when they heard shuffling footsteps and as they trained their guns on the door several more undead started to file out each bearing wounds similar to the infected already lying near their feet.
At the Double R Diner, Sheriff Harry and Deputy Hawk stepped into the building immediately hearing chewing noises and Harry grimaced as they made their way further into the building. "Norma? Shelley?" Harry called out hearing a groan and he waited, Hawk at his side with his handgun at the ready as someone straightened from one of the booths close to the counter.
As they watched a man in a shredded plaid shirt staggered towards them and as he drew closer Harry and Hawk saw the chunk of flesh missing from his throat, his face splattered with blood. But the worse of his injuries were the flesh missing from his stomach his ribs exposed as he stumbled closer.
Shaking his head Hawk took careful aim and just as what used to be Chris reached them he fired, hitting the undead man directly between the eyes. As he crashed to the floor the noise alerted other undead and as Hawk and Harry looked around they saw two more zombies, former patrons of the diner who advanced on them.
"Damn. Looks like Megan was right about how quickly this can spread." Harry muttered, taking careful aim at a woman who shuffled along missing her right arm at the elbow. From his vantage point it looked like something had chewed it off, the flesh shredded and her bones exposed and as Harry wondered how she was still standing from an injury that must have been agonizing she moaned, one eye focusing on Harry and he noticed with growing horror that the other was gone a red gaping hole all that remained.
Without anymore hesitation he took aim hitting her directly in the face and her face jerked back, her body crashing to the floor as her blood splattered the counter behind her. The other undead moaned moving towards them and as Harry aimed at the undead he waited, a teenager who reached for them two of his fingers missing at the knuckle.
"Christ that's Bobby Briggs." Harry whispered, recognizing the young man who moaned shuffling closer as Harry kept staring. He didn't even react when Bobby grasped his jacket though Hawk noticed, pushing Bobby back before the former teenager could take a bite out of Harry. Shaken out of his daze Harry gave Hawk a quick nod as Bobby stumbled back not even flinching when Harry aimed his gun at the undead.
The shot took a chunk of Bobby's forehead off and as he slumped to the floor of the diner Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead. "He must driven here to pick up Shelly and...wait, where's Shelly and Norma?" He muttered, moving towards the counter but as he looked over he couldn't see anyone behind it.
Distracted he didn't hear or see the bathroom door slowly open but when he heard footsteps Harry turned taking aim to the door as two figures appeared only to freeze when Norma and Shelly stumbled out. The second they saw the two firearms aimed in their direction they let out a cry and Harry quickly aimed the muzzle at the floor, crossing the room and Norma jumped when he set his hand down on her shoulder.
"It's us." Harry said and Norma straightened, Shelly at her side staring at Sheriff Harry and Deputy Hawk. After a pause Shelly stepped forward only to stumble to a halt her hands going to her mouth when she saw the body of Bobby. "Shelly, he tried to attack us."
"I...he tried to protect me against Henry. There was something wrong with him because he attacked Norma and when Chris, he's another regular, tried to help pull him back he just..." Shelly trailed off, tears springing to her eyes as she stared at Bobby.
"Henry came in just before Shelly's shift ended. I went to give him a coffee and he tried to bite me. When he wouldn't stop I hit him with the coffee pot but that didn't even faze him until Chris pulled him away. That's right when Henry tore Chris' throat out and I tried to help until Henry started to...he started to eat Chris. I raced for the phone while Henry was...distracted and called Lucy. Everyone else ran away except Bobby who came past to pick up Shelly just as Chris started to move." Norma explained, hugging Shelly when she began to sob.
"When Bobby...walked in he saw us cowering behind the counter. Chris keeping making a gurgling noise as he tried to stand. When Henry started to head our way Bobby grabbed a menu hitting him over the head, telling us to hide in the bathroom. We did and we've been in there since, keeping the door locked in case they came for us. I didn't know what happened to Bobby but they must have..." Shelly managed to tell them, wiping at her eyes with her apron.
"Come on let's get you back to the station but stay close." Harry offered and Norma nodded, Shelly taking one last look at Bobby's body before she stood next to Norma. As they exited the diner Harry and Hawk kept glancing around making sure the path was clear but as they reached Harry's jeep they heard moaning.
"Quick in the van." He ordered, pulling open the door and after a quick look he stepped back letting Norma and Shelly in first. Closing the door he spun around as multiple undead started to shuffle out into the light each covered in drying blood some missing chunks of flesh or even limbs. One even dragged itself along on cracked and bleeding fingernails ragged strips of flesh all that remained of its lower half. "Perfect." Harry muttered, taking aim as did Hawk who gave the women in the jeep a quick nod.
"Just stay there. We'll handle this." Hawk told them and Norma just nodded, both women looking away as the sheriff and deputy opened fire amid the moans of the infected.
Back at the hospital Deputy Andy and Special Agent Cooper took down the last of the infected townsfolk, lowering their weapons as they waited for more undead to appear. When the moaning ceased they took a few seconds to rest Dale looking down at the pile of bodies as he did while Andy leaned against the wall behind him. "I...think we got them all." Dale finally said in the silence that followed and Andy nodded looking pale but steady as he straightened.
"I hope so, Agent Cooper. They just kept coming." He answered and Dale nodded, lightly patting the deputy on the back. "Is it over?"
"I don't really know, Andy. The important thing is that we've stopped the infected here. We should head to the Double R Diner and check on Harry and Hawk." Dale suggested and Andy nodded, checking his gun. "How are you on ammunition?"
"I'm almost out, Agent Cooper." Andy answered and Dale nodded, noting that he had enough for two more shots. "Maybe we should get back to the station and get more?"
"Good idea, Andy. But we better be quick. I'm sure Harry and Hawk could use some help." Dale agreed as they hurried towards the front entrance in time to see someone slam into the glass and they stumbled back as a man missing his lower jaw pawed at the glass smearing blood across the glass. He moaned and Dale looked down at his firearm for a moment as the undead struggled to open the door, Dale making a mental note that they couldn't work doorknobs.
"Let's go out the back entrance." Dale said to Andy when more undead started to wander towards the entrance bumping into the door as they looked on. "We don't enough rounds to take all of them out." Dale added, looking towards the doorway where the zombies came from.
"There's a back-way out of the hospital that way, Agent Cooper." Andy said, pointing and Dale nodded both men jogging towards the doorway. Once they reached it Dale carefully pushed the door open checking the corridor before he stepped through followed by Andy who had his gun up and ready. They made it through the hallway but once they turned the corridor they heard knocking and the sound seemed to be coming from the door near Dale's left.
"Hello?" Dale whispered, lightly knocking on the door and after a long pause the door opened to reveal Doctor Hayward and three more people that Dale didn't recognize. "Has anyone been bitten?"
"Agent Cooper, we're fine but I can't say the same for the other poor souls wandering the halls. I heard gunshots earlier." Doctor Hayward told him and Dale chewed his lip looking towards the door. "Oh dear god." He whispered and Dale sighed, guiding them towards the open door.
"We need to get back to the station and regroup. We're low on rounds and Harry and Hawk are already at the Double R Diner." Dale said, leading everyone towards the door. After he checked both ends of the hallway he waved everyone through. Dale took the lead with Andy at the back keeping Doctor Hayward and the three uninfected in the middle. As they followed Dale one of the uninfected kept looking past Dale towards a doorway.
They reached the doorway and as Dale started to reach for the doorknob one of the people they were leading made a break for it, a young woman in her early twenties. "No, wait for us!" Dale called out but she ignored them, too scared to think straight. Pushing the door open she ran straight into a horde of recently infected people who turned around when they heard her hurried footsteps.
She tried to turn around but one grabbed her outstretched arm, dragging her back and even when Dale fired a shot killing the undead who had caught her first the others pulled her away as he reached for her hand. Her fingers barely brushed Dale's before one of the zombies leaned down biting into her neck and as her blood spurted out the life faded from her eyes so she barely felt the other infected as they tore into her. Everyone looked away and one of the few survivors they found starting softly weeping before they quickly moved away closing the door.
"Dale, we need to go." Andy said and Dale nodded, looking at his fingers. They made their way back through the doorway and as they moved through hallway they continued through another doorway. They eventually found their way outside into the parking lot and Dale let out a shaky breath, unable to process how close he'd been to saving that woman's life.
"You did everything you could, Agent Cooper." Andy said and Dale just shrugged, leading the remaining survivors out of the parking lot and around to his waiting car.