White Ash on Bone: A Zombie Novel Read Online Free
Author: Jason Campagna
that? They tore his arm off!”
Chapter Two
John Marks sat stunned as he watched the scenes play out on the television. It was the first hard information he had on what was going on. It was also the only communication he had from downtown Butler. As the Emergency Management Coordinator for Butler County, John was supposed to coordinate the emergency services of the County.
Butler was fortunate to have one of the best Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in the State. So good in fact, during 9/11, Butler County helped coordinated emergency services for responding to the crashed plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The EOC was situated on top of a hill about three miles southeast of downtown Butler. Today, it was a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing for the fact that the EOC was not in the riot and a curse that there was no line of sight to observe what was going on. With no further communication coming from the scene, there was little to go on.
John had sent a couple of police officers down the hill to try and establish communication, but the streets were jammed with vehicles. They last reported that people coming out of downtown were hysterical, claiming people were being eaten.
That was the last he had heard from them. In fact, nothing was coming out of the County Seat of Butler. No communication from the County Commissioners’ office, or the City Mayor’s office; it was as if there was no one left. The phones were pretty much jammed, but Internet and radio were still operational. John could hear small arms fire sounding from all over Butler valley whenever he stuck his head out the door of the building.
John composed an e-mail to the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security and the Governor’s office.
Be advised, Butler City is declaring an emergency and requesting State support ASAP. Rioting in downtown Butler has overrun County and City government centers.
We cannot currently account for over 200 Police and 60 other emergency responders who were dispatched on scene. Radio communication is operational but with no response. A TV helicopter on scene is showing abandoned first responder equipment, rioting, and possible cannibalism.
John thought a moment and deleted the cannibalism part.
We are currently setting up the Clear Water Mall, Butler County Airport, Butler Hospital, and this EOC as evac stations and assembly points.”
###
Kimberly liked to help people, so it did not surprise her family when she volunteered at the hospital. With her blond hair, blue eyes, and red uniform, it took no time at all for the 23 year old to become quite a favorite with the guys at the hospital.
Ordinarily, she would be helping distribute meals this time of day. Today was anything but ordinary. Dozens of people were arriving at the hospital wounded and bloody. It quickly overwhelmed the ER.
"Kimberly, honey, we need you to assist Rebecca down at the ER registration desk. You’re going to be her gopher," the floor nurse said.
"What’s a gopher?" Kimberly asked.
"You know, go for this go for that,” the nurse said. You’d better get down there."
Butler Hospital had undergone many renovations and building projects in its history. These projects left it a virtual maze of corridors, stairwells, and elevators. Kimberly made her way through a twist of hallways to the ER. On the way, she noticed through a window that Life-Flight was taking off. The helicopter was taking a patient to Pittsburgh for better care.
I wonder if I’ll see Mike down in the ER, Kimberly thought to herself.
Dr. Mike Carson was a resident physician at Butler Hospital. He had taken an interest in Kimberly early on. In his early thirties, most women considered Dr. Carson good looking. He was a tall with a strong build. Kimberly liked the smell of his spiced body wash.
Kimberly found herself completely taken with him, and she loved his attention. She no longer
Chapter Two
John Marks sat stunned as he watched the scenes play out on the television. It was the first hard information he had on what was going on. It was also the only communication he had from downtown Butler. As the Emergency Management Coordinator for Butler County, John was supposed to coordinate the emergency services of the County.
Butler was fortunate to have one of the best Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in the State. So good in fact, during 9/11, Butler County helped coordinated emergency services for responding to the crashed plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The EOC was situated on top of a hill about three miles southeast of downtown Butler. Today, it was a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing for the fact that the EOC was not in the riot and a curse that there was no line of sight to observe what was going on. With no further communication coming from the scene, there was little to go on.
John had sent a couple of police officers down the hill to try and establish communication, but the streets were jammed with vehicles. They last reported that people coming out of downtown were hysterical, claiming people were being eaten.
That was the last he had heard from them. In fact, nothing was coming out of the County Seat of Butler. No communication from the County Commissioners’ office, or the City Mayor’s office; it was as if there was no one left. The phones were pretty much jammed, but Internet and radio were still operational. John could hear small arms fire sounding from all over Butler valley whenever he stuck his head out the door of the building.
John composed an e-mail to the Pennsylvania Department of Homeland Security and the Governor’s office.
Be advised, Butler City is declaring an emergency and requesting State support ASAP. Rioting in downtown Butler has overrun County and City government centers.
We cannot currently account for over 200 Police and 60 other emergency responders who were dispatched on scene. Radio communication is operational but with no response. A TV helicopter on scene is showing abandoned first responder equipment, rioting, and possible cannibalism.
John thought a moment and deleted the cannibalism part.
We are currently setting up the Clear Water Mall, Butler County Airport, Butler Hospital, and this EOC as evac stations and assembly points.”
###
Kimberly liked to help people, so it did not surprise her family when she volunteered at the hospital. With her blond hair, blue eyes, and red uniform, it took no time at all for the 23 year old to become quite a favorite with the guys at the hospital.
Ordinarily, she would be helping distribute meals this time of day. Today was anything but ordinary. Dozens of people were arriving at the hospital wounded and bloody. It quickly overwhelmed the ER.
"Kimberly, honey, we need you to assist Rebecca down at the ER registration desk. You’re going to be her gopher," the floor nurse said.
"What’s a gopher?" Kimberly asked.
"You know, go for this go for that,” the nurse said. You’d better get down there."
Butler Hospital had undergone many renovations and building projects in its history. These projects left it a virtual maze of corridors, stairwells, and elevators. Kimberly made her way through a twist of hallways to the ER. On the way, she noticed through a window that Life-Flight was taking off. The helicopter was taking a patient to Pittsburgh for better care.
I wonder if I’ll see Mike down in the ER, Kimberly thought to herself.
Dr. Mike Carson was a resident physician at Butler Hospital. He had taken an interest in Kimberly early on. In his early thirties, most women considered Dr. Carson good looking. He was a tall with a strong build. Kimberly liked the smell of his spiced body wash.
Kimberly found herself completely taken with him, and she loved his attention. She no longer
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