Read Online The Living Dead (Book 1): Contagion by L.I. Albemont - Free Book Online

Florida and advised people to avoid the beaches and dock areas. As reports of attacks grew more frequent, homeless shelters began to turn many away, the fortunate inside huddling together as they listened to the desperate cries of people, many of them with children, begging for shelter and protection.
                CNN reported they were still unable to connect with any of their local people in Miami. Martial law had been declared throughout the entire southern half of the Florida peninsula. FEMA shelters opened several hours ago and locals were directed to go to those locations if they had to leave their homes. Now, there were new reports that these shelters were overrun by the infected and should be avoided. The network’s remote cameras were up and still working in a few areas of the city. Live footage from these was shown in a small screen in the corner of the TV. Fires were visible in some scenes. Slow moving figures thronged the streets but details were difficult to make out in the darkness.
                C-SPAN replayed an interview from earlier in the day with a World Health Organization official.
                Interviewer: What can you tell us about the spread of the infection?
                WHO: We believe the virus is pandemic. We have received reports of outbreaks in Europe and the Middle East. China is officially denying having any cases but internet messages from inside the country tell a different story.
                Interviewer: Have researchers made any progress in finding a treatment for the disease?
                WHO: Our treatment protocols at this time are still isolation and restraint. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Once victims reach the psychotic stage of the illness they are very difficult to control. They do not appear to recognize friends or family members and will attack without warning or provocation.
                Interviewer: We have seen medical reports describing the vital signs of the infected patients as “virtually indiscernible from death.” They have no heartbeat and do not appear to breathe. What else characterizes these patients?
                WHO: The infected are still capable of movement although they are somewhat slow and uncoordinated. They are quite strong in some cases, especially if their bodies were not extremely damaged by the attacker that infected them. They also in most cases will try to feed on their victims.
                Interviewer: Feed? As in they are eating people?
                WHO: Yes.
                Interviewer: So the reports from the Caribbean about cannibals are true?
                WHO: Most likely yes, but you have to realize these are not cannibals in the usual sense of the word. These people are sick.
                Interviewer: There are reports that the infected in many cases have sustained wounds such as torn off limbs, severed jugulars, serious injuries that one would not expect could be survived. Are these victims dead or alive?
                WHO: (hesitating) We don’t know.
                Portia switched off the television. Distant sirens wailed in the otherwise quiet night. Through the windows, they saw snowflakes swirling in the glow of light surrounding the street lamps. They were quiet, lulled into drowsiness by the warmth of the fire. Virginia felt herself dozing.
                She awoke disoriented. The fire was lower and the room cold and a low moaning filled the house. A thumping noise came from above as if something slammed repeatedly into a wall. She looked over at Portia who had just opened her eyes. Jumping up with a small cry, she ran to the staircase. Virginia followed her.
                In spite of what she had heard on TV earlier, she wasn’t prepared for what she saw. No one could be. Bill was far from comatose. He had torn his hands free of the tape