Vaccine “Reality Show”

Three minutes after a phone is heard ringing, “I won!” The others heard as Mike came running from  his office. “I won, I won, I won, hot damn I won!” He jovially mocked the father from “A Christmas Story”. Mike had just received a call from the producers at Mtv Studios. He was to be one of five contestants awarded a summer stay in a beach house constructed just off the boardwalk in Atlantic City New Jersey with a chance to win $1 million dollars!

     The sole purpose of the stay was to film a reality competition to see who would last the longest in the town on a fixed amount of money. During the call, he learned of what to expect. Mike's soon to be house-mates and fellow contestants promised to constitute an interesting show. First was a man in his late 60's resembling Morgan Freeman. Next was a 30 something pet groomer who had recently married his partner, a male fashion model for an internet advertising company. To compliment the first two men was a pair of cheerleader roommates from Big 10 University, Penn State. Little did they know, they would not be making their return as seniors in the fall.

       Mike packed his bags that Friday and headed to the prize money destination. As he entered the turnpike for the three hour trip, he scrolled through the radio searching for some classic rock. Just about every channel had chatter of a widely taken vaccine that was causing adverse effects on people when the outside temperature rose above normal human body temperature. Finally he found a channel with the weekend beach weather report. Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching near 100°.

A few dozen hairband songs later, Mike rolled into town and parked on the 5th level of the Tropicana parking garage as instructed by the producers. He grabbed his duffel bag from the back seat of his truck. Before closing the door and locking up, he grabbed his Kimber .45 from under the seat and stuffed it in the side pouch of his bag and started for the elevator.

       As he approached the sliding doors, he noticed a maintenance sign instructing him to use the stairwell. The five story descent  was unpleasant. The stale air was musty and smelled of cigarette smoke and urine. The neon lights were only half lit, and others were blinking on and off. The smell and gloominess continued through a long winding corridor on the bottom level, leading to the casino. He was relieved to open the door to a much brighter, fresh aired, festive atmosphere. He continued through the casino toward the boardwalk entrance. The lights, sounds, and people moving about were familiar to Mike, as he had played poker here on a few occasions. On his way out however, something caught his eye. An elderly lady sitting in front of a classic quarter machine with a tray full of quarters. She was not moving, and staring blankly at the reels on her machine. “No time for concern”, he thought to himself, since he was due at the house in five minutes.

       He crossed the boardwalk and started on to the beach toward the house. It was a wonderful sunny day, and the beach was full of vacationers. As he approached the door, “Morgan” greeted him and opened the door. Upon walking through the living room, he met the girls, sitting together, already in their bikinis. Thoughts immediately ran wild as would with most single 34 year old men. Entranced by their beauty, he started imagining what he would need to do to get both of these beauties into bed individually, or better yet, together!

       “Well hello there!” barked the pet groomer, flamboyantly as he appeared from the hallway. Like a needle scratching off a record, Mike was snapped from his envision of unadulterated Ménage à trois. “Your room is down here next to mine.” he motioned with a flick of his wrist. Mike entered the room and placed his bag on the bed. He proceeded to stash his pistol in the top drawer of the dresser. On top of that dresser was a note reading, “You are given the day to settle in, producers have arranged a dinner meeting at 7:00pm at Hooters restaurant, in the lower level of the Tropicana.” Unbeknownst to the cast, none of them would make this meeting.

       Mike decided to walk the town a bit and squeeze in a little gambling before the dinner. As he walked from the beach, he notice a few people scattered about standing still and staring into space for no good reason. At that moment, he remembered the lady at the slot machine on his way through the casino. He decided to see if she was still there. He crossed the board walk and entered the casino. The flashing billboard above the entrance flashed the current outside temperature, 99°F. Upon entering the casino, Mike saw that the woman was still in front of the machine, tray full of quarters. Curiosity drove Mike to explore the mall attached to the casino. As he traveled through the midway, more and more people were frozen in front of their machines. Before reaching the mall, Mikes instincts told him to head back to the house. He exited onto Pacific Ave. Hoping to walk the street, and avoid the “stiffs” in the casino. As he turned and headed toward the boardwalk, more and more people were frozen in their tracks, just standing there, even in the middle of the street. 

       Suddenly he heard sirens and turned his head to see an ambulance headed strait toward him! He jumped out of the way, only to watch the vehicle slam into two or three stiffs before crashing into a wall. To his amazement, the stiffs that were plowed over got up and started moving toward him! In that instant, he looked around and noticed he was nearly alone in consciousness. A few people were running and screaming. All the rest were either stiff, beginning to move slowly, or already attacking those running.

       At that moment, he knew he had to get out of the city, but first he had to return to the house for his gun and keys. Running full speed toward the house, he noticed Morgan trying to open the door. “What's wrong old man, open the damn door!” he shouted. Morgan turned around to reveal a face full of blood and a blank stare. He lunged toward Mike. Mike ducked out of the way, grabbed a beach umbrella, and swung it at Morgan, knocking him to the ground. Mike grabbed the screen door and tried to open it. The dog groomer was on the other side pulling it shut. “Let me in!” Shouted Mike. The groomer refused, even though the girls were both pleading for him to open the door. “He's fine, look at him. Let him in!” they shouted. By now, Morgan had gotten up and was joined by two other “zombies” and advanced on Mike again. With a tremendous effort, he yanked the door open just enough to jump in. “Guard that door.” he instructed, then ran to the room to retrieve his keys and side piece. The keys were where he left them, but the gun was gone. “Where's my gun?” he yelled as he returned to the living room. The girls were hysterical and began to huddle behind Mike. “I don't like guns. I took it and hid it.” said the pet groomer. “We are all going to die if you don't tell me where it is.” growled Mike. “Well, I think we need to wait here for the police and just keep the doors closed. So no. I will not tell you where it is.” Just then, one of the beauties ran to the back of the house and returned with the gun. “We helped him hide it, but just take us with you and you can have it.” she cried.

       Mike looked out the door. At this point, there were at least six zombies at the door, including Morgan. “I am not leaving, and neither are you.” squealed the groomer, still blocking the door. The girls were clinging to Mikes arms pleading for him to get them out of there. With a burst of energy Mike slammed into the groomer, forcing him out of the door and onto the sand. While Morgan and company took advantage of the offered feast, Mike grabbed the girls and headed for the parking garage. Met by 5 zombies in close proximity on the way, the pistol was reduced to 7  rounds. Knowing the elevator was out of order, he reluctantly entered the hallway to the gloomy stairwell. The ascension up five flights was interrupted by a bum covered in blood, holding a bottle in one hand, and what looked like a heart in the other. As they entered level five, Mike sadly had to take out an obese woman that charged the sound of the opening door.

       The group peered over the wall to the street below on the way to the truck and saw a man with an assault rifle and an S.O.S. sign lined out of zombie bodies as a plea to any possible air craft passing by. As they approached the truck, a neurotic security guard approached them, gun drawn. “We just want to leave.” Mike said, as the girls moved behind him. “Give me your keys!” the guard screamed. Without hesitation, Mike dropped him in two shots. The trio jumped into the truck and proceeded to the garage exit. Smashing through the gate, they headed straight for the expressway. Mike had a plan to leave the city and find a less populated, safer place, possibly up in the blue ridge mountains. The girls were extremely grateful for their lives, and between hugs and kisses, they expressed this to their new hero. 

       Mike noticed an air strike on the city in his rear view mirror as he proceeded west. Simultaneously, he passed a gas station hosting a few zombies having lunch in the parking lot. At this point, he realized the problem was much larger than anyone may ever realize. Fearing the end was near no matter what, he was happy about two things; driving into the sunset with two beautiful girls who's lives were indebted to him, and the three rounds left in his pistol.