Story overview

Dead coal dust

Main Characters - Bubba Morgan – Coal mine foreman - Sarah Turner – ER nurse - Jesse Walker – Mechanic and Bubba's best friend - Caleb Moore – Deputy sheriff - Hank Lawson – Retired miner - Earl Jenkins – Mine security guard --- PART ONE: SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT Chapter 1 – Just Another Damn Day Bubba finishes a long underground shift and visits Sarah at the hospital. Chapter 2 – The Night Shift Sarah witnesses patients becoming violent and attacking staff. Chapter 3 – The Closed Gas Station Bubba notices strange changes around town. Chapter 4 – The Guard Shack The first infected attack occurs at the mine entrance. Chapter 5 – Black Creek Falls The town begins descending into chaos. Chapter 6 – Hospital Hell Sarah escapes the collapsing hospital. --- PART TWO: THE LONG NIGHT Chapter 7 – Main Street Downtown Black Creek becomes overrun. Chapter 8 – Jesse Bubba finds Jesse and his family. Chapter 9 – The Church Survivors gather at Saint Michael's. Chapter 10 – First Blood The group learns how dangerous the infected are. Chapter 11 – The Sheriff's Last Call Emergency communications go silent. Chapter 12 – The Hollers Go Quiet Entire communities disappear overnight. --- PART THREE: THE BLACK HATS Chapter 13 – Missing Miners An underground crew stops answering radios. Chapter 14 – Rescue Attempt Bubba returns to the mine. Chapter 15 – Coal Dust Dead The infected miners become known as Black Hats. Chapter 16 – The Deep Section The survivors discover infected underground. Chapter 17 – Boone Hollow Another survivor group is located. Chapter 18 – Winter Supplies Food, medicine, and fuel become critical. --- PART FOUR: THE SECRET Chapter 19 – Old Number 13 Hank reveals the history of an abandoned mine. Chapter 20 – The Journal A forgotten miner's notebook is discovered. Chapter 21 – 1927 The journal reveals a strange sickness underground. Chapter 22 – The Sealed Door A hidden section of mine is found. Chapter 23 – Black Fungus The source of the infection is discovered. Chapter 24 – Patient Zero The first infected miner is identified. --- PART FIVE: SURVIVAL Chapter 25 – The Snowstorm A winter storm traps survivors. Chapter 26 – Route 17 The group attempts evacuation. Chapter 27 – Last Deputy Caleb sacrifices himself to save others. Chapter 28 – Foreman's Orders Bubba plans a final mission. --- PART SIX: THE LAST SHIFT Chapter 29 – Back Underground The survivors enter Mine Number 13. Chapter 30 – The Last Shift Bubba destroys the source of the infection and saves Black Creek. --- EPILOGUE One year later. The infection is gone. The mine remains sealed. Sarah runs a clinic. Jesse keeps the town running. A memorial stands beside the old guard shack. Bubba and the survivors gather there every year to remember those who never came home. The mountains are finally quiet again.