Z.E.D.S. Series (Book 2): Z.E.D.S. Wayward Son

by Botts, Bradley

  “Switches are flipped, and you should be good to go up there,” Emmitt said over the radio.

  “Copy that, good work guys. Get your asses back up here,” Shaun said.

  “On our way,” Emmitt replied.

  Shaun stepped towards the generator and plugged it into the wall. I began cranking it allowing the charge to flow. The lights began to flicker, and they brightened the room. Amelia took the sample of Chase and Aurora’s blood to one machine she called a Spectrometer and turned it on. It made a weird sound and began powering up. She then placed my dad’s blood in a machine that vibrated.

  “What does that do,” I asked.

  “This machine will separate any organism not belonging to the blood cells. Once I get whatever it is that is causing him to get sick away from his blood cells then I can examine it,” Amelia answered.

  “What about the Spectrometer? What does that thing do,” I asked.

  “This beauty will help record any abnormalities going on in their body. It splits light into separate colors as well as separates atoms and molecules. I have never heard of anyone using it for blood samples, but with what we are dealing with here, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to see what it would capture. The light will identify certain imperfections in the blood that should tell us what belongs and what doesn’t. Scientists usually use it for identifying certain particles for crime scenes and other forensic abilities, but blood is made up of tiny little pieces of DNA which combines with everything else in your body. That’s why when some companies did drug tests, they would take your blood.”

  “Why couldn’t you have used that machine with my dad’s blood to determine his sickness as well,” I asked.

  Amelia looked to the ground and brushed her blonde hair behind her ear.

  “Atlas, I’m sure I already know what is going on with your dad. I’ve only seen it one other time when all of this started with another patient in Louisville. I found out it was a new strain of Lou Gehrig’s disease. I just needed a sample of his blood to make sure it is what I think it is.” A grim feeling appeared over me. “His muscle tone has deteriorated rapidly in the past couple of weeks and I saw the blood-stained tissue he had in his hand. Just prepare yourself for what it may be,” Amelia said as she placed her hand on my shoulder. “I’m hoping I’m wrong.”

  One of the machines exited a slight ‘ding’ as it stopped moving. It was the one with my dad’s blood sample. Amelia took the tube out of the machine, placed a drop on a glass shard and placed it under the microscope. I stood next to her watching as she adjusted the lenses.

  Amelia focused on the blood sample switching between lenses. Her eyes closed as she inhaled deeply and behind her breath she said, “I’m sorry Atlas.”

  I looked over at my dad, and he was staring at me while still holding his arm. A tear slowly creeped from my eye. The Spectrometer beeped and the doors opened as my brothers, Justin, and Mark came in; followed by Damian, Julian, Brock, and Riley.

  “We have a problem Atlas,” Emmitt said.

  “What is it,” I asked.

  “There is a hoard of zombies coming this way. We saw them from the window as we were coming back up,” Emmitt replied.

  “How long do we have before they get here,” I asked.

  “Ten to fifteen minutes tops,” said Seth.

  I turned to Amelia and asked, “How long do you need to examine the blood?”

  “They are both different types of DNA, so I need at least thirty minutes to closely examine it and compare similarities,” Amelia answered.

  I looked at the group, and then looked back to my dad who was standing with a gun in his hand. Amelia walked over and grabbed the blood samples from the machine.

  “We need to keep them away from here just long enough for Amelia to complete her analysis. Which side are they coming from,” I asked.

  “They are coming from the South side, passing the old Technology School,” Sloan replied.

  “Brock and Shaun will go to the bus and drive it to the South side parking lot with Mara, David, Vincent, Piper and Cortez. Mark and dad will stay here with Amelia just in case one gets through. The rest of you come with me and we are going to push as many cars close to the bus as we can to create a barricade of the entrance. We are going to fight as many of them off as we can.”

  My dad walked over to me and said, “Let me go out there and help you son.”

  “I need you up here with Mark to protect Amelia.” I handed dad my radio. “I will notify you when it’s time to leave. Don’t worry about the generator; you just get Amelia down to the bus when I say.”

  My dad nodded and the rest of us ran out of the room. Running through dark hallways and jumping over debris and equipment, we ran through the doors towards the parking lot where there were many abandoned cars around the hospital. Brock placed the bus a couple of feet from the entrance as the rest of us began pushing cars in front of it and behind it. Cortez and Piper came running off of the bus and stood there watching us.

  “We can get this done faster if you would help,” I yelled towards Piper and Cortez.

  They looked at each other and then began pushing cars with Justin and Damian until we provided a line of defense blocking the entrance. We each posted at different cars waiting for the hoard to come closer.

  “Conserve your ammo as much as possible. We don’t have much. Make every shot count,” I yelled to the group.

  Each member kneeled behind the cars and focused on the hoard slowly approaching us. With every number growing as they came into sight my hands began to sweat. My heart beat rapidly, and I looked down both sides of the line, gazing at everyone. I stared back towards the hoard and took a deep breath. I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder and I quickly turned around. No one was there. At first, I felt frightened, but then a sense of calm flooded over me.

  I slowly counted, “1… 2… 3. FIRE!”

  Bullets reigned from our side and towards the mob. They began to fall as they approached closer. Each of us took out different sections. Blood splattered into the air. I kept the trigger pressed until the clip was empty. I detached the empty clip, replaced it with another and began shooting again. In great numbers they fell, but greater numbers were following.

  “I’m out,” yelled Brock.

  Soon after everyone was repeating the same statement. We were running out of ammo and a great hoard was still coming. They were mere feet away from our barricade and our ammo was depleted. I looked down the line again and saw Cortez stand up and began running away from the line.

  “Where are you going,” I yelled.

  Cortez ran around the hospital and disappeared. I gripped my knife from my boot and jumped over the hood of the car. “Shaun, tell dad to bring Amelia down. We have to go now!”

  My blade began sliding into different heads of the hoard. The rest of the team joined me in moving towards the mob. I saw Mara decapitating each one by one with her sword as the rest were pushing and shoving while attempting to hold them off. I looked over and saw Piper battling a great number of them. She disappeared from my eyesight as she became surrounded.

  “Mara! David! Hold this section,” I yelled as I ran towards Piper.

  I leaped into the mob surrounding Piper knocking them over with my shoulder. Piper panicked across the asphalt as she tried to rise to her feet while a zombie clinched her leg. I stood and ran to her. My fingers clutched the strands of hair of the zombie’s head and I forced my knife into its skull. Its body went limp and its grip on Piper’s leg loosened. I ran behind Piper and placed my arms under hers to lift her up.

  “Not today Piper, get your ass up,” I said as I lifted her to her feet.

  “Atlas! Let’s go,” Shaun yelled.

  I turned around and saw Amelia, Mark and my dad running out of the building.

  “Everyone to the bus,” I yelled.

  Pushing and shoving through the mob we finally broke free and leaped back over the cars. We ran onto the bus one by one and Riley shut the doors behind
us. The tires squealed as Riley hit the gas pedal. The bus pushed into a car in front of it causing it to roll backwards. We went around the side of the hospital and turned down the main road. More zombies had found a separate meal to engulf rather than us. I noticed Cortez being pinned to the ground as zombies were feasting on his body during his screams for help.

  “Bye, bye Cortez,” Shaun said as we left.

  I walked over to Amelia and asked, “So, what did you find out?”

  “The blood samples were highly irregular. The gel levels that usually exist in the amygdala where spread throughout the blood. It is fascinating. I’m hoping maybe Dr. Sheryl has some more information about the new diseases in the laptop,” Amelia responded.

  “What does this mean,” I asked.

  “I’m not a neurosurgeon, but I do know a little bit about the function of certain chemicals inside the brain. The amygdala controls the emotional part of the brain that is conclusive with emotional responses such as love, fear, anger, and even sexual desire. It controls what you enjoy and don’t enjoy basically. There is this certain gel that releases a chemical similar to endorphins that is in connection with the amygdala. With Chase and Aurora’s blood sample, it is coated in it. It seems as if their brain is producing more of this chemical than what it should. Chase is acting on a desire for power because of this chemical release. He believes it is making him happier when in reality it is a trick of the brain which is actually causing harm. The brain is producing too much of it. It’s the same case with Aurora. Her desire is to protect you and Kiere which she will do anything to accomplish. When she commits an act of which she thinks is guardianship, it releases more of the chemical,” Amelia explained.

  “They are acting on desires rather than thinking things through. Is there a way to fix it,” I asked.

  “Actually, there is. It is a simple sedative and artificial dopamine concoction. The two mixed together can balance the effects of rapid endorphin release. The dopamine is another chemical released in your body when something feels good. But when you have an artificial counterbalance with a sedative that controls frontal lobe reactions, then it should slow it down and allow the brain to heal itself,” Amelia handed me two tubes. “I mixed it together while we were in the lab.”

  I wrapped my arms around Amelia. “Thank you.”

  “There’s one more thing Atlas. Your father’s condition doesn’t have a cure. There was never a cure developed for Lou Gehrig’s disease, but I have a way to slow it down. It was highly experimental and was never approved by the FDA. I heard about it during my residency over in Paris.” Amelia handed me a black box with a handle. “There is a long supply in here. I had Mark go to the pharmacy inside the hospital while I was waiting for the blood samples to be done. This medication will be painful, but it should prolong his life and slow down his digression,” Amelia said.

  “Should I ask what is in it,” I said.

  “It’s equivalent to cancer treatment, but with harsher side effects, “Amelia explained. “It will attack his muscles into tricking them to not fluctuate and over work themselves, but it will allow them to slowly heal ever so often after each treatment. The major downside is that the treatment itself can cause cancer and decrease brain function. They were only considered possible side effects.”

  “So, this stuff could cause more damage than what he is already receiving,” I asked.

  “It may not do any of it considering this is a strain of the disease that has never been documented. I guess we just need to have faith that it will work,” Amelia responded.

  My brothers were sitting around our dad having a normal conversation. He was smiling at all of them. They were explaining what happened outside the hospital and I could hear him repeat, “I’m so proud of you boys.”

  I turned to the back of the bus and saw Piper sitting alone. I rose from the seat and walked over to her.

  “Can I sit with you,” I asked. Piper looked down at the empty space in her seat and nodded her head. “Listen. I know you are angry with me. You absolutely hate me. I can never say this enough but I’m truly sorry about Zora. She was family and one of the best women I have ever known. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect her like I promised. I know you won’t forgive me…”

  Piper interrupted and said, “I do forgive you Atlas and I’m sorry.” Piper wiped the tears from her eyes. “I was just so heart broken when she died, I didn’t know what to do. Zora is, was the love of my life and there will never be anyone else. She volunteered to go with you to Louisville. You didn’t make her, and I know you tried to get her back safely. It took me some time to accept it. When you came to help me earlier it dawned on me that you would do whatever it took to protect anyone. You risked your own life against a hoard to help me.” Piper looked from the window to my eyes and wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you for saving me.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and said, “I am always here Piper, no matter what.”

  Chapter 10

  “I promise Aurora, this will help you,” I said while showing her the syringe.

  “What do you mean help me? There is nothing wrong with me,” Aurora said while turning away. “What makes you think something is wrong?”

  I walked to Aurora and said, “Baby, your eyes are blood shot. You are behaving like Chase. There is something wrong with your mind and Amelia said this will fix it.”

  Anger appeared on Aurora’s face. I saw her fist clinch at her side. “I act like Chase?! I am nothing like him. I protect my family Atlas. I watch over these people! That man is a monster and I am not a monster. Where were you earlier when Kiere needed your help? You weren’t here. I was!”

  A chill came over me. “What happened to Kiere,” I asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. You weren’t here to protect her, but I was,” Aurora yelled. “You believe that makes me a monster?!”

  “Aurora, what happened to Kiere,” I asked.

  “When those men beat the Hell out of you and left you for dead, who was the one that made sure they could never do it again? It was me. When you laid in this bed beaten and broken, who took care of you? That was me too. Chase would have left you out there to die,” Aurora explained. “I came to your rescue. Don’t you dare compare me to Chase!”

  “Aurora, answer me please. What happened to Kiere,” I begged.

  “No, I’m done talking to you. I don’t know why you are acting like this Atlas, but I am done. If you don’t think I love you and believe I am capable of being like Chase, then you should just leave. Kiere and I will be fine on our own,” Aurora answered as she turned away.

  I placed the syringe on the table next to the bed. “I’m sorry I have to do this.”

  I wrapped my arms around her from behind and lifted her off the ground. Aurora didn’t hesitate when she used the back of her head for impact to my nose. My grip loosened and she planted her feet to the ground. Her arm raised and her fist connected to my jaw. She began swinging her fists once more connecting with my arms more than my face.

  “Aurora! Stop,” I yelled.

  “I loved you Atlas,” she yelled. “Kiere loved you and you weren’t here for her or me!”

  Aurora raised her leg and extended it into my chest forcing me through the door and out into the common room. The impact from her and the floor took my breath away. Everyone stood and watched as Aurora stomped from the room towards me slamming her foot into my ribs.

  “There is nothing wrong with me,” she yelled.

  The other team members came rushing in, but I held my arm up to signal a halt.

  I looked at them and said, “I got this guys.” I rose myself from the ground and wiped the blood from my nose. “Aurora, you are sick, that medicine will help you.”

  Aurora pulled a gun from behind her back and pointed it towards me. “I am not sick! I just want to protect my family! If you don’t want to be a part of it anymore Atlas, then you don’t have to be.”

  I held my hands up and yelled, “Wait!” As the gun went off,
I expected to feel a sharp pain and see blood gushing from a wound. I looked towards Aurora and saw her battling with Piper on the ground.

  “Atlas get the syringe,” Piper yelled while holding Aurora to the ground.

  I ran to the bedroom, gripped the medicine from the table and ran back to Aurora. I placed the plastic needle cover in my mouth and yanked it off with my teeth. The needle penetrated Aurora’s neck as she screamed. Her resistance became softer and her eyes began to close. Piper stood off Aurora. I slid my arms underneath Aurora’s body and cradled her into my chest while I carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed.

  Amelia walked in behind me and said, “She should sleep for a while. That sedative is extraordinarily strong and hopefully it will work its way in her system. When she wakes up, she should be fine.”

  “That’s good,” I said as I wiped the blood from my nose. “Have you seen Kiere? Aurora kept saying something happened while we were gone.”

  “I haven’t seen her,” Amelia replied.

  “I better go find her. Will you keep an eye on Aurora,” I asked.

  “Of course. Mark and I will stay with her until you come back,” Amelia replied.

  “Thank you.” I walked out of the room towards Ophelia standing near the kitchen. “Where is Kiere?”

  “Atlas, I am sorry. I didn’t know it was going on until after,” Ophelia said.

  “What happened? Where is she,” I asked.

  Ophelia replied, “There was an incident to where a grown man forced himself onto Kiere.”

  My stomach churned a knot and tightness appeared. “Where is he?”

  “Kiere is fine,” Ophelia replied. “Aurora got to him first, but Chase intervened before Aurora killed him.”

  A strange man was standing at the other end of the common room staring at me. He had a black eye and a busted lip. His gaze was piercing.

  I pointed at the guy and asked Ophelia, “Is that the guy?”

  Ophelia nodded. I turned to the guy and began walking towards him. I gripped one of the candle sticks from off of the side table and swung it towards his head. Three other men grabbed me before I struck him.