“That was James,” Trinity whispered. Christian’s eyes went over toward the cracked skull and blood that lied next to him. James was an older man, always joking how he was only a few months away from sipping mojitos on the some beach. They worked in two different departments and on two different shifts for the most part, but that was just another name added to a long list of good people that died because of Neil.
“Yeah.” Christian replied. He stood up and tossed his suit jacket to the floor. Then he ripped his dress shirt open sending buttons flying along the hallway. The smooth fabric ran across his face and when it came down all he could see was Trinity staring at him. “What?”
“Did anything get in your mouth or eyes?” Trinity asked softly. Christian shook his head and Trinity sighed, “Because Hector thought he was okay too and then he started to get sick-“ Christian placed his hands on Trinity’s shoulders and stared into her hazel eyes, there were a few tears that she was fighting back as she looked away from him.
“I’m fine Trinity.” Christian said. She nodded and walked back into the generator room. Christian leaned down and pulled the pipe free of James’ head, when he did a pocket flash light rolled free of James’ pocket. Christian clicked it on and followed behind Trinity. The light shined over her shoulder and her eyes scanned the many switches with old worn out labels.
“None of these are tripped.” Trinity said.
“So how the power go out?” Christian asked. Trinity shrugged and then looked over at him,
“Maybe someone cut it from the outside?” Trinity replied. Christian closed his eyes,
“Neil and his son said there were bigger things than zombies after them.” Christian said.
“Like what?” Trinity asked.
“I don’t know, that’s when he went all trigger happy on me.” Christian said.
“Well, whoever or whatever is after him. I’m guessing it’s found his ass.” Trinity said. She walked past Christian and pointed into the darkness. “Shine that light over there, so I can find my mallet.” Christian did as she asked and Trinity laughed, her eyes fell upon the mallet but just a few feet from it was an aluminum bat. “Nice.” Trinity said as she walked over picking up the bat. “Let’s get out of here.” Trinity said.
“What about Neil?” Christian asked.
“Whoever is looking for him, found him. Let’s just leave it up to them.” Trinity said. She walked into the hallway and stared at the glass door that lead to the parking deck.
“I can’t leave, not until I know-“ Trinity spun around cutting off Christian’s words by pushing him into the wall.
“Know what Chris? What are we gonna do when we get him? Kill him? Lock him up in your Mama’s basement?” Trinity shouted.
“I don’t fucking know! All I know is I can’t let him keep spreading this thing.” Christian said.
“This thing took over the whole hotel! I don’t wanna risk-“ Trinity stopped cold when Christian shook his head and laughed,
“Risk what your life?” Christian said,
“No! Yours!” Trinity shouted. The two of them stared at each other for a moment and then Trinity took a step closer to Christian. Without her heels she was close to an inch and a half shorter than Christian, she pressed up on her bare feet and softly said, “I just got you and I don’t wanna lose you. Not to some fucking zombies in this crappy hotel. Let’s just-“ A thunderous bang ran through the halls, Trinity turned towards the glass doors to see what caused it. Both their eyes filled with the sight of a body falling onto the concrete. There was grizzle splat when the soft body connected with the solid ground. There was blood all over. Christian’s eyes locked with the bloody face, even with a hole in the side of his head he knew who it was,
“Jeremy!” Christian shouted and pushed through the glass door, when he did another thunderous bang was heard and the flowerpot by Christian feet shattered,
“Christian!” Trinity shouted. Christian wasted no time rushing back into the hotel. Trinity and Christian quickly backed away from the glass door and deeper into the halls of the hotel. They sped into the stairwell and started up the steps towards the lobby level. “We’re quarantined.” Trinity said. She came to a stop at the large wooden doors that lead to the west side of the hotel lobby. Christian came to a stop behind her. He tried his best to calm the beating of his heart by closing his eyes but nothing seemed to stop his hands from shaking so much that he tossed the pipe down to the floor.
“This can’t be happening.” Christian said.
“Think about it. None of the phones are working. The power’s out. They’re fucking shooting people. Someone is trying to keep everyone and everything in this building.” Trinity said. Christian sat down on the floor and Trinity quickly joined him dropping down on the steps.
“What we gonna do?” Christian asked. Trinity stared at the dirty sliver bat in her hands and then looked at Christian.
“I don’t know.” She said softly.
Chapter 15
Three Weeks Earlier
“You two were hand selected out of everyone in the program for this mission. I hope you understand how much of an honor that is.” Director Reed was what one would call a seasoned old man. He had been through the race riots in LA. Bus bombings in South Carolina and a load of things he didn’t ever wish to talk about in Florida, but Aliyah thought those events had more to do with his ex-wife than his career with the task force. His hair wasn’t gray like your grandfather’s own, he didn’t have a nice pipe and reading glasses that sat low on his nose. His hair was white like the snow that Austin never got. His eyes were a cold blue and at the moment they were fixed on Aliyah and Victor who sat across from him, a large mahogany desk sitting between them. Aliyah rolled her eyes and Victor did a slight nod. “What?” Reed asked. The duo looked at each other and then Aliyah’s honeyed voice sung out,
“This is some-“
“What my partner means to say is, this is messed up boss. When we signed up for this program we were told we were gonna be protecting the nation from it’s deadliest foes.” Victor said.
“Foes? What the hell do you think this is? A comic book?” Reed replied with a laugh.
“You know what we mean. So far, aside from training all we’ve done is listen to some boring ass phone calls and now this?” Aliyah said. She tossed the folder onto the Director’s desk causing a photo of Neil to fly out toward him. Reed grabbed the photo and raised an eyebrow at Aliyah. She was young, close to her late twenties with a wall full of awards from her time in the NYPD but she had no filter. Which was most likely why she was paired with Victor a former Navy Seal who did his time and couldn’t find a place among the civilians. Just one of those souls that needed another mission to make it through the day.
“This is Neil-“ Reed’s words were cut short by another dramatic eye roll from Aliyah. “I don’t like you.” Reed responded.
“We know who he is. The question is what does the government want with an astronaut?” Aliyah asked.
“It’s classified.” Reed replied. He pushed the papers back into the folder and slapped it down in front of them once again. “You can pass on it if you want, but you’ll be removed from the task force.”
“That doesn’t sound like we can pass on it.” Victor said, he looked over at Aliyah, “Does that sound like we can pass on it?”
“Nope,” Aliyah replied. She grabbed the folder and the two stood up. They were half way out the door when Reed let out a sigh,
“If you see anything odd. Get out of there.” Reed said.
“What you mean by odd?” Victor asked. Reed stared at him and then looked over at Aliyah,
“I’d say you’ll know when you see it, but by then, it’ll be too late.” Reed said.
Now
The rifle shook slightly as it pointed at it’s targets. A sharp pain kept pulling Aliyah’s attention away from the bloodthirsty family. Their skin was pale, as if all color had washed away from there faces. All that was left were veins and blood stai
ns along their mouths. What was supposed to be an easy stakeout turned into a grab and bag, then that turned into a fight for survival that Aliyah wasn’t all to sure she was ready for. Her left foot cautiously moved back, these things were deadly and aggressive. Aside from those two facts all Aliyah knew about them was they were contagious and someone wanted them all gone. The tip of her boot connected with the shattered glass on the ugly gray and black carpet.
Crack
The light sound of the glass giving way under Aliyah’s boot set a chill running down her spin. A loud screech filled the hotel room, followed by rapid fire from Aliyah’s rifle. The scent of gun smoke mixed with the metallic smell of blood in the room. Aliyah could feel herself gagging from the intense sensation that the small room was creating. She fired and she fired. Blood splattered. Bits of flesh exploded onto the walls, but they kept moving, rushing forward. Aliyah raised the muzzle of the rifle and pulled the trigger. The bullet sped past the black metal groves in the barrel and bursted out of the muzzle. The children were frantically racing towards Aliyah. Her boot went up and connected with the chest of a little girl. Her pink pajamas went sailing across the room into the hotel mirror. Glass cascaded around the little girl and only for a moment Aliyah wanted to run to her. She wanted to check to see if the girl was okay, but then another screech left the girls lips and that moment died. There was no saving these people and saving herself. One had to die for the other to live, Aliyah knew that. The bullet connected with the middle of the mother’s head and her body did a corkscrew moonsault that one would see beyond the ropes of a wrestling ring. Then her body came crashing down with a thump. She didn’t move.
“God forgive me.” Aliyah said softly before she swung her right hand up to hold the barrel of the M4. Pain shot through her shoulder as she kept the weapon steady. The children were once again on the move.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Two Weeks Ago
“He’s good, but I don’t need someone always wondering what I’m doing. Asking me when I’m coming home and messing up my bathroom. You know?” Aliyah said. Victor lowered his binoculars and rested his balled head on the head rest of the black mini cooper.
“I can’t believe you’re still talking about this. I stopped listening to your ass two blocks ago, when you said y’all were fighting over him wanting to taste your pasta.” Victor said, his large body shifted from side to side and then he closed his eyes, “And why the fuck did you get this little clown car.” Victor said. His hand slapped into the dash board and Aliyah raised and eyebrow,
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“Nothing.” Victor responded.
“Bullshit, somethings got your balls all twisted up. Because you know better than to get loud with me. I’ll shoot your ass.” The two laughed and Victor ran his hand over his face before sighing deeply,
“Jamie’s pregnant.” Victor said. The car was silent now. Aliyah’s thumbs drummed along the wheel of the car before she softly asked,
“That’s good right?”
“We got two already. Damn near out the house and now another one’s on it’s way. I just don’t know if I got it in me again.” Victor said. Aliyah laughed,
“Being a dad ain’t a skill you lose overtime. That kid is gonna be fucking lucky to have you guys as parents.” Aliyah and then smiled, “Besides Jamie won’t give you a chance to fuck up. I’m sure she’s got everything all planned out.”
“Right down to the due date.” Victor laughed, His eyes went back towards the window and he smiled. “Space boy is on the move.”
“He alone?” Aliyah asked.
“Nah, his got his family. Give him a few feet and then tail him.” Victor said.
“Whatever you say captain.” Aliyah said and saluted.
“Funny, you’re gonna make a great Godmother.” Victor said with a smile.
“Fuck that. Kids scare the shit out of me.” Aliyah replied.
Now
The thick taste of metal and sulphur hide in the back of Aliyah’s throat, right next to the sobs that couldn’t seem to make their way past her lips. She sat there on the floor. A black curtain of hair hung over her face, blocking the small bloody bodies from her view. The shoulder was dislocated, she could feel the bone pushing into the upper layers of her skin. She slowly started getting to here feet when a burst of static filled the room. Her left hand dropped to her side and she pulled out her small two-way radio.
“Alpha One, this is Condor. Do you read?” Aliyah stared at the radio and listened to Reed’s voice shouting and fading into the static. “Alpha One, do you read? This is Condor.” Aliyah stood up and sighed for a moment before looking over at the wall with the broken mirror. She looked down at her right shoulder. The corner had already turned blue and purple with just a bit of black in the center. “Victor, Aliyah if you can hear me. The hotel is under lockdown. Nothing goes in and nothing comes out. I’m working on getting you two an escort out of there and any survivors but…” The static filled the air once again and Aliyah closed her eyes as she went running forward. The bone connect with the edge of the wall and a a small pop was heard. Aliyah screamed and then rammed her fist into her mouth biting down on her knuckles. “Shit if you hear me. I’ll get you out.” The static came once again and Aliyah rested her head on the wall.
“Whatever you say captain.” she said softly.
Chapter 16
The door slowly creaked forward and Vince poked out his head to see a crowd of infected surrounding the laundry shoot. Cautiously Vince eased himself out from behind the door and tip toed to the hallway. His fingers wrapped around the cold door handle and he pulled the door forward. The massive weight of the infect had caused the door to shift out of it’s normal position. It was now hanging low and when Vince pulled it forward, the corner of the wood dragged along the cement floor creating a dull version of nails dragging along a chalkboard. All the heads of the infect snapped at once toward Vince’s direction.
“Fuck me.” He said softly and took off running. The halls shook with the stampede of feet that ran behind him. Some had on sneakers, some boots, some had nothing on at all. Yet, they were all gaining fast on Vince as he spastically ran through the hall. His arms swung wildly. His feet smacked viscously into the flat ugly carpet. He mentally told himself Just keep going, just keep going. Don’t look back. But like some ancient boogeyman, just the thought of it started to pull the action into existence. Vince’s head turned and his eyes gazed over his shoulders only to see bloody ravenous hands reaching out for him. Then at the worst time, Vince did something that he made fun of in every horror movie he had ever seen. He tripped, one foot went too far off course causing the other to collide with the back of his calf. Vince’s beer and dip filled belly smacked into the floor, pushing the wind free of his lips. There was no escape now. No way of avoiding the horrors that were soon to come. I hope they kill me first. Don’t eat me alive. Snap my neck! Have some human decency or alien, or zombie decency! Whatever the hell you are. This is what I get. It’s karma coming back around for my years of misdeeds. For trying to get Christian fired while he was at his father’s funeral. For letting Trinity think we slept together. Yes, this is the wicked hand that fate has dealt me for holding my life over Hector’s. Death by consumption, or is that what they call dying by alcohol poisoning? No, it’s consumption. I know my great grandpa died of that, so it can’t be death by being eaten. But then again they are consuming me, so I feel in this modern age it fits. As Vince battled with what should be written on his tombstone it dawn on him. Death hadn’t come for him yet. Vince’s eyes opened to see a pack of horrifying faces staring blankly down at him. Flesh missing from different parts, some had lips missing and tongues, weather it was from an attacker or their hunger getting the best of them Vince wasn’t sure. He lied there on the black and gray carpet staring into the milky gray eyes of a real life horror movie, until a set of green eyes grabbed his attention. Neil stood in
the middle of the infected looking down at Vince. The salt and peppered haired man still had the blood of his son fleshly displayed across his chest. His hand extended to Vince,
“You’re alright. They won’t hurt you.” Neil said. Vince looked around at the still monsters. He had seen them tear his co-workers and friends part. He had watched them chase after Trinity and Christian like dogs after a scrap of meat. Yet, he had never seen them so still, so calm before. Vince slowly sat up and grabbed Neil’s hand.
“What’s wrong with them?” Vince asked. Neil’s eyes scanned the small pack of infected and then he looked at Vince,
“Same thing that’s wrong with everyone…” Neil started strolling down the hallway and the infected parted, stumbling to make way like some kind of perverted red sea, “Their lives lack hope.” Vince watched as Neil quickly made his way through the path of infected and as he walked past, each one would then turn their focus to Vince. He heard a jaw snap and then he rushed behind Neil, until he was right by his side,
“I meant why aren’t they going crazy?” Vince asked. Neil pushed his hands into his pockets, his gold blood stained watch tugged on his gray dress pants as he said,
“My son was killed.”
“I’m sorry…” Vince said a bit puzzled and then he looked over his shoulders at the pack of infected that were slowly walking behind them. “Did the zombies get him?” Vince asked.
“No, a bullet did. Right through the head.” Neil stood still and ran his hands over his face. The sound of raindrops splashing along a glass window started to fill the hallway. Neil’s eyes gazed over at the large glass that looked out over a sea of trees and parking spots. “All he wanted to do was leave. That’s all he wanted to do.” Neil forced the fatty part of his palm into his eye clearing away the tears.
Patient Zero Page 10
