The Collapse Omnibus

by V. A. Brandon

“No. You’ve done more than enough.” Min Soo grabbed Daniel’s arm. “Your wife and friends are waiting. You should both go.”

  At this reminder, the two males hesitated.

  “Go,” Min Soo repeated. Before they could say anything else, he shook their hands and smiled. “I’m forever indebted to you both. Godspeed, my friends.”

  They stood there like a couple of dimwits, staring at him.

  Their service was no longer needed. Nodding at the two males, Min Soo wheeled the shopping cart into the meeting room and gently closed the door. Hopefully, they would take the hint and leave.

  For a while he paced the room, excited and nervous. He couldn’t believe the vaccine was within reach. When he was calm enough to sit down, he studied Sun Hwa with morbid curiosity, noting the masking tape around her wrists and her mouth. Justin and Daniel had wound the tennis nets tightly around her torso and legs, restricting her movements.

  They had done a superb job.

  Gingerly, Min Soo righted her body so that they could be face to face.

  “I’m going to take the tape off. So don’t bite me.” And he slowly peeled off the tape from her mouth.

  Sun Hwa snarled and threw her head forward, snapping her teeth.

  Once more, Min Soo sat back and watched as she hissed, snarled, and writhed in the cart. When he tired of it, he grabbed his pistol and aimed it at her face.

  “For over seventeen years, I had to listen to you nag all the time. And each time, I dreamed of doing this.” He lifted the pistol and pressed the trigger, shooting her straight in the mouth.

  Despite her shattered teeth and gums, she still had a lot to snarl about.

  Mildly amused, Min Soo reached over and unzipped her front pocket. The slim, padded box was there. Drawing in a deep breath, he pulled it out and inspected the contents inside.

  The pale-blue vial remained intact and safely ensconced, as if it had been patiently waiting for its true owner.

  “Thank you, Agent Yoon. I had my misgivings, but you did well all these years. However, it seems I will no longer need your services.” Raising the pistol one last time, he aimed and shot her point blank in the forehead.

  The impact slammed her head back with satisfying force, shutting her up for good.

  Relishing the immediate silence that followed, Min Soo hurried into his office to grab an empty syringe and a razor. The sound of gunshots would soon attract the infected to the tunnels. He only had minutes, if not seconds, to get ready.

  After filling the syringe with the vaccine, he carefully placed it in his backpack. Then he took hold of the cheap razor he’d earlier tossed into the sink.

  Tired of his balding gray hair that made him look benign and harmless, Min Soo decided to get rid of it all. The shaved look would make him appear younger. But if he were being completely honest, paranoia was the true reason behind this decision. It unnerved him that Ethan’s camera was still out there, filled with his pictures.

  Telling a heinous story that should not be told.

  Later, when he had more time, he would alter his appearance as much as possible.

  It didn’t take long to shave off the wispy hairs on his head. Brushing off the stray hairs tickling his neck, Min Soo grabbed his backpack and stepped out into the semi-dark corridor. The mall felt eerily quiet, save for the increasing snarls echoing through the tunnels. Had the infected smashed up the loud speakers? And were they now headed this way?

  Min Soo increased his pace, eager to depart. After fifteen long years, he was finally done with Central Creek Mall.

  Chapter 10

  He wondered if he should kill them.

  Min Soo stared at the station wagon idling on the side of the dirt road below. Why were they stalling? Justin and his friends had enough food, water, medicine, and clothing to last them on their journey. So why weren’t they merrily heading toward their destination?

  Go, damn you. Go right this second.

  But they just parked the station wagon there, like teenagers who’d found the perfect isolated spot where they could grope in private.

  Min Soo had no time for this. It was imperative that he put as much distance between him and Central Creek Mall. And the sooner, the better.

  Pressing down on the accelerator, he sped down the road like a demon bound for hell. He wouldn’t kill them (it was too much of a hassle, really), but he would most certainly give them a scare. It would help knock some sense into their foolish minds.

  Muffled screams and canine yelping reached his ears as he slammed his sports car into the rear end of the wagon. It was a good thing he had his seatbelt on. Wincing, he quickly reversed and then drove past them, rubbing a hand along the base of his neck.

  For some unfathomable reason, he paused to glance at the occupants inside the station wagon.

  And found himself locking gazes with that whiny male who’d done nothing but take advantage of Min Soo’s hospitality.

  Now that one he’d have enjoyed pushing off the roof.

  His lip curling in contempt, Min Soo sped off, leaving plumes of orange-brown dirt in his wake. He was glad to be rid of them.

  After being trapped in the mall for weeks, it felt wonderful to be able to drive and feel the warm air whipping past his face. Min Soo had missed simple pleasures like this. Humming a listless tune, he thought about the instructions Henry Oh had left him before dying – collect the remaining vials buried in one of the agents’ backyard. Then release the virus in the appropriate city if it wasn’t already infected.

  Min Soo barked out a harsh laugh. It had sounded so simple then. Not so much now.

  Still, he would finish his mission, even if it meant dying for the cause.

  But first things first. He needed to go home and pack more weapons and ammunition for the long journey. And he had another agenda on his mind, one that had nothing to do with Henry’s instructions.

  He was going to find the rogue agents who’d turned traitor and stolen the vaccines. And to do that, he was going to need access to Henry’s files.

  At the Korean-Chinese restaurant, Min Soo had surreptitiously snatched up a business card that had innocently fallen from Henry’s wallet. He had always wondered if it had been intentional on Henry’s part. Regardless, it had contained relevant information pertaining to the agent’s real name and the public health institute where he’d held a senior position.

  With that in hand, finding him on the internet – along with his home address – had been a piece of cake.

  Min Soo smiled to himself, pressing down on the accelerator again. On the way, he knocked down an infected person shuffling aimlessly across the road. He felt free and alive, as if someone had finally released him from prison.

  He was Agent Kang once again, and was no longer cleaning supervisor Kang Min Soo. As far as he was concerned, the world was as it should be.

  The End