Hale leaned back in his seat and sighed. “I wish I could give you answers. I wish I knew what these people wanted, but I don’t. If you don’t believe they are blackmailing you, and you haven’t seen anything at the company that might be controversial, then I don’t know what else to do. We’ll look at the tape again. Maybe something will pop up. Otherwise, I’ll be sending this to the state. They have more resources and manpower to conduct the investigation. I will contact you the minute I hear something, though.”
Caleb nodded. He wasn’t surprised Hale couldn’t do more to help him, and he didn’t blame him. Like Caleb, Hale was constrained by the technology at his fingertips.
“We’ve made arrangements for you to stay at the safe house. No one will know where you are, and you’ll be protected.”
Caleb grimaced. He could take care of himself, he didn’t need someone protecting him or hiding him away from the world.
“What other options do I have?”
Hale leaned forward and folded his hands on the tabletop. “Well, I don’t recommend going back to your apartment. I would release you into Dr. Bentley’s custody, but again, that puts you in jeopardy. Maybe even him. Technically, you still are a ward of the state, so this is our best option. Do you have a friend you can stay with?”
Caleb thought for a moment. Rachel had really been the only neighbor he talked to, and that had been on a surficial level. The only other person he really talked to was Samuel. It probably wouldn’t inconvenience him if Caleb asked to stay, but Caleb wasn’t sure he wanted to ask. Samuel would probably grill him about the video and what the cops said, then he’d convince Caleb to share his story with his network of online conspiracy theorists. Was that better than a safe house? Samuel was a nice guy, a little odd, but nice. Caleb couldn’t risk putting him in jeopardy. Still, he figured Hale wouldn’t let him go unless he convinced him he was going to go somewhere safe. He hated to do it, but he had to lie.
Caleb nodded. “Yeah, I have someone I can call.”
The pair stood and headed toward the door.
“So, Caleb,” Hale’s voice was low. “Off the record. You’ve really never checked out the zombie experiments they do at your company?”
He scowled. “No. I have no desire to know what they are doing. Those damn things are an abomination against nature.”
Hale shrugged. “Fair enough. I’ll call you if anything new develops.”
Caleb didn’t have to call Samuel; he waited for him in the police department’s lobby. Of course Samuel made it a point to get off work and come to the station. What did he tell the superiors at Zomtech to get out of work? Caleb inwardly groaned, dreading the second round of questioning he was sure he would have to go through.
The two stepped through the doors onto the sidewalk. The sun sank below the horizon, and the last rays of light lit the city in a dusky orange. Had Caleb really been in the police station all day? That didn’t seem possible. He thought about everything that happened, but it all blurred. The only thing that remained prominent in his mind was the look on Rachel’s face when the creature bit into her flesh. Caleb shuddered.
“So?” Samuel stuck his hands in his pocket, trying to act nonchalant. “Do they have any leads? Any idea why you’re being targeted?”
Caleb shook his head. “Nope. No idea. They’ll let me know if anything turns up.”
Samuel snorted. “Yeah, that’ll be the day.”
Caleb was half inclined to ask what Samuel meant, but he knew the answer would involve covert government operations. Caleb was exhausted and in no mood to listen to fantasy stories.
“So are you going home? What’s your plan?” Samuel asked.
Caleb stopped walking and rubbed the back of his neck. His head ached and was growing worse by the minute. “Yeah.”
Concern covered Samuel’s face. “You really think that’s a good idea? What if they are waiting for you at your apartment?”
“I can take care of them.”
“How do you know? You don’t even know what you’re dealing with.” Samuel stepped directly in front of Caleb. “Don’t you want to stay alive long enough to find out what’s going on?”
To Caleb’s chagrin, Samuel had a point. He didn’t want to walk into a trap. Besides, the pair was out in public, visible to all. The enemy was keeping tabs on Caleb’s every move, surely by now he had seen the two of them together. Caleb wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he found out something had happened to Samuel. What other choice did he have? He felt obligated to protect him.
“What do you have in mind?”
Samuel smiled, the excitement visible on his face. “Don’t be upset, but I hacked into your system and took a copy of the video from the network. If we head back to my house, we can analyze it and see if we can find some answers.”
Caleb pinched the bridge between his thumb and forefinger. That was absolutely the last thing he wanted to do, but he needed to get someplace safe. As he had done with Hale, Caleb decided to placate Samuel for his own benefit.
“Fine.”
“If we cut across the park, we’ll get to my place faster.” Samuel pointed to the right and started in the direction he indicated.
Caleb turned and pushed his hands into his pockets. He wished he could go to his apartment and get a change of clothes. At the very least, he wanted his own toothbrush. But he knew that would only endanger him.
What if the terrorists are waiting in your apartment? What if a regular is in there? Go. Get away from here. It’s your only chance.
Hopefully, Samuel lived near a store so he could get supplies. What Caleb really hoped was that he wouldn’t have to stay with Samuel for long. With any luck, the cops would figure out who was after him and arrest them. Caleb wasn’t overly concerned with why they were after him and highly doubted he’d get an answer anyway.
The park lanterns lit their path with a soft white light. Gravel crunched under their feet and leaves rustled above them. Caleb looked up. He enjoyed the park. It allowed him to escape the pressures of the day. It was peaceful. They stepped through the trees into a grass clearing. Caleb sighed. The trees on his right rustled, and a twig snapped. He glanced in the direction, trying to see what made the sound, but it was too dark.
“How far is your place?” Caleb asked.
“On the other side of the park, then two blocks east.”
Something snorted. Both men stopped. Caleb’s heart rate increased. Did he really hear that? They started walking again, slowly. The snort sounded again, followed by a twig snap. They stopped again.
“What is that?” Samuel whispered.
Caleb shook his head. “I don’t know. An animal?”
“Is it following us?”
Caleb looked at him, his eyes narrowed to slits. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s keep moving. Maybe it’ll leave us alone.”
The pair took one step before more twigs snapped, and something stepped out of the trees. The silhouette looked human, but the way it moved was unnatural. Its arms hung limply at its side. The left foot dragged behind, and when it stepped on it, it looked like it walked on its ankle. Another one stepped out behind the first, followed by a third.
Caleb’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest. His muscles tensed. He readied himself to fight.
“Are those regulars?” Samuel’s voice shook.
Caleb hoped not. He hoped it was gang members who were drunk or high.
The silhouettes responded with a hiss and continued toward them. They stepped under a light. Caleb’s heart sank. It wasn’t a gang. The creatures’ skin was gray with chunks missing in various places. Two men and a woman approached, their jaws snapping open and closed in anticipation. Caleb grabbed Samuel’s arm.
“We need to go.”
They turned. More branches snapped, and the trees shook. A zombie, ten feet tall and three times as wide as Caleb, emerged and blocked their path.
“Oh. My. God,” Samuel breathed. “That’s a Really Big Zombie.�
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CHAPTER 4
Caleb stared wide eyed, his mouth gaping. Was this a nightmare? It could have been. They often involved zombies and life-threatening situations. There was just something off about the situation. Mainly the gigantic zombie that stood in front of him. He’d never dreamed about monsters like that. He blinked, hoping that when he opened his eyes, the creature in front of him would be gone and he would jerk awake in his bed.
The undead leaned forward and growled.
Sweat formed on Caleb’s forehead. He struggled to keep his breathing under control. Behind them, the regulars hissed again, followed by a “Huh, huh, huh” grunting. If Caleb didn’t know better, it almost sounded like a laugh.
Against every fiber of his being, he turned around. The regulars were there, within five feet. Their arms were outstretched, and they struggled against a leash around their necks. At the other end was another RBZ. He smiled at Samuel and Caleb, his teeth black and yellow. The skin on his face cracked, and a few chunks fell off. Black dots danced in front of Caleb’s eyes, dizziness swept over him. He always considered himself prepared, trained to fight, but how could he stand up against such odds? What were they going to do? They were surrounded. Caleb briefly entertained the notion of calling for help, but the RBZs would surely kill anyone who came to their aid. He couldn’t risk innocent lives. He only had one other option. He took a deep breath and attempted to steel his nerves.
“What do you want?” Caleb tried to sound tough, but his voice trembled.
The RBZ pointed at him. If he were honest with himself, he would admit he expected that. Still, that didn’t take the lump out of his stomach or stop the sweat from running down his back. There were no other choices. He was expendable. Maybe he would find out why he was so important.
“Fine. I’ll go with you, but let my friend go.” He pointed at Samuel and spoke with emphasis. “You don’t hurt him.”
The creature loosened the slack on the regulars’ leash. They came a few feet closer. Samuel grabbed Caleb’s arm.
“I don’t think he likes that part of the deal.”
Caleb grimaced. This wasn’t going as planned. Maybe they didn’t understand what he wanted. They were undead after all. How much brain power could they possibly have? They seemed to have more than a regular zombie. The man in front appeared to understand his question, so maybe he was being difficult. They weren’t supposed to exist, and Samuel was a witness, so perhaps they were trying to tie up loose ends. It didn’t matter, though. If they wanted Caleb, they were going to have to abide by his rules. Caleb didn’t care how many undead they had, Samuel was going to go free.
Footsteps sounded behind them. Caleb and Samuel spun around together. The other RBZ drew nearer. Caleb glanced from one to the other. They could outrun the regulars, that was easy, but probably not the RBZs. Plus, they’d have to separate. There was a small chance they would let Samuel go, especially since they didn’t want him, but that was a small chance. Caleb was fairly certain Samuel would be used as a bargaining tool to get Caleb to do what they wanted. At that point, Caleb figured the only thing keeping Samuel alive was his presence. What was he going to do?
The trees shook and more twigs snapped. Caleb’s shoulders slumped and hope drained from his body. He couldn’t handle another RBZ. He couldn’t take care of the two in front of him. It was over. Samuel was dead and he was a prisoner. Guilt enveloped him. He should have never involved Samuel. If he had just gone home after the police station, all of this could have been avoided.
Leaves and branches exploded onto the path. Caleb and Samuel instinctively covered their heads. A whump sounded, followed by a low grunt. Caleb glanced up. The RBZ behind them was on the ground with another zombie on top of him. She was slightly smaller than the RBZs, but still larger than him and Samuel. She was close to eight feet tall and twice as wide as the men. She had a log in her hand, smashing it into the creature’s head. Black gore and skull fragments littered the path. A howl escaped from the RBZ that held the regulars’ leashes, and he dropped the leads and stomped toward the female. He dove at her, and they rolled off in a cloud of dust and leaves.
The regulars hissed, lurching forward. Caleb turned his attention from the giants. Samuel stared wide eyed at the fighting zombies, unaware of the danger next to him. Caleb pushed him.
“Head for the trees!” he yelled. “Find somewhere to hide!”
Samuel blinked rapidly, then turned his gaze to the regulars. His face paled. Without question, he raced into the trees.
“Hey!” Caleb called to the regulars. “You hungry?”
He had to draw their attention away from Samuel. With a little luck, Samuel would be smart enough to climb a tree. Even if the zombies followed him, he would be safe. Sadly, part of Caleb realized that hope might be too much to expect out of Samuel. He really didn’t think his coworker had that much experience with the creatures. The best thing to do was draw the zombies’ attention completely away from him. Running in the opposite direction, Caleb ducked into the forest and scanned the ground. He found a sizable branch and tested its weight. It would have to do.
Twigs snapped and groaning echoed through the trees. Just as he’d hoped, the regulars followed him in. He scurried off to his right. Darkness enveloped him and the creatures, but he saw their outlines. Crap! Only two followed. He’d have to take care of them before worrying about the third. He tiptoed into position. The zombie was on the other side of the tree. Caleb rounded the trunk. The creature stopped. Caleb didn’t give him time to finish tracking. He raised the branch over his right shoulder and swung with all his strength. The zombie fell forward onto his face. Caleb immediately took the advantage and continued to bash the skull.
His intention was to kill the creature silently, then sneak up on the second zombie. However, he underestimated how much strength it took to fracture a skull, repeatedly. Grunts and wheezes escaped from his mouth. He didn’t realize how much noise he made until the other zombie touched his arm. The fingers were so cold and unexpected, he jerked away and shouted.
He slammed into the tree before falling onto his back. The zombie fell with him, her nails digging deep into his flesh, her mouth hanging open. Caleb punched the regular in the side of the head, but she didn’t let go. The zombie hissed and moved forward.
The teeth sunk into his forearm. It took a second for the pain to reach Caleb’s brain. It started as a pin prick, then quickly grew hot until it felt like flames licked his flesh. The zombie pulled back. Caleb’s skin stretched tight. The teeth cut through his flesh, warm blood flowed freely. His arm went numb. Anger enshrouded his entire body.
The regular stepped back, the chunk of Caleb’s flesh in her teeth. Caleb grabbed the creature’s head and smashed it into the tree. He did it over and over until he felt the skull give under his hands. Then, he did it a few more times for good measure.
A growling moan and snapping branches shook him out of his revenge trance. The RBZs! Samuel! Shakily, he stood and stumbled back to the path.
The male RBZ had the advantage over the female. His knee was on her back, right between the shoulder blades, her left arm twisted behind at an odd angle. A snapping resounded, followed by a cracking and tearing. The male fell backward as the appendage tore free. The female took the opportunity to pounce on top of him. Grabbing a boulder, she smashed it into the male’s head. He grunted and countered, smacking her across the face with her own arm. Her head snapped to the right, but that didn’t stop her. She slammed the rock down again. The male gurgled. Another strike from the rock. Thud! It went through the RBZ’s head and hit the ground. Black ichor and skull fragments sprayed the area. Caleb flinched as drops hit his face.
A moan sounded behind him. He spun around. The third zombie. He jumped back, scanning the area for a weapon. The regular lunged after him. His nails scraped Caleb’s face, but it didn’t move closer. His leash was caught on a branch. It hissed and strained. Caleb sneered. He picked up a stick the thickness of his finger and three time
s as long. He lined it up and jabbed it into the creature’s eye. Black oozed out, but the creature didn’t react. Caleb envisioned other tortures to inflict and searched for more sticks. Before he could do anything, the BZ approached. She wrapped her hand around the regular’s head. The skull collapsed with a popping sound, and the creature crumpled onto the ground. She turned to Caleb and snorted.
Caleb shrugged. “Don’t I deserve a little fun before changing?”
Footsteps approached quickly from the right. Caleb turned. Samuel ran up to him. He stopped abruptly when he noticed the blood flowing down Caleb’s arm.
“Oh, my god, Caleb! You’re bit!”
Sirens wailed in the distance. Black dots danced in front of Caleb’s eyes, his knees weakened. He wanted nothing more than to sink to the ground and wait.
“We better go.” Samuel tugged at his sleeve.
“I think I’m going to wait here.”
Caleb didn’t mean to sound so fatalistic, but exhaustion overtook his body. All he wanted to do was sit down and close his eyes. The blackness called him.
Samuel spoke between clenched teeth. “You’re bit, Caleb. They aren’t going to take you to the hospital. They’re going to take you to Zomtech. Do you really want to become an experiment?”
At that point, Caleb really didn’t care. It wouldn’t be long before he turned, his mind focused on nothing but living flesh. At least if he was at Zomtech he wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone. Samuel wouldn’t be able to stop him if he attacked. He couldn’t be responsible for an outbreak in the city limits. He needed to get as far away as possible.
“There’s nowhere we can go.” Caleb sighed. “This is the end of the line for me.”
“C’mon, Caleb. Don’t talk like that. Surely someone can do something to help you.”
Caleb chuckled. “If that were true, we wouldn’t have ghettos full of walking corpses.”
Saving Humanity Series (Book 1): Humanity's Hope Page 5
