They entered Susan’s room and Lily closed the door. Clark could now expose his weapon to the doctor.
“Alright,” The Australian girl said “you know what to do, doctor death. Start disconnecting her.”
“Judge me as much as you want.” Blake muttered while detaching the patient from monitors and tubes. “I suffered serious losses before they found me. I saved lives in this hospital, okay! I was given a chance to continue practicing medicine. I’m useless out there like everybody else. At least in here I can do something!”
“Yes, as long as you oversee one or two atrocities, right?” Clark spoke.
“And flush your Hippocratic Oath down the toilette.” Lily completed.
Blake finished disconnecting Susan.
“I guarantee everything that was done to her can be undone.” He said. “I didn’t break my oath!”
“Then get a taste.” Lily spoke.
“What?”
“You heard me, doc. Stick a needle in that bag, fill it up with some of the goo and inject yourself with it.”
“I… I can’t!”
“Oh come on! If the substance is as harmless as you said, what is the problem?”
“But…”
“It’s always better than the alternative.” Clark cocked the gun hammer.
“Alright, alright!”
Doctor Blake did as Lily told him and got a taste of his own medicine. He fell on the floor, convulsed for some seconds, then held still, but it was clear he was awake.
“Now he’s practicing medicine.” Mate commented.
Lily and Clark pulled the transport stretcher with Susan on it, covered with a sheet, only her head was exposed. When they left the elevator down the main lobby, a security guard stopped them.
“Hey, where are you taking this patient?”
“She’s been transferred.” Lily replied.
“Transferred where?”
“She can’t stay in this hospital!” Clark said with urgency in his voice. “She’s got the plague! It’s not safe in here! She’ll turn into a flesh-eating living dead! And she bit me! Oh my God, I’m turning! Aargh, aargh!”
The man ran to the nearest corridor.
“Good one, partner!” Lily praised him.
“I can’t believe he fell for that one.”
But he came back with five more guards.
“They didn’t all fall for this one.” Lily observed.
Clark drew the sheriff’s gun and shot twice at the ceiling. People in the lobby screamed in fear, covering their heads. The guards also froze in their places.
“All right, this is, um… a kidnapping!” Mate shouted, waving the pistol back and forth. “We are taking this patient here to later, you know, ask for a ransom and everything!”
“And get the money from the vending machines ready!” Lily talked. “That will be the ransom… possibly!”
“Everybody on the floor!” Clark screamed and the whole floor complied. “And stay that way for fifteen…”
“Twenty.”
“Twenty minutes, yes!”
Then, he and Lily left the hospital pulling the stretcher.
“Those people are kind of idiots, aren’t they?” Mate said.
“Don’t be so hard on them.”
They got to an ambulance and carefully placed Susan in it through the rear doors.
“Hey!” Two other men left the front of the vehicle. “What do you think you’re doing? You can’t just load an ambulance like this! I want to see your permits!”
“Sorry, we had no time to get them.” Clark said. “This is very urgent, this patient got the disease!”
“The disease, you mean, the one who turns people into dead beasts?”
“The very same” Lily confirmed. “And she got the airborne cluster.”
“Airborne cluster?”
“That’s right. And we have to… we need to… ACHOO!!! Sorry. We need to evacuate her immediately before the virus spread like water!”
But before she finished the sentence, both men were already far in the distance.
“They are kind of idiots.” Lily wound up agreeing.
They finished securing the stretcher firmly into the ambulance, got into the front seats with Lily on the wheel, and sped away.
However, they didn’t go very far. A great number of limousines quickly came from all streets around and blocked the ambulance. Lily had to step harshly on the brakes not to hit one of them. Men in black suits got out of the cars, fire-weapons in hands.
“Step out of the vehicle!” One man commanded.
“News spread fast around here.” Lily observed.
“No worries!” Mate said smiling. “I got an idea.”
He pushed buttons in the dashboard until finally finding the one that activated the sirens.
The annoying blare caused most of the men to cover their ears, but none of the limousines actually cleared the way.
Disappointed, Clark turned the sirens off.
“They don’t respect sirens around here.” He sighed.
“No problem.” Lily said. “Let’s do this Death Race style.”
“And what is Death Race sty… AHHHHH!!!”
Lily stepped on the gas pedal with everything she got and the ambulance dashed forward like mad, forcing several men to jump out of the way, limousines violently thrown to the sides after being crashed by the heavier vehicle.
Some soldiers fired machine guns at the ambulance, but it accelerated out of range.
“Interesting” Lily spoke. “I’ve always suspected that an ambulance could open way through limos.”
“I’m glad we found that out.” Clark responded pulling himself together and checking if everything was okay with Susan. “And next time you want to corroborate a thesis, let me know first.”
“Sure. I’m just not comfortable driving on the left side, you know.”
However, they passed by another police car hiding behind a billboard.
“Oh no, not again!” Tony cried “More trespassers! This place is starting to look like the Fifth Avenue!”
“Darn it!” Joe cursed. “Well, let’s go.”
The police car pursued the ambulance. Lily saw it coming in the rear mirror, red lights blinking like Las Vegas, a deafening sound blaring.
“Shall we respect their sirens?” Clark queried.
“I got an idea.” Lily answered.
She stopped the ambulance. The police car parked right behind it. The two cops left their car and adjusted their clubs on the belts.
“Step out of the vehicle!” They heard that order again.
But Lily and Clark came out from the back. The policemen stood still and brought hands to their guns.
“We need your help!” The Australian woman spoke.
“Fast please!” Her partner emphasized.
The cops ran to the ambulance.
“What’s going on here?” Joe asked.
“Are these working?” Clark frowned at the two defibrillator pads in his hands. He decided to try them on the two men standing before him.
The surge of electricity caused the policemen to fly backwards and collide against the police car windshield.
“Guess they are.” The tennis player concluded.
“They’re fine.” Lily said after realizing they were still moving. “Let’s go.”
And the ambulance sped away again, disappearing into the woods.
“I hate this job!” Tony cried massaging his hips.
“Shut up!” Joe said.
“We need to get a doctor to Susan back there.” Lily said, noticing the woman was moving uncomfortably on the stretcher.
“Let’s follow this road. It got to take us somewhere.”
“I didn’t know you knew how to handle a gun.”
“Well, it’s not a tennis racquet, but it also hits balls.”
And they took that time to tell each other about their respective adventures from the moment they were separated.
“Jesus!” Clark
spoke astonished. “You mean the freaking zombie was almost biting you?”
“And he smelled worse than my armpits in those hot Australian days.”
“How did you get out of that one?”
“Well, it’s kind of complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“A little embarrassing too.”
“Oh.”
“Anyhow, I escaped. After I broke out of there, I crossed path with this woman. She was bringing the three children I was supposed to kill as a zombie. She said reporters were coming to document some important educational event local leaders must have invented. But everything was cancelled when I told her what really happened in there.”
“How did she react?”
“She was shocked, a very good sign. Her mind wasn’t under control, only misinformed. I asked her to tell people the truth about Shane.”
“Do you think she’s going to do it?”
“We’ll find out.”
“What about that starched guy I told you about, the one who calls himself the minister? He looked more like a pigeon in suits.”
“We take a look into it.”
“So, that means we’re not leaving this place just yet.”
“No. Let’s finish this.”
Clark turned to her and said with a grin:
“So, the great Apocalily is back in another crusade, to save the world for democracy and the highest values!”
“I’m just doing this because this Shane character pisses me off!”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe.”
“I think you do.”
“Then I do.”
Some signs of civilization became visible on the roadside.
But Lily had to fiercely step on the brakes, causing some rubber to stain the pavement. In the unofficial border to Downtown, a group of about fifteen guerrilla-looking men stood in front of the ambulance, blocking the way and pointing machine guns.
ACT 25
Shane was about to enter the gigantic complex that comprised several TV studios, when a strident voice calling her name made her stop. She turned around to see what the fuss was all about.
“You!” The middle aged woman said grinding teeth and pointing a forefinger at Shane. “You!”
“Yes, I guess we all realized you’re addressing me.” Shane replied serenely.
“You awful, evil woman! How could you? How could you?”
“I gather you and your small group have something to speak with me about. What can I do for you, Principal Hildenbrandt?”
The educator stood right in front of the elegant woman, with a mob of angry men and women behind her.
“You lied to us all!” The principal said. “You’re nothing more than a fraud under loads of make-up!”
“What seems to be the problem, Missus Hildenbrandt?”
“That educational event you and your minister so much bragged about is a farce! You just wanted to kill innocent children to maculate the image of a great woman.”
Naturally, lots of people stopped what they were doing and gathered around the scene, hoping to become bystanders for a very promising spectacle based on somebody else’s disgrace.
“Great woman…” Shane whispered. “I really wish I knew what you’re talking about.”
“I bet you do! I was taking those innocent children to your so called event when this woman, Lily, stopped me right on time. And she told me what you actually wanted to do to them.”
“Which was…?”
“Oh please! You had arranged for Lily to turn into a flesh-eating monster, so she would later kill the poor children!”
Voices started to buzz all around.
“And why would I do such thing?” Shane asked calmly.
“To discredit the great Apocalily!”
The buzz turned into loud and surprised conversations.
“I see.” Shane responded placidly. “These are very serious accusations, Agnes. Are you prepared to substantiate them with something more than just the words of a possible renegade?”
Agnes Hildenbrandt kept her eyes on the woman, but couldn’t argue back. Taking advantage of that favorable momentum, Shane said:
“Anyway, thank you very much for bringing such important matters to my attention. I’ll check into all your concerns and rest assured I’ll come back to you.”
But the crowd following the principal started to scream and protest. Sensing the situation was about to aggravate, the circle of bystanders closed on them, anticipating more tumults for their amusement.
“Oh no!” Hildenbrandt finally spoke. “You’re not going to talk your way out of this!”
“All right” Shane replied. “What do you want me to do? I’m all ears.”
The principal hesitated again “Well, I…” She cleared her throat. “As a citizen of this city, also a representative of the parents whose children study in my school, many of them with me today, I demand that you are arrested under the accusations I just brought upon you.”
“That’s right!” Somebody in her group screamed.
“Okay.” Shane said. “Let’s suppose I’m arrested. Then, who’s going to take care of things? You, Missus Hildenbrandt, perhaps some of the ladies and gentlemen you dragged to this thing, or maybe one of you folks, who interrupted your works to gift us with your so meaningful attention?” She raised her voice to address everybody.
All of a sudden, a huge number of men wearing riot police gear, armed with shields, clubs and tear gas came out of the TV station complex. They didn’t seem to be there to arrest Shane. Most people in the crowd retreated. Even curious bystanders get scared when situation changes from spectacle to threat.
“Or perhaps I should open the gates and invite the drifters in,” Shane continued “and everything I built just for you will go down the drain. Do you still remember how life was before I took you in and gave you a home?”
She advanced to the principal, who took two steps back.
“Like I said, thanks for bringing me your concerns, Principal Hildenbrandt. I’ll look into them, I’ll take them to the minister and we’ll surely get back to you.”
Then, addressing everybody again, Shane said “Now, you may all return to your wonderful jobs, sophisticated lifestyles, with all possible fringe benefits you seem to enjoy so much. And this time, try to show a little gratitude for a change!”
The principal lowered her eyes. Most parents in her group scratched the back of their heads. Bystanders lost interest, many of them disappointed with the peaceful outcome of the standoff. Everybody slowly came back to their businesses.
“Good.” Shane spoke. “I appreciate it.” She turned her back on the mass and walked proudly into the complex, followed by her entourage of riot policemen.
Once inside, Colonel Talbot ran to her.
“I need to talk to you, madam.”
“Yes colonel.”
“Well, first, I saw what just happened out there. This can be a matter of concern.”
“Not at all, as you can see, I handled things.”
“Sure, and you excelled in it as usual!”
“Thanks. Now you can stop kissing my ass and get to the point.”
“Yes ma’am. It’s just that I’m kind of worried about the whole Lily situation. She’s on the loose now, and things can still run out of control.”
“Hardly. Have you and your men been to the Industrial Zone and got the package?”
“Oh yes madam, the flock is being gathered in the hangar as we speak.”
“Good. Then don’t lose any sleep over it. There’s more than one way to kill a myth. Now, if you excuse me, I have a speech to deliver on national TV.”
ACT 26
“Friends of yours?” Lily asked Clark.
“Yes!” The man replied, narrowing his eyes.
“Really?” She asked surprised. “You do know the question was meant to pull your leg, right?”
“And it did. But I know those two guys
on the front row.”
Clark jumped out of the ambulance.
“Hey Pedro, Raul, what the heck are you up to? Put down the weapons, man!”
“Mate!!!” They ran and hugged him. “Jesus, man, you made it out! I can’t believe! You got cojones, mano!”
“You’re tougher than you look, hombre!”
“Well, I had some help.” Clark pointed at the vehicle windshield.”
“I can see that!”
“We’ve been attacked.” Pedro informed.
“Really?”
“Yes, I guess we suffered a little payback for the rebellion at the power plant. You can’t stay here. You have to join the others.”
“We got a sick woman in the ambulance. She needs medical attention badly. But it’s not the zombie fever, or whatever they call it.”
“Si, tu tranquilo. You and your friend go to a place called Fleur du Soir. It’s a restaurant that’s sheltering us. You just follow this road and take a right at the only gas station in town, can’t miss it. Once there, you look for a guy named Tess. Tell him you’re with the group who escaped the power plant.”
Apocalily Series (Book 1): The Sunshine Dame of Doom Page 16
