by C. O. Amal
Now Ruben could clearly see the armed men. These armed men looks like the Somalian pirates of Earth. Their skin is very dark. This wide room is very clean and the floor is made up of white tiles. The armed men led Ruben and team to the end of the room where there is another doorway. They passed the door less doorway and they entered into another white coloured room. In this room there are a few chairs and a table.
“Sit down.” One of the armed men shouted at Ruben and team. Ruben and Ron first protested, but the armed men forced them to sit down.
Ruben and team sat down on the chairs and a man came forward with ropes. That man started restraining Ruben and team on the chairs. Then one of the men, a tall man, placed his assault rifle on top of the table and he came near Ron.
“What were you doing outside?” The tall man asked.
“Go to hell.” Ron stormed. He spit out saliva on to the tall man’s face.
The tall man smiled and he wiped away the saliva from his face using the sleeve of his shirt.
“Rudy, take that bone crusher.” The tall man said.
Quickly a short fat man went towards a corner of the room. Ruben carefully watched Rudy’s movement. Then he saw it. In one corner of this room, there is a pile of metal hammers and metal rods. Rudy took a hammer and he gave it to the tall man.
“Last chance. Who are you and what is your business here?" The tall man asked while his hands played with the hammer.
“We tell no shit to you, sucker.” Ron said.
The tall man smiled. He walked towards one of Ron’s soldiers. One of the black men untied the soldier’ one of the hands and he forced the soldier to place his hand on the table. Then the tall man raised his hammer above his head.
“Tell me, what were you doing? You had a huge amount of explosives. Why are you here with explosives?” The tall man asked the soldier.
The soldier tilted down his head. Suddenly the tall man brought down the hammer at an incredible force and the hammer head met the soldier’s palm.
“Ahh ... God ...” The soldier screamed out loud. Then blood started to ooze down from his hand. “Ahh ...”
“Why did you destroy the fence of Tongdo?” Ruben asked. “You know, we are not the enemy.”
“Oh, so, it’s about Tongdo. Are you here to avenge?” The tall man asked laughing. Then other men also started laughing. Ruben carefully looked at each man.
There are ten armed men in this room including the tall man. Ruben desperately looked for a way out. Did they run out of lucks? Is this how this ends?
Suddenly a few other armed men came to the room through the doorway. Behind the armed men came an old man.
“Zang Zom …” Ron said looking at the old man.
Zang Zom looks very old. His hair is white and his face has too many folds. But he looks healthy.
Ruben and Ron stared at the new comers.
“Sir, these men are here for revenge, for what we had done to Tongdo.” The tall man said to Zang Zom.
Zang Zom smiled. “These bitches think they could do whatever they want.” Zang Zom walked towards Ron. He stood in front of Ron and he smiled. “Do you want revenge? Do you know that, we recorded the scream of inhabitants of Tongdo? I hear that all the time these days. It is actually a pleasant thing to my ears.”
“You, bitch, you’re going to pay for this.” Ron said grinding his teeth.
“Oh, our little soldier is angry.” Zang Zom said and he laughed. Zang Zom’s goons also laughed. “What are you going to do now, mister soldier. I guess, you’re coming from Dojai. I have sent a team to Dojai earlier today. They might be crushing that city now.”
“Please, why are you doing this? We have done nothing to you.” Ruben pleaded.
“Oh, one soldier does know how to ask.” Zang Zom said. He smiled at Ruben. Then Zang Zom turned towards the tall man. “Keep an eye on them. I have plans for them.”
“Okay, sir.” The tall man said.
Then just like that, Zang Zom and few of his goons left the scene. The tall man stared at Ruben and team for some time. Then he too walked away from the room. A few moments later all the other goons except a middle aged man went outside the room. The middle aged man stood in the doorway looking at Ruben and team. He must be a guard.
“What would we do?” Ruben asked.
“I don’t know.” Ron said. “Johnny, are you okay, man?”
“My hand hurts like hell. And I can’t feel my fingers.” Johnny, the soldier with injured hand, said. “I just want to go home.”
“We are going home, man. Be strong.” Ron said.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Suddenly a gun fire erupted from the wide room near this interrogation room.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
More gun shots erupted.
“Eric …” Ruben said.
Suddenly the middle aged goon came near Ruben. He looked at Ruben and team. Ruben stared at the goon with bloodshot eyes. Then the goon began to remove the restraints from Ruben and team. Ruben stared at the middle aged man with disbelief.
“Your guns are outside this room. Follow me.” The middle aged man said.
Without a doubt Ron and team followed the man. They slowly cautiously went outside the room and found guns in a corner. Ruben and team quickly took their guns and they strapped on their back packs.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Gunshots are actually coming from upstairs. Suddenly the tall man and his goons started climbing down the stairs. Ruben quickly trained his gun at them and he pulled the trigger.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
One of the goons got hit and he started rolling out through the stairs. A moment later the goon’s body hit the floor.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The tall man and his goons started firing. Ron and the other two soldiers quickly trained their guns at the stairs and they pulled the trigger.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
“Ahh ...” The tall man got hit and he started screaming.
Ruben and team quickly started ascending the stairs. The middle aged man followed Ruben. Before long they reached near the tall man. The tall man is struggling with pain and the other goons are all down for good. Ruben aligned His gun for a head shot and he pulled the trigger.
Pop!
The tall man went limp.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The fire fight continued in the upstairs. Ruben and team quickly climbed up. Johnny closely followed Ron. He winced with pain as he moves. They quickly exited the stairs and found Eric in a corner. He is shooting at some men who are behind a nearby room. There are numerous bodies scattered near Eric.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The place near Eric got brightened up when he pulled the trigger. Ruben and team crouched down near Eric. Ron and the other two soldiers quickly trained their guns and they joined the fight.
“Ruben, let’s get out of here.” Eric finally looked at Ruben and he said.
“Okay. But, first I need to kill that Zang Zom.” Ruben said.
* * * * *
Chapter 19
Zeekom
Ruben armed a flash grenade and he threw it towards the goons who are hiding behind a wall.
Boom!
“Ahh ...” The goons screamed out loud.
Ruben and Ron quickly moved forward through the corridor. Before long they exited the corridor and saw the goons who are lying here and there on the floor. One goon is still alive and he is wincing with pain.
Pop!
Ruben silenced the goon.
Pop!
“Ahh ...”
A gunshot echoed and Johnny went down. Eric and the other two soldiers and the middle aged man quickly ran towards Ruben.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Some goons are shooting at Eric and team.
“There are many outside.” Eric said.
“Is there any way out from here?” Ruben asked the middle aged man.
“Follow me.” The middle aged man took one of the fallen goons’ assault rifle and he led them deeper into the building
.
They passed one more corridor.
“What’s your name?” Eric asked.
“Finn.” The middle aged man said. “You have to kill Zang Zom, or he is gonna destroy everything.”
“We will.” Ruben said. “So, where did he go after the speech with us?”
“He might be in the lab. He is really mad about a new virus. I think he was planning to infect you guys with it.” Finn said.
“So he hasn’t changed a bit, right?” Ron asked.
“No. It’s amazing that he is still alive after so many years of war.” Finn said.
They climbed down a staircase and then they moved through a dark corridor.
“So, just how old is he?” Eric asked with curiousness.
“A couple of thousands of years, give or take.” Finn said.
Eric’s and Ruben’s jaw fell opened.
“You guys are not from around here, are you?” Finn asked Eric and Ruben.
“That’s a long story.” Ruben said.
Finn nodded. Now the corridor’s both sides have doors which might led to different parts of the building.
“So, this is underground, right?” Eric asked.
“Yeah.” Finn said.
“Why did you decide to help us?” Ruben asked.
“Well, not all of us are Zang Zom’s dogs. He is on crack and he need to be put down for good.” Finn said.
Ruben nodded. A few minutes later the corridor ended and a long staircase appeared in front of them. Finn started climbing the stairs. Ruben and team closely followed Finn. Before long they exited the staircase and met a doorway. Finn opened the doorway and sunlight seeped in through the doorway. They stepped into the sunlight. In front of them lays numerous buildings.
“Lab is in the north part.” Finn said.
They quickly ran through the streets. Most buildings are in ruin and on the way Eric didn’t forget to lay explosives everywhere. A moment later Finn stopped behind a double story building. Ruben and team did the same. Ruben and Finn quickly peeked in front of them from a corner.
“That’s the lab. It’s partly underground.” Finn said pointing at a single story building in front of them. Lab looks mostly intact and it have glass windows. Most buildings near the lab are in ruin.
The lab looks deserted.
“The coast looks clear.” Ruben said.
“There are guards inside.” Finn said.
“Understood.” Ruben slowly discarded the cover and he slowly walked towards the lab by keeping his head low. Eric, Ron, the two soldiers and Finn closely followed Ruben. Ruben stopped in front of the lab. There are people inside the lab and Ruben could clearly see them through the windows. Ruben quickly motioned at Eric and Ron to get ready.
Ron and Eric quickly crouched down under the windows on both sides of the front door. The front door is closed, probably locked from inside. Ruben trained his gun and stood near the front door. The two other soldiers and Finn stood behind Ruben, just outside the lab, by training their rifles at the lab. Ruben slowly knocked on the door. Quickly a man opened the door and Ruben shot him down on the spot. Ruben, Finn and the two soldiers quickly entered inside the building and they opened fire.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Glass instruments were neatly placed in tables inside the lab and people were working on the glass tools when Ruben and team opened fire.
Glass instruments shattered and one by one, the scientists went down.
“The main building is downstairs.” Finn said.
Ruben nodded. He quickly gestured at Ron and Eric to stay there. Eric and Ron nodded and they stood just outside the lab, looking for any danger.
Finn quickly led Ruben and the two soldiers towards the staircase. Before long they climbed down the staircase and they reached a brightly lit corridor. Finn led them through the corridor.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Gun shots echoed from upstairs. Eric and Ron might be having a hard time.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions occurred from upstairs. A moment later Finn stopped in front of a metal door. There is a glass window on the door and through the window Ruben could see scientists who are working inside. Then he saw Zang Zom inside. Ruben tried the knob to open the door, but sadly it was locked from inside. Then Zang Zom looked at Ruben from inside. Ruben quickly trained his gun at the glass window and he pulled the trigger.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Glass shattered and suddenly Zang Zom and the goons ran outside the room through another door.
“They are escaping.” Ruben said.
“We might see them upstairs.” Finn said. Ruben quickly motioned at the soldiers to lay explosives and they obeyed.
Ruben and Finn quickly ran upstairs. From upstairs they met Eric and Ron. A moment later the two soldiers joined them.
“He is outside.” Ruben said. Ron nodded. They all quickly ran outside. Outside, near the lab lays a few dead bodies of the goons.
Fin led them to the back of the lab and they saw Zang Zom and his men running away.
Then Ruben saw something else too. From in front of Zang Zom and his men arose a horde of infected. Infected ran at Zang Zom and his men, and before Zang Zom realized his mistake, he was took over by the horde. The entire atmosphere got filled with moans and screeches.
“Run ...” Ruben shouted.
* * * * *
Chapter 20
Zeekom
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Ruben and team pulled trigger at the approaching horde. Then they ran away from the scene. The infected closely followed them. They rounded a building and ran towards the fence.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Sound of gunshots came from various parts of the city. Zang Zom’s men must be trying hard to keep the infected at bay. Anyway, Zang Zom is dead or at worse he is now an infected. Ruben and Eric ran at full speed and others closely followed them. Before long they found the fence. Then they ran towards the hole they had created. Then suddenly they stopped. Infected are pouring in from the hole.
“Go to the east.” Ruben shouted. They turned towards the east and they ran. Suddenly, a group of infected came in front of them. Then the infected rushed at Ruben and team.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Ruben and team opened fire. All the approached creatures went down. Ruben and team quickly ran towards the east end, along the fence. With a moan, a few creatures followed them. Eric quickly armed a flash grenade and he threw it towards the approaching creatures.
Boom!
The grenade exploded and the creatures got torn apart by the explosion. A few minutes later they saw the east fence. Ruben armed a flash grenade and he threw it at the fence.
Boom!
A wide hole appeared on the fence. Ruben and team quickly rushed outside. A few stray creatures ran at them from different directions.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Eric and Ruben shot them down, and Ron quickly led them towards the cliff.
“Eric, now push the trigger button.” Ron shouted. Eric slowed down a bit and he took a small remote from his pants pocket and he pressed a button.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly multiple explosions occurred within the city and the whole fence collapsed. A moment later a few buildings crumbled down. A few more moments later, all the nearby creatures rushed at the city from different directions. Ruben and team clearly saw the creatures. The creatures barely gave attention to Ruben and team. Those who had seen Ruben and team didn’t approached. They must have thought that the bigger meal is in the city.
Ruben and team quickly started running again. A few minutes later they reached the cliff. Then they started climbing the inclined rocky path. Before long they saw their flying saucer. The two soldiers near the flying saucer nodded at Ruben and team and they welcomed them.
“Let’s get out of here.” Eric said.
Everyone nodded. Soldiers saw Finn and they smiled at him. Ruben and Eric for a moment stared at the city of Zeekom which has now reduced to ashes. Creatures fro
m far away are rushing at Zeekom. It’s certain that Zeekom will not have any survivors.
A moment later everyone entered inside the flying saucer and quickly the boarding ramp closed. A few minutes later the flying saucer slowly rose from the ground, then with a swoosh it left the scene.
* * * * *
Chapter 21
Dojai
Pop! Pop! Pop!
“Ahh ...”
“Ahh ...”
Emma was in the nursery when all of a sudden gun shots broke out, followed by a series of screams. Emma went near the window and peeked outside. The street is empty. Then suddenly David ran towards the nursery. He quickly began to knock on the nursery door.
“Emma, this is me, David. Open the door.”
Emma quickly went towards the door.
Pop!
“Ahh ...”
Suddenly a gunshot echoed and David screamed out loud. Emma quickly opened the door and David stumbled and he fell down inside the nursery. Blood poured out from David’s back.
“Ahh ... Ahh ...” Kids screamed out loud when they saw blood.
“David?” Emma stood there without knowing what to do. It’s like, all of a sudden, she froze.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
More gun shots erupted from nearby. Then she crouched down near David and she shook him.
“David ...”
David’s body is limp. And he is not breathing. She suddenly backed away from David with fear.
“You ...” Someone shouted at Emma.
Emma slowly raised her head and saw a black man standing just outside the nursery with a big gun. A moment later two other black men with similar guns came to the view.
“Stand up.” The first black man shouted at Emma. “Or, we are gonna shoot your kids.”
Emma reluctantly stood up and she backed away from the men. The armed men quickly entered inside the nursery and they looked around.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Gun shots erupted from somewhere else.
“Let’s move them to the ship yard. It will be lot easier, then.” One of the black armed men said.
Other two black men nodded.
“Come on, move.” The armed men quickly pushed Emma and the kids to outside.
