Then a large smile spread over his face.
He refrained from pumping his fist in the air, that would be unprofessional, beside he never knew when someone might be watching.
The slide of his blood that he had added in a substance from module ten of the biological agent, was clear.
The agent had been destroyed and the healthy cells remained vibrantly alive.
Eric walked back over to his chair and dropped down in his seat.
His assumption was that the tenth-time release module had been coded to destroy the agent after nine or ten days.
By removing the material from the tenth module and injecting it into the active biological agent as it began to attack healthy cells, the substance from the tenth module instructed the attacking agent to self-destruct nine days early. In this instance, before it had been able to be absorbed by and destroy the healthy cells of the host.
“Damn, I did it!” Eric shouted, not worried who saw him now.
After days of frustration and dealing with pressure from the military, and witnessing the death of four human beings, Eric had discovered how to defeat the agent and save someone that had been infected for up to fifteen or twenty minutes.
With a little more research, he knew a vaccination against the agent would now be possible.
Eric felt bad about the four men that had to die, but Charlie was right. Their deaths would now possibly save the lives of thousands or even millions should this biological agent ever be unleashed on the American people.
All Eric needed to do now was to verify these results on an actual person and it would be official.
Eric ran over to his monitor.
It had almost slipped his mind, really, he had pushed it out of his mind because he hated the idea of doing the Anderson experiment today.
But now, he couldn’t wait to begin.
He looked at his watch. It was 10:01 AM.
Charlie was to give Mr. Anderson the first injection this morning at 10:00 AM.
Eric sat down at his monitor and tapped the key to activate the camera in Anderson’s cell.
After checking on Charlie’s progress, Eric would only need a few minutes to extract the necessary amount of substance from the tenth modules in Robert’s dead foot cells to complete the experiment.
Eric tapped the screen.
The screen flickered as the camera activated, finally showing a clear picture of the cell.
Eric stared for a moment at the view of an empty cell.
He looked down at his computer to verify that he had tapped the correct key for the Anderson cell.
He looked at the screen again
Eric began to hit the up and down arrows to pan the camera around the cell.
He began to be concerned when one camera angle showed that the cell door was wide open.
Charlie was supposed to do the experiment in Anderson’s cell because both observation rooms were occupied.
Eric tapped on the down arrow a few times.
He froze when he saw Charlie’s body on the floor next to the cot.
Eric jumped out of his chair and ran for the door.
He darted down the hall and found the door to the holding area wide open.
He ran between the cells until he came to the Anderson cell.
Eric bent down and shook Charlie, “Charlie, wake up. What happened?”
Charlie started to groan,
“Man, you have a welt on the top of your head,” Eric said. “What the hell did he hit you with?”
Charlie moaned and moved his body slightly.
Eric leaned down, “What did you say Charlie? Are you OK?”
As Eric leaned down close to Charlie’s face, Charlie rolled on his back and grabbed Eric.
He pulled Eric’s face close to his mouth and bit into the side of Charlie’s neck.
Blood sprayed across the cell and out into the walkway between the cells.
Eric struggled, but only briefly.
It was over in less than thirty seconds.
Charlie staggered to his feet then began to stumble down the corridor towards the reception room.
The only other employee in the building today was Dave.
Charlie staggered into the reception room.
Eric sat quietly with his back to the door.
After a minute had passed, there were no longer any living employees on the job at Davis Bio Engineering.
The remaining employees would be very active, but there wasn’t much chance they would be very productive today.
The substance needed to stop the agent sat on the table in Eric’s lab.
Eric had broken the code, but he was five minutes too late.
Chapter 26
Levi drove back towards Lake Arrowhead on Route 189.
“How do I find Route 138?” Levi asked.
“I’m not sure without the GPS on my phone,” Logan replied. “Jamie, do you remember where we would pick up Route 138?”
“I hate that road,” Jamie said and sighed, “Go past the Pine Rose Office. I think it is about five miles up the road. I think we will turn left on a real sharp curve. Then it gets worse from there.”
“I understand you don’t like going that way,” Levi grinned.
“It makes me dizzy, all those sharp curves,” Jamie groaned, “and I hate heights.”
“It’s dark so maybe you won’t mind it as much tonight,” Levi said then added, “and Logan won’t be driving so you won’t even notice the curves.”
“Thanks Dad,” Logan sighed.
As they drove closer to the Pine Rose resort, they started to see movement in the shadows of the woods.
At first, they thought their eyes were just playing tricks on them, but then two dark figures staggered out on the road in front of the car.
The two bodies hit the right front fender and flew off into the brush at the side the road.
Levi hit the gas and sped off.
“Aren’t you going to stop and see if they need help?” Jamie protested.
“Not tonight,” Levi replied. “Those aren’t people and I think they were beyond help even before I hit them.”
“I know you’re right,” Jamie said softly. “But it just feels so wrong to not stop.”
Logan pulled her against his side tightly.
“Even if we had stopped,” Logan said, “I’m not getting out to look at those people.”
“Maybe you girls should just close your eyes for a while,” Levi said as he scanned the road ahead, the beams of light from the headlights danced eerily over the road, making shadows seem to dart across the road.
They had nervously driven for another mile, when the engine started to miss and sputter.
“Damn,” Levi said. “I don’t think we are going to make it back to Huntington Beach tonight. I was afraid the radiator wasn’t going to hold up.”
“We better find a place to stay for the night before we end up stranded along the road out in the middle of nowhere,” Levi added. “Where did you and Jamie stay when you came up to make arrangements for the wedding?”
“We always stayed at the Lake Arrowhead Resorts and Spa near the lake. It’s about four miles past the Pine Rose Cabins,” Logan replied. “Do you think we can make it that far?”
“I don’t know, but I hope so,” Levi answered, “I guess we are going to find out.”
But it became obvious the car wasn’t going to run for much longer as the engine started chugging and missing.
The car slowed down to a crawl, even though Levi had the pedal to the floor.
Then the engine cut out completely.
Levi let the car coast as far as it would go before throwing the gear shift into park.
He turned off the headlights and they sat silently in the dark.
“It’s dark and creepy out here,” Jamie said. “Now what, Levi?”
“Pine Rose Cabins should be up around the bend, Dad,” Logan said. “Maybe we can go back to the cabin.”
“Our cabin was full
of uninvited guests when we left,” Levi replied.
“How about one of the other cabins?” Jamie asked.
“The cabins are too easy to get into,” Levi replied, “They came through the large window in the living room like it was tissue paper. I think most of the cabins have the same basic layout. We need something harder to break into.”
“Maybe we could go down to the reception area,” Logan said, “The kitchen doesn’t have any windows for them to break.”
“I’m not going back down there,” Jamie stuttered, “I never want to go back there again.”
“No, the kitchen isn’t any good,” Levi said. “We need to be able to see what’s around us. We don’t want to get ourselves cornered.”
Levi thought for a minute.
“I have an idea but we better get out and start moving before we find ourselves trapped here in the car,” Levi said. “Come on. Let’s go and close the doors quietly.”
Levi got out of the car and went around to open the door for Jamie.
Jamie grabbed Buddy’s leash and pulled him out of the car.
Logan opened the door for Jamie.
She slid out of the backseat, clutching George in her arms.
She stood shivering as she stared out into the darkness.
Logan took her by the arm and led her to the front of the car.
“Stay together and don’t make any more noise than you have to,” Levi whispered.
“I can’t see,” Jamie whispered to Logan.
“Just follow my Dad,” Logan whispered back, “He has eyes like a cat.”
“OK,” Jamie replied, “Maybe that’s why he is the only one that George listens to. I think George is afraid of Cats.”
“George isn’t afraid of anything,” Logan chuckled.
They followed Levi and Jamie down the road.
When they came around a curve in the road, Levi stopped.
“See that light up ahead,” Levi whispered. “That is the Pine Rose Office. They have an emergency generator. That’s why they still have lights. When I was there earlier, I noticed they had an upstairs. If we can get into the office and get upstairs, we should be OK for the night. The way those people stumble around, I think we should be able to keep them from getting up to the second floor.”
“That sounds good, let’s go,” Jamie said as she tightened her grip on the wiggling French Bulldog, “I’m beat and George won’t hold still.”
“I’ll take him,” Logan said.
“Not yet,” Levi said. “I might need your help. There were some of those people around the office when I was there before.”
“What can I do?” Logan asked nervously.
Levi picked up a branch and handed it to Logan,” Hang on to this and stay back with the girls until I call you.”
Jamie reached out and nervously took Logan’s arm.
Levi inched the group closer to the office.
The emergency lights were still strong, casting light out the open front door and onto the road.
When they reached a large bush across from the office, they gathered together and waited for Levi to tell them what to do.
“OK, we need to go in through the front door of the office. The stairs are right behind the counter. When we get inside, Logan close the front door behind you so no one can get in behind us while we go upstairs,” Levi said. “Everyone ready?”
No one answered, so Levi started forward.
Levi stopped at the edge of the road.
“What are you stopping for?” Jamie asked as she pulled Buddy closer.
“I thought I saw someone inside,” Levi replied as he studied the office.
Logan and Jamie called out at the same time, “Someone is coming.”
Levi looked back. He couldn’t see anything in the dark of the night, but the he could hear the leaves shuffling in the woods across from the road.
He remembered the creatures that had gone in that direction when he was at the office before.
If that was what was coming his way, he knew Jamie would panic. He didn’t know what Logan’s Jamie would do, in fact he wasn’t sure what Logan would do, but their attempt to get somewhere safe could go south fast.
He had seen enough horror today. He had already lost his daughter and he didn’t want to lose anyone else.
“We’re going in now,” Levi said. “Logan, don’t forget to close the door behind you.”
Levi got up and ran across the road, down the walkway and up to the door.
George started barking as Levi entered the office.
The smell hit Levi as he ran through the door.
Three dead bodies were on the floor.
Two more bloody heads appeared behind the counter, lifting their heads to look across the counter when Levi ran in through the office door.
Blood dripped from their open mouths.
Bloody pieces of flesh fell from their mouths as they began to moan.
Levi dropped his branch and quickly looked around for a bigger weapon.
He eyed a magazine rack. He picked up the rack, magazines and all and turned.
He rushed at the counter and threw the rack at the two bodies that were now standing.
The two Jamie’s ran over behind Levi.
“Levi, those bodies in front of the counter are starting to move,” Jamie shrieked. “How are they doing that? They look dead!”
Levi looked down at the bodies. Two of the gruesome creatures were starting to climb to their feet.
An eerie feeling jolted him when he saw the eyes of the third body snap open. It remined Levi of a Halloween decoration snapping to life after having new batteries installed and the on switch flipped into the on position.
The eyes snapped open then the head started turning as if it was searching for something.
Levi quickly glanced at Logan who was now holding the door closed as two more dead looking bodies began to pound against the glass door.
Levi looked around the lobby.
The left side wall of the lobby was made of stone. In the middle of the wall was a fireplace, just like the fireplaces that were in each of the cabins.
Levi’s eyes scanned the wall and the fireplace until he spotted the wrought iron poker.
He rushed over, grabbed the poker and came back to where the girls were huddled, looking terrified.
“Stay behind me,” Levi said looking at the girls. The girls looked terrified, Buddy was trying to get behind the girls and away from the scary creatures that were looking menacingly in his direction.
Only George didn’t look to be intimidated.
Restrained tightly in Jamie’s arms. George growled as he stared defiantly at the creatures.
If Levi would have had the time, he was curious to see which of the creatures were wearing a new pair of shiny leather shoes that George wanted.
Levi took one last look to be sure Logan was OK at the door, then he began to swing the fireplace poker.
He hit the closest creature in the arm.
The loud sickening snap of the bone as the arm broke made Levi feel sick to his stomach.
The creature fell against the counter and rolled on the floor. Then it began to struggle to get back to its feet, falling back to the floor every time it tried to use its broken arm that now hung limply at its side.
Levi didn’t have long to watch what the fallen creature was doing.
The second creature was almost on Levi, giving him only seconds to get the poke between him and the creature in time to push it away.
He then drew the poker back and brought it down over the creatures back, knocking it to the floor.
The third creature had now made it to its feet, joined by the two grisly shapes that were behind the counter when Levi came into the office.
As they moved towards him, Levi brought the poker down over the head of the closest body.
The creature dropped to the floor, but was replaced by another, just as ugly and gruesome as the first.
Levi quickly swung th
e poker, hitting it on the shoulder.
Jamie looked at the bodies flailing around on the floor as they struggled to get back on their feet.
“Mr. Frick, Mr. Frick!” Jamie shouted. “Hit them over the head. The one you hit on the head isn’t moving anymore.”
Levi stepped back to put some space between himself and the next creature.
He looked at the bodies on the floor for a second.
He raised the poker and brought it down, crushing the skull of the next closest staggering body.
It crashed to the floor and lay motionless.
He stopped the next three creatures quickly, stopping each of them with a solid blow to the head.
“Thanks Jamie,” Levi said. “That was a good observation. I was getting tired.”
Levi stopped for a second and looked at five bodies on the floor. The five bodies that he had killed.
He wasn’t sure if killed was the right term, the bodies each looked like they had already died days ago. But other than stomping on insects, this was the closest Levi had ever come to killing a living being.
He wasn’t sure how much of the creatures were still human, but seeing their arms and legs and the crushed skulls was enough to make him feel sick.
He had to remind himself that it was either them or him. More importantly, it was either them or his family.
Thinking about Lottie didn’t help. It was all just so confusing.
But the overriding thought in his mind was family.
Levi then looked at Logan who was nervously hanging on to the handle of the door.
There were now eight or nine mangled bodies pounding on and pressing against the door.
The door opened outward, but Logan wasn’t taking any chances as he hung on to the handle and pulled back in to the room.
Levi ran over next to Logan.
He pulled a board off the book shelf that held pamphlets advertising local restaurants and attractions and pushed it through the handle on the door, wedging it against the door frame.
Dead Man Walking Page 20
