Rise of the Undead (Book 5): Apocalypse Z

by Higgins, Baileigh

  “I say you’re wrong,” Saul said, his expression stern. “Grissom cannot be trusted. He lied to us before, and he’ll lie to us again. We need to save Tara now before King realizes something is amiss.”

  “And I say we need to be careful. If this goes south, we could lose everything,” Nick argued.

  “King could move Tara, hurt her, or even kill her while we’re sitting around on our asses biding our time,” Saul said.

  “Not if he thinks everything worked out according to plan,” Nick said.

  “You’re trusting the word of a traitor, Nick,” Saul said.

  “No, I’m trusting the word of a man who’s got no other option but to speak the truth,” Nick replied. “My gut tells me we can ⁠—”

  “I don’t care what your gut says,” Saul cried. “My first and only concern is Tara, and I will not risk her life on the say-so of a murderer and a liar!”

  “My first concern is the safety of the souls under my command. There are several thousand of them, and I cannot let them down,” Nick said, squaring off to face Saul with rising frustration. “Don’t you understand?”

  “Oh, I understand perfectly well that you’re willing to risk the life of Tara for fear of losing to King,” Saul said, his expression set into stubborn lines.

  Nick threw his hands in the air. “Of course I’m afraid of losing to King. There are families on this base, Saul. Men, women, and children. Must I place Tara before them?”

  “It doesn’t have to be like that,” Saul insisted. “We can win. I know it in my heart. All we need to do is seize the moment and attack. King won’t know what hit him.”

  Nick closed his eyes for a brief second, gathering his thoughts. As tempted as he was by Saul’s passion, he couldn’t allow his emotions to override his common sense. “I’m sorry, but my answer is no. I will not rush into this. Not even for Tara.”

  “Is that your final answer, Sergeant Dean?” Saul asked, his hands clenching into fists by his side.

  “It is, Sergeant Dhlamini,” Nick said with a curt nod. He was acutely aware of the fact that he’d just lost a friend, highlighted by Saul’s use of his formal title and his response in kind. This is the end of the road for us. He’ll never trust me again.

  “Despite your refusal, I’m leaving in the morning,” Saul replied. “And you cannot stop me.”

  Nick sighed. “I won’t stop you, though I think you’re making a mistake. I’ll even allow you to take what equipment you need. But, you’ll have to ask for volunteers from the civilian sector. I won’t allow any my men to go off on a fool’s mission. They are needed here.”

  “I am neither a fool nor an idiot, Sergeant Dean,” Saul said. “But, I daresay you are a coward.”

  With that statement, Saul marched out of the room. Not once did he look back, and his back was ramrod straight. Nick stared after him, unhappy with the way things had ended between them. Sucking in a deep breath, he slumped into the nearest chair.

  “What the hell just happened?” Dylan asked, walking over. She perched on the edge of the table in front of him and fixed him to the spot with a keen gaze.

  “I thought that went rather well, didn’t you?” Nick asked.

  “That’s not funny. Not funny at all.” She folded her arms and raised one eyebrow.

  “No, it’s not,” he admitted, sagging in defeat.

  “Explain to me what just went down, because I’ve never seen the two of you act like that before,” Dylan exclaimed.

  “Like what?”

  “Like two bulls gunning for the same red flag,” Dylan said, tossing her hands in the air. “This room reeks of testosterone!”

  “It’s not like that, but I had to make him understand,” Nick protested.

  “Understand what, exactly?”

  “I’m the leader of this community, Dylan. Like it or not, I have to take their safety into consideration, and rushing off to rescue Tara is not in anyone’s best interest.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Dylan asked. “Saul usually gets it right. Couldn’t his plan have worked?”

  “It’s possible, yes, but what if he’s wrong?” Nick asked. “Can I take that risk? Would you if you were in my shoes?”

  Dylan hesitated. “Maybe not.”

  “The basis of any successful mission is information, and we need more. If it were up to me, I’d press Grissom for every bit of knowledge he has and confirm it by sending out my own scouting teams.”

  “But, what about Tara? Saul is right. Anything could happen in the meantime,” Dylan pointed out.

  “Not if Grissom convinces King that everything is going his way,” Nick insisted.

  “And if he can’t?”

  “There’s a slight chance King will find out about the true state of affairs, but it’s an acceptable risk.”

  “Acceptable? Tara’s life is in our hands,” Dylan protested.

  “And so are all the people on this base,” Nick pointed out.

  Dylan shook her head. “This is a tough one. I get where Saul’s coming from, but I can also see the sense in what you say.”

  “It is a difficult decision and not one I made lightly, but Saul’s on his own,” Nick answered.

  Dylan was silent for a few moments before she said, “You know I’m going with him, don’t you?”

  Nick nodded, though his heart dropped into his shoes at her words. “I know.”

  “I owe him. Tara too. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be a zombie today,” Dylan said. “Whether it’s a trap, or not, I have to go with him.”

  Nick stood and gazed deep into her eyes. “I know, babes, but be careful. For once, I’m asking you to use your head and not your heart.”

  Dylan chewed on her lower lip. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Just make sure you come back to me in one piece. That’s all I ask, my beautiful monster,” Nick said before drawing her into his arms.

  With the warm scent of her hair in his nostrils, Nick sent up a silent prayer that neither she nor Saul returned to the base in a body bag. I’d give anything not to let her go, but I’ve got no choice. No choice at all.

  Chapter 8 - King

  King stared through the window at the sun hovering above the horizon. It promised to be a fine morning, and thus far, he was in a good mood. He had the feeling it wouldn’t last, though. Not when he looked at the nervous soldier standing in front of him.

  “Spit it out, Perez,” King said, drumming his fingers on the polished wood of his desk. “I don’t have all day.”

  “The mission was successful, Sir,” Perez said. “West and I rigged a fire to draw Sergeant Dhlamini’s party away from the base. While they were gone, Grissom intercepted the girl at one of the gates.”

  “So, she made it all the way to Fort Detrick?” King asked, feeling a stir of admiration for the Amy girl despite himself.

  “She did, Sir,” Perez said with a curt nod.

  “What happened to Red?” King asked.

  “According to Grissom, the girl killed him. She arrived at the fort in his truck,” Perez answered.

  “That’s just perfect,” King muttered with a sigh of regret. “Red was one of my best.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir,” Perez said.

  “Whatever,” Kind said with a wave of his hand. Red was gone, but there were plenty more of his kind around. “What happened next?”

  “Grissom escorted the girl to the infirmary, just like you suggested. Spitz and the rest joined him, and they took care of her and her brother.”

  “Did they now? And they weren’t caught?” King asked.

  “No, they managed to escape undetected afterward,” Perez said.

  “Grissom told you all of this?” King asked.

  “He did, Sir.”

  “What about Spitz? Did you speak to him?”

  “No, Sir. He was out on patrol,” Perez said, shifting from one foot to the next.

  “How convenient,” King mused. “What about Sergeant Dhlamini’s party?”

  “They
figured out something was wrong and raced back, but they were too late,” Perez said.

  “I see,” King said, thinking things through. He flexed his injured knee, massaging the painful joint with one hand.

  “They don’t suspect Grissom for pointing them at the fake fire?” King said.

  Perez shrugged. “It doesn’t look like it.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Is something wrong, Sir?” Perez asked.

  King pursed his lips. “Maybe, maybe not. It all seems a bit too neat and tidy. I never trusted Grissom. Not completely. The man has a conscience.”

  “Sir?” Perez said with a frown of confusion.

  “That’s why I asked Spitz to take over. The fact that he didn’t talk to you himself raises a red flag.” King shook his head. “And I can’t afford to take any chances. Not at this point of the game.”

  “What do you want us to do, Sir?” Perez asked.

  “I want you to double the guard and pull back all the raiding parties that are currently off-base. Prepare for an attack,” King said.

  “Do you think Grissom is lying, Sir?” Perez asked.

  “I don’t know, but if he is, we need to be prepared. They’ll come for Tara as soon as they can. She’s too valuable to lose. They need her.” King shrugged. “And if Grissom is telling the truth, we’ve got nothing to worry about. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Perez said, saluting smartly.

  “Keep trying to contact Spitz. I want to hear from him directly,” King said. “The sooner, the better.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Perez said.

  “You’re dismissed,” King added, swiveling around in his chair. He gazed out the window onto the grounds below. His men scurried about like ants, fortifying the defenses. He was in a good position, and his fighting force was formidable. Yet, he wondered if they had what it took to defeat Fort Detrick. Maybe not now, but we will soon. Just give me a chance. That’s all I need.

  Suddenly, the door burst open, and Dr. Bannock stormed inside. “Lieutenant King, Sir. We have a problem in the lab.”

  “What problem?”

  Bannock hesitated. “You’d better come look, Sir.”

  King sighed. “Is it Dr. Lee again?”

  “You could say that,” Bannock said, backing away as King rose from his chair.

  “What did she do this time?” King asked, thinking back to the morning after her capture. She’d short-circuited the cameras and set the lab on fire. During the ensuing chaos, she attempted to escape. She failed, but not without causing considerable trouble.

  “She uh…she…” Bannock mumbled in a faltering voice as he led the way to the lab.

  “Spit it out,” King said, gritting his teeth against the throbbing pain in his knee. Even with the crutches, it was painful to move about.

  The on-site medic, a prisoner with medical experience, diagnosed pulled ligaments in the joint. He further predicted it would take up to six weeks to heal completely. Anti-inflammatory tablets helped for the pain but caused drowsiness, so King only took them at night. The rest of the time, he suffered through it. Yet another black mark against Dr. Lee’s record. One of many that I owe her for.

  “I’d rather you see for yourself, Sir,” Bannock replied with a noticeable shudder. “It’s not a pretty sight.”

  “This is the second incident in three days,”King said, anger suffusing his mind. “Why won’t she listen?”

  “If it’s any consolation, she never listens to me either, Sir,” Bannock said.

  King shook his head as he hobbled along, mentally bracing himself for what lay ahead. One thing was for sure, Dr. Lee was proving to be a tough nut to crack.

  Chapter 9 - Tara

  Tara woke up with a raging headache matched only by her temper. It was her third night sleeping in a strange bed, and she faced yet another long day stuck in the lab with only Bannock and Betsie for company. Hell had nothing on her situation.

  After her failed escape attempt on the first day, Tara had tried to settle in and continue with her research. She reckoned it would keep her occupied, but her patience was wearing thin. She missed Saul, she missed her friends, and she missed her home. That’s it. I’m out of here.

  The first obstacle she faced was getting out of the lab. The door was locked, and she didn’t possess a key, but the guard did. Whenever Bannock was absent, he left his key card with the guard in case something happened, and she needed help.

  After brushing her teeth and washing up, Tara shrugged on her clothes and lab coat. She smoothed her long hair into a ponytail and tucked her pants into her boots. She was as ready as she’d ever be. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  It was still early, only seven in the morning. A full hour before Bannock would show up to ruin her day. After a quick deliberation, she decided against having breakfast. While she might need the energy to get through the day, she wasn’t sure executing her plan on a full stomach was a great idea.

  Squaring her shoulders, she marched toward the lab door and knocked on it. At first, nothing happened. Tara wasn’t about to give up, though and kept knocking until the guard responded. The door swished open on silent hinges, and she faced a disgruntled-looking man holding a key card in one brawny fist.

  “What do you want, woman?” he asked through gritted teeth.

  This wasn’t the first time they’d faced off against each other. He was the unfortunate sucker who responded to the fire she’d set in the lab during her first escape attempt. While he was occupied quelling the blaze, she’d made a run for it only to be caught by the main entrance. Even though she’d failed, he’d received a stiff reprimand from King for allowing her to give him the slip.

  “I…er…sorry to bother, but I need your help with Betsie,” Tara said, doing her best to look innocent.

  “Forget it. I’m not falling for one of your tricks again,” he said with a brisk shake of the head.

  “It’s not a trick, I promise. I really need your help,” she insisted.

  “I said no. You can wait for Dr. Bannock,” the guard replied, moving to close the door.

  “Please, wait. Dr. Bannock doesn’t have the strength to help me while you look like a tough guy who works out,” Tara said in an attempt to flatter.

  “I said no,” he growled.

  Tara raised both hands, pleading with him. “I’m on the verge of a break-through here. The kind that will make you look good with Lieutenant King.”

  The guard frowned, his voice thick with suspicion. “Me? I don’t have anything to do with your research.”

  “No, but if you help me with Betsie, I’ll make sure to mention it to King. That should put you back into his good graces.”

  He hesitated. “How do I know I can trust you? You’re a wily bitch.”

  “I know, and I don’t blame you for thinking that,” Tara said. “I made a fool of you, and I’m sorry.”

  The guard stared at her with raised eyebrows. “Buttering me up isn’t going to work.”

  “It’s not that. I really need help with the next phase of my research,” Tara said.

  He snorted. “Why the sudden change of heart? I thought you’d rather die than work for King.”

  “I would, but I’ve had time to think,” Tara replied. “I’ve realized the only way I’m getting out of here is if King lets me go.”

  “Yeah? You think he will?” the guard asked.

  “Maybe. If I give him what he wants, a cure and a vaccine,” Tara reasoned.

  The guard shrugged. “He might, or he might not.”

  “So? What’s it going to be? Help a girl out?” Tara asked, holding her breath.

  For a moment, the guard said nothing before he finally nodded. “Fine. What do you need me to do?”

  “Follow me,” Tara said, waving a hand inside the lab.

  The guard stepped inside and closed the door. “There. No running this time, got it?”

  Tara nodded. “Gotcha.”

  “If you
try anything, you’re a dead woman,” he cautioned.

  “I won’t,” she said before asking, “What’s your name, by the way? I’m Tara.”

  “I know who you are, Doctor, and don’t think for a second that I’ve forgiven you,” he said. “We are not friends.”

  “I understand. I just want to know what to call you,” Tara said with a duck of her head.

  “It’s James Dean,” he replied with reluctance.

  “Cool name. Nice to meet you,” Tara said.

  “Can’t say the same,” James quipped. He walked toward the door that separated them from Betsie’s cell and peered through the tiny glass window. In response, Betsie hissed at his reflection, and he backed up. “She’s almost as nasty as you are.”

  Tara repressed a snort. Not for long.

  She took a step forward and pointed at the door. “This is the plan. I need her to stick her arm through that little window. Once she’s done that, you must hold her in place while I get the samples I need.”

  “Surely, that’s something Dr. Bannock can help you with,” James said.

  “Dr. Bannock’s a wimp,” Tara replied with a straight face. “I need someone who’s not gonna wet himself the moments she snaps at him.”

  James grunted. “He’s a coward, all right. Fine, let’s do this.”

  “Great,” Tara said, producing her key card.

  “One thing,” James said, holding up one hand to stop her. “If you try any funny business, I’ll kill you on the spot.”

  “I know,” Tara said.

  He patted the gun at his side. “And don’t think I won’t do it just because King needs you.”

  “Understood,” Tara replied, eyeing the gun. “Ready?”

  “I’m ready.”

  She opened the door, and Betsie went wild. She screeched like a banshee, throwing herself at the glass barrier over and over again.

  Tara flinched, but it was an automatic gesture. She was used to Betsie by now. James hesitated for a second before he headed toward the small window.

  “What now?” he asked.

  “I’ll get her attention,” Tara said, moving closer. “When she goes for me, that’s your queue. Grab her arm and hold her still while I get my samples.”