by Gayle Katz
He was in the basement near the morgue. He peered through the mesh glass window at what appeared to be a small lab.
“Hmm. Nothing really ominous here,” he muttered to himself. He heard noise in the distance, prompting him to turn around and go back through the same door. He let it slowly close behind him.
He was about to head back down the tunnel when he saw another door. He had almost missed it. He shined his flashlight in that spot. The door was much smaller, almost more like an access hatch than an actual door.
Bourne walked up to it and pulled on the handle. It popped open. “Excellent!” He shined his light inside. The light highlighted a vast room. There were storage shelves on one wall. He stepped inside.
“Bingo!” he said, after looking inside the boxes. On the other side of the room were laboratory tables, with several microscopes set up. “There is a centrifuge machine thingie,” he muttered to himself. “Wow! Why didn’t we find this shit before?”
Sergeant Bourne was torn between staying there, and leaving. He didn’t want to leave boxes of injectables on the shelf. On the other hand, he couldn’t just have his guys come in and take the goods without a search and seize warrant.
He looked around at the room, and then looked up at the ceiling. He briefly thought of setting the whole room on fire but nixed that when he realized it would put all the hospital patients and staff in jeopardy.
He did the next best thing. He grabbed one of the dollies and started loading up the boxes on it.
zzz
Stewart uttered the incantation again. “Charlie, certiorem facere acc venire hic.”
“How many times can you say that?” asked Zan, getting annoyed.
“As many times as it takes,” Stewart replied. “OK, fine. Let’s give it a break. The spell should be bouncing around the realm for a bit.”
“Errr, what if something else comes back?” asked Owen.
“No, that’s why I added her name to the front.”
“What if there’s another Charlie in there?”
Stewart shrugged. “So some guy at the hospital pops back into his body.”
“So, no weirdoes are going to be showing up here?” asked Zan.
“Hey! Who are you calling a weirdo?” asked a voice from the kitchen.
Everyone jumped out of their seats.
“Charlie!” said Owen, rushing over to give her a hug.
“Thanks,” she said, walking into the living room and taking a seat. “I’m so glad you missed me.”
“Charlie,” said Stewart, trying not to get angry. “So you figured it out?”
“Yes! I feel so stupid.”
“Wait a minute,” said Owen. “If that’s all it takes to send someone into the ether and get them to come back, then why did Mr. Warcola’s wife get stuck?”
“Oh, that’s because she was already dead, but she hadn’t moved on yet,” explained Stewart. “That spell was probably confusing her, keeping her in the ether.”
“Oh. So his wife could have been a zombie and not had her mind trapped?” asked Charlie.
“Yes, obviously. The average zombie’s brain is dead. Their minds or souls go on to the next realm. I have no idea what Dr. Arora was up to. Maybe we’ll never know. All I know is that perhaps another spell made her extra strong, or something, so that her body wouldn’t decay as quickly.”
“Wow. That’s creepy,” said Owen.
“What was it like there?” Stewart asked Charlie.
“It wasn’t that bad,” she said. “I mean, it was eerie being in the dark. Occasionally, I’d hear these voices, but then they’d go away. Some woman told me to beware of the Shredders, whatever those are.”
Stewart sat back down and extinguished the candles. “Shredders? That sounds like a fancy word for zombies.”
Everyone laughed.
“I don’t think the Shredders are zombies,” said Charlie.
“Gross,” said Zan. “I wonder if it meant like a mind shredder?”
“Could be,” said Stewart. “We don’t know everything. If so, I’m guessing that if you had stayed there for much longer, that you would eventually go crazy.”
“So no one stays in the ether for too long? Eventually, they would disappear?” Zan asked.
“Possibly,” he said. “At that point, you may cease to exist.”
“Wow,” said Zan. “So if you die normally and consent to move on, then your soul still exists?”
“Probably,” said Stewart. “No one knows for sure. But I’m certain it’s far better than being tortured in that realm by voices. Hold on.” His phone buzzed, so he pulled it out to take a look. “Oh, Jay has found something at the hospital. He’s trying to remove as much as he can.”
“What?” asked Charlie.
“Zombie injectables,” he explained.
“What? But we searched the hospital that time and there was nothing.”
Stewart shrugged. “Perhaps Dr. Arora thought it was clear and moved all the supplies back in.”
“Is he OK? Do we need to go and help him?”
“He has backup who are taking the boxes away. They will torch them in some undisclosed location.”
“Wow! That’s great,” said Charlie. “This is like three quarters of our work done.” She smiled at Zan and Owen. “Maybe we can have a day off?”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” said Stewart. “Something has come up.” He held out his screen for the others to read.
“I have your precious Jay Bourne,” it read. “Come now if you want to see him again. Luv, Dr. Arora.”
“Oh man,” said Owen. “He’s supposed to be a cop. Why couldn’t he be more careful?”
Stewart flipped his phone shut and shrugged. “I’ll call this info into the station to let them know he’s been captured.”
Chapter 14
________________________________________
Sergeant Bourne was tied to a chair in the small lab while Dr. Arora pranced around him, trying to figure out what to do.
“Your guys will be back in half an hour, according to my lookout,” she said. “I really hate you for stealing our goods, but you were kind enough to at least leave me one box.” She punched the remaining box on the shelf. “Frank was supposed to lock that damn door after he left. He forgot. He’ll pay for this. Months and months of me making vaccines down the tube.”
“I find it hilarious that you call the zombie virus a vaccine,” he said. “It’s just the opposite.”
She walked up to him. “It is a vaccine. It’s a vaccine to cure us of being human.” Then she walked away. “Well, at least you didn’t steal my laboratory equipment.”
“Why? You can just get that shit from the hospital.” Bourne was struggling to release his bonds. It had been some time since he’d had to do it, but he kept at it.
Dr. Arora was digging through the last box on the shelf. “We should have some fun until your friends arrive.” She pulled out one of the injectables. She walked over to him and flicked off the cap. Before he even knew what she was doing, she had jabbed it into his shoulder. He winced in pain.
zzz
“It’s quiet out here,” said Charlie, after Stewart dropped them off at the back of the factory. The teens wandered around the parking lot. It was completely empty. The door to the electrical box was open.
“Listen up. Once we go inside, we could be surrounded by zombies,” she added. “Remember what I told you. If she traps you in the realm, you can just imagine yourself back here and you will be able to jump back. But if you think that you’re trapped there, you will be.”
“Mind over matter. Got it,” said Owen.
“Should one of us hang back and wait for the cops to return?” asked Zan.
“Good idea. You wait,” said Charlie.
“Where is Stewart going?” asked Owen.
“Not sure. He said he had to go pick something up?” Charlie shrugged.
“So, same as always, we’re really alone.”
zzz
&
nbsp; Dr. Arora was holding herself back. Normally, she’d beat her minions, but Sergeant Bourne was different. Also, she wanted to see her zombie vaccine do its work before she killed him. Unless the zombie vaccine actually worked, then he could join her ranks.
“Curious. There is no skin color or eye color change, yet.” She felt his forehead, but it appeared to be of normal human temperature.
Bourne was quiet. He’d given up trying to get free. Then, suddenly, he had a big seizure. His chair flipped over onto the ground.
Concerned that her experiment could be damaged, Dr. Arora grabbed her knife and quickly cut his body free of the chair. But she left the rope wrapped around him, just in case. She managed to get his body onto his back. She gently supported his head so his brain wouldn’t get damaged.
“Hey! You OK?” she asked him.
He nodded but didn’t speak.
“How odd,” she said, looking at his face. “Perhaps this is my best batch of zombie virus ever. If I can perfect it, I shall have a whole tribe of zombies on my side, all over the city, and no one shall be the wiser.”
Sergeant Bourne turned his head and looked at her. “By your command,” he said.
zzz
Stewart was extremely angry. He drove through three red lights, with horns honking at him. He expected that at least two of them had cameras, but he didn’t care. No one messed with his friends and got away with it. He paused at the next red stop light, typing a name into his smartphone. He double-checked the address, then headed that way.
Soon he was at his destination. He left the door of his car open, and went around and opened the back door. Then he stomped up to the front door and rang the bell.
A woman answered the door. “Yes?” she asked.
“Sorry to disturb you,” he explained. “I’m Dr. Warcola, from the hospital. There’s been a terrible accident with your sister. You have to come with me.”
“What? Suze is injured?” She ducked back inside and grabbed her purse and keys.
“Yes, sorry. She wanted me to stop by to pick you up since I was in the neighborhood.” Stewart rushed back to his car. The woman hopped into the vehicle.
“I’m Nadine,” she said.
“Yes, I know. Let’s get going.”
Nadine slammed her door closed, really worried. “I hope she’ll be OK? We lost our mother recently.”
“Yes, I’m sure that she will be fine,” said Stewart. “She’s in the ER at the moment.” Stewart started to feel bad for lying.
“Yes, we were in shock when our mother not only was killed, but it was discovered that she was creating zombies for a gang!”
“Yes, that was shocking,” said Stewart.
“The police even came and searched both our houses. They said she had some injectables or something hidden away?”
“Yes,” he said. “Though, the police have just found the rest.”
He drove the car back to the factory.
“What is this?” she asked. “This isn’t the hospital!”
He turned off the car and pocketed his keys. “There is a tunnel that leads from here to the hospital. Your muh, err, sister, is down here.” He got out of the car, with her following him.
“Look. This is super weird. I’m not going with you into any tunnel. Do you even know my sister?” She turned to head back to the car, but he grabbed onto her arm.
“I’m sorry, Nadine. You’re going to be in for a shock.” He pulled her along to the back of the electrical box entrance.
“What the hell? Stop it! I hear sirens in the distance.”
“Good,” he said. “They’re with me. Let’s get this done.” He kept on pulling her after him and she had no choice but to comply. It was either that or be dragged along on the ground. This man was strong.
zzz
Zan didn’t know what was going on with Stewart and that woman, so she just trusted him and stayed out of sight. It sounded like the police were on the way back. By now, Charlie and Owen should have reached the spot where Sergeant Bourne was being held.
zzz
Dr. Arora had Bourne back up in the chair, but this time, without his ropes on. She was tossing them into the trash can when she heard steps running down the tunnel outside.
“Are my friends here already?” she asked.
“Yep, we’re here,” said Charlie, running into the room, with Owen behind her.
“Excellent! Everyone is almost here,” said Dr. Arora, taking a step back. “Wait a minute. Charlie? You’re supposed to be in the ether!”
“Nah, got tired of it,” said Charlie. “Here I am. And, you’re still alive, or dead, or dead alive. What do you call it?”
“That Frank! When I find him, I shall rip his head off myself!” Dr. Arora said.
“Wow. I don’t want to be around you when you’re angry,” said Owen, taking a look at Bourne. “Hey. Is he OK? He looks spaced out.”
Dr. Arora pulled herself together. “Him? He’s fine.” She paced the room. “We don’t have much time before the cops arrive. Here’s the deal. Either you’re with me, or you’re against me.”
“Give me one good reason why we’d be with you,” said Charlie, her dagger ready in her hand. And just for good measure, it was her special zleader-killing dagger.
“Well, for one, because we’ll have a far better world,” she started to explain.
“Better?” laughed Owen. “What is better now?”
Dr. Arora laughed. “Seriously, kid? Haven’t you noticed a difference?”
“What the?” asked Owen. He looked at Charlie, who shrugged.
“Crime is at an all-time low. You can ask your boyfriend here. Jay Bourne. Why, I think there was even talk at City Hall of shutting down some police stations. Oh, and look at the politics. Oh wait! What politics? It’s been pretty quiet here in Portland. People are helping people and not getting into trouble. Your friend, the mayor, set up a fancy permanent homeless shelter and now no one is on the streets, unless they want to be. Weed is legal now, so that’s less dealing on the streets. Businesses are doing well. Need I go on?”
Charlie and Owen looked at each other and shrugged.
“Well, the problem is that people are forced to become zombies when they don’t want to be,” said Charlie.
“Not my team,” said Dr. Arora. “Every single person on my team has consented.”
“No. That’s not true. What about Jay here?” asked Owen. “You gave him a shot, right? I’m sure he didn’t consent to that.”
She laughed. “OK, you got me. Though nine times out of ten ain’t bad.” Then she paused, as she heard a sound in the distance. “Let’s get the hell out of here. The cops are on the way.”
Dr. Arora grabbed onto Bourne, helping him out of the chair. He unsteadily got up.
“What the hell?” yelled a woman from the door. “Mom? You’re still alive?”
zzz
Things escalated fast. Charlie raced forward with her dagger, stabbing Dr. Arora in the head. She went down but thrashed around on the ground.
Nadine pushed Charlie out of the way. “Mom! No, Mom!”
“She’s still OK,” said Owen. “We’d have to burn her body to kill her!”
Charlie shook her head in dismay. She looked around the lab, but there was nothing to set her on fire. “Your mother is already dead!” she yelled at her, trying to push her away from her zombie mom.
“The police are coming!” someone cried out.
Then a loud gunshot whipped through the air. It struck Dr. Arora in the cheek.
“No! Stop, you monsters!” Nadine pushed Charlie away. Owen and Stewart grabbed onto her and pulled her into the tunnel.
“Mother!” she called out.
“Who the hell shot that bullet?” yelled Charlie. She watched as the cops raced into the lab.
“It was me,” said Sergeant Bourne. “I shot Dr. Arora.”
“You’re alive,” cried Owen, patting him on the arm.
“Of course, I’m immune! I’ve been bitte
n by zombies before and nothing happened!”
“Holy crap,” said Charlie, as the police dashed up to them.
Owen and Charlie laughed.
“I fooled her, you know, until the right moment,” Bourne said smugly. “I should be in theater.”
Then they watched as the cops rushed back out. “Where is she?” one of the rookies asked.
“She should be on the ground where I shot her,” said Bourne.
“What the hell?” said Charlie. “There’s only one way out.”
“What? She’s still alive?” asked Bourne.
“Hey, dude, her body has to be burned to kill her,” explained Owen.
“Of course, dammit, but where did she go?”
They sprinted back inside the room.
“It appears she got out through the air vent,” said another cop, pointing up to the ceiling. “She is a small woman after all.”
Zan was a few steps behind the rest. She crowded into an already packed laboratory.
“What happened? Did we get her?” asked Zan. “Are Charlie and Owen safe? Jay?”
“Sorry, kids. She got away,” said Bourne.
“Crap, not again,” said Stewart. “We were so close.”
“Can someone please explain what the hell is happening?” called out her daughter, Nadine.
“Not me,” said Charlie, with Owen and Zan following behind.
“Great. Thanks,” said Stewart.
Bourne shrugged. “Hey. I’m not the one who kidnapped her. You can do all the talking.”
“Fine,” said Stewart. “Let’s get out of here and I’ll fill you in on your mother,” he said to Nadine.
“OK,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re not a serial killer. And I’m not surprised that my mother is still alive. She was pretty wacky when she was human. I just wish that I would have had a chance to speak with her for longer.”
