Dr. Yen smiles and says, “Highly unlikely.”
Rich looks at Commander Pine.
A man comes running into the room.
“Doctor, we need your assistance in OR one,” says the man who just entered the room.
Dr. Yen exits the room with the man.
“What’s going on?” asks Rich to Commander Pine.
“I don’t know. I have been in here with you,” replies Commander Pine.
Commander Pine and Rich exit the room and enter the hallway.
“Get back!” shouts a man from inside an operating room (OR).
Rich and Commander Pine walk down the hallway towards OR one.
A loud crash is heard in OR one.
“We got him! Hold his arms back!” shouts a woman in OR one.
Rich opens the door to OR one, and the door is quickly pushed closed by a nurse.
“We can’t have anyone in here! It’s dangerous right now!” shouts a male nurse from inside OR one.
Rich steps back from the operating room door and looks at Commander Pine.
“I don’t like this,” says Rich.
Commander Pine knocks on the operating room door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
“Contain the subject but try to keep it alive!” shouts Commander Pine.
“We will try our best!” shouts a female nurse.
Commander Pine walks over to Rich and says, “Let’s leave them alone. It’s not safe in there right now.”
Another loud crash is heard from inside OR one.
“Are you okay!” shouts a female assistant.
Rich grabs his handgun out of his holster and pushes open the operating room door.
Rich enters the operating room and points his gun at a medical professional.
“Get out of here! It’s not safe!” shouts a female nurse as she looks at Rich standing near the operating room door.
The female nurse steps towards Rich and is bit by the male zombie that is on the floor of the operating room.
AHHH!
The woman screams in pain as the zombie bites into her right calf muscle.
BANG!
Rich shoots the zombie in the head, and the zombie becomes lifeless on the floor of the operating room.
Dr. Yen shouts, “No! We need the brain alive!”
Rich looks at Dr. Yen with a troubled look.
“Oh my god! Jackie’s been bit!” shouts a nurse.
“We need to amputate!” shouts Dr. Yen.
Jackie, the wounded nurse, is positioned on a set of clean sheets on the operating table.
Several medical assistants strap Jackie down and cut away her blood-soaked scrub pant leg.
“Anesthesia!” shouts a male nurse.
“No time! We need to remove the leg!” shouts Dr. Yen.
Jackie is crying and screaming in pain.
“Stand clear!” shouts Dr. Yen.
Rich can’t believe what he is seeing.
Dr. Yen grabs a medical saw and positions the blade above the bite on Jackie’s right leg.
Jackie shouts, “Wait!”
Dr. Yen shouts, “I’m trying to save you!”
Dr. Yen presses the trigger on the medical saw and cuts into Jackie’s right leg.
AHHHHH!
Jackie screams in pain.
Rich exits the operating room and is shocked at what he just saw.
CHAPTER 7
MEET YOU THERE
“I’ll meet you there. I want to stop by The Grove first. We need to get Keith’s car,” I say to Jon.
“Okay, we will go meet William and wait for you there,” says Jon.
“Who’s going with you?”
“Shaun, Lisa, and Kelly,” answers Jon.
“Nice, I’ll be there with Lauren.”
Jon and I finish up our morning sparring session, and I head home.
I make it to my house and take a shower.
“When are we leaving for The Grove?” asks Lauren.
“In about twenty minutes.”
“Okay good, my dad is eager to get his car back from The Grove,” says Lauren.
I get dressed and meet Lauren in our kitchen.
“Everyone ready to go?” I ask Fran, Keith, and Lauren.
“Yup,” says Keith.
Fran, Keith, and I exit my house.
Bobby G is outside in his garage.
“Where are you guys going?” asks Bobby G.
“We are going to get my car back,” says Keith to Bobby G.
“Oh okay, be careful,” says Bobby G.
Fran, Keith, and Lauren enter my SUV.
“You got the car keys?” asks Keith to Fran.
“Yeah. I got them,” says Fran.
“What’s in your car anyway?” asks Lauren to Keith.
“My stuff,” answers Keith.
I get into my SUV and start it up.
“We all ready?”
Everyone is ready to go, and we start our journey to The Grove.
The streets, sidewalks, and area around Citrus Oaks are still full of debris from the storm.
“Someone needs to really clean the streets and area up,” says Keith.
“We will. One step at a time, but we will clean it up again,” says Lauren.
Fran says, “Well, you are doing a great job. I’m proud of you two.”
I make a left onto a street, and it’s partially blocked by an overturned tractor trailer.
I slowly pass by the tractor trailer, and I continue my drive.
“I’m always wary of things blocking the road. Shaun and I ran into a road block that was made by these two hillbillies.”
“Really? When? You didn’t say anything to me about that,” says Lauren.
“A couple days ago now. It was when we got the trash truck. Fred and Lester. They were pretty dumb. They ended up falling into a zombie filled canal.”
“People will try some pretty crazy things in this new world. Gotta be extra careful now,” says Keith.
“It’s not that different than being in the city. New York is a tough place, and you always had to worry about going down the wrong street,” says Fran.
“Yeah, but you had your sisters with you mom. Or dad was with you,” says Lauren.
Fran laughs and jokes, “Your father would have left me.”
I shake my head and smile.
Twenty minutes go by, and we arrive at The Grove.
I pull up to the side gate at The Grove and am met by an armed guard.
“Can I help you sir?” asks the guard.
“I’m just dropping these two off, so they can get their car,” I say to the guard.
“Where is the car?” asks the guard.
“Where is your car Keith?” I ask Keith.
“I’m not sure. I think near the back of the stadium,” says Keith.
“Hold on sir,” says the guard.
The guard picks up his radio and asks for someone. I can’t make out who he is talking to as he turns away from me when he talks into the radio.
I look at Lauren.
Lauren asks, “Should you ask for Kat or Brian?”
“Sir, can you see if Kat, Brian, or Dr. Morris are available for us?”
The armed guard comes back over to me and asks, “Who are you looking for?”
“Kat, Brian, or Dr. Morris. Tell them Ryan is asking for them.”
The guard calls over the radio for Kat, Brian, or Dr. Morris.
Several armed guards walk over to my SUV but stay safely inside the fence.
“Pull into a parking space. We need to check you and your vehicle,” says the armed guard.
“Thank you, sir.”
I pull into a parking space and exit my vehicle.
“Pop the trunk!” shouts an armed officer.
“I remember you. Where is your little friend?” asks Officer Schneider.
“He couldn’t make it today. I’ll tell him you said hello.”
Officer Schneider and another officer check out my SUV and pat us
down.
“Clear. They are clean,” says the other officer that is with Officer Schneider.
I look at Officer Schneider and ask, “Can you ask for Kat, Brian, or Dr. Morris?”
“What for?” asks Officer Schneider.”
“We just want to say hello. We are just trying to find a vehicle and then we will be on our way.”
Officer Schneider says, “Sorry, I can’t help you. Go get yourself checked in.”
Officer Schneider walks away from us.
The other officer stays and looks at me.
“I can help you,” says the officer.
“Thank you.”
I look at the officer’s name badge and it reads, “Wade.”
“Thank you, Officer Wade.”
Officer Wade picks up his radio and asks, “Can I get Kat, Brian, or Dr. Morris?”
Several minutes go by.
“Go for Kat,” replies Kat over the radio.
Officer Wade looks at me and asks, “Who may I say is asking for her?”
“Tell her it’s Ryan.”
“Kat, I have a Ryan here,” says Officer Wade into his radio.
“Okay, great. I’ll be right out. Where are you?” asks Kat over the radio.
“Gate three,” replies Officer Wade over the radio.
“I will be right there,” says Kat over the radio.
“She will be right down,” says Officer Wade to me.
“Thank you, Officer Wade. I appreciate your help. I’m Ryan, this is Lauren, Keith, and Fran.”
“Nice to meet you. Stay safe,” says Officer Wade.
Officer Wade walks back over to his spot along the fence next to Officer Schneider.
“Where is this lady?” asks Keith.
“She will be right out, be patient,” says Fran to Keith.
Several minutes go by.
I see Kat walking towards us, and I walk towards Kat.
“Hey Kat, how are ya?”
“I’m doing okay, how are you?” asks Kat.
“We are hanging in there, we need some help finding Lauren’s father’s car though. He isn’t sure where it’s parked, and we aren’t sure what to do.”
“I could have Leroy take him around in the golf cart,” says Kat.
“That would be great. My dad thinks his car is on the other side of the stadium,” says Lauren.
“Hold on, I will get Leroy to drive over here with a golf cart,” says Kat.
Kat picks up her radio and calls for Leroy.
Leroy responds and says that he will be right over with a golf cart.
Lauren walks over to Fran and Keith.
“I like the glasses Kat.”
Kat replies, “Yeah, my eyes couldn’t handle the contacts anymore, so I decided to wear my glasses.”
“How are things here? What’s going on?”
“Things are good, I went to the church near the beach. I only went once so far but I’ll be going back soon,” says Kat.
“I have heard about that church. Some people said it’s a little weird and that the pastor is a little strange.”
“The church is well protected and very clean. The church is safe. I didn’t notice anything that strange the time I went, but it was a quick trip. The church wasn’t that busy, I lit a candle and prayed for my husband. It has been tough since I lost him,” says Kat.
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband.”
Kat replies, “Me too. He was a good guy. He died from his long bout with cancer.”
“I would have liked to have met him.”
“But overall, I’m doing well. Brian isn’t though. I haven’t seen him in a while, since he left The Grove after his fight with Dr. Morris,” says Kat.
Leroy drives up to Kat in a golf cart.
“What’s going on Kat?” asks Leroy.
Kat introduces me to Leroy.
Lauren walks over to me with Fran and Keith.
“Leroy, I need you to take them around the parking lot to find their car,” says Kat.
“No problem. Hop in. We got plenty of room. I can fit up to five people in here,” says Leroy.
Lauren, Fran, and Keith get into the golf cart with Leroy.
Lauren looks at me and says, “I’ll have my dad bring me over here, so we can leave.”
Leroy speeds away in his golf cart.
I watch as Leroy takes Fran, Keith, and Lauren around The Grove parking lot.
“It was sad about Brian. He seemed okay, and then one day he was arguing with people, nurses, and Dr. Morris,” says Kat.
“Where is he now?”
“No one knows. He took all his stuff and left The Grove. We don’t know what happened to him,” says Kat.
“That’s a shame, I guess some people can’t handle this new world.”
“I have made some friends with a couple new people around here and think you should meet some of them,” says Kat.
“Sure. I will. Just can’t today. I have a couple things going on today.”
“I understand. A couple of them live around you. Well at least I think they do,” says Kat.
“Yeah, we live in Citrus Oaks which is not too far from Tampa High School.”
“Gotcha, I know that area well. I might stop by someday,” says Kat.
“No problem. Just don’t come by with a big group. The guards won’t like that very much.”
“I definitely won’t. Me and three people max would be coming by,” replies Kat.
Gunfire is heard in the distance.
DAKKA!
A huge explosion goes off in downtown St. Pete. Broken glass from windows is thrown from the explosion.
BOOM!
“That’s been happening more and more lately. I think we have some soldiers or a group in the area now. I saw some military vehicles and soldiers driving into downtown St. Pete the other day,” says Kat.
“Really? Not sure if that’s bad or good.”
“Hard to tell, they looked different from anyone we have seen around here before. I hope they are here to help,” says Kat.
A silver sedan comes speeding up towards Kat and me.
“This has to be Keith.”
The silver car stops in front of me.
Lauren opens the back-driver side door.
“You know how to get back home?” asks Lauren to Keith.
“Yeah, we will figure it out. We will meet you back home,” says Keith.
Before we can say goodbye, Keith speeds up to the exit of The Grove and drives away from us.
“He’s always in a hurry, even in a zombie apocalypse,” says Lauren.
“Ready to go?”
“Yup,” says Lauren.
Lauren and I say goodbye to Kat.
Kat says, “Good to see you two. Hope to see you soon.”
“I hope so.”
Lauren and I enter my SUV.
“Everything okay with your parents?”
“Yeah, they are okay. I’m just worried about my dad. He has that bad shoulder, and he hasn’t had his insulin in a couple days now,” says Lauren.
I exit The Grove parking lot and start my drive to meet William, Jon, Shaun, Kelly, and Lisa.
“Meds like insulin are tough to find. I’m not sure what we can do about that. Hopefully he is eating okay. We don’t have the best food options, but hopefully he is managing his blood sugar.”
“I hope so,” says Lauren.
Twenty-five minutes go by, and we arrive at the entrance of Tampa High School.
“Welcome Ryan,” says the guard at the main entrance of Tampa High School.
“You can park in the main parking lot near the side entrance of The Haven,” says the guard.
“Thank you,” says Lauren.
I pull into the parking lot and park my SUV.
I look at Lauren and ask, “Did he call this place The Haven?”
“I think so,” says Lauren.
Lauren and I exit my SUV.
“I like that. The Haven.”
Lauren and I en
ter the main courtyard of The Haven.
People are all over the place. They are painting, singing, sparring, and working on different projects.
“Ryan!” shouts Shaun.
Lauren and I walk over to Shaun and Jon who is talking with Jeremy.
“They have those awesome double-bladed swords from the video you showed us,” says Shaun.
I see Jeremy sitting next to two other gentlemen.
“Ryan, this is Felix and James,” says Jeremy.
I greet Felix and James.
“Awesome swords you got there. I saw you guys in action a couple days ago in St. Pete.”
“You did? How?” asks Felix.
“We saw you from a drone.”
“I thought I heard a buzzing sound,” says James.
Felix and Jeremy look at James and are shocked to hear him speak.
“What? I know the sound of a drone, my brother used to have one,” says James.
“When are you going back to St. Pete?” I ask Jeremy.
“Pretty soon,” answers Jeremy.
“Yeah right, you ain’t going. Your dad won’t let you,” jokes another man as he walks over to Jeremy.
“Shut up Hector, I plan on going with you guys. I need to try out my sword,” says Jeremy.
Hector looks at me and says, “I’m Hector, nice to meet you. I know St. Pete inside and out. If you plan on going there, I will help you.”
“Sounds good, Hector. Just be careful with that huge medieval hammer. I saw you on the video as well. You are deadly with that thing.”
“Nice, I had my guy in St. Pete customize my baby. She has a spear tip on the handle and on the end. She’s great at clearing out the dead. I call her Martillo,” says Hector.
Lauren sees Kelly and Lisa, and she walks over to talk with them.
“Are they modifying Silencer?” I ask Jon.
Jon replies, “Yeah they are. They are also trying to fix my shield.”
“That’s what I need, a good shield,” says Hector.
“You need to lay off the tacos,” jokes Jeremy.
I look at Jeremy, Hector, James, and Felix and say, “Seriously though, I plan on going to St. Pete very soon. With you guys and my team, we can clear out the dead. I want to check out a hospital there in downtown. We need some supplies and meds from there.”
“Sounds good. We will plan to go in two days from now,” says Felix.
“Good. Come by Citrus Oaks and get us. We will plan to go to St. Pete from there.”
“Ryan, what brings you to our humble abode?” shouts William as he walks towards me.
Fight 4 Us (Book 7): Weaponize Page 7
