The convention hall, built to be used for meetings and employee events and for special guests to socialize with one another, was bustling with commotion when they arrived. Chris Kaeb was sitting in the back of the room, ignoring everything happening around him. He was the kind of guy who watched people and how they acted in social situations. Social interaction wasn’t his forte’. He’d rather spend his time behind the scenes, alone with his thoughts, keeping his opinions to himself. He had been hired by Shelton Franks because he was skilled mainly in set construction, and Mr. Franks thought he would be a valuable asset in helping design the park. Also, Mr. Franks thought he could watch his special project once it was created. He didn’t know what the project was, but he did know it was going to be important for the survival of the park. He knew Mr. Franks depended on him, because he was the only employee who hadn’t been fired when the park had been overrun by the terrorists. He knew he had been lucky because some of the employees who had been fired had been sent back to America. He was sure most of them had probably become zombies by now. He watched as Mr. Franks entered the room followed by Kurt Freeman and Ted Hollman. The three of them made him nervous. He didn’t trust them. He was proficient in reading people, and he had the suspicion they weren’t the type of people he wanted to read. He watched as Mr. Franks walked to the front of the room and brought the meeting to order.
“Settle down everyone,” said Mr. Franks. “I know everybody has a lot of work to accomplish before the park is ready to officially open, so I won’t take up a lot of your precious time. I want to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. This park would never have come to life without your help. I’ve been informed by our engineers that our roller coaster, ‘The Zombinator’ will be operational by the end of the week. I will be looking for volunteers for its maiden voyage. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the community board in the main hallway. We’re expecting another food shipment tomorrow morning. I apologize for running short on toiletries and salty snacks.” He paused for some laughter. “I know how much of an emergency it was when we ran out of pork rinds and roasted peanuts. If anybody has a supply list for your section of the park, I need it by the end of the day.” He scoured through his notes and then looked at the large group staring at him. “Captain Jonas will be paying a visit to each of your homes for an inspection. I know what you’re thinking…it’s an invasion of your privacy, but the contracts you signed to work and live on the island states that inspections can be performed at your homes without a reasonable cause. This will occur immediately after the meeting while you’re here working. You don’t have anything to worry about…unless you have something to hide.”
Chris knew it would be a while before the security team reached his house. Shelton Franks knew he liked to be alone and had his house built a mile away from the main community. He lived closer to one of the beaches where he could enjoy the crisp, fresh air. He didn’t care if they visited his home. He didn’t have anything worth looking at. He didn’t spend much time there, not even for sleeping. He’d rather spend his time sleeping under the stars unless it was storming, forcing him to sleep in his bed, but under protest. He watched as the meeting concluded and waited until Shelton Franks had left the room. He now had to pay a visit to the labs to check on the zombies they were getting ready to move to their permanent enclosures. He dreaded this part of the job. The zombies they had created were some nasty creatures. He didn’t like the way they stared at him when he entered their area. It was as though they could smell his warm flesh and wanted to devour every inch of it.
Chris stood in front of the enclosures staring at all the newly created zombies. They acted different than the animals he used to visit at the zoo in Chicago. His fondest memories were visiting the zoo as a child with his parents. They would spend the day walking for miles and visiting every single display the zoo had to offer. In between, they would stop for a hot dog and fries and sit on the picnic benches situated under the shade trees, shielding them from the heat of the sun. He would sit there devouring his lunch and listening to his father tell stories about the animals they had come across during the visit. His favorite stories were the ones his father told about the dolphins. Chris loved dolphins. He loved how majestic they were and how they swam deep under the surface of the water, and how graceful they looked performing tricks for the audience as they sat there taking it all in. He wished he could be a dolphin. They were so unrestricted. They didn’t have to worry about going to work every day, unless you actually counted performing tricks for humans work, and they didn’t have to worry about how they were going to pay their bills. As he could see it, all the dolphins had to worry about was how much fish they were going to consume in a day. Chris didn’t think if he were a dolphin he would eat fish. He’d rather sink his teeth into a nice, juicy double cheeseburger with a large side order of fries. He would then wash it all down with a thick chocolate shake. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something crashing into the safety glass in front of him. He snapped out of his daydream and stared at the zombie who was standing in front of him with only a thick layer of glass standing between them. Its jaws snapped shut spasmodically trying to gnaw through the glass. Chris took several steps backward. He looked around to see if anybody was watching him, making fun of his cowardice. He didn’t see any sign of life around him. He turned his attention back to the zombie and tapped his fingers on the glass.
“Save it for the visitors when they come. They’ll be more impressed with you than I am.” He moved away from the enclosure and looked at all the zombies inside them. He knew they all could smell his blood coursing through his veins. He lifted his wrist and pointed at it, and in a loud voice he yelled, “It’s my blood and it’s staying inside me!” He brought his wrist down, realizing he was yelling at the zombies. He felt foolish, but at least nobody had heard him. The last thing he needed was everybody on the island thinking he had gone mad. He continued past all the enclosures and made his way inside the building where his office was located. He went straight for his desk to get a chocolate bar out of his desk for a snack. He took it over to another room where he could see all the zombies in the enclosures on the other side. In unison, they all turned and made their way toward him, crashing hard into the thick safety glass. Chris opened the candy bar and took a healthy bite from it, never taking his eyes off the fearsome creatures.
“Why do you keep agitating them?” asked a voice from behind him.
He turned to look at a young brunette standing there with her hands on her hips. “Why do you care? They can’t get me. They don’t have the strength to break through the glass.”
“That’s not the point,” she said, tapping her foot on the ground. “They used to be human; we should treat them with respect.”
“That’s a crock,” laughed Chris. “This is coming from one of the people responsible for turning them into zombies. Why are you here, Julie? You don’t work in this building.”
She watched impatiently as he took another bite from his chocolate bar and chewed it nosily. It was just one of the things that bothered her about him. He was constantly eating chocolate bars, and he didn’t bother closing his mouth while he chewed. “I’m here to ask you a favor. My niece and nephew will be on the island soon. They were rescued from America before it became a zombie wasteland. I need you to entertain them while I’m working hard on opening this park.”
Chris threw the rest of his candy on the ground. “I’m not your babysitter! My job is to make sure nothing happens to the owner’s precious zombies! None of which includes watching your kids!”
“For one thing, they’re not my kids, and for another thing, it was Ted who told me to have you watch them once they arrive.” She knew she wouldn’t be able to count on him. Why would it change now? She stood there angrily waiting for him to reply.
Chris hesitated before replying. “Then why can’t their mother watch them?”
Julie glared at him. “My sister was bitten by one of those things, and she
and her husband are sending them here so they won’t have to see their mother turn into a zombie. But as you know, I don’t have the time to watch them, so I need you to do it. There is plenty of things they can do on the island. Just keep them out of harm’s way.”
“All right, all right, bring them here once they arrive.”
“No, I need you to meet them once the helicopter arrives. Take them each a stuffed animal from the souvenir shop or whatever kids want these days.”
“They want to be entertained, not given stuffed animals. They want to go on an adventure of some sort.”
She laughed. “Well, I guess they will be coming to the right place. Listen, I don’t care what they do as long as you keep them safe. I’ll catch up with you tonight to have dinner with them.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “You better hurry; their helicopter will be arriving within the hour. You don’t want to be late.”
“I’ll be there, but I’m not taking them a stuffed animal.” He grabbed an extra candy bar from his desk and walked away from her.
Chapter Three
Julio Rojas sat behind his desk in his secret warehouse looking over the numbers of his drug sales for the quarter. His sales had been strong, but he knew they would be better if he could rid Isla Zomblar of its unwanted guests. His scouts had informed him about the soldiers protecting the coast. He knew he would have to send an entire army to penetrate them, and he didn’t have enough manpower to accomplish it. He knew he was going to have to be clever if he was going to put an end to the zombie park they were constructing. He knew an associate of his was providing homeless people for the island. He didn’t know why the homeless were being sent there, but it gave him an idea of how he could get onto the island without anybody realizing he was there. If he could gain entry, he could hold up there and formulate a plan to destroy the park before it became a tourist attraction. He decided it was time to pay Mao Salas a friendly visit to see if he could help him gain entrance onto the island. He decided to send him an invitation to have lunch with him at his favorite restaurant.
Mr. Rojas sat in the back of the restaurant drinking whiskey and eating chicken, rice and beans. Mr. Salas was brought to his table once he arrived. He took his place across from Mr. Rojas and sat there wondering why he had been invited. Mr. Rojas took a drink and then acknowledged Mr. Salas had joined him.
“I’m going to be blunt, Mao. I need a favor from you.”
Mr. Salas leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
“I need to get on Isla Zomblar.”
Mr. Salas looked confused. “Why do you need me to help you? You have your own army; why can’t you have them get you on the island?”
“The island is too heavily guarded. I need a way onto the island that will give me the element of surprise. I’m hoping you can help me find a way.”
“I see where this is going,” said Mr. Salas. “Since I supply merchandise to the island, you figure I can get you onto the island, as well.” He shifted in his chair. “Something like that would cost a great deal of money.”
Mr. Rojas picked up a briefcase from the floor and handed it to Mr. Salas. “Open it. There is one million American dollars inside. Would that be enough to help me get onto the island?”
“Are you the only one I need to get on the island?”
“I’m the only one. What needs to get done, I can accomplish myself.”
Mr. Salas thumbed through the money inside the briefcase and smiled. “Tomorrow another load of merchandise is going to the island. I can disguise you as one of crew. That will get you on the island, but after that you’re on your own. If they catch you, I can’t be held responsible.”
“So we have a deal?”
“Meet me at my warehouse in the morning.” He stood up and left the restaurant carrying the briefcase.
Mr. Rojas finished his meal and ordered another bottle of whiskey. He knew it could be a while before he would have a chance to enjoy a drink again. He didn’t know what or how he was going to stop the park from opening, but at least he was going to have a chance to figure it out once he was there.
Chapter Four
Randus and Chris stood near the beach while the helicopter landed with Kylie and Carl McBride, the niece and nephew of Julie Nethers. Chris was still fuming because he had to be their babysitter. He stood next to Randus holding two stuffed gray wolves. He wasn’t planning on bringing them gifts, but he didn’t have any experience with children and hoped it would help break the ice. He watched as a couple of adults got out of the helicopter followed by two children. Randus made his way over to the adults and shook hands with them and led them away, leaving the two children standing there staring in his direction. He stood frozen in place, scared by their presence. He watched as they both made their way toward them. The boy stopped directly in front of him.
“Aren’t you a bit old to be collecting stuffed animals?” he asked sarcastically.
“What?” questioned Chris, clutching the stuffed animals tighter as if they helped relieve some of the stress he was feeling. “Oh, the stuffed animals. They’re not for me; they’re for the both of you.” He handed one to each of them and stood there proudly as if he had just done a great and generous thing.
The boy stole a glance toward his sister and back at Chris. “I think we’re past the stuffed animal age.” He handed his back to Chris. “Where’s Aunt Julie?”
“She’s busy right now, but she said she would meet you for dinner later. By the way, what are your names?”
“She didn’t tell you?” asked the girl. “That sounds like Aunt Julie. My name is Kylie and this is my brother, Carl. So whoever you are, what are we supposed to do now?”
“I’m supposed to give you a tour of the park, and my name is Chris. Are you guys interested in zombies?”
“Not really,” said Carl. “Don’t you know what is happening in America? Zombies got loose from the zombie park there and are eating people. Doesn’t Aunt Julie know that? I don’t understand why we were brought here, and where are my parents?”
Chris wasn’t prepared to field so many questions, and he wasn’t expecting the questions Carl was asking. He looked at him trying to find the right words to convey to him what would ease his mind about this zombie park. He tried to hand him the stuffed animal hoping he would keep it this time. Carl pushed it away and looked at his sister. “I see what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to avoid telling us why we were brought to this zombie park.”
“I want Aunt Julie,” moaned Kylie. “I don’t know you, and I don’t feel comfortable around you.”
Chris was losing his patience. He didn’t like the way the day was starting to turn. He didn’t know what to say to the children, and he didn’t relish having to spend the day with them. “Come on. I’m taking you to get something to eat. I hope you both like pizza because that’s what I feel like eating.”
“I want cheeseburgers and fries,” responded Carl defiantly.
“Of course you do. I guess I can get you what you want. I’ll take you over to the cafeteria. Once we get there, I’m sure you’ll both find something you’ll want to eat.”
Nobody said a word during the jeep ride to the cafeteria. Chris wanted to get there in a hurry and try to convince Julie to take the children so she could explain to them where their parents were and why they were brought to the island. He wanted to get back to his zombie detail and forget he ever laid eyes on the children.
When they arrived at the cafeteria, there were only a few people inside sitting at various tables engaged in deep conversation. To his relief, he saw Julie sitting by herself in the corner drinking coffee and going through a stack of papers. He immediately led the children toward her table. From the corner of her eye, she saw them approaching her. She wasn’t happy to see them. As they drew closer, she heard her name being called by all three of them. She wanted to disappear.
“Kylie…Carl…it’s really good to see the both of you again.” They both rushed to her and gave her a hug. “What’s this
…not so tight…I’m glad to see you as well.”
The children filled her ears with questions. They were mostly about zombies and their parents. She glared at Chris disapprovingly. He remained silent and smiled. She was at a loss for words. This was the conversation she was hoping to avoid for a few days. She asked Chris to get them a couple of burger meals and bring them back to the table. Once he had left them, she told the children to sit down at the table so she could explain the significance of the park. She looked at them staring back at her eagerly. Seeing them reminded her of the first two homeless children who were brought to the island. She guessed they had also been brother and sister. She vividly remembered the looks on their faces as they were brought into the lab to meet Cheng Liu. She could tell they were both scared. She felt bad for them, and she fought hard to shield her feelings as the serum was injected into their veins. She remembered how hard they fought against the guards as they were forced into the holding cages so they could be monitored. She watched them die in the locked cages. She tried to forget how she felt when they died. The crucial thing that stuck in her mind was the look in their eyes after they had changed. They changed from being scared to being possessed. Their transformation was a success for the team. Now both of them were being housed in the children’s zombie wing in the main exhibit building inside the park. She never visited the exhibit. She never wanted to lay eyes on them again. Her thoughts were interrupted by the children calling her name. She looked at them.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little tired. What did you just ask me?”
“Why are you opening a zombie park here? Don’t you know what happened at the zombie park back home?”
The Z-Day Trilogy (Book 4): Zombie World Page 2