“Dante was intense.” Jessie seemed to read my mind.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” I said.
She smiled. “Yes, you are.”
I kept quiet and bit back tears.
Jessie continued. “We escaped onto the road and headed towards Houston. Somehow we decided the bigger the city, the more likely there was a survivor camp of some sort; Dave’s idea really. I don’t know why we listened because in retrospect it was stupid. Along the way, these military people picked us up. We were so happy to finally be saved. They brought us into this facility, and we met with a man named Wayne. He asked to speak to me alone for some reason. I didn’t see Dave and Jeff again. Wayne asked me about Wesley. He got angry when I told him I didn’t know much. He pushed and threatened. Before long he was so furious, he hit me! I never saw it coming, but when I came to I was in an underground chamber; it looked like a stone arena. He had me tied up, and naked, dangling over a horde of Corpses. I cried and screamed, begged and pleaded but Wayne didn’t believe that I knew nothing about Wesley.”
I grew angry, and Jessie flinching brought me back. I must have squeezed her foot too hard.
“Sorry,” I said.
She shook her head. “Don’t worry. I had no answers, so Wayne lowered me just enough into the Corpse pit to where one grabbed my ankle and chomped into me. Then he shot it and lifted me back up. I began to lose consciousness, and the last words I heard was that he wasn’t done with me yet. And then, well now, we’re here.”
“Why is everyone after Wesley?” I whispered.
“Forget him,” Jessie said. “You can live a better life. Get out of here, but first, find Jeff and Dave!”
“And Kessa,” I looked away. “We have to find them, and then we can all get out of here.”
“How did you find me?” She asked.
“The AI system,” I said. “It’s called Leon and seems to have a database of everything here.”
“Ask it to find the others.”
“Find Dave Carnby,” I said.
“Affirmative,” Leon replied.
The thick glass panel rose again, and the frozen cells behind it started to shift. Jessie frowned as she looked into my eyes.
“What happened with Tiffany?” She asked.
I stared at the wall. As I massaged Jessie’s feet they started to sweat, a sign of infection surely.
“We were in a sewer, trying to find the secret entrance to Epic Impossibilities. One of the survivors we found turned into a Corpse, and bit her. I gave Tiffany my gun, and she shot herself. I’m glad I didn’t see it happen. It was dark, and we were facing away.”
Jessie gasped. “Tiffany killed herself? She would never do such a thing!”
“She was bitten,” I argued. “There was no other choice.”
“So should I off myself too?” Jessie asked.
I looked deep into her eyes again. “Don’t talk like that.”
“You let Tiffany do it.” She said.
“It’s not what I wanted! Far from it. What if she had been one of the immune?”
Jessie’s expression changed. “Do you think that’s possible?”
“I don’t know.” I lied. I didn’t want to get Jessie’s hopes up about immunities or vaccines. There was no guarantee it would work, even if we found it.
“Dave Carnby.” Leon said.
The glass panel came up again and deposited the clothesless form of Dave onto the floor. I hurried to Dave and kneeled next to him. Jessie grabbed scrubs. Dave began to shiver and started mumbling. I couldn’t understand, but I helped get his clothing on.
While Jessie tended to him, I spoke to Leon.
“Find two subjects. Subject One: Jeff Mason. Subject Two: Kessa Brea.”
“Affirmative. Locating Subject One: Jeff Mason.” Leon answered.
The glass panels began to shift by at a high speed. A minute later the conveyor deposited Jeff.
“Locating Subject Two: Kessa Brea,” Leon announced.
“Glad to see you’re alive.” Dave shook my hand as he came to his senses.
I shook back. “Same here, buddy.”
“How long has it been?” Dave asked. “Did they ever catch Patient Zero?”
A sudden beep came from Leon, but I ignored it.
“Patient Zero?” I asked.
“Where are we?” Jeff muttered, his breath extending far from his lips.
“Yes, Patient Zero!” Dave exclaimed. “The first infected person! Or first experiment, or whatever.”
I ignored his rambling and shook Jeff’s hand, he said. “Nice job surviving, Zach, and you're even here to save the day. I commend you.”
“It was nothing,” I replied.
“There has to be a Patient Zero!” Dave argued in anger, as Kessa plopped out of the body conveyor.
I rushed to her side and blocked her from the other guy’s sight.
“Who's that?” Jessie asked.
I didn’t have much of an explanation.
“I’m his girlfriend.” Kessa stood trembling, but not bothering to cover herself.
Jessie stared at me blankly. I shrank back as the girls looked at each other, sizing one another up. A storm brewed between them, but Jessie kept that blank stare. I could still feel her anger.
“Patient Zero found,” Leon spoke up.
The glass panel shook, but the figure behind it didn’t come out.
“There is a Patient Zero?” I asked.
“System Error. System failure in ten seconds.” Leon said.
Kessa still stood nude and stared at Jessie. Her compelling curves distracted Jeff and Dave. Jessie walked up to her and shoved scrubs into her arms.
“Put clothes on, jeez, not everyone wants to see your body!” Jessie said.
A loud bang came from the ice prison.
We all stared as the muscular figure pounded the glass, over and over.
“System Error.” Leon said. “Can not contain the experimental subject, Patient Zero. Please, evacuate.”
LEVEL 17 – RUN COMMAND ESCAPE
Dave took his eyes off Kessa, long enough to cry, “Patient Zero is real! I told you!”
Jeff stared at the glass cell as well.
I shouted at Kessa, “Put the scrubs on quick; this is gonna get bad.”
The intimidating figure inside the cell raised both fists. Its muscles rippled with each pound.
Kessa stepped back; terror splayed on her face. She hopped into the clothes, and Dave backed into the far wall whimpering. “It's real. Why am I always right?”
“We need to run. Or at least find a weapon!” Jeff said.
Only Jessie seemed insane enough to step towards the glass.
“What are you doing?” I cried.
The muscle-bound Corpse laid eyes on her and leaned forward, roaring.
“Leon! Do not release Patient Zero.” I said.
“Order being processed, Zachary.” The AI responded.
I exchanged glances with Jeff, who shook his head. Even if Leon prevented the door from opening, it wouldn't hold up against the force for much longer.
“Get back, here!” I told Jessie.
As if she didn’t hear, she stepped forward again.
Kessa hid behind me. “Let her go! We have to get out of here!”
Patient Zero looked too strong. We needed to leave.
“Jessie Bluefield!” I pleaded.
She glanced over her shoulder, seeming to hear me for the first time.
With a great crackle the glass containing Patient Zero spidered. The door itself nearly flew off the track, but it held, barely. Another hit like that, and it would be too late.
“System Failure,” Leon spoke. “Resetting into Safe Mode.”
The room went pitch-black. Kessa screamed and grabbed onto my arm.
A flashing red light spun on the ceiling. The room went black in between the flashes, which came only every few seconds. No one moved.
“We have to go, Jess!” Jeff snapped.
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She shook her head. “But if it’s Patient Zero, maybe we can fix things?”
I understood what she wanted. If the virus came from Patient Zero's blood, then maybe a chance existed of producing a cure from his cells. A cure would save Jessie’s life. There had to be a vaccine. If so, we had a chance to help her.
Patient Zero went still. It seemed to be confused by the sudden darkness
“Leon?” I asked, hoping for an answer.
None came. The computer system had crashed. I cursed myself for not getting the vaccine info out of it. “Jessie, let's go.”
Jessie shook her head and put her hand against the glass. “Let’s try to kill it, and maybe we can harvest what we need.”
“We’re not scientists!” I argued.
She turned back. “Don’t you understand?”
“We don’t even have weapons!” Jeff shouted.
Kessa backed away. “The girl's possessed! Y’all can die, but I wanna live!”
Zero lifted his arms, and in a sudden great release of air the cell exploded. We all threw up our arms as Patient Zero staggered out and collapsed to the floor.
Jessie pointed. “See? It’s weak. Let’s kill it now!”
I held my breath, as she kneeled next to it.
As the light flashed off, Jessie cried out. The light came back on, and Zero stood a full seven feet tall, holding Jessie by her neck, high off the floor. She kicked wildly, trying to get free.
“Jessie!” I cried and charged.
The great Corpse hurled Jessie at me, and we both flew into a wall panel, which dented in behind us. Jessie whimpered as we got back up. I choked trying to catch my breath, but the cold burnt my lungs.
Patient Zero wailed, as if in pain.
“We have to go.” I wheezed.
A sudden beeping came from Leon's station. The lights flickered back on, and we found the towering form of Zero above us. Every vein pulsed, and all of its veins rippled. Precise scars littered its body as if it had been the subject of many experiments.
“Leon, how to kill Patient Zero, now!” I cried.
“Data found.” The A.I. replied.
Zero spun on the computer terminal as if it understood.
“Patient Zero is halfway to a Lv02 Infected.” Leon began. “There is only one way to stop the Lv02—”
Before we could find out, Zero grabbed the console and hurled it into the wall, shattering it.
“Well, crap!” Jeff said.
Zero turned on him; it’s red, bloodshot eyes flared. It stomped toward Jeff, and his eyes went wide. But he didn't back down. Instead, he pulled back and blasted a punch into its face. Our friend picked up steam; he unleashed a barrage of combo punches into the Corpse. With each attacked Zero took a step back. Jeff's strength surprised me.
“We need to run!” Dave cried, making a break for the exit.
The door slid open, and he met face to face with a pint-sized Corpse. A little girl in a pink dress started in, groaning and reaching for him.
“What the hell?” Dave stumbled back.
Behind her were more undead children, all dressed in formal wear, and they all came towards the door. The entire hall had filled; the power outage had freed them from their individual labs.
I dodged past Dave and slapped the switch beside the portal. The door slid closed, but the girl leaped through, landing on Dave.
“Kill it!” He begged, holding back her snapping jaw.
Jessie came to his aid and kicked the Corpse child with the flat of her foot. The undead rolled onto her back. Jessie stomped onto its rotting skull with both feet, crushing it.
“I can’t hold it back forever!” Jeff gasped for breath.
His knuckles were bloody from bashing Patient Zero, who looked less than amused.
“Someone do something!” Kessa ducked and covered her head.
“Sorry,” I said as I grabbed the child’s arm. I stomped on one end and twisted it around, snapping the bone in half. I couldn’t have been more nauseated, but I had to fight through it. I needed her bone as a weapon.
A loud crack echoed through the room as Jeff stumbled back. Zero stood, fist out, heaving.
Jessie cried out as Jeff looked up in a daze.
Zero walked towards him, and its jaw opened wide, elongating like a snake about to swallow its prey. Dave and Kessa screamed, but Jessie ran up and kicked behind its knee, knocking one leg out.
The Corpse twisted and threw a punch, connecting with her chest. She flew like a ragdoll into the glass panel system, which shattered, leaving large chunks of thick glass, and Jessie out cold.
With an unbridled rage, I attacked. I vaulted off of the wrecked computer terminal and jumped, bringing the bone above my head. I stabbed into its skull with all my strength. Which might've killed it, had the bone not been weak and my hands too slippery with blood. The bone spear merely grazed of it.
Zero turned its head to regard me.
Kessa pleaded, “Get away from it!”
It looked at her, and I quickly rolled away before it turned back.
“Regular Corpses were bad enough.” I breathed. Panic-stricken, I looked for another weapon.
A thick, jagged chunk of glass sat by Jessie's leg. I glanced at her bite wound. A fire lit under my heart. Even though Zero hadn’t been the one to bite her, I still wanted to take him out.
“You son-of-a-bitch!” I scooped up the glass, cutting my hands again, and thrusting it toward Patient Zero’s brain stem. With a sickening shlick, the glass slid right in and severed its spine.
The Lv02 Corpse fell forward silently and landed flat. I stood above it, breathing heavily; watching to make sure it didn’t get back up.
“How’s that, asshat?” Dave cursed and kicked Zero’s arm, which twitched, causing him to shriek and jump away.
I rolled my eyes and approached Jeff, who leaned against the wall.
“You alright?” I asked.
He lifted his eyes, forcing a smile. “You stole my thunder.”
“You punched a super zombie.” I patted him on the shoulder.
“I sure as hell did.” Jeff laughed. “But you killed it.”
“Sorry, I need to take some credit.” I laughed.
“You damn kill-stealer. You’re as bad as Wesley.” He chuckled.
I pictured myself wearing the Zombie Killing Hat and his trench coat. I could pull it off.
“It’s dead.” Kessa cheered. “You’re so brave, my angel!”
She wrapped her arms around me and started kissing my neck, her hand slipped down to my butt, and I jumped.
Jessie cleared her throat. “Where did you find her again?”
I turned back. “We found her at the 7n20 being held hostage by a religious fanatic.”
“You sure she’s not part of the cult?” Jessie narrowed her eyes.
“Zach, what is this girl to you?” Kessa glared at Jessie.
I had feared the moment of their meeting. What could I say? Someone would get hurt. Kessa or Jessie? One being a ticking time bomb.
“I’m his cousin.” Jessie lied.
I blinked a few times in disbelief. She lied for the sake of Kessa’s happiness. Or for my own?
Kessa cheered up. “I thought ya were the other woman! My bad.”
I gave Jessie an apologetic glance. She smiled sadly and looked away.
“Whoo!” Dave cheered. “We did it! We showed that Patient Zero bastard good! I wonder why he was released?”
I glared at Dave. “The computer terminal was voice controlled. I said your names and one by one you were released. And if I remember correctly, you kept asking about a Patient Zero.”
“No way man!” Dave gasped. “I didn’t say anything about a Patient Zero.”
Jeff smacked the back of his head. “Pretty sure you did bro.”
Dave whined. “You can’t just blame the zombie apocalypse on me!”
“The question is, who do we blame it on?” Jeff asked. “This whole thing seems manmade, conside
ring the way this facility works.”
I spoke up. “I was able to listen to part of a report on the matter. A scientist called Beauregard kept mentioning someone or something called, G.O.D.”
“The Lord would never do such a thing!” Kessa argued.
“Specific gods do tend to destroy the world.” Dave murmured.
Jeff added, “Ya know the whole Noah’s Ark thing.”
Dave declared, “It’s all a God’s fault.”
I shrugged. “I’d prefer not to get into this argument. But Beauregard seemed to talk about God in a strange way, I feel like it’s a ‘they’ and ‘they’ are some secret organization.”
“Well, crap,” Jeff said. “Let me get right back to praying that a Corpse doesn’t eat my ass.”
“Stop mocking God!” Kessa snarled. “He’s the reason we’re even still alive.”
I walked away from the escalating argument as fast as I could. I found Jessie kneeling over Patient Zero.
“Are you going to tell them?” I asked.
“No, and I beg you don’t either,” Jessie replied.
I changed the subject, “About Kessa.”
Jessie cut me off. “Don't worry. I waited too long to express my feelings for you. You have the right to date whoever you want to. Plus I’m dying, so I understand.”
The way she said that made me feel like a horrible person like I should throw myself to the Corpses.
“But—” I tried.
“Stop it,” Jessie said. “Words won’t change anything. Let’s focus on getting everyone out alive. But can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Have you done it yet?” Jessie caught me off guard, and I blushed.
“No!” I held my hands up in defense.
“Okay, I believe you,” Jessie smiled. “Just wait until I’m gone.”
My heart sank. No matter how hard I tried to escape it, Jessie wouldn't be around long.
“Cross my heart.” I forced a return smile.
Out of nowhere the rat-tat-tat of machine gun fire came from down the hall. We all stopped to face the door. Either help or total doom had come our way.
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