The other two canines regarded at me. I darted for the end of the row, but one was there. The other way? No, blocked again!
They closed in and I stomped my foot. “Why am I not allowed a single chocolate bar?”
One came snapping, and I jumped but my foot clipped the animal’s shoulder, and I slammed face-first into the floor. A momentary daze took over and one jumped on my back. Only the quick jerk of my neck saved me. It snapped and missed.
Despite my weakness, I found enough upper body strength to push up, sending the zombeast tumbling. I rolled over and grabbed the next attacker’s throat. Putrid chunks of gore splashed my face. No matter how strong I felt, the mutt had infinite energy to continue its vicious attacks. I gritted my teeth, and I held it back with one hand. With the other I reached for my flashlight.
My fingertips grazed a large shard of glass. I gripped the sharp fragment and brought it into the coyote’s temple, but at the same moment, its teeth sank into my shoulder. My eyes flew wide, and I screamed. As the zombeast died, it released its hold.
I bounded back. The last chocolate-blocker stalked, looking for the kill. I winced as a looming fear ate at my heart. It bit my shoulder and broke the skin. I bled. If luck were on my side, the virus strain didn’t affect humans. No matter the case, I had to survive the fight, even if I turned later. This was karma for faking my death and causing Zach to suffer.
The final zombeast stalked, waiting, and watching. There came a silence-shattering howl from outside the door. The coyote’s ears perked, and it howled in response. Again, fear took over. They were communicating, just as live pack animals did.
A slam hit the back door, making it shudder and shake the building. More of those might break the barrier.
The mutt lifted its head to howl, but I darted in and kicked as hard as I could. My heel connected with the coyote’s face and the now twice-dead collapsed with a snapped neck.
“Enough of that thank you very much!”
My adrenaline subsided, and the pain came in full force.
I cursed and clutched the wound. Blood trickled between my fingers, staining my shirt. At the least I could die with a somewhat satisfied stomach. I turned my gaze to the chocolate bar, and my mouth watered.
“Oh, chocolate. How I love you so!”
I moved toward it, and the door shuddered again, threatening to shatter. No time! I ran to the machine. That chocolate bar had to come with me if I died trying. As I reached in for the silky, smooth, yummy bar, the door exploded, and a huge chunk knocked me flat.
Everything was fuzzy. Why hadn’t I retrieved my chocolate bar? Movement came from the other row! Over four sets of canine legs! I held my breath as they stalked the room, looking for prey.
The door slab was large enough to cover me. Luck was with me—I landed atop one of their dead friends, masking my scent.
I never knew how still I could hold until four grim reapers searched the room. My heart stopped. The pack of zombeasts sniffed, prodding their snouts into corners, and growling. One of them, the biggest of the group, snarled as another came close. Not the alpha, the smaller one backed away and continued its search in my direction.
My eyes widened as it came within a few feet. Before the ZPoc, I’d been a clean girl. I showered every none-raid day. I loved soap—It smelled wonderful. Ocean Breeze had been my favorite; but now I was glad I stank worse than death.
The four-legged monster continued until it stood inches away. It stuck its nose into the dead zombeast’s body and pushed. I expected it to leave, but then it nibbled at the remains, pulling intestines and other organs from its friend’s cadaver. My stomach lurched, and horrid smells assaulted my nostrils. Bile rose in my throat.
The zombeast looked up, hearing me gag. It saw me. Time to get torn to shreds. I waited for it to howl and alert the others, but it continued to stare. After a few terrifying moments, I realized something; the corpse mutt had no eyes! Just empty sockets.
Still, nearby, it sniffed and licked around with a black tongue. I inched closer to the corner as the long, dry thing flopped on the floor, coming near my fingertips. Withdrawing, I pulled each digit in closer knowing I couldn’t risk a noise.
With closed eyes, I pleaded to the gaming gods—If I never used a strategy guide again, I’d be allowed to survive! A moot offering, but a promise to keep.
The zombeast boss growled and snapped its jaws from somewhere across the room, and the blind one turned and walked away. Several tense moments passed before I realized I was holding my mouth closed. I opened it and sucked in oxygen.
“Holy shit,” I mouthed.
Fear filled my veins, and I trembled. I shook my head and did my best to calm but found each breath hard to take. I summoned my courage and crawled out on my hands and knees. My heart thundered as I stood and looked at the vending section. The succulent snack still waited, ready to for claiming.
I should’ve looked around, but I didn’t. A growl came from behind me and I cursed. I found the blind coyote facing my direction; it threw back is head and howled.
I looked around for an escape. The ticket counter door was my only hope. I dashed for the room. The other canine zombeasts rushed in as I pulled open the door and dived inside, slamming it. The new room was lightless; thus, I couldn’t find objects to form a barricade. Instead, I fell against the door, using my pitiful weight, my boney body held it closed.
Despite my attempts to put forth a tough exterior, I no longer needed to fake bravery. I grabbed my face and sobbed. The first of the slams came. I bounced forward an inch, but I scooted right back. I felt something heavy in front of my feet, so I braced myself against it and held tight.
Slam after slam came. “Zach, I’m sorry! I should’ve stayed with you!”
A multitude of images flashed through my mind again; the dreams that made little sense. I saw Zach as an adult, pulling out a gun and shooting his uncle Beauregard in the face. No! I shook away the vision, it was only a stupid dream. The old days needed to come back—Playing video games with my boyfriend, Zach. I wanted to be his Tiffa!
The door shook over and over.
“Stop it!”
It shook and creaked.
My eyes closed as the pain in my shoulder intensified...
The next time I attempted opening them, I struggled. Crust had formed from crying and I felt sore everywhere. Light rays seeped in from the ticket windows.
“Huh?”
I glanced around and found myself in a room filled with storage shelves and cabinets. On the far wall was a red first aid kit. I crawled over, reached up and pulled, bringing it to my side.
My shirt came off, and I searched the kit, finding a first aid spray and bandages. With no training in medicine, I knew enough to disinfect the wound. I steeled myself and sprayed the bite. A scream tried to escape, but I swallowed it, and kicked my legs. After catching my breath, I took the bandages and wrapped my shoulder.
The rest of the room was empty, save a black vest hanging from a chair. I discarded my shredded tee, and donned the vest, covering my bare chest the best I could. It didn’t matter; I had no one to see my nakedness.
A long time passed.
When I decided to the leave the room, I cracked the door. It looked empty from my vantage, so I tiptoed into the main room and froze.
A pair of corpses stood near the vending; both wore police uniforms. I clenched my jaw—There was no way I’d let corpses eat my meal!
With the energy left in my body, I charged. To my horror, one spun and lifted a shotgun. Pure speed saved me; I smacked the gun up, and the blast went off, blowing a chunk from the ceiling which showered around us. The shotgun flipped into the air, and I caught it, shoving it straight against the corpse’s chin, ready to fire. Corpses could not use guns!
What I saw stopped me.
Scared, a man looked into my eyes. The other cop’s hand froze inches from the glorious chocolate, and he looked over, incredulous. I glared at him and growled through gritted teeth.
/>
“Touch that chocolate and I blow your friend’s goddamned head off!”
LEVEL 03:
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB
The blonde cop stared at me with only one eye opened. Fear covered his face. Even though I had the shotgun aimed at his face, I didn’t plan to pull the trigger. He didn’t need to know.
The second cop, a curly-haired ginger, adjusted his glasses. “No need for violence, miss.”
“Ch-Charles, this chick is crazy!” The target trembled.
My eyebrow twitched. “Call me chick one more time!”
“S-Sorry!”
Charles patted the air. “Don’t kill Arik, please. He’s my only friend.”
Arik gave a big nod. “And best! You wouldn’t shoot his best and only friend, would you?”
“We can handle this like adults. Just lower the gun.” Charles edged toward me.
I shoved the shotgun against Arik’s jaw. “I’m a teenage girl that may or may not be in PMS mode. Give me the damn chocolate bar now!”
Charles froze and contemplated. “Control your hormones.”
Arik remained with one eye open. “Don’t provoke her!”
“Miss, we haven’t eaten in twenty-four hours.”
“Try seven days!” I shot him a death glare.
Charles rolled his eyes. “Give her the chocolate bar.”
“No funny moves!” I shoved Arik’s chin.
He inched for the exquisite, dark wrapper. My eyes trailed along as he grabbed it and held out the succulent life-saving item. If I reached for it, I’d leave the shotgun vulnerable. I tried to kick it from his hand but missed. Charles reached for his gun holster, but I shoved my weapon in his face.
“Please!” Charles lifted his hands. “This is insane.”
“You can’t trick me.” I pushed the gun against his jaw.
“Would you like me to feed it to you?”
I didn’t see another way, so I nodded. He cocked an eyebrow. I nodded again and nudged the gun. He kneeled and clutched the bar. As he messed with the wrapper, my stomach rumbled.
“Hurry before I starve to death!”
Charles fumbled with the snack. “It won’t open!”
I once again shoved the gun, pushing him back a step.
“Just hold it!” He peeled back the wrapper, and I followed his hand as he brought the bar to my lips.
“No tricks!” I bit off a piece, and watched his every movement, not wanting to shoot. I needed no blood on my hands.
Mid-chew, I stopped. “Where are you headed?”
“First tell me your name.” Charles shrugged.
I swallowed. “You going to arrest me for breaking and entering?”
“No, but for threatening an officer.”
Arik pointed to his closed eye. “And a half-blind man!”
“Excuses.” I snatched the bar with my teeth and backed away.
“Where do you plan to go?” Charles motioned for me to wait.
“Zombeasts attacked last night, so anywhere else.”
Arik tilted his head. “Zom—what?”
“You haven’t seen them?” I pointed to where one body should’ve been, but only dried blood remained. “They were here last night! Corpse coyotes!”
Both cops shrugged, Charles with a blank face, and Arik biting back laughter.
“So, you’re telling me we have zombie animals now?” Charles snorted. “I’ve seen no animals.”
I threw my arms. “Bullshit! One bit me!”
Both cops snapped up their guns. “You’re bitten?”
“Perhaps.” I aimed the shotgun again. “It happened last night.”
“She hasn’t turned.” Arik shrugged.
“Show us the bite.” Charles stepped forward. “If it’s not infected, then we can all be friends.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did I say I want to be friends with douches?”
Arik pulled back the hammer on his gun. “Two versus one. Show us, or we shoot.”
“Fine.” I set the shotgun on the floor, pulled aside the vest, and unwrapped the bloody bandage. Neither guy looked at my wound. Instead, they stared at my boobs.
“You jerkwads! This isn’t a strip tease!”
“Sorry!” Charles shoved Arik, who came forward and leaned in, peering at the bite. He poked a puncture wound.
I slapped him across the face. “Asshole!”
He staggered. “What did I do?”
“That hurt!”
“So did that!”
“Is it infected?” Charles cut off the argument.
I yanked my vest over the wound.
“An honest-to-goodness canine bite.” Arik shrugged. “It didn’t have the telltale green rot though.”
“What does this mean? The animals vanished since day one...” Charles’ voice trailed.
“So, do you believe me?” I kneeled, reaching for the shotgun.
Arik shoved his pistol against my temple, but his friend waved him away. I glared as I picked up the weapon.
Charles hung his head. “This is bad.”
“No shit Sherlock.” I crossed my arms. “The virus evolved. Who knows what’s coming?”
Arik looked each way. “Something’s coming?”
The ginger shrugged. “Not what she meant, but we should stick with the same plan.”
“What plan?”
“We’re traveling the eastern US. It all started in Washington D.C. and we were at the White House when it happened. They moved everyone to a secret bunker with President Luigi, but the zombies—”
“Corpses.”
“Zombies, corpses, whatever!” A groan escaped him. “There was gunfire outside, and cries for help. A genius opened the bunker door...”
I felt a tinge of pity. “Did anyone survive?”
“We hid in a food closet for a week.” Arik shrugged. “When we emerged, we found no one.”
If the Luigi wasn’t safe in D.C. then how safe could Bellaire, Ohio be?
“Arik and I found several groups, but none survived. Something bad always happened. Internal conflict, crazy gun-toting idiots, escaped convicts, or the zomb—err corpse breeds. We never stayed in one place.”
Hand on my hip, I glanced at the front. “Do you still have a car?”
Arik nodded. “There’s something I’m forgetting... But sure, we got a car. Want a lift?”
Charles smacked Arik’s shoulder. “She tried to kill us and you offer a ride?”
“Why not? We’ve had less attractive company.”
I rolled my eyes. “Cops? You ducked into a pantry! Shouldn’t you have protected the president with your lives?”
“It was our first day as officers! During a break, we sightsaw.”
“Not sure I should travel with you guys. You seem to have bad luck.”
Charles sneered. “Arik, why did you ask her to come?”
“You can’t just leave me here!” I played with a lock of my long hair. “You’d leave a weak, defenseless girl, all alone?”
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.” Arik turned to his partner.
Charles shook his head. “Cut the crap. If you’re weak and defenseless, you’d never have survived.”
“Whatever. I’m coming with you if you like it or not.”
“Okay!” Arik grinned and rubbed his hands together. “What’s your name?”
“Tiffany Gainsborough.”
“Charles Chief.”
“Arik Prower.”
“Now we’re all besties! Yay!” I threw up my hands. “If I had a phone, I’d say we take a selfie, but alas, I left it in my other pants.”
“Aren’t you chipper?” Charles walked past me.
“I try my best.”
“Your teeth are all brown.” Arik followed his friend.
I stomped after them. “I haven’t been able to brush in forever, assface!”
We walked outside and into the bright sunlight, forcing me to shield my eyes.
“Where’s your car?” I smacked Ari
k’s head.
“Would you stop abusing me?”
I hit him again. “Only when you show me your car!”
“Stop it!” He flailed his hands trying to start a sissy fight.
“We hid it.” Charles walked across the road to a large bush. After pulling a dozen branches, a dirty D.C. squad car manifested.
“Why your car? A corpse wants to take a joyride?”
“We’ve run into real assholes.” Arik ran his hand along the hood. “I’m still trying to remember what I needed to say about the car.”
“Assholes are nowhere these days. You’re the first ones in five months. I’ve just been around, waiting for someone.”
Charles unlocked the car. “For whom?”
A warm wind blew past, and there were dark clouds coming. I regarded Charles. “I don’t know if he made it. So, I moved.”
“Him and seven billion others.” Charles climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Everyone dies.” Arik got in the passenger seat. “It’s only a matter of when.”
I didn’t want to think of Zach or the Gamers’ Guild as dead, so I bit my tongue.
“You coming or going?” Charles glanced back. “We can’t stay for long.”
Silhouettes were appearing in the distance. A large group of corpses were approaching. I climbed in and shut the door. “I know where we should go.”
Charles scoffed. “And now you’re going to backseat drive?”
“I heard a radio broadcast.” I watched the corpses. “A girl said she was in a survivor camp in Ohio.”
“We haven’t been there yet.” Arik regarded his fellow cop. “Do you think...?”
Charles nodded, looking in the rearview mirror. “A camp? Did she mention how many people?”
“Does it matter? Breathing people! Maybe it’s a start to setting the world straight.”
“Sweet!” Arik pumped his fist. “What do you think, man?”
“I don’t think the car will make it much further.” Charles jabbed the dashboard. “The check engine light flashed.”
Omega Virus (Book 2): Gamma Hour Page 2