The Demented Z (Book 3): Contagion

by Derek J. Thomas

  “Seattle.” Eli said with a deflated voice.

  Tom’s eyes scanned the address next to the words, “Echo One.” The paper was yellowed from age, but the words were as clear as if they were fresh off the press. “How old is this thing…any chance they’ve moved the facility?”

  “Ha, the government?” Hank said. He slapped Tom on the back. “Takes Congress and the President to move a copy machine from one office to another.”

  Tom tore the page from the book, folded it, and stuffed it in his pants pocket. He looked around the large control room, tracing his flashlight across the old computer equipment and broken out displays. Eli was near the front of the room, flipping through various books he had found. “Eli, how well do you know Seattle?”

  “Abby is your better bet there.”

  Tom turned back to Hank. “You okay? You don’t look so well.”

  “Leg hurts, but I also –“

  Before he could finish Abby came rushing through the doorway. “Something’s coming!” She said in a panicked voice.

  Tom didn’t like the word “something,” “somebody” would have been much better. “What do you mean something?”

  “Just get out here.” She stammered.

  Everyone stood still for a moment and then all of them rushed for the door, knowing it must be serious. Before Tom got all the way out into the hall he could hear it. “Something” was right. He couldn’t make out what it was, but it sounded like a herd of cattle. He was surprised to find that it did not come from further down into the tunnels, but instead echoed in from the entrance, the direction they had already cleared.

  “See…what is that?” Abby said.

  It was a constant thrum that they could feel in their chests. All their lights shone down the hall, disappearing into the dark. Abby took a slow step backwards. The sound was getting louder.

  “This can’t be good.” Hank said.

  Tom followed Abby’s lead and took a slow step backwards. “Be ready.”

  Out of the darkness appeared faces; hideous, angry faces. Many were bloody and deformed with grisly wounds. They filled the wide tunnel, row after row emerging into the light. The stomp of feet and bodies rubbing up against one another was causing sound to rumble and echo around the cement tunnel. They stumbled forward, toward the bright lights, seemingly in a daze.

  Tom started stepping backwards. In a whisper he said, “Move back… keep the lights on them and move back.”

  All of them began slowly walking their way backwards. They were entering into the unknown. Tom and Hank had glanced over a map they had found in the control room, but not enough to know what they would find.

  One of the infected in the lead suddenly unleashed a bone chilling shriek. He had picked up on something and began a mad sprint down the hall. Others followed suit and the hall was suddenly filled with angry growls and sprinting demented. The noise alone was terrifying and to see so many rushing their way in the confined tunnel was nearly overwhelming.

  “Go for the legs.” Eli shouted as he started firing rounds into the oncoming horde.

  His shots caused some of the demented to fall to their faces, others to drop to their knees, and some to stumble awkwardly. Tom was impressed by the technique. Rather than killing them outright, it caused such chaos and disruption to the lead that it slowed the entire mass. They continued to topple over one another, creating a seething wall of arms and legs. Both Tom and Hank joined in, firing low shots into horde.

  “Too many.” Hank said between shots.

  Tom was thinking the same thing. No matter how many they took out, more continued to pour over and around the fallen. He stopped shooting. “We gotta roll.”

  No debate was needed; as one they all turned and began a mad dash down the dark corridor. None of them knew where they were headed, but the growls and screams that chased them were plenty to just keep moving. They passed several intersections. The fear that they would get pinned inside some tiny supply room was enough to avoid turning off the main tunnel.

  How long is this thing? Tom wondered. It seemed to just keep going, like they were in some nightmare where they would be chased by demented into endless darkness. He was lost in his thoughts when there were several bright flashes ahead of them. Even with the loud booms their source did not immediately register with Tom. It was the unmistakable crack of bullets passing very close that finally brought Tom to full awareness. “Shots fired.” He shouted.

  Abby suddenly screamed and went down. Eli was ahead of her and never noticed. Tom dropped to a knee next to her and glanced back to see Hank, hobbled by his wounded leg, a dozen paces back. Gunfire continued to fly over his head.

  “Get low.” He yelled to Hank. He quickly checked on Abby and she was grimacing in pain. “Where are you hit?”

  She was already starting to get back up to her knees. “Shoulder. I’ll be alright.”

  Eli’s voice echoed down the hall, muffled by the gunfire, but still audible. “Cover…I’ve got cover up here.” As soon as the words were out the sound of his rifle raking the attackers with cover fire erupted.

  Tom was just getting Abby to her feet when Hank caught up with them. He was crouched low and running awkwardly, favoring his bad leg. “Slow pokes.” He said as he passed the two of them.

  From just ahead, Eli shouted, “Reloading!”

  Hank stopped, shouted, “Covering,” and began firing past Eli.

  Tom stole a quick glance behind them and was horrified to see the massive wave of demented less than fifty feet back. They needed more than cover. It was only a matter of seconds before all of them would be swallowed up. Both of them rushed past Hank and caught up to Eli. He was squatting behind the cover of a small row of steel drums, reloading his rifle.

  As they ducked in next to him he charged his rifle and pointed behind them. “We have a hall that way.” He then rose above the barrels and began firing toward the gunmen. “Covering.” He shouted to Hank.

  Tom shone his light down the narrow side hall, revealing a large steel door frame. It looked like the bulkhead door straight out of a battleship. If that was the case it would be the perfect defense to hide behind, but it could be a one way trip. It was their only option. “This way everyone…let’s go.” He said while ushering Abby down the hall.

  Hank slipped past Eli, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, “I’m good.”

  Eli dropped below the barrels. “Go, I’m on the way.” After spitting out the words he turned his rifle on the rushing demented and let loose. His gunfire raked at their legs, dropping a huge swath to the floor. He turned a raced after the others.

  Tom was relieved to find the door was a thick blast door, capable of withstanding more than the demented could possibly throw at it. This was quickly replaced with dread when he saw that the door was made to seal and lock from the outside. The inner side of the door was flat except one small steel handle. He stood to the side so the others could get past him. “Go, go, go.” He shouted as they streamed by.

  Eli brushed past him and said, “They’re not far back.”

  Tom could already see their hideous faces making the turn. Several slammed into the barrels. The wave of infected continued to hammer into the backs of their leaders, pushing them down the main hall out of sight. Others careened around the corner, coming straight for Tom. Using the small handle, he pulled the heavy door closed and held it there, hoping the weight of shoving demented would pin it closed. It would only open if they backed up and allowed it to swing toward them. Tom knew from experience that they would figure it out eventually.

  Boom. The wave of demented slammed into the door with tremendous force. They continued to pound into it, but the massive door didn’t budge.

  Tom held tight to the handle, not ready to trust fully in their stupidity. “Someone find a metal bar…anything to wedge in this handle.” The door shook as they pounded into it. Muffled growls were barely audible through the thick steel.

  “Try this.” Eli said, running up with a
length of flat metal.

  “Looks like it’ll work.” Tom took the bar and angled it through the handle. With a bit of manipulation he was able to wedge it across the door and into the metal frame surrounding it. “Should hold.” He said with a slap on the door.

  He followed Eli down a short hall. Abby sat at the end, resting against the wall. Hank leaned down, checking on her wounded shoulder.

  “Bad?” Tom asked.

  Abby looked over at Hank and then up at Tom. “I’ll be good as new.”

  Hank patted her on the leg and stood. “Caught her high on the shoulder. Not much meat on her bones, but missed anything vital…she’s right, she’ll be fine.”

  “Good.” Tom said. He turned, looking for Eli, but the kid had already moved further into the room. His flashlight glowed in the distance, bouncing around as he walked. Tom was surprised how far away he was. Using his own flashlight, he took a look at the room they were in. He shined it upwards and the beam disappeared into the darkness far above. “Whoa.” He said, moving the light around the huge space.

  Hank stood next to him, following his light. “This would be perfect for a remote control helicopter.”

  “Yeah, just what I was thinking…or not.”

  “Missile bay.” Eli said as he approached. “ICMBs.”

  “Any way out?” Tom asked.

  Eli gave his head a shake. “Not that I saw.”

  Tom took a few steps across the cement floor. He shone his light on the bland wall and spun a slow circle, his light disappearing into the dark on the far side. “Let’s spread out and see what we can find. We have to find a different way out or this will be our tomb.”

  ******

  “Seriously?” Abby said while staring at the large round tube.

  Tom used his light to trace the giant tube up the side of the wall until it disappeared far above them.

  Eli banged on it with his fist. “Has to be a vent. It’ll either reach the top or another room.” He leaned down and began removing the wingnuts that were holding a metal grate in place. “We spider climb it out of here.”

  “Hank won’t be able to with his leg.” Tom said.

  Hank pointed to Abby. “And what about her? I don’t think she is in any shape to make a climb like that.” He said while looking far up into the darkness, tracing the path of the tube as it disappeared above.

  “I can make it.” Abby said.

  The sound of metal clanging to the floor caused all of them to turn back toward the entrance door. The door banged loudly. The growls of demented slipped through the opening between bangs.

  Tom turned back to Eli. He was hunched down, working rapidly on the grate. Tom bent down next to him and began frantically working on the wingnuts as well.

  “Hurry.” Abby said while shining her light to help Tom and Eli see.

  The large space was suddenly filled with angry growls and wild shrieks. A hurricane of teeth and death was descending upon them. The demented had gotten the door open and were now streaming into the cavernous room. Their intense roar made the hairs on everyone’s necks stand on edge.

  Tom was freeing the final nut that held the grate in place. “Kill the lights.” He said. The area was immediately dropped into inky blackness. Tom stood and reached out to where he remembered Abby to be. When he felt fabric he whispered, “Go, go, you first. Hank, you follow.”

  The hollow thuds of Abby getting her body situated inside the tube were barely audible over the demented. This was quickly followed up by rapid thumps making their way up the tube. Tom remembered her saying she used to train for high end obstacle courses and this showed. She was making quick work of the tough climb. Hank brushed past.

  “Here goes.” He grumbled.

  “Just hurry up.” Tom whisper-shouted.

  He made his way inside the tube and began spider climbing up. Loud thuds and grunts of pain marked each push upward.

  “Hurry, get inside.” Eli said to Tom.

  Tom didn’t argue, quickly following Hank into the tube. The space was tight, but he was able to scissor his legs, using pressure on his feet and the palms of his hands to begin climbing after the others. From above, Abby clicked on her flashlight, bathing the tight enclosure in white light.

  Growls and the sounds of feet scampering on concrete were incredibly close. Eli scrunched in under Tom, pulling the grate back in place as he did so. No sooner had he pulled it in than several demented slammed into the outside, shaking the tube with their force. Hank hollered out and began to slide down.

  “Whoa.” Tom said while trying to brace himself. He used one forearm to prop up Hank’s boot, arresting his downward slide.

  “Thanks boss.” Hank grumbled, working to regain his footing. “I got it…I got it.” He said while starting back up.

  Eli was working desperately to keep the grate in place as the demented scratched at it and shook the entire tube. One of the infected bent down, his hideous face pressed up to the grate. His lips curled back in a vicious growl. Others behind him pressed harder, shoving his teeth into the metal bars.

  Tom looked back down. “Come on man. Leave the grate.”

  Eli looked up; making sure Tom was far enough above that he could climb away from any reaching arms that would surely enter behind him. Seeing that Tom was quite a ways up, he clicked on his gun’s flashlight, left it shouldered, and began quickly spider climbing upward.

  Tom pictured Abby running into a dead end at the top. All of them stuck like rats in a maze with a herd of cats licking their chops just below. What are we going to do if there is nowhere to go? His stomach was in knots. Nothing we can do now.

  The metal grate clattered to the cement. The tube was immediately filled with hungry growls. Several demented fit inside the small opening, reaching for Eli’s escaping form. The kid was quick and well above their grasping hand. They issued angry shrieks of frustration.

  Abby’s voice shouted from above, “Flattens out up here.” Her light shined back down on Hank. “You all right?”

  Hank continued to struggle upwards. “Wear’n down.”

  “You can make it, not much further.” She shouted encouragingly.

  It didn’t take long and all four of them were piled in a horizontal tunnel that extended into darkness. Hank was grimacing and breathing hard. Eli and Abby barely looked winded.

  “Wait here.” Eli said while squeezing past everyone. “I’m going to scout this tunnel out.”

  After he moved off, Tom turned to the others. “Everyone okay?”

  Abby nodded her head. “Shoulder is throbbing, but I’ll be fine.”

  Tom looked over at Hank sitting quietly to the side. “What about you old man?”

  Hank shook his head. “I wanted to say something earlier.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I don’t feel well.”

  “Leg hurting?” Abby asked.

  “No…well yeah, but something more. At the military base I got splattered with blood. I wasn’t sure if it was anything, but I’m feeling…feeling sick.”

  Abby took a subconscious shuffle backwards.

  Tom had a concerned look on his face. “Infected…you think you’re infected?”

  “Yeah, I feel chilled…nauseous. Started when we first got to this site.”

  Tom reached out and placed the back of his hand on the top of Hank’s forehead. He removed it and crossed his arms in front of him.

  “Well?” Hank said.

  Tom shook his head. “We have to figure something out.”

  “Maybe he’s just sick.” Abby said.

  “We have…what…twenty four hours or so?” Tom said.

  “And what, we’re just going to hang with him until he turns?” She looked at Hank. “Sorry—“

  “You can leave me right now.” He looked down. “Believe me, I know what you mean.”

  Tom rested a hand on Hank’s shoulder. “We’re not leaving…I’m not leaving you. We are so close. Let’s get out of here, get to this Echo One, and see what we can learn. If we
move quick maybe there is a solution.”

  Eli’s light bounced as he made his way back toward the group. Everyone turned at his approach. He had a slight grin as he looked over the group. Seeing their somber faces, his look quickly went somber. “What?”

  Tom quickly explained the situation and what their plan was. Eli simply nodded, glancing back and forth between Tom and Hank as the details came out. Once Tom finished and Eli said nothing in disagreement, he said, “What about you…find anything?”

  “I actually have good news.” He looked back down the tunnel. “Extends straight ahead for more than a hundred yards with occasional drops that must be ventilation for other rooms. At the far end it shoots straight up.”

  Everyone sat still, waiting for the good news.

  “There are several large security baffles, but they are all open…light, there was light. I clicked off my flashlight and I could see light from above.”

  Tom nodded his head. “That’s great.” He gave a quick glance to Hank. “We don’t have time anymore so let’s get moving.”

  “Seattle, here we come.” Hank grumbled.

  Chapter 21 - The City

  “Looks like maybe fifteen blocks, almost straight ahead.” Abby said while looking over a map laid out across the dash.

  Tom sat at the giant deuce and half’s steering wheel. He had been driving non-stop for several hours now and his knuckles ached from the death grip he had on the giant wheel. They had pounded their way through multiple roadblocks, nudged vehicles out of their way, and flat out ran over dozens of infected. The city streets were getting narrower as they plunged deeper into its interior.

  A quick glance in the side mirror reminded Tom of the hordes of infected that trailed in their wake. The rumbling vehicle was like the sound of a dinner train. He looked ahead and said, “We’re going to have to turn off this road.”

  Just ahead of them sat a tipped over ladder truck and several delivery vans wedged into one another. Fire had gutted most of the vehicles. Their massive metal hulks would be too much for the deuce and a half to plow through.