“Just over five miles,” Bradford replies, “shouldn’t take us more than ten minutes.”
“Good. Because I have a bad feeling,” Hope mumbles.
Hope sits up, and gets into the back seat with the others who sit cramped with the meager supplies.
“How’s it going?” Brad asks.
“So far so good,” Hope replies.
“But…” Brad gestures.
“No, buts, I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach,” Hope whispers.
“What are the odds that’s just anxiety over going home?” Brad asks with a nervous smile.
Hope shrugs it off, the pesky thought still tingling in the back of her mind.
“The marina is just up ahead,” Bradford says calling Hope back to front.
“Good, now we just need a boat,” Hope says.
“Up ahead,” Colonel Logan points, “the red and white one.”
“It’s definitely big enough for us all,” Hope says with her jaw dropped slightly.
Lieutenant Bradford slows the van down, each one of them scanning the immediate area for any sign of Zombies. They deem it clear after a few moments and one by one they start to empty out of the van.
“Brad, you and Colonel Logan check out the boat. Search everywhere for any signs of anything dangerous and don’t forget to make sure you can get it running,” Hope orders.
“What about the rest of us?” Mika asks.
“We keep watch, protect the boat at all cost. Anything tries to get near it and we kill it, err… re-kill it,” Hope says.
Brad and the Colonel part from the group, boarding the boat each with a gun loaded and ready for trouble. Hope grabs a shotgun from out of the van and pumps it before walking away in silence.
“Where are you going?” Mika asks.
“To keep everything out of here,” Hope replies.
“What does that mean?” Mika asks grabbing her by the arm, pulling her to a stop.
“That means, if you hear me firing, protect the others,” Hope replies shaking her arm free.
“You’re nuts if you think I’m just going to let you go out by yourself,” Mika argues.
“Someone needs to stay back and protect the others,” Hope contends.
“Our odds are better if we stay together,” Mika growls.
The ground shakes violently stopping the pair in their tracks.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Hope says.
“We have to get back to the van,” Mika says.
The pair rushes back, the sound of squeals and shrieks ring out through the air, the ground continuing to rumble.
“What is that?” Dr. Cutter asks stepping out of the van, a worried look on his old face.
“That is not good,” Mika replies.
Hissing and growling sounds get louder as a horde of undead come into view.
“Everyone grab a weapon,” Hope says holding up the gun.
“And remember they only stay dead when you remove their head from their bodies,” Mika says drawing out a machete.
The group arms itself as the horde gets closer, Hope fires the shotgun blowing off a Zombie’s head and stepping out of the way as the undead monstrosity drops to the ground. She pumps the gun again looking for her next target. Mika rushes the horde, screaming as he gets between a few. He swings the blade, slicing off the first Zombie’s head before feeling the teeth of another one sinking into his arm. He elbows the beast backward and swings the machete, getting it caught in the creature’s shoulder. The creature knocks him down, growling and brandishing his teeth going in for the kill. A gunshot is heard just as a bullet is seen ricocheting off the Zombie’s head, pulling its attention away from Mika.
“Come on ugly, let’s dance,” O’Brian says with an evil grin on his face.
The Zombie grunts and groans as it starts for O’Brian, its decomposed foot crushing Mika’s hand as it does. O’Brian stands his ground, letting the monster get close to him before he pulls a hunting knife out of a holster. He swings the knife through the air, connecting with the Zombie’s shoulder. He kicks the creature down to the ground straddling it before driving the sharp point down into the Zombie’s neck, pinning it to the ground, giving him time to free Mika’s machete before forcing its head free of its body.
“CUTTER!” a gravelly voice roars out startling both the survivors and the horde.
A massive creature stomps forward. Its features are similar to the ape like Zombie that killed Fanny. A chill runs down Hope’s spine before she feels her blood boiling. A glossy coating films over her eyes as she shoots the shotgun repeatedly before getting tossed aside by the overgrown atrocity.
“HOPE!” Mika shouts as he crawls over to her.
“CUTTER!” The monster roars again.
“If you want Cutter, you’ll have to go through me,” O’Brian says getting in front of the creature.
“Not a problem,” the beast growls, snapping O’Brian’s neck in the process.
Dr. Cutter steps forward, his hands shaking, and his breathing short and stagnant as he stands face to face with the creature, “what do you want with me?”
“Don’t you recognize me?” The creature rumbles.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t,” Dr. Cutter says forcing through his fear.
“How disappointing,” the creature snarls, “after all, you did this to me.”
“How many of these things did you make?” Hope asks making her way to the doctor.
“O…O…O…Only one,” Dr. Cutter stutters, “at least that’s all I recall.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Hope grumbles.
“I’m not. I don’t know where this creature came from,” Dr. Cutter insists.
“You infected me, made me this, this thing,” the creature roars. “Remember Major Brick? You watched as he bit me, transferring the virus to me. You never even tried to help me, you just tossed me aside like I was disposable.”
“Kevin?” Dr. Cutter says his jaw dropped in shock.
“Yes father, surprised to see me?” the creature grins.
“But you were dead. I never would have just tossed you out, I checked and rechecked, you had no vitals, didn’t respond to any of the stimulants,” Dr. Cutter says.
“So you just let me become one of them?” the monster roars.
“No, I never would have,” Dr. Cutter cries.
“Enough talk,” the monster thunders, swinging its massive claws at the doctor.
Hope uses the last bit of energy she has to knock Dr. Cutter out of the way, taking the brunt of the attack as she does.
“Run,” Hope says her arm wrapped around her chest as she struggles to get to her feet.
The massive Zombie swings its arm again knocking Hope backward into Lieutenant Bradford. It turns its attention back to Dr. Cutter. Lieutenant Bradford peels Hope off of her as the two females fight to get back to their feet.
“Take the others, get to the boat,” Hope says, wobbling as she stands.
“What about you?” Bradford asks.
“I’m going to keep that thing busy,” Hope groans.
“You won’t survive,” Bradford argues, trying to stop her.
“Don’t worry about me, just save the others,” Hope says.
She pumps the shotgun and fires the shell, scattering it across the beasts face.
“You can’t stop me, I am invincible!” The Zombie roars.
“We’ll see about that,” Hope says firing the shotgun again.
The creature laughs as the fragments bounce off the beast’s tough hide.
“Hope, we can’t win this,” Mika says coming besides her, “last time we saw one of these things it took O’Brian blowing it up. And last I checked we are all out of explosives.”
“I’m not trying to win,” Hope says to him, “I’m trying to buy time for the rest of you.”
“You’re crazy, if you think I’m just going to leave you here,” Mika argues.
“I like to think of myself as a wildfire,” Hope s
mirks, “now go, and let me burn like one.”
Hope pushes him out of the way, firing the shotgun again as the creature reaches them. She cocks the shotgun again, pulling the trigger and firing her last shot.
“I’m out,” Hope says tossing her gun to the side.
“We have to get out of here,” Mika says.
“There is no way to stop me, I am the harbinger!” The beast roars.
“SUCK ON THIS!” Dr. Cutter says tossing a small vial into the creature’s mouth as it roars.
“What did you just do?” Hope asks.
“I just gave him the anti-virus,” Dr. Cutter says.
“What does that mean?” Hope asks.
“If I’m right, the anti-virus should attack him from the inside,” Dr. Cutter answers,
“We have to get to the boat,” Mika urges.
“And quickly,” Dr. Cutter says, “If I’m wrong that anti-virus could make him stronger.”
“That’s just fucking wonderful,” Hope says limping as the trio head for the boat.
The massive creature roars, white foam builds up around its mouth. Its milky, cloud covered eyes change to a deep blue color. Its armor like skin cracks, flaking off piece-by-piece revealing flesh underneath. It lets out one last massive roar before the rest of the exoskeleton drops revealing the man underneath. He cries out as the foam around his mouth pours out faster. He drops to his knees as the Zombie horde comes back out from the shadows, circling around and attacking the man. Hope, Mika, and Dr. Cutter make it to the boat in time to watch.
“What happened out there?” Brad asks meeting them on the deck.
“Short version, we dodged a bullet,” Mika sighs.
“We need to get this thing moving, quickly before those monstrosities realize we’re still here,” Hope orders, “how’s the fuel situation?”
“There’s some,” Brad replies, “we may have to rely on the current more then we planned on.”
“That’s better than nothing.”
Hope follows Brad back to the main control room where Colonel Logan is waiting, sitting in a black and red swivel chair.
“What is our heading?” Colonel Logan asks.
“Somewhere around here,” Hope answers pointing to a location on a map.
“But there is no military base anywhere in that vicinity,” Colonel Logan says.
“The freedom fighters were a secret. Their base was never mentioned. They kept it hidden and defended it long before the Omega Virus was dropped,” Hope says looking around and noticing the weird looks she’s getting. “What? Its basic history back home.”
“Alright, let’s get to our new base,” Mika says.
Hope shakes her head, a sly grin appearing on her face, “No. let’s go home.”
Epilogue
The trip back home took us over a week. Supplies diminished quickly yet our pure gut and will to survive kept us going until we arrived back on the shore. Mother and Father were saddened to learn of Fanny’s fate. Father said he would erect a monument, or headstone in Fanny’s honor but I know it isn’t the same. Things on the island have also changed since our departure, Joshua had been overthrown shortly after we left, Connor saw to that. They have since abolished most of the rules of the island giving the inhabitants more freedom. They also formed a council to govern over and rule with democracy. They offered Mika a seat after hearing of his courage and the sacrifices he made for me. He declined of course, not wanting to deal with that kind of pressure. Doctor Cutter has since gone on to fill that seat. He has some great plans for the future and now with a dedicated team behind him I know he can make the right decisions. The Colonel thinks of this time on the island as some sort of retirement, opting out of his military responsibilities and instead looking toward the finer things in life such as gardening. Lieutenant Bradford has made herself at home training with Natalie so the two can help keep peace on the island ensuring that no one can ever again become as corrupt as Joshua. As for me, I’m still unsure what I want to do with my life but I do know I’m not in any rush to figure it out. Mika and I are planning on heading back to the main land soon, hoping to find the survivors we left back in Louisiana. This time I’m ready to burn, to become unstoppable, to blaze a new path and protect as many people as I can. I have become the wildfire.
Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited Page 22