The Zombie Principle
Page 35
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he said.
“We’ve been staying at someplace in the mountains for the last three weeks,” Zoe continued. “He kept saying you were on your way and would be here soon. Then two days ago he picked us up and said he was bringing us to you.”
“Well, we’re together now, that’s all that matters,” Dr. Sanderson said.
They embraced again as Dr. Sanderson gently kissed his wife for the first time in over two months.
“I’m all for reunions but I’m afraid time is up Doctor,” Benton said tapping his wristwatch.
“Time’s up?” Holly asked.
The Doctor looked at his wife and then his daughter but said nothing.
“What does he mean by that Dad?” Zoe asked.
Before he could respond Gunner had moved over to the Doctor and his family. He pulled Holly then Zoe away from him and moved them back near the door again. They both looked around the room desperately hoping someone would tell them what was going on.
“Now Doctor, are we in need of a new test subject? I have brought more pills with me if necessary,” Benton said.
He knew now that Benton would make good on his threat. If he did not go through with it, he would make either his wife or daughter do it. He was out of options. Benton held all the cards. He had no other choice.
“Ok Benton, you win,” Dr. Sanderson said.
“Let’s hope you’re as smart as we all think you are Doctor, then we all win,” Benton said.
He motioned for the Doctor to move alongside the hospital bed where Number 5 had begun to stir.
“I have deprived him of sustenance the last couple of days,” Benton said. “He should be ready to feed.”
The Doctor looked down at his former patient. Number 5’s head began to twitch as he sensed fresh meat. Dr. Sanderson rolled up his sleeve exposing his bare forearm.
He looked across the room at his wife and daughter. They stood frozen under the fluorescent lights of the examination room. He mouthed ‘I love you’ to both of them.
Number 5’s head restraint was removed by Dr. Ehrlich. The zombie’s head popped up searching for the human flesh it smelled. Dr. Sanderson moved his arm closer to Number 5’s mouth. He had his hand clenched in a fist and his brow was wet with sweat.
The last thing Dr. Sanderson heard before Number 5’s teeth ripped through his flesh was his wife’s blood curdling scream.
Epilogue
Dr. Lemuel Sanderson was laying on his back on a hospital bed in the middle of a starch white room. His torso was tucked tightly under bright white bed sheets up to his armpits. His head propped up slightly by a large king size pillow. If his eyes had been open he would have been staring at a row of fluorescent lights.
Both of his arms were exposed. The left one hung limply at his side. The right one sported a field style dressing covering a large bite mark. Each was secured to the bed at the wrists with thick leather straps. His legs were also strapped to the bed beneath the sheets.
A small table sat next to the bed. On top of it was a pitcher of water and two glasses. Some of the Doctor’s personal effects were on the table as well; his wallet, eyeglasses, and a pen. On the other side of the bed was a chrome plated medical drip holder which was currently empty.
A door at the far end of the room opened and Benton Worthington III entered. He carefully closed the door behind him and walked toward the bed, stopping just short he looked down at the Doctor. His head tilted slightly to the left, as he put his hands on the raised metal bar at the foot of the bed. He stood there for a minute or two before turning around.
He grabbed an aluminum chair from the corner and put it down a few feet from side of the bed. Lifting his pant leg slightly he sat on the chair and crossed his legs.
“Can you hear me Doctor?” he finally asked.
There was no response from the bed.
“If you can hear me please nod.”
Nothing.
“It’s been nearly two days. We need you to wake up Doctor,” he said.
Still no response.
“It would appear that you hold one final card Lemuel. We can’t proceed with the distribution of the antidote until we know for sure if it works.”
Dr. Sanderson remained unresponsive. He had been this way since he had been strapped into the bed. Benton sat silently for another few minutes before getting back up and returning the chair to its proper place in the corner. He turned once more to face the bed.
“Dr. Ehrlich will be in shortly to check on you,” Benton said.
Giving the Doctor one last chance to acknowledge his presence, Benton stood with his arms folded at the end of the bed. When it was clear Dr. Sanderson was still unconscious and not going to respond, he turned and opened the door. The sound of the heavy door closing behind him echoed loudly in the examination room. His footsteps could be heard fading down the hallway.
As quiet once again enveloped the room, Dr. Sanderson’s left arm twitched almost unperceptively; and then it did so again. A second passed, then another. His right arm followed suit, twitching even more obviously than the left.
Then his eyes opened. They were bloodshot with the pupils rapidly darting back and forth. He stared up at the ceiling as he tried to lift his arms but was unable to because of the restraints.
The look on his face was one of confusion mixed with fear. He was not sure where he was or what had happened to him. The only thing he was sure of; the only thing he was certain of was that he was very, very … hungry.
Look for The Zombie Principle II
Coming soon
About the authors
David R Vosburgh
He was born in Upstate New York and attended SUNY Geneseo where he was class fencing champion. He figured it was a skill that might come in handy one day. He currently lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with his wife Karen and a seven year old yellow Lab named Lucy.
Daniel J Pinkham
He was born in Africa, raised in North Carolina, attended college in Ohio, and currently resides in Northern New Jersey with his wife Laura. You could say he gets around.
This is the first published work for both of them.