“Here, call her on my Sat Phone. Much better reception, and you can use it on the way.” Kenny handed Eric a black satellite phone.
Kenny started pushing buttons and flicking switches, the engine began to rumble, and the lights on the dash board lit up. Eric could feel the seat trembling beneath him.
“If you got family you should call them!” Eric yelled out over the roar of the engine.
“No need to yell, I can hear you fine over the headset.” Kenny touched his helmet and Eric realized he could hear him just fine over the headset. “You go ahead. I’m a pilot bud, I gotta spread my wings and fly brother! Got no family and I’d be all night if I had to call all my special ladies, if you catch my drift.”
“I hear you.” For the first time in hours Eric felt like laughing.
“Hit that switch there on the side, you can hear the phone through the Bluetooth.” Kenny pointed to a button on the side of the helmet. Kenny hit a big green button and the blades on top of the helicopter began to spin, after a few rotations the blades began to pick up speed, and before Eric realized the helicopter was already off the ground.
***
Jason stood up tall as David lumbered in front of the glass door of his cell. Even though most people considered Jason to be a bear and a rather intimidating person, David would have to be a mountain compared to him. David was several inches taller than Jason, and every inch as thick, but it seemed there was nothing but solid muscle bulging under David’s clothes. As big as David, was nothing short of death would stop Jason’s revenge.
“Well, what’s it going to be Mr. Cook?” David’s voice echoed in the silence.
Jason held the syringe in his hand for a moment before sliding it back under the door. Giving up his own life in order to try and save his wife didn’t bother Jason. The fact that he may never see her again made this unbearably difficult.
“So how do I know you’ll keep her safe?” Jason stared into David’s eyes, they were like cold steel.
“You just have to hope that’s what’s going to happen. Maybe that tiny ray of hope will comfort you as you’re being torn apart.” David bent over to pick up the syringe. “The doors will open at midnight Mr. Cook. Good luck.” David withdrew a baton from his hip holster and slid it under the door to Jason.
“Why?” Jason said as he stared at the weapon thrown at his feet.
“So I may have a chance to kill you myself.” David’s face formed a crooked smile before he left Jason alone to ponder his thoughts.
“I’ll take that chance,” Jason said to himself. He picked up the baton and swung it in the air taking practice swings, it felt heavy in his hands, and the cold black material it was made from was solid as a rock. Maybe Jason would stand a fighting chance against this horde of zombies that awaited him in the cells next to him. Jason slammed the baton into the cement wall, a giant spark accompanied the piece of cement that broke off and crumbled to the floor. Jason stared at the baton in amazement, not even a scratch appeared on the shimmering surface.
Dana’s eyes were glued to her tablet as she read the latest breaking news about the worldwide infection. The latest news was from her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dana had tried to call her family, but was unable to reach anyone. The phone never even rang, just a busy signal whenever she dialled their number, maybe they had lost power. They were very close to the quarantined zone, maybe the phone lines were down? Dana watched a video of a grown man grab a little girl from a car window and sink his teeth into the back of her neck. The infection was causing people to go mad. It seemed the initial reports of rabies like symptoms were accurate, people were acting deranged.
Dana was startled by the phone as it rang, it broke her concentration.
“Hello.” Dana fumbled with the receiver.
“Dana you have to get out of town tonight.” Eric’s voice frightened her.
“What? Why?” All Dana could think about was what was happening to her family in Nova Scotia.
“That infection in the news is going to hit here. Get out of town. Get to my parents’ cabin tonight, you should be safe there for now.”
“Why aren’t you coming to get me?” Dana’s voice was full of terror now as she pictured that man’s teeth sinking into the girl’s flesh. Blood oozing down her neck as the monster buried its face into the little girl’s throat.
“I have to try and save as many people as I can, but I will be out to get you tomorrow okay?” Eric sounded reassuring, but Dana wondered how confident he was. How much danger was he really in?
“Eric, please. The people on the news are dangerous. The infection is making people mad and irrational.” Dana could feel a tear roll down her cheek.
“Dana, Jason and Tracy are in big trouble. I have to go save them.” The statement shocked Dana, how could they be in any more danger than she was?
“So, what do I do Eric?” Dana couldn’t stop the tremble in her voice, or the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
“Just pack as much food as you can into the car, and get the hell out of town.”
Dana held back the sobs and tried to be brave. “Ok. Promise me you’ll be safe.”
“I will. I love you,” Eric said softly.
“I love you too.” Dana hung up the phone and continued to sob. Patch looked at her and came over to comfort her. Dana walked over to the cupboard and started to pack the food into the cooler on the floor, luckily she had it taken out for the trip to the cabin tomorrow. She grabbed the dogs leash and picked up the cooler and started to make her way in a panic towards the car.
***
Ethan made his way back towards the road, he had been in the forest all day. All of the things that he had found were very disturbing. He had found several dead animals, most decayed far beyond recognition. The night air was sour with a rotten, fetid odour that corrupted the forest. Ethan found a dead coyote not far from the road, but it had also been eaten. The coyote’s eye dangled from the socket by the optic nerve, blood drenched its fur, matting it together. Ethan had almost thrown up when he found it. It was like some satanic ritual being performed, that involved eating these poor animals’ organs.
As Ethan reached his truck he could hear the rumble of engines as they approached. Buchans was a very quiet town with very little traffic, it was very unusual for so much traffic to be approaching town so late. Ethan jumped into his truck moments before the headlights of the first car peaked over the top of the hill. Something deep inside Ethan made him keep out of sight as the vehicles drove past his car. For some unknown reason, he was terrified. Ethan had broken out into a cold sweat as he slumped down into the seat, his muscles tensed up and he felt paralyzed.
As the last vehicle drove by, Ethan strained to lift his head to see a large cargo truck rumble down the road, it was loaded full of large metal containers. As much as Ethan wanted to drive away, curiosity got the better of him. He started his truck, and started following them down the highway with his lights off. He made sure to keep his distance, something told him he did not want to be spotted by one of the drivers.
Chapter 18
Midnight
Gordon sat at his desk and kept a close watch on the time. He would be leaving Fox Island shortly on the boat they dubbed the Jefferson Farmhouse. Anyone left alive who watched zombie movies would get the reference. The boat would set sail at 1:00 am, it was just under two hours away. The plan was being carried out all across the world, Gordon was only carrying out his orders. His boss would be very pleased with his work here, they had made some major progress in advancing the virus here on Fox Island. Their breakthrough in the virus was one of the main reasons they were able to carry out this plan so soon. World domination was at hand. Pharmakon’s main base of operations in North America was located deep in the Arctic, but Gordon would be safe in their secret base here in Newfoundland.
Deep underground in an old abandoned mine in Buchans they had built their secret shelter, which could allow them to survive for fifteen years without ever havi
ng to return to the surface. The cold weather would slow down any of the zombies during the winter, and that’s when they would leave the boat and head to the underground compound. The whole base was underground, so the weather would not be a factor. Food and water had been stockpiled there. There were several other bases of operation around the world, but his boss would be staying somewhere in northern Russia. Gordon had not even been told where it would be located, he would be contacted by his superiors only if they needed him.
There were a few outposts that Gordon was in charge of in case they needed to arrange rescue missions. When someone was willing to pay the money for the cure and safety they would have to contact the outposts. Arrangements would be made from those outposts. The agents at the outposts would be responsible for getting the word out about the cure, and the safety that could be provided by Pharmakon. All they needed was one million dollars per person. David Steele would be in charge of the outpost here in Newfoundland, located underneath Signal Hill in St. John’s. The virus would ravage that city because of the extremely high population density located on the east coast. Many people on the west coast would survive the initial outbreak, especially those in small communities across the island. That did not bother Gordon as much because he knew the cold winters would kill many of those people.
Only the strong would survive.
The door to his office opened and David almost had to duck to get under the door frame, David was certainly capable of surviving this event. The only thing that bothered Gordon was his new obsession with Jason Cook, David’s judgement was being clouded by his unprovoked hatred for this man. David should already have left for St. John’s, but his desire to kill Jason kept him here on this island.
“David, I thought you would have left for St. John’s by now.” Gordon was annoyed by David’s presence, but knew there wasn’t much he could do about it.
“I’m heading out after Jason is dealt with,” David growled.
“Well, it’s going to be hard to get to your post now. St. John’s is going to be overrun with zombies by the time you get there. The plan is already in motion.” Gordon looked up at David, even though David had sat down, he still dwarfed Gordon.
“I am well aware of that Mr. Purchase, I switched all of those needles at the hospital with the higher dose virus just like you told everyone else to do.” David looked down at Gordon.
Gordon turned his computer screen towards David. “See this security feed of St. John’s hospital?” They both watched as a nurse dragged herself across the floor in an empty hallway, blood spilling through her fingers that were trying to cover the hole in her neck. A creature shambled into the frame, and grasped a hold of the nurse’s leg, sinking its teeth into her thigh. Gordon turned the screen back towards himself. “See, they are actually ahead of schedule with no reports of police involvement yet.”
“That’s good news. I am not worried about making it to my post. I already let Alex and Joel know what’s going on.” David tried to peak at the computer screen, he was enjoying the carnage.
“Well, if you don’t make it there, then what?” Gordon was frustrated by David’s lack of concern for the big picture.
“Then Alex is in charge. He knows what to do.” David’s voice boomed at Gordon.
Gordon did not want to further irritate the man that sat across the table from him, David had grown unstable. Maybe the super soldier serum had not worked on him like they previously believed. His mind was unraveling quickly, and soon he would be just as dangerous as one of those creatures they had created.
“Very good then. I leave at one. Good luck Mr. Steele.” Gordon stood up and extended his hand.
David stood up from his chair and clenched the hand across from him in his steel vice-like grip. As Gordon flinched in pain from the handshake, David’s lips coiled into a crooked smile. David released Gordon’s hand from his grip as he backed out of the room.
Gordon held his hand and tried to rub the pain out to no effect. The advancements he thought he made trying to create the super soldier were still not ready, more work needed to be done once he reached Buchans. David clearly had gained super human strength and in the beginning could be controlled, but as time went on it was clear he was more of a ticking time bomb than a soldier. David was like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
Gordon knew that he would have lots of test subjects to try and perfect the super soldier serum, and there would also be other brilliant minds around to help him out. He wanted to be the one to take all the glory for inventing the correct formula, he was already so close. From what he had heard no one else was even testing the serums they had invented in fear of it being too unstable. Gordon had not told anyone about his experiment on David in fear being expelled from Pharmakon. Gordon was too weak to survive the zombie apocalypse on his own, and his only valuable asset was his brilliant mind. He did not want them to know he was teetering on the brink of madness.
***
Father Jon had fallen asleep in his office chair waiting for Calvin to come back, he had no idea what time it was as he rubbed his eyes. He patted his hands across his desk looking for his glasses, stumbling upon them after a short, awkward moment of fidgeting. He cleaned his glasses off in his robe and placed them on his face so he could see the clock. 11:42 was illuminated in red on the digital clock above his door. The phone rang as he was getting up to go check on Calvin, Father Jon wanted to make sure he had made it home. Who could be calling at this hour? Father Jon pictured some bar keep on the other end calling for him to come pick up the drunken fool, Calvin often turned to the bottle in times of torment and trouble.
“Hello,” Father Jon said as he picked up the receiver.
“Father, we need you at the hospital. One of your patrons requested you.”
“Requested me?” Father Jon was still not fully awake from his nap.
“To read a man his last rites father. He doesn’t have much time left.”
“I’ll be right in.” Father Jon hung up the phone, not thinking to ask whom it was. It did not matter right now, he had a duty to do, it was his calling from God.
Father Jon walked over to the coat rack and placed his fedora on his balding head, then he pulled his long black coat on over his robes. He walked back to his desk to open the drawer and retrieve his bible and rosemary beads. As he left the office he decided he should go back and just check to see if Calvin had returned home. The door to Calvin’s room was left open, and Father Jon stared uneasily at the barren bed.
***
Calvin’s head hung low as he stared at the empty whisky glass on the bar in front of him, he motioned for the bartender to top up his glass. A shadow appeared in front of Calvin, but he was unable to lift his head. As he stared into his empty glass, it magically began to fill with that dark, caramel liquid that he loved.
“Put it on my tab, love.” Calvin’s voice was almost incoherent at this point.
“Yeah sure,” The bartender said sarcastically. “Last one, then you’re gone.”
Calvin had remembered that the bartender was a burly looking man with greasy hair and giant bags under his eyes.
“Now then.” Calvin slurred his speech as he raised his glass mimicking a toast. “I’ll just have to make it last then, won’t I?”
Calvin tilted his head back and let the drink pour down his throat, it burnt all the way down to his stomach.
“I’ll see myself out, kind sir.” Calvin tried to stand up from the bar stool, but the room was spinning too fast for him to get his feet set under him. He made one last attempt to stand, but as he began to push himself off the stool his face quickly became level with the floor. The last thing Calvin saw was the bartender’s face peering over the bar down at him.
“Jesus Christ. I gotta drag your drunk ass out of here.” The bartender barked at Calvin as he lost consciousness.
***
Nick felt a thousand times better after he finally ate some food and awoken from his long nap. He decided to take a shower
in the change room, and change into a clean uniform. After noticing how the young girl who had served him in the cafeteria had turned her nose to him, he knew it was time. His uniform had still been stained with Henry’s blood, and his own body odour did not mix well with the coppery scent of blood. Nick chuckled a little bit to himself as he thought how he must have smelt like one of those monsters you’d see in one of those zombie movies.
As Nick felt the warm water of the shower hit his face, he could feel the day’s dirt run down his body and it began to pool around his feet. He turned the hot water tap up all the way. As hard as Nick scrubbed he could not get that feeling of dirtiness left behind by the blood to wash away.
Nick turned off the water but stayed in the shower as he grabbed a towel to dry off. One of the other paramedics must have just left on a call. The cold air rushed in as the bay door opened and filled the entire area with a wintery chill. Nick quickly got dressed to protect himself from the sudden cold that filled the air outside his hot shower.
“Hey Gus! Where is Sam headed off to?” Nick called out to one of the paramedics sitting at the break room table.
“Off to pick up some drunk guy at a bar,” Gus said as he shuffled a deck of cards.
“Shouldn’t the cops do that?” Usually the police would handle a call like this, let the person sleep it off in a drunk tank.
“Usually! Apparently they’re too busy to concern themselves with such a hum drum call. Decided to waste our time instead, like we got nothing better to do.” Gus was obviously annoyed.
“Good use of resources. Well, any word on Henry yet?” Nick approached Gus and sat across from him. Gus was playing solitaire.
“No word yet.” Gus picked up the cards and started to reshuffle the cards.”Game of cards?”
“Yeah sure.” As Gus began to deal the cards the phone started to ring. It was an internal call, the one Nick had been waiting for all night.
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