Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour (21 page)

“Houston
isn’t safe.” I breathed. “We were right.”

Jessie
looked around and sighed. “The message was on December 11th.”

“Tiffany's
birthday,” I muttered. “I'm glad she never had to see this.”

A
feeling of doom washed over me. The city had seen better days. Corpses wandered
in the distance, shambling around in search of food.

“Can
it be?” She asked. “Is this really the end?”

“This
is it,” I said. “Endgame.”

LEVEL 25 – DELVING DEEPER

Jessie grabbed
my hands and looked me in the eye. “Let’s just find somewhere safe to spend my
final hours.”

I
pulled away. “No! The vaccine is here in Houston! It's at G.O.D. Mode Games!”

“If
we run into the military they’ll shoot me,” Jessie argued. “I want you to do
it.”

“Nobody
is shooting you!” I snapped.

“That
isn’t an option.” She said, and coughed hard, falling to her knees and gripping
her chest. In the distance some Corpses took notice.

I
kneeled next to her. “Please, hang on!”

“I—don’t—think—I—can!”
she wheezed between each word.

Scraping
came from the bottom of the wall. I looked down and spotted a trio of corpses
climbing towards us.

“Damn
you!” I picked up a sharp piece of scrap metal and stomped toward the closest
one. “Damn you!”

The
rotting monster held out its arms, grasping. I lunged and stabbed the Corpse in
the head. I pulled the impromptu blade back as the undead fell. The next
grabbed at me. I waited for it to get close and stepped back, watching it trip.
When it landed, I stomped into its skull, crushing its brain.

I
screamed at the third, “Come on!”

It
stared, slapping its hands on the cars as it climbed.

“Hurry
up!” I shouted. “Get your damn meal! Work for it!”

Jessie
pleaded, “Zach, stop!”

“No!”
I spun, screaming. “Every. Last. One. Of. These. Bastards. Deserve. To. Die!”

“Look
out!” she cried.

The
Corpse tackled me. We slammed down into a windshield; it sunk in under our
weight. I locked my forearm under its chin, holding it back, but my strength
waned. I couldn’t hold it back.

I
spit into its face. “Do it!”

It
hissed and snapped at me.

“Do
it!” I yelled again.

A
gun went off, and the Corpse fell dead, icy blood splattering my face. I looked
up to find Jessie standing by my side. Breathing heavily, she held my pistol,
which I must've dropped.

“I
had him!” I snapped, throwing the body off.

“We
need to find shelter,” Jessie whispered. “I don’t
think—I—Can—”

She
dropped the handgun and collapsed on top of me.

“Oh
my God.” I gasped.

Her
temperature had somehow managed to get worse. I couldn't believe her brain
hadn’t fried in her skull. I sat up and held her in my lap.

“Wake
up!” I pleaded. “Just wake up. We’re so close!”

Her
breathing had grown shallow.

“I
won’t allow this,” I whispered to her. “I won’t allow you to die.”

I
looked around at all of the nearby buildings. One a couple blocks away didn’t
look as damaged as the others. The higher levels seemed to have their windows
intact.

“Hold
on.” I held her up on my shoulder. “I’ll get you to safety. Then I’ll find that
vaccine!”

Corpse
groaning echoed through the streets. The gunfire and shouting had likely drawn
the undead from all around. I had to hurry.

“Please
wake up.” I carried her forward.

Although
a small girl, she still weighed more than a weakling like me could carry.
Jessie dropped limply to the ground. Shadows came from around the corner ahead.
Quickly, I grabbed Jessie under her arms and dragged her into the building to
the right. We hid around the corner and in the shadows. I kept my head just
below the low window.

My
heart nearly pounded a hole in my chest as I waited for the Corpses to pass.
Only a thin sheet of glass separated us from the looming shadows.

“There
you are!” A gruff voice snarled.

My
throat clenched. A long groan came from inches away and then a sickening
squish. A thud followed, and the same man began laughing.

“God,
I love this!” He laughed.

“Stop
screwing around!” Another man said. “The damn zombie didn’t fire the gun! We
have to find who did!”

“Shuddup,
Blue.” The first argued. “Who knows nowadays? These things are getting bigger
and stronger, not to mention smarter too!”

“Red,
the only one who needs to get smarter is you!” Blue gave a heavy sigh.

Were
they military? If I joined, I’d be safe, but I couldn't risk them killing
Jessie. Instead of jumping up and pleading for help, I held my breath and kept
my mouth shut.

“Whoever
fired the damn gun could be anywhere.” Red belched.

A
second later came the crunch of an aluminum can, and then clattering.

“You
shouldn’t even be drinking!” Blue growled, “We’re looking after one of the only
damn men who can fix this crap.”

“But
he ain't
fixn
' it!” Red said. “So let’s quit bitchin’
and start moving!”

“I
swear.” Blue sighed as their footsteps became distant. “Why do I have to patrol
with you? Just let the next zombie eat my brains.”

Finally,
I released my breath. Jessie stirred. Her eyes cracked open, and I could still
see life in them.

“You’re
here.” She whispered, and slipped back into unconsciousness.

“I’m
still here.” I nodded. “And I’m getting you somewhere safe. Then I'll find that
‘important’ guy they’re guarding. It has to be the scientist from the mansion.”

I
thought I saw Jessie smile, but it'd been a trick of the light. I peeked up
over the wall and spotted the two men walking about a block away. I marked it
to memory; that would be the way I’d head.

Once
again, I pulled Jessie's arm over my shoulder, somehow finding the strength to
stand.

“Almost
there,” I whispered as I carried her outside.

To
my surprise, the sun already seemed to be setting. The drive had been longer
than I'd thought. Long shadows bathed everything in darkness. Upon reaching the
habitable-looking building, I brought Jessie into the lobby. Mailboxes ran
along the walls, and elevators were on the far end.

“If
only they worked.” I murmured, carrying Jessie towards the stairs.

Remembering
my run in with a stairwell before, I kicked the door open, ready to shoot.
Thankfully there weren't any Corpses this time. I stared up into the dark
stairwell. Somewhere high above there, I spotted a bit of waning sunlight
;
a sign possibly. I would start there.

“Come
on,” I whispered and began the climb. I passed the first floor, the second, and
all the way to the fifth; but by that point, I'd run out of breath. The light
rested just above us.

“One
more floor,” I whispered, and continued climbing.

A
few steps later, I found the door to the sixth floor wide open. Sunlight
crawled its way in from a window on my left. The warm sunlight fell on Jessie’s
face as I looked down at her. Even being so pale, with blue lips, and dark
circles around her eyes, no one's beauty compared. I had every reason to save
this girl’s life.

I
looked up and down the carpeted hallway. Apartments were on each side. I chose
the first on my left because my arms were about to give out, apartment #621.
With a sigh, I set Jessie down and tried the doorknob. Luckily, it turned, and
I opened the door.

The
air inside blasted me with musk. No one had opened it in a long time, possibly
long before the
ZPoc
had gone down. Inside there were
large cardboard boxes here and there. The floor lay carpeted in dust bunnies,
and windows blinds hung broken. I pulled Jessie into the living room and leaned
her against the wall. After I had closed the door, I checked my gun and went to
the inside hall. One door rested on either side. I tapped the one on the right
and listened. No groans came from within. I tapped the left one, and it creaked
open a few inches.

“Hello?”
I called in.

When
no answer came, I pushed it open. I'd found the bathroom. The shower curtain
had been torn down, and the sink had backed up, filled with gunky water.
One safe room.

I
turned back to the other room knowing it had to be the bedroom. I pushed the
door open and aimed my gun, ready to shoot whatever moved, thankfully nothing
did. This room had nothing inside except a mattress and a box spring. I kneeled
down and pressed my down with my hand. It sank in and seemed comfortable; the
perfect place for Jessie to rest.

A
moment later I had Jessie on the mattress, and I covered her with Wesley’s
trench coat. She let out a small groan and rolled onto her side. I sighed and
went to the window. The sun had fully set, and darkness had come to reign.

“Going
out now is suicide,” I whispered, but I glanced back at Jessie, who had curled
into the fetal position. I didn’t have the luxury of safety. Jessie had hours
if that. I kneeled next to her and drew the ID badge out of her pocket. The
name on the badge read Dr. Marvel Belmont and had a photo of a man, the one
from the camcorder video. He had to be the important person the ruffians
mentioned.

Jessie
rolled onto her back and shook. I grabbed her shoulders and held her still.
She'd fallen into a seizure. I stayed by her side until it ended.

“I’ll
hurry!” I leaned down and kissed her lips.

With
that, I jumped to my feet and headed to the front door. I made sure to leave it
unlocked and left. Even though Jessie unconscious on the way up, it
creeped
me out much more being alone. It dawned on me I'd
never been truly alone since the
ZPoc
began. I didn't
enjoy the feeling.

I
walked outside into the cold night air. My breath floated, visible in the air.
It had grown beyond chilly. I held up the ID badge, trying to get a good look
at the address.

“3440
Monroe St.” I read aloud. “Now where the heck is that?”

I
glanced around, and spotted a sign; it read ‘Main Street.'

“A
lot of help that is.” I sighed.

I
had no idea how to find anything in a city to which I'd never been.
Maybe a map store?
They had maps at gas stations. I would
just have to start there.

With
that, I began walking, sticking close to the buildings. A few times I heard
Corpses groaning somewhere up above, but I didn’t spot them.

I
always looked over my shoulder so I could find my way back. It took twenty
minutes, but I finally found a gas station. But with it came a problem, or
about thirty-seven problems, so I counted. Outside of the entrance, everywhere
from the pumps to all sides of the building were Corpses. They stood around, aimlessly
moving, bumping into each other, and into the pumps themselves.

Checking
my pistol, I shook my head. I didn’t have more than six shots, and that
wouldn’t take care even a third of the undead blocking my way.

“How
do I get in there?” I shivered as a cold gust blew by.

If
I fired my gun as a distraction, I’d be down a bullet, and I needed them all.
Not to mention Red and Blue would hear, and they weren’t friendly. I would just
have to sneak. My adrenaline pumped as I snuck up behind a car across from the
station.

I
peeked up and over and watched the Corpses. Several shambled on the side of the
building where a side entrance existed, a door into an auto repair garage.
Being my only chance to get inside, I could only hope it remained unlocked.

As
I waited, I tried to determine a pattern to the way the creatures moved, but
felt silly after a while. They didn’t seem to be attracted by anything. Every
time one accidently kicked a rock, and it made a noise, they would all turn and
walk in that direction.

I
searched for something to throw, but a sudden blaring car alarm went off across
the street. Had a Corpse bumped into a car? Either way, I took advantage as the
undead horde shambled in that direction.

Running,
I made it to the door and tugged the handle. Of course, it didn't open. In a
panic, I shoved it with my shoulder. It budged open, but something blocked the
door. Pushing harder, I made something inside collapsed, but that also created
a loud clanking just as the car alarm died. That’s when all of the Corpses
turned to me. I slammed harder into the door. I looked up to see the first of
thirty-seven undead
stalk
back in my direction,
followed by thirty-six others.

LEVEL 26 – DUTY

Every last
Corpse locked onto me and headed my way. I needed to get inside. Something in
the window caught my eye. Just a few feet away, I spied a map stand. Break the
glass, and run; a simple plan.

Some
Corpses limped, others crawled with torn limbs, but still some came at me in a
frantic shamble. As they closed the gap, I darted to the window.
 
I pulled out my pistol and smashed it
in.

From
nowhere a Corpse broke out of the group running like a maniac, arms flailing.
I’d never seen
a
Lv01 run, and it caught me totally
off guard. It lunged and grabbed my arm just as I grabbed a map. The creature’s
gripped so tightly, I lost hold of my gun, and it fell inside the building.

This
Corpse didn't seem interested in eating me. Instead, it struggled, trying to
break my arm. The advanced Corpse opened its mouth, and its jaw cracked as it
detached. Fangs came down from the roof of its mouth. I gasped, thinking it
finally meant to tear into me; instead, it screamed in my face. The sonic blast
lifted me off my feet and sent me crashing through the window. Like a ragdoll,
I flew through shelves and anything else that stood in the way, finally
slamming into the far wall. Objects rained down around me, and my ears rang as
if a gunshot had gone off point blank.

I
didn’t have time to sit there waiting for the ringing to wear off, but I couldn't
see or hear.

“Get
up,” I said, unable to hear.

“Get
up!” I said louder.

“Get
up!” I shouted but still couldn't hear.

I
stretched my fingers and felt the thick stickiness beneath me. My insides
twisted
as I feared the worst. I held my hands in front of
me, but I couldn't make out anything. The liquid dripped down my wrists.

“Dumb,
dumb.” I heard Tiffany’s voice in the back of my mind. “Get up.”

I
knew it couldn't be her, not only because she'd died,
but
because my ears still rang.

“Dumb,
dumb! Get up or die!” She screamed.

Before
I could even try, a heavy hand wrapped around my throat and slammed me into the
wall. I kicked my legs as it lifted me. I looked down at the shadowy figure
holding me high against the wall.

“What—are—you?”
I asked.

The
shadow pulled me forward then slammed me back against the wall again and again.
Each hit knocked air
out,
I feared I would never get
back. A different corpse,
a
Lv03 perhaps, slammed me
like I weighed nothing.

Tears
rolled down my cheeks. Death had come, and that meant Jessie's fate had been
sealed too. Just then the ringing faded, and I could finally hear.

“What
are you—” It spoke and slammed me. “—Doing here?”

I
couldn’t answer; I had no breath.

“Mercenary
scum!” It hissed and slammed again.

Across
the room, the glass doors shattered and the Corpses started in.

My
assailant dropped me and for a brief moment in the dark, I saw the flicker of
green light in the attacker’s eyes. He walked straight for the undead. I could
barely see, but he moved faster than a human, or Corpse. He swung his fists in
an insane wave of attacks, grunting with each strike. A flicker of flame came
to life. I almost thought Corpses could produce flame, but I realized instead,
the creature held a lighter. Horror came over me. He planned on blowing the gas
station sky high!

“Get
up idiot!” Tiffany screamed in my head. “Zach, get up!”

Somehow
I found strength and rushed for the back. I knew I couldn't escape past the
intelligent undead. I ran past the maps and grabbed one. I didn’t have time to
look for my
pistol,
I'd lost it for good. I flew into
the back room and stumbled into a tool cabinet that blocked the exit door. I
braced myself against the wall and pushed with both feet, forcing the cabinet
out of the way.

Quickly,
I threw the door open and took two steps when the night lit up with a gigantic
fireball. The shockwave blew over me and once again, I felt like a rag doll,
tumbling away. I tried to tuck in my arms and legs as I rolled.

Did
I fly twenty feet? Forty? One hundred? I couldn't tell. As I came to a stop, I
felt burning heat on my legs. I looked down to see my pants on fire. I did the
first thing that came to find, I rolled back and forth. Finally, the fire
snuffed out, and I whispered thanks to the gaming gods.

Maybe
thirty yards away, the gas station ruins remained. Fire and black smoke
billowed into the night. If the militants were around, Blue and Red, then they
soon come investigate the scene.

I
rubbed my eyes, and as soon as my head stopped spinning, I found myself against
a car, its door dented in. My mind buzzed with questions. The Corpse that
nearly killed me spoke.
But how?
It seemed different
than the one that threw me inside. Were they both Lv03s? Or even something more
twisted?

As
I tried to stand, my legs nearly buckled. I leaned against the green Corvette
that had broken my tumble. Nearby Corpses headed for the fire, not caring to
look my way. They were drawn like moths. Surely every undead in Houston would
be heading my way.

“Holy
hell.” I breathed, as I felt the map in my hand. “I can't believe I still have
this.”

I
unfolded the paper and pulled out Dr. Belmont's ID badge. I read the address
again,
then
scoured the map. Several blocks away, I
spotted Monroe Street. Not far, but not close either. It would take a while to
get to on foot. I couldn't take a car or the living, and the dead would take
notice. The last thing I needed would be to run into either. I shuddered at the
thought of the shadow Corpse attacking me again. Next time he’d finish the job.

“Red?”
I heard Blue call from nearby. “Red, where the hell did you go?”

The
militants had already arrived. I spun behind the Corvette and peaked over to
see a man come around the corner, dressed in brown and green camo.

“Red?”
the man called out.

“It
was probably just a freak accident.” Red appeared from a nearby alley.

He
had a short red
mohawk
and wore a tank top, despite
the freezing temperatures.

“Can
we put it out?” Blue asked.

“Doubt
it.” The other muscle-head spit. “It’ll just have to burn itself out. Nothing
else caught fire.”

“Why
does this crap happen on my watch?” Blue put his head in his hands.

Both
of the militants had an assault rifle strapped to their backs. Red also had a
pump-action riot shotgun.

“Hold
up,” Red said. “I think I found something.”

Blue
cocked his head as Red turned in my direction and walked toward the Corvette. I
held my breath and watched him. I didn’t have a gun and knew I couldn't fight
them. Thankfully, Red stopped short of the car and kneeled down.

“An
ID badge for the Labs,” Red said. “Well, what do you effing know? It's the
boss' ID!”

Two
things dawned on me, their boss wasn’t President Luigi, and two
I
no longer held Dr. Belmont's badge.

I
silently cursed myself out.

“He
said he left it back at his house.” Blue scratched his head. “How the hell did
it end up out here?”

“Who
knows,” Red said. “Good thing I found it, though, if anyone else did they could
get access to the Labs.”

My
heart sank. My ticket to the labs had been stolen. Now someone held it
who
would never hand it over, even if I asked nicely.

“Well
let’s get back,” Blue said. “I don’t like being out here with the Creepers
running around.”

“Yeah,
Creepers, zombies, I don’t like any of them,” Red replied.

Red
and Blue left in the direction of the labs. I had no
choice,
I needed to follow the jerks.

With
a sigh, I edged along behind the cars and watched them go. I darted every time
they were far enough away, running from one piece of wreckage to the next.

After
five blocks they hadn’t noticed, so things weren’t going so badly. I’d almost
reached G.O.D. Mode Games, and I still needed to somehow get that badge. Red
and Blue
were
a full block ahead of me. I moved
forward just as a shadow figure stepped out in front of the pair of militants.
I gasped and dove behind a wrecked car.

“A
creeper! Crap!” Red shouted.

I
watched the scene unfold. Both Blue and Red drew their rifles and unleashed
hell. The figure leaped into the air and came down behind them. They spun and
fired in my direction. I ducked my head and rushed to the next car, out of the
line of fire. Red and Blue fired and fired, but the single creature they called
a Creeper proved too fast. It leaped about like a frog, from the tops of cars
to hanging on the wall of buildings.

“Shoot
the damn thing!” Red screamed.

Out
of the alley came a sonic screech, followed by an elongated arm, stretching
like rubber. It grabbed Blue by his head and tore him into the alley with a
loud scream.

“Bob!”
Red roared and ignored the Creeper. He aimed his gun into the alley and fired
there instead.

A
blood-chilling scream pierced the night from the alley. Something had killed
Blue.

“Bastards!”
Red roared.

He
reached for his belt and pulled a grenade pin from his teeth, then hurled it
into the alley.
An explosion of dust and debris launched into
the air.
Red stood still, waiting, ready to shoot again.

I
didn’t want to get closer, but I needed that ID badge!

The
Creeper now hung off a lamppost by one arm, staring down at Red, laughing.

“
Merc
scum!
Merc
scum!” It mocked.

Red
yelled. “Shut the hell up!”

He
spun to aim at the mocking creature and fired, but the attack never met its
target. Another arm shot out of the alley and grabbed Red's arm.

“No!”
I cried, running straight for him.

Red
stared at me, and I became the last thing he ever saw. A split-second later,
the elongated arm ripped him from his spot, right into the shadow tomb.

I
skidded to a stop. The Creeper looked at me. I couldn’t see its face, but I
could feel its eyes, staring into my soul, sizing me up, deciding whose side I
fought on.

“I’m
not with them,” I whispered.

As
if it heard me, the Creeper leaped across the street and ran up the side of the
building, completely defying gravity. I watched him go and disappear over the
rooftop, five stories up.

The
night returned to silence. The base sat just a few blocks, but Red and Blue
said no one could get in without an ID badge. I saw no way around it. Even
though fear riddled my being, I had to go into that alley. Swallowing hard, I
made my way forward to where Red had dropped his rifle.

Slowly,
I kneeled down and picked up the gun, then inched toward the alley.

When
I made it to the corner, I peeked in. The moon shone down just enough to let my
eyes see shapes. S several feet off the ground, a body hung from the wall
covered in some kind of gunk. I could make out Red's
mohawk
.
I didn't see Blue anywhere.

My
heart pounded as I stepped inside, gun at the ready. The path only stood five
feet across, which didn't leave a lot of room to maneuver. As I reached Red, I
could see the ID badge hanging from the lanyard. He'd tied it to his belt.
Still I couldn't reach it. Lucky for me a dumpster sat right next to him. I
strapped the gun to my back and climbed up.

Red's
head hung to his chest; throat ripped out. I almost felt sorry for the poor
bastard. I came to the edge of the dumpster and stood on my
tip-toes
.
I reached up.

“Come
on,” I whispered. “Just a couple more inches.”

My
fingertips grazed the bottom of the badge, and it swung away.

“Dammit!”
I hissed.

I
grabbed the wall and tried to find a handhold so I could get just a bit closer.
I stretched until it hurt. The badge swung toward me, and I grabbed on.

Red's
eyes shot open, and a groan escaped his throat.

I
cried out and fell backward into the open section of the dumpster. I stared up
in horror, watching the Red-turned corpse thrash about behind the gunk that
pinned him to the wall. The dumpster lid fell shut, and I could still hear him.

I
sighed deeply and reached to open the lid when the rumble of hundreds of groans
came from just outside. I could hear the Corpses stumbling through the alley,
pounding on the outside of the dumpster. Where had they come from? It didn't
matter. They'd trapped me like a sardine.

“Oh
no.” I gasped.