Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour (4 page)

“I
ran into Serenade Kennedy.”

Wesley
lifted his head and eyed me strangely.

“She
almost got me, but I smashed her brains in. Score one Zach!”

“So
they turn even if they aren't bitten,” Wesley whispered. “It's gone airborne.
Meh, good riddance to the bitch.”

I
furrowed my brow. “She was human! How can you say that?”

“Serenade
wanted to sell us to another company,” Wesley explained. “She owned a lot of
the stocks and crap. But she thought G.O.D. Mode Games would be better for our
future.”

Tiffany
narrowed her eyes. “You knew the woman was dead already?”

“Yeah,
of course.” He shrugged.

“But
how? You hadn’t even been down that hall.”

Wesley
looked up with eyes, cold and jaded. “She had it coming.”

Tiffany
raised her pistol. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Yep.”
he grinned. “I was the one who killed her.”

LEVEL 06 – QUESTING

Tiffany aimed
her nine-millimeter at the ‘Zombie Killer’. I shook my head as he grinned from
ear to ear.

“You’re
joking.” I threw my hand out to block Tiffany’s aim, “You didn’t actually shoot
her!”

Tiffany
snapped, “Don’t get in my way, Zach!”

She
sounded serious, so I quickly dropped my arm. “Maybe he means something else?
You didn’t actually mean that you killed her? Like when she was alive?”

Wesley
put his hand under his chin in thought. “Hmm, you killed the zombie Serenade.
So what do you think I mean?”

“Seriously?
What’s wrong with you?”

Tiffany’s
aim didn’t falter; in fact, she took a step closer, coming with inches of still
grasping Corpses.

“Tiffany,
be careful!” I warned.

She
turned to me with a deadly glare. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t shoot this
asshole!”

I
looked from Tiffany to Wesley. “He killed her in self-defense?”

“It
wasn’t.” Wesley sang.

“Or
an accident?”

“Nope!”

“Maybe
it—”

Wesley
hung his head and held up his hand. “Just drop it. I killed her cold.”

I
watched Tiffany’s feet as she stomped over the still moving undead. She shoved
her gun against the idiot’s forehead. Did he want to commit suicide, and put a
life on this innocent girl’s hands?

“Give
me one reason I shouldn’t shoot you cold.”

“Because
you’re not like me.” He whispered.

“Not
a good enough reason!” Tiffany pulled the trigger.

I
shut my eyes tight, but the gun didn't go off. I peeked to see she still held
the gun in the Wesley’s face.

Tiffany
pressed a side button. “Next time, no safety.”

Wesley
‘s chuckled. “You almost had me there. I think I just pissed myself a little.”

I
threw my arms up. “Please, we need to work together!”

Tiffany
shook her head. “I’d rather kill myself than work with anyone who’s taken a
life! Bastards like him are the reason, Zach. The reason why you—”

Wesley
put his hand on her gun. “The reason why he what? Is there something you want
to tell him?”

Tiffany's
looked away. “We’ll finish this later.”

Wesley
grabbed her hand. “I want to clear the air about this. The kids won’t
understand if he thinks his wife is a killer!”

“As
if I’d marry him!”

“Oh,
we’re all killers in the end, aren’t we Tiffany?” He stepped forward, forcing
her back. “Aren’t. We.
Tiffa
?”

Tiffa
;
that name again! I had no idea what he meant by us all being killers. I wanted
to ask, but a series of groans gave me a reason to turn around. A Corpse horde
shambled through the garage gate, hungry eyes trained on us.

“You
have got to be kidding me!” I whimpered.

So
many limbs shifted next to each other; I couldn't tell how many were coming.

Stepping
back, I lifted my gun. “What do we do?”

The
Corpses closed in by the second, but Tiffany and Wesley stared into each
other’s eyes as if having a silent conversation. What were they saying and why
not involve me?

I
had to intervene. “This is nuts. We have to run!”

The
first Corpse came within ten feet of Wesley, ugly, fat, and ready to burst. It
couldn’t possibly consume another bite, but that didn’t matter, it would still
try. Crimson overflowed from its jaws and stank scorched my nostrils.

Tiffany
shoved Wesley, and he stumbled towards the bloated Corpse.

“Is
that your game?” he held both hands out wide, his back to the wave of undead. “Let
them do your dirty work?”

I
shook my head. “Tiffany! Come on!”

She
didn’t speak.

“
Tiffa
!” I pleaded, and she glanced at me briefly.

The
fat Corpse walked up right behind Wesley, and Tiffany turned back with cold
eyes. I wanted to try and save Wesley, but I might shoot him by mistake. I'd
never even fired a gun. The Corpse grabbed his shoulder and brought its ugly
face forward.

“
Tiffa
!” I screamed.

Bang.

A
gaping hole appeared in the bloater’s face, and it collapsed.

Wesley
cocked an eyebrow. “Good shot, Mrs. Mastiff.”

I
furrowed my brow. I’d never told him my last name. And why did he keep
referring to us getting married?

She
growled like a canine. “Just shut up!”

Wesley
stepped back, arrogance overflowing.
If he got bitten, the
blood would be on her hands, not his.
She’d have to live with that
guilt.

“What
are you doing?” I snapped at him.

“Exactly
what she wants!” Wesley laughed. “But she’s not the real murderer. She’s not
the
Negastar
.”

“The
nega
-what?” I asked, his words confusing me even
further.

Two
more Corpses grabbed his arms, and I winced.

Tiffany’s
gun went off twice, and they fell away.

Wesley
broke into a fit of laughter and said, “You’re priceless! You’ve got such a
motherly instinct.”

“I’ll
never marry, nor have kids, so shut the hell up!” She shouted.

How
could Wesley play such a dangerous game? Why did he mock her? A trio grabbed
Wesley, and he didn’t resist. He lifted his head to the sky and laughed like a
maniac.

Three
shots went off, and all three fell. Tiffany had great aim, but the number of
Corpses tripled. This time, he would die for sure. According to Jeff, we had
eleven bullets, which left her with only four shots.

The
Corpses grabbed Wesley's arms and attacked. She pulled the trigger over and
over. Four went down, but the two remaining tore into him. Still, he laughed.
Their teeth weren’t piercing his trench coat.

“It’s
time to set the stage of destiny!” Wesley cried. He grabbed the shotgun off his
back, spun and whacked one, sending it reeling. He pumped the
forestock
and fired. The powerful spread-shot knocked down
several of the nearby undead. He continued forward, pumping and firing, pumping
and firing, disappearing further into the crowd.

“Where’s
he going?” I asked.

“That
bastard!” Tiffany cried. “He’s trying to escape!”

She
ran after him, and I yelled for her to wait, but she didn’t slow.

“Dammit!”
I shouted and gave chase. The dismembered Corpses on the ground snapped as I
jumped between them.

Wesley
continued to fire his gun, clearing a gore-ridden path. After a few blasts, I
lost sight of him. Tiffany stabbed with her dagger, making her way through, and
then she too disappeared.

There
were too many Corpses! From behind the wall of
shamblers
,
an engine revved.
 
They were about
to leave me!

“Wait!
I'm coming!”

Corpses
converged before me, but fear stole my ability to move. I needed to shoot!

A
pair of undead crashed down as the back door of an SUV burst open.

Tiffany
appeared, “Get in!”

I
leaped inside, but one Corpse managed to grab the door with its bloody fingers.
I tried to pull it closed, but another grabbed my ankle.

I
reared back, and kicked, snapping its wrist. “Go away!”

As
the Corpse fell away, I slammed the door.

Sighing
deeply, I fell back into the seat. Tiffany sat on the passenger side, with
Wesley at the wheel.

“What
about the others?” I asked.

Wesley
grinned. “They don’t get to go on our little field trip.”

Tiffany
snapped in her seatbelt and cursed. Wesley geared into reverse and stomped on
the gas. The SUV became a Corpse-smashing machine. He spun the wheel, hollering
like a howler monkey.

I
held on for dear life as the vehicle went in tight donuts, sending
indistinguishable body parts flying. I slammed into the opposite side, and my
legs flew over my head. As I landed on the floor, my weapons bounced away.
Wesley continued spinning the wheel round and round. More than once we went on
two tires and nearly flipped. An agonizing minute later the ride came to a
complete stop.

“Are
you done?” I asked, swallowing down vomit.

“Yeah.
He’s done.” Tiffany sighed.

Wesley
laughed, and I pulled myself into the seat. The gore-covered windows blocked
all lines of sight.

Wesley
smacked the steering wheel. “That was a hoot!”

“For
you maybe,” I muttered as everything spun.

“Won’t
do it again. I promise, Mr. Mastiff.”

I
held my head. “Oh please, by all means.”

I
kicked open the door and blew chunks, furthering the mess.

“What
kind of stunt was that, dumbass?” Tiffany snapped.

“What
stunt?” Wesley cocked his head. “I’m showing you
noobs
how to kill zombies!”

“No!
You tricked me into wasting my ammo so I wouldn’t shoot your sorry ass!” She
punched his shoulder repeatedly. Wesley took each hit with a chuckle.

“We'll
deal with your crap later,” Tiffany said. “The only reason I didn’t blow your
brains out is because we need you and your stupid skills.”

“And
my hat! Always need my Zombie Killing Hat. It’s the source of my skills.
Remember that, children.”

To
Wesley, the world had become a game, a wild, insane, game.

“I’m
going to burn that hat. The first chance I get.” Tiffany grumbled.

Wesley
grabbed his fedora. “Don’t! She’s my baby!”

“It’s
a she?” I sighed. “Of course, just like a car or boat.”

“Sexist
bullcrap
,” Tiffany said.

Wesley
asked. “Get over yourself. Political correctness went out the window just now.”

Tiffany
huffed, then peered out the front window.

“Do
you see something?” I asked.

“More
of them. We need to close the gate.”

In
response, Wesley stomped on the gas. The SUV lurched, slamming me back. We flew
over several Corpses and slid outside. Idling again, he threw open the door and
jumped out.

I
leaned forward. “What’s he doing?”

“How
should I know?” Tiffany leaned her head against the window.

Wesley
approached a small silver box on the wall and pried it open. He did some
fiddling, and the gate lowered with a loud electrical hum.

With
the garage secure, he came back, slashing a few Corpses on the way.

Wesley
looked over his shoulder. “Hey, Frank!”

“Zach!”
I said. “My name is Zach!”

“Yeah,
Jack, whatever--” Wesley waved his hand.

“Zach!”

He
cleared his throat. “Anyway, there should be a radio in the back seat. I saw it
fly back there.”

I
looked around and felt under the seat and found the handheld receiver.

“This?”
I held it up.

“Yes.”
He snatched it and tossed it into the air.

Tiffany
snapped it out of the air and turned it over in her hands.

“It’s
linked to the security desk,” Wesley said. “Each employee with a car was given
one. We radio the desk, and they open the garage with the security console, you
know when we were doing overtime. But it only links to this building.”

“We’re
really going somewhere?” I asked.

“Yeah,
the 7n20.” Wesley named the local department store.

“Why?”

“Supplies
of course.” He murmured. “And to show you guys the way of the world.”

“Huh?”
I asked.

A
smile hit the corner of his lips. “Never mind, I just need a new high score.”

The
idiot would doom us all for a few points.

Tiffany
handed me the radio. “Tell the others.”

“R-right,”
I held the button. “Hey. It’s me, Zach.”

A
moment later, Jeff spoke. “Jessie was worried sick! We watched you guys walk
into the garage and then it sounded like a war going on in there!”

“A
horde of Corpses,” I replied as I looked from Tiffany to Wesley. Hopefully, she
wouldn't mount and kill him at any second, although she glared every so often
with utter hatred.

“Are
you alright?” Dave’s voice crackled through.

“Yeah,
all three of us,” I said.

“Zach!”
Jessie's voice chimed in. “Where are you now?”

“We’re
heading to the 7n20.”