Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited (14 page)

Chapter 11

The back office is dark, the light of Hope’s flashlight starting to dim, forcing her to crank the handle a few more times.

              “This is tedious,” Hope complains after the flashlight is fully charged.

              “Hey you wanted to be in charge of the light,” Fanny chuckles.

              “Yeah, but I didn’t think it was going to be this annoying,” Hope says shining the light at her friend.

              “Are you two always this noisy when you’re someplace you don’t know?” Mika growls in a low pitch voice.

              “Just trying to lighten the mood,” Fanny smirks, “it helps.”             

              “Yeah, well until we know we’re really alone how about if we keep communication down to ‘as needed’?” Mika hisses not impressed.

              Fanny shoots a glace over to Hope and rolls her eyes slightly irritated with Mika’s attitude. They continue to search through the office until they conclude that is it pointless to be there. They exit the room and find themselves back inside the large backroom.

              “It doesn’t look like there is anything here,” Mika says picking up an old dusty can, “it’s like this place has been raided already.”

              “Yeah several times by the look of it,” Fanny says pushing a box aside with her foot. “But we had to know this was a long shot. Sixteen years is a long time, there must have probably been several dozens of people coming through here.”

              “Then we’re just wasting time here,” Mika says frustrated.

              “Maybe not,” Hope says looking around, “perhaps we could stay here for the night. Continue our search for supplies in the morning.”

              “We should probably find the others,” Fanny says, “and check on John.”

              Hope’s flashlight flickers before going out leaving the trip in complete darkness. Screeching is heard around them as Hope frantically cranks the flashlight, charging it as fast as she can. The light comes on just in time for Hope to see the undead creature in front of her.

              “Oh, Shit,” she whimpers.

              She backtracks slightly, dropping the flashlight on the ground as she fumbles around reaching for the handle of her sword. The light rolls around revealing four more creatures slowly shuffling their way through the darkness.

              “We might need to find somewhere else to bed,” Mika says snidely as he takes grip of his machete, swinging it wildly at the first Zombie he can see.

              “We need to get out of here,” Fanny shouts as she slices her blade through one of the creature’s arms, “we can’t see anything. We’re basically sitting ducks.

              “Make a run for the door,” Mika says kicking a Zombie to the ground before driving the steel of his blade through its throat.

              “What about you?” Fanny asks pushing back another one.

              “I’ll hold them off as long as I can,” Mika says as he jumps back to his feet, backing himself into a wall. “Just get out of here! I’ll catch up after I finish.”

              He swings the machete forcibly finishing off another one, Hope goes to reach for the flashlight lying dormant on the ground reflecting the shadow of Mika kicking and slashing as the Zombies begin to swarm around him. Fanny grabs Hope by the shoulder pulling her away leaving the flashlight behind. They stumble through the darkness, kicking and thrashing their way past the piles of trash scattered on the floor. They don’t stop pushing past until they make it back to front of the store. Hope looks back, continuing to step slowly backward. Her foot squishes beneath her and she slips to the ground freeing the old flashlight from under a pile of trash. The beam is weak but just enough to show her the few basic remains of John’s eaten body lying right beside her. She pants frantically before letting out an ear piercing scream that echoes through the abandoned building.

              “Shh,” Fanny says dropping beside her friend, her hand clasped over her mouth. “You have to be quiet or those things will know where we are.” Hope’s muffled voice and concerned eyes are enough for Fanny to turn her head and find John’s mangled body ripped to shreds. She shuts her eyes as the flashlight blacks out. “What a fool.” She sighs as she helps her friend back to her feet. “We have to find the others and get out of this place.”

              “I agree,” Hope says, “but what about Mika?

              “For now we wait for him to find us,” Fanny answers wiping John’s blood off her arms.

              “I don’t think we have that long to wait,” Hope says pointing at the front of the store.

              The windows where they first came in are smashed and exposed with the last few beams of daylight pouring in, revealing the small horde of undead monstrosities limping and staggering their way toward them.

              “This isn’t good,” Hope says brandishing her sword.

              “We can’t win this,” Fanny says tugging at Hope’s shirt, “we have to find another way out of here. There has to be a back door.”

              “What about the others?” Hope asks.

              “It’s your call,” Fanny sighs, “but I highly recommend retreating.”

              Hope grits her teeth and tightens her grip on her sword before finally letting out a soft growl and lowering her blade. “We find the others. No one else gets left behind and no one else dies.”

              “Hope that’s ridiculous,” Fanny murmurs as she chases after her friend.

              They hack and slash their way through the first couple of Zombies, the scattered remains of daylight the only source of light they have as their eyes wander aimlessly for their separated friends.

              “MIKA!” Hope calls out startling Fanny as she does.

              “What are you doing?” Fanny growls at her.

              “Hey it’s not like I’m giving up our position,” Hope says slicing off another zombie head, “I think they already know we’re here.”

              “AMANDA?! SARA?!” Fanny calls out after giving in to Hope’s dispute.

              “Over here!” Amanda’s voice calls out from the shadow of the store. “These undead fucks have us surrounded!”

              “We have to get to them,” Hope says to Fanny.

              “No,” Mika says in his deep rugged voice. Bodily remains and blood cover him from top to bottom, his machete blade still dripping beside him. “There is no way to save them and ourselves.”

              “We have to do something!” Hope cries.

              “We can’t just let them die like this,” Fanny says with a snort.

              “If you try to, you will die,” Mika says slowly emphasizing his point.

              “Then at least I’ll die trying to save the lives of our friends,” Hope grumbles before turning her back on him abruptly leaving with Fanny right behind her.

              They hack and slash several of the undead as they make their way into the shadows making them slightly more hesitant to attack at will. The dim light from the flashlight The Major is holding gives little leeway to the small groups surroundings.

              “We need to find a back way out of here,” Fanny calls out cutting off the arm of one of the Zombies that grabs her arm. She kicks it to the ground and steps on its chest before driving the thick blade of the machete down into the creature’s neck dislodging its head. “We can’t take all of them.”

              “I saw an emergency exit,” The Major says, “if we can only get to it.”

              “What do we have to lose?” Mika Says.

              “Only everything,” Hope whispers.

              The group moves slowly, remaining in their tight huddle as they make their way throughout the store. They can hear the prattling of the undead feet swarming around them, the scratching and grinding of their nails and exposed bones against the floor and walls. Hissing and grunting sounds boom throughout the darkness and into each of their heads and down their spines. Amanda cranks the flashlight strengthening the beam just enough to show a tremendous creature standing in front of the door. The skin of the creature is a pale gray color, almost the color of slate. Its eyes are voided, the skin of its forehead pulled over tightly, its hair mostly gone with the exception of a few long, thick strand of black braided hair hanging down almost the entire length of the creature. Its left arm is long and slender extending down to its thin grotesque hand. Five knife like nails protruding from the end. The right arm is thick and block like. It sways back and forth momentarily before it crashes into the wall, demolishing the brick around it.

              “What in the world is that?” Hope asks taking a half step back.

              “It’s the thing those other undead pieces of shit are scared of,” Fanny gulps. Her hands tighten up around the handle of her machete. Her palms sweat up as she holds out the blade with her arm shaking.

              “Ya know what that looks like to me?” a male voice shouts out from the darkness, his face only seen when he strikes a flare. He uses the fire from the flare to light up a torch he holds in his other hand. “It looks like fun!” He tosses flare onto the creature before waving for the others to follow him. He leads the group waving the torch back and forth, screaming like a mad man, “YEE HAW!” he cries out as he pulls a small black handgun out from his waist band and starts firing bullets into as many undead heads as he can before laughing hysterically with each shot.

              “Are we sure we should be trusting this man?” The Major asks.

              “Would you rather deal with that ugly son of a bitch back there?” Fanny shoots back, “he may not be conventional, but he is our best bet.”

              “All right, we’re almost there,” the stranger calls out still in high spirts. He let’s off a few more shots, shattering a still intact window and diving out, the others following suit. “I sure hope that’s everybody. If not, they are not going to appreciate this!” he chuckles as he tosses the torch back through the window, setting fire to the store.

              The others back away as he stands in delight as the fire spreads quickly, the flames rising up past the windows almost dancing as the Zombies inside screech and cry out causing him to chuckle in delight.

              “Alright,” The Major says turning the mysterious stranger around. The others circle around him giving him no way out. “Who are you, and why did you save us?”

              “Where are my manners?” The stranger says forcing his hand into the Major shaking in vigorously as he stands with a smile. After the Major’s he works his way around the group, “my name is Brad.” He stops at Fanny, his smile widening as he brings her hand up to his lips and kisses it softly. “And who might you be?”

              Fanny’s eyes scan Brad up and down as she tries to figure out what his deal is. Brad looks to be in his mid-thirties, dressed in dark camo pants that fit him perfectly. His black army boots wrapped up tightly up around his calf. His sculpted body can be seen underneath his white, blood stained t-shirt. His hair is black and at a reasonable length, his face clean shaven with minor nicks and bruises around his chin.

              “I’m Fanny and these are my friends,” Fanny replies. “Hope, Amanda, Sara…”

              “Where did you come from?” Mika asks cutting Fanny off.

              “Well originally I come from California,” Brad replies with a smile.

              “I mean how did you find us?” Mika asks frustrated.

              “Oh that was easy,” Brad smiles again, “I watched you go in.”

              “Yeah that’s not creepy at all,” Amanda says with wide eyes as she backs away from the group.

              “What do you mean you were watching us?” The Major asks.

              “Oh,” Brad says chuckling, “sorry I was kind of confused by the questioning.”

              “No shit,” Mika whispers to himself.

              “I have a safe house not too far from here,” Brad answers, “I was up on the roof doing some recon, that’s where I watched you go in. then I watched as the Zombie horde build up and force themselves in. that’s when we figured you’d need help.”

              “Excuse me,” Hope says holding up a finger and cutting him off, “but did I just hear you say ‘we’?”

              “Yeah, you didn’t think that I would be holed up all by myself did you?” Brad says. “Oh but where are my manners? Would you like to meet them?”

              “Are they anything like you?” Sara asks.

              “No I’m afraid not,” Brad says shaking his head, “to be honest they’re a little weird.”

              “Weird how?” Hope asks.

              “I dunno,” Brad shrugs, “its little things, you know. It’s like the world ended and they don’t seem concerned with anything but remaining in their hole.”

              “Yeah I could see how that would be weird,” Fanny smirks as she glances over in The Major’s direction.

              “You wouldn’t happen to have food and water would you?” Mika asks.