Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited (29 page)

              “CUTTER!” a gravelly voice roars out startling both the survivors and the horde.

              A massive creature stomps forward. Its features are similar to the ape like Zombie that killed Fanny. A chill runs down Hope’s spine before she feels her blood boiling. A glossy coating films over her eyes as she shoots the shotgun repeatedly before getting tossed aside by the overgrown atrocity.

              “HOPE!” Mika shouts as he crawls over to her.

              “CUTTER!” The monster roars again.

              “If you want Cutter, you’ll have to go through me,” O’Brian says getting in front of the creature.

              “Not a problem,” the beast growls, snapping O’Brian’s neck in the process.

              Dr. Cutter steps forward, his hands shaking, and his breathing short and stagnant as he stands face to face with the creature, “what do you want with me?”

              “Don’t you recognize me?” The creature rumbles.

              “I’m sorry, but I don’t,” Dr. Cutter says forcing through his fear.

              “How disappointing,” the creature snarls, “after all, you did this to me.”

              “How many of these things did you make?” Hope asks making her way to the doctor.

              “O…O…O…Only one,” Dr. Cutter stutters, “at least that’s all I recall.”

              “Don’t lie to me,” Hope grumbles.

              “I’m not. I don’t know where this creature came from,” Dr. Cutter insists.

              “You infected me, made me this, this thing,” the creature roars. “Remember Major Brick? You watched as he bit me, transferring the virus to me. You never even tried to help me, you just tossed me aside like I was disposable.”

              “Kevin?” Dr. Cutter says his jaw dropped in shock.

              “Yes father, surprised to see me?” the creature grins.

              “But you were dead. I never would have just tossed you out, I checked and rechecked, you had no vitals, didn’t respond to any of the stimulants,” Dr. Cutter says.

              “So you just let me become one of them?” the monster roars.

              “No, I never would have,” Dr. Cutter cries.

              “Enough talk,” the monster thunders, swinging its massive claws at the doctor.

              Hope uses the last bit of energy she has to knock Dr. Cutter out of the way, taking the brunt of the attack as she does.

              “Run,” Hope says her arm wrapped around her chest as she struggles to get to her feet.

              The massive Zombie swings its arm again knocking Hope backward into Lieutenant Bradford. It turns its attention back to Dr. Cutter. Lieutenant Bradford peels Hope off of her as the two females fight to get back to their feet.

              “Take the others, get to the boat,” Hope says, wobbling as she stands.

              “What about you?” Bradford asks.

              “I’m going to keep that thing busy,” Hope groans.

              “You won’t survive,” Bradford argues, trying to stop her.

              “Don’t worry about me, just save the others,” Hope says.

              She pumps the shotgun and fires the shell, scattering it across the beasts face.

              “You can’t stop me, I am invincible!” The Zombie roars.

              “We’ll see about that,” Hope says firing the shotgun again.

              The creature laughs as the fragments bounce off the beast’s tough hide.

              “Hope, we can’t win this,” Mika says coming besides her, “last time we saw one of these things it took O’Brian blowing it up. And last I checked we are all out of explosives.”

              “I’m not trying to win,” Hope says to him, “I’m trying to buy time for the rest of you.”

              “You’re crazy, if you think I’m just going to leave you here,” Mika argues.

              “I like to think of myself as a wildfire,” Hope smirks, “now go, and let me burn like one.”

              Hope pushes him out of the way, firing the shotgun again as the creature reaches them. She cocks the shotgun again, pulling the trigger and firing her last shot.

              “I’m out,” Hope says tossing her gun to the side.

              “We have to get out of here,” Mika says.

              “There is no way to stop me, I am the harbinger!” The beast roars.

              “SUCK ON THIS!” Dr. Cutter says tossing a small vial into the creature’s mouth as it roars.

              “What did you just do?” Hope asks.

              “I just gave him the anti-virus,” Dr. Cutter says.

              “What does that mean?” Hope asks.

              “If I’m right, the anti-virus should attack him from the inside,” Dr. Cutter answers,

              “We have to get to the boat,” Mika urges.

              “And quickly,” Dr. Cutter says, “If I’m wrong that anti-virus could make him stronger.”

              “That’s just fucking wonderful,” Hope says limping as the trio head for the boat.

              The massive creature roars, white foam builds up around its mouth. Its milky, cloud covered eyes change to a deep blue color. Its armor like skin cracks, flaking off piece-by-piece revealing flesh underneath. It lets out one last massive roar before the rest of the exoskeleton drops revealing the man underneath. He cries out as the foam around his mouth pours out faster. He drops to his knees as the Zombie horde comes back out from the shadows, circling around and attacking the man. Hope, Mika, and Dr. Cutter make it to the boat in time to watch.

              “What happened out there?” Brad asks meeting them on the deck.

              “Short version, we dodged a bullet,” Mika sighs.

              “We need to get this thing moving, quickly before those monstrosities realize we’re still here,” Hope orders, “how’s the fuel situation?”

              “There’s some,” Brad replies, “we may have to rely on the current more then we planned on.”

              “That’s better than nothing.”

              Hope follows Brad back to the main control room where Colonel Logan is waiting, sitting in a black and red swivel chair.

              “What is our heading?” Colonel Logan asks.

              “Somewhere around here,” Hope answers pointing to a location on a map.

              “But there is no military base anywhere in that vicinity,” Colonel Logan says.

              “The freedom fighters were a secret. Their base was never mentioned. They kept it hidden and defended it long before the Omega Virus was dropped,” Hope says looking around and noticing the weird looks she’s getting. “What? Its basic history back home.”

              “Alright, let’s get to our new base,” Mika says.

              Hope shakes her head, a sly grin appearing on her face, “No. let’s go home.”

Epilogue

             
The trip back home took us over a week. Supplies diminished quickly yet our pure gut and will to survive kept us going until we arrived back on the shore. Mother and Father were saddened to learn of Fanny’s fate. Father said he would erect a monument, or headstone in Fanny’s honor but I know it isn’t the same. Things on the island have also changed since our departure, Joshua had been overthrown shortly after we left, Connor saw to that. They have since abolished most of the rules of the island giving the inhabitants more freedom. They also formed a council to govern over and rule with democracy. They offered Mika a seat after hearing of his courage and the sacrifices he made for me. He declined of course, not wanting to deal with that kind of pressure. Doctor Cutter has since gone on to fill that seat. He has some great plans for the future and now with a dedicated team behind him I know he can make the right decisions. The Colonel thinks of this time on the island as some sort of retirement, opting out of his military responsibilities and instead looking toward the finer things in life such as gardening. Lieutenant Bradford has made herself at home training with Natalie so the two can help keep peace on the island ensuring that no one can ever again become as corrupt as Joshua. As for me, I’m still unsure what I want to do with my life but I do know I’m not in any rush to figure it out. Mika and I are planning on heading back to the main land soon, hoping to find the survivors we left back in Louisiana. This time I’m ready to burn, to become unstoppable, to blaze a new path and protect as many people as I can. I have become the wildfire.