Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited (7 page)

              “That’s not what I meant,” John sighs, his eyes looking down at his feet.

              “It was an accident,” Hope says stepping in front of him.

              “Its accidents like that, that will get us killed,” Fanny says with a harsh lower tone.

              “Then I guess you should have grabbed the map yourself,” Hope snipes back.

              Fanny walks back, frustrated that the discussion isn’t going anywhere. She throws her bag over her shoulder her eyes filled with fire and intensity as she glares at the rest of her followers. She doesn’t have to say a word, instead they each let out a sigh before they each grab their bags and grudgingly follow her out of the abandoned store.

              “It’s so cold,” Karen whispers to John as the pair bring up the rear, “I’m getting chills down my spine.”

              “That’s not the night air,” John replies, “that’s fear; a sense of impending doom.”

              “Well that’s reassuring,” Karen says with a cringe.

              The wind whistles, rattling the tree branches above them. Hope stays close to Fanny, almost matching her step for step. Sarah is huddled in the middle, her gun gripped in both her hands. Karen is walking beside John, almost right on top of him as she continually scans through the darkness, almost waiting for something to pop out. The small group continues on their trek as the moon slowly starts to descend from the sky and the sun starts to rise.

              The sun has just started to cover most of the terrain, the only darkness around them coming from the shadows of the trees and broken down buildings. They have stopped for a rest outside of an old supermarket. Their feet burning, a raw throbbing feeling on each of their heels.

              “All this walking sucks,” John whines.

              “Yeah well suck it up buttercup,” Fanny says switching out her socks, “we still have a long way to go.”

              “Why are we even risking our lives for people we don’t even know?” Karen asks.

              “Hey!” Fanny says getting to her feet, “you volunteered remember? Besides their lives are just as important as ours.” Karen lowers her head, nothing further to say. “That’s something everyone here should remember. We are here to save lives. Even if we all die, at least we know we died trying.”

              “I don’t want to die,” Hope says with a whisper.

              “None of us want to die,” Fanny says sitting back down, “but eventually it will find us. Maybe not here, but it will.”

              The silence that falls over the group is almost deafening. Karen’s eyes dart from person to person as her hand starts to tremble, her eyes watering as she starts to break down. “I…don’t…want…to…die…” She says huffing and puffing.

              “Don’t worry,” John says patting her hand, “we’ll do the best we can to help each other stay alive.”

              “Yeah the best way to do that is to find shelter first,” Fanny reminds.

              “Then I guess we’d better get moving again,” Hope says getting to her feet, swinging her bag over her shoulder.

              “That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard so far,” Fanny says following her friend. The rest of the group follows closely behind.

              “Are we sure we are going the right way?” Sarah asks, her voice is soft and stuttering almost as if she was afraid to ask.

              Fanny and Hope stop short, the rest of the group bumping into them in an almost comedic fashion.

              “I’m not sure about anything anymore,” Fanny admits.

              “We have to find a place to rest soon, I’m tired,” John whines.

              “Yeah I could use some sleep too,” Karen speaks up.

              Fanny looks around at each of the buildings hoping to find one that might keep them safe for a short duration. She scans the horizon with little luck. Most of the buildings are partially destroyed, walls crumbled around bones of tortured survivors and undead. The buildings that are still standing have an uneasy feel about them. A bloody handprint, drags from the window of an old dry cleaners almost like a sign saying “Stay Away!” Her eyes draw upward, over the buildings and the treetops and off into the distance toward an old chapel.

              “That way,” Fanny points.

              “Why?” Hope asks slightly confused.

              “I can see the point of a chapel off in the distance,” Fanny answers.

              “But how do you know it’s still standing?” Sarah asks.

              “I don’t,” Fanny replies with a smile, her eyes focused on her friend, “but sometimes, even here, you have to have hope.”

              “Wow that was corny,” Hope says with a slight chuckle.

              “Yeah, it’s a gift,” Fanny winks before starting toward the church.

              The walk doesn’t take long with the chapel guiding them. The old brick church stands tall in front of them. They check the outside thoroughly, the solid metal side doors look complete, each one flat with no visible way through them but many derogatory graffiti marks, one even going so far as to have a crude biohazard symbol with the words “The end of mankind”, written above it. The group shares a solemn look before continuing their way around. The stain glass windows look mostly intact with a few exceptions of what looks like small holes where they were penetrated by stones.

              “Looks pretty solid,” Sarah says after they get back to the front steps.

              “Yeah,” Fanny says cocking her gun, “now we check the inside.”

              They inch slowly up the stairs, Fanny once again taking the lead. The double doors stand tall and solid. The outside wood is a corroded red. The paint has started to chip showing the original brown oak underneath. Fanny nods as she turns the handle slowly, John waits beside her his flashlight on and his gun cocked. He gives her a quick nod before she swings open the door and he rushes in. Fanny follows behind him her gun ready as she stands behind John, her eyes scanning the immediate vicinity. The others join them in the hallway, each pointing their flashlights in several directions before Fanny signals that they close the door.

              “John, Karen and Hope, take the right side,” Fanny orders, “Hope you’re with me. Any sign of trouble, shoot first.”

              Hope nods, drawing her sword from its sheath as Fanny flicks on her flashlight. They watch as the trio merge together and slink down the right wall. Fanny and Hope start down the left wall. Hope’s light beam shines down their path while Fanny’s scans back and forth as she checks for any signs of Zombies. Beams of light flash across the church from the trio’s position. They come to the back of the church, just to the left of the Alter where the others have already arrived and begun to search.

              “Hey look,” Hope calls out grabbing Fanny’s attention, “a door.”

              “Probably leads to the office,” Fanny rationalizes, “ready to check it out?”

              “After you,” Hope says.

              Fanny rolls her eyes slightly before cracking the door semi open before kicking it open the rest of the way. Hope shines her light inside as Fanny enters the room with a slight hesitation. Hope follows a few steps behind, her heart beating slowly, her stomach sinking deeper into her body as she crosses the threshold. A foul odor invades her nostrils causing her to drop the flashlight as she starts to dry heave off in the corner.

              “You alright?” Fanny asks.

              “Yeah, the smell just got to me,” Hope replies through the huffing and puffing. “What was that anyway?”

              Fanny turns her head finding the flashlight resting on the ground, the beam pointing at a male body decomposing off in the corner. His head is detached from his body, his black suit ripped, teeth and claw marks all over his body.

              “This isn’t right,” Fanny says turning the body over revealing the front side of the priest’s body revealing more marks.

              “What isn’t?” Hope asks trying not to look at the body.

              “This body looks almost fresh,” Fanny answers, “If this body was killed years ago it would be decomposed by now.”

              “What does that mean?” Hope asks slightly befuddled.

              “I’m not sure. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything, but it just seems strange,” Fanny replies gathering the flashlight and handing it back to Hope, “Do you know how long it takes a body to decompose?”

              “No?” Hope replies unsure, “why?”

              “I think this is a fresh body,” Fanny answers.

              “That means there are those…things around here,” Hope says backing into a filing cabinet knocking over an assortment of items.

              “You’re missing the big picture,” Fanny says with a smile, “that means there are others around. People, like us!”

              “Wait that means there is a place to hide for the night,” Hope says catching up.

              “Exactly. We need to find the others!” Fanny says with a hint of excitement in her voice.

              “I don’t think that will be a problem,” Hope says turning her friend around.

              Karen, John and Sarah are on their knees just outside the door. Two shadowy figures can be seen behind them only their silhouettes can be made out.

              “What are you doing here?” A deep booming voice questions.

              Hope and Fanny raise their hands peacefully, their weapons dropped to the ground.

              “We don’t mean you any harm,” Fanny replies. “We are just looking for a place to rest.”

              “You have invaded our sanctuary and now request safe haven?” The voice asks angrily.

              “Yes please,” Hope gulps.

              Whispering sounds come from the doorway as the group waits anxiously for an answer.

              “We will take one of you to our leader,” The voice calls out, “they will decide your fate.”

              “What about the others?” Fanny asks.

              “They will wait here,” The voice answers, “now choose one to come with us.”

              Fanny goes to step forward but she is stopped when Hope speaks up first, “I will.”

              “What are you doing?” Fanny asks pulling her back.

              “I’m taking charge,” Hope replies, “this is my choice, let me do it.”

              Fanny warily removes her hand before letting out an exasperating sigh, “please be safe.”

              “I’ll be fine. But just in case,” She bends down and picks up her sword and hands it to her friend.

              “No. that’s yours,” Fanny says pushing it away.

              “I know. I just want you to guard it until I get back,” She winks.

              Fanny takes the sword, her fingers feeling the warmth radiating from Hope’s hands as she does. One by one, John, Sarah and Karen enter the office before wishing Hope good luck as she joins the shadows into the darkness.

              “Please be safe,” Fanny whispers as the office door shuts. A locking sound can be heard from the other side followed by footsteps.

              Hope follows closely beside the shadowy figures. Each one has its hands wrapped tightly around her arms. They lead her back through the main part of the church and then down a set of stairs into the basement, which clearly used to be a recreation room. Tables are cracked in half and strewn about the dark room. The only light is from the few random candles that are fixed onto the wall. There are a few plastic chairs around the room, most are knocked over or missing a leg, but a few are set up against a wall, one with a third shadowy figure that stands in attention as the trio march in. The shadowy outline starts to come into better focus as they get closer, rugged dark curls and a dirt covered face. It’s hard to distinguish if it’s a guy or a girl the way the dark sweatshirt hangs off its body. Only the figure’s high voice reveals that it is a female.

              “Well, well, what have you got there?” She asks, her smirk revealed by the flickering flame of the candle.

              “Trespasser,” the deep voice replies, “got a few more locked in the office.”

              “Oh,” She says with almost a sing, song tone, “what do you think the Major will do with them?”

              “Not sure,” the deep voice replies becoming more irritated with the questions, “just open the door Lynn.”

              “With pleasure,” Lynn replies as she turns her back on them.

              They wait patiently as Lynn enters the door’s code, the wall then separating just wide enough for the trio to pass one at a time. The opening is well lit giving Hope her first look at her two new guards. The first is a tall dark skinned male. His head is bald. A dark scruff that is emerging into a thick beard embosses his face, small patches of gray sticking out slightly showing his older age. The second one is a younger looking attractive female. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail that sticks out the back of a worn black baseball cap. She has on a black tank top that fits snuggly over her curvy figure.