Derek Goodman - The Reanimation of Edward Schuett

Edward looked back at him. “But you just said…”

“That you’re the only one, yes. That you happened purely without any intent, correct. But Z7s? That’s why I wanted you here all along. It happened once, it can happen again. I can be the one to do it.”

“You…you can bring others back? You can make people human again?”

“Only as far as you’ve come back. I don’t think I can ever reverse the change fully. But I do think that, with enough studying of you, I can make other reanimated into Z7s. Maybe not all of them. It’s all in a person’s DNA. But I can do it to some. With enough work, maybe one day I can even do it to most.”

“Zeds as humans again,” Rae whispered. “On a large scale.”

“We can do it, Mr. Schuett,” Dr. Bloss said. “You and I together.”

This was huge. It felt like something Edward should have needed to think about. If Dr. Bloss could really do this, it would change the world. Everything Edward had seen since waking up could be, if not exactly reversed, then at least repaired to some degree. But the colossal possible effects of this were not the first thing that came to mind. Instead he thought of Dana, of Julia, of Liddie. Lives that could have been saved if this moment had come sooner.

There was really nothing to think about.

“Where do we start?” Edward asked.

Dr. Bloss smiled. “We start by celebrating, I think.”

“Rae?” Edward asked. “Can we count on you to help us on this?”

“On the fixing of things or the celebrating?”

“Both, I suppose.”

“I don’t know what I can help fix, but I suppose there might be people who have a problem with helping zeds. I can be your security for that. As for celebrating, if there’s alcohol involved I’m sure me and the others can help.”

Edward smiled. “Do you think you can find something like that?”

“I’m sure we can figure something out.” She pulled out her walkie-talkie. “Hey, Cory. Guess what? I’ve got a special mission for someone.”

They all listened for an answer, but nothing came.

“Cory, you there?”

There was a pause. “Rae? We’ve got a serious problem. Some old acquaintances of both us and your friend Edward are here.”

“Who?”

“Merton and the CRS.”

Despite Dr. Bloss’s assurances that he would be fine at the library while they went to find out what was going on, Edward and Rae insisted he come with them. Edward wasn’t sure what Rae’s thoughts were on the matter, but he had a suspicion they wouldn’t be able to come back for him later. Unless this was just a small group sent here to scout the area and find if Edward or Rae was really here, the CRS and Merton wouldn’t be people they could fight off and expect to never come back. Their only option, as Edward saw it, was to run.

They all got into the car, and Rae sped down the roads without any of the care she had shown on the way here. Edward stared out the back window as the library disappeared behind them. All of Dr. Bloss’s research was in there, fifty years worth of studying zombies in a way the CRS had never even thought to try, right along with all of his equipment. If the doctor really could eventually find a way to turn all zombies into Z7s, he would have to start now from scratch. For a man as old as Bloss, there was no guarantee he could remember key details or even that he would live long enough to recreate it. But as long as they kept the old man with them and alive, they still kept hope.

There was no sign of intruders at the Culver’s, but all the ATVs had returned. Edward noticed that, even in the group’s hurry to get back here, they had all still parked the ATVs facing away from the store. The better to escape, Edward realized.

Rae pulled the car into the Culver’s parking lot, making sure it too was lined up for people to get in easily from the main door and then go straight on out into the street. Cory had reported before they left the library that the two groups were close but not quite here yet, so there was at least enough time to grab all the supplies Rae had packed away inside. Rae ran inside with Dr. Bloss toddling along behind her. Edward, seeing the way he moved, brought up the rear and did his best to act as the doctor’s shield. If anyone from Merton was here yet and decided to take a potshot just for giggles, it would be better for Edward to get hit instead of the doctor. Edward could survive any body shot. He just hoped any theoretical snipers didn’t realize who he was yet and aim for the head.

Dr. Bloss, looking all around himself like the Culver’s was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen in the world, ran right into Rae as soon as they got in. She’d stopped at the old registers and stared at something on the floor in front of her, but Edward didn’t see what it was at first. All he saw was Cory, Luke, and Jojo standing around with guns in their hands. Edward moved around Rae and Dr. Bloss to see that all weapons in the room were pointed at Larissa. The girl was on her knees in front of them with her hands on her head. There were tears streaming down her dirty cheeks, but no one looked sympathetic to her.

“What exactly is going on?” Rae asked.

“I caught her sneaking outside to make a call to someone. That’s how we found out,” Cory said.

“Did you check her phone to see who she was calling?” Rae asked.

“No, it looks like it’s programmed weird. Nothing I’ve seen before. Some really new model. But I did overhear her say something about where we’re located, and that you guys had gone to the library.”

“Did you ask her anything else?” Rae asked.

“No, we figured you’re running the show and would have a better idea what to be asking her.”

“Okay then, talk,” Rae said to Larissa. She snapped off the safety once again on Spanky.

“Please don’t kill me,” Larissa said.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Rae said, pressing Spanky’s barrel against her head, “if you start talking. Are you still working for Merton?”

“Yes. I’m so sorry. I never actually quit them. They gave me a job, to keep track of you. They’d never actually trusted me with anything important before, and I just wanted to prove I could do it.”

“I can’t really say I blame you. There might have been a time when I would have done the same,” Rae said, but she didn’t move her rifle from the girl’s head. “If you told them this was where we went, why didn’t they come after us sooner in the week?”

“You weren’t a high priority at the moment, except I guess that changed when that woman from the CRS called them and said Schuett was on his way here.”

“Woman? Which woman?” Edward asked.

“Her name is Dr. Chella. She’s the one that gave me the phone.”

“Fuck!” Edward said. “That bitch. I thought I was done with her.”

“Not exactly a friend of yours?” Rae asked.

“Only if friends like to cut each other wide open and inspect their insides.”

“Hmph. Typical of the CRS,” Dr. Bloss said. “Why cut a specimen wide open when all you really need is a hole large enough to reach in and feel around with? Can’t really see what you’re doing, but the joy of accidentally finding squishy new things is part of the fun.”

“I really hope you’re joking,” Edward said.

“I think I am,” Dr. Bloss said. “Can never be sure anymore, though.”

“How did she even know to look for Edward here?” Rae asked.

“I don’t know. Something about a map and a van.”

“Crap,” Edward said. “The computer in the van we stole must have still had the map we programmed into it. They must have found it.”

“I didn’t know, and I really didn’t care,” Larissa said. “I just did what I was told. Please, just let me go.”