Michael Ford - Z

Josh rubbed his hands over the uniform’s material. The technology Scrawl was describing wasn’t new, but he’d never heard of it being used in gaming before. “This is the stuff they make army uniforms out of,” he said, impressed.

Scrawl grinned. “Clatter has some major contacts,” he said. “Now get your boots on. We’ve got a game to play.”

As they walked back to rejoin the others, Josh asked Scrawl the question he’d wanted to ask since Charlie had told him the game was real. “So if we’re Torchers, who plays the zombies?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Scrawl answered. “Just worry about killing them.”

“Well, look at you,” Clatter said when Josh and Scrawl arrived. “You already look like one of the gang. All you need is this.”

Clatter handed Josh a flamethrower. “You know how to use it, right?”

Josh examined the weapon. “No problem,” he said.

“Try it out,” said Clatter. “Pretend Seamus is a z. Take him out.”

Josh hesitated.

“Just do it,” Seamus told him.

Josh aimed the flamethrower at Seamus and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened, but a second later a buzzer sounded and a robotic woman’s voice announced, “Torcher Seamus has been killed. I repeat, Torcher Seamus has been killed.”

“But how—” Josh said.

“The thrower emits an electronic beam,” Freya interrupted him. “If it hits you, it activates the sensors in your suit. As far as the monitor is concerned, you just fried Seamus.”

Clatter laughed. “Not to worry,” he told Josh, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go to the monitoring room and reset it. In the meantime, you all get ready to play.” He turned to Scrawl. “Play will take place in sections one through four. There are three z’s. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Ten minutes, then.” Clatter looked at Josh. “Good luck,” he said. “I do hope you’ll survive.”

“I’ll try,” Josh assured him.

“All right. Huddle up.” Scrawl barked his orders like he meant them, and Josh and the others circled around him.

“You guys know what to do,” he said, looking at each team member. When he came to Josh he stopped. “You’re the new guy,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean you get to take it easy. This is your test, so I expect you to hold your own. Got it?”

Josh nodded. “Got it,” he said.

Scrawl held his gaze for a long moment, then said, “Good. Here’s the plan. Seamus and Finnegan, you two take section one. Bess and Stash, section two.”

Stash groaned. “Not the sewer,” he said. “How come I always get the sewer?”

Black-Eyed Susan punched him in the arm. “Maybe because you play like—”

“Section three is Freya’s and Charlie’s,” Scrawl interrupted her.

Freya and Charlie high-fived. “Piece of cake,” Charlie said.

Josh had been hoping that Charlie would be with him. It would have been nice to have a familiar face around during his first IRL game. Also, he knew how good she was.

“Josh and I will take section four,” said Scrawl.

“What’s section four?” Josh asked.

Stash laughed. “You’re standing in it,” he said.

“The ship graveyard?” Josh said, looking around. “But this place is huge. It will take us hours to cover it.”

“Don’t worry,” said Bess, grinning. “The z’s will find you soon enough.”

A crackling sound came from out of the darkness, and Josh heard Clatter’s voice. “The quarry are being released,” he said. “The game will begin in three minutes. I suggest you get moving.” Then the lights in the room dimmed, throwing the ships into shadow.

“You heard the man,” Scrawl said. “Get your butts in gear.”

As the others ran off, Charlie turned and gave Josh a thumbs-up. “Good luck,” she called out. “I know you can do it.”

Josh nodded. The game was beginning, and just as it did during the hologames, his heart was speeding up as adrenaline coursed through him. He wiped his sweaty hands on his suit and took a deep breath.

“It’s go time,” Scrawl said. “You know how to do a one-two sweep?”

“One guy goes in and drops, the other is right behind him ready to flame,” Josh answered. “You use it when checking a hallway, room, or stairwell.”

“Right,” said Scrawl. “That’s what we’re going to do when we can. But a lot of this will be one-on-one. Just us and the meatbags. When that happens, there’s just one rule.”

“Shoot before they bite,” Josh said automatically. Hearing Scrawl call the z’s meatbags made him think of his aunt Lucy and the talk he’d had with his mother, but he pushed that thought from his mind. It’s just a game, he reminded himself.

“Good man.” Scrawl started walking. “Let’s head out.”

They walked into the gloom, heading for the darker parts of the cavernous space first. Around them, pieces of machinery and the rusting hulls of ships rose up in twisted shapes. Josh kept his eyes and ears open. Although the hologame recreated the experience of being in a real place, this was real. He smelled the rusting metal and oil all around him. He felt the dirt and broken pieces of glass and metal under his boots.

He and Scrawl approached the largest ship. “This is as good a place as any to start,” he said. “I’ll take point.”

Josh followed as Scrawl entered the ship through a large hole torn in the hull. As they passed through the ship’s belly, Josh kept alert for any sign of zombie action. It was eerily silent, and even Josh’s and Scrawl’s footsteps were barely more than whispers.

Suddenly a sound came from their right, a noise like metal scraping against metal. Josh whirled and pointed his flamethrower. But Scrawl held out his hand, stopping him. Without saying anything, he nodded his head, telling Josh they should keep moving toward the sound.

They crossed the hold quickly but carefully. Josh scanned the floor, making sure he didn’t trip over anything or give away their approach. Beside him, Scrawl moved catlike through the dark, his flamethrower moving from side to side as he looked for signs of z’s.

When they reached a doorway, they stopped. Josh listened. He heard the scraping sound again, but this time it seemed to be above their heads. At first he didn’t understand, but then Scrawl pointed up and moved his fingers in a walking motion. Stairs, Josh thought. It’s climbing some stairs.

Scrawl motioned again, indicating that he would go first. He ducked into the stairwell, and Josh followed. As Scrawl dropped to one knee, Josh readied his flamethrower. But there was no sign of the zombie. Josh looked up and saw that the stairs went up into darkness. He heard something hit the floor above him and roll. Then there was a series of clanks as something fell between the stair railings and hit the next level.

Josh stepped back just as the item tumbled from the darkness and landed where he had been standing. He bent down and looked at it. It was a length of pipe, covered in rust. But something didn’t look right about it. Josh reached out and touched the surface. His fingers came away sticky.

Blood, he realized. One end is covered in blood. And not just blood. A clump of hair came away from the pipe as well. Josh dropped it in disgust and looked at Scrawl. “That’s real blood,” he whispered. “Someone is really hurt. We have to help.”

He started to go up the stairs, but Scrawl pulled him back. “No,” he said quietly. “We have to play the game.”

“But whoever that is—”

“It’s part of the game,” Scrawl said. “Understand?”

Josh began to object, but the tone of Scrawl’s voice stopped him. He’s not joking around, Josh thought.