Suzanne Robb - Contaminated - A Zombie Survival Novel

“Tell me who you’re working for,” Frank demanded.

The man shook his head. “Not a chance, but you can call me Ryan.”

Frank still held his weapon on the man, something didn’t add up. This guy, Ryan, was part of a team, but was weaponless and unable to free his leg, not to mention, he knew about the explosives that had been set.

Frank used the muzzle of his FNP to nudge Ryan’s leg. “What happened here? Why can’t you free yourself?”

The man rolled onto his back revealing two severely burned hands. “I can’t do much of anything right now. I’m at your mercy, but you need to make a decision soon. There’s a timer counting down, and when it hits zero, we’re never getting out of here.”

Frank called to the others as he helped Ryan to his feet. “Come on up, we got a new recruit, call him Ryan. He’s been sent here by a bad guy, but is willing to help us get out of here.”

The stairwell crumbled behind the Doc, the last one to enter. Frank motioned them forward. “Get moving.”

Arthur noticed they were on some sort of office floor. He scanned with his flashlight while Frank and the other guy worked on opening the other door. Ryan said people would be waiting for him at the top, so Arthur took a few moments to access the flash drives on the netbook.

The screen cracked at some point, but he could read bits and pieces, none of it good. The notes of a researcher named Dr. Kellerman indicated Sunset Inc. had been harvesting samples from space for years. An unidentified component in all of them was being studied for potential uses in all modes of scientific experiments. From cancer to Alzheimers, all the way to an airborne toxin for the military.

One of those uses was to help grafting of human body parts, curing diseases, and various other tests, which based on the collection of people hanging in bags indicated they didn’t go well. The doctor summarized their studies as being barbaric and of no use to the scientific community, but a new discovery by a Dr. Covington might inject some much needed help into these projects.

Arthur read over a few more pages before the screen crapped out and he closed it. The tests were outlined in horrific detail. Bodies stolen from morgues and put in freezers so their organs could be tested. Other people at death’s door signed over their lives in the hopes a cure would be found at the zero hour. The worst being what they started last week with the samples from Arthur’s probe.

A secondary unknown element was discovered. They harvested bits of it and tested it on a multitude of diseases and individuals. No progress had been made, but results “were promising,” according to one research assistant.

They lauded this new element and awaited the arrival of Dr. Covington to see if he could crack the code. What did he bring to Earth? The only things in his reports were based on speculation. He thought Pluto would be a good place to search for answers, because it was so far out. In addition, since it wasn’t a planet, but large enough to have an atmosphere, it was like a giant ball of dust collecting things from all over the galaxy for eons.

Sunset Inc. must have assumed, or hoped, he would discover something and bet on him, and they were right.

“Doc, get a move on, the door’s open. Must’ve warped or something,” Frank yelled.

Arthur packed everything up and in seconds he was trailing behind Smith who’d been strangely quiet since Ryan joined their group. He wondered if she was the other traitor, or if it could be Selena. Everyone was a possibility.

Frank raced up the stairs with Ryan in his sights and within moments, they reached Level 1.

“Alright, people, grab any magazines left and get ready for a real fight.” Frank slipped a new magazine into place and smiled.

“Hey, are these night vision goggles?” Arthur asked.

“Yep, but we can’t use them with the masks,” Frank replied instantly.

Arthur nodded sadly, as he put a pair down.

Frank watched as Ryan forced his crusty hands around the handle of a weapon, tears evident in his eyes. The man was determined.

Within moments, all of them were ready. “Ryan and I will take the front, Smith you’re next, Doc and Selena take up the rear. Try ato keep your heads down, I have no idea how many people they sent in, but these guys are going to be firing back, which is a whole lot different than what you’ve been dealing with.”

Frank led the way, Ryan close, and the hesitant sounds of the others footsteps behind them. Frank held the handle of the door to Level 1. “Get ready, these are real people you’re going to be fighting, if you can’t handle it, hang back here.”

The room was dark, but Frank didn’t dare turn on his flashlight. He knew the layout well enough, there were few places to hide. Ryan whispered at his side, “Why aren’t they firing?”

Frank didn’t respond, because he had no idea. Maybe there wasn’t anyone on the floor? Perhaps Ryan, Benson, or whoever else was in on this had lied to them all. Then the telltale moaning started. Frank sighed as he flipped the switch on his flashlight, but cupped it with his hand. Enough illumination escaped to let him see at least twenty armor wearing Sunset Inc. security guards in night goggles. The idiots didn’t put on the masks. They must have thought the ventilation system took care of any airborne threats or that it dissipated with time.

“Dammit, change of plans. We have a lot of nasties walking around and they’re suited up. Aim for the face, bullets won’t penetrate the helmets.”

“Frank, how did this happen? Why would they send your own people down here to kill you?” Selena asked.

The answer died on Frank’s lips. He was now considered a loose end to tie up in case the press got wind of this mess.

Arthur chimed in. “We don’t know when they were sent in or why. They might be backup when the powers that be realized the gravity of the situation. Plus, not all of them are wearing the same uniform.”

Frank glanced around with a more critical eye and realized the doc was right. At least a dozen were mercenaries, like him. Two different people sent in teams. Both of them were now infected with something in the air. When he got out of here, not if, then he was going to figure out what the hell was going on.

The doc fired the first bullet into the neck of one of the things only two feet away from Frank. Black blood and bits of shredded flesh splattered everything, but it kept coming. Another shot, this time through the mouth, took it down.

Another flashlight went on, Ryan’s. Frank didn’t question Selena, but was curious about Smith, she liked hunting them. Putting all other thoughts out of his mind, Frank took aim, put a bullet into the left eye of one, and saw the shadows of the brain as it flew out the back of its head.

With three guns firing in different directions, and multiple beams of light continually changing direction, it appeared as if they were putting on the worlds most demented shadow puppet show. Frank ignored what he could, firing shot after shot. Each one required a few tries, because his arm ached and his aim was deteriorating.

Arthur held his own, but Ryan was all over the place. Frank shook his head at the trembling man. Nerves were getting the better of him. He needed Smith or they’d be overtaken. “Smith, get your ass in here.”

Frank put three bullets into the gaping maw of one of the things and watched as rotten flesh and spittle dotted the air. Movement to his side alerted him that Smith decided to show up. Then he felt the pain. He glanced over to see one of the nasties chowing down on his bandaged arm; it wasn’t Smith after all.

“Christ, Smith, where are you?” Frank yelled, as he put the FNP into the mouth of the thing and squeezed the trigger.