Mark Clodi - Undead Advantage, a Zombie Chronicles Novel

"Jack says, Jen, Terry and him will wait outside, the three of us will go in on a quick recon mission to see what we can find. He also said to try and grab one of the ambulances as it probably has most of what we need already. I didn't work for this hospital, but I know how most hospital's work, the ambulances are run by private companies, which means we need to find one with supplies in it if possible, because the hospital does not re-supply the units. Got it?"

Juan looked at Mary, they both shrugged, obviously not really getting it, but Juan said, "Si." anyway and they moved on.

Sighing Charlie said, "Okay, don't worry about it, just follow my lead. Let's see if we can find the keys to one or both of the ambulances here."

They searched the bodies on the ground and came up with quite a few sets of keys, eventually they found one set on one of the paramedics that fit the newest looking ambulance. Unfortunately Charlie said it was mostly empty of supplies and the other one was not in much better shape. During their time in the ambulance bay Jen and Jack had to put down another half dozen zombies, the noise seemed to be drawing more of the slow zombies back towards the bay and out of the emergency room through the automatic doors.

"Shit. This might not be such a good idea." said Charlie.

Juan looked around and said, "Sì. We need to at least look inside though, go up a floor or two and see how bad it is, maybe with ten men, er, people, we could clean the place out, but we should take a quick look now so we know better what to expect." Something about the place seemed to draw Juan in, he shook his head to try and make the feeling go away.

Nodding, Charlie replied, "Agreed. Lets shelve the idea of taking an ambulance with us. I got my walkie-talkie, you got yours? Good! Lets head in nice and slow.", yelling over to Jack while he approached the automatic doors he said, "Let us know if too many of them start showing up so we can get out of here!"

Jack replied on the walkie-talkie, "Sure thing, try and be back in less than fifteen minutes, I don't want to risk getting too low on ammo."

Nodding, Juan followed Charlie into the ER, with Mary bringing up the rear. They were using the civilian entrance, which consisted of a double set of automatic doors, once inside the first set it closed behind them and they could see into the ER proper. There were still a dozen zombies in the waiting room. Charlie nodded to himself and raised his rifle pointing it towards the closest one as they all stepped into the room. From the side a faster zombie jumped Charlie before any of them could even get off a shot, the zombie was not interested in biting him, only in knocking him over. Immediately after knocking the man down he turned on Juan. This zombie was young, his frame was lanky and his clothing was blood stained. He had a feral grin and as he jumped towards Juan he spat out, "Die meat!"

Juan didn't even try to get his gun up in time, he jumped forward into the room and the zombie missed knocking him over. However the youth quickly recovered and slammed into Mary, who was not so quick as Juan at dodging, knocking her down to one side of the automatic doors. The zombie got hung up on Mary's gun though, and was unable to turn in time to react to Juan, who had turned around and pointed his shotgun at the teen. Only his fear of hitting Mary stayed Juan's trigger finger. The zombie, busy recovering, did not look up until his face was almost at the level of the shotgun pointed less than three feet away. Sizing up the situation the zombie ducked back down and rolled off of Mary. Surprised by this Juan did not take advantage of the momentary window to shoot and the zombie was able to roll Mary's body over his, using it as a shield.

Meanwhile Charlie had gotten to his feet and was firing his rifle at the dozen or so approaching slow zombies, "Shit! Juan, Shit! I shoulda took a shotgun!"

Five shots later and he dropped the rifle and pulled out his handgun. Juan was trying to maneuver around to get a shot at the zombie on the ground who continued taunting him, "What's a matter meat? Afraid to hit your girlfriend?" The zombie kept jerking a protesting Mary around making a shot all but impossible for him. Despite her flailing limbs Mary was unable to get free of the zombie either. As Juan watched and tried to figure out a way to save Mary he saw one of the zombies legs was usually sticking out well away from the girl's, still pointing his gun at the things face he lowered the gun a fraction of an inch and fired. The smart zombie's scream almost drowned out Charlie behind him, who yelled, "I am out! Help me Juan there are three more!"

Turning Juan sighted the first one just before he grabbed Charlie, who was trying to reload his pistol and pick up his rifle at the same time and doing neither action very well. Behind him Juan could hear the zombie yelling, "You bitch! You filthy bitch!" and then Mary started screaming. Juan had to move aside to get a shot on the second and third zombie, telling Charlie in a strangely calm voice, "Get behind me, help Mary!"

Letting his rifle go Charlie did just that, without any further obstacles in his way Juan was able to shoot both zombies, though he had to put two bullets into one of them. Turning back to Mary he saw the zombie in hand to hand combat with Charlie and Mary. The girl was on her hands and knees trying to punch the zombie, while Charlie pistol whipped it repeatedly. The zombie's leg looked almost intact, as he watched, it actually looked like it was healing before his eyes, as did the blows Charlie was raining down on him. When Charlie saw Juan was up with his shotgun he pushed the zombie away from him, calling for Mary to push too. Both of them shoved the zombie backward and it stumbled about ten feet into the waiting room and almost fell over a half eaten corpse of an old lady in a floral print dress. Juan said, "Gotcha, pendejo!" and pulled the trigger, an audible click filled the silence, then several things happened at once, the zombie realizing Juan was out turned and took off down the hallway towards a set of double doors at the end, Mary scrambled backwards for her rifle and Charlie yelled "No!" and tried to reload his pistol.

Juan reached into his pocked and plucked a shell out of it to load into his gun, he had the shell chambered by the time the zombie was to the door, his shot and Mary's rang out simultaneously, the zombie was propelled forward into the doors by the dual hits, unfortunately neither of them scored a head shot. Mary's second shot hit the things hand as it pulled the door, then it got it opened and slithered out of sight.

"Fuck!" yelled Charlie, still fumbling with his pistol.

Gently Juan reached over and took the pistol from him, released the clip and handed it to back to him. Turning to Mary he asked her, "Are you alright?"

She shook her head from side to side and said, "No, check my back, that bastard bit me didn't he?"

Turning half around to show Juan her back she grimaced in pain as her fingers automatically reloaded her gun, much as Juan's hands were busy reloading his. Juan and Charlie both saw the blood coming from Mary's back, her clothing hid the wound from their sight.

Charlie, shoved his pistol back into Juan's startled hand and grabbed Mary up, "Come on! We gotta disinfect the wound right now! Cover us Juan!"

So saying he hustled Mary into one of the rooms which lined the hall the zombie had gone down, lucky for them it was empty. He shoved Mary face down onto the gurney that was there while Juan took up a position by the door and finished loading Charlie's pistol. Finding what he needed Charlie went back to Mary and ripped the back of her shirt open, exposing two bloody wounds close to her spine, one near her shoulder the other, bleeding profusely, was more on her neck. He began pouring disinfectant into the wounds, causing Mary to howl, "Ow! Oh God it hurts! Stop it Chaaarleeeeee!"