Zombie Rehab by Craig Halloran Page B

a zombie? Are you there?”
    As he watched the screen, he could see the men huddle around something. Two of them jumped back, bringing another frightened gasp through the room.
    “Yep, it’s still moving. Not much left of it, but it’s moving. Creepy. The jaws are still snapping like a turtle. Uh … wait a second. Hey, the garage is opening. Looks like the cavalry’s coming … just a little late is all.”
    A small wave of zombies burst forth and crashed into the security team.
    HELP! GET SOME HELP! HEL ULP—
    The sound died. They all stared in horror as the zombies pinned the men under their weight and tore into them with fervor. Henry’s worst nightmare had come true. The zombies had been turned loose on them.
    “Initiate the lockdown!” He cried. “Secure all floors!”
    “No Henry, let’s get out of here while there is still time. I don’t want to be locked up in here with them,” Weege cried.
    “We’ll be fine in here.”
    An alarm sounded.
    “Just lock this building down. Rod, tell your men to find a bunker and lock down. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. Weege and Tori, wake up Rudy.”
    The alarm stopped.
    “How’d that happen? Who did that?” he said.
    He dialed the director on the desk phone and let it ring on speaker.
    “Just let it ring.”
    The zombies were on the move, like a wave of rioting men.
    Choooooom.
    The screens winked out. The lights turned black. The ringing phone went dead.
    They stood in the silence of the insecure building with no idea what to do next.
    “We’re gonna die,” Weege said.

Chapter 18
    Washington, D.C.
     
    J ack watched in awe. The men of the security team couldn’t withhold the fear that grew in their faces as the zombie rushed forward. It was almost like playing a video game, except the shotgun blasts and screams were so much more real. Unable to hide his fascination, he giggled as the men fought against the hoard only to be barreled over and pushed down into the fog. They couldn’t have made it any better in Hollywood. The zombies were on the men like a pack of jackals, tearing off the suits and sinking their faces into the men. The close view of the zombie eyes was a little too close as the image thrashed and jerked like it was on a roller coaster.
    “Good Lord, Jack,” Don exclaimed, “What are you doing? Those are our people!”
    Jack looked over at the distraught features of his uncle and noticed the man had aged another ten years.
    “Ah, you know what you always taught me Uncle Don: Don’t mess with the WHS. I’ve got my orders, and I have no choice but to run this op. It’s for the greater good. You always told me that … remember?”
    His wide-eyed uncle looked like he had swallowed a toad. For decades, Jack had thought his uncle was as tough as iron and cunning as a shark. Now his uncle had changed. Don looked old, haggard, and weak. The time had come for a strong young man to pick up the banner and lead the charge to bring order back to humanity. No mercy. Just results. And if turning loose a wild pack of zombies on a bunch of men and women was what they wanted, then that was what they were going to get. A show.
    Don was pleading:
    “Jack, there comes a time in your life that you’re going to make choices that you’re going to regret. This will be one of them. I didn’t bring you in to become a bigger part of this. I brought you in to protect you. These people that are dying have families. Just like me and you.”
    “I know that. But, we can’t all have the life that we want. I consider myself grateful this is happening to them and not me. Besides, they’re all loners.”
    “They’re human beings!”
    “They’re expendable. Just like that other billion you helped wipe out, so what’s a dozen or so more? Isn’t that what you wanted to begin with?”
    Don was silent.
    “That’s what I thought. Now keep your eye on the screen, Uncle Don. And just so you know, this isn’t my first rodeo,” Jack said with a wink.