Zombie Theorem (Book 1): The Culling (6 page)

She grabbed Brian and started pulling him toward her. He dropped his chair leg and put his hands on her chest trying to push her away. I could see the veins on his neck and forearms bulging from the exertion. He had her almost at a stalemate. But then she started craning her teeth toward him snapping them hard, trying to bite him. “Stop fucking being a spectator and do something Boss. This bitch is way stronger then she looks.” He was grimacing hard.

I realized I was just standing there with the makeshift weapon hanging by my side. I raised my arm and yelled her name until my voice went hoarse. “STACEY!” I brought down the chair leg and hit her left arm as hard as I could. I heard bone snap but she didn’t even yelp in pain or stop her action of trying to get a tasty Brian sandwich. I raised the chair leg again and started hitting her on the shoulder with all my strength. I could’ve been hitting her with a pool noddle with all the same results. She was now inches from biting down on Brian’s cheek. I could tell he was fading, his massive strength at its limits. I lost all control and started hitting her in the head over and over again. Hair and bone exploded all over with each hit I landed. I raised the leg high over my head and shoved the sharper broken side into her head wound that I had created and pushed with all my might. Her body started to falter as she lost her grip on Brian and he was able to push her back. My weapon was still lodged in her head. Somehow she was able to keep her feet under her, yet she seemed only damaged somehow. Brian let loose a guttural roar and stepped over to her. He grabbed the leg ripped it out of her head and using all his remaining strength shoved it back into her pushing it deeper then I had been able to. She finally collapsed, completely as if someone had just turned off her power switch. Brian and I both just stood there, panting heavily, looking down at Stacey’s twice dead body.

“Thanks Boss, I know that probably took a lot out of you. But thank you.” He reached out gathering me into his arms and giving me a proper hug.

We heard the lock on my office door unlatch and then the door swung open. Matt shakily poked his head out. “We could see the entire thing from the office window. Are you guys ok?” All of them emerged from my office and stood behind us. Stacey’s body just laid there. I looked down at her and saw some black looking liquid seeping from her head.

“What the hell is that? Brian, bodies don’t leak black shit right?” I pointed to what I saw.

“Not unless it’s a ruptured intestine that was filled with waste. Certainly nothing in the head leaks that color. So by the way what the fuck happened?”

“Not completely sure, let’s go for a quick walk; I need to see something before I can be sure. All of you can either stay here with that”, I pointed at the body on the ground. “or you can come with us, up to you.” I strode from the office back toward the lobby. I didn’t have to look back to know they were following. We passed the bathrooms and made a beeline for the supply closet. The door was wide open, that black stuff smeared on the inside and door. The keys were still in the door lock. “Those, were on my desk, I know they were. Lisa, that bitch!”

“Dude, Boss man, tell us what’s up.” Brian demanded.

“While I was on guard I was staring out the windows at the city, deep in thought about all this. That’s when Lisa came up and asked me to take her to the bathroom. I suggested we wake the others and of course she demanded I take her now. I didn’t want to make a scene so I took her. I went into the bathroom and did my business and was just splashing cold water on my face when I heard a scream and someone running down the hall. I heard a slamming sound and knew the stair way door was opened. I ran out to find it open all the way. I stood at the stairway and couldn’t make anything out because it’s pitch dark in there. But I could hear heavy footsteps running up the metal stairway. I figured there was nothing I could do so I closed and secured the door and came to get your help Brian. Lisa must’ve stolen the keys from the desk got me to take her to the bathroom but snuck out and opened the supply closet. Must’ve seen Marco and Stacey and freaked out and ran. I have a suspicion Marco is chasing her, or probably has caught her by now.”

I let out a shuddering heavy breath and collapsed to the floor. I felt like I couldn’t get enough air and was choking. Then suddenly all lights went out as I fell unconscious. That’s it, I’m dead. Stroke, heart attack, taken by Aliens? Something finally snapped. I’d like to tell you I was in another land or there was a bright light or had friends and family to welcome me to the other side but nothing like that. I was just standing in the pitch dark, couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Just blackness, crushing down on me, as though a physical force was trying to bury me. Then I heard voices calling out my name. Someone's screaming entered my dark mind, awakening me. I was on an office floor with Brian sitting next to me.

Chapter 8

“Hey Boss you feeling better yet? You had us all worried.” He smiled down at me through his scruffy beard.

“Holy shit, what the hell happened? I feel like I got ran over by a fucking bus.” I croaked.

Matt came in and helped me sit up, handing me an open bottle of water. “Drink this Dan, I know, it’s not your awesome sweet ambrosia coffee. Should help though” I listened and took a swig, man it felt good. It slowly parted the spider webs and allowed me to think a little straighter.

“The best I can figure Boss is your mind finally just had enough and shut you down. It happens on the battlefield sometimes. Kinda like PTSD, it’s an enormous crushing panic attack. You’ll be ok. Matt and the rest helped carry you back in here.”

I looked around, this wasn’t my office, where the fuck am I? “Whose office is this? Why are we not in my office?” I asked stupidly.

“I am getting my promotion tomorrow and was just moving into this office. It’s closer to the supply closet so we just moved you here.” Brian answered giving me a little smile.  

“Oh I didn’t know you were being promoted. I guess congratulations are in order.” I said weakly. I looked into my head trying to figure out if I knew this or not.

“No problem Boss you were going to be told today, no wait that would be yesterday since it’s well after midnight. A new special projects division was going to be opened soon and they asked me to run it.” Brian got up and sat on his desk.

“Well then Brian, stop calling me Boss, my name is Dan.”

“Fuck no Boss, the way I see it you are keeping us alive and together. This team has no room for two leaders and you are doing a damn fine job. Matt and I will just stay as your sergeants.” Brian sketched a rough salute.

“Uhm I was never drafted, I’m more of a civilian contractor. But yeah like he said you’re doing a fine job.”

“Alright what time is it and where is the rest of the staff?” I started to get to my knees slowly preparing to stand up. Brian and Matt both reached out took an arm and got me to my feet steadying me before letting go.

“Everyone is in the conference room since there are less of us and it’s pretty much next to Brian’s office.” he peered at his watch trying to adjust his tired eyes. “It’s 5 am Wednesday”, he informed me.

“Okay, sun will be up soon let’s get a little more shut eye then move the food over here.”

Matt looked at Brian a little uneasy. “You didn’t tell him?”

“Dude you’ve been in here during the entire discussion. When the fuck did I have time to tell him? Did I whisper sweet nothings into his ear while he was sleeping? Boss all the food was pretty much splashed with that black shit from Stacey. When you were hitting her in the head, a bunch of the stuff is covered in it. I’m not that hungry if it means we have to deal with that shit.” Brian answered with a sneer etched on his face.

We stood there, those two just staring at me. “What the fuck are you guys staring at me for? I know I’m pretty, but I’m not looking for a new love interest. So we need food and water. I guess no one is coming for us so we need to start doing for ourselves. I need suggestions men.” I shook my head and stared back them.

“He’s taking this leader thing too far. Must’ve read too many war novels.” Matt said with a straight face.

“Nah he aint smart enough to read, probably watched Saving Private Ryan too many times.” Brian answered back.

“Really I betcha it was more Shaving Ryan’s Privates. I bet 20 bucks he has a giant collection of porn.” Matt said trying to hide a widening grin.

“I’m not taking that bet, I’m not a sucker.” Brian quipped back.

“Yeah, yeah, screw both of you. So really gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, what do you think our next move is?” It felt good trading quips with these guys. Since I got out of college I had changed my entire way of thinking and put on the professional mask as good as I could. It worked too well. I lost that care free guy I used to be. My family and old friends seem to think I had lost my mind or was kidnapped by aliens. Maybe both.

“We have some pretty bad morale Dan. Nobody has had a decent amount of sleep, on top of dealing with death and being prisoner in our own offices. Bad news on top of worse news makes for a shitty sandwich to have to choke on. Whatever we do, we have to first find a way to get them a win,” Matt pointed down the hallway toward the conference room.

“A shitty sandwich? Matt I think you’ve seen to many action movies buddy” Brian’s laugh resembled a bear gargling rocks. “You do have a point though. So we need food, and perhaps either a way out or at least a solid plan showing we are trying to do something more than just sitting around waiting for someone to save us.”

“Ok big man, give me some options.” I threw a quizzical glance at Brian.

“Great just throw me under a bus. Shit ok, the only thing I can think of is to go looking for Lisa to confirm if she is ok.” Brian suggested.

“Believe it or not I agree with the big man. I also think we should find a way to secure the stairs and move everyone up to the next floor. That’s the executive offices. They have vending machines and a satellite phone in Mr. Heppner’s office. It’s there for natural disasters.” Matt informed. He leaned against the wall and yawned deeply his eyes looked glazed over.

“Going for a sat phone I could totally buy into, but going to save Lisa after what she did, I’m not so sure I care.” I looked into each of their eyes and read the same emotions I was feeling. “Ok well we have to do something. Big man, you wanna go on a magical trip to the land of unicorns and things that want to eat you?” I said this last part with a modicum of humor.

“You betcha, but I swear if you try holding my hand, I’m going to throw you down the stairs to buy me some time to get away from those things. Matt you need to be in charge down here. Take care of these people the best you can. I expect you to immediately open that door when you hear us come charging back.” Brian said in all seriousness.

“And just like that, we have a plan.”

“Wait I never agreed to this plan. Why do I have to stay back? I think Dan should stay, he’s the leader. Brian and I should go. You are better at keeping everyone calmer than I could.” Matt complained and I could see his side.

I knew he never wanted the spotlight, that’s why he was happy to be a supervisor and not the boss. Yet he knew more about the office and its day to day then any manager or executive member, and that is exactly what I told him. “Matt, you have always been leadership material. I know that every time the team met goals or finished their projects it was with your guiding hand. Sarah was just good at keeping her chair warm. Many times I have come to the conclusion that I needed to promote you to her position. I was just trying to find a way to get her out of that office first. I know you can do it. Out of everyone on the team or that I have dealt with you are the driving force. I believe in you and trust your judgement. You can do it.” I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder.

“Everything he said” agreed Brian. “In the military buddy it’s not the officers that lead, it’s the sergeants. And you my man are one hell of a sergeant.” Brian ruffled Matt’s longish hair.

“Fuck both of you. But yeah, ok whatever. Stop kissing my ass and speaking so high of my virtues. I’ll do it but if I can go on any record, I am not happy with this.”

“Your complaint about this decision has been duly noted.” I said throwing a mocking salute.

“Are we all going steady now? I figured since we just blew each other that we might as well start dating.” Brian announced.

Matt left for the conference room to inform everyone the particulars of the plan while Brian hunted around looking for things to make as weapons and hopefully makeshift armor. That was all Brian’s idea, I was not going to ignore any advice from the big man.

We finally decided on those little metal chair spikes we used to take down Stacey. They were only about a foot long and easy to carry. Brian ripped out the last of them and I modified them to make them easier to use. Using duct tape from the supply closet, I made grips to hold onto. I wish I had a grinder so I could sharpen them into a type of dagger. But nothing in the office could be used that way. I did though remove the plastic tips, which left a little bit of a rougher end.

Brian came back in holding two leather vests. “So one vest is from my own collection, it’s when I ride my Harley to work. I found this one in Carlos’ office, he never rode a bike that I know of, but he did like people to think he was tough. So my idea is to cut them in two and wrap, them around our arms for protection. We can use your tape to hold them in place. I do have two helmets in my office but they are full faced so they have pretty bad blind spots.”