Thursday, October 22, 2015

Day 22: Kill it with Fire


“Are you going to explain yourself or should we throw you outside to that creature?” Reggie asked, taking a closer step towards Johnathan.

“No! You can’t hurt my daddy!” Nina exclaimed and rushed into Johnathan’s arms. “Please. He’s all I have left.”

Johnathan kissed her cheek and bowed his head with a sigh. “You’re right, Reggie. I haven’t been completely honest with you,” he started as Fadil entered the room. “I told you all that I was the projects supervisor. What I didn’t say was there were several projects happening over the course of eight years.” He took a seat as the others gathered around him. “The original working project was to find a cure for cancer and other diseases that manipulate cell structure and DNA and we were close…at least I thought we were.”


“Turns out the only thing we managed to do was reverse the damage of degeneration but not prevent it. It wasn’t until three years into the project we stumbled upon what has become known as Gravaxil. Gravaxil worked because it not only repaired damaged cells but it promoted the growth of new cells, basically reversing the detriment of age. It was remarkable!”

“But let me guess,” Reggie cut in, “you couldn’t stop there.”

Johnathan sighed and nodded. “Once we finished testing Gravaxil in preparation for public consumption, we had the idea of using the drug in other facets. The possibilities for a drug like this are endless. Not to mention the military applications for this kind of bioweapon. We were working on weaponizing the disease through the blood of the infected.”


“So wait a second, you had people like the ones outside strapped to tables in your labs and instead of curing them you used them as guinea pigs to further your research?” Fadil demanded in outrage.

“Yes. BioCore knew the risks of the disease; the side effect if you will. But we had no idea how highly contagious it could be. It’s a mutated strain of the avian flu. About six weeks ago, BioCore learned that a patient in one of the area hospitals in Fairhaven had begun exhibiting symptoms similar to those in the research facility. He was hostile, ravenous, and nonresponsive. His blood was even coagulating in his veins; for all intents and purposes he WAS the living dead!”

“But he wasn’t the first,” Liz said folding her arms into her chest. “And as we can see, he certainly wasn’t the last.”

“No. It was then we learned that the disease was now contracted through direct human contact. Once infected the incubation period is between a few hours to a few days. We’d been working on a serum but everything came to a screeching halt when the shipment of Gravaxil was lost on its way back to the lab.”


“Lost? You mean when that chemical spill turned this city into zombies,” Reggie replied. 

“The creature outside is part of the military aspects of the drug,” Johnathan continued, ignoring Reggie’s outburst.

“Wait a minute, that thing was once human?” Liz asked in surprise.

“Yes. And the only way to stop it is by combustion. We need to kill it with fire.”

“That’s great except for the fact that the fuel tank on the leaf blower is out of gas,” Fadil stated.

“There’s a tank in the maintenance building,” Reggie said.

“Awesome,” Liz replied. “I guess that means someone is making a trip out to the tool shed.”


“That may not be necessary,” Fadil said, staring at the screen. “That thing is angry, and it’s on its way to us!” A loud explosion erupted in the lobby. Glass shattered and the ground shook as part of the ceiling collapsed in the dining room.

“Holy shit!” Liz exclaimed as the lights began to flicker. Dust drifted under the door and Nina coughed as Johnathan dragged her farther into the room. “What are we going to do now? I take it that thing is like the others with just one thing on its mind: kill.”

“We need to get out of here before it finds us,” Reggie yelled over the din of falling drywall and metal.

“My truck is down the road a ways,” Johnathan said. “We can get to it, we just have to move quickly.”


“That sounds like a plan.” Reggie opened the door as another rafter plummeted to the ground; finding himself very grateful for purchasing the added coverage. “I don’t see it. If we hurry, we can get out through the side door,” he said and stepped from the room.

“REGGIE!” Liz yelled as she watched the beast barrel towards them. Fadil was knocked back, hitting his head on a table as he fell.

And before Reggie could take one step forward, a large hand closed over his shoulder. He shouted as the beast snatched him from the ground and shook him like a ragdoll. It roared, flashing three rows of razor sharp teeth and forcing his startled gasp back down his throat. Fear curled around his spine as he stared into the furious, yellow eyes of the monster.


“You need to move!” Fadil shouted to Liz, pulling himself from the floor. Jerking her by the arm, he shoved her after Johnathan and Nina through the patio door. Quickly, he scooped up a bottle from the bar, popped the cap and shoved a napkin into the neck.

“Fadil!” Liz shouted and tossed him a lighter. It fell near his feet and the sound of her voice drew the gaze of the large beast. “Shit! Hurry!”

He fumbled for the lighter beneath a table, desperately reaching for it as more debris fell around him. Finally, his fingers closed around the object and he jumped to his feet. Racing for the door, Fadil lit the rag. And, with an apologetic expression towards Reggie, he tossed it at the monster as he charged after the others.



Johnathan, Nina and Liz made it down the incline before a large explosion sent the hill rocking. Loose dirt and rocks tumbled to the ground around them as they all ducked for cover. “Oh god, Fadil!” Liz shouted as the entire building became engulfed in a giant fireball. Flames roared higher as one after the next gas tanks ignited. The sound of car alarms filled the night air and the group watched as the noise attracted nearby zombies. “Fadil!” Liz tried again, getting to her feet.

More sediment rolled passed them as the mountain’s foundation became unsettled and a head popped up on the peak. “I’m fine, I’m here,” Fadil said as he stumbled down behind them. Liz threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close and he laughed and hugged her back. “Now, where’s this truck?”

---------------------------------------

*Author’s note: Sorry for the delay. The game was being a headache today and I still didn’t get the last shot completed. It’ll be added later. The polls will stay open until 1:00 pm EST tomorrow to make up for the one hour delay. Again, I apologize and thank you for your patience and understanding.*

Continue----> (Clicking this continues the story in order. If you would like to move to the next part of this group’s story. Click the # below.)

#7---->
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------

The polls are now open. Vote for your chance to control the action! Remember, you can add your own choice to the plot through the comments section or the poll below. Polls close at 1:00 PM EST tomorrow and reopen at 8 pm EST.

10 comments:

  1. Hopefully the gas station, arriving in time to help out poor Dominic ... or in time to run over Richard after JC throws him through the window. Either one works for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But throwing Rick out of a window would mean they'd have to break the glass and then zombies would get in...hmm...interesting O.o

      Thank you for reading :)

      Delete
  2. Wow, to think that John had been keeping that very useful piece of info to himself all this time. I think everyone in the group has a right to be very pissed off at him! I know I would have been!
    Lets just hope that thing, actually stays dead from the fire like he said it would. Eeekkk!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's crazy how tight lipped he's being in the face of everything that's happening. Holding back vital information can mean the difference between life and death. But at least they were able to get enough out of him to survive tonight. Let's hope the odds remain in their favor!

      Thank you for reading :)

      Delete
  3. I was actually worried you weren't going to post today. I don't know what I'm going to do when October is over ;_; (probably read previous years).

    There Liz goes again being noisy. But at least it was useful noise this time. She seems quite attached to Fadil. Hmmmmm....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah it was pretty close. I usually have a few eps done ahead (hence the 4 groups, gives me 3 day leeway) but I was short for time and had to really push it which was compacted by game crashes :(

      LOL yeah, Liz needs to control that. But like you said, it was helpful this time! Those two do seem to be getting a bit closer. Another odd couple in the making? :D

      Thank you for reading :)

      Delete
  4. I just found this, so far this is some good stuff. I'm glad Fadil was able to make it out in one piece. So far he's my fav in this group.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you are enjoying it! Fadil's the smart one. His technical savvy can surely save them in a time of need!

      Thank you for reading :)

      Delete
  5. Aww...well bye Reggie. That stunt you pulled not helping Liz and Fadil signed your death certificate. He didn't do himself any favors threatening to throw John out to that beast with his daughter sitting right there! Heartless much???

    Damn...that company was up to all kinds of shit. Johnathon needs to stop spoon feeding them with information and just spill the beans. I mean damn, really you are gonna keep things quiet still??? Who the hell are you protecting? Knowledge in this case is power and the group needs to know everything they might face if they are to have a chance of surviving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha. The votes have spoken! He certainly had a bad attitude the last few. But it's understandable that A) He didn't want to risk letting a zombie in and Liz and Fadil were being chased at the time. And B) John was not being forthcoming and he needed/wanted answers. Still those actions were a bit callous.

      BioCore was shady indeed. And I'm sure there is still more to be revealed. But John needs to get into the habit of sharing that information if he expects to make it out alive.

      Thank you for reading :)

      Delete