Read Dead and Dead Again: Kansas City Quarantine for Free Online Page A

He wasn’t getting out of this area on foot; it was moving too fast
now.
    “It was a virus,” he admitted.
    “I knew it!” spat Trip. “Fucking
government creating viruses to kill other people and they’ve killed all of us
instead.”
    “There are many uses for viruses—”
    “—like what?” Trip demanded
angrily, grabbing the doctor by his lapels and pulling his face close. “Huh?
Like what?”
    The doctor managed to reply calmly,
despite the sweat beading along his brow.
    “Well, like simply to research the
development and weaknesses of viruses themselves, or as a defense, for fighting
other viruses and curing diseases and genetic mutations. Just to name a few.”
    “Bullshit. We don’t use viruses to
cure viruses.”
    “Actually, we have adapted serums
from several viruses as potential cures for other viruses and diseases. It is
part of what we do. In fact, that’s what this was supposed to be, but something
went terribly wrong and now it has somehow become even worse after coming in
contact with the general population.”
    “Yeah, that’s just great. You
idiots have killed us all,” Trip let go of the doctor and shoved him forward
and they all began running again as he looked back and saw several corpse-like
former humans several blocks back, shuffling up the street after them.
    Where are the fleeing people ? He wondered.
    “Perhaps not,” the doctor insisted.
“We can still get ahead of it.”
    “How, exactly?” Sarah asked.
    “Well, first we need to get to your
car.”
    “It’s just up there around the
corner in that garage.”
    “Excellent.”
    They sprinted to the first floor of
the garage and Trip pointed the doctor to his charcoal grey Taurus. It was a
little old, but it got him from A to B. He hit the remote and unlocked it and
all three climbed in, the doctor sliding into the middle of the back seat.
Aging tires squealed as Trip started the motor and slammed the car into
reverse, barely avoiding backing into the wall. Pulling the shifter into drive,
the car shot for the exit, but he slammed on the breaks, which made little
sound as the Automatic Braking System kicked in.
    “The gate is down.”
    “Just break through it,” the doctor
suggested
    A group of dead shuffled towards the
entrance. The trio could hear the moaning and occasional cackling of their
madness.
    “We can’t break it down, Doctor, or
spikes will come up out of the ground and puncture the tires and we’ll be stuck
here.”
    “I’ve never heard of such a thing,”
the doctor countered angrily.
    “Everyone knows about the spikes,”
Sarah backed her boyfriend.
    “Shit.” Trip cursed.
    “What?” the other two asked
simultaneously.
    “I don’t have the ticket,” Tripper
mumbled.
    “We need money!” Sarah shrieked,
ripping open the glove compartment.
    “Oh my god,” Trip gasped.
    “What?”
    “I put your purse and my wallet in
the trunk. The ticket is in my wallet.”
    “What the hell did you do that
for?”
    “I didn’t want them to get stolen.”
    “Trip!” She shrieked. The fastest
of the walking corpses had reached the car and jumped onto the hood, slavering
and gnawing at the windshield, its bony fingers clawing at the glass.
    “We need a distraction so I can get
to the trunk.”
    Without hesitation the doctor opened
his passenger door and jumped out. “Please hurry and don’t forget to pick me up!”
he shouted and dashed down the street away from the crazed virus victims
shouting and banging on the case to get their attention.
    “What the hell?” Tripper said in stunned
astonishment. All seven of the beings now followed his retreating form down the
street.
    “That was very brave,” Sarah noted
calmly.
    “Yeah.” Tripper admitted, watching
the zombies stumble at a slow jog behind the man. “Hmm…they’re not moving as
fast as that first one did by the plane.”
    “Trip…” Sarah said casually.
    “What?”
    “The trunk!” she hissed. “Go!”
    “I have to let them get far