Read Land of the Dead (Book 1): Infected for Free Online

millimeter hollow point bullet entered Osman’s skull directly under the right eye and instantly mushroomed, creating a whole in the back of the skull that was at least three inches in circumference. Osman’s knees gave way as the base of his spine was severed, falling in a heap.
    “Fuck! What the fuck!”
    Dillon stepped back from the elevator and scanned left, right and behind, ignoring Rick’s shocked string of profanity long enough to make damned sure there weren’t more coming. A few seconds later, he lowered his weapon to the “low ready,” still ready to fight if need be.
    “Osman was infected. He must have chased the guard into the elevator and attacked him before he could press a floor button. Good thing, too, or these guys would have been loose on another floor. As it turned out, they were trapped in the elevator.”
    “It’s like they didn’t remember how to operate the elevator. I mean, they didn’t even know how to push a button. And did you see how they were just…there? The gardener was still sitting right where he had been infected, and the other one was standing over him. I think they might enter some form of stasis, like hibernation, if they don’t have any stimuli to react to.” said Doc, obviously more comfortable dealing with this as a scientific exercise.
    “Yeah,” said Rick, “but…fuck!”
    “Fuck is right, Rick. This is why you’re going to need a gun. Well, it’s one of the reasons. Grab the keys off of the guard’s belt so I can lock this elevator down.”
    Despite his shock, or perhaps because of it, Rick was able to step into the bloody elevator and gingerly take the key chain off of the guard’s belt.
    “Good. Now I need you to wait until the door closes and then you can insert the key and turn it clockwise.”
    “I’ve locked and unlocked elevators before, Dillon. I was a firefighter, remember?”
    Dillon chuckled to himself. “Yeah, you’ve got this.”
    Dillon pushed the elevator button again once the first elevator was locked. Then, he stepped back and held his weapon at the ready in case the second elevator held more surprises for them. Doc and Rick instinctively stepped away and to the rear of Dillon. The elevator seemed to take forever to make it from the fourth floor to the ground, and the ding that heralded its arrival made Dillon jump a little. The elevator, however, was empty. Slowly, they moved into the elevator and pushed the button for the third floor. Dillon cleared the space immediately outside of the elevator once they reached the third floor. Then he stepped to the door and quickly cleared left and right before stepping out to clear the long hallway in both directions.
    “Clear.” Dillon immediately shifted to the low ready and began moving carefully towards his apartment door.
    “Um, okay.” Doc said, strolling out of the elevator without a care in the world. Dillon could only sigh at his friend’s complete lack of training or perspective.
    Dillon paused at the door and realized someone had to take up over watch, so he pivoted and directed his weapon away from the door, scanning for more infected. Doc knocked on the door.
    “Hannah, it’s Doc. Can you let me in?”
    “Where’s Dillon?” they heard through the door with more than a small edge of concern to the voice.
    “I’m right next to him, Hun. Open up.”
    The door opened up immediately, and Dillon waited until Rick and Doc had entered before holstering his pistol and following. Hannah definitely realized something was amiss, and she used all three door locks before calling to Michael.
    “Michael, are you still playing video games?”
    “Uh huh. I’m just finishing up a level, then I’ll save the game and do my homework. I promise.”
    “Don’t worry about it, sweetie. Play all you want. I’ll bring you some lunch in a bit, okay?”
    “Okay, mom.”
    “Let’s go in the kitchen and then you can tell me what the hell is going on, okay?”
    Hannah had an edge of anger to her