To Be A Hero

Chapter 22: Strange Disease

She nods curtly. "Let's head inside."

"Guys, power's out all over the building," Sam says as we head inside, and I see that he's right. None of the lights are on in here. The only light coming in is from the open door behind us. "Looks like half the cameras are down, too. Any idea what's going on in there, Veronica?"

"I wasn't there when it happened," She explains. "They were conducting experiments on that zombie hand we recovered from the Viking tombs. We've learned a great deal from it already. The virus is a much earlier form than the zombie virus we know today! It should have all been straightforward, but there was a leak, and they initiated lockdown procedures. I haven't heard anything from them since."

"Figured as much," Steve murmurs. "Better get your torches out. No windows in this building. Two stories up, and three stories straight down. Going to be pitch dark when we're away from this door."

I pull off my backpack, which is the only thing I'm wearing outside my hazmat suit, and pull out the flashlights and click them on. During the rustling of me getting my supplies, Kefilwe looks around, her brows pinching together.

"It's quiet too. A building like this should have air pumps working to maintain the negative air pressure, but I can't hear anything."

Steve hums in agreement, taking a flashlight from me and handing it to Kefilwe. "The lab door should have sealed when the power went out. Think you've got a few more door pries left in you, Dr. Lobatse?"

She nods, a small smile on her lips. "Oh, that and more."

"Really?" He asks, cocking a brow. "I like the sound of 'more'. Sam, we're headed down the main corridor. Lab we want's number B26, right, Veronica?"

"Yes. The Minister had it equipped to my specifications. Each lab self-seals," She explains. "She thought it was better to keep some of the more hazardous research away from a civilian population center like Abel."

"Looks like she was right. You see anything in our way, Sam?"

"Sorry, yeah, night vision's not great on there cameras."

"Try brightening the screen," Milo suggests, and a second later Sam laughs.

"Yes. Good thinking. Uh, oh... crap. You've got four or five zoms in front of those doors you're about to open."

Steve sighs. "Damn."

"How did zombies get inside a sealed building?" Kefilwe asks.

"They didn't," Veronica sighs. It sounds like there's annoyance in her voice. "The experiment involved extraction of genetic material from the zombie hand. I think the extract may have vaporized."

"Vaporized? You mean airborne zombie flesh, right?" Sam shudders. "So these-these zoms were the scientists doing the experiment for you?"

"Yes."

The three of us stop in front of the door, and I see Steve nod to himself. "Right. Ministry doesn't want anyone without medical experience beyond these doors. Once we get them open, Five, you'll lead the zoms away. Find some way to get rid of them while we go the dirty work."

I nod, taking a small step back, preparing myself to sprint.

"Oh, you have medical experience?" Kefilwe asks, tipping her head to the side. "Do you mean that I should now call you Dr. Builder?"

"I think you mean Dr. The Builder," He replies with a grin. "I didn't say that I was in medical training. Just experience."

She laughs. "That sounds like a story."