Z Day +56 (Continued)

  RHI

  “Do not,” I started, “get out of this truck. Do you understand?”

  “Don't have to tell me twice,” Mark said.

  I quickly looked at Trish before climbing down and closing the door behind me. Walking to the back of the truck, I looked up at the doors.

  “You are so going to owe me if we make it through this,” I grumbled.

  The truck had stopped in a denser part of the woods along the road to the corral.

  Removing the safety latch on the door, I took hold of the handle. I counted to three and yanked the door open as zombies began spilling out from the back of the truck.

  From what I pulled from Trish’s mind, James had rounded up all the shamblers he could fit into the cargo truck and sealed it shut. James found the truck at a Walgreens during his first scouting trip. He'd made sure and hobbled the shamblers. They could still walk, but at a much slower pace. They'd been locked up in that truck for a couple of weeks now. The stink coming from them was legendary. I wasn’t happy with this plan, but if there was a chance it might work, I’d play along for now.

  I allowed a handful to fall out before slamming the door shut again. Making a mental note of how many were sprawled on the ground, I climbed onto the back of the truck and slapped the side twice.

  Mark rolled forward, continuing towards the corral.

  The zombies were getting to their feet as we drove away. We drove 100 meters and repeated the process. We did this until we were in sight of the corral. Then, I had the fun job of climbing into the back of the truck and pushing the rest out, tossing the last one as if he were a bag of laundry. I glanced down at my clothes and winced.

  “He is buying me a lot of new clothes for this,” I said.

  Slapping the wall of the truck three times, the truck made a beeline for the main building of the corral. We pulled off around the backside and waited. The first shambler didn't take long to emerge on the road.

  “You're up, Trish,” I called before leaping up onto the roof of the building and making my way to the front to watch the ensuing chaos.

  ∞?∞

  TRISH

  I climbed out of the truck and ran to the entrance of the large building. Bursting through the front doors, I began yelling in a panicked voice, “They're inside! They're on the road, coming this way!”

  “Who's inside?” the clerk behind the counter stood up, eyes wide.

  “Zombies. They're right outside! We gotta get out of here!” I yelled in panic and ran past the desk, deeper into the building.

  The clerk stood dumbfounded momentarily before cautiously walking to the doors and looking through the window. Her eyes flew open in terror before turning to run back to the counter. She had enough peace of mind to run back to the doors and lock them before racing for the phone.

  “Help!” She barked into the phone once someone picked up. “We've got zombies in the corral! Send help!”

  “What?” the other end of the phone called out.

  “Those things, they're here,” the clerk said desperately.

  “Where'd they come from?” the guard on the other end of the phone asked.

  “I don't know; I'm not going to go out and ask them! Just send help!” She dropped the phone and ran when the first one slammed against the door.

  I nodded from my hiding spot around the corner before sprinting down the halls and reading room numbers. It took a minute, but I finally found the one I was looking for. I went inside and locked the door behind me. Moving a dresser over in front of the door for good measure, I turned back to the room.

  Sure enough, a laptop was sitting on the table, just as James said there would be. I sat down and opened it up. The screen showed several camera feeds from within the compound. I pulled the small two-way from my pocket and turned it on.

  “You there?” I whispered.

  “Glad you made it OK. Everything good?” Came James’s voice.

  “Yeah, I’m barricaded in the room and looking at the laptop. What exactly do you need me to do?” I asked.

  “Just be my eye in the sky, OK?” James said.

  “I'll try,” I said, experimenting with the cameras to see what they could do. “By the way, thanks for Rhiannon.”

  “Not the time, Trish,” James chided.

  “Just in case,” I smiled, the memory of the big woman’s lips still fresh in my mind.

  ∞?∞

  RHI

  I watched from the rooftop as the zombies shambled into the corral. Most followed the crowd to the main building, but several others wandered off towards the temporary buildings. The family buildings.

  A scream spurred me into action. I was sprinting across the roof toward where it came from.

  Besides her massive crush on me, Trish's mind had told me that James wanted me to protect the corral. He didn't want me to eradicate the threat; that would defeat the purpose of drawing more security to the area. All he wanted me to do was keep people from getting hurt.

  I could have hunted down all the zombies and taken them out individually, but there was a good chance someone would get bit that I couldn't get to in time. So, I was to play defender, making surgical strikes to keep the shamblers at bay until security could show up and secure the area. I was also to carefully count the number of zombies loose in the compound and ensure they were all taken care of at the end of this, no matter how it turned out.

  The screamer in question was a young woman with two small children, maybe eight years old. They'd been walking between the buildings when a zombie had rounded the corner at them. The woman screamed and pushed her kids behind her. Both kids were trying to look around their mom to see what was going on.

  “Just run, lady; even your kids can outrun that shambler,” I mumbled to myself. But the woman just stood there as the thing dragged its dead foot ever closer to her. I scanned the area and saw no other immediate threats, so I swung down and headed towards the scene.

  It was then I realized I didn't have a weapon of any kind; why would I? I was inside the compound; I didn't need one. Only security was allowed to carry weapons; not even knives were allowed.

  I glanced down at my ruined dress again. It had been just a nice, simple, lacy summer dress. Perfect for these hot and humid Austin days. Granted, it was a Han Chong; I wouldn't wear anything less, of course. I hoped James had his credit card because it was gonna cost him to replace this one.

  I knocked the zombie aside just as it started to reach up for the woman.

  “Run, you idiot, get inside and lock the doors!” I picked up the two children, and drug the woman into one of the open buildings. I pushed them inside and shut the door before turning back to check the area. As I was swinging up onto the roof, I heard the dress rip as it caught on something. I landed smoothly, sighing again at another ruined dress.

  *I'm gonna start wearing sweatpants around that man.* That’s when I heard the first gunshot.

  ∞?∞

  JAMES

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Security's started shooting zombies,” Trish said.

  “That's my cue,” I said as I sprinted up the stairs and out of the building. It took but a moment for me to get my bearings, and then I headed towards the main house. I could hear fighting now, off to the West and hoped everyone was OK.

  “Looks like you're clear to the house,” Trish said just as I slammed into a figure emerging from a path hidden by bushes. The impact sent me spinning.

  “Hey!” the figure said.

  When I looked back, the man, who was obviously security, was pulling a handgun from his waist and yelling at me to stop.

  My training took over as, without thinking. I raised the pistol I was holding and fired twice. The first shot went wide, but the second connected with the bicep on the security guard's gun arm. The wound erupted violently, leaving exposed bone and muscle as the now useless arm dropped to the man’s side.

  The guard screamed but kept his feet and took another step towards me.

  My third shot caught him square in the chest and liquefied his internal organs. The guard dropped to the ground.

  Before resuming my trip to the main building, I glanced around for anyone else.

  “Sorry,” Trish said through the 2-way.

  “Don't worry about it. Find me Shae and Pagoda,” I said.

  “They're in the main house, some really big room,” Trish said.

  “Got a throne in it?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Trish confirmed.

  “Got it,” I said as I broke the tree line, the house now in sight. I entered through a side door and tried to remember which way to go. People were running all over the place, mostly servants who appeared to be panicking.

  They'd never had anything like this happen before. When I’d asked, Rhi said no one had thought to hold emergency drills.

  Trish eventually guided me to the throne room.

  I took a deep breath, checked my ammo and slipped into the room from the back door. A small wall blocked the main room from view of this door, but not the sound of Pagoda's voice. I’d forgotten how irritating his voice was.

  “I'm gone a couple of months and come home to find you leading a coup against me?” Pagoda said.

  I peeked around the corner to find Shae kneeling in front of the throne, head bowed, unmoving. Blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth. Pagoda was dressed in some Asian high-necked long coat made from black silk with embroidered flowers on it. He looked like a cross between Neo and Darth Maul.

  “You don't know what is happening, but you had a hand. Was this your idea? Is this because I set you aside due to your insolence?” Pagoda chuckled at her. “Well, you obviously didn't react well to being ignored, so I guess I'll just have to give you the extra attention you desire.”

  Pagoda raised his hand to strike Shae again as I stepped out from hiding, pistol raised and level with Pagoda’s head.

  “NO,” Pagoda said. “I was wondering how long you would eavesdrop before joining us.” Pagoda returned his hand to his side.

  Every synapse screamed for me to take the shot, but something held me back. I slowly circled, trying to get Shae out of the backdrop.

  “It's over Pagoda. Release her,” I demanded, sounding like a bad cop show.

  “Ah, the tap boy returns.” Pagoda was still looking at her, not me. “I can understand why you fell in love with him. But you really should have listened to your master and left him long before I became involved. It would have made things so much simpler.”

  I finished circling and now had a clear line of fire, but still, I didn't pull the trigger.

  “Or perhaps I should thank you?” Pagoda was still talking to Shae as he turned to me. “I mean, you did deliver an interesting new breed of vampire to me. We hadn't considered this could happen. It's very intriguing. I wonder if it has anything to do with what your first master did to you back then on that ship.”

  “Last chance, Pagoda. Let her go, or I will shoot,” I warned, still trying to figure out why I hadn’t already pulled the trigger.

  “Oh, will you?” Pagoda smiled smugly at me. “I think not. FREEZE.”

  Suddenly, my body locked up like I was made of stone.

  “KNEEL,” Pagoda commanded.

  I dropped to my knees involuntarily.

  “Didn't see that one coming, did you?” Pagoda smiled at me and waved someone forward from behind me. My pistol was plucked from my hand by Travis, who circled around to stand beside Pagoda.

  “Oh, come now, buddy, don't look that way. It's a whole new world out there. You gotta make sure you're on the winning side,” Travis said.

  “How?” I asked.

  “I can't take credit; it was all Mr. Pagoda's idea,” Travis nodded to Pagoda.

  “Yes. It was an interesting proposal the military made me,” Pagoda started, “they wanted to do research on making vampire soldiers. They offered me pretty much whatever I wanted, and all I had to do was give a little blood.”

  “You should see what he has down in his garage,” Travis said. “All the toys they should have given us, they gave to him.”

  “To us, my friend, to us. We share in the spoils here. I reward loyal service.” Pagoda patted Travis on the shoulder.

  Part of me was hoping Travis was just playing along. Any second he'd take that pistol, put it to Pagoda's head, and pull the trigger. But instead, he just smiled back.

  “Now, let's see what other little surprises you have planned.” Pagoda stepped up and slowly slid a metal finger guard with a razor tip down my cheek, tracing fire as he did.

  Then Pagoda was inside my mind. It felt as if something was punching the inside of my skull as Pagoda roughly sifted through my thoughts and memories.

  “I must have a little talk with our friend Natalie. Seems she doesn't honor the intent of a contract,” Pagoda shook his head.

  A moment later, Pagoda withdrew and left me feeling as if I had bruises on my brain.

  “Ah, yes. Tell security to pull the perimeter guard and send them to the corral to clean up. Make sure to bring Ms. Rhiannon Kachou to me as well. I have a few questions. Also, have a few guards brought in to help clean up the mess that's about to occur here,” Pagoda grinned.

  “Right away.” Travis paused in the act of turning before turning back to Pagoda, “Sir?”

  Pagoda looked up at him. “Oh.” He sighed. “Fine, if you must.”

  Travis smiled and approached Shae. In an instant, his hand flew out and snapped her head sideways with the force of his slap. “Karma, bitch!” Then, with one more smug smile at me, he left.

  Pagoda shook his head, sighing. “So, what to do, what to do? We have a few minutes; what sort of fun shall we have, hmm?”

  “You...the whole program?” I managed.

  “Why yes,” Pagoda began, “I mean, give credit where credit is due. Only in America could you get the government to create a personal army for you. I love this country.

  “All I have to do is tell the generals where the ‘bad vampires’ are, and they send in the soldiers to eliminate anyone who opposes me,” Pagoda monologued. “I move in afterward and set up shop. And I don't have to worry about them ever turning against me because they don't know you’re all bloodbound to me.

  “But I guess we'll need to come up with another term for what you are. You're the first to survive the transformation from tap boy to chemical vamp to full vampire. There’s definitely something special about you. I will enjoy taking you apart piece by piece until I find out what it is.”

  “In the meantime,” Pagoda turned back to Shae, “you've proven you're not able to be trusted. What should I do with you? Killing you would be far too easy and not nearly as pleasurable. I must admit I'd lost my desire for you some time back. But now that I see this newfound rebellious side, I find it quite...intoxicating.” He held up a strand of her hair and sniffed it. “Oh yes.”

  “But alas, I hear my guards returning, so we'll have to save this for another time. Don't fret. You'll each have your turn when...” Pagoda’s words trailed off as the main doors flew open. “What's the meaning of this? Who are...”

  “Oh shit!” a voice cried from behind us, followed by the roar of a cannon going off in the room.

  Pagoda's head exploded into pink mist.

  Instantly, I could move again, and I saw Shae sag to the floor out of the corner of my eye. I was by her side in an instant. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes. What happened?” Shae asked.

  “You guys, OK?”

  We both turned to see Mark standing in the doorway, smoking shotgun in hand.

  “What?” Mark looked at us. “That was the bad guy, right? Y’all looked like you were in trouble, so I shot,” Mark said.

  “But you never hit anything you’re aiming at,” I said, glancing at Pagoda's corpse. He was most definitely dead. There wasn't any coming back from having your head blown off.

  “Can’t say that anymore,” Mark grinned smugly, then followed my glance and immediately turned green and covered his mouth. “That's just nasty,” he managed.

  “I told you what those rounds do. I wasn't lying,” I said.

  “What rounds?” Shae asked.

  “I'll explain later; for now, we need to—” but before I could finish, four guards stepped into the room, took one look at the scene, and drew their pistols.

  Before I could react, Mark raised his shotgun and yelled, “DROP IT!”

  All four of the guard’s guns hit the ground simultaneously.

  “What the?” I looked at Mark, who looked just as confused.

  “You didn't turn him, did you?” Shae asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Then how's he controlling them?” Shae asked.

  “Beats me,” I said.

  “Controlling them?” Mark glanced at us. The guards took that as an invitation to spring, but Mark recovered quickly, “FREEZE!”

  All four became statues, one losing his balance and falling to the floor, frozen in place.

  “JUMP UP AND DOWN!” Mark couldn't help it. He grinned as they began to jump at his command.

  Shae was the first to recover; she pushed herself to her feet, wiping the blood off her chin and walking over to him.

  “Mark, tell them to stop and take a knee,” she said.

  “STOP,” Mark commanded. “TAKE A KNEE AND DON’T MOVE.” Mark rubbed his throat and coughed. “This is killing my throat.”

  The guards obeyed Mark. They didn't look happy, but they obeyed.

  “Say exactly what I say. Do you understand? Every word, every syllable,” Shae’s voice was commanding.

  “Sure,” Mark said.

  “By rights old and new. I, Mark, lay claim to the kingdom of Pagoda. He who was slain by my hand, who laid claim before me, I now claim by ancient right. Bear witness and serve. Answer.”

  Mark followed her lead, and as he finished, all four guards responded in unison, “We witness and serve as is right.”

  “It worked,” Shae said in wonder.

  “What worked?” Mark said.

  I started laughing as I understood what was going on.

  “Mark, you're now a Vampire Lord!” I remembered how much Mark had hated the vampire characters back in our Boffguard days; he’d always thought they were silly. I didn’t think Mark thought it was silly anymore from the look on his face.

  “Mark, order them to follow orders from James and me,” Shae said.

  Mark did as Shae instructed.

  Shae immediately began spouting off orders, commands, and rules. She recited as if from rote. Then, she released them to spread the word through the compound.

  “What's going on?” Mark asked. “What was all that you just said?”

  Shae turned back to him and smiled, pushing the shotgun down to point at the floor. “You, sir, are now the lord of this manor. Somehow, everything Pagoda had now belongs to you, including his bloodbound servants. I just gave them the standard ‘you're not allowed to kill your boss’ speech. To make sure, we'll have to do that several more times for all the others here.

  “But I still don't understand how that worked; you're human. No human has ever been able to...” Shae paused and looked at the arm Mark was holding the shotgun with. She moved the gun and pulled his wrist up to her nose. “James, did you feed off of him?”

  “Yeah, I took just a little from everyone before you woke up. I wasn't sure what would happen, so I topped off,” I said.

  “Hmmm.” Shae glanced at me. “Mark, order James to sit down.”

  “James, SIT DOWN,” Mark repeated.

  “Fuck you,” I scoffed.

  “Welp, that didn't work,” Mark laughed.

  “James, order me to sit down,” Shae said.

  “Shae, SIT DOWN, please,” I said.

  “Nice,” Mark added.

  “Nope, nothing. I wish one of those guards were here; I want to try something else,” Shae said, tapping her lip in thought.

  “Well, right now, we should focus on matters at hand. Namely zombies in the wire and a still unknown hostile security force,” I said.

  Shae nodded. “Right, let's get to work.”