There were
plenty inside. He could see them shambling in and out of view from the small 5
by 5 window. The long dead were still, stiffer, and remained at the rear of the
room. Those that were fresher- mostly medical staff, but also a few children-
stood in waiting closer the door or windows.
He wondered idly
if they could see him. He doubted this, simply because he had never seen any of
their pupils dilate. In fact, their eyes didn’t seem to follow a target at all.
They were milky, lifeless orbs.
While he
contemplated these things, a few had grown curious and he found himself wondering
if it was some odor he gave off, or if it was something more ethereal. They
were dead after all. Maybe they could sense his soul. Maybe they could peer inside me and know that it was ripe, evil, and
ready to be gobbled up just like my flesh.
For all he knew
that’s how you turned into one. Demonized, stripped of your humanity. “Eh, probably just my stink.”
“Warren. If you
touch that door I’ll kill you where you stand!” Wes’s voice boomed through the
corridor.
The noise was so
loud, Warren jumped, rattling the door to room 124. That too frightened him,
for a moment he assumed it was being opened. When he turned down the hall he
saw Wes, Jason and a young man in what appeared to be clown paint spattered
across his face. They were running towards him full tilt, shoes clicking
against the linoleum in a heated charge.
As they
approached, he began to explain, “I’m not going to open the door. Do you think
I’m deranged? I’m a man of science. Call it observation if you must.”
“Bullshit, back
away from the door. I’ve had it with you! You can’t be trusted.”
Wes grabbed
Warren’s shirt collar, tearing one side clean off, his anger helped him drag
the man away from the entrance to room 124. The zombies inside reacted by
groaning and throwing their weight against it, again it clattered in its frame.
“Fuck you Wes.
Just fuck you. I’ve had it with you too!” Warren eyed the three men in front of
him, while straightening his shirt. “Our
fearless leader. Give it a rest. More like a default despot.”
Wes smiled, “I
know you have those keys. I can’t prove it but I know!” He dropped his hands nonchalantly, as if he were going to
back off, but then quickly lunged for Warren again.
Franklin stepped
forward, and got between the two, just as Warren was waving Wes on. “Listen we’re
not going to do this the hard way.”
“Who are you and
why in God’s name do you have face paint on?” Warren asked.
“I’m Franklin.
And I have face paint on because I like it; it’s also the end of the world.”
“He’s from the
outside.” Jason added.
Warren’s eyes
perked up, but then knowingly dropped. “Not police or some form of search and
rescue…to young.” He continued to examine Franklin’s appearance. “Wonderer,
scavenger, somebody that saw The Dark Knight one too many times?”
Franklin
returned the favor. “I remember you…Mr. Allen? You were such a prick. Do you
still do that ‘Science is cool’ routine every year?” Wes noticed that as
Franklin began talking he could also see the frustration fading, by the time he
finished he was laughing heartily. “Doesn’t matter, like your despot says, you
can’t be trusted. We are going to deal with whatever’s inside that room, but
will be doing it on my terms. The easy way, not the hard way.”
“Franklin Wright. Must’ve been what seven,
eight years since you barely passed
my class? And I’m sure the fourth grade as a whole was pretty tough on you. The
makeup must be a coping mechanism?”
Franklin punched
the man squarely in the nose. “No my violent outbursts are my coping mechanism.
So let me tell you what’s about to happen…” Warren staggered backwards, the
wall stopping him from tumbling over as blood gushed from his nose. “You will
be spending the duration of the day zipped tied in the cafeteria while we deal
with this room 124 situation. Afterwards, Wes and the rest of the people that
likely equally despise you can figure out where you go from there.”
Franklin paused
long enough to make sure his words were sinking in.
Jason blinked.
If Wes objected he did not make a sound to indicate as such.
Franklin
finished, “If I were them I’d put a bullet in your head based on the annoyance
factor alone. However, maybe they’ll find it in their hearts to just kick you
out from within the safety and comfort of the school and leave you for dead.
Now give me your wrists.”
Wes watched
Franklin’s eyes; they showed no pleasure as he pulled a zip tie from his
satchel.
