Chapter 6
Wesley was in a panic now. Reanimated corpses began to rise from the ground and cling to the chain-link fences surrounding the asylum’s lower window.
“How long do you think that fence will hold?” ask Riley.
“Not long,” replied Wesley.
More and more began to cling to the fence, breaking the steel as they did so. Some would rip off chunks of it with their jaws, others with their bare hand, stripping the skin off of them without even causing them to flinch. Inside the room there where two double doors held together by a padlock. Wesley fired at the lock with his sidearm, causing the lock to break off and slide to the floor. He pushed open the door with the end of his machine pistol and poked his head in. It was a dark hallway this just enough lighting from the window to be able to tell if there was something emerging from the corner of you eye, with at least four inches of water from a busted overhead pipe, spewing out water to cove the floor right up to the shallow ramp into the room they just came from. The water was so polluted, they couldn’t tell if it was discolored from dirt feces, blood, or all of the above. Several doors laid to the right side of the hallway, all of them boarded up with any materials around; scrap metal, wood, barber wire… It was clear that whoever boarded those doors up wanted them to stay shut. Behind them, Wesley could hear the distinct scrape of a creature trying to claw its way out. Wesley sloshed through the water into the middle of the room and looked back at Riley, who was still standing on dry ground.
“Well,” Wesley asked, “What are you doing? Block that door and come with me.”
Dear God, Riley thought to himself, this guy’s gonna be the death of me.
Oxford and Fredricks began firing down at the zombies in an attempt to keep them away from their friends. While Oxford continued to fire down upon them, Fredricks looked for a way to the power room. He turned the corner into a narrow hallway. In the hallway was a single slot machine, covered in a thick dust. Fredricks ignored it and moved on.
Wesley splashed through the shallow water with Riley close behind. In the rear room, Wesley could hear the last of the Verruckt rip the metal fence asunder and climb through. Several reached the shut door behind them, pressing their hideous faces against the glass of the door. If the two didn’t step it up, the creatures would soon figure out how doors work, one of the worst things that could happen. Step by step, the two approached the stairs that led to the second floor. As the broken pipe gushed out more and more water, Wesley felt his pant’s leg snag something. When he attempted to shake it free, he felt terror sweep over him as it tugged back. Slowly, a moving object began to lift from the shallow water. The creature pushed Wesley back onto the stairs and hung over him, opening its mouth preparing to feed. Wesley kicked wildly at the zombie, yelling “Shoot it!”
Riley tried to line up a shot, but that was too risky. “I can’t,” he called, “I might hit you!”
Wesley placed one good kick in the center of the zombie’s skull, causing the creature’s nose to bash in. Still, it raised its might arms, ready to strike Wesley down. He couldn’t reach his side arm, and his MP-40 went flying into the murk. A single broken electrical wire lay next to Wesley’s head.
“Riley!” he shouted, “Get out of the water!”
Riley quickly found an overturned stool, flipped it and stood atop it. All at once, right before the creature bore down on Wesley he grabbed the electrical wire and jammed it in the creature’s eye socket. Immediately, the creature coiled with the sudden contraction of all its muscles, and then it fell into the water with the wire still in place. The zombie attempted to reach out at Wesley, but fell short at the bottom of the staircase, its brain fried in its own skull. Wesley looked into its lifeless eyes, the arms still reaching for his throat. He removed the wire and with one good kick sent the body into the water below.
Chapter 7
Der Riese
December 24, 1941
3:04am
Maxis threw on a robe and rushed into the factory, attempting not to wake his daughter in the process. How could this have happened? Why now, on Christmas Eve? Had someone been with Hanz last night? Was the Bell still functional? Where the hell was Edward? All these questions swam in Maxis’ mind as he strut out into the cool German air. Instantly, a scientist and two guards with guns stood waiting for him. He turned to the scientist and asked “What the hell happened?”
The scientist had anticipated that question and began to go over the debrief before he showed Maxis the subject. As he walked into the factory, he began to go over it
“At precisely 2:56am to-night, a large spike in radiation and power usage came from hanger Z-A. Thinking the doctor working the area had activated the Bell prematurely, we sent in ten armed guard to take him into custody for insubordination and treason by risking our security. As soon as the men entered the hanger, they reported a violet haze and a massive amount of Xerum 525 in the chamber. Immediately, the men started to feel sick. Afterwards they began searching the room for the scientist. Then a wild man attacked them. This man had no regard from human life and did not sacrum to machine gun fire. In the squabble, four men died; one from wild fire from an ally to kill the creature, and three others from an attempt to restrain it. In addition, three more were injured; two from massive beating from the creature and another from being bitten. The latter was soon diagnosed by our doctors as having a severe for of dementia and radiation sickness. He’s not expected to live through the night. The last death of the night came from a certain Henry Vondervich, who was found in his barracks to have committed suicide four minutes ago.”
“What of the other two?” That was when Maxis came face-to-face with at tall man. He was in fantastic shape with a clean pressed uniform, bright blue eyes, and shot blond hair, with the bars of a sergeant shown off his uniform, as well as the two gold lightning bolts that characterized him as SS.
“You must be my NCO,” said Dr. Maxis, uninitiated by the man’s appearance.
“Yes,” the man spoke in a thick Austrian accent, “Ven ve entered ze chamber, the man attacked us. Attempts to subdue him ended in… failure. We ve realized he could not be controlled, we strapped him to an medical dolly and place him in one of ze animal holding cells outside hanger Z-A. The other survivor is being tested for becoming Asiatic.”
“What about my assistant?” Dr. Maxis asked, “Have you seen him?”
“You mean Edward? He’s observing that atrocity.”
When Maxis entered the holding room, it was alive with the sounds of scientists dashing too and fro, electrical equipment and an ungodly, animalistic screaming that seemed to shake everyone to there core. Edward stood outside the halls waiting for Maxis, finishing the last bite off the core of and apple, as casually as ever. “Ah!” he said through a full mouth Dr. Maxis!”
Dr. Maxis simply stared deep into Edward’s eyes and shout, “Silence! Why the hell didn’t you come to wake me!? When did you find out!?”
“A few minutes ago Doctor, I arrived on scene to observe this beast. Truly it is a marvel!”
“Yes,” Maxis said, “And in a few minutes it shall be dead.”
“Wait, you’re going to kill it!?”
“It is a monster and has no place in the Third Reich, no place at all!”
Maxis stepped into the room, and saw a site he wished he hadn’t. Spread across the floor of the cage was a man, uniform torn, hair wild, and eyes that glowed like coals in a fire. Maxis attempted not to vomit when he realized he was looking into the face of Hanz. Maxis put a shaking hand into his pocket and presented a Mauser pistol.
“I’m ending this creature’s life… now.”
“Dr. Maxis….” Edward called, “Do. Not. Pull. That. Trigger.”
“And what would you have me do!?”
“Let me study it, imagine what we could learn! They don’t react to gunfire, they are as strong as ten men, and they have no free will. Imagine if we can learn how to do this to our enemies, have them fight for us!”
“It’s not worth it.”
“Then imagine the illuminati!”
Maxis recoiled at the hearing of this. He lowered his pistol and turned to face Edward. Almost too quiet to hear, he asked “What did you say?” his face beginning to show anger.
Edward hesitated then said, “You heard me. Vento Illuminati, the man who found the path to immortality. These creatures… do not die. I hear you were a part of the illuminati once… Doctor.”
Maxis raised his pistol and spoke, “Boy, I do not know what you are talking about, and if I did, I’d tell you you’re dealing with very dangerous things….” he paused, “The Fuhrer, will never approve of this, creating abominations in his perfect would.”
“Adolf,” Edward spat, “Doesn’t need to know.”
Maxis placed his pistol back into his coat.
“You have three weeks,” the doctor said, “Do not fail me.”
“Yes… Dr. Maxis.”
To Be Continued....
