Omega Pathogen: Mayhem by J.G. Hicks Jr Page B

have occurred as a result of years of work by the science division that’s been confined here for so long.
    Above, in the guards’ living quarters, Vladimir is in a restless, febrile sleep. He regains some semblance of consciousness from time to time, only awakening periodically to realize he’s lying in a bunk and feeling ill.
    After approximately six hours, the being that had been Vladimir awakens. He doesn’t comprehend the person he once was. He doesn’t know where he is, nor does he care. He feels thirst and hunger beginning to grow. His realizes his head hurts; he doesn’t have the higher level of consciousness any longer to actually know the name of any part of his anatomy, only that he has pain there.
    Throughout the underground facility, people go about different activities; some of the scientists remain, observing the prisoners locked in their cells. Other scientists and guards go to eat a meal. Most of the soldiers up on the ground level have completed securing the helicopters and unloading supplies for their stay at the facility. The men begin cooking.
    Doctors Kosktov and Levonen go about gathering all data and samples of the virus. Doctor Levonen seems almost gleeful, even with the lack of sleep. He asks Doctor Kosktov, “Are you well, sir? I thought you would be happier about the recent events.”
    Doctor Kosktov pauses and turns to his younger colleague, “I’m fine, Doctor. You’re right, I should be happier. We’ve all spent too long here in this pit.”
     
    Chapter 15
    Present
     
       “Can you hear me, honey?” Jim quietly calls out to Arzu. “I hear you,” Arzu calls back to Jim, which lets him know she’s ready.
    “Go!” Arzu hears Jim give the signal that he’s ready to make his run for the MRAP armored vehicle he parked in their driveway. She instantly calls Chris and repeats the same word. Chris, without hesitation, lights the fuse he’s altered, like before, as soon as he hears Arzu’s voice on the radio.
    Jeremy hears the same command, and tightens his grasp on the deadbolt and prepares for word to do his part. Chris gives the fuse a fraction of a second to begin its burn, and draws back on the slingshot; aiming in the direction he had the last time, and lets the projectile fly.
    “It’s out,” Chris calls over the radio. Arzu echoes the same to Jim. He stands and grips the lift cord for the blinds, ready to snatch it down to open them when the street in front is clear.
    Berk and Kayra stand next to their mother, too young to have any full understanding of the seriousness of the situation, but they do know there is stress in their mother’s body language and voice. They hear the same stress in their older brothers’ and their father’s voices as well.
    Arzu can hear the popping and cracking of the fireworks from outside. Jim hears the same noises and keeps a steady gaze outside. He watches as the infected crouch and then head in the direction of the ruckus.
    Some of the infected sprint toward the noise, some head that way in a more cautious manner, while others limp along due to either new injuries or a preexisting condition prior to their change into what they’ve become. The street in front has cleared out, but Jim can see other infected still heading in the direction of the noise, some of them on a path to take them by the family home, but the time is now.
    Jim pulls down on the cord for the blinds, releases the grip, and is lifting up, opening the bedroom window before the blinds have finished their motion. He grabs the extension ladder and feeds it out the window onto the top of the MRAP below. He’s lengthened the ladder before pushing it outside the widow to make sure it’s long enough. However, the extra length makes it difficult to maneuver easily. It seems to take much longer than it does, but Jim gets the ladder out and set quickly.
    “Ladder’s ready. Going out,” he yells. Arzu relays the information to Chris and Jeremy over the radio. Chris is already