THE KILLER ANGEL : Book Three "Journey" (THE KILLER ANGEL TRILOGY 3) by Myles Stafford

vaccine, if one existed, would be the first step.
    I did not want the delay to my journey, but there were so many lives at stake here, how could I refuse? I spoke with conviction, “Yes, I will help you... I will do what I can.”
    There was obvious relief in the room, with many of the survivors indicating their appreciation. Applause commenced.
    I noticed that Tim was asleep, having polished off four glasses of water.
    Thirst
...
    Soreness
...
    Sleep
...
    Then, like a thunderclap it hit me.
    His security card...he had held it in his mouth...I had touched it!
    “GET OUT!! NOW! RUN!” I yelled, as Tim’s eyes snapped open.
Oh my god!
The virus had skipped the immediate death phase in Tim’s case, and had jumped straight to “runner”.
    Tim’s eyes had that cloudy, wild, bloodshot look as black bile oozed from his nostrils. “SHOOT HIM! SHOOT HIM!” I yelled. Everyone looked around in wide eyed panic. No one was armed; why would they be? He jerked spasmodically, shrieked, then, with raging speed and ferocity, began tearing into everyone near him. The conversion was happening so much faster than ever before. Complete pandemonium ensued... screaming... stampeding... sprays of blood were splattering everywhere.
Oh dear God no!!
    These people had no concept of what actions were immediately and desperately required. There wasabsolutely no time to plan or talk. You can’t negotiate with a runner. Action was the one and only recourse for survival. For me, action was instinctive and immediate, but I had experienced runner assaults in every possible situation many, many times, and trained myself for their murderous assault extensively every day, without fail. These survivors had nothing, absolutely nothing!
    A courageous man and woman attempted to pin Tim down, but the fury and velocity of his agitated state was unstoppable. Bites were transforming humans to monsters within seconds.
    “Nicki help us!!” It was the boy who had identified me, his face consumed with fear.
    Ben was beside himself in agitation, barking and snapping. “Ben! Back!” I might infect the whole room, but I had to do something. Raising my rifle and standing at an angle I emptied 21 rounds of 5.56 ammunition into the main glass panel. Chips flaked off, and small spiderwebs marked each strike, but the window held.
    Oh please don’t let this happen! Give me power!!
    The frenzied carnage and chaos had turned into a gory, bloody feast for screeching demons as defenseless lambs were slaughtered before my eyes. No human should ever witness such an appalling event. The raging insanity within was reaching a crescendo as I bashed the fractured glass with a chair, but to no effect.
    I loaded another magazine and emptied another twenty hot bullets into that panel, the surrounding wall,and the door, yet every barrier was reinforced, defying my strongest efforts. “God damn you!!” Tears burned my cheeks as I pulled two pistols from my vest and emptied all thirty-two rounds in seconds. Nothing! Dozens of creatures charged me from the other side, themselves smashing into the glass wall, smearing it with blood and black syrup, their eyes glaring upon me. I could still hear terrified cries for help from a few remaining, desperate survivors. I pulled out two fresh pistols. I would not let them all die; this is why I lived! “GOD DAMN YOU ALL!” I yelled as I charged into the spiderweb of damaged glass, slamming my body into the panel, my mind prepared for the hyper-speed fight ahead with bullets and blood. I smashed hard into that thick, unforgiving panel, but was completely stunned as I bounced off; that transparent slab was like concrete, and treated me no better.
    Creatures charged me from the other side, crashing into the glass, causing the entire surface to warp...but it held. I recognized faces that I had seen earlier. Horrible, ghoulish faces now that only a few moments before had been hopeful and smiling.
    I hurled my body into that bloody panel over and