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    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2: Virus Z, #2
    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2: Virus Z, #2
    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2: Virus Z, #2
    Ebook98 pages1 hour

    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2: Virus Z, #2

    By Robert Paine

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    About this ebook

    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2

    An unknown virus, ordered to be secretly researched by the government, is in the hands of a tired, overworked CDC Scientist. A small mistake is all it takes. It started with one. One person becoming what no one truly believed to be real.

    James Ericson witnessed the downfall of Floor Three in the Atlanta CDC Lab. He saw a man he admired turn into a flesh-devouring monster. Now, with just his blood stained lab coat and a mysterious flash drive, he must attempt to outrun the virus.

    Now on the road, out of Atlanta, James thinks he's heading towards safety. But this new world has other plans in store for him...

    NOTE: This is the second episode of Virus Z, a serial novel. There will be cliffhangers, and Zombies, from one installment to the next. Read at your own risk...or delight.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOur Pack Press
    Release dateJan 18, 2016
    ISBN9781502238405
    Virus Z: Sojourn - Episode 2: Virus Z, #2

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      Book preview

      Virus Z - Robert Paine

      Virus Z: Sojourn – Episode 2

      An unknown virus, ordered to be silently researched by the government, is in the hands of a tired, overworked CDC Scientist. A small mistake leading to an infection. It started with one. One person becoming what no one truly believed to be real.

      James Ericson witnessed the downfall of Floor Three in the Atlanta CDC Lab. He saw a man he admired turn into a flesh-devouring monster. Now, with just his blood stained lab coat and a mysterious flash drive, he must attempt to outrun the virus.

      Can he make it to safety before it catches him, or will he end up just like the other mindless zombies beginning to fill the streets only one thing on their mind?

      How long can he survive as he stares death in the face?

      Sojourn – Episode 2

      The Infected’s white orbs glared menacingly at James as the black spidery veined hand reached for him. James grabbed his bundled lab coat, which was full of cans from the convenience store, and swung it at the Infected. The blow knocked the thing’s hand aside and made it bang its head against the ragged glass. Most of his goods inside the bag spilled all over the place but James didn’t care. The thing was hanging through his smashed passenger-side truck window, halfway in, halfway out.

      Someone suddenly shouted, Hey! from behind it. James almost didn’t believe his own ears. To his back, the only thing separating him from another Infected was his driver’s window and door. He heard a rustle but didn’t dare take his eyes away from the hideousness of the clawing in front of him. Crunching sounds began exploding around him. Gunshots rang through the night. Blood hit his windshield and the Infected at his passenger-side door jerked suddenly.

      Before his very eyes, it was yanked out of his truck by a pair of rough hands, before a sledgehammer took its head off in one swift motion. James yelped and then realized the people fighting the Infected were like him...completely human. He almost fainted from relief.

      A frazzled older gentleman took off one of the Infected’s head with a machete. Sliced it clean. James pulled his lab coat to him and wrapped a hand around a heavy can of something. Then thought better of it.

      What if the damn thing bites me?

      The thought had barely settled in his mind when the older gentleman yelled at him, rather brusquely.

      You gonna stay in that truck and get eaten alive or get your ass out of there and come with us?

      James frantically looked around and saw another wave of zombies heading for them. He kicked the passenger door open and ran with the man to another male and two females. They headed into a huge warehouse nearby where the two men slammed an enormous garage door shut. James looked around at the inside of a motorcycle shop.

      Two burly guys with beards were holding tire irons and a rough-looking leather-clad female hefted a bloody ax. She looked at his lab coat and arched a brow.

      You a doctor?

      He shook his head, Lab assistant.

      Hospital?

      The suspicious tone of one the burly bikers made James pause. If he told them where he’d been when the virus was released, they’d probably bash his skull in. No need to draw that kind of suspicion to himself.

      He quickly nodded, Yeah...hospital research lab.

      Good. Avery’s niece is in the back with an injured arm. Can you take a look at her?

      Um...sure.

      Something told him that he needed to prove himself with his newfound friends or he’d be thrown to the zombies without a second thought. The two men were currently eyeing his food supply and seemed to be looking for any excuse to take it. He offered his lab coat to them and said, I don’t know how much I can help her, though. I’m more of a research and development assistant to a doctor.

      The older man took the food and looked inside, You staying or heading out?

      As they walked to the back where a teenage girl was crying and holding her arm, he told the man, I was actually heading to Canada. The gas station’s pumps where I grabbed that stuff were all shut off. Do you know of anywhere in the area where I can get gas?

      We got plenty of gas. Why are you heading to Canada? The man bit into a piece of jerky and chewed while James wondered how much he should tell him. Horrible guilt gnawed at him, even though the doctor was the one that had started it all.

      With a shrug, he decided on the truth.

      I’m from Canada. The University where I studied was always top-notch with this kind of thing. He frowned and lowered his voice, Well, not that we’ve ever seen anything like this before, but I think I know the origins of this zombie virus so, if I can get up there, maybe I can help contain it.

      The older man came to a dead stop.

      What did you say? Are you serious!?

      James nodded and said in hushed tones, I was actually employed by the CDC in Atlanta. He showed the man his badge before adding, I think my stupid boss may have started it. I have to do whatever it takes to contain it.

      The man looked relieved, even a bit hopeful. He quickly nodded and said, Look, Mister...

      James, please call me James.

      "Okay, James. I’ll let you take an abandoned car and all the gas you can carry. Hell, I’ll even give you a gun and a machete and show you how to use them. Just don’t mention where you were working to those bikers out there. They have some...different ideas. One of them suspects this whole thing started with the CDC and is a bit angry over it. They’re normally good men but this crap will send a Saint’s mind over the edge."

      James quickly nodded, understanding completely.

      Yeah, tell me about it. I thought they looked a bit too edgy.

      He moved across the floor and down a hallway before stopping and kneeling at a teenager. Judging by the way her shoulder was hanging, James had an idea. He told the man, She’s dislocated it. Once you pop it back into socket, she should be okay, if not a little sore.

      Okay, Bri, you heard the man. Uncle Avery is going to have to cause you a bit of pain but then you’ll be okay. He turned back to James. Can you hold her still for me?

      James nodded and told the girl, I know it hurts now. And this part is going to sting just a little bit more. But I promise that afterward it will feel better.

      It was a quick process and her scream was muffled by James’ hand. He apologized and told her, Those zombies will rush the door if they hear your shout.

      The man shook his hand and thanked James before handing him the keys to a car.

      Take the one outside. It’s full on gas. I just filled it up yesterday. Don’t worry about us. You just haul ass and don’t stop for anything. Try to fix this, please.

      James thanked him and said he would do his best. The man told his niece, Go get Ryan and bring me my machete.

      When she was gone, he told James, "There’s a gun in the glove box and plenty of ammunition is in the back. Gardening is my hobby and I think those guys may have thrown some of my tools into the Land Rover. We’ve got plenty here and you’ll need them more than us so just take whatever’s in it. That’s a sturdy vehicle, so you should be able to make it far. Don’t say anything to Ryan, even though I think he’d help you. It’s best

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