Chapter 17

     Inspector Fred moved snappily and punched one of the infected. "Jada, get Bobby out of here, quickly!"

       "Sure. Meatball," She placed his arm around her neck and lifted him from the table. "Get out of there!" Pushing Diego away from the bathroom door, she dropped Bobby inside. "Diego, lock the door."

       Dare and Inspector Fred battled off the living dead. Their increasing number knew no end. Inspector Fred nabbed Jada's machete and disunited the heads of the living dead moving toward her.

       The living dead ran swiftly toward Bobby. He screamed out loud as their pearly rotten skin glistened under the moonlight. Diego turned his gaze away, feigning not to hear Bobby's cry. Just then, he kicked off the one clutching his cut-off leg and held the sink as support. "I can't die in here." Pulling out the toilet seat forcefully, he smashed it on the living dead head. For every time they killed a zombie, their number inflated.

       Some climbed in through the window, growling and grunting, blood dripping from their razor-like teeth. With open arms and filthy nails, they ran past Diego and into the bathroom, pulling Bobby.

       "I'll go help, Meatball." Jada scampered for the bathroom. She grabbed the broom which was earlier made for him and speared the bulging eyes monsters.

       "Dare, pass me the machete!" Inspector Fred voiced tiredly. His voice grew faint as he struggled to fight off the living dead, gnashing and roaring at him. "Quickly!"

       "I'm a little busy here, Inspector Fred. Jada!"

       She flung another one across the room, stabbing the one on her leg. "Also busy! Diego, here." Jada threw the machete at Diego, signaling to him to help Inspector Fred.

       I can't do this. I can't help him. He held the machete firmly, gazing at a helpless Inspector Fred fight for survival. "What do you think you're doing?" Dare raved. He pulled out his gun and fired the last bullet at them.

       The living dead came at them with full force, snarling and moaning. Jada, Dare, and Inspector Fred, held their weapons firmly as they formed a circle observing fearfully. This is it. Just as the living dead got close to the door, they ran after them; bashing, beating, stabbing, and slashing. The fight for survival was a stringent one.

       Bobby hurdled to the door as planned and locked it.

       "We can do this."

       "I don't think we can. More of them are still outside trying to come in."

       "Move all the chairs and tables to the door." Inspector Fred suggested while fighting earnestly. 

      Bobby moved swiftly on one leg, using all the chairs, tables, and computers to barricade the door and window. He rolled out a lot of duct tape and used it on the windows.

       "Diego, move all these rotten bodies away. It's making me wanna throw up." Dare sat on the floor after bashing the brain of the last living dead. "I can't believe this. How did the door open? We locked it, didn't we?"

       "I also don't understand." Inspector Fred examined the door. "It couldn't have opened on its own."

       "It's an old office with worn-out paint." Diego cracked up. He lifted a body and dragged it to the corner. "It was going to happen either way. I mean, even the bathroom door has to be lifted for it to close."

       "Or maybe someone opened it." Jada wiped the smear of blood on her nose. Her cloth was drenched in blood. Bobby couldn't tell if her shirt used to be white or red all along. He hid his nose from the terrible smell oozing out from the Bodies of the dead. "What was that you did earlier?"

       "I'm sorry."

       "You're sorry?" she scoffed. "I passed the machete to you and you didn't do anything. Those things were about to attack Inspector Fred and you stood, watching them like a movie."

       "I was terrified, okay. I didn't know what to do." His hands quivered. "I'm really frightened. The more I think I can deal with this the more arduous it gets."

       "Jada, he must have been scared." Dare added. "Look at him. He's been scared right from the start. I don't think it was deliberate."

       "Scared? I'm certain that wasn't it. I saw the look in his eyes then. It felt as though he wanted Inspector Fred dead." I know I'm not wrong. I know the look I saw in his eyes then. It wasn't that of someone terrified. And the door? How did it open all of a sudden? "Diego,"

       "Dare, your finger!" Bobby pointed out in tears. He shifted to the wall, biting his lower lip. "He's been bitten. I was just starting to like him."

       "I got it." Inspector Fred didn't give Dare a chance to decide, he raised his machete, pulled out his finger, and cut it off. If only Jada hadn't drawn near Dare, his wailing would have gotten them killed. She held his mouth firmly as he moaned in pain. "I couldn't just let you die. Don't be resentful."

       Don't be resentful. He took my favorite finger and he's asking me not to be resentful.

       "At least it ain't your leg. And everyone knows the baby finger isn't that useful." I wish my finger was the one I lost. "My leg is throbbing, guys. I need a pain relief medicine or I don't think I'll make it out alive." He cried. Mum needs me. Ken said I should stay alive for my mum. I wish I listened and gone to South Africa with her. 

       "There's a pharmacy nearby. It's two buildings after Prestige." Jada sat opposite Dare when she was sure he was okay. "If we can get in there and bring some medicines for him, I'll go into Prestige and rescue the boys, we'll head back here and make a plan on how to escape. It won't take up to three hours to get everything done."

       "I don't care about this kid I just met today or the boy I never knew was in your life. We are going without them. That was the plan at first."

       "Yeah. Until I found out the only guy who ever cared for me like a lady is about to be killed by some cannibals or some heartless humans who might want to keep all the food to themselves." How did he even become an Inspector if he's this heartless?

       "Jada has a point. I'm in so much pain as well. I'll also be needing that pain relief medication. And, we'll need more people on our team if we want to make it out alive. The four," he scrutinized Diego then jiggled his head in displeasure. "The three of us can't fight all these demons alone. We need more hands to escape." I can narrowly breathe right now. "I'm thirsty. I don't mind drinking bathroom water if that's the only thing in here."

       "Fine. Let's go."

       "Meatball,"

       "I'm fine. I'll stay behind. I don't think I can walk any further. I'm not even sure if after all this stress, I'll make it back home alive." My leg hurts. It hurts so bad. "Diego will keep you company. Please make sure nothing happens to her or Antonio won't spare either one of us."

       How can he tell that loser to look after me? I've been the one looking after them. They really do underrate women. "Hey, hang in there. The guys must be thinking of you right now. Don't give up now or ever. We'll be back with your friends." I hope.

       He shook his head.

       Diego picked up the bottle of water by his side, opened it, and gave it to Jada. Sadness clouded his features as he apologized for his behavior earlier. She gulped down the water, not saying a thing to him. If there was any faith she had in him before, it died that instant. Everyone might have considered it as fear but she knew what she saw. If only there was proof to back up her accusation. She reasoned.

       "Diego, can I have your phone?" Bobby requested. Diego's negative response had him pleading and explaining why he needed the phone.

       "Here. Once you're done sending a message to your mum, give it back. There's no place to charge the phone and I still need to contact my family as well."

       "Thanks, man." He dialed his mum's number but there was no response. "4514," Bobby mumbled the first number in Diego's call log. This number sounds familiar. "Where have I seen it? 4514. This is the first time I'm holding his phone so it can't be Diego. Why can't I remember?"

       "Done?"

       "Yeah. She ain't answering. I sent her a message. Just in case she replies when I'm gone, do not tell her what occurred."

       "Hey, only positive thoughts. Nothing's going to happen to you." As long as you're away from Inspector Fred.

       How do we get past these things outside? There's no guarantee the pharmacy would be open when we get there. I can't believe I'm doing what Jada wants. Inspector Fred thought. He wandered back and forth, hand on his chin. His extra time was interrupted when Diego walked up to him. "What? You should be grateful I didn't strangle you for what you did earlier. If only someone hadn't gotten angry in my place."

       "I'm embarrassed."

       What's he doing with Inspector Fred? Does he want to get annihilated or what? Dare glared. He rubbed off the sweat on his forehead. "Jada, some water please."

       "Inspector Fred, I know I shouldn't be asking this but, do you have any idea how all these started? I mean, you're an Inspector. You should have an inkling, right?"

       Crystal Laboratory. Or should I say Salvation Laboratory? He scoured around but didn't see the tiny paper. Banging his hand on the wall, he let out a soft sigh. Someone must have ambled on it while fighting off those monsters. "No. Although there's someone and somewhere I suspect. I was about to report it to our seniors when we got attacked at the restaurant. As soon as we get out of here I'll let them know. Even if I'm not right, I still can't trust them. Four months ago I saw something similar to what's going on now so I'm certain they have something to do with it." I need to investigate Salvation Lab. Why do they have an underground lab? There must be something they are hiding.

       "So, this suspicion you have, you haven't told anyone?"

       "Aside from Dare and you, I haven't told anyone. It's a gigantic and flourishing company so I can't just blabber without evidence."

       "Sure." he walked away, thinking about everything Inspector Fred said.

       Oh yes. I forgot to tell him that Jada knows. It's not noteworthy. I'll tell him later.

       "Wow, look at that. Come check this out, guys."

       Inspector Fred, Dare, and Diego stood behind her, darting out through the window. The living dead were making anomalous noises and running into hideouts. "Why are they running away? That's new."

       "I don't know."

       "Guys, my leg hurts more. It's chilly in here. I think it's about to rain." Finally. I get to see rain after fourteen days of hot summer chase.

       "We need to get medicine for Meatball. This is a good opportunity to go out."

       "It's odd." Inspector Fred said, still scrutinizing the living dead scurry away. "No one mentioned this. Do you think they go to sleep after every fourteen days?"

       "That's the stupidest thing I've heard since forever." Bobby giggled. "What's the one thing that's happening that hasn't happened since our lives became a temple run?"

       Rain. "Oh, my God! They are afraid of the rain." Jada twirled around. She felt like she was on cloud nine. Finally, she could save Antonio without having to worry about a thing. "We need to move quickly. This is a sign. Thank God. Rain in summer? It's the best miracle ever."

       "We still have to be careful though. Only the ones outside are affected by the rain. There are many of them in Prestige Restaurant and probably in the pharmacy."

       Inspector Fred went over their plan again. Everyone aside Bobby conjured around him and aired their opinions and conclusions on how to slink in without being detected. They were so carried away while looking at the living dead running towards a popular mall that no one saw when a living dead rushed out of the bathroom and swooped on Bobby. "Guys!"