Dead Endz

3

3

Kris

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Kris sat across from the doctor, whose face became a blur after his impartial speech. She brushed the tears from her face and shook her head. “I just don’t understand. I mean, you told me that she was getting better. She even regained consciousness a few times.”

He handed her a tissue. “I know this is hard.”

“I want to see her,” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. She’s been quarantined and we’ll be doing an autopsy. Listen, I understand your grief, I have lost most of my family, too. It’s tragic; horrible. But you have to remain strong for the rest of your family.”

His eyes were flat and showed no real signs of compassion. It was hard to believe he’d lost anybody.

“No, I want to see my daughter!” she cried, her voice getting shrill. “You told me she was getting better! And I’ve been at her side continuously until this morning when you took her away from me. I’ve been exposed to the damn virus from day one, so as you can see, Doctor, it doesn’t matter if I go near her again!”

As if on cue, two young soldiers stepped into the room. “Everything okay, Doctor Hill?”

She ignored the soldiers but pleaded in a much softer voice, “Doctor, let me see my baby. Please?”

The doctor sighed. “I’m very sorry for your loss. If there was anything else I could do, I’d do it. Unfortunately, the government is making these calls and my hands are tied.”

It was obvious that he wasn’t really on her side, and it made her furious.

The gloves were coming off.

She was tired of the bullshit.

Kris stood up and leaned over his desk, getting right in his face. “Okay, fine, I want to talk to whoever is making ‘the calls’, Doctor! I demand to talk to your superiors. Right now, dammit!”

The taller soldier took a step toward her but Doctor Hill raised his hand, halting him.

“It’s... its fine,” he said and then turned back to Kris. “Please sit down. This isn’t necessary.”

She moved back, but didn’t sit down. “Well?” she asked tightly, trying to keep her composure.

Doctor Hill rubbed a hand over his face and then finally nodded. “I’ll see what I can do, Mrs. Wild. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. For now, why don’t you try and get some rest?”

She snorted. “Rest? I’ve rested quite enough. If I can’t see my daughter right this minute, then I want to try and call my husband again,” she said. “Can you please find me a cell phone to use?”

He stood up and grabbed the paperwork from his desk. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said without looking at her.

His favorite line, she thought bitterly. He wasn’t very efficient in anything he’d promised, and now he claimed her youngest had died from the zombie virus. But it didn’t make sense, and something in her gut was convinced he was deceiving her. He had to be lying. She’d have a nervous breakdown if it were really true.

The two soldiers chaperoned her back to her room, which she’d been sharing with a couple other survivors. They were staying in a hospital where the remaining scientists from the CDC, the ones who hadn’t taken the vaccine, curiously enough, had set up a new research lab. The zombies had overrun the old facility so they’d all been transferred to the hospital. There were over one hundred survivors and almost fifty soldiers helping to secure the site.

“What happened?” asked Carly, who was alone in the room, reading a book. She was another survivor who’d wandered into the hospital alone and frightened just two days before. Her entire family had been killed and she’d almost been r***d by a band of marauders. The young woman was in her twenties and certainly had a strong will to survive. In fact, she reminded Kris a lot of her oldest daughter, Cassie.

Kris sat down on her cot and put her head in her hands. “They told me that Allie is dead. But I don’t believe it. Carly, she just can’t be!”

Carly’s jaw dropped. “They actually told you she died?”

Kris looked up at her, fresh tears glistened her eyes. “Yes,” she choked. “They said Allie... my baby... died!”

“Oh, Kris,” said Carly, kneeling down next to her, “I’m so sorry. This doesn’t make sense, though. They... are they trying to pull some kind of bullshit? You told me she was getting better.”

She wiped her tears. “Well, I really think they’re lying. It just doesn’t make sense to me, either. Yesterday morning Allie had opened her eyes and she’d recognized me! Even smiled before she fell back to sleep. Then, last night she squeezed my hand and her face looked so much healthier, it was like a miracle. Now, they tell me that she’d died in her sleep, and yet, they won’t even let me see her!”

Carly’s face darkened. “That seriously sounds like a crock of s**t. They really won’t let you see her?”

Kris stood up and began pacing. “I demanded they let me see her, and Dr. Hill refused, saying it wasn’t his call. I don’t know what else to do, dammit!”

“Have you spoken to your husband?”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t get ahold of him. His cell phone must have died. At least that’s what I’m hoping and it isn’t something else.”

Carly’s lips tightened. “If they are refusing to let you see her, then you have to take matters into your own hands. Shoot, I’ll even help you.”

Kris stared at her. “Really?”

She nodded. “Of course. Let’s start right now by sneaking into her room.”

Kris sighed. “If it were only that easy, she isn’t there. They’ve moved her.”

Carly bit the side of her lip. “What about the research lab? I hate to even say this, but maybe they’re experimenting on her?”

She clenched her jaw. “They’d better not be, or I’ll kill every last one of them. I swear to God...”

***

They needed a plan, and by the end of the day, they had one. Carly, with her voluptuous curves, blond hair, and bright blue eyes, had gotten the attention of one of the soldiers. It was obvious he liked her, and she was going to use her all of her feminine wiles to help locate Allie.

“So, I’m going to talk him into giving me a tour of this place. He’s been trying to get me alone and I’m going to give him the opportunity this time, so we can find your daughter.”

“Oh, Carly, you don’t have to go that extreme. It just wouldn’t be right,” said Kris.

She smiled. “I’m not going to jump in the sack with the guy. I’m just going to sweet-talk him into giving me a private tour. I might let him kiss me, cop a feel, but nothing more. Don’t worry,” she said, shaking Kris’s shoulders playfully. “I know what I’m doing. I’m a grown woman.”

Kris sighed. “Just be careful.”

“If I can help you find your daughter, it’s worth being a little friendly to one of the soldiers. You’ve been so kind to me, and I want to return the favor. I mean, the fact that they’re keeping your daughter from you – actually lying to your face – is really pissing me off.”

She nodded. “It’s infuriating, isn’t it?”

“Damn right it is! But don’t you worry, hon; we’ll find Allie and then get the hell out of here. I’m not going to sit around and let them do this s**t to you.”

Kris’s eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t know what to say, you’re amazing.”

She smiled and then looked over Kris’s head toward the door. “Showtime – here comes stud-muffin,” she said under her breath.

Kris turned around and sure enough, Lieutenant Michael Smith stood just outside of the door, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Carly.

Carly flipped her long blond curls and batted her eyelashes. “Well hello there, Lieutenant. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

He grinned. “Now, I told you to just call me Mike,” he said, swaggering into the room. He was younger than Carly, maybe early twenties. From the love-struck look in his blue eyes, he was already putty in her hands.

“Can I talk to you for a minute, Mike? Alone?” asked Carly, walking toward him, her hips swaying seductively.

“Of course.”

She looped her arm through his and guided him out of the room. “Your forearms are so large and firm. Do you work out?”

Kris chuckled and then sprawled out on top of her cot. She closed her eyes, and as usual, her thoughts went to her family. She missed them terribly and prayed silently they were all safe. It had been almost a week since she’d spoken to Dave, and even longer to Cassie. The last she’d heard, Cassie had escaped the clutches of the soldier, Austin, from Texas, who she herself had actually saved the night the zombies showed up. She’d been very upset with the news, but Dave had assured her that Cassie was doing well and that they were all on their way to Atlanta. But that was a while ago and they had yet to arrive. Now that Allie had been moved to a different facility, the chance of them meeting up seemed to be getting slimmer every day. She tried not to think about that and concentrated on rescuing Allie.