The Mississippi Zombie Chronicals

Chapter 16: Beast in the Beauty

The team and I walked down the blood soaked hallway, walking over innards, arms, legs, and heads.

I had never seen a grenade in action, let alone three in a packed five foot wide hallway. It was quite gory to say the least.

"There's someone here I have to get out of here before we can leave. Williams, you and your men don't have to stay for this if you don't want to, I won't hold it against you." I said looking at Williams.

"Your op, your call son. We're with you to the end." He nodded.

"Okay. So, my boys, do you remember Sarah?" Zig looked perplexed at my question.

"Yeah Jake, why?" Said Bob.

"She's here and she's alive. I have to find her." I said.

I could hear the gasps coming from my trio. "Well let's go get her, man! Lead the way!" Said Zig.

We walked down to the sublevel of the bunker labeled XM-21 BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER.

The corridor that lead to the research lab was long and wide, the white walls were so sterile looking. It was eerie to see something so clean in a world so filthy and destroyed.

I walked up the silver sliding double door and saw the card reader. I used a keycard attached to the key ring on Alex's keys. The door slid open and I motioned to stack up in a double arrow sweep and clear formation.

Bob and I were in front with McLaughlin and Williams beside us. Zig, Cody, Esposito, and Griffin followed suite and covered the rear.

The hallway was filled with labs, inside there were test tubes and beakers placed on tables and stands. Documents and laptops that were still powered on could be seen through the large glass windows. I could only imagine what sort of research went on in there.

We walked down the hall, clearing rooms and came to a door marked Patient 00-1. Authorized Personnel Only. I swiped the card and the door slid open.

There was a decontamination chamber inside with glass doors that lead to an isolation chamber. We went through the decontamination process and was granted access to the next room.

There sat Sarah, floating in a glass tube full of purple liquid. She was breathing through an oxygen tube hooked into her mouth and she seemed asleep.

Jake, get to the control panel on the left side of the tank. There you'll see a green button marked release. Hurry!

I ran over to the control panel to release her when all of a sudden, I'm jumped by an Undead scientist.

The creature definitely wasn't the same as the others, he had glowing green teeth and eyes and his skull was peeling away from his brain. He didn't take much to kill, a swift punch to the head and down he went.

My hand went straight through, scrapping my arm and covering me in green goop. I slung the goop off and hit the release button for Sarah's tank.

The buzzer sounded as the fluids in her tank drained and she fell to the floor, her body was limp. I rushed up to her and pulled the wires and tube out of her and check her pulse.

With one deep breath, she became conscious and I ran my fingers through her hair. She coughed and coughed until all the extra fluid had escaped and she began to breathe normally.

"I'm so glad you guys found me, you wouldn't believe all the things that they did here and to me. Horrible, unspeakable evils." Said Sarah.

"Let's get you outta here and then we can talk about it when we're safe." I said, staring into her eyes.

With a new found strength, I helped her up and handed her the copper Desert Eagle pistol and we left the chamber, covering her with my jacket.

We strode down corridor after corridor until we came upon the armory.

"Worth a look see, eh?" Said Griffin.

"Alright but we have to be quick. I need to get Sarah some clothes anyway." I said.

We breached the room to find walls and walls of weapons. The good stuff, HK-416's, Galil's, MTAR's, MP-7's, and some of the most exquisite sniper rifles I've ever seen. I picked up two MP-7's and extra mags and stuffed them in my pack. Finding some women's combat uniforms, I handed one to Sarah as the rest of the boys looked away while she changed. She grabbed a backpack, a vest, and one of the MP-7's with spare mags. I also grabbed one of many gold plated and blacked out XM-2010 sniper systems.

"Grab as much ammo as you can and any weapons you want and let's get the hell outta here, we can come back later." I said.

"What's the fastest way out of here? Didn't you look at a map or something?" Said Cody.

"The fastest way out is through the main atrium warehouse and back up the stairs." Said Sarah telepathically.

I know but if we go that way, how will we be able to deal with all the Undead? I'm sure they're piled in there like wood on a camp fire.

Leave that to me.

"We have to go through the warehouse, its the fastest but there's gonna be a shit ton of zombies in there. Cody, you Griffin, Esposito, and Bob will take the left side and push through. That M-60 of yours should give em hell. Zig, McLaughlin, Williams, Sarah, and I will be taking the right. Ziggy, I want you in the back with your blade in case they try to sneak up on us. Everyone clear? Let's move out." I said.

I didn't know if my plan would work but I had to get everyone out, no exceptions.

We moved on to the warehouse and the place was worse than I thought. Hundreds of zombies filled the spaces in-between the crates and shelves.

"Get into position let's mov-"

I was cut off by Sarah.

I've got this.

With two steps, she closed her eyes and began to sing. Her voice had always been beautiful, every note was perfect in every pitch and tone.

The Undead just stopped moving and paid attention to her as she sang. My men and I lowered our weapons and I began to cry at the sweet music she sang that I had missed so much. With one last word she ended her song and snapped her fingers, causing all the Undead to drop weightlessly as they came to their end.

Sarah collapsed and I rushed to her side.

"I don't know what the hell that was, but I'm pretty sure your girlfriend there just saved our asses, Jake." Said Williams.

Don't ever speak of her actions here today to your superiors.

Williams looked at me with a shocked look on his face, but nodded.

"Let's get out of here. Places is starting to creep me out." Said Zig as we rushed to the chopper and flew back to the Air base.