Catalyst (Book 1): Decay Chains Read Online Free PDF Page A

I can’t.” Ian slid his computer into his backpack. “We still don’t know if the virus has mutated and created new and wondrous vehicles of exposure.”
    “And finding a pattern would help explain that?” Stormy asked.
    “Yes,” Ian said.
    Josh loosened a knot and Ian’s sling dropped six inches sans warning. Ian seethed in pain. Josh acted like nothing happened.
                  “We know the biochemical agent that went airborne infected them,” Josh said.
    Ian cradled his leg. “It dispersed about a half-hour ago. I’m worried about other forms of exposure. Is it like an STD where you have to swap fluids or will any contact infect?”
    He looked at Stormy. “How are you not infected?”             
    “How are you not infected?” she asked.
    “Who would want to eat her anyhow?” Josh said. “Bet she tastes angry.”
    “I bet you taste great too. Like day-old pizza and skunk beer.”
    “More like ingenuity with a dash of paranoia for flavor,” Ian said. “And we are alive and well because of him.” He pointed to the covered wall vent. “Josh boarded up the ventilation system. He does it every time we go anywhere, even to Comic Con.
    “It’s not good to breathe in hospital air, even if there aren’t life threatening biochemicals in it.” Josh shook his head for emphasis.
    “I was trapped in the elevator,” she said.
    Josh looked at Ian. “They recycle the air in elevators and planes . . . and jails.”
    Ian lowered his eyes at Josh. “I know.”
    “Did you call for help?” Stormy asked.
    “Nope,” Josh said. “The land lines are down and there’s a jammer blocking cell signals.”
    “If you were in the elevator already, why did you get off?” Ian asked.
    “My boyfriend is on the fifth floor.”
    “Sucks to be him,” Josh said.
    “This is the second floor,” Ian said.
    “I know that. Help me get him out.”
    “No way in hell,” Josh said. “We’re going down the building, like smart people. Not up. The farther up you go, the less likely you are to get out. Unless, you can fly.”
    “Please help me get to the fifth floor. I’ve don’t have any cash on me right now, but I’ll get you whatever you—”
    “Just follow us to the stairs. You can go up and we’ll go down.”             
    “That works.” If they were on the side of the hospital she thought they were on, Matt’s room was only two doors down from the staircase.
    “Everybody listen up,” Ian said. “From what I can tell, with you being my main research finding,” he pointed at Stormy, “contact with the supers won’t turn you, unless there’s a transfer of fluids. So don’t do that, and you should make it out of here.”
    “But we don’t know how to kill them,” Josh said.
    Stormy’s hand rested on her weapon. “Just try everything until something works, I guess.”
    “I’m going Hollywood style and attacking the head.” Ian shrugged his shoulders, but it didn’t make his argument any more convincing. “Should work.” He cringed as his leg grazed the bed.
    This is going to be damn near impossible .
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
    DAYS UNTIL THE SUPERVIRUS GOES GLOBAL: 30:22:40
     
    Past the metal double doors, which posed an impenetrable barrier, and down the hall on the right, hung a gorgeous exit sign. Perched inches above the door to the stairwell, it glowed a bright shade of freedom red.
    Stormy shook her head and cursed the idiots who built the hospital. If everyone wasn’t dead when she got out, she was definitely suing the architect, the hospital, and the guys that put up the doors for this.
    She was halfway out the door when the dead doctor flashed into view. He zigzagged back and forth across the hallway erratically checking doors.
    “Shit he’s fast,” she said.
    “Faster than before?” Ian asked.
    “Way faster. And he’s checking the locks.”
    “Already?” Josh asked.
    “Yep. He’s jiggling the