Fever (Flu) Read Online Free PDF Page B

towards the door, her foot colliding with something on the ground, kicking it across the floor. Her beam followed the hurtling object. It was just a cup.
    A shuffling sound.
    Ellis whirled around, the torch’s beam finding Johnson’s chair. He was still there.
    She found the open door with her beam, made her way carefully to the exit. She paused before leaving. Shone the torch back towards Johnson.
    He was gone.
    Ellis gasped, a cold sweat breaking across her back.
    She searched the room frantically, finding Johnson on his feet, creeping towards the storeroom. He stopped. Turned. Looked to the light.
    Ellis backed out of the doorway, into Corridor A1. Johnson began his slow and steady pursuit, his movements encumbered.
    “Johnson?” she said, her voice but a rasp.
    He didn’t answer. Nor would he ever answer. Johnson was dead. Dead like Jenkins, the man Blake had called time on. The man with no heart or lungs but eyes that flicked open. The man who lunged for the doctor even though it was physically impossible for a dead man to move, let alone attack with such aggression.
    Ellis tried to flee, but her legs seized up, her joints stiff.
    She reached forward, pushing Johnson away with as much strength as her worn-out body could muster.
    He fell backwards, tripping clumsily on the clutter strewn across the floor. He hit the ground and lay there for a moment before pulling himself up.
    He came towards her again.
    “Jesus,” Ellis whispered, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...” She looked around for something to use.
    A trolley stood parked in the corridor. A flask and some cups rested upon it.
    Ellis sat her torch on the trolley, careful to aim its light towards Johnson, then took the flask in both hands and waited.
    Johnson reached for her, but she stood aside, the dead man tripping again, this time over her outstretched foot. He hit the floor hard and Ellis followed through, bringing the flask down hard on his head. She hammered again and again, Johnson’s skull caving in, blood and brain seeping out onto the tiled floor.
    Ellis dropped the flask and grabbed the torch. She fell back against the corridor wall, allowing herself to slide down against it.
    She took deep breaths. Felt herself gag. Dipped her head between her knees and threw up.
    And then she was still, her heavy breathing the only sound within the empty corridor.
    But then...
    A sudden screeching noise. It seemed to be coming from C Block, the next block across.
    That’s where the animals lived...

CHAPTER NINE
    There was no sign of life in A Block.
    With the exception of Johnson’s mutilated corpse, there was no sign of death either.
    In the cold silence, even her flat shoes pounded hard against the tiled floor as Ellis moved down the corridor. Every step she took seemed to echo.
    Another screeching sound. Definitely coming from the Animal House in C Block.
    Ellis wondered just how long the poor little things had been left alone.
    She thought of little Ginger, so young and innocent. She wanted to hold him, pull him close. In the icy chill of the powered down lab, Ginger’s warmth would be very welcome.
    Ellis reached the adjoining door to C Block. It was hanging open. Yet other doors along the corridor remained closed tight, their readers non-functioning with the loss of power. Ellis wondered for a second why some doors just fell open, while others remained closed.
    She was reminded of Chris Lennon, the sales rep. She’d forgotten about him with all that happened, but the man had broken in and taken something from Johnson’s office. He’d pulled a gun on her. Begged her not to squeal on him. And, God help her, Ellis hadn’t squealed. What was Lennon’s part in all of this? Was he responsible for the shutdown?
    She pushed through the access door, leaving A Block and entering C.
    More screeching. Louder now.
    She searched Corridor C 1 with her torch, finding the storage room where the cats lived.
    Ellis pushed the door. It gave easily, allowing her