Netherstream - Episode 1: Jane Doe Read Online Free PDF Page A

looked me over and parked his eyes on my chest. Obviously I’d gotten to him in more ways than one. “So what is this place, a zoo?”
    “They help keep out strange men and their toys.” I glanced at the guard’s rifle.
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “Humans are far more dangerous than zombies, don’t you think?” I took out a cigarette.
    “There’s no smoking in here.” The general shook his head.
    “Says who?”
    “I do,” he snapped. “Besides, it’s a nonsmoking hotel.”
    What a dumbass! I just loved how he made up shit as he went along. Hopefully this wasn’t how he operated; otherwise, his men were fucked. Most likely he gave himself the rank of general. Just another mercenary and his band of halfwits…
    “This is my hotel,” I said.
    “Not anymore.”
    “Careful, I go from zero to bitch in a nanosecond.”
    The unlikely threat brought a smile to his grizzly face. “Don’t worry, we only intend to stay a short while. Perhaps you could extend a little hospitality while I’m here?” He grazed my hand with his.
    “Not in a million years, pops. Besides, we’re fresh out of Viagra.”
    The old man slapped me across the face, knocking me off the bed. “So all of this a game to you, is it? Where did you get the receiver?” He pulled my fiery hair.
    “I told you. A man named Ryan gave it to me.”
    “Liar.” He unholstered his Beretta, and pressed it against my temple.
    “I’m telling the truth.”
    “Are you?” Leon had second thoughts about pulling the trigger.
    I could smell the cowardice in him. He was mine…
    “So tell me about this Ryan.”
    “He was just some guy who stayed at the hotel. Said he was a marine,” I replied.
    “Bullshit!” He pressed the gun harder.
    “He gave it to me before he passed away. That’s all I know.” I raised my hands.
    A solider stepped over and whispered in his ear. He nodded, and slowly removed the gun. “The men that ambushed my brigade used these. They can pick up any signal, encrypted or unencrypted, and can even adapt to new schemas.” He considered the slender, black box. “What are you doing here?”
    “I work here.”
    “That’s it? How did you survive all this time without a mask?”
    “It appears that I have a natural immunity.” I showed him my arms. “The zombies failed to convert me, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. I’m just trying to make the best of an impossible situation, pops.”
    “We all are.” He loosened his grip on the gun. “And this Ryan, did he teach you to shoot?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. I need a sharpshooter, especially one that might hold the key to our survival.”
    “But I’m just a bellhop, sir.”
    “And I was a used car salesman before all of this. Who cares? It doesn’t matter who we were, but what we’ve become. Besides, you killed three of my men. I can’t just let you walk away from this.”
    “Sure you can,” I quipped.
    “Perhaps if you blew them, they might find it in their heart to forgive you,” Leon chuckled.
    “They’re already having such a grand time blowing each other, it doesn’t look like they need any help from me.” I grabbed the cigarette off the floor and put it in my mouth.
    “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?” He cracked a smile.
    “Please, no more compliments.” I pulled out a lighter and lit the cigarette. “The truth is I’m glad to have you in my hotel, general. Enjoy the ambience.”
    “Well, I’m afraid it doesn’t have the ambience that it once had.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “We took out a few walkers wandering around the hotel, including a family that was cannibalizing each other in the restaurant. What’s the story behind that?” said Leon.
    My heart sank. I could barely utter another word. “I believe they were looking for ice cream.”
    “You cannot afford to be soft when it comes to children.” The general scolded me with his steel eyes. “That’s how the outbreak accelerated. All those worried parents, desperate