Chapter 33: Warren Rhodes

"Is there something special about this number?"

Lewis asked, confused.

"It’s nothing. Just a personal matter."

Warren Rhodes rubbed his sore eyes.

He hadn’t slept for days.

"Alright, Director Rhodes. I’ll get right on it..."

When Lewis looked up, he saw that Warren Rhodes had already fallen asleep.

He quietly closed the door, trying his best not to disturb him.

’Everyone’s been wiped out these past few days. Now that the acid rain has finally stopped, Director Rhodes deserves a temporary break...’

Barely forty minutes after Lewis had left,

Warren Rhodes startled awake.

The voice from before seemed to still be echoing in his mind:

First, the zombie virus is primarily transmitted through blood contact... Second...

"What’s happening to me?"

Warren Rhodes muttered to himself.

He got up and poured himself a cup of strong tea. The cold liquid ran down his throat, clearing his head a little.

He walked out of his office and noticed that his colleagues and subordinates outside had all gone home for the day.

"No one’s been home for days. They can finally go home today."

Warren Rhodes smiled in relief. He walked down the dimly lit stairs, only to find the lights still on in the IT department below.

Remembering the matter with his granddaughter, he decided to go and ask about the situation again.

And while he was at it, about that strange phone call from earlier.

’I just wonder if Lewis has gone home yet.’

Warren Rhodes opened the door to the IT department and saw Lewis, under the bright white lights, kneeling on the floor.

His back was to Warren Rhodes.

The files on the floor around him were scattered, but that was normal for the IT department.

Warren Rhodes sighed and bent down to help pick up a file from the floor.

"Lewis, why haven’t you gone home yet?"

Warren Rhodes asked.

But Lewis remained with his back to him, not responding.

Just as he was about to step forward, Lewis, still crouched on the floor, suddenly convulsed and whipped his head around to face him.

Warren Rhodes stared in disbelief at the Lewis before him.

He was vomiting blood, staining his white shirt.

The veins on his face bulged, their patterns turning black.

"Director... Rhodes... run... now..."

Lewis clutched his neck, his expression contorted in pain.

Only then did Warren Rhodes notice the bloody hole in Lewis’s neck.

"Who did this?!

Right, I need to call an ambulance!"

Warren Rhodes tremblingly pulled out his phone, only to find it had no signal at all.

He couldn’t even dial the emergency number.

"Run... now..."

After forcing out those two words, Lewis convulsed again and lunged violently at Warren Rhodes!

As if by some strange compulsion, the voice echoed in Warren Rhodes’s mind again:

"First, the zombie virus is primarily transmitted through blood contact. Whether by scratch or bite, infection is rapid..."

’A real zombie?!’

Warren Rhodes’s expression changed drastically. Fortunately, he was from a military background, and though he was over fifty, his reflexes were still sharp.

He backed away, knocking over desks and chairs while observing the zombie’s reaction.

"Lewis, do you still recognize me?"

He found that nothing he threw could stop Lewis’s advance.

"Lewis, it’s me, Director Rhodes!

Chance Lewis! Wake up!"

...Third, once transformation into a zombie is complete, it is irreversible. Do not hold out hope. Kill on sight...

Remembering those words, Warren Rhodes’s heart sank.

’Kill on sight... How is that possible...’

He looked at the crazed Lewis before him, a bitter sting in his eyes and nose.

The Chance Lewis of yesterday was a clean-cut, decent young man.

But the thing he was now, it was clearly no longer Lewis.

"KHH... ROAR!"

A beast-like roar erupted from Lewis’s mouth. Warren Rhodes decisively drew his service pistol.

BANG!

The first shot hit Lewis’s shoulder.

But he continued his attack as if he felt no pain.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Next were his thigh, abdomen, and ankle...

Still no effect.

...Second, to attack a zombie, you must destroy its head. Hits to other areas are ineffective...

Warren Rhodes fired again, this time at Lewis’s heart.

His aim was true. For a human, it would have been a fatal blow.

But it had no effect on Lewis.

This could only mean one thing: Lewis no longer had a beating heart.

"How could this be...

How could this be..."

Finally, he slowly raised his hand, aiming the pistol at Lewis’s head.

BANG!

The Lewis before him dropped at the sound of the shot.

Watching the black blood spread toward his feet, Warren Rhodes felt as if he were trapped in a bizarre nightmare.

’Wait, if Lewis was infected by a bite,

then there’s another infected person out there. I can’t let it get away!’

With a sudden realization, Warren Rhodes sprinted out the door, only to be met by a cacophony of screams rising from all around.

This was followed by the city’s highest-level defense alarm.

The siren tore through the sky, striking the most taut chord in people’s hearts.

Warren Rhodes knew all too well that it was a sound reserved for major wars and sudden catastrophes.

That alarm had just sounded seven days ago.

And tonight, it had started again.

"Director Rhodes!"

A group of people ran toward him. They were soldiers from War Zone Five’s combat team, who had been supporting disaster relief efforts and hadn’t yet withdrawn.

"What’s the situation outside?"

Warren Rhodes asked hurriedly.

Communications were almost completely down.

"Ten minutes ago, a large number of injured people at the general hospital died from an unknown viral infection.

But not long after, they came back to life..."

Harrison Driscoll had seen his share of strange things, but something like this was unheard of.

"Not only did they come back, but they’re biting people everywhere.

And... and eating them!"

"It’s not just the general hospital. Even the rescue shelters have been overrun!"

"The streets are full of infected people!"

the other soldiers added, their voices trembling.

"Director Rhodes, we’ll escort you to a safe location first.

Reinforcements are needed everywhere, and High Command has already issued an order

to do everything possible to protect and evacuate civilians to safe zones. We were just about to..."

"No! No!

You can’t go just like that! You can’t!

That will only escalate the disaster!"

Warren Rhodes seemed to have lost his mind.

...Fourth, preservation of combat strength is essential...

’That’s right, why did that person mention this point?’

’Why say that preserving combat strength is essential?’

’Does that mean not sending reinforcements?’

’If the infection can’t be stopped, sending more people will only create more infected.’

’It’s a vicious cycle.’

’But if we don’t send reinforcements, what’s the point of our existence?!’

Warren Rhodes hesitated, unable to make a decision.

Just then, a guttural roar echoed from the end of the hallway.

A familiar figure was walking toward them.

It was Corbin Lawson from the IT department.

But it was obvious he was infected.

"Protect Director Rhodes!"

After Harrison Driscoll gave the order, the group formed a tight cordon, shielding Warren Rhodes at the very back.

"Corbin Lawson, stop!

If you take another step forward, we will shoot to kill!"

Harrison Driscoll shouted.

However, as if he couldn’t hear a thing, Corbin Lawson continued stumbling toward them.

The sounds he made were like those of a wild beast.

Left with no choice, Harrison Driscoll fired a warning shot at the ground.

But it clearly had no effect.

"Preserve combat strength, preserve combat strength...

I understand now..."

"All of you, fall back! From now on, you’re under my command!"

At that moment, Warren Rhodes’s eyes were perfectly clear, glinting with a newfound resolve.