Read Online Zombiefied! by C.M. Gray - Free Book Online

upward through the darkness. Visible faintly in the dim light was another sign.

    â€˜That sounds familiar,’ Sophie said uncertainly. ‘I’m not sure if we should go in there.’
    â€˜We don’t have much choice,’ I told her.
    It took us ages to draw back all the bolts and, the whole time, my heart was thumping. Finally, it was time to turn the enormous key.
    I looked at Sophie. She gave a little nod. Whatever was inside the room, we would meet it together.
    Side by side, we turned the key and pushed the doors open.
    Before us lay a huge chamber. Flaming torches were dotted around the walls and a stone platform stood at the far end. Along the walls were more cages, bigger than theones used for the dogs. Luckily, they were empty.
    â€˜What is this place?’ whispered Sophie.
    I walked closer to the cages. There were a dozen altogether, each standing taller than a man. A chain was attached to the bars at the back of each cage. These chains were connected to sets of shackles.
    At first, I thought all the cages were identical, but then I noticed one that was different. This one stood a little apart from the others. Above its door was a sign.
    As I read the words, my knees went weak.

    The sign above the cage had my name on it. That could only mean one thing.
    â€˜It’s meant for me.’ My voice sounded like it was coming from some other place.
    Sophie made a choking sound. ‘Why would anyone want to put you in a cage?’
    Suddenly, there was flash of movement in front of us. A figure strode onto the stone platform.
    â€˜Welcome! I’ve been expecting you.’
    I could feel my face turning white with shock.
    â€˜You!’ gasped Sophie.

16
    It was Mr Crumpet. As usual, Corvus sat on his shoulder, but for the first time the bird wasn’t wearing his usual hood.

    â€˜Welcome to my little experiment! Don’t look so surprised — surely you must have figured it out by now.’
    â€˜What . . .? Why . . .?’ I stuttered.
    â€˜Dear oh dear! We are slow off the mark.’ Crumpet strutted up and down like a performer on a stage. ‘Don’t tell me youstill haven’t got a clue what’s going on. Good grief! And to think that, at one point, I thought you might be on to me.’
    â€˜You? How can it be you?’ Sophie said. She looked as stunned as I felt.
    â€˜Who else could it be?’ snapped Mr Crumpet, glaring at her. ‘Nobody else around here could pull it off. Nobody! Do you know how difficult it was? How many rats I went through before I stumbled across the key ingredient that made everything work together? But the chemistry is perfect now! It reads like a masterpiece. And you,’ he said as he pointed at me, ‘you are the lucky one.’
    â€˜Me . . .?’ I stammered.
    â€˜Oh, I know you don’t deserve it — I mean you’re nothing special, are you? You’re small for your age and not very smart, as it turns out. You’re really not much good atanything at all. But that’s exactly why you’ve been chosen! I wanted someone who could disappear easily. Someone who wouldn’t be missed.’ He waved his hand dismissively. ‘Sure, your parents will be a bit upset at first. But after a year or two, you’ll fade from everyone’s minds. People will think you were just a runaway.’

    â€˜You chose me? For what?’ My knees felt like they were going to collapse under me.
    â€˜To join the ranks of the immortal,’ said Mr Crumpet, staring at me with his pale blue eyes. ‘To become more than human !’
    â€˜To become a zombie, that’s what you mean!’ shouted Sophie. ‘If you want toexperiment, do it on yourself and leave him alone!’
    Mr Crumpet turned his icy stare on her. ‘Oh, but it’s not just him, young lady. You have an important part to play too. A very important part. In fact, some might say it will be you making . . . What do