Read Online A Necessary Kill by James P. Sumner - Free Book Online Page B

staring at me with a disbelieving smile on her face. “Well, aren’t you a pleasant surprise! You live up to your reputation, I’ll give you that.”
    “Thanks. Now, come on.”
    We run to the metal gate, which I open for us and lock again once we’re through. We stop at the desk at the top of the stairs, which is now deserted. I point down the opposite wing of the building. “What’s down there?”
    “More cells. Why?”
    I move around the desk and sit at the computer. “We need a distraction.”
    I’m thinking about what Ruby said before. All the cells apart from hers and the one opposite are controlled centrally. That means this computer must be able to open them. I just need to figure out how.
    I tap away at the keyboard, navigating my way through the various menus and submenus, using what knowledge I’ve picked up from Josh over the years to quickly work out how to open all the doors.
    I hope the FBI is prepared for a riot…
    I press a button and the loud click of every cell opening in unison echoes down the corridors.
    Ruby’s eyes go wide, and she punches my arm. “Are you fucking kidding me? Do you have any idea how dangerous these inmates are?”
    I shrug. “Are they any worse than the FBI? Worse than me?”
    She’s breathing heavily, probably from adrenaline. She doesn’t respond.
    “I’m sure we’ll be able to blend in and sneak out before the FBI can regain control. It’ll be fine.”
    Her gaze glances past me for a split-second, looking at the corridor we came from before refocusing on me. “That’s a good plan, Adrian. A brilliant plan. But we might be safer leaving with a couple of SWAT teams.”
    I frown. “What do you mean?”
    She points behind me. “I am far from the worst thing in here. There are people in here that make me look like someone from Desperate Housewives .”
    I note the pop culture reference. I’m impressed!
    I turn and look over my shoulder. There are nine people walking toward us. I shit you not, it’s like a scene from Dawn of the Dead ! They’re staggering slowly down the corridor with glazed, medicated expressions on their faces, looking around absently as they come to terms with their unexpected freedom.
    I turn to look down the opposite corridor and see much the same.
    I feel Ruby tapping my shoulder. “Ah… Adrian…”
    I follow her gaze and see one of them at the back of the pack fumbling inside a guard’s pocket. I can just about see them take a set of keys and head to the far end, toward the door opposite Ruby’s cell.
    The only other room not linked to the central system.
    They stand in front of the door for a few moments, then step back as it opens. The guy who walks out has messy, graying hair. He shuffles barefoot into the middle of the corridor. His robe is open, showing a stained white vest and striped boxer shorts.
    “Adrian, we… we should probably go.”
    I can’t take my eyes off this guy. He looks so strange. He’s—Jesus, he’s foaming at the goddamn mouth! His shuffling is speeding up, too. He draws level with another patient. I see his hand disappear into the pocket of his robe as he moves to her side. He takes out what looks to be a homemade shank of some kind.
    Like lightning, he grabs the inmate—a woman in her fifties—by her hair, and yanks her head back, exposing her throat. He whips his hand up and pierces the flesh underneath her chin. Once… twice… too many times—holy shit!
    He pauses only to let the blood flow over his hand for a moment. He moves the shank to his own forehead and slowly slices across it, creating a thin, dark line that starts to pour down his face. As his skin is painted by the blood, his eyes seem to glow—the whites shining through the crimson mask—and stare straight through me.
    That was… that was some pretty dark shit.
    The rest of the zombie horde stop and turn, staring at him with looks of bewilderment. He lets out a guttural scream, which prompts the rest of them to do the same. They