Read Online Rising: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction by Norman Christof - Free Book Online Page B

feet.  The backup guard walked slowly to Leekasha, his face in shock, his weapon lowered.  The zombie in the cell still focused his will.  The backup guard handed his weapon to Leekasha, his hands shaking.
    “Please,” he said.  “I have a family.  Please don’t.” 
    Leekasha reached into his utility belt, took a pair of tie straps, and quickly restrained his hands and feet.  She pushed the guard to the floor and up against the wall before returning to Christa.  Christa hadn’t moved through the entire ordeal, but at least the blood had stopped flowing from her ear.  Leekasha put her hand close to Christa’s mouth till she felt her breath.
    “Oh thank you!” she said.  “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
     
    Leekasha went to the cell of the revived zombie.
    “What’s your name?”
    Straining to speak, he said, “Jed … I think.  Yeah, it’s Jed.”
    “Jed, I’m going to get you out of there just as soon as I figure out how.”
    Jed nodded his head in agreement.
    “Then we’re going to get some help for my friend over there.  Did you see what happened to her?”
    “No, sorry,” he whispered.
    “When I get you out of there, you’re going to help me.  You’re going to help me get help for my friend.  Can you do that?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Good.”  Leekasha shook her finger at him. “Because if for any reason you think you can’t, I’ve got no problem leaving your ass here and moving on to the next guy.”
    “I’ll help.  I promise.  I will.”

 
    Cell Block Blues
    “Jed.  First things first.  We need to get you out of there, if your going to help me.  How do I open your cell?”
    Jed pointed towards the guard office.
     
    Leekasha went to the tied up guard that was still alive.  He was looking at his partner still bleeding on the ground.  The look in his eyes was a mix of fear and panic.  Fear for himself, and panic for what he had done.
    “Alright buddy, I need your help getting my new friend there out of his cell.  You’re going to open his door for him.”
    “I shot him,” he said as his lower lip trembled.  “I’ve never shot anyone.  Not anyone, or anything.  I don’t even hunt.  Everyone around here is a hunter, not me.  I just started last week.  Is he still alive?  Maybe we can save him.”
    Leekasha looked back to the guard lying in a pool of blood with a gaping hole in the back of his head.  He wasn’t moving, and from where Leekasha stood he didn’t seem to be breathing either.
    “I don’t know,” Leekasha lied.  “Maybe we can help him, but I need your help.  I need you to get this cell door open.” She indicated Jed’s cell.  The guard couldn’t take his gaze off his fallen partner.  “Hey, c’mon now listen to me.  I’m gonna try and help your partner, but you need to help me first.  We need to get the doctor.  Let’s get back to your office.  From there we can call for help OK.”
    “Yea, OK. Call for help.  That’s what I need to do.”
    “Great, let’s do that.”  Leekasha grabbed the guards arm helping him up.  As he stood, he raised his tied hands and pressed the radio mic pinned to his uniform.
    “Shots fired in Z block.  Officer down!  Officer down! Send assistance urgently.”
    “Ah hell!” Leekasha looked to Jed in his cell.
    Jed just raised his hands and shook his head. “I Didn’t know he was going to do that.”
    “Well, control him now.  Make him open your door damn it.  I can’t do everything.  Those extra guards will be here any second.”
     
    Suddenly, a loud piercing alarm sounded, and red lights above the exit doors started flashing.  Leekasha looked to Christa, who was now shivering on the floor. Oh crap. She thought.  Christa, don’t do this now.  What are your doing?  Is that shock?  Are you going into shock now?
    Jed was doing his best to control the guard.  The guard entered the office, sat in a chair and picked up the phone. 
    “Jed!” Leekasha called over the