Zombies

Furuli's mind was battling over what he had seen and heard from Trent. Real or fake, Real or fake! Furuli walked to the nurse's station and rang the silver bell on the desk. He hit it hard so the nurse would know he meant business. It took a few seconds but a small-framed nurse came out from a filling room with a short stack of papers in her arms. "May I help you Dr. Furuli?" Furuli didn't make eye contact he had other things on his mind. "Yes, I need you to contact the police and tell them to send an investigator. I have a patient who says he's been attacked; he has scars all over his chest. The nurse's eyes rose in fascination and said. "Really? I'm so sorry Dr. Furuli, but the phone lines have been down since this morning. I can use the radio though, is that all right with you?" "That sounds fine, tell them to get into contact with me first though I'll give them all the details." With that done Furuli made his way to the restroom to rinse his face. He would use the one on the main floor; he didn't want to pass by room 607 to use the doctor's lavatory.

Furuli stopped his mental movie and wondered how long it had been since he'd lost himself to the events of that night. He couldn't fake his sleep anymore. He looked at the clock and it read six thirty. Fifty minutes had passed and he was going to let anymore go by. First he moved slowly out of bed and then quickly he put his clothes and shoes on, next thing he knew he was going down the stairs with one arm holding his brief case and the other tucking his dress shirt into his pants. As a side thought he'd put on his tie during a traffic light. "The early bird catches the worm, and solves the mystery. Jim asked himself absent-mindedly. "What mystery? No mystery just a strange man with a weird skin disease, which I've never seen nor heard of walks into the hospital and falls onto the lobby floor from out of nowhere." Furuli chuckled to himself but there was no humor in it and he could feel that.

Chapter 2

Usually Jim did his average sixty-five miles on the highway but today was no normal day. Eighty-five for most of the way would be the top speed Jim used to shorten the distance between his house and St. Joseph's Hospital. When he arrived at the hospital he first, parked the car, grabbed his briefcase and then briskly walked to the employee's entrance. While opening the door he realized he had forgotten to put on his tie. It wouldn't matter except that pretty much everyday since Jim has worked at St. Joseph's he has always been composed and well groomed. Unlike some of the other less professionally dressed doctors, who were usually his younger peers Jim liked to keep up appearances. He hurriedly stepped into the men's bathroom without attracting any real attention and put his tie on in rapid time.

He thought. In just a few minutes I'll know everything I need to know. I'll realize that I'm acting foolish and all of this worry will be for nothing. If that's not the case then we all die from a disease that looks like Leprosy. "Ha!" Jim had let out a shrill mocking laugh and stifled it with both hands clasped over his mouth. He turned his head to see if anyone was looking at him funny but he had nothing to worry about because he was alone. From his shirt pocket he pulled out a small black comb and started to fix his hair. The parts weren't neat and he had to look neat, patient or no patient. With care and ease he combed his hair but he slowly began to recall the conversation he had had with the reporter in the very bathroom he was now combing his hair.

Furuli had the nurse radio the police to send an investigator. He had to use the restroom but he didn't want to pass by room 607. On his way to the bathroom he ran into one of the doctors who had been a part of the small group discussing what should be done with the patient in room 607. They must have been talking for just over fifteen minutes when Dr. Furuli excused himself to go to the restroom. As he entered the restroom he noticed a tall man in a dark blue suit present himself to the doctor Furuli had just been talking to but he gave no thought to it. He walked into the clean white restroom and made his way towards a urinal. After easing nature Furuli washed his hands and while doing so he looked up at the mirror's reflection and noticed his hair was a little unkempt. He took out his comb and just finished when a young well-dressed man entered. It was the man in the dark blue suit. "Hi, how are you at this time of the night? Are they keeping you busy?" Asked the well-dressed man. "Busy as ever." Furuli retorted. "In that case let me be brief." Said the well-dressed man with a confident air about himself. "My name is Jens Stimer and I'm a journalist. An informant of mine said there was a radio call to the police about a man who was injured to say the least." His eyes still friendly but searching and interrogating to find truth. "Injuries happen all the time. Why would this be of any significance?" Furuli asked. The well-groomed man didn't look displeased at all. "That wasn't all though, it sounds as if this man was hurt on purpose. A man has been attacked possibly?" Furuli wondered at whether he should divulge any information at all. He had never been put in this spot at all. He was a small-city doctor and he dealt with small-city doctor problems. Reporters weren't a part of Furuli's life. With grief Furuli started to talk. "Not much is known about the patient because he has been suffering a very high fever aside from other ailments. As to his name I cannot give out that information at this time." Furuli knew if he did speak to this reporter he couldn't give out the name without Trent's permission. The well-groomed man's eyes were keen, as sharp as a shark's tooth. What makes you think this man is a victim of some sort? Furuli continued. "Most of the patient's external injuries consist of what looks like sloppy scalpel incisions and his internal injuries are even less serious." With the same determination the reporter continued. "Who was the attacker?" Furuli said. "There's no way to know how the patient received his external injuries since he is having much trouble breathing right now. I've contacted the police and I'll report any information necessary to help justice be served. Jens looked somewhat satisfied with what he had extracted out of Furuli so far. Did this man tell you what his attacker did to him? No, as I've said not much is known. "My professional opinion is this man has been severely abused." For the first time since their acquaintance Jens gave a troubled look and said. "Well, shouldn't you get him to speak to you about everything he knows now? You say he's in bad shape don't you?" Yes, but if you had seen him like I had you would allowed him to catch his breath for a bit. That being the case, if this man continues in this state of health I'm afraid that he'll never get the chance to tell everyone what happened to him." Furuli had had a hard night and he was ready to go home but he would have to first wait for the investigator to arrive. Furuli wasn't in the mood to go over the story twice in the same night, not that night. "Mr.?" Jens gave his last name. "Jens Stimer." "Ah, yes. Mr. Stimer, you'll have to excuse me you're aware that an investigator is probably on his way and this night has been a very tiring one so you'll have to excuse me." Jens didn't seem troubled by Furuli's want of leave and simply answered Furuli with a positive. "Oh yes of course, I'll come back another time so we can talk. It was nice meeting you doctor Furuli I'll wait in the lobby if you don't mind. See if I can get any comments from the investigator. With that the two men parted. Jens left to the lobby and Furuli waited in the conference room for the investigator.

In the small conference room Furuli was alone with his thoughts. Hopefully they send someone sharp. No incompetents wanted here. Big cities have high standards for police investigators. Small Cities like Raccoon could wind up with officers like Barney Five from Andy Griffith. Furuli's eyes weighed heavier as the quiet room weakened his senses. Within a short time Furuli was dead to the world and it's cares.

Furuli had no idea of how long he had been staring at the mirror with his mouth agape but he knew he had delayed the answers long enough. Briskly he left the restroom and headed towards the third floor. Three floors up room 607 waited patiently.

1

Doctor Edward Delvon was making his rounds as he usually did, sipping his coffee while looking through his charts and talking to different patients. He didn't think much of room 607 and it's former patient. Not even when he had first stumbled into the hospital gasping and limping. Doctor Delvon didn't shock very easily and it would have to take a lot more than a sick man with a skin problem to shake his nerves. There was one point of interest though, something about a house that's in the forest. He could barely decipher what the man was trying to make everyone understand. Doctor Delvon tried to recall what the man had said. He jabbered on about a giant house in the forest? Evil did he say? I don't even now if anyone lives out in the forest. If someone does live out there it would probably have to be reached by dirt road. When the strange character had come in Doctor Delvon didn't pay much attention to what the man was saying because people who have just been through a traumatic experience babble about things that don't make any sense. That's what it was after all right? Just a man who took too many drugs nothing else. That stuff about evil was just psycho-trauma? Then why didn't he have any drugs in his system? While Ed was walking toward his next patient of the day another doctor was walking toward him. The doctor looked uneasy and was walking at a fast pace and it looked like he had done his tie in an unlit closet.

"Hello Jim good morning." Ed extended his hand toward the doctor. Jim likewise stretched out his hand and gave Ed two fast pumps of the hand and asked about the patient in room 607.

"Any news about the patient with the peculiar skin condition?" Jim asked trying not to sound unprofessional.

Delvon raised his eyebrows in a serious manner and said. "I should say so, he's dead. Died last night about 2:00 A.M. He was sent to the coroner's office on floor B2, hopefully they can tell us what was wrong with him. Since none of us could figure it out so far. We really don't know what it was, maybe a new type of drug, one that were not aware of". Delvon seemed to be straining with the explanation, he didn't seem very confident with it. "If you're that interested you should talk to the coroner, I don't know if he's started on the autopsy yet, you can call him and find out real quick."

Jim now looking terribly unsatisfied and somewhat dejected gave Delvon the only answer that he could think of. "Yeah, I guess that's all that I can do now. Hopefully the police know more than we do."

2

Maloy Higgins was waiting for his partner Richard Prass to get off the computer, so they could start interrogating the people (The part of he job he most enjoyed) the doctor had told them about. Meloy was 220 pounds of muscle, he wasn't good with a computer like Richard was but he was skilled enough in other areas to pull his own weight around the S.T.A.R.S office. Maloy wasn't very much for talking but if you weren't his friend you made sure you listened well and gave him the feedback he wanted. In short, Meloy was a tuff customer.

"You done?"

Richard Prass was not so muscle bound but what he lacked in brawn he excelled in brains.

"Almost, I'm just getting the directions now. Have you ever heard of a company named Umbrella?"

"No, do they make them?"

Richard not daring a laugh seriously responded. "No, they don't make umbrellas but they do make a lot of other things. Mostly chemicals but it looks like they own a lot of companies related to computer manufacturing. Strange that I've never heard of the company but some how it's grown to a large extent without being too noticed.

Meloy responded in an almost grunt and asked. "Have they ever been busted?"

Richard with cat like speed started to pound away at the keyboard, made a couple of clicks with mouse in hand and began to read information that came out onto the bright PC screen. "Hmm, looks like umbrella was under investigation by the F.B.I. a while back but I'm not reading why. Strange, that information should be here. I'm going to have to get into contact with the bureau and see why the information's missing."

Meloy now stood up making his way toward where Richard was sitting and began to speak. "It's not missing, it was left out. F.B.I isn't dumb, they don't forget."

Richard looked up at Maloy who was now standing hunched over him and looking and the data on the computer and thought to himself. Sometimes Maloy my friend you surprise me, I think you're more useful then you lead on to be. "What do you think the F.B.I. would be hiding?"

The big man stood upright, looked out into space and frowned hard. Richard was just about to speak when Maloy opened his mouth. "I think maybe the F.B.I. and this Umbrella Company might be friends for some reason or another. They probably trade secrets or some of that computer stuff you were talking about. That's why nothing is said of the F.B.I. investigation. The F.B.I. is covering its friend."

Now Richard began to frown and said. "I've got the address and a description of the place let's get going."

Almost dropping it but deciding to ask, Meloy said. "I've never seen a company out in the forest have you? I didn't even know that there was anything out there."

Getting up from his chair and putting on his coat Richard felt unsure of the F.B.I.'s directions and said. "I've never seen anyplace out there either, but the directions say it's way-out there so we have to go. In fact I don't think it looks like a company at all, according to this here description it's supposed to be a large mansion. It's some kind of chemical research facility. That's about all the Bureau gave us." While holstering his gun, which was hidden behind his black expensive coat Richard looked at Meloy and asked. "Are you ready?"

Meloy responded in his usual low heavy voice. "I've been ready, let's go."

3

Meloy was behind the wheel driving at a comfortable speed and asked his partner. "Why do you suppose the mayor asked us to wait before going up to this Umbrella mansion? Sounds like the Mayor's got himself some nice friends too."

Richard looking a little bit nervous retorted. "I think you're a little to cynical toward people Meloy. Do you really think everybody is in on this? Highly improbable don't you think?"

As if not even thinking about it Meloy replied. "Nope."

Richard said. "Well I don't think so, it's too unlikely. If there are any conspiracies I don't think they're in Raccoon City."

Meloy changing the subject questioned Richard. "Who do we speak to when we get there?"

"We'll speak to a mister Flagg, he's in charge of the facility there."

4

The wind started to pick up but it didn't have half the strength it would soon accumulate. All the windows were closed to the four door police issued Pontiac Grand Am. So far as Meloy and Richard could tell there wasn't so much as a calm breeze. Twenty-five miles ahead of the two S.T.A.R.S. members was the mansion that has gotten Raccoon City asking many serious questions. Among the near by trees looms a four-legged beast. There is almost complete silence except for the wind whining through the trees.

5

Meloy preferred to handle the action part of being a S.T.A.R.S. member opposed to the portion of filing out papers and writing up documents. He wasn't sure exactly what happened to the man that was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital but he had some vague ideas. Meloy thought it better to keep some of his thoughts to himself. Richard sounded uneasy about what Meloy had implied to him. Let's say it was a chemical spill at the Umbrella Mansion. Why didn't they report it? Could be they took care of it on their own. What about the cuts on the guy at the hospital? What is that about? Chemical spills don't make cuts like that. Doctors said a scalpel did the cuts. Said it was a sloppy job too. If he did come from that place nobody helped him get to the hospital. Could be the whole place is covered in a gooey chemical spill right now! Couldn't be, because the Mayor said he spoke to that mister Flagg. He didn't mention any spills to us. Just that we couldn't go see Flagg for a couple days because there were some important experiments that needed his attention. Doesn't sound right. Thinking out loud Meloy said. "Maybe we should call the office, see if Chris is there, and ask him to look on anything he can find on this Flagg character."

"Any particular reason for why you want to know more about Mr. Flagg?" Richard asked while looking at the trees that had just started getting dense. They now approached the start of the forest and the trees were beginning to sway lightly.

"Just wondering about what type of character we're going to be interrogating." Meloy replied and looked at his rear view mirror for just a second and then looked out his side-window taking a quick glance at the thickening woods. The boughs were shaking and leaves were moving along and then dying down to a stop. "Wind's going to pick up again."

"You think so, I hope it doesn't get worse then it's been lately. Cell phone gives me hell in this weather. I better call Chris right now before it gets any worse."

Richard reached for his cell phone, which was connected to his belt. Stretched out the skinny antenna and punched in the familiar phone number that would connect him to the S.T.A.R.S. office. "No connection, I guess the phones are still down. I'll call Jill on her cell phone; I hope she has it with her.

The S.T.A.R.S. were close to each other, a genuine home away from home. Richard had all his comrades phone numbers on rapid re-dial for just such cases. A familiar and sweet voice answered the phone, it was a woman whom Richard had gotten to know and care for. "Hello Claire speaking, how may I help you?" The only woman on the S.T.A.R.S. team, but she carried skills that none of the others held. She was a professional when it came to unlocking the toughest barricades. Whether utilizing her lock-pick set or planting small charges on huge obstructions, Jill was an absolute necessity. Specializing in chemistry while in college and very knowledgeable of explosives made Jill an ideal recruit for the special police unit. Getting the idea to Join S.T.A.R.S. from her brother Chris Renfield the best shot in all of Raccoon City and probably a lot further for that matter.

"Hi Jill, it's Richard. Look, I need some info on a certain mister Randolph Flagg of the Umbrella Company. He works in a facility that's located…hold on, I'm looking for the address."

Jill spoke in her usual sweet tone. "Sure I'll hold on, is Meloy with you? Tell him I said hi ok?"

Richard looked over to Meloy who was pulling something from his pocket. It was a little translucent vile of light green liquid. It looked toxic but he didn't bother asking right then. Meloy was certainly full of surprises.

"Chris' sister says hi."

"Meloy was usually pretty cold but even he had his soft spots for Claire. With a semi-smile on his big face Meloy told Richard. "Ask her where Billy the kid is for me."

While Meloy was talking Richard was still searching for the Mansions' address, which was in a little black book that he kept for such references. "Meloy did you see where I put my note book?"

"It's on the seat next to you isn't it?"

Meloy was right; the little book was right next to Richard's leg the whole time starring up at him. He grabbed the little book and thumbed through the pages and found the one with the mansions address. "Ok Jill you there?"