Zombie Rehab Read Free Page A

the complex filled him with dread, as each passing hour approached, to the appointed time. He and Tori had been granted three weeks of leave after having been inside the dreadful complex for the prior six months. That’s what the World Humanitarian Society had done: given him another job, less than thirty miles from the last one. He had tried to quit, but he wasn’t given much choice. He wanted to run, but there wouldn’t be any escape. They had made all of that perfectly clear in all the briefings that followed the incident at the Guthrie Facility, home of the Zombie Day Care.
    He felt Tori reach out and grab his hand—with her normal one—and squeeze. She scooted closer and said, “I’m sorry, Henry, it’s just that, you know it’s that time—”
    “I know, that time of the month.”
    “No, Jackhole!” she said, squeezing his hand, “It’s the anniversary of the day I lost my parents, Idiot!” She let go and scooted back away.
    After he pulled off the highway, the car brakes squealed as he came to a stop. Idiot would be correct. Looking through the windshield, his body filled with dread. In the distance, a ten foot high limestone wall stretched over a hundred yards, with a chain-link gate in the center. He could see some of the brick-red building through the gate and some of the many tree tops that jutted over the top of the wall. He wanted to turn around.
    “You ready?” he said, looking over at Tori’s pouting face.
    She shrugged.
    “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was your parents, uh, you know. I’m sorry.”
    “Forget about it, Henry. Besides, it almost is that time of the month, too. But you’re still gonna make things right once we get in there.”
    Allowing himself a faint smile, he looked over at her and said, “So you forgive me?”
    “Of course. You’re all I’ve got, Henry … all I ever wanted. I just wish things were different. I hate being in there as much as you. But as long as I’m with you, then it doesn’t really matter where I am.”
    He looked into her pretty eyes, held her face in his hands, and kissed her. When he finished, she opened her eyes and said, “You owe me a lot more than that, Henry. Now, let’s get this over with.”
    He nodded his head, put the car in drive, and slowly headed down the road towards the front gate. Once again he would have to make the most of it, but he’d rather turn around. The sun was lowering in the horizon, and a flock of birds burst from the trees behind the wall. He swore he could hear something screaming. Tori grabbed his hand as his stomach began to knot. Six months. Six more months of living among the dead. The complex was a place filled with the unexpected and unnatural. Forget everything you just left. That was normal. Check your humanity at the gate. Forget your sanity. Embrace the insanity. Think abnormal. Welcome back to the Zombie Rehab.

Chapter 4
    Location Unknown
     
    T he next time he woke up, things were different. The room had changed, and he was starving. The room was illuminated by a blurry light above him, that caused his eyes to ache. He was thirsty. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was raw and sore. He shifted in his bed, and when he heard the steel framework beneath him groan, a thrill raced down his spine. I’m moving.
    As he turned his head, he noticed a small metal dresser across the room and a heavy wooden door. When he realized he was partially sitting up, he managed to look around some more. No windows, but there was an air conditioning unit rattling along the wall, alongside a padded metal chair and a table. He reached his hand over his stomach as it groaned. My hand, I can feel my hand!
    He held his hand up to his face and watched it tremble as he opened and closed his fingers. He couldn’t feel his legs, but managed to pull his knees up into a bent position. Thank God, I can move! He was still weak, hungry, and confused. What is this place? The haziness in his mind seemed to be lifting like a