Dead World

PROLOGUE

A scream shattered the silence of the Institute.

Tony Collins looked up from the complex algorithms on his computer screen and frowned. The sound had broken his concentration and he had been so close to working out the formula that had evaded him all morning. He pushed his leather chair back and stood up. The Post-it notes decorating his office walls fluttered slightly in the draft emitted from the air-conditioning unit. Mathematical equations covered the bits of paper, written in Tony’s almost illegible scrawl, markings most people would need the services of a code breaker to decipher.

As he headed towards the door a siren blared out, the deafening sound making him jump. Tony cringed. What the hell is going on?

At the door, he grabbed the handle but then hesitated. Despite the ear piercing wail of the alarm, he discerned more screaming. Multiple voices combined in a chilling cacophony.

Knowing he had to find out what was happening, he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. The sound was louder outside the confines of his office and the red lights in the ceiling flashed, turning the pristine white walls into a hellish canvas.

The emergency protocols had been activated, something had obviously gone wrong. Something disastrous. Tony tried to swallow but his throat constricted. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

The flashing lights made him feel a little dizzy and his pulse raced.

Before he moved, a figure ran into the corridor ahead, dressed from head to toe in a white coverall with a full face mask, the insect-like eye pieces creating a sinister ensemble.

“What’s happened?” Tony shouted, trying to make himself heard above the alarm. Then he noticed the figure’s sleeve was ripped and there was blood around the tear.

The figure ran towards him. “There’s been an accident. It’s all gone wrong.”

An accident. The words froze Tony’s blood. “What sort of accident?”

The figure reached him and tore the mask off to reveal a face whiter than snow. It took Tony a couple of seconds to recognise Barry Jones, one of the scientists assigned to the hub.

“They’ve escaped,” Barry said.

“How? I thought… I thought they were secured.”

“Don’t know.” Barry stood panting.

“Where are the security men?”

Barry shook his head. “It’s too late. They caught them off guard.”

Although the situation didn’t warrant it, Tony thought Barry’s choice of words somewhat comical. “But we haven’t perfected the process yet. We need more time.”

Barry didn’t reply. Tony stared at him and noticed that his eyes had started to glaze over, giving him a vacant expression. He backed away towards his office, saw a man stagger around the corner into the corridor. The man was naked, his skin ashen grey, mottled blue patches visible where blood had pooled beneath the surface. Electrodes protruded from the man’s skull, wires trailing from them like strange multicoloured strands of hair. Blood dribbled from his mouth, blood that couldn’t be his own because his had congealed long ago.

Another figure appeared behind the man. A naked woman, her skin like parchment, torn in places to reveal the desiccated organs beneath. Fresh blood coated her fingers. Half of her face was missing, leaving her jawbone evident and giving her a sinister grin. The skin on one of her feet had rotted away and the bones clicked against the stone floor as she hobbled forwards, arms outstretched.

Tony’s eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. Blood pumped at his temples as he turned and scrambled to grab the door handle, seeking safety within the confines of his office.

The deafening alarm continued to wail, drowning out Tony’s screams as one of the figures grabbed him from behind with cold, dead hands.

“Needed more time,” Tony wailed before teeth sank into his flesh.