Conversational Hazard
CHAPTER 1
From Dusk To Death
The errie sunset creeped deeply into Jackson's heart that hot summer evening. He felt chilled, even if it was about 90ยบ farenheit. If it was the virus kicking in, he knew he was dead for sure. But, he'd hold out as long as Oliver got there. Oliver ALWAYS got there......didn't he? Jackson tried to remember if Oliver had ever not shown up. He'd said it was urgent in the E-Page. Now it was about 8:23PM. Where the hell was he?
Jackson found a bit of anger seep into his veins and nerves as he remembered the last time he'd talked to Oliver. Two years ago, Jackson got a job at a Pharmacutical company called Umbrella Inc. Oliver, a life-long friend, and war-buddy from Vietnam & Desert Storm, had gotten pissed at Jackson was quitting the war-work to work as a pharmacist. Jackson fought back, still trying to explain he was working in the drug testing department. Oliver refused to respect the decision, said that Jackson would end up a junkie in the street, and left.
The thoughts and memeories made Jackson sigh, seeing that he was ignorant in his decision to get the job. He'd seen something that just brought incredible chills to him. 'How can people sleep at night, knowing they're doing something like that?' he thought to himself quietly. Soon, there was the loud chugging sound of Oliver's slick old van, and Jackson looked about, trying to see it. And yep, there it was. The Camo-painted VW drove smoothly to another street corner, parked, and stopped running. Jackson tried to look and see if it was Oliver or if it was the van, but Oliver had sold it. Nope, it was Oliver. He recognized the grunt as the burly thirty-three year old man got out of his van. After twisting a few joints and cracking a few bones, Oliver walked slowly towards Jackson, jaywalking in the process.
*****
Oliver remembered the E-Page he'd gotten about 2 hours ago. "Come quick to AWD. Corner of Davis and Silveria. Urgent." He knew Jackson well enough that when it said Urgent, do anything to get there. Unfortunately, his van conked out for a few minutes on the way there. And plus he had hesitated when getting out of the house. He hated the abandoned warehouse district. Annoying as hell. Gangs all over the place, too many germs and viruses going around...blah! Well, at least the van had his storage in the back. Oughta keep him alive for awhile.
Walking towards Jackson, he could feel a sense of relief. He had been pissed at his friend for going with Umbrella, but, he learned to respect the idea. It'd be good to see him, see what his job's been having him do, things like that. But, when he saw the look of fear and the paleness of Jackson's skin, his expression went puzzled. He walked up to Jackson, standing a few feet from his friend.
Jackson looked him over and chuckled.
"I see you've stayed in shape," he said, still chuckling.
Oliver laughed, "and I see you kept the afro."
Jackson looked up at his hair and snickered, "of course! Afros never go out of style...."
The two roared in laughter, and as it calmed down, Jackson sighed depressedly.
"So, what's this problem?" Oliver asked, his face going back into grizzled solider mode.
"Oliver, you were right, I shouldn't have taken that job."
Oliver snickered. "You wanted a non-battle based career, can't blame you for that."
Jackson sighed again. "Umbrella's not really what you think it is."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Jackson took a deep breath and took a few steps back.
"A few days ago, while I was working deep in the labs, I found a key to a room that was supposed to be forbidden."
"Dammit, Jackson...." Oliver lowered his head and shook it, saying, "you were always a fucking snoop."
"Oliver, you will never believe what they were testing these supposed 'drugs' on in there....if they were even drugs..."
"........what?"
"Humans."
Oliver shrugged. "Nothing much. There's always human testing in these things."
Jackson began sweating a bit, and with more emotion, continued.
"But, you should've seen these people. Wearing prison uniforms, police uniforms, even some of these people
looked as young as 15! And what was even more crazy was that they didn't even look ALIVE!"
Oliver squinted. "You mean to tell me they were experimentting with drugs on dead people?"
"I didn't say they were dead."
All of a sudden, there was a low screeching sound, that just kept in a long drone, but suddenly got louder.
Jackson and Oliver looked up, and all of a sudden, from the orangey sky, a green form started falling towards
Jackson. The green form looked to be lizard-like, from what they could tell from it falling so quickly.
Suddenly, it extended an arm, and the claw aimed right at Jackson's head.
And suddenly, Oliver got a good look at the creature, as it landed, claw driving through Jackson's skull.
The crunching and splattery noises made Oliver sick to his stomach, and his face turned incredibly pale, as he felt
blood flow stop almost entirely.
Then, the lizard-like creature screeched at Oliver, and pulled it's arm swiftly up.
In a bone-cracking, nerve-splitting second, Jackson's head was not attached to his body anymore, being pulled up.
The lizard-like creature jumpped back, pushing Jackson's body forward, and almost onto Oliver.
Along with the head, came up the spine, with gore all over it.
Blood continued to flow from Jackson's body, letting it pool, and making Oliver back away.
He continued watching as the lizard creature discarded Jackson's head, tosing it behind it, and letting it clink and
clatter on the pavement. It screeched again, and Oliver knew that his life would be over.....very soon....
CHAPTER 1
From Dusk To Death
The errie sunset creeped deeply into Jackson's heart that hot summer evening. He felt chilled, even if it was about 90ยบ farenheit. If it was the virus kicking in, he knew he was dead for sure. But, he'd hold out as long as Oliver got there. Oliver ALWAYS got there......didn't he? Jackson tried to remember if Oliver had ever not shown up. He'd said it was urgent in the E-Page. Now it was about 8:23PM. Where the hell was he?
Jackson found a bit of anger seep into his veins and nerves as he remembered the last time he'd talked to Oliver. Two years ago, Jackson got a job at a Pharmacutical company called Umbrella Inc. Oliver, a life-long friend, and war-buddy from Vietnam & Desert Storm, had gotten pissed at Jackson was quitting the war-work to work as a pharmacist. Jackson fought back, still trying to explain he was working in the drug testing department. Oliver refused to respect the decision, said that Jackson would end up a junkie in the street, and left.
The thoughts and memeories made Jackson sigh, seeing that he was ignorant in his decision to get the job. He'd seen something that just brought incredible chills to him. 'How can people sleep at night, knowing they're doing something like that?' he thought to himself quietly. Soon, there was the loud chugging sound of Oliver's slick old van, and Jackson looked about, trying to see it. And yep, there it was. The Camo-painted VW drove smoothly to another street corner, parked, and stopped running. Jackson tried to look and see if it was Oliver or if it was the van, but Oliver had sold it. Nope, it was Oliver. He recognized the grunt as the burly thirty-three year old man got out of his van. After twisting a few joints and cracking a few bones, Oliver walked slowly towards Jackson, jaywalking in the process.
*****
Oliver remembered the E-Page he'd gotten about 2 hours ago. "Come quick to AWD. Corner of Davis and Silveria. Urgent." He knew Jackson well enough that when it said Urgent, do anything to get there. Unfortunately, his van conked out for a few minutes on the way there. And plus he had hesitated when getting out of the house. He hated the abandoned warehouse district. Annoying as hell. Gangs all over the place, too many germs and viruses going around...blah! Well, at least the van had his storage in the back. Oughta keep him alive for awhile.
Walking towards Jackson, he could feel a sense of relief. He had been pissed at his friend for going with Umbrella, but, he learned to respect the idea. It'd be good to see him, see what his job's been having him do, things like that. But, when he saw the look of fear and the paleness of Jackson's skin, his expression went puzzled. He walked up to Jackson, standing a few feet from his friend.
Jackson looked him over and chuckled.
"I see you've stayed in shape," he said, still chuckling.
Oliver laughed, "and I see you kept the afro."
Jackson looked up at his hair and snickered, "of course! Afros never go out of style...."
The two roared in laughter, and as it calmed down, Jackson sighed depressedly.
"So, what's this problem?" Oliver asked, his face going back into grizzled solider mode.
"Oliver, you were right, I shouldn't have taken that job."
Oliver snickered. "You wanted a non-battle based career, can't blame you for that."
Jackson sighed again. "Umbrella's not really what you think it is."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Jackson took a deep breath and took a few steps back.
"A few days ago, while I was working deep in the labs, I found a key to a room that was supposed to be forbidden."
"Dammit, Jackson...." Oliver lowered his head and shook it, saying, "you were always a fucking snoop."
"Oliver, you will never believe what they were testing these supposed 'drugs' on in there....if they were even drugs..."
"........what?"
"Humans."
Oliver shrugged. "Nothing much. There's always human testing in these things."
Jackson began sweating a bit, and with more emotion, continued.
"But, you should've seen these people. Wearing prison uniforms, police uniforms, even some of these people
looked as young as 15! And what was even more crazy was that they didn't even look ALIVE!"
Oliver squinted. "You mean to tell me they were experimentting with drugs on dead people?"
"I didn't say they were dead."
All of a sudden, there was a low screeching sound, that just kept in a long drone, but suddenly got louder.
Jackson and Oliver looked up, and all of a sudden, from the orangey sky, a green form started falling towards
Jackson. The green form looked to be lizard-like, from what they could tell from it falling so quickly.
Suddenly, it extended an arm, and the claw aimed right at Jackson's head.
And suddenly, Oliver got a good look at the creature, as it landed, claw driving through Jackson's skull.
The crunching and splattery noises made Oliver sick to his stomach, and his face turned incredibly pale, as he felt
blood flow stop almost entirely.
Then, the lizard-like creature screeched at Oliver, and pulled it's arm swiftly up.
In a bone-cracking, nerve-splitting second, Jackson's head was not attached to his body anymore, being pulled up.
The lizard-like creature jumpped back, pushing Jackson's body forward, and almost onto Oliver.
Along with the head, came up the spine, with gore all over it.
Blood continued to flow from Jackson's body, letting it pool, and making Oliver back away.
He continued watching as the lizard creature discarded Jackson's head, tosing it behind it, and letting it clink and
clatter on the pavement. It screeched again, and Oliver knew that his life would be over.....very soon....