Chapter 4: Into the clutches of a killer
With their plan complete, all that was left was to execute it. Making a mad dash across the street, John and Lucas climbed into the front seat with Phillip in the back seat. According to their plan, John would drive, Phillip would keep alert for any danger, and Lucas would deal with it. As soon as they got started, swarms of the plague victims began to surround the car in a tidal wave of reanimated flesh. Lucas's only means of clearing their path was a makeshift torch he swung at any of the monsters that got too close. Lucas knew their defense was nearly useless, but it made him feel better to be doing something other than just running away. Their biggest problem was not the few people clinging to the car. There was no way they could physically pull to car to a stop. The real threat came from the broken down cars that littered the streets. All it would take was hitting one wrecked vehicle and they would be unable to proceed and eaten alive for sure. There were several close calls, their car even knocked down a lamppost to avoid a three-car pile up on the main road, but everything considered, they got out untouched. It wasn't until they reached the city limits that the real trouble started. Panic and confusion exploded in Lucas' mind as John stopped the car for no understandable reason. The city limits were still in view and any moment the entire city could come following them, why was this lunatic stopping. "Is something wrong?" asked Lucas, "why did you stop the car?" "No, nothing is wrong at all," replied John amused, "everything is going perfectly to plan, what could possibly be wrong?" Lucas didn't like the sound of this one bit, a quick look into the back seat found Phillip asleep, resting his head against the window. He would be no help if anything serious went wrong. Lucas was beginning to suspect the strain of the night had finally made this stranger snap. "Were not going to the police" said John, "take a good look at me little boy, and tell me if you recognize me". After staring for a full minute, Lucas suddenly remembered where he had seen the man before, on the news, "oh my god, you're the Coatesville stalker" gasped Lucas desperately trying to formulate a plan of escape. "That's right, but don't worry," laughed John menacingly, "I'm not going to kill you. No, I need you alive" Lucas didn't say a word, how much worse could this situation get. First he had barely escaped the most gruesome outbreak imaginable, only to be kidnapped by one of the nations most notorious serial killers. This had to be a bad dream. "Allow me to explain" began John, "I'm sure you've heard of the Dupont chemical company". "They make plastics don't they, and drugs" replied Lucas unsure what this crazy man was getting at. "Yes," continued John, "but they do far more than that, they also design biological weapons, such as poisons and viruses. Including the one that was unleashed here tonight". "You mean this outbreak was deliberate" asked Lucas not believing a word of it, "that this company attacked my home for no reason, that makes no sense, and what do you have to do with this, I don't understand, what do you want from me". "You don't need to understand, consider me a bloodhound," answered John smiling at his analogy. "The Dupont Company has unleashed a virus in this city, my employers, the Umbrella Corporation want that virus. They sent me in to retrieve a sample, it's that simple". "Why don't you just take your sample and leave us alone?" shouted Lucas in frustration, "we have nothing to do with this". "Of course you do" smiled John, poking Lucas in the forehead as if he were a confused child, "the sample, is in you." Before Lucas could react, a high-pitched whine filled the air and an explosion knocked their car onto it's side, they were being attacked. "We have your car surrounded," boomed a voice from a loudspeaker, "This is a quarantined area, come out with your hands up or we will use deadly force". Moments later John, Lucas, and Phillip were standing outside of the car in front of what looked like a team of soldiers. However they wore space suit like protection gear instead of combat armor, their suits were white as snow except for the unmistakable emblem of the Dupont Corporation. "You people can't stop me," laughed John with pure arrogance, "the most powerful company in the world is waiting for me to deliver these samples to them, my every vital sign is being transmitted to them via global positioning software. If you so much as touch me, the entire Umbrella private army will be on you in less than an hour. So tell me, are you going to leave now or are you even stupider than you look". The soldier's only reply was a quick gunshot to John's head dropping him like a sack of anvils. Lucas and Phillip repulsed by the cold emotionless brutality turned away. The nearest soldier threw a small object between Lucas and Phillip. Within seconds, a foul smelling cloud of white gas blocked out their vision and moments later they were unconscious.
With their plan complete, all that was left was to execute it. Making a mad dash across the street, John and Lucas climbed into the front seat with Phillip in the back seat. According to their plan, John would drive, Phillip would keep alert for any danger, and Lucas would deal with it. As soon as they got started, swarms of the plague victims began to surround the car in a tidal wave of reanimated flesh. Lucas's only means of clearing their path was a makeshift torch he swung at any of the monsters that got too close. Lucas knew their defense was nearly useless, but it made him feel better to be doing something other than just running away. Their biggest problem was not the few people clinging to the car. There was no way they could physically pull to car to a stop. The real threat came from the broken down cars that littered the streets. All it would take was hitting one wrecked vehicle and they would be unable to proceed and eaten alive for sure. There were several close calls, their car even knocked down a lamppost to avoid a three-car pile up on the main road, but everything considered, they got out untouched. It wasn't until they reached the city limits that the real trouble started. Panic and confusion exploded in Lucas' mind as John stopped the car for no understandable reason. The city limits were still in view and any moment the entire city could come following them, why was this lunatic stopping. "Is something wrong?" asked Lucas, "why did you stop the car?" "No, nothing is wrong at all," replied John amused, "everything is going perfectly to plan, what could possibly be wrong?" Lucas didn't like the sound of this one bit, a quick look into the back seat found Phillip asleep, resting his head against the window. He would be no help if anything serious went wrong. Lucas was beginning to suspect the strain of the night had finally made this stranger snap. "Were not going to the police" said John, "take a good look at me little boy, and tell me if you recognize me". After staring for a full minute, Lucas suddenly remembered where he had seen the man before, on the news, "oh my god, you're the Coatesville stalker" gasped Lucas desperately trying to formulate a plan of escape. "That's right, but don't worry," laughed John menacingly, "I'm not going to kill you. No, I need you alive" Lucas didn't say a word, how much worse could this situation get. First he had barely escaped the most gruesome outbreak imaginable, only to be kidnapped by one of the nations most notorious serial killers. This had to be a bad dream. "Allow me to explain" began John, "I'm sure you've heard of the Dupont chemical company". "They make plastics don't they, and drugs" replied Lucas unsure what this crazy man was getting at. "Yes," continued John, "but they do far more than that, they also design biological weapons, such as poisons and viruses. Including the one that was unleashed here tonight". "You mean this outbreak was deliberate" asked Lucas not believing a word of it, "that this company attacked my home for no reason, that makes no sense, and what do you have to do with this, I don't understand, what do you want from me". "You don't need to understand, consider me a bloodhound," answered John smiling at his analogy. "The Dupont Company has unleashed a virus in this city, my employers, the Umbrella Corporation want that virus. They sent me in to retrieve a sample, it's that simple". "Why don't you just take your sample and leave us alone?" shouted Lucas in frustration, "we have nothing to do with this". "Of course you do" smiled John, poking Lucas in the forehead as if he were a confused child, "the sample, is in you." Before Lucas could react, a high-pitched whine filled the air and an explosion knocked their car onto it's side, they were being attacked. "We have your car surrounded," boomed a voice from a loudspeaker, "This is a quarantined area, come out with your hands up or we will use deadly force". Moments later John, Lucas, and Phillip were standing outside of the car in front of what looked like a team of soldiers. However they wore space suit like protection gear instead of combat armor, their suits were white as snow except for the unmistakable emblem of the Dupont Corporation. "You people can't stop me," laughed John with pure arrogance, "the most powerful company in the world is waiting for me to deliver these samples to them, my every vital sign is being transmitted to them via global positioning software. If you so much as touch me, the entire Umbrella private army will be on you in less than an hour. So tell me, are you going to leave now or are you even stupider than you look". The soldier's only reply was a quick gunshot to John's head dropping him like a sack of anvils. Lucas and Phillip repulsed by the cold emotionless brutality turned away. The nearest soldier threw a small object between Lucas and Phillip. Within seconds, a foul smelling cloud of white gas blocked out their vision and moments later they were unconscious.