DEAD FACTIONS - the Zombie War Narratives - a Novella by Michael Carr Read Free Book Online

of it!  Without hesitation, you showed me no respect and left me looking like a ‘bag of smashed asshole’ ! Let me show you just how lifeless I really am!”
    Malcolm looks around trying to determine the direction from which the voice is coming. He does not question who it is and states, “We are finishing what you wanted…you wanted us to take the Colony. I felt I needed to look respectable. I, in fact, am representing you.”
    Thomas appears in the entranceway…his face is dark from the inside shadow, but a long black trench coat, divided in the back is easily seen. A draft moves the coat and it swings behind him reminiscent of a character from a dark twisted Anime movie. “You treated me as a commoner. I provided you weapons, food and troops for you to control. This is how you thank me?”
    Jordan becomes nervous, “You appeared expired. We could only think of moving the mission forward, as we were ordered.”
    Thomas comes fully out of the building, coattails flowing more prominently than before in the desert breeze, “I stayed still for a reason…I was not going to give Corey another opportunity to stop me…finish me! And as you can see, I succeeded in gaining the Zlys without you…without any of you.”
    Malcolm, refusing to be intimidated by Thomas, immediately exclaims, “You are surrounded by my troops! This area is now under my command !”
    Thomas, enraged by Malcolm’s insubordination, returns to the inside of the Colony and orders the Zlys, “ Destroy them! ”
    The Zlys perform as commanded. They attack and slaughter Jordan and the zombie army without issue, almost effortlessly. But for Malcolm, it is different…one of the Zlys senses his master’s overwhelming anger with this particular one, grasps Malcolm by the neck and raises him off the ground.  The mutant mocks his prey by using the center needle of its claw to slowly caress the zombie’s face and asks, “Where are your subordinates now...officer?”
    Malcolm, still clinched at the throat by the Zly's right hand, screams with torment as the spike from the left claw shoves into his forehead. The needle crushes inward until the point pierces through the back of Malcolm’s cranium. The zombie is released and his lifeless body drops to the ground…his fate ending as he believed Thomas’ had hours before.
    The survivors come closer to where they track Tonya's beeper. Chief signals to the others to spread out as they cautiously approach Corey and Tonya's position. The survivors separate and take cover behind whatever is close.  Chief waits and listens…no sound…’no sound’ is not always a good thing.  He radios Tonya, “The tracker says we are almost on top of you.  It’s awfully quiet, everything ok there? Shall we move in?”
    Tonya comes back, “We are ok…come on in.”
    Motioning the group to follow him, Chief is still uncertain.  The survivors proceed forward, but in a crouched position and guns drawn.  As they reach the recovered weapons, Chief observes the area, scrutinizing the perimeter. His eyes quickly identify a mound of zombie bodies. Looking further, he sees Corey from the waist up. He is in the top opening of the tank leaning forward with his chin on his hand. Tonya is simply leaning against the tank. Chief relieved, but confused announces to the other survivors, “All clear!”
    The survivors relax. Patrick, one of the youngest is amazed, “You guys laid them OUT…freaking AWESOME!”
    Chief approaches the tank and looks up at Corey, “Hey amigo! Let me speak with you, alone.” 
    Corey looks at Tonya. Tonya nods, encouraging him to follow Chief’s request. As Corey comes off the tank, Chief wraps his arm around him, “Let’s take a walk.” As they get out of earshot of the others, Chief opens up, “I must admit you have my full attention. So how does one young man gain weapons like these?”
    Corey somewhat relieved because he starts to feel accepted and states the obvious, “Very long story…I