I Dream of Zombies (Book 2): Haven by Vickie Johnstone Read Free Book Online

everyone else and we’re not meant to talk about anything we see here, although the regular Joes know what’s on this level. Some sections of the labs also require special passes, which we aren’t given.”
    “Okay,” replied Marla. “My lips are sealed.”
    “That includes your sister,” added Sylvia as she pressed the button for level eleven. “We’re going right to the top.”
    “Funny. I thought it would be in the basement.”
    Sylvia shook her head. “It’s at the top because of the light. Most of the ceiling is made of glass and solar panels. The facility is as self-sufficient as possible. Water is recycled and there are generators, but geothermal power warms and cools the building.”
    “That kind of thing blows my brain, I’m afraid,” said Marla, giggling.
    “Mine too . I was just trying to impress you with my magnificent knowledge!”
    Marla laughed again. “Beats mine.”
    The elevator doors opened and the two women stepped out into a round hallway. Steel doors circled them, evenly spaced and each with a retina scan beside it. The doors were simply labelled A, B, C, D, E and F, with nothing to give away what existed inside. Sylvia peered into the retina scan for door A, which opened slowly. Marla followed her in.
    “We ’ll have to get your eyes scanned too,” said Sylvia, turning around. “This is the main laboratory. It’s the most public one. I don’t have access to all of them, only A and B. You’ll probably have the same.”
    Marla’s attention wandered to the numerous shelves full of multi-coloured bottles and tubes, and heavy looking books. Rows of computers and equipment filled the huge white-painted room, which seemed to go on forever. There were many men and women inside, all busily going about their work.
    “This way,” said Syl via, striding ahead.
    Marla followed, checking out the various computer screens. Sunlight cascaded through the glass ceiling, creating an extremely bright working area. She noticed solar panels on several pieces of machinery.
    “This is Dr Schinar,” introduced Syl via.
    Marla stopped and turned to see a tall, dark-haired man bent over a microscope. He looked up immediately and brushed his floppy fringe out of his eyes. “Nice to meet you. You can call me Jakob,” he said, holding out his right hand to Marla.
    His gaze seemed steady and confident to her. “Hello,” she answered. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
    “How are you finding Haven?” he asked, smiling broadly.
    Noticing his brown eyes flicker in the sunlight and the lines beneath them crease, Marla found herself feeling embarrassed for some rea son she could not fathom. “Great, I can’t believe how well I’m sleeping,” she replied, and then had the urge to kick herself for saying something so incredibly inane.
    “It’s good to feel safe, isn’t it?”
    Averting her eyes, Marla nodded. “Yes, we were out there for several weeks.”
    “Why did you join the guard so soon? Don’t you want to forget about all that?” he asked.
    “I can’t . It’s just outside these walls and I don’t want to sit around taking things for granted.”
    “Fair enough,” said Jakob . “Right, we need to scan your eyes, so if you could look into that piece of equipment there? Wait, I need to switch it on first,” he added with a slight chuckle. “I’d forget my rotten brain if it wasn’t there.”
    “Bad choice of words,” Marla joked , thinking of the dead-lookers, but Jakob looked confused. She shrugged. “So, I look into here?”
    “Yes. The scanner will detail your retina s.”
    Marla did as she was told, careful not to make any more inappropriate jokes. When she straightened up, out of the corner of her eye she noticed Jakob studying her.
    “Can you explain to Marla what you are working on here?” Sylvia asked.
    Jakob tapped some keys on the keyboard of the computer to save the retina scan. “Still working on a cure,” he replied. “Slow going, but we’re hoping for a