Dead Rising 3: A New Player

Chapter 22

Nick jumped down from the roof of the SUV, and ran as fast as his tired legs could carry him towards the warehouse. He turned left onto the quieter backstreets and slammed into Doug, whiles simultaneously the plane exploded with a deafening roar. It was quite disorienting. Nick looked back to see plane and body parts flying down the street. 

“We need to get you to safety soldier,” said Doug. Only then did Nick realise that Annie and Chuck were standing behind him. Annie looked so small standing next the two large men.

“I need to find Harriet, she dropped—” Nick started.

“It’s fine Nick, she’s at the warehouse,” said Annie, “she can’t walk very well, she may have a twisted ankle or something, but she’s going to be okay.”

“Oh thank God!” said Nick, as he covered his hands with his face and doubled over. He felt like he was going to fall over. All the adrenaline that was fuelling him for the past 20 min seemed to leave his body all at once, and his legs started to feel weak.

“I like you an all kid, but I didn’t come out here for you,” said Chuck, “Isabela left the warehouse in a car shortly after you to ‘get something’ from the lab. I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her. She’s up to something. The labs not far from here, so I’m going to go check it out.”

“Don’t be long Chuck, we leave in thirty,” said Doug.

“Be careful Dad,” said Annie, giving her father a long hug, “we just found each other again, I can’t lose you now.”

“I’ve survived worse than this Katie, I’ll be back,” said Chuck. He reluctantly released her hug and cupped her face with one hand, “that’s a promise.” He jogged off down the street with nothing but his spiked bat. Nick was thinking how out of character this softer side of Annie seemed. She peered around the corner and watched her father weave and swing his bat through the crowd; her face was full of concern. Perhaps he didn’t know Annie as well as he thought. For example, her name was actually Katie…

Doug, Annie and Nick proceeded to jog back to the warehouse. A few zombies were stirring on the streets; however a few well-placed shots and weaves were all that was required to get to safety.

“We followed you to see if you needed any help when we realised you were gone,” said Annie, “Harriet was fighting off zombies with a strong limp, and the hovercraft was heading to the ground. Best thing we could do was get Harriet back to safety.”

“Absolutely! I could kiss you!” said Nick. Annie gave a trademark smirk as she jogged up the stairs and knocked on the door to gain entry.

“It’s us,” she said.

The door swung open, “Hi Guys, Hi Nick!” said Greg, with his usual cheery demeanour.

“Uh, hi Greg. Where’s Harry?” asked Nick.

“You sound like a broken record,” said Annie, rolling her eyes, “I’ll show you to her.”

Doug stayed behind with Greg, whiles Annie showed Nick onto the plane where Harriet was. The warehouse was a hive of activity, but Nick barely noticed as he took the steps onto the plane two at a time.

Down the back of the plane, a make shift first-aid area had been set-up for Anna and Harriet who were both now incapacitated. They were lying on the floor, and made comfortable with pillows, blankets, and what he guessed was a stack of opiate based medications.

“Nick!” screamed Harry as she saw him enter the plane, she struggled to stand up, but was restrained by Lauren with a firm hand on the shoulder. “What happened?! I heard the explosion. I thought you were dead! How did you get out? Is Hemlock dead? Are you hurt?”

Nick fell on the ground beside her and held her in his arms. He squeezed her tight and answered her questions.

“I’m not hurt,” said Nick, “well, Hemlock nearly choked me to death, but he’s dead now. The plane crashed and the collections over. The plane exploded after I got out.”

“Oh God!” said Harriet, “I was so worried.”

“So was I! I saw you fall, but I was too far from the ground to help you. I’m so sorry!” said Nick.

“I know, it’s okay, I could see how high up you were,” said Harriet.

“I forced the plane to land, tried to get back, but you were gone.” As Nick said the words he heard his voice choke and felt the start of tears in his eyes. The fear and panic were dissolving and it only now dawned on him that he nearly lost her. He buried his face into her neck and took some deep breaths, not wanting anyone to see him cry.

“You guysar ssooo cute,” said Anna, with slurred speech.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” said Lauren dryly.

“I’m on my way,” said Harriet, as she rattled a little bottle of pills she had next to her. Nick burst out laughing, so grateful and relieved. It was an emotional washing machine. He wiped his eyes and let go of Harry, turning around and sitting next to her on the floor.

“How’s your leg Anna?” Nick asked.

 “Watd leg?” said Anna, she had a sleepy smile on her face.

“Maybe we gave her a little too much…” said Lauren.

The group laughed amongst themselves at Anna’s stoned face and the goings on around the plane for the last few hours. As they chatted away happily, Nick noticed Annie wasn’t joining in.

“Your dad’s going to be fine Annie. I think he may be indestructible! And the explosion took out a lot of zombies on the streets,” said Nick.

“I know, it’s just…” Annie exhaled audibly and looked out the plane window, “I’ll be able to relax when he gets back and we take off,” said Annie.

“What did Isabela say she needed to get from the lab?” asked Harriet.

“She just said she needed to get some equipment and some of her research to help with the cure,” said Annie, “we offered to go with her and she refused, which had dad real nervous. He has never trusted her.”

“And rightly so,” said Harriet, “I get why she is so angry, I really do! Her whole village was destroyed. But to be involved with spreading the zombie virus? Nothing can justify that.”

“She gives me the creeps,” said Lauren.

Doug must have given the signal to pack up and move out, as the plane started to fill up with survivors and it was starting to get pretty packed. All the seats were filled and people were starting to squeeze into the aisles.

“I better go up to the cockpit,” said Nick to Harriet. Some time had passed and he thought the pain killers were beginning to kick in.

Harriet smiled widely at Nick, “COCKpit,” she said, and started to giggle at her joke, which was a little unlike her.

“Okay my little stoneface, does your leg still hurt?” asked Nick.

“Nope,” said Harriet. She leant over to Nick and kissed him deeply for what felt like a long time. Nick was getting very turned on and decided to end the kiss before things got embarrassing. 

He moved past Alice, Greg, Julia and Eric who were standing in the aisle, and made his way to the cockpit to find Rhonda in the pilot’s chair.

“You flying this thing?” Nick asked her.

Rhonda stood up and gave Nick a big hug, “I knew you’d make it. And I hear you avoided Armageddon too?”

 “Well… you know,” Nick replied, with mock nonchalance.

“And of course I’m flying this thing. I actually know how to fly. Plus, I’ve being working on this plane for the last few days and know her inside and out,” said Rhonda.

“The fence is open behind the warehouse,” said Doug, “you can taxi there, and there’s plenty of space to take off.”

“What about my dad!?” said Annie angrily.

“He’s here,” said Doug with his customary briskness, “with Isabela.”

Just then, Isabela entered the plane with Chuck following closely behind her. He was holding a gun to the small of her back.

“Hey, whoa!” said Nick, standing up from the co-pilots chair, “what’s going on here?”

“What’s going on here, is Isabela started this whole fucking outbreak!” as Chuck said the last few words he pushed her violently to the floor. The plane erupted in chatter

“How did she do it—”

“What the hell is going­—”

“Again?”

“Does anyone have any cuffs?” Chuck said with his voice raised.

“Right here,” said Harriet, pulling a pair of handcuffs from her pack, and throwing them halfway up the plane to Chuck. The survivors assisted in getting them to him, as Doug closed the aircraft door, readying them for take-off.

Nick couldn’t believe it. He trusted Isabela, even started to like her.

“How do you know that?” asked Nick.

“Cause she went back to the lab to destroy this,” said Chuck. After he secured the handcuffs, leaving Isabela lying face down on the floor of the aircraft, he opened the duffle bag he was carrying and brought out a laptop. The plane was eerily quiet as all the survivors held their breath to see what he would show them. 

Chuck played a clip that was open on the laptop. It was Isabela and Marian having a heated discussion in a conference room. 

“You’re insane! Starting an outbreak to find the immune one? It makes no sense, it will kill thousands! Including the orphan. No… No!” said Marian in the recording.

“It’s the only way Marian,” said Isabela, “I know he is out there somewhere. Those lives are inconsequential compared to the cure. That’s why I have continued to work with you, that’s why I’ve stayed here, voluntarily. To find a cure….

“In an outbreak, the orphan will realise his immunity and come forward. And your friend Hemlock might find that convenient as well,” finished Isabela. 

Nick felt sick. He could hear the shocked whispers and hushed chatter as the survivors expressed their outrage. Nick could barely listen to the rest of the recording. It was more bickering between the two of them, Isabela boasting about going down in history as the inventor of the cure. It was all for me. Everyone died because of me.

Nick felt numb, “let’s take off Rhonda,” said Nick.

“Sure kitten,” said Rhonda. She turned the key and started the engine.