[Planet of the Dead 02] • War for the Planet of the Dead

* From the author of FEAST and Reinheit comes a new chapter in horror... *

PLANET OF THE DEAD

News reports speak of mass panic and violence spreading across the globe. Negligent leaders hide behind misinformation. But in an age of paranoia and suspicion, who can say what is true anymore? Struggling to survive against a sweeping epidemic that has engulfed the planet, survivors will have to make hard choices in a world that no longer makes sense.

* Live. Die. Or become one of the undead. *

“This is an ABC13 Eyewitness News Breaking Report, coming to you from Houston, Texas, I’m Melanie Lawson—”

“—and I’m Kevin Quinn filling in for Tracy Clemons.”

Camera pans back to Melanie in her usual navy-blue blazer and pearl white blouse. Her hair is normally kept in a curled bob, but in this early afternoon hour, she looks as if she hadn’t any time to comb her hair or even apply makeup.

“We’re coming to you with a Breaking News report. According to Jeff Slovak reporting on scene, Methodist Medical Center in downtown Houston is on the verge of shutting down. Martial Law was announced earlier this morning from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, and National Guardsmen have been put in place to keep the hospital open and secure.”

Panning to Kevin, his twelve o’clock shadow is looking even more gritty. If asked, he’d have a hard time remembering the last time he shaved or even brushed his teeth. His brown suit looked obviously ruffled as if whatever sleep he’d had was in that suit.

“Reporting live at Houston’s Methodist Medical Center, Jeff Slovak, can you tell us exactly what the situation is at the medical center?”

Live feed coming from downtown Houston, seasoned journalist Jeff Slovak stares unblinking into the camera. Behind him, uniformed officers and National Guardsmen struggle to keep a surge mob from pouring into the hospital. Random people, some crying, others shouting, run by in a blur. The noise is borderline chaotic with sirens blaring and someone yelling into a bullhorn.

Microphone in hand and white knuckled, “Kevin, the situation here at Methodist looks very dire. We’re being told that officials for the City of Houston are diverting patients to CDC and Houston Health Department inoculation stations…”

Camera cut out, instantly filling TV screens across Houston with a Google Earth image of the city and the surrounding areas. Red triangles marked in various spot across the map.

Jeff continued, “As you can see, there are dozens of locations people can take those who are sick or injured to receive treatment.”

Shifting to the right, the map of Houston splits the screen with glimpses of Jeff Slovak still squeezing his mic with people rushing behind him and with the newscasters sitting behind their wide podium. Melanie frowned, giving the camera and her audience her best serious pose. “The red triangles on the map, you said officials are saying those are inoculation stations? Have they said what exactly the inoculation is for? What’s causing this epidemic?”

Short pause.

“No comment has been made as to what the inoculation is actually for. The CDC left the hospital just a short while ago and refused to give a statement. Authorities with the Houston Health Department mentioned something about a kind of Super Flu strain, but—”

Gun fire rang from somewhere in the mob of people rushing the barricades. Jeff flinched and ducked, as did the cameraman, giving the people watching and those at ABC13 Eyewitness News a jittery image.

“Jeff? Jeff, are those gunshots?” Kevin broke in.