Free Outbreak by C.M. Gray

little toy.’ She waggled the Zombie Blaster at me. ‘They were very naughty and tried to shoot me with it when they arrived. Only very bad patients shoot their nurse.’ She gave a little chuckle then pushed me down again as I tried to clamber back to my feet.
    â€˜But why?’ I stuttered. ‘You’re a nurse! You’re supposed to help people, not hurt them!’

    â€˜I do help people!’ She lifted a lantern that stood on the table. Rays of light shone across her face and suddenly she looked a lot younger. ‘I was the smartestand the bravest of all the young nurses, which was why they chose me to assist in the morgue. Nurse Nellie can do it! That’s what they said!’ Suddenly she frowned. ‘But then one day the lights went off when I stepped into the tunnels. I thought I could find my way even though it was dark, but I got lost. I wandered for hours, I couldn’t get out! Finally, I fell asleep.’
    She lifted up the lantern and twirled on the spot. Shadows flew around the walls. She stopped and placed the lantern back on the table then glanced down at me, her eyes glinting in the low light. ‘When I woke up, I was different. Something had bitten me: I was stronger and faster and I could see in the dark. For some reason, I didn’t want to leave the tunnels anymore. But soon I got lonely. There were no patients in the tunnels and I was Nurse Nellie! It wasmy job to help people! I tried to help the people who came down to the morgue, but they ran away from me!
    â€˜Then one day, a group of men appeared. I watched them from the shadows this time so they wouldn’t run away, but one of them spotted me. He grabbed me! I had no choice: I bit him and escaped. Later, when I returned, I discovered he’d attacked the others. They were lying on the ground, injured. Finally, here was a job for Nurse Nellie! I straightened their broken bones and sewed their limbs back on. I’m a good nurse.’ She looked wistful. ‘But with all the extra people, there wasn’t enough food. One by one they left the tunnels, until finally, it was just me and the Master.’
    â€˜Who is the Master?’ asked Sophie. While Nurse Nellie had been talking,Sophie had slipped out from under the table and edged toward the nearest bed. Now, she was standing next to Michael with her hands behind her back. Was she trying to secretly loosen the ropes that held him down?
    Nurse Nellie glared at her. ‘Only naughty patients ask about the Master!’

    In two big strides, she bounded over to Sophie and grabbed her arm. The maniac nurse dragged her across the floor to an empty bed. ‘Up’s a daisy! Be a good girl and don’t fight! Nurse Nellie knows best!’ With her zombie super-strength, she easily held Sophie down with one arm while she used the other to bind her wrists andankles with ropes. Then she connected them to the legs of the bed.
    â€˜NO!’ I shouted, willing myself upright and lurching toward her. ‘Leave her alone! You’ve got me! ’
    â€˜Be a good patient and wait your turn!’ cried Nurse Nellie, casually shooting me again with the Zombie Blaster. It felt like my blood had turned to lava. I collapsed to the ground once more.
    Now I finally understood. Nurse Nellie wanted us to be her patients! She wanted to turn us into zombies so we would stay in sick bay forever. Then she would never be lonely again.
    But just like her last patients, we wouldn’t stay. We’d find our way out. It wouldn’t take long before Seabrook was overrun with the undead! There really would be a zombie outbreak!
    â€˜I hope you’re not afraid of needles, because this might sting a little.’ Nurse Nellie pulled a syringe from her pocket and leant over Sophie. ‘Here comes the buzzy bee!’

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    Sophie gave a short, sharp scream and then was silent.
    Mrs Knight’s screams echoed around the room a lot longer. Finally they