Free The Dead War Series (Book 1): Good Intentions by D.N. Simmons Page A

either man wanted to deal with was dozens if not hundreds of people rushing them.
    Mr. Wellington entered the lobby. He wasn't surprised by what he was seeing. He knew it was only a matter of time before the hotel's guests would want answers.
    “Did you lock the doors?” he asked the two men.
    Aaron nodded. “Yes, just like the CDC instructed.” He decided to go along with the original lie.
    “Good.” Mr. Wellington addressed the growing crowd that had gathered in the lobby. “Please people, remain calm. It would be best if you all returned to your rooms and keep your door locked. We have to clear the lobby right away. Please return to your rooms and don't worry, we are waving the room fee until this situation is resolved.”
    There were murmurs among the guest, some wanted to leave, but were too frightened. If the Center for Disease Control had instructed they stay inside, maybe that's what they should do. Good news was, the rooms were free... food, too, probably.
    “What about the food, is that free?” one of the guest decided to ask.
    “Yes, of course. Please return to your rooms and remain calm. You will be well taken care—what the hell?” Mr. Wellington cut off his own sentence when he saw what was outside.
    Aaron turned just in time to see a horde of black eyed bloody humans running down the street. Many were dressed in bloody, torn business suits, sundresses and several were still wearing their backpacks.
    “What the fuck?” he gasped. He stared at the crowd, unable to take his eyes away from the sight.
    Their piercing wild gaze told him they were no longer the people they used to be. Whatever their plans were for that day, none of it mattered. Suddenly, dozens of them stopped chasing the people running down the street. They began to take notice of the people standing in the lobby in clear view. The first one came running, flinging himself against the thick glass window. The window shuddered under the force, cracking in the process. Others quickly followed, throwing their bodies against the doors and windows in a desperate attempt to get inside. The hotel guests began to scream and run towards the elevators and stairs. Some were either too scared or too curious to move, and stood watching. Aaron jumped over the counter and began shoving the nosy guests towards the elevators.
    “Get out of here, go!” he pushed them in the direction away from the doors.
    His efforts didn't help. The rabid humans broke through the glass and charged forward. The guests who had refused to run were the first to get attacked, followed by those still waiting for the elevators. Aaron watched in horror as the infected humans chased hotel guests through the stairwell. They were faster and stronger than he had expected and they caught him off guard. He sensed one approaching and he managed to snatch up the letter opener from the desk. When the crazed human rushed him, he plunged the opener deep into its chest, piercing its heart. There was very little blood from the wound which would have shocked Aaron had he had enough time to reflect on it. The thing that used to be a human, still wearing his blood-splattered, Armani business suit, didn't flinch or scream; instead it snapped at Aaron's face and neck as they struggled. The scent of the decaying flesh from its victims clinging to its teeth pounded Aaron's senses, repulsing him. He managed to fling the thing from him, but then he was attacked by four more. He couldn't hold them off and when one of them bit him, everything went black... then red.
     
    ***
     
    Vincent shoved his way past people running in the opposite direction while others were standing by, probably looking for the reason why others were so afraid.  What was the saying? He thought. Oh yeah, ' curiosity killed the cat' . Unfortunately, the counter being; ' satisfaction brought it back' , was a little too close to home as far as he was concerned.
    In this case, that kind of curiosity was going to kill everyone, and