CONTAMINATE

14. Freeing the Undead

GARETH, MISSY, JAMIE, HARRISON

Gareth and the two women ran as if the devil was on their heels. They went back to Gareth's office in no time and found a worried Harrison pacing the room by himself. As soon as he saw them, he straightened his tie.

"Did you find Natalie? Did you find my daughter?"

The three looked at one another, afraid of telling him the horrible news. Jamie spoke up first.

"The contamination was not accidental."

"What do you mean NOT accidental?"

"Your daughter purposely injected the Frozen Z virus on Rachel--Dr. Monroe while she was still alive." There was pain evident in Gareth's voice as he said Rachel's name. "Dr. Monroe turned. She died because of the direct contamination of her system with the virus. She's in the CC Building, with your daughter. We were unable to put her down."

"And Natalie? Why did you not bring her with you. If Dr. Monroe indeed turned, it is dangerous for Natalie to remain there..." Harrison faltered, thinking of what he said. Realization hit him like a bulldozer and his eyes widened on his suddenly paled face. It was Jamie who confirmed his worst nightmare.

"I'm so sorry Sir but your daughter was bitten apparently by Dr. Monroe and she, too, turned..."

Harrison felt the earth shook and he was falling...falling...into a deep abyss.

"NOOOOOO!!!"

Harrison Morris, feared tycoon billionaire, ruthless, incapable of love, highly intellectual and could bring nations to economic collapse and produce unrest in any government of the world, slumped down on the floor, covered his face with both palms of his hands, his shoulders went up and down, sobs wracking his whole body.

"Nataliiieee! Oh God no! My baby! My poor, sweet girl!"

Jamie went to sit by his employer's side and tried to console him without touching his Armani suit. Harrison Morris was not a man to be pitied.

While Harrison was crying like a lost child, grieving for his only daughter, Missy and Jamie felt pity for the man they feared most. He truly loved his only daughter, the only other human being Harrison Morris loved other than himself.

Gareth stood and watched one of the most powerful man in the entire world succumbed to grief and anguish of losing a child. He felt no pity for the man nor his daughter. He only felt hatred. Hatred for the man who fathered the ugly bitch who was his wife and who killed, tortured and destroyed probably the only woman he ever loved.

After seemed like hours, but it had really been only a few minutes, Harrison, with crazed eyes, stood abruptly up. Jamie and Missy were surprised. Gareth just still observed, saying nothing.

"I have to go get my little girl! She will get hungry and thirsty and tired just walking around locked up in there! Gareth! Come with me! Let's go get your wife!" Harrison looked deeply into the other man's eyes. Gareth saw desperation.

"My wife is dead. That...that thing in there is not my wife. It is a monster. Before death and after." Gareth calmly said.

"You sonnofabitch! How dare you speak of Natalie that way in front of me?! I will destroy you! Just as I made you!" Harrison snatched the universal proximity card from Jamie and was about to go into the Chairman's Building when Missy blocked his way, pleading for his comprehension of how grave the situation was and what Harrison was about to do was suicide.

"That is my little girl in there! I will never be afraid of my own daughter! She will never hurt me!"

"But Sir, before we can open all passage to and from the CC Building, we need to activate the Pyre Acid in the contaminated area to cleanse it of any possible spread of the virus..."

"Nooo! You want to kill my daughter?"

"But Sir, she IS already dead!"

Harrison slapped the surprised Jamie and pushed her towards Missy. He stormed out of the lab and went to the CC Building against the cries and pleas of the two women.

Gareth stood and watch the retreating figure of the crazy man. He spoke softly and calmly.

"We need to go now. We need to go up the outside world."