My confession...

Dear reader,

  I am sorry to say that the events taking place are real, very real.  Of this I am certain, as I played a vital role in their creation.  I regret to inform you that there is no vaccination or cure. 

  They hired me as a member of their “Special Research Division” where I worked with other virologists in this very lab. We experimented with a new contagion found deep in the jungles of Africa.  It came from a new form of insect called a “Parpiliopod Exmorte”.  We didn’t have time to give it a common name.  Long story short, this twelve legged, arachnid-like bug contained venom that did more than just kill its victim, it reanimated them for a short period.

  We captured the insect and tested its potency.  First were the rats, they reanimated for a day or so.  Then curiosity kicked in, we exposed rabbits, ferrets, and even fish to the venom.  Eventually orders came from above that we were to study the effects that the venom had on humans.  Interestingly enough, humans didn’t reanimate right away.  It took a few days for the first to rise, only to go down permanently within hours.

  After running several tests, we found a way to genetically alter the venom with other types of viruses and steroids…It’s technical really, not enough time.  Last week our human test subjects had reached one month of reanimation.  The last step was to weaponize it.  We did, two days ago.  I approached the Director with the finished product last night.

  I found the smile on her face bothersome when I showed her the results…I should have quit a long time ago.  The rest of my group has been viciously murdered and it is only a matter of time before the test subjects’ escape.  Before I even knew what was going on, the building was full of them.  I watched as her helicopter took off into the night, leaving the rest of us for dead.  The screams soon followed.

  The dead are coming back to life and I carry some of the blame.  Words cannot describe the guilt that I feel.  For what it is worth…I AM SORRY!  I don’t know how to kill these…things.  We never got to that during our experiments, so I offer no advice.  Only my sincere hope that this “outbreak” can be contained before it spreads too far to be controlled.

  This is my confession.  My name is Arthur Stantelli and I am eternally remorseful for what I have done.  As the ink dries on this paper the undead are trying to get into my lab.  I have decided to end my life.  I don’t want to turn into one of them.  Hopefully forgiveness awaits me in the afterlife. 

  To whoever is reading this, I pray that you will survive as well as your loved ones.  I want my wife to know that she was right.  This whole time, she was right.  Jennifer, I should have listened to you…I…I love you.  If it wasn’t for you, I would be lost and half the man that I once was.   I wish I was with you.  But I guess I will be, just not how we planned it. 

  Damn you Dr. Sara Finlay, you and your fucking boss, McQuade.  One day both of you will pay for the misfortune you have brought into the world.  May your children’s children suffer for your sins. 

                                                                                                                Regretfully,

                                                                                                                    Arthur Stantelli