"Shhhhh!" I waved my arms frantically to get him to quiet down. I could see the fear in his eyes building through thick tears that refused to run down his cheeks. He was thin but healthy looking, and his clothes belonged solidly in the middle class. I glanced forward out the window to see if his scream attracted any unwanted attention and saw a few dark silhouettes moving in our direction. They had the familiar saunter that filled my beating heart with dread, and I turned back to my terrified passenger. "You've got to be quiet, they're coming!" I whispered as loudly as I dared. His scream stopped short and a look of terror replaced the stranger danger on his face. At first I assumed that my command had worked but soon realized this new information must have been even more terrifying. His face wound up in a traumatic scowl and he began to wail louder than before. I looked back to see the lurching shapes stepping into the light that poured from the fluorescent bulbs suspended overhead. I could just make out the yellow tinge that covered their eyes. Instinctively I turned the ignition and the car purred to life. I tore out of the parking stall as one of them stepped in my path. The front bumper tore the leg off the closest one, sending it flying like a bowling pin into the crowd behind it.
I swerved deftly between parked cars and discarded shopping carts, winding my way toward the exit. In my rear view mirror I could make out a number of figures wandering in my direction, some running, others merely shambling along. Scanning for an easy way to the main road I saw an opening in the concrete barriers that surrounded the parking lot. I cornered sharply and made my way through, each turn tossing my wailing passenger across the back seat like a bag full of cabbages. His screams were repeatedly interrupted as the air was knocked from his lungs with each turn and he grabbed the back of the passenger seat to steady himself. "Where are you taking me?" He cried out between his tantrums. I could hear the confusion and fear in his voice and wondered why he hadn't asked for his parents. Surely a kid this old would think to... no, not think but demand to see his parents by now. "What's your name?" I asked over the tumult of his shrieking cries. The question seemed to change the subject in his mind, because he sniffled and looked up at my eyes in the rear view mirror. He opened his mouth as if to reply but I could tell his kid training kicked in and he tightened up his lips, refusing to speak. At least he wasn't screaming anymore. "Where are we going?" He asked again, looking out the window.
The evening was unusually dark without the normal lights in the windows of each building. Empty cars were scattered across the road, some with doors hanging open, others with large dents or missing doors, as though they had been pushed out of the way by larger vehicles. I moved the sedan slowly through them, while still maintaining enough speed to prevent anyone or anything from grabbing onto us. The on-ramp to the freeway was ahead, the entrance sign illuminated by a single solar powered bulb. As we climbed onto the elevated road we could see the damage more clearly. Smoke billowed from several buildings, and a fire raged uncontrollably on the south side of the city. Despite the dread in my heart I found it eerily beautiful, and my gaze stayed fixed on the pink and purple clouds following the setting sun.
As the last light of the day disappeared past the horizon, the streetlights began to pop on. The city's power grid still seemed to be functioning, but who knows how long that would last. The freeway wasn't crowded, but the few cars there were prevented us from driving in a single lane, and I pulled to the outside shoulder instead. "Where is everyone?" My sniffling passenger asked as we whirred past hundreds of stopped cars. Doors were left open, some with engines still running, but not a single person stood nearby. "So you never told me your name." I said to him to break the eerie silence of the abandoned highway. His face was pushed against the window glass, his nose pushed upward and his breath creating a pattern of fog on the dirty window. "It's Oliver." He said without turning to me. I guess it was easier to reveal without looking at me. "I'm not going to hurt you." I reassured him. "I'd like to help you find your family." I searched the rear view mirror for any sign of recognition or pain. "Oliver, do you know where your parents are?" He didn't move, didn't react, just stared out the window blankly.
Our attention diverted upward as a helicopter roared over our heads. It had the familiar markings of the local news chopper, but the back door was slid open and I saw what looked like someone leaning out with what could have been a high powered rifle. A bright searchlight mounted to its nose passed easily over us, but they ignored our presence as they advanced toward the rooftops, meticulously searching each one before moving to the next.
The abandoned cars began to get thicker, and I slowed down to prevent us from hitting them. We were practically idling as we maneuvered between them with inches to spare, and I began to worry that we wouldn't find a way through. Ahead I could see the dark shape of a semi truck, overturned by the look of it. As we got closer I could tell it was used for hauling livestock. Suddenly the gleaming flesh of a large pig ran past my headlights and I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting it. It squealed and ran off into the night. The pathway ahead was blocked, and I slowed to a stop as my headlamps laid to rest on several large swine feeding on something in the road. I assumed it was another pig until I saw a leg wearing a bright red high heel shoe. I honked and flashed my brights at the group and they scattered, abandoning their meal. Worried about the effect this would have on my young passenger I glanced in the rear view mirror. "You okay?" I asked but before I could get a response saw a dark shape pass behind the car. "Look out!" I called as something large slammed against the glass on the rear window.
Time seemed to slow down. I could see Oliver's face contort with surprise as he turned toward the sound. The thundering sound of fists on our trunk seemed to play in slow motion and I could see the pale skin and dead eyes of the monstrosity pounding at the window. Large cracks began to form, spiderwebbing outward from the points of impact, but the glass did not shatter. For a moment my reactions seemed slow and I felt almost paralyzed, unable to act. A piercing shriek woke me from my momentary coma and instinctively I plucked the quivering child from the back seat and pulled him to the front. A second attacker joined the first and together their collective strength pushed the entire cracking window through the frame and into the back seat. Clambering for us they clawed their way toward the front seat, awkwardly attempting to cross the glass they had pushed into the back seat. I punched on the gas pedal hard and saw the smaller one lose its grip, slipping out onto the street as the sudden velocity pulled him from the vehicle. I immediately slammed on the brakes and rapidly reversed until I heard the crunch of its bones under my tires.
The first one was now reaching for the passenger seat, his large hands cut and torn, the grey skin on his knuckles oozing a dark thick paste that had the acidic smell of rot and mildew. Gaining a grip on the seat it pulled itself closer. Oliver didn't make a sound, but stayed frozen, his back pressed against the dashboard and his eyes locked on the beast. I spun around, punching the top of the monsters head as hard as I could, and instantly I knew I had made a mistake. I felt at least one of the bones in my hand break against the hard surface, and he didn't even seem to acknowledge my presence, he was determined to grab my frozen passenger. I searched helplessly for something I could use, but saw nothing but old gum wrappers and a few coins.
Out of options, I reached for the handle of the door and pulled it open. Oliver's eyes flashed to me, terror and confusion in his face. "Don't leave me!" He said, his voice cracking as tears filled his eyes. The monster now had one arm between the seats, frantically searching for something to grasp. His bloody fingertips were inches from the boy's face and he had to lean away to keep it from grabbing him. I my eyes on Oliver and gave him a nod as if to say "be brave" and closed the door behind me.
You know how it ends. Now read how it begins...
Chapter 48- Flight
The world was completely different than I had left it. It appears my short time below ground was enough to dive the surface into chaos. Sirens rang through the air and the normally busy, bustling streets and businesses were abandoned. I rounded the corner where I had parked the jeep and found it missing, a fact that both terrified me and brought relief at the same time. If the jeep was missing, Tracy was probably the one who took it. She might still be safe, and I knew exactly where she would have gone.
Our storage unit was across town, probably 10-20 miles away. Such a distance would not have caused a problem before, but on foot amidst the chaos, I worried about my ability to arrive in a timely manner. Would Tracy be safe? Could she protect herself alone? I was determined to get to her.
An explosion shook the sidewalk below my feet and I looked up into the sky. It came from behind the row of buildings behind me and I turned to see a cloud of smoke billowing upward into the sky. It seemed to be where the gas station was. Had that flame truck accidentally lit one of the pumps? I hurried in the opposite direction, looking for some mode of transportation. I heard the familiar crunch of broken glass and looked at the shattered window of a toy store next to me. Inside someone was moving, perhaps several people. The dark shapes advanced rapidly toward me, shuffling awkwardly as they emerged into the light. I stepped back instinctively but saw two old women, homeless by the look of them, carrying armfuls of toys. As their eyes met mine they instantly froze, waiting to see if I would condone their actions amidst the chaotic world. I gave a disapproving frown which they returned, and walked around me with dropping anything. One mumbled something to the other and they both laughed out loud, their humor no doubt directed toward me. I was about to continue when I saw a flash of silver metal in the light. My eyes fell on a razor scooter, probably the floor model as it showed significant wear and tear. I looked left and right, wondering if the joke those ladies told had anything to do with the fact that perhaps we all found ourselves on even ground now. Rapidly I snatched the scooter and pushed myself down the empty sidewalk.
It was getting dark, and I still had miles to go. I felt stupid pushing the thin little scooter along the deserted sidewalk. I felt wobbly and vulnerable, as though any minute I would be ambushed by a pack of those things and would have no way to protect myself. The light was fading as the day drew on, and the narrow streets began to open up. A car was stopped up ahead with its light on, engine running. As I got closer I could see movement inside. Blood splattered on the interior of the windshield and as I focused my eyes I could see something leaning over the driver. It was smaller than a normal human, and wore green overalls. I turned in horror as I realized this could have been a young child or small teenager sitting in the back of its parents car. I immediately steered away from the horrible scene, the image burned into my eyes.
The rest of the intersection was vacant, stoplights flashing a cautionary yellow, and a few wisps of paper wafting in the breeze. I crossed a small bridge and glanced over the edge. A few bodies floated in the water, slowly making their way out to the ocean I suppose. Pushing on, a rounded a corner and saw the shopping mall loom ahead. Hundreds of cars were parked in the various parking structures that surrounded the massive edifice, and I immediately stopped. Remembering the size of the horde I encountered below ground, I looked nervously about. The capacity of this mall was large, and on a weekend evening like this it could have literally been filled with hundreds if hot thousands of people. I slowly made my way along the outskirts, wondering if my little mode of transportation would outrun the monsters I was sure were inside.
Keeping a steady eye on the main entrance, I worked my way around the outside edge of the parking structure nearest me, trying my best to keep in the shadows growing longer every minute. It was beginning to get dark enough that visibility would be a challenge. I thought of the behavior of my previous attackers and wondered if the beasts would have an advantage in the dark. I heard a sniffle to my right and immediately turned, holding up my scooter like a shield. It was an older man, probably in his 70's. His legs were torn to shreds, the last few breaths still hanging on his lips. I approached him cautiously, unaware of what his reaction might be. As my footfalls grew closer he looked in my direction. He smiled and nodded, gesturing me to come closer. I knelt beside him and he grasped my hand and pulled me close to his face. No words escaped his lips but I could see the pleading in his eyes. He looked over to the left and gestured toward the parked cars. Patting me on the shoulder he handed me a set of keys. The leather keychain was wet and warm with his blood and his grip on my shoulder tightened as he fixed his eyes on mine. The same pleading look bore into my soul, as though he desperately wanted me to do something. "What?" I asked in a whisper. "What do you want me to do?" He looked again toward the parking lot and his eyes faded. He was gone.
I stood up, looking at the keys in my hand. One had buttons on it like it controlled the remote locks of a car. I pressed "unlock" and to my surprise saw a flash of light from inside the garage. I approached slowly, unsure of what the light might attract, and pressed it again. The familiar yellow of caution lights illuminated the darkness and I could make out a silver sedan parked in one of the stalls. With excitement I moved quickly but cautiously to the car. Looking in the windows it seemed untouched, and I opened the driver's side door and quickly climbed in. The leather was cold but comfortable, and I gripped the steering wheel tightly. Slipping the keys into the ignition the car hummed to life, instruments lighting up and displaying fuel capacity and the exterior weather conditions. Something stirred in the back seat and I jumped back, nervously realizing I was not alone. "Grandpa?" a small voice called out timidly. "Is that you?" A young boy, no older than 10, pulled a blanket off his head and climbed up from his hiding place behind the passenger seat. His gaze met mine and a look of horror spread quickly across his face. I watched as tears filled his eyes and heard the piercing shriek of his terrified scream.
Our storage unit was across town, probably 10-20 miles away. Such a distance would not have caused a problem before, but on foot amidst the chaos, I worried about my ability to arrive in a timely manner. Would Tracy be safe? Could she protect herself alone? I was determined to get to her.
An explosion shook the sidewalk below my feet and I looked up into the sky. It came from behind the row of buildings behind me and I turned to see a cloud of smoke billowing upward into the sky. It seemed to be where the gas station was. Had that flame truck accidentally lit one of the pumps? I hurried in the opposite direction, looking for some mode of transportation. I heard the familiar crunch of broken glass and looked at the shattered window of a toy store next to me. Inside someone was moving, perhaps several people. The dark shapes advanced rapidly toward me, shuffling awkwardly as they emerged into the light. I stepped back instinctively but saw two old women, homeless by the look of them, carrying armfuls of toys. As their eyes met mine they instantly froze, waiting to see if I would condone their actions amidst the chaotic world. I gave a disapproving frown which they returned, and walked around me with dropping anything. One mumbled something to the other and they both laughed out loud, their humor no doubt directed toward me. I was about to continue when I saw a flash of silver metal in the light. My eyes fell on a razor scooter, probably the floor model as it showed significant wear and tear. I looked left and right, wondering if the joke those ladies told had anything to do with the fact that perhaps we all found ourselves on even ground now. Rapidly I snatched the scooter and pushed myself down the empty sidewalk.
It was getting dark, and I still had miles to go. I felt stupid pushing the thin little scooter along the deserted sidewalk. I felt wobbly and vulnerable, as though any minute I would be ambushed by a pack of those things and would have no way to protect myself. The light was fading as the day drew on, and the narrow streets began to open up. A car was stopped up ahead with its light on, engine running. As I got closer I could see movement inside. Blood splattered on the interior of the windshield and as I focused my eyes I could see something leaning over the driver. It was smaller than a normal human, and wore green overalls. I turned in horror as I realized this could have been a young child or small teenager sitting in the back of its parents car. I immediately steered away from the horrible scene, the image burned into my eyes.
The rest of the intersection was vacant, stoplights flashing a cautionary yellow, and a few wisps of paper wafting in the breeze. I crossed a small bridge and glanced over the edge. A few bodies floated in the water, slowly making their way out to the ocean I suppose. Pushing on, a rounded a corner and saw the shopping mall loom ahead. Hundreds of cars were parked in the various parking structures that surrounded the massive edifice, and I immediately stopped. Remembering the size of the horde I encountered below ground, I looked nervously about. The capacity of this mall was large, and on a weekend evening like this it could have literally been filled with hundreds if hot thousands of people. I slowly made my way along the outskirts, wondering if my little mode of transportation would outrun the monsters I was sure were inside.
Keeping a steady eye on the main entrance, I worked my way around the outside edge of the parking structure nearest me, trying my best to keep in the shadows growing longer every minute. It was beginning to get dark enough that visibility would be a challenge. I thought of the behavior of my previous attackers and wondered if the beasts would have an advantage in the dark. I heard a sniffle to my right and immediately turned, holding up my scooter like a shield. It was an older man, probably in his 70's. His legs were torn to shreds, the last few breaths still hanging on his lips. I approached him cautiously, unaware of what his reaction might be. As my footfalls grew closer he looked in my direction. He smiled and nodded, gesturing me to come closer. I knelt beside him and he grasped my hand and pulled me close to his face. No words escaped his lips but I could see the pleading in his eyes. He looked over to the left and gestured toward the parked cars. Patting me on the shoulder he handed me a set of keys. The leather keychain was wet and warm with his blood and his grip on my shoulder tightened as he fixed his eyes on mine. The same pleading look bore into my soul, as though he desperately wanted me to do something. "What?" I asked in a whisper. "What do you want me to do?" He looked again toward the parking lot and his eyes faded. He was gone.
I stood up, looking at the keys in my hand. One had buttons on it like it controlled the remote locks of a car. I pressed "unlock" and to my surprise saw a flash of light from inside the garage. I approached slowly, unsure of what the light might attract, and pressed it again. The familiar yellow of caution lights illuminated the darkness and I could make out a silver sedan parked in one of the stalls. With excitement I moved quickly but cautiously to the car. Looking in the windows it seemed untouched, and I opened the driver's side door and quickly climbed in. The leather was cold but comfortable, and I gripped the steering wheel tightly. Slipping the keys into the ignition the car hummed to life, instruments lighting up and displaying fuel capacity and the exterior weather conditions. Something stirred in the back seat and I jumped back, nervously realizing I was not alone. "Grandpa?" a small voice called out timidly. "Is that you?" A young boy, no older than 10, pulled a blanket off his head and climbed up from his hiding place behind the passenger seat. His gaze met mine and a look of horror spread quickly across his face. I watched as tears filled his eyes and heard the piercing shriek of his terrified scream.
Chapter 47- Surfacing
I pushed against the door at the top of the ladder and it lurched and creaked against my effort. As I climbed out of the opening I could tell that the world up here was different. I felt a breeze against my face almost immediately, as though the front door of the shop was open. As I carefully peeked around the corner I could see the glass of the front window had been smashed. "Tracy!" I whispered as loudly as I dared. "Tracy, are you there?" There was no reply. Has she become one of those things? I peered through the broken glass out into the street, where a car sat, engine running, and doors open. I grabbed a collapsible shovel from a nearby bucket labeled "Sale!" and gripped it cautiously.
A noise outside prompted me to crouch low behind the register. A man ran past the window, carrying a small child in his arms. His face was covered in dirt and I could see streaks where tears streaked down his face. He looked panicked and frantic, and raced on past the window without looking in. I paused for a moment after he passed, waiting to see if he was being pursued. The street was silent.
The wind was warm and a faint smell of rot wafted by. A hideous sound split the air, a scream combined with a moan. A flash of light splashed across the windows of the building across the street, and a body, engulfed in flames, staggered by, almost running, but with a distinct limp in its gait. Following closely were two men in white Hazmat suits sweeping flamethrowers left and right as though cleaning the streets with the flame. A white truck, a large tank mounted in the back followed closely behind, driving at a slow, steady pace.
Once they passed I stood and searched the room once more, trying to see any sign that would tell me where Tracy might have gone. Unable to see any trace of her, I walked out into empty street, heading the opposite direction of the parade of flame and death.
A noise outside prompted me to crouch low behind the register. A man ran past the window, carrying a small child in his arms. His face was covered in dirt and I could see streaks where tears streaked down his face. He looked panicked and frantic, and raced on past the window without looking in. I paused for a moment after he passed, waiting to see if he was being pursued. The street was silent.
The wind was warm and a faint smell of rot wafted by. A hideous sound split the air, a scream combined with a moan. A flash of light splashed across the windows of the building across the street, and a body, engulfed in flames, staggered by, almost running, but with a distinct limp in its gait. Following closely were two men in white Hazmat suits sweeping flamethrowers left and right as though cleaning the streets with the flame. A white truck, a large tank mounted in the back followed closely behind, driving at a slow, steady pace.
Once they passed I stood and searched the room once more, trying to see any sign that would tell me where Tracy might have gone. Unable to see any trace of her, I walked out into empty street, heading the opposite direction of the parade of flame and death.
Chapter 46- Treed
"We need that key card!" I said desperately as I looked from Shorty over to the brutal attack. Poor Clyde was enveloped in ferocity, his blood splashing on the walls as his assailants tore at what was left of his body. I turn away from the horrid scene and vomit into the alley behind the house. "Get up quick" Shorty says with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "We gotta get that card!" I struggle to my feet, still wobbly from the expulsion of an entire day's worth of food. "Here, grab one of these." He says, pointing to a stack of construction materials. A long stack of rebar lay adjacent to the house, and a few shorter castaway pieces were perfect for hand to hand combat. I hefted it, swinging it side to side, getting used to the weight and movement.
Suddenly one of the monsters in the Hazmat suits walked around the corner. He seemed almost startled to find us, staggering backward for a moment as his thick swollen eyes tried to focus on the blurry scene. The window of his faceplate was cracked and stained with blood. His yellow eyes seem to lock onto me, and he lunged forward, tripping over the pile of rebar. Thinking quickly, Shorty hops onto the first level of the warehouse shelving running behind the houses. Once he pulls himself up he offers me a hand. I pass him my rebar and he holds it as I climb up. I lift my feet just as the beast manages to get to his feet.
The sound of his tumble over the pile of scrap metal must have attracted others, because a second in a hazmat suit quickly appeared below us, followed by the doctor and Whitney,who was chewing on a human arm I can only imagine belonged to Clyde. The access card once clutched in his hand now is gone, and the fingers wobble lifelessly from the severed limb as she tears into it like a piece of chicken, her swollen yellow eyes searching for the source of the noise.
The doctor stumbles along the edge of the house toward us, his hand reaching out to steady him and guide him. Suddenly he stops as though listening. He has the same expression Mr. Lawrence's wore before he bulldozed the shed where my mother and I were hiding. He twitches a bit, and looks up into the air. Recognition seems to dawn as he snarls and walks rapidly to the shelf, reaching toward us. The others follow suit, and soon eight bloodstained hands are reaching, grasping, desperately trying to obtain some part of our clothing or bodies. Their fingernails are cracked and caked with bits of skin and flesh. Backed against the wall, we have no where to go but up.
"We need to tip this thing onto them." I said as I laid down on the shelf. "Here, give me a hand!" We braced our feet against back wall with our shoulders against the hard surface of the shelf. Our heads were just inches away from the grasping hands and I could smell the fresh blood on their fingernails. Another few inches they would have us by the hair. I shrunk my neck into my shoulders, desperately trying to keep them away. We grasped the base the shelf near our feet, pushing with our legs as hard as I could. Straining, I glanced over at Shorty, seeing the veins in his neck swollen with the effort he was exerting. "It's no use," I called out, stopping us both from the act. I spun into a kneeling position and caught my breath. "We need to be higher up." He followed my eyes upward to the shelf above us and nodded, catching his own breath.
Climbing on the outside edge to avoid the grasping hands, we made our way up to the next level. I large crate of MREs sat on a pallet. The box was open and I could see the shiny brown packaging gleaming in the low light. Pulling one out of the box I ripped it open and pulled out its contents. "Salsbury Steak" I said, tossing one to Shorty. He tore it open and hungrily ate the slippery meat patty. I grabbed a water bottle from another pallet and tossed one to him and we both downed them quickly and quietly. The moans and cries below didn't deviate our appetite. Shorty tossed the water bottle down and watched it bounce off the arm of one of the agitated monsters. He looked back at me and smiled, a look of sudden realization crossing his face. We moved behind the box of MREs and pushed them together. The pallet made a grinding sound as it scooted across the shelf and as it's center approached the edge it began to tip. Looking at each other we paused, like naughty school kids about to play a prank. Then with a heave we gave one last push and felt the resistance disappear from our hands as the massive box tipped over the edge. A loud crash followed by screams of terror and pain and we looked over to see at least one of the monsters had been pinned underneath the box. Whitney and doctor appeared unharmed, and looked up at us more furious than before. They began to clamber over the box and find their way onto the shelf above. Our smiles faded from satisfaction to fear as we realized we needed to ascend higher. "Let's tip the whole thing" I said in frustration and anger. Shorty nodded and looked like he was finally in his element.
Hand over hand and step over step we ascended the towering shelf until we reached the top, almost 50 feet above. Shoving boxes of supplies to the ground to clear our way, we watched as the bandaids and drink mix crashed against the concrete floor below. Laying down as below we placed our feet against the wall and grasped the top of the shelf firmly. At this height the shelf moved more freely and it began to rock back and forth with our effort. Leering outward, we suddenly realized the gravity of our situation and began to scramble to get a hold of something as the shelf begin to tip. "We're going down with this thing" I cried. Unable to right myself I felt the sickening dizzy feeling of momentary weightlessness and watched as the roof of the house below us came rapidly closer.
The shelf crashed through the roof of the house and sent us flying into the front yard. Shorty screamed in pain as a fence post tore through his leg. Looking back toward the rubble I watched in horror as Whitney crawled out from underneath shelving and metal beams. She was headed toward us, limping slowly, but with the same ferocity burning in her eyes. Looking back at Shorty I could see his leg was almost gone and he was bleeding out quickly. "Get out of here!" He yelled in pain and frustration. "Get that keycard and get out of here!" I looked back at Whitney, moving toward us slowly but steadily. "I can't leave you like this" I said, knowing that my words were hollow and useless. There was no way to help him, and at the rate he was bleeding he'd be dead in minutes. "You don't have a choice. You can't carry me and she's gonna be here before you could even help me up." He was tying his belt around his thigh as a tourniquet, pulling it tight with his teeth. "Go!" he said with a mouthful of leather.
I looked around for something to buy us more time. There was debris everywhere, but nothing small enough to use as a weapon, and I had lost my makeshift crowbar in the crash. Picking up one of the nearby poles from the broken shelf, I swung it slowly. It was difficult, but if I could land a blow it would do catastrophic damage. Whitney was almost to us, and I took aim as she slowly advanced. Timing it perfectly I swung hard towards her head, but she instinctively dodged and lunged toward me. Cascading onto my back she ripped at me, and I could feel her nails tear the skin above my eye and across my cheek. "This is it" I thought, and in an instant the faces of my mother, father, and Tracy appeared in my mind. My mind raced through my life, all the happy memories and cheerful moments. In those milliseconds I remembered the curve of Tracy's face and felt a well of sadness build inside me. "Goodbye" I said in my heart, knowing that I would never see her again.
Almost as instantly as the attack began it stopped, and I looked over to see Shorty pulling her off of me and scrambling to contain her violently struggling form. "GO!" he yelled as she whipped around and sunk her teeth into the side of his face. He screamed in pain and struggled to my feet. My vision blurred with the damage to my eye I stumbled over the piles of debris and into the now half destroyed house. Desperately looking for the key card I tried to avoid the pile of Clyde that lay strewn across the kitchen floor. In the corner lay the car, splattered with blood and gore and I scooped it up, wiping it off on my pants. I hurried out of the house and say Shorty now motionless, Tracy feasting on him like a starving predator. I slipped past her as quietly as I could and headed toward the other end of the massive room. "Tracy, I must get to Tracy." The thought repeated over and over in my mind and I raced toward the door embedded in the concrete wall.
Suddenly an orange light above the door began flashing and a klaxon sounded again. "Containment breach" an emotionless female voice reverberated through the room. A loud bang followed by a dozen moan drew my attention to the door leading to the cube room. Angry bodies were pouring out the door, covered in blood and hungrily looking for more. I saw the familiar face of my mother and froze for a moment, paralyzed by her appearance. I shook off the terror and forced myself to turn my back on the horde and focus on the keycard. Sliding the key card though the slot I punching in the last words of poor Clyde, 8410, and the light on the panel flashed green. I heard a hiss and the door lock released. Heaving it open I glanced back in time to see the crowd moving toward me. I closed the door quickly and leaned against it in the darkness. "Goodbye Mom." I said, the salty tears stinging the fresh cut on my face. I allowed myself a moment to recover, but felt a thump as hands and bodies crashed against the other side of the door.
Felling my way in the darkness I found the ladder and began to climb. "Tracy!" I called out as I ascended. "Tracy, can you hear me?"
Suddenly one of the monsters in the Hazmat suits walked around the corner. He seemed almost startled to find us, staggering backward for a moment as his thick swollen eyes tried to focus on the blurry scene. The window of his faceplate was cracked and stained with blood. His yellow eyes seem to lock onto me, and he lunged forward, tripping over the pile of rebar. Thinking quickly, Shorty hops onto the first level of the warehouse shelving running behind the houses. Once he pulls himself up he offers me a hand. I pass him my rebar and he holds it as I climb up. I lift my feet just as the beast manages to get to his feet.
The sound of his tumble over the pile of scrap metal must have attracted others, because a second in a hazmat suit quickly appeared below us, followed by the doctor and Whitney,who was chewing on a human arm I can only imagine belonged to Clyde. The access card once clutched in his hand now is gone, and the fingers wobble lifelessly from the severed limb as she tears into it like a piece of chicken, her swollen yellow eyes searching for the source of the noise.
The doctor stumbles along the edge of the house toward us, his hand reaching out to steady him and guide him. Suddenly he stops as though listening. He has the same expression Mr. Lawrence's wore before he bulldozed the shed where my mother and I were hiding. He twitches a bit, and looks up into the air. Recognition seems to dawn as he snarls and walks rapidly to the shelf, reaching toward us. The others follow suit, and soon eight bloodstained hands are reaching, grasping, desperately trying to obtain some part of our clothing or bodies. Their fingernails are cracked and caked with bits of skin and flesh. Backed against the wall, we have no where to go but up.
"We need to tip this thing onto them." I said as I laid down on the shelf. "Here, give me a hand!" We braced our feet against back wall with our shoulders against the hard surface of the shelf. Our heads were just inches away from the grasping hands and I could smell the fresh blood on their fingernails. Another few inches they would have us by the hair. I shrunk my neck into my shoulders, desperately trying to keep them away. We grasped the base the shelf near our feet, pushing with our legs as hard as I could. Straining, I glanced over at Shorty, seeing the veins in his neck swollen with the effort he was exerting. "It's no use," I called out, stopping us both from the act. I spun into a kneeling position and caught my breath. "We need to be higher up." He followed my eyes upward to the shelf above us and nodded, catching his own breath.
Climbing on the outside edge to avoid the grasping hands, we made our way up to the next level. I large crate of MREs sat on a pallet. The box was open and I could see the shiny brown packaging gleaming in the low light. Pulling one out of the box I ripped it open and pulled out its contents. "Salsbury Steak" I said, tossing one to Shorty. He tore it open and hungrily ate the slippery meat patty. I grabbed a water bottle from another pallet and tossed one to him and we both downed them quickly and quietly. The moans and cries below didn't deviate our appetite. Shorty tossed the water bottle down and watched it bounce off the arm of one of the agitated monsters. He looked back at me and smiled, a look of sudden realization crossing his face. We moved behind the box of MREs and pushed them together. The pallet made a grinding sound as it scooted across the shelf and as it's center approached the edge it began to tip. Looking at each other we paused, like naughty school kids about to play a prank. Then with a heave we gave one last push and felt the resistance disappear from our hands as the massive box tipped over the edge. A loud crash followed by screams of terror and pain and we looked over to see at least one of the monsters had been pinned underneath the box. Whitney and doctor appeared unharmed, and looked up at us more furious than before. They began to clamber over the box and find their way onto the shelf above. Our smiles faded from satisfaction to fear as we realized we needed to ascend higher. "Let's tip the whole thing" I said in frustration and anger. Shorty nodded and looked like he was finally in his element.
Hand over hand and step over step we ascended the towering shelf until we reached the top, almost 50 feet above. Shoving boxes of supplies to the ground to clear our way, we watched as the bandaids and drink mix crashed against the concrete floor below. Laying down as below we placed our feet against the wall and grasped the top of the shelf firmly. At this height the shelf moved more freely and it began to rock back and forth with our effort. Leering outward, we suddenly realized the gravity of our situation and began to scramble to get a hold of something as the shelf begin to tip. "We're going down with this thing" I cried. Unable to right myself I felt the sickening dizzy feeling of momentary weightlessness and watched as the roof of the house below us came rapidly closer.
The shelf crashed through the roof of the house and sent us flying into the front yard. Shorty screamed in pain as a fence post tore through his leg. Looking back toward the rubble I watched in horror as Whitney crawled out from underneath shelving and metal beams. She was headed toward us, limping slowly, but with the same ferocity burning in her eyes. Looking back at Shorty I could see his leg was almost gone and he was bleeding out quickly. "Get out of here!" He yelled in pain and frustration. "Get that keycard and get out of here!" I looked back at Whitney, moving toward us slowly but steadily. "I can't leave you like this" I said, knowing that my words were hollow and useless. There was no way to help him, and at the rate he was bleeding he'd be dead in minutes. "You don't have a choice. You can't carry me and she's gonna be here before you could even help me up." He was tying his belt around his thigh as a tourniquet, pulling it tight with his teeth. "Go!" he said with a mouthful of leather.
I looked around for something to buy us more time. There was debris everywhere, but nothing small enough to use as a weapon, and I had lost my makeshift crowbar in the crash. Picking up one of the nearby poles from the broken shelf, I swung it slowly. It was difficult, but if I could land a blow it would do catastrophic damage. Whitney was almost to us, and I took aim as she slowly advanced. Timing it perfectly I swung hard towards her head, but she instinctively dodged and lunged toward me. Cascading onto my back she ripped at me, and I could feel her nails tear the skin above my eye and across my cheek. "This is it" I thought, and in an instant the faces of my mother, father, and Tracy appeared in my mind. My mind raced through my life, all the happy memories and cheerful moments. In those milliseconds I remembered the curve of Tracy's face and felt a well of sadness build inside me. "Goodbye" I said in my heart, knowing that I would never see her again.
Almost as instantly as the attack began it stopped, and I looked over to see Shorty pulling her off of me and scrambling to contain her violently struggling form. "GO!" he yelled as she whipped around and sunk her teeth into the side of his face. He screamed in pain and struggled to my feet. My vision blurred with the damage to my eye I stumbled over the piles of debris and into the now half destroyed house. Desperately looking for the key card I tried to avoid the pile of Clyde that lay strewn across the kitchen floor. In the corner lay the car, splattered with blood and gore and I scooped it up, wiping it off on my pants. I hurried out of the house and say Shorty now motionless, Tracy feasting on him like a starving predator. I slipped past her as quietly as I could and headed toward the other end of the massive room. "Tracy, I must get to Tracy." The thought repeated over and over in my mind and I raced toward the door embedded in the concrete wall.
Suddenly an orange light above the door began flashing and a klaxon sounded again. "Containment breach" an emotionless female voice reverberated through the room. A loud bang followed by a dozen moan drew my attention to the door leading to the cube room. Angry bodies were pouring out the door, covered in blood and hungrily looking for more. I saw the familiar face of my mother and froze for a moment, paralyzed by her appearance. I shook off the terror and forced myself to turn my back on the horde and focus on the keycard. Sliding the key card though the slot I punching in the last words of poor Clyde, 8410, and the light on the panel flashed green. I heard a hiss and the door lock released. Heaving it open I glanced back in time to see the crowd moving toward me. I closed the door quickly and leaned against it in the darkness. "Goodbye Mom." I said, the salty tears stinging the fresh cut on my face. I allowed myself a moment to recover, but felt a thump as hands and bodies crashed against the other side of the door.
Felling my way in the darkness I found the ladder and began to climb. "Tracy!" I called out as I ascended. "Tracy, can you hear me?"
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