Myrna

by Vandam, Vivian

  The undead hearing the shots started to moan in unison.

  When she lowered her gun, it only took a second for her to realize how close she was to getting Ace killed. She wiped at her face getting the blood splatter off and went to his side. "Let’s go. It should be a straight shot from here yeah?"

  She was reckless, careless even. Getting lost in her own emotions when she had someone else to look after. Though her heart wanted to explode from the sudden touch of death, she gave him a quick look. His face was pale, and his gun was aimed at the other dead canine. "Are you okay Mina?" He breathed.

  "I—" She shook her head, "I'm fine. Let’s go."

  Chapter Three

  Ace didn't stop looking at her, they were both quiet. There was a softness in his eyes and tone that made her want to break down all over again. But she held it in, now isn't the time. Her hands were shaking, and the barrel of her gun was still pointing at the dead creature.

  He came up to her, placing his hand on the top of her gun and lowered it. "Tell me the truth Mina. Are you okay?"

  When she looked at him, she could feel the tears sting her eyes, but she bit it back and took a deep breath. "I'm fine." She lied again. His eyes never left her face, and she knew he didn't believe her. He took the gun from her hands and shook his head. "I swear Ace…I'm okay…" She spoke through her voice breaking.

  "You don't have to lie to me." He reached out with his other hand and touched her arm. The weight was comforting and helped her think straight. "This is a difficult time, I know. We're both looking for someone that could be in danger. But you're not alone. I promise Mina, we will get out of this. With your sister and Lyle. I will not leave your side for a second. It's better if we stick together."

  She could feel the shakes start to lessen, "That girl…was the same age as my little sister. I had to kill someone that could've been her. I already had to kill our mother. I don't think—"

  He squeezed her shoulder, "You won't have to kill her Mina. I swear. She will be safe; she will be there."

  Taking a deep breath in she nodded, "Let’s do this." They pushed forward, it was only a few more blocks before they could get to the station. Mina could just feel the first few drops of rain from the storm.

  "Tell me about you Mina." Ace broke the silence, his eyes bouncing around keeping an eye out.

  "Now is not the time—" She started to reply but stopped herself short. Of course, it wasn't the time, but what would it matter if he learned more about her? He was good looking, bulky, and he had a damn good shot. He obviously cared about her well-being...it wouldn't hurt to open up.

  "I was going to go to the Marines after I graduated high school. But my sister was born, and things changed. I had to take care of her. I had just enlisted. I wanted to change my career path. I had made enough money to help me get by…but what good is money if it wasn't going to help anyone else but me? I wanted to get out of here, start fresh…actually do some good in this world." She kept her voice down low, the shopping district was changing, going to old style brick.

  It was then when she could hear the hissing of running water. A fire hydrant had gotten struck by a car, and the very sound brought her back to when she used to take Nadine out to the waterpark. She made Nadine swear she wouldn't tell their parents.

  After the waterpark, she took her out for ice cream. By the time they got home, it was well after dark, and she watched her little sister run around their backyard trying to catch lightening bugs.

  The memory was so sudden it made her pause in her steps and lag behind Ace. He stopped talking and looked over his shoulder. Mina kept staring at the running water covering the small back streets. "My sister, Nadine, loved waterparks. I hated them. She loved ice cream and I couldn't stand it."

  Ace's eyes softened, as he went back to her, his boots splashing in the water. "She seems like a sweet girl."

  That made her smile, "She is. She gave a homeless man her ice cream once. Because he was hungry…" Mina relaxed a little bit, the rolling thunder shook the ground underneath them and the rain had turned from a soft mist to a hard rain.

  She stood there in the center of the road, her shoulders slack. "Ace…" Mina whispered. "My parents are the reason this happened."

  His brows lifted in shock.

  "They did experiments on my sister; they were looking for a youth serum. They thought they had gotten it right…two days later, this happened. My father took off with my sister, and now…now we're here." She kicked at a random can, "It's my fault."

  Ace made a face, "How is it your fault?"

  "I should've stopped them." She replied, the sadness creeping into her tone. "I should've grabbed Nadine and left…" But the words that her mother threatened her with still rang in her head.

  "You ever leave, the Company will hunt you down and bring you back. You can never leave. So, this dream? Dream to become a marine. Throw it away. You'll never be anything but a lab rat."

  She clenched her jaw, the tension rising in her body. "She was a fucking cunt." She spat out. "My mother…I'm glad she's gone." She looked away from the hydrant and pushed forward.

  Ace tried grabbing her wrist, but she took her hand back. "Come on. We're almost there."

  "Mina, I'm sure your mother meant well." Ace broke the silence that fell in between them.

  Anger licked her blood, she turned on him. "How the hell do you know?! They used my little sister against me. They had her to make sure I wouldn't leave this fucked up city!" She breathed hard, running her hands through her rain-soaked hair. "They've done so much fucked up shit to her, I didn't see her for four years of her life!" She tried keeping her voice below a harsh whisper.

  He made another face, "Well…this is your chance to leave."

  She barked a harsh laugh, "I feel like I'm losing my mind!" She went right up to him; she was a short woman that only came up to his chest. She had to look up at him. "I…I feel like all of this is my fault. If I had just left this city with my sister—"

  "I would be dead." Ace's words cut her like a knife. She went quiet. "I wouldn't be standing here right now. I would have killed myself a long time ago. But meeting you, and Lyle is keeping me going. Knowing I have someone to watch my back, is making this a lot easier. I would've been eaten by that dog back there. My throat ripped clean out, and I would've been one of those things. You. Are keeping me going Mina." He took her face into his hands.

  She kept looking up at him, surprised. "What…?"

  "I mean every word I'm saying. Now come on. Let’s go." He nodded to the road behind her. "We have to find your sister and Lyle."

  She was at lost for words but listened to him. She pushed on, she was dead tired and emotionally drained. He went in front of her, keeping his gun up, ready to shoot at anything that wasn't human. Mina kept looking at his back, he was a well-built man, and looked good in a uniform.

  The lightning danced across the sky; the rain came down in large sheets around them. The buildings next to them were dark, and in the center of the road.

  Was a large blockade, made of wrecked cars.

  Ace put his gun away and pulled out his utility flashlight. He panned up. "It's a little high, but we can climb it. Once we get over this, we will be in the police departments front door basically." When he turned to look at her, she could feel the stress crash down around her. "Think you can do it? If you want, I can give you a boost."

  With a deep breath, Mina went up to the cars. It was tall alright…she placed her hand on the metal and it felt cool to the touch. "There's no fire on the other side." She had to shout to be heard over the pouring rain, she pointed up. "Pan over this."

  He did what she said, and she winced. It was taller than she and Ace put together. Whoever put it up, didn't want anyone else coming through. "Maybe this is a good sign." He shouted, "Maybe they're just blocking the streets to keep the dead out."

  She narrowed her eyes and knelt. In the lowest part of the blockade, she saw a single white piece of paper. She reached in
and grabbed it. It was crunched up and nearly impossible to see.

  When she unrolled it under the cover of the car, Ace panned the light down for her to see.

  It was another one of her sisters’ drawings.

  It was the police department, and something…

  Something like—

  "A map?" He breathed out in her ear.

  Ace being that close to her made her body warm, and her heart skip. She tried pushing herself away from him. Though the paper was mostly dry, some of it got wet, and the ink bled through. She could still feel Ace's presence behind her, and it made her body warm.

  Stop thinking like that right now.

  She kept trying to look at how the ink bled, trying to find what her sister was trying to say—

  "Her drawings are getting more erratic Ace…" Worry crept up her spine, her sister normally took her time drawing things.

  He was still calm, "You never know. It might've been because they were in a hurry. Take that with us. We could use it."

  She wanted to believe him, to trust him…she folded up the paper and put it in her back pocket praying it wouldn't get anymore wet then it already was. Ace got down on one knee handing her the flashlight. She took it and put it in the waist of her shorts. He cupped his hands together and she put her foot in it.

  He was stronger than she gave him credit for. He easily lifted her up and helped her to the top. She grabbed the roof of the car and started to pull herself up. When she got up Mina turned around to offer him her hand. Her eyes went wide.

  There were so many of them.

  They were swarming out of buildings and walking to them.

  "Ace…Ace!" She held out her hand, the rain falling around them. He gave a quick look over his shoulder and for the first time since meeting him that night, she saw fear on his face.

  He placed his foot up as high as he could and hoisted himself up, grabbing her hand. He was much heavier than Mina had thought, but she kept her balance, and pulled. One of the undead grabbed his foot, he unholstered his gun, and shot the undead in the face.

  A flap of its flesh came off, and he knocked it back.

  Mina used all her muscles and pulled.

  He grabbed the roof of the car and finished pulling himself up. Mina could feel her heart skipping as she looked at him. His hair was plastered to his face from the rain and his uniform was stuck to his skin. She reached out and touched his face needing to feel him. "Are you alright? It didn't get you, did it?"

  Ace quickly shook his head, "No. No, I'm alright. It just surprised me." He gave her a quick smile. She reached into her waist band and gave him back the flashlight. He took it and looked over the other side. "It's a small drop, but it won't hurt you. Just be careful when you land—"

  "Land and roll. I know." She gave him another smile, "I'll be alright. You go first."

  Ace nodded, easily dropping down. She heard the thud and roll. She watched his flashlight pan around the area. "It's clear Mina. Go ahead."

  She sat down and let her legs dangle. It was a much further drop then she had thought. She could feel her nerves start acting up, but she bit her bottom lip and tried to breathe through it. She saw ace reach up with his arms. "C'mon, I got you."

  She let in a shaky breath and allowed herself to drop.

  He got her alright.

  He caught her in his arms, and he fell back on the road. She felt his arms wrap around her and hold her. She could feel his body heat radiate off him and warm up her cool skin. Mina let herself be held, enjoying the feel of him.

  "You're okay, I have you…" His hot breath tickled her ear.

  Mina didn't want to let go of him, this momentary comfort brought everything to light for her. His hands trailed up her back and raking through her hair. She lifted herself up and looked down into his eyes. If they were in any other place, any other time, she would lay there and let him hold her.

  Now isn't that time. Even as she tried pushing herself off him, he still held her tightly. Mina could feel his body heat radiate and her cold skin was grateful for it.

  It took her a moment, but she got up, and offered him her hand. He took it. "Thanks for catching me. I'm heavier than I look, eh?" She joked.

  Ace only chuckled before taking the lead again. She could've sworn she saw the slightest of smiles appear on his lips.

  The streetlights were off, and it was calmer than death. All they heard was the rain falling around them, the rolling thunder and harsh winds whipping in between the buildings.

  Right in front of them was the police department. All the lights were on shining like a bright beacon. "We made it…" Mina breathed.

  "Yeah, we did, but why aren't there other cops patrolling around the area? Making sure everything is safe?" The worry creased his brow again, and that made Mina feel it deep in her stomach.

  She wanted to reach out and take his hand for comfort, to feel that warmth. Instead, she willed herself to keep going. Her body was aching, and she was tired. She longed for a hot shower and a nice hot meal. But I'll settle for what I have in my pack.

  They approached the building side by side, listening intensely to the area around them.

  Chapter Four

  They entered through the front gate, closing it behind them. The sound of metal screeching made them both freeze. They glanced at one another. But when nothing came after them, they finally relaxed. Mina could feel her fatigue deep into her bones. It wouldn't be long before she collapsed. She had been up for more than twenty-four hours at this point.

  She lowered her head and breathed hard, Ace placed his hand on her lower back, and she looked up.

  The courtyard was filled with corpses.

  Corpses of fellow cops and officers.

  Ace stood still looking at each face.

  So many of them were killed by having their guts unzipped right there. They died with their faces frozen in a scream. Mina could feel his pain and she touched his arm. "Ace…" She kept her voice low.

  "They were my brothers and sisters…" The pain etched in his voice made her ache for him.

  They had come such a long way…they couldn't give up now. "Come on. Let’s get inside."

  He kept trying to look at each face as they walked up the marble stairs. "I don't see the captain. Maybe he's still alive."

  "Yes! You never know, let’s go inside!" She pushed, wanting to keep him hopeful. But she could see the faith and hope in his eyes start to die. She gently led him to the door.

  It was unlocked and opened with ease.

  Uneasiness crept up her spine, That’s not good…

  The warmth came out as they entered, soaked to the bone from the storm. And already Mina knew the police department wasn't safe. It was too quiet with no one giving orders. And that smell. The air was thick with it.

  Blood.

  Ace pulled the wooden bar down and made sure the door was secure. The door to their left was barred shut with a large X over it. Streaks of blood trailed from the lower half, near the reception area.

  The police department was painted a deep brown, with pops of color throughout the whole area. Whether it be blue, or red. But the whole inside of the area was filled with disarray, and trash. Splotches of dried blood were splattered throughout the first floor.

  Mina could feel herself ready to faint. She took the few steps forward and finally sat down on the wooden steps that led down to the reception area. The whole place was a wreck. "Ace…" She lowered her head, feeling defeat run through her.

  "Like you told me doll face, we can't give up. We have to search the station. We need more ammo, and we have to fix your bandage. We have to be careful." He came to her side and sat down next to her. "Let me see your arm."

  She handed it to him, Mina didn't even notice that she had bled through her bandage. He had light fingers and the feeling of him touching her brought such a comfort to her, that she was swaying, ready to fall asleep. As he started to untie the saturated bandage. When he unrolled it, his eyebrows went up and his eye
s took on a shine of surprise. "Uh…Mina?"

  She groaned, already wanting to go to sleep. "What?"

  "Look at this." He still held her arm, and the feeling of someone else touching her—

  She looked.

  There was a scar where she had been bitten at, and only the deepest parts had scabs. The stitches had popped out. Everything around her pulsated, and she could feel panic settle deep inside her stomach. "What…" Mina was dumbfounded. It hadn't been that long since her mother—

  "What is this, Mina? I thought you said you had gotten—"

  She jumped in, looking in his eyes, "I did Ace! I swear my mother bit me. I—"

  A bullet whizzed passed them, hitting the wall behind them. Ace tackled her to the ground, keeping her head down. He had his gun aimed up, "Show yourself right now!" He shouted.

  Footsteps walked around the receptionist desk, an older man with shaggy blonde hair appeared, his uniform splattered with blood. His eyes were bouncing, and his jaw was set. Ace seemed to relax just a bit, "Captain? It's me, Ace." He kept her head covered; she could hear his running heart beating like crazy.

  "Ace?! What are you doing here? Didn't you hear the broadcast? This place is a dead zone. We…" His voice carried over, and Mina immediately tensed up. "What is she doing here?" He came around the rest of the way, his aim moving from Ace to Mina.

  "She's a survivor, she's looking for her—"

  The captain raised his voice, ignoring Ace's words. "Get her out of here! Throw her out! It's her fault all of this is happening! If it wasn't for her fucking parent's and their god damn company, our city wouldn't have turned to hell!" He cocked his gun, and Mina tightened in Ace's arms.

  Ace acted quick not giving her a chance to look at the captain, pushed her behind him, they were still on the ground, and Ace kept his gun aimed at the captain. "Sir, she's an innocent bystander. She didn't know none of this was happening—"

  "Bull shit! She's one of them, didn’t she tell you? Tell you anything about her, and her family? The fucking Locklear’s…" He came forward, and Mina saw the craze in his eyes. "If her parents hadn’t moved here. Hadn't messed with life, or got hired by our hospital—"