Die Dead Enough

by Kenney, William

  "Didn't look that easy when you did it, brother," Aiden said as he began to pull himself higher. "Don't let me drop. Not looking forward to having my bones gnawed upon."

  "Not gonna happen," Conor said, once again noticing the bag over his shoulder. He pulled it off and tested its strength with his hands, pulling hard on the straps. It was made well. He dumped out the contents. "We're gonna use this bag. You jump and grab it, I'll pull you up."

  "Dude, that bag's not gonna hold," Aiden said.

  "Just make it to the ledge, then grab the straps to pull yourself up."

  Loud thuds boomed from the floor below as Conor held the canvas bag so that one of the straps hung along the ledge.

  "Go, Aiden. There's no more time," he said as he braced himself against the elevator door, back pressed hard against it. "You got this."

  "Shit. Here I come," Aiden said and jumped away from the cable. In seconds he collided with the side of the shaft, his chest smashing against the lip of the ledge, knocking the air from his lungs. His fingernails dug into the carpeting as he began to lose his hold.

  "Grab the strap!" Conor said, reaching out to grab his brother's forearm. Aiden wrapped one arm in the strap and pulled as Conor jerked it hard toward himself, muscles in his back tightening with the exertion.

  "I got ya," Conor grunted as he heaved against Aiden's weight. In not time, Aiden had pulled himself up over the edge and collapsed onto the floor, breathing in hoarse gasps as Conor kept watch on both ends of the corridor, clutching his hammer.

  "Daddy!" they could hear from below, the voice that of Trish. Then the thunderous sound of scores of feet in pursuit.

  "Can't believe they're still alive," Aiden said, moving to a sitting position.

  "I don't hear Mina, though..." Conor responded.

  They both looked away at the horrible thought.

  "We have to get the hell out of here," said Aiden as he stood and pulled the screwdriver from his back pocket.

  "And we have to go through whatever's down there," Conor said, pointing at the floor.

  "Yep. Which way's it gonna be?" asked Aiden.

  "Your guess is as good as mine. Only a few floors between us and the garage. North stairwell or south?"

  "Uh... south," Aiden said, with a shrug.

  "Okay. South, it is."

  They moved down the hall, following turns, passing the decimated office spaces and bright white bones. Conor had gathered the food again and filled the bag, wincing as the cans inside knocked against one another.

  The hall opened into large office area with a few dozen cubicles, some of which were now smashed into pieces. Computer monitors lay shattered on the ground, chairs upended, file cabinets dented and standing askew. The brothers picked their way through the wreckage, placing their feet carefully between the piles of rubble and human remains. Just ahead they could see the doorway that led to the stairwell.

  They increased their pace, longing to be rid of this place once and for all. Another ear-piercing shriek came from below. Trish was still alive.

  For a moment, Conor thought about saving the girl, but selfishly pushed the idea aside. Aiden was right. Time to think about themselves, time to get someplace safe.

  Aiden reached the door first, taking a quick glance through the window, his knuckles white as he gripped the screwdriver. He nodded to Conor and pulled the door open, stepping inside. As before, the walls and steps were stained with blood, two skulls resting face down on the stairs that led up to floor number four.

  As they began their trip down, a door beneath them swung open, followed by Trish's scream as she raced up toward the brothers. Conor and Aiden froze where they were, preparing to flee.

  "No! Daddy!" she called out, charging blindly up the steps. When she looked up and noticed the brothers, she screamed in fear and surprise. She ran into Aiden's arms, clutching him, her body shaking uncontrollably.

  "We have to hide!" she said, trying to pull them away. Below they could hear footsteps coming up toward them. Conor hazarded a glance over the railing and saw a lone zombie making its way up the stairwell. Its ball cap sat crooked upon its head and it began to moan deeply in its throat as it reached the last flight between itself and its prey.

  Conor held up one finger, indicating to Aiden that only one was coming. He hefted the hammer in his other hand and knelt on the steps, watching through the railing as the creature made its way up. The thing's head was hung, chin to its chest, its clothing stained red.

  Aiden stepped back through the door and into the office area, motioning for Trish to remain silent and to wait as he returned to the stairwell to offer his brother assistance.

  Three more steps and the zombie raised its head, red-rimmed eyes staring blankly ahead of it as its dead legs continued pushing it forward.

  Conor pulled back in shock. It was Vernon.

  He hesitated, looking to Aiden in confusion. Aiden stepped closer, wrenched the hammer from Conor's hand and leaned out over the rail as Vernon stepped up within range. Aiden brought the clawed end down hard as Vernon looked up, taking it deep in the forehead. The hammer held fast as Aiden tried to pull it free, the zombie reaching out and climbing toward him. Aiden leaned back, pulling Vernon up against the rail, the monster's arms reaching through, trying to grasp at Aiden's legs.

  Conor started throwing kicks at the zombie, knocking its hands away, but eventually it grabbed Aiden's jeans and began to pull him down. Its grip was amazingly strong and - try as he might - Conor could not loosen it. He stomped down on Vernon's forearms with everything he had. The bones cracked, but the creature would not let go.

  "Get the screwdriver!" Aiden said. "It's in my back pocket!"

  Conor pulled it free, but in the insanity dropped it down the steps where it settled near Vernon's feet.

  "Fuck, I dropped it!" he said, kicking at Vernon as his claws began to tear at Aiden's pants.

  "Aaah! Shit!" Aiden said, as Vernon tore into the flesh of his shin. He pulled hard on the hammer, smashing Vernon's face against the metal rail, splitting top of the man's head down the middle. "Fuck you, Vernon!"

  Then Trish was racing past the brothers. She flew down the steps, kneeled at her father's feet and grabbed the screwdriver. Standing on her tiptoes, she drove the tip of it into her father's right eye, looking away as the fluid emerged and ran down his cheek. She was crying hysterically as she did the same to Vernon's other eye.

  Suddenly Aiden's hammer slipped from Vernon's skull and the zombie stumbled backward, releasing its grip on his leg. Vernon's flailing arms narrowly missed pulling Trish down the stairwell, instead tearing a clump of her hair out as he fell.

  "We gotta go now," Aiden said, rushing past Conor and down the steps, dripping hammer still in his fist. Together the three made it to the landing where Vernon rolled around like a dog hit by a truck. Arms and legs slapped up against the walls as he screamed, chomping at the air. They carefully ran past the blinded zombie and took the steps two at a time.

  They could hear the horde behind the door for floor number two and they quickened their pace, nearly tumbling down the last two flights to reach the main level.

  Bursting out into the reception area, they took a quick glance down the hall and sprinted through the lobby and into the parking garage. At once a steady, thumping sound filled the air and they looked to one another with uncertainty. It grew louder and louder, the source of the sound closer.

  "That's a helicopter," Conor said just before a deafening crash shook the entire structure, loose chunks of concrete falling to the ground. In the distance they could see the silhouettes of dozens of zombies charging from between the parked vehicles toward the wreckage outside.

  "Conor! Aiden!" someone called out. They turned toward the voice, seeing Klaus leaning out of a white van, waving his arm. The trio ran quickly and dove inside the sliding door, pulling it closed behind them.

  "You're okay. Just keep quiet," Klaus whispered, putting a finger to his lips. Bobo was crouched in the front se
at, doing his best to hotwire the van.

  Conor slapped Klaus on the back with relief.

  "Whatever crashed out there has their attention for the time being. Let's hope that's a big enough distraction to let us get the hell out of here," Klaus said, taking a glance out the window.

  "All right, ya'll. Should be good to go," Bobo said, touching some wires together. The engine stuttered and then started, Bobo pressing the accelerator pedal lightly a few times. He shuffled over to the driver's seat and put the van in gear. "Lock everything up and hold on."

  He put the van in reverse and backed out of the parking spot, glancing around to see if they were attracting attention. He pulled out and down the aisle toward the exit. They could see the massive plumes of black smoke drifting down the street outside and groups of the undead moving quickly from right to left to investigate.

  "Punch it, Bo," Conor said from the backseat.

  The tires squealed as Bobo tore out of the parking garage and swung out onto the street, picking up speed and turning the heads of the monsters that had assembled there. He weaved the van in and out of stalled and burned-out vehicles, knocking several zombies aside as he accelerated.

  He made a right, looming office buildings at either side and immediately slammed on the brakes. Ahead were thousands of zombies moving toward them down the street, shoulder-to-shoulder, hunger in their faces.

  "Damn..." Bobo cursed and slapped the gearshift into reverse. Tires howled again as he pulled away, wrenching the steering wheel sharply to the right, back tires jumping up on the sidewalk. He stomped on the gas, leaving the throng behind and searching out a new escape route. "Gotta be a way outta this nightmare!"

  "Just relax, Bo," Klaus said, gripping the dash as the van lurched from side to side. "Just don't drive into a dead-end. We'll make it out."

  The low thuds of zombies striking the van sounded out as they headed down the street once more. It seemed that every side street was sealed off with mangled cars and the rubble of destroyed buildings. They passed several more blocks, noticing a dark column of smoke just ahead and zombies moving down the sidewalks toward it.

  In moments they arrived on the scene, a massive fire burning out of control along the fronts of three buildings and a huge tractor trailer jutting out from the front windows of the nearest. Just as they slowed to take it all in, the truck exploded violently, rocking the van nearly over on its side, chunks of concrete raining down on its roof as it righted itself.

  The explosion had blown a path through the stalled vehicles and Bobo smashed down the accelerator and raced through it, orange flames licking at the side of the van as they passed.

  To their right, a group of people ran at full speed, maddened zombies on their heels.

  "Don't you fucking stop," Trish said from the back. Everyone looked at her in shock with Bobo nodding vigorously in agreement.

  "Don't fuckin' plan to, shorty," he said and ignored the coming massacre now behind them. The unbridled destruction of the city became quickly evident as they pulled away and neared the entrance ramp to the highway. The undead were everywhere, Bobo having to avoid them, swerving left then right. From somewhere they heard sirens and horns as if a squad of police cars were on the move.

  "Just get away from downtown as fast as possible," Aiden said and Bobo nodded.

  "Looks like the way ahead is pretty clear," he said, adjusting the rearview mirror as he pulled on to highway 70.

  At long last, the survivors were able to relax somewhat, sinking back in their seats, able now to finally close their eyes and rest.

  "What you got there, Conor?" Klaus asked as he looked back, pointing to the canvas bag still slung over Conor's shoulder.

  "Oh, shit. Food and drink, guys!" Conor answered and began removing various edibles and passing them out.

  "Hell, yeah!" Bobo said. "Toss something up here, yo. Belly's rumblin'"

  There was enough for each of them to have a solid meal and a soda, each thanking Conor repeatedly for supplying it.

  Bobo now had the van up to about 60mph, the ride now relatively smooth as they frequency of abandoned vehicles and zombies thinned out.

  "Where we headin'?" Bobo asked, glancing back at the others.

  "We both live in St. Charles," Aiden said. "I'd like to get home, see what's left, if anything. My girlfriend..."

  "Understood," Bobo said. "You let me know which way when we get closer."

  "You got it."

  Aiden looked over at Trish, who sat with her knees pulled up, staring down at the seat. She seemed so full of grief.

  "You gonna be all right?" he asked her.

  She did not reply.

  "Trish? You okay?"

  "Not really, no..." she said. "I mean, is this shit real? Is all this really happening?"

  "I wish it weren't," said Aiden. "Trish, what happened to Mina?" Aiden asked, dreading the answer.

  Trish shook her head in grief, tears rolling down her face to drip on the leather upholstery.

  "I watched him eat her..."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "Oh, my God..." Klaus said and everyone followed his gaze out the window. On their right, they could see the airport, partially obscured by a thick and grey haze. Out on the runway sat a long Southwest jet absolutely surrounded by an army of zombies. Passengers struggled to remove the blow-up slide as the undead clumsily attempted to climb. It looked as if the plane had landed with the pilots unaware of the danger that had taken over the ground below.

  Apparently the crew had opened the doors when they had found all gates occupied, the passengers ordered to disembark, when they were attacked. They had most likely lost radio communication and had put the jet down only to see the mass of monsters come forward, blocking all access to the terminal building.

  Those in the van could hear the faint retort of gunfire, possibly the air marshal doing his best to defend the plane. It would prove futile.

  So great were their numbers that the zombies began to spin the plane by the sheer weight of their bodies. As the building moved between the van and the plane, for a moment they could see into the cockpit, see the expressions of sheer terror on the faces of the pilots. Then, thankfully, the scene was hidden from their view.

  "Holy shit..." Conor said, shaking his head. "These things are everywhere. The videos online, all true. That means this shit is worldwide."

  "What do they want?" Trish asked, now wrapped in a blue jacket she had found in the back of the van.

  "The zombies?" Aiden asked.

  "Yeah. Why are they doing this?"

  "Their minds are gone. They seem like animals, just driven to kill..." said Aiden.

  "Not only kill," Trish added, involuntarily twisting her long hair in her fingers. "Driven to eat us. Eat everyone."

  Aiden nodded.

  "Seems so," he said.

  "My Dad couldn't fight off one of those things and he was a pretty tough guy. How do we stay alive with hundreds of thousands of them out there? We're dead. Just a matter of time..."

  "You givin' up, shorty?" Bobo called back. "You shoulda given me yo sandwich, then. Why we wastin' food on a dead girl?"

  She was silent for some time, arms crossed over her chest and biting her lip.

  "I'm not giving up," she eventually said. "But be realistic. These things are hard to kill. Seems inevitable that they'll catch us or trap us somewhere..."

  "You want to live, Trish. You've proven that," Conor interjected. "You saved Aiden and I. You fought when you could've have easily surrendered."

  She looked away, staring out the window at the warzone that flew by.

  "St. Charles - ten miles, ya'll," Bobo said, pointing at the road sign as they passed it. The highway dipped down into a valley, an industrial area called Earth City, seeming mostly deserted by the living and the undead.

  Ahead, on the shoulder of the road, could be seen a school bus, leaning to one side, a tire gone flat. As Bobo drove past, some thirty or so children could be seen within, the driver standing
and addressing them. Klaus could see the bus door open and the driver, a thin, middle-aged woman, step out to inspect the tire.

  Then, across the field, a large group of zombies emerged from the shadow of the buildings, making their way toward the bus.

  "Fuck. Bobo, stop," Klaus said, his forehead against the window as he watched the coming massacre unfold.

  "Wha-? Hell, nah!" Bobo replied.

  "They don't know what's coming, man. They're all gonna die if we don't warn them. Stop the van!" yelled Klaus.

  Bobo glanced behind at Conor and Aiden.

  "It's a bunch of kids, Bo. We gotta stop. We gotta help them," Conor explained.

  "This is bullshit. Those dead muthafuckahs get too close, I'm scootin'" Bobo said and let the van drift over to the shoulder of the road. He put it in reverse and began to back toward the bus, the driver looking up and waving in gratitude.

  "Too many of them," Trish said. "How are we gonna save them all? They can't all fit in here."

  They reached the bus and Klaus threw the door open, jumping out and rushing toward the woman as she struggled with the tire tool, the growing shadow of the horde drawing closer to the north.

  "Lady, get back in the bus!" Klaus shouted.

  She looked at him, puzzled.

  "Changing the tire, buddy. What are you talking about?" she asked.

  "Just stop!" Klaus said and pointed across the field. "In no time you'll have to deal with that! They'll be here in no time! Get back in the bus, like I said!"

  "But the tire. What... what is that anyway?"

  "Zombies. Yes, they're real. Those things are coming to kill you and the kids. Listen to me, please. Get in the bus and drive away on the flat. I know it's hard to believe, but this is just like the movies."

  "Wha... you're joking-"

  "I'd say you've got about sixty seconds to decide. If you're not driving, I will. I'm not gonna let all these kids die-"

  "You're not joking, are you? You're dead serious," she said, her face growing intense.

  Klaus nodded.

  "Go. Now," he said as she backed up the steps and hopped into the driver's seat.