by West, J. D.
“That is some nasty shit!” he cried.
Gas from internal decomposition distended the abdomen of the deathly pale beast next to him. Blair starred in fear as she stepped behind us. Their pace increased as they made exaggerated jerking motions and violent twists.
“Try and get as many of them as you can before they get to us!” I screamed.
I took a deep breath and aimed my gun. He grunted like an animal and then lunged at me. “GRRRRRRR!”
“That’s it just a little closer.” I whispered. “BANG! BANG!”
The bullet from my Glock hit the old forsaken center mass on his upper body. The force from the slug caused his body to teeter backwards. Seconds later he regained his balance and continued forward feeling no pain. My second shot hit him in the middle of his forehead like a baseball bat. It skirted around in his skull before exiting behind his ear. The dead weight caused his body to go limp. The force sent his body flailing backwards into a glass office door.
“CRASH!”
The glass shattered and sent a large shard falling down. It severed his head clean off his neck. A waterfall of blood splatter dripped down the rest of the door.
“Well you don't see that every day.” said Carlos with a grin.
“Pat me on my back later.” I responded. “We got more company!”
“GROOOWWWL! GROOOWWWL! GROOOWWWL!”
Several figures in tattered clothing moved toward us with a slow paced methodical shamble.
“Guys their getting closer!” yelled Blair. “Maybe we should go?”
A reanimated gang banger lunged towards Blair but missed. Carlos smashed his elbow directly into the beasts jaw before driving his knee into its chest. As he switched his attention to Carlos its sagging pants began to fall down.
“GRRRRRRRR!”
When they got close to his ankles Blair stepped on them causing the homeboy to fall flat on his face. Before he could get up Carlos double tapped him in the back of the head execution stile. The noise brought us the full attention of the others. Besides bites several of them were covered in dark purple and blue blotches. These bruise were formed after their hearts stopped and their blood began to settle. Carlos and I shot the rest of them at close range standing side by side. It felt like time had slowed down.
“BANG! BANG! BANG!”
It wasn’t easy either with the way they bobbed, weaved and crept forward. They reached and grabbed at us aggressively with their hands trying to tear us apart. We discharged off multiple rounds but they would not stop.
“BANG! BANG! BANG!”
It was an orgy of blood and bullets. Their heads popped open like fresh watermelons sending clouds of red pulp into the air. For everyone we put down another one stammered into its place.
“GRRRRRR! GRRRRRR! GRRRRRR!”
All of them slobbering, drooling and hungrily clenching their teeth. “BANG! BANG!”
“I am almost out!” shouted Carlos. “BANG! BANG!”
“Keep shooting man!” I yelled. “Kill them all!”
The monsters opened and closed their mouths causing their teeth to chatter. A mixture of mucus and saliva ran down their chins. The very sight of the decaying mass was unnerving. They were closing in and we had nowhere to run. “GROOOWWWL! GROOOWWWL! GROOOWWWL!”
“We are running out of hallway hommie!” said Carlos.
“What are we going to do?” asked Blair.
“Just take your time and aim. The last thing you want to do is shoot off all your bullets trying to kill one of these things!” I told him.
Then we had a stroke of good luck. Out of nowhere Maria opened the door to x-ray.
“Kevin! Kevin come this way!” she yelled.
Lucky for us Maria had reopened the door after hearing the sound of gunfire and shells hitting the floor. She quickly motioned for us to get inside. Carlos and Blair ran for the door while I took aim directly at them and popped off a few more shots.
“BANG! BANG! BANG!”
I blurted out a never ending barrage of curse words to keep our attackers focus on me. Their rotting bodies fell to the ground twisted in strange positions. Several of my rounds kept going and struck the wall behind them sending portions of skull and plaster flying. “GRRRRRRR!”
I shoved my gun so far into one of their faces that it pierced its flesh and was touching bone.
“I am not dying today! But you are!” I said while shooting a female creature between the eyes.
Her bloody shirt was torn open exposing her bite mark covered neck.
“Kevin we have to go!” pleaded Maria.
She yelled for me to come before disappearing back inside. I emptied my clip sending a hail of bullets into the crowd.
“BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!”
As I turned to sprint for the door one of them grabbed the back of my shirt. The creature tugged hard and stopped me in my tracks. I spun around and hit him in the face with the empty gun causing him to let go. As he tried to approach me again I kicked him in his chest knocking him to the ground. While he was prone face down on his stomach I stomped on the back of its head. My boot punched a permanent crater in the monsters skull. The force fractured his nose crushing fragments into his sinus cavity and brain chamber. I used the opportunity to take off running. Some of the others tried to come after me but they slipped in all the freshly spilled blood coating the heavily waxed floor. It slowed them down but most of the forsaken continued to stumble forward.
“GROOOWWWL!”
They clamored over one another bodies trying to get a mouthful of flesh. The metal door slammed tight behind me as I ducked inside. The first set of undead reached the doors several moments later.
“BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!”
The dead things thrust their fists into the door over and over again. They pounded and scratched against it like caged animals. The mob of carnivores relentlessly plowed into the door but it held.
CHAPTER 16:
Burial Chamber
We took refuge inside the x-ray room where other survivors were hold up. A quick glance around suggested that at least a dozen of us had escaped. Now there was only one door separating us from the growing numbers of the flesh-eating mob. Several small lights hooked to the emergency generators illuminated the room. Scans of an unknown patients head and chest still hung on the light table. This was once one of the oldest x-ray departments in the valley. The equipment was more than twenty years old and broke down all the time. The entire department got upgraded by funds from a private grant. The new x-ray machine could detect broken bones as well as kidney stones and other conditions. It was even capable of filming patients standing up or lying down. No matter where you were in the room the only view was a wall or X-rays fancy new toy. The tile was new and the paint was fresh but there was nowhere to run. The windowless room was dimly lit like a tomb. Without all the lights on we were just like primitive man. We feared the predators that lurked just out of sight because now it was too dark to see them coming.
The first thing I saw was Maria’s concerned face. We both had made it through that first long hot night of terror only to wake up to an even crazier day. The overwhelming smell of sweat and hours of living without air conditioning filled room. My adrenaline was pumping and I gasped hard trying to suck in air. No one was talking but I could hear heavy breathing and faint crying. These people fought hand to hand and suffered a lot of casualties. Many of them were on edge mentally and worn out physically. They were full of fear and on the verge of panic. For the second time in a few hours they saw their friends and loved ones slaughtered. Most of them stood by helplessly out numbered. It was a gruesome scene of life and death. Maria hugged me tight, closed her eyes, and pressed her head into my chest. I locked my arms around her and pulled her body clos
e.
“Where were you?” I asked. “I looked everywhere. I started to think I lost you!”
“It's OK where together now!” she whispered into my ear. “I know you'll get us out of this.”
The rest of the people in the room huddled together in small groups. They sat on the floor and leaned against the wall. Others anxiously paced back and forth still shaking from their ordeal. One woman just squatted down crying into her hands. A male staff member in the corner curled up in a ball and started doing the same thing. Carlos pressed his ear against the cold metal door and listened. The pounding had stopped but he could still hear something moving around on the other side. Blair was standing behind him. In the low light I could see her shaking in fear. She had one hand on his waist and one on her belly.
All of the carnage had made her sick. She threw up in the trashcan next to the door.
“Is everything OK?” she asked wiping her mouth.
He turned around to answer her but never got a chance.
“BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!”
The pounding started again. It caused both of them to jump back away from the door. The noise grew louder and a chorus of grunts and moans followed.
“GROOOWWWL!”
“How long do you think this door will keep them out?” asked a nursed named Joan. “Hopefully were not the only ones who found a safe place to hide!”
“Not long enough!” responded Joe. “Let’s hope it’s stronger than it looks. It wasn’t meant to take this type of punishment!”
“BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!”
People began to sob pray and call out to God.
“Try to keep your voices down!” I whispered out. “It’ll be OK!”
Pastor Harrell did not say anything but he was feeling convicted about taking another life. He had to bash in the head of a young forsaken boy with a computer monitor. He was trying to kill an old woman and the pastor came to her rescue. He promised God he would live by his commandments including thou shall not kill. His strict upbringing caused his faith to be unwavering but having to take a life shook his foundation.
“Those things on the other side of the door use to be our friends and family!” said the Pastor.
“We must honor them by keeping our covenant of faith with God! He is the way, the truth, and the light!”
“BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!”
They continued to knock but didn’t get a response from us.
“God created a lot of things but he did not make those crazy people!” said Randy. “I think its aliens or a government conspiracy!”
“That is a bunch of crazy talk!” said Carlos. “Those things we killed were not aliens. They were human!”
“We can’t look at them as humans.” said Kahleem. “No matter what God you worship! They must be destroyed! Trust me it’s not something I like to think about but we have to protect ourselves!”
The world was a different place now. It was kill or be killed! We could debate whether it was right or wrong later. Now was not the time to get emotional. After two hours the room had become a furnace. With that many people trapped inside the heat was becoming a serious problem. We did our best to fan ourselves to stay cool.
“Hhhhmmmm! Hhhhmmmm!”
I looked over to see where the humming was coming from. An old man was standing up wiping the sweat of his forehead.
“Sir you’re sweating more than a prostitute sitting in church!” said Joe.
The man’s thirst was overpowering and he was close to becoming dehydrated.
“Ooooh Jesus!” he cried out.
Suddenly he clutched his chest with his hand. His eyes closed and his head slumped forward as he collapsed over and hit the floor hard. The impact left him motionless. Everyone was startled. A couple of people tried to help him. Their instincts and medical training kicked in. They could see a 2 inch cut and massive bruising on his forehead. It was superficial but bleeding bad enough to slowly stain his shirt. Joe the tech grabbed a sheet off the table and pressed it against the wound. Maria let me go and went to help. The old man Mr. Schrieffer was trying hard to show that he wasn’t scared but you could see it in his eyes.
“Sir are you alright?” she asked. “Are you OK? Don't worry! I'm going to take care of you!”
She grabbed a portable oxygen tank and put a mask on him.
“I’ve had chest pains since I woke up this morning!” Mr. Schrieffer said pressing his hand gingerly over his heart. “I just got too excited after everything that’s going on.”
“Don’t worry sir just relax!” she told him.
“It's so dark in here!” he said while panting heavily.
Suddenly he had a strange rattling in his throat. His mouth was wide open and his breathing was labored.
“I have to find my wife!” he mumbled. “Where is she?”
One minute he was talking to Maria as she was trying to get a pulse with her finger and then he just stopped breathing. This was bad because the x-ray department did not have a portable defibrillator.
“Check him good! He probably got bit by one of those things!” Kahleem cautiously cried out.
“He is not bitten idiot! He is having a heart attack!” Dr. Green said sarcastically.
He stood over top of the helpless man smoking a cigarette but did not try to help.
“Dr. Green I think that is highly inappropriate and unnecessary!” Dr. Okonkwo declared as he took his shoe off his swollen foot. “That man is still our patient!”
“You’re all just a bunch of fucking bleeding hearts!” he mumbled. “I got into medicine to make money not to be the next Pope.
Doctor Green had been accused of being biased towards the poor and women in the past but this was a new low even for him. Maria, Joan and George the young paramedic tried to give the old man CPR. They took turns pumping his chest and breathing for him until his heart started beating again. Joe checked the room for supplies in the cabinets and drawers.
“If you are not going to help them at least put that cigarette out!” Joan yelled. “This man almost died! He has a deep laceration and his heart condition is severe!”
Dr. Green shook his head from side to side while sporting a devilish grin.
“In case you did not see all those people getting eaten alive I am off the clock!” Dr. Green smugly replied while blowing a smoke ring. “Besides I don’t save lives for free and from the look of grandpa's cheap watch he doesn’t look like he has any cash on him!”
His breath reeked of alcohol and he was on edge from the cocktail of drugs he had mixed for himself to deal with his trembling hands and raging hangover.
“Why is his financial status relevant?” asked George. “How can you live with yourself?”
“I would love to live with myself! I date girls half my age and drive a Bentley.” Dr. Green shot back while dropping the lit cigarette next to the sick man. “If that’s not good enough I also stay in a six bedroom house in Scottsdale. So money always matters!”
“You are such an asshole!” Joan said while putting the cigarette out with her foot. “If this man dies I am going to drag you before the board of trusties for negligence!”
“Let me guess next you’re going to tell me smoking is only permitted in certain areas of the hospital.” He said with a smile. “You just go ahead bitch! I keep my lawyer on speed dial! Besides we’ll probably all end up rotting to death in this forgotten room!”
“Heartless people like you disgust me!” said Joan “Somewhere somebody has figured this thing out we just need to remain calm and look out for each other!”
“That’s funny you seemed a little bit more friendly after last year's Christmas party!” replied Dr. Green. “As I remember we got friendly all night long!”
She got
upset and slapped him across the face breaking his glasses.
“Well thanks to the four shots of Patrone you gave me!” said Joan. “I didn't realize how much of an asshole you are!”
“Asshole or not women like you find me irresistible! I was the best lover you ever had!” he boasted. “All of your moaning and the scratches on my back were proof of that! Don’t get me wrong the thought of hitting that tight little ass again has crossed my mind but I don’t do charity work!”
“Shut your mouth you filthy pig!” she screamed.
Joan ran towards him and slapped him across the face but Carlos and I grabbed her before she could do any real damage.
“All of y’all need to be quiet!” said Carlos. “Those motherfuckers are still outside.”
“You heard what he said!” I added. “Cut that shit out! This isn't the time! We have women and children here!”
After we got them separated Maria told us we would have to monitor Mr. Schrieffer until we were rescued.
“How are you feeling Dr. Okonkwo?” asked Anne one of the girls from registration.
“I feel like I was run over by an elephant!” he said with a smile. She placed a rolled up sheet under his foot to elevate it. “Is that better sir?” she asked.
“Thank you Anne I appreciate this!” Dr. Okonkwo told her. “I guess I am lucky. It could be broken!”
“Is the old man going to be OK?” said a small female voice from the other side of the room.
“Don’t worry guys he is going to be OK!” Maria told them.
At times Alex cries for his mother but Latia stayed silent. She was trying to be strong but her eyes were red. It looked like she had been crying. Maria keeps trying to communicate with her but she will not talk about what happened. Latia was very protective of her brother. She never lets him out of her sight. He was the only family she had left. She was just a kid but she realized the situation was worse than we let on. They already had witnessed so much death, despair, and bloodshed. Both children were scared and hungry. They did not appear harmed physically. Maria hugged them tight trying not to show she was scared too. She knew that even if they made it out of this hospital they would need years of therapy. She could tell from the miserable look on their faces and hopeless look in their eyes that they were having trouble trying to coop with this tragedy.