Immune

by Jacqueline Druga

  If it panned out, they had a place to go, they just needed to make it to the airport and wait it out there until Eugene prepped a plane. First things first, before he got his hopes up about the prospect, they needed to get in touch with Tara.

  Fourteen - Last Leg

  Eugene’s voice was froggy from being tired. He had caught an hour sleep after they spoke to Tara. She and her people already had an escape plan, and they were waiting on word from Eugene on when to head to the airport.

  It was almost time.

  There was no coffee, and he desperately needed some. He and Myron ended up staying in the east wing after they rested. There wasn’t a choice, someone needed to keep an eye out. The sun had started to rise, and they sat on the roof listening to the sounds of the infected below. There were so many of them, it sounded like an orchestra of groans and squeals.

  “Where are our soldiers?” Eugene asked. “Didn’t you say there were, like, eight?”

  “When Stanton didn’t come back, they left.”

  “Smart guys.”

  “I thought we had one left.” Myron grunted and stood. “He was supposed to be up here. Are we going to tell Paul?”

  “Hating to do it, but yes. It’s only right.”

  “I agree.”

  “We can always knock him out if he….” Eugene walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. “Holy shit.”

  Myron rushed over. “It wasn’t like this twenty minutes ago.”

  “And it won’t be like this twenty minutes from now.”

  A sea of infected had converged on the school property, and a few straggled on the street, but they crammed in. The barricade had completely collapsed from the weight of all of them pushing through.

  “So much for five at a time,” Myron said. “We should move on this now.”

  “Agreed. Let’s get Paul, radio Tara that we’re leaving, and get everyone to the roof to evacuate.” Eugene climbed in the hatch and down the ladder. “Max is getting them ready now.”

  The last they had seen Paul, he was in the south hall. That was their first destination. A twenty foot walk. If Paul was sleeping, he had no idea what was going on. When they arrived at the south hall, they found the door to the science center open.

  “Paul?” Eugene called out.

  Myron walked ahead and checked the four rooms. “He’s not here. You think he left?”

  “No. He must be in the gym. Let’s radio Tara.”

  “Wait.” Myron moved toward the stairwell.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Just seeing if he left. If he did, this door would be…” Myron reached for the emergency exit, a blue door that led not only to another staircase, but also to an outside exit.

  Something was wrong.

  “What is it?”

  A hint of sunlight shone through the single pane of glass of that door and then… the face of an infected man appeared.

  Myron backed up. “They’re in.”

  “Shit.” Eugene hurriedly turned around. “We have to warn the others.”

  Down the hall and rounding the bed, they hit the main hall and both skidded to a stop in front of the main office.

  The chorus of high pitched squeals carried to them as a mass of infected poured in through the main doors, one of which was propped open by a garbage can.

  The can toppled over and when Eugene was spotted, the infected raced his way.

  “Jesus!” Eugene said. “Someone let them in!”

  Eugene knew it had to be that soldier, Paul, or both. Neither had been seen for some time and the best way for a clear path outside was to let the infected in.

  Both men spun on their heels and ran.

  “What about the people in the gym?” Myron asked.

  “The doors are closed. We have to get to the roof. We can reach them from there.”

  When they passed the south hall they were met my more infected, hordes of them. They reached and grabbed for Eugene.

  Myron quickly grabbed Eugene, pulling him from their grip. Pivoting his body, Myron pushed Eugene forward, but the masses of infected were relentless. Myron was surrounded and couldn’t move. It was like pushing through a wall. They surged for Eugene, grabbing, arms reaching even as he made it to the stairwell. Myron learned something new.

  The infected may not have chased after him, but he wasn’t immune if he got in their way. His heroic attempts were futile. While helping his new friend, he got caught in the attack and clipped by a swinging arm. The fingernails clawed with such force that they seared through his belly with razor sharpness. A rough and jagged slice gutted Myron.

  Blood poured from his stomach and with every bit of fortitude he had left, Myron lunged for the stairwell.

  “Oh my God!” Eugene hurried to him from the first landing.

  “No. Stay there. It’s safe.” Myron coughed and made it only halfway up the first flight of stairs before he collapsed. Eugene grabbed hold of him and with his help, Myron tried to keep going, even though he was on his hands and knees. He’d get to that rooftop.

  <><><><>

  After the departure of the soldiers and those who had died, our of the forty-three people left, only twenty-four remained. They stood in the gym, what few belongings they had perched with them.

  “We’ll be taking it to the roof slowly,” Max explained. “Four at a time. The scaffolding will not hold a lot of people, so keep that in mind.” He walked over to Grace. “Keep Candice close to you.”

  “Where will you be?” she asked.

  “Down here helping people up or on the roof making sure no one jumps the ladder. It’ll be fine.”

  “Is Canada really a safe zone?”

  “That’s what they say. Eugene will fly us somewhere, that’s for sure.” Max quickly turned his head at the sound of the gym doors being pulled as if someone were trying to open them. “Are they locked?”

  Grace shrugged.

  Beret walked across the floor. “I think they are. It’s probably Myron. I’ll get it. Start getting everyone up the scaffold.” He pushed the metal bar on the door and opened it.

  The door widened and infected poured in. So many rushed through the doors, even though he was immune, Beret was trampled beneath them.

  Max didn’t have enough ammunition in his clip. He grabbed onto Grace’s arm and pulled her to the scaffolding. By the time they arrived there, many had already climbed on, running in a panic to get to the ladder. A tsunami of infected flooded the gym, making their way like a wave to the corner where the scaffolding was located.

  Grace held Candice close to her and Max blocked the way. He looked at the infected then to those climbing the scaffold. It wasn’t going to work. There was no way he would get Grace there in time. His only option was to get them on the top bleacher. He reached for Grace and was shoved forward by someone running to get out and lost his footing. He stumbled, quickly regained his stance, and turned. Grace was gone.

  “Grace!”

  “Max!” Candice yelled.

  He looked back. They were on the first level of the scaffolding. It was already shaking. Twenty people weren’t a lot, but it was enough to topple it.

  Reaching for the scaffolding, he held it tight. He was only one man, and chances were it wouldn’t make a difference, but he would try to keep it steady.

  The scaffolding shook and swayed. Grace held on to the bar as she and Candice climbed. There were five levels. People were below her and above. The ones on the ladder weren’t moving fast enough.

  “Mommy!” Candice whimpered.

  “Keep moving, baby. Move!” Grace tried to see below. Where was Max? The infected aimed for the scaffold, hands reaching. They were safe as long as they were above them,

  Three more levels to go.

  “Grace!” Max shouted. “Keep moving. Don’t stop!”

  Grace looked down. She caught a quick glimpse of Max on the bottom steps of the scaffold. Lifting her head, she saw everything was at a standstill. Four or five people were crammed
on the ladder.

  Please hurry. Climb faster. Climb faster!

  As they rounded the bend to take the next flight of stairs, the scaffolding swayed drastically, causing a blizzard of frightened screams. It steadied and Grace sighed. She inched Candice to the next set of stairs and without any warning, the side gave out, the scaffolding jolted and, screaming loudly, Candice flew backwards. At least ten people above her fell off.

  Grace was fast, she was close. She reached out and grabbed Candice. Holding the bar above for balance, Grace held her dangling daughter by the wrist.

  “I got you. Don’t move!” Grace yelled down.

  “Mommy!”

  It took all Grace had to hold her. There wasn’t a speck of floor to be seen; the massive crowd of infected gathered under her little feet, all reaching for Candice, their fingertips mere inches from her.

  “Help!” Grace yelled. “Someone help me.” She diligently tried to pull her daughter up.

  “Mommy!”

  “I have you!” Grace kept her eyes on Candice, assuring her daughter with a look that all would be fine.

  Max saw it all. The scaffolding shaking, the support bar breaking, and Candice falling from the edge. Grace was holding on with inhuman strength, a mother’s love the only way it was possible.

  Heart racing and a dire sickening feeling in his gut, Max climbed the side of the scaffolding. Only one railing was gone, that was on the level where Grace stood clutching the bar above her.

  He begged in his mind for the scaffolding to hold and for Grace to not let go. Finally, he made it to the side, and Candice was within his reach, her life quite literally suspended above the throngs of infected. He couldn’t jump down, and climbing up with her would be almost as dangerous. He had to get her.

  The bleachers weren’t far, it was his only hope. One good, nearly impossible leap, and he could make it. Reaching out, he gripped the waist of Candice’s jeans, then peered up to Grace. She returned a grateful look, relieved when she made eye contact with Max.

  They had her, they both had her… until a taller infected reached up and grabbed onto Candice’s foot.

  She screamed loudly, and Max, one foot on a bar, the other holding on, inched over to her, pulled Candice into his arms, and with everything he had he jumped for the bleachers.

  They slammed down hard on the third bench, surely dislocating his shoulder. It still was not quite far enough, and Max had to scurry with Candice to climb a few more feet to safety.

  “You okay? Are you hurt? Bit?”

  Candice shook her head wildly, her arms gripping on to Max.

  When he looked to Grace again, she was crying. “I have her. Meet you at the top!” he shouted.

  “Thank you!”

  With Candice in his arms, Max climbed the bleachers. Once he reached the top, he could make his way to the top scaffold ledge and the short ladder through the roof hatch. The closer he drew, he saw the set of arms reaching down helping people. It had to be Eugene. No sooner had Max arrived on the top bleachers then, with a creak and multitude of screams, the scaffolding toppled over, throwing everyone on it into the pit of infected.

  Candice screamed. Horrified, Max looked to the masses. Where was she? Where was Grace?

  “Max!” Eugene yelled and leaned down thought he hatch. “Give me the girl!”

  He would have to lift Candice to Eugene’s hands, there was no more ladder. After getting as close to Eugene’s extended arms as he could, Max raised Candice.

  Eugene gripped on to her arms, and Max hoisted her up.

  “Mommy!” Candice cried.

  Once Candice was safely on the roof, Max looked down below.

  The screams of the suffering were unbearable. Geysers of blood shot up, fountains here and there.

  Yet, he still didn’t see Grace. Many of the infected merged like ants into a few spots and Max knew why. They were fighting over their conquests.

  Was it luck? Fate? Briefly, Max saw Grace. She bounced around like a ping pong ball. She didn’t look like she was moving on her own. That glimpse was enough and Max raced down the bleachers and dove into the swarming mass of infected.

  He punched them, pulled them, threw them; Max gave his all, then at last he saw her on the ground. Using his uninjured arm he burrowed into the masses and clutched Grace. He lifted her up and pulled her to him. Her legs didn’t move and her head was slumped forward. Bracing her back to his chest, he pushed through to the bleachers.

  He made it two rows up and he had to stop. He sat down and brought Grace against his lap. Her head was bleeding, her face was bruised, and what shallow breaths she did take were wheezing.

  “Grace, hold on. I’ll get you out of here.”

  Her eye lids fluttered and she seeped a pain and tear-filled moan. “Candice.”

  “She’s fine. She’s safe.” Max placed his hand on her face.

  “Don’t leave her. Please. Take …” a tear rolled down her cheek, “care of her. Promise me.”

  “I promise. But I won’t need to. You’ll be there. We have to get you up to the roof now.”

  Weakly Grace grabbed for his hand. “Tell her I love her.”

  “You tell her.” Max stood, Grace in his arms. He adjusted her and climbed the bleachers. At the top, Eugene peered through the roof hatch.

  “Can you lift her up enough for me to grab?”

  “Yeah,” Max said. He knew it would be tough and his dislocated shoulder was painful. It was awkward to lift Grace. Yet, there was some hope because she was trying to help.

  Eugene secured his hand on Grace’s arms. “Push,” he instructed Max.

  Despite the pain, Max did until Grace moved completely away from him. Eugene had gotten her to the roof. Now all that was left was for Max to get there as well.

  Once Max had lifted Grace enough, Eugene placed his hands under her arms and pulled her the rest of the way through. He expected her to be injured; what he didn’t expect was for her to go totally limp the second he had her in his arms. He choked on his own breath and swore his heart stopped. There was a peaceful silence that surrounded that moment, one that was broken by Candice’s heartbreaking cries when she realized she lost her mother.

  Grace had passed away.

  <><><><>

  There was nothing left. Bits and pieces of flesh, some hair, a single shoe. Not even a shred of clothing was recognizable. In an instant, so many, too many, were devoured with ease.

  It was nothing less than a slaughter.

  The infected had massed into the gym and Max slipped out, opting for another stairwell to get to the roof. He cut through the cafeteria area which led him into the hall. Many infected roamed about, though not enough that Max couldn’t maneuver around them.

  How had they gotten in? He knew eventually they’d get beyond the barrier, but there was no broken glass and the front doors were still locked.

  He made it to the east wing stairwell and eventually to the roof. He followed a trail of blood smeared on the roof and even on the ladder.

  As Max took the first rung, he heard Candice’s sobs. They were deep and heartbroken cries, and by hearing them, Max knew the cause.

  Reaching the top gave him a street view and it was then he realized most of the infected were inside the building. On the roof, Eugene crouched by Grace, one arm draped over his knees, while Candice clung to her mother’s lifeless body and pressed her head to her chest.

  He was so focused on Grace he failed to see Myron, the source of all the blood. He was not far from Grace, his shirt saturated and red as he lay on his side.

  “Ah, man.” Max knelt down near him and closed Myron’s open eyes.

  Eugene shook his head and stood. “This didn’t need to happen.”

  “Where did we go wrong?” Max asked. “I can’t… I can’t comprehend this. Did anyone make it out?”

  Eugene pouted and his throat moved up and down as he swallowed. “Seven. They… they took the ladder and are waiting for us.”

  Max closed his eyes
tightly as if trying to squeeze out the pain. “Myron?”

  “Caught in the cross fire.”

  “How? I mean, the timing…”

  “Paul.”

  “What?” Max asked breathless and shocked. “No, he—”

  “We couldn’t find him. Someone let them in, propped open the front door with a garbage can. I’m gonna guess he did the same at the south entrance because there was no way they could have gotten in there. He let them in so he could get out.”

  Hands to his head, Max screamed out. “Fuck!”

  “We have to go,” Eugene said. “We have to go now, while they are in the building and we have clear route.”

  Max walked over to Candice. “Hey.”

  “My mom,” she wept.

  “I know. But… we need to leave now.”

  “We can’t leave her.”

  “Candice, as much as I don’t want to, we have to. Your mom would kick my ass if I kept you here any longer and didn’t get you to out. I promised her, Candice.”

  “She talked to you before she died?” Candice wiped her hand across her face.

  “She did. She asked me to watch over you and to tell you that she loved you very much.” He held out his hand.

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “You have to. There is no choice. Come on. We’re gonna get on the bus, head to the airport, and hopefully, Eugene will fly us out of here.”

  Candice leaned forward and kissed Grace’s mouth. “I love you, Mommy.” She kissed her again then with a hard sob, grabbed Max’s hand, stood, and threw herself into his embrace.

  Max stayed there for a moment holding Candice. He hated to leave Grace and Myron, however there really was no other choice.

  As they left that roof, he held on to Candice and the promise he made to Grace. That was all he could do.

  Eugene took a moment to thank Myron. The brainchild of the young man would have paid off brilliantly, had their efforts not been thwarted. Despite the fact that there were only ten of them left, the fire ladder to the school bus route had worked.

  No one really said anything on the bus, and that put pressure on Eugene. No arguments, no questions, they were placing their faith in him, trusting he’d drive the bus safely to the airport. To him, that was the hard part. He didn’t know the city. He relied on directions from a man named Sam who sat behind him on the bus.