by Bonnie Dee
Gloria stared at her. "There is no way out. You know that. The world out there is just as bad. There's no place to go."
Lila clenched her jaw, suppressing the urge to shake her. "But we have to believe in something. We have to set some kind of course and follow it, or give up and die. Hope is the only thing that will keep us sane right now."
Gloria laughed harshly. "Too late."
Lila took her arm away, done soothing and supporting. "If you can't pull it together for yourself, do it for your son. He deserves a mother who at least pretends to believe in a future."
She rose and went to put a fresh clip in her weapon, trying not to think about how it had felt to fire the gun and see the two zombies' necks explode in a shower of blood and flesh. What bothered her wasn't that she'd done it, but how satisfied, almost gleeful, she'd felt ending their existences. She'd wanted to shoot them until her clip was empty. That wasn't the person she wanted to be, taking joy in destruction.
And she really didn't want to think about Joe right now. There'd be time enough later to process her feelings about that shooting, and maybe even a little time to think about last night with Ari and what it had meant to her. But right now was the time for action.
"Okay, guys," she addressed the others. "We've got a long haul ahead of us. Let's gear up and be ready for it, 'cause clearly these guys," she gestured at Streeter and Marsh, "aren't going to wait for anyone to keep up."
The advance team returned to declare the area, zombie-free. Everyone jettisoned most of the contents of their backpacks to make them as light as possible and they started for the stairs.
Lila prayed with all her heart for a helicopter to be waiting on the roof of the building when they arrived.
* * * * *
Chapter Sixteen
Ari was in better shape than he'd been in his whole life. He was used to running miles with a heavy weight on his back, scaling walls and climbing obstacles. But even so, his calves ached after a half dozen floors. He could only imagine how difficult this climb was for some of the others like Gloria Patton.
He dropped back to help the stragglers along. Surprisingly, little Ronnie wasn't one of them. She seemed intent on reaching her helicopter ride and darted up the stairs like a girl on a mission—her tears turned off for the time being.
Meanwhile, Gloria, red-faced and panting, brought up the rear, along with Lila, who was carrying Ian, and Carl.
The scientist cursed a steady stream under his breath as he gripped the handrail and laboriously climbed the steps. "I've been meaning to join a damn gym," he said. "I spend way to much time sitting on my butt. Guess this is a good argument for taking better care of your health."
Lila laughed. "If we'd known zombies were coming, I think we all would've kept fitter. Not to mention taking combat training."
"I've got to rest," Gloria wheezed as she leaned against the wall on the next landing.
The footsteps of the rest of the group clattered up the stairs ahead of them. "Hey," Ari called, "Take a break."
"No," Marsh's voice echoed down the stairwell. That was it. No explanation or embellishment. Just "no".
Ari agreed with Deb. The only reason these guys had brought them along was to throw them under the bus if they were attacked—a distraction to give Marsh and Streeter time to get away. And he also thought she was right about the men using the school kids as fodder to aid their escape. Something about the way Streeter had said "They didn't make it" before switching his story to say they'd left them with faculty at the school.
But they were committed to this route now. Only another dozen or so floors and they'd be at the top of the building. Ari didn't like Marsh, but doubted the man would make such a climb if he wasn't almost a hundred percent sure he'd find a helicopter on the roof as he expected.
Gloria slid down the wall to sit with her head lowered as she breathed in and out.
Ari crouched beside her. "You feel like you're going to faint?"
Lila passed the baby to Carl, who awkwardly accepted the struggling bundle. Ian, who was already fussing, began to cry in earnest, his wails ringing through the stairwell.
Lila knelt on Mrs. Patton's other side and offered her a nearly empty bottle of water. "Don't give up. You can do this."
The flushed woman looked at her and nodded. "I will. I heard what you said earlier and I'm not giving up. I just need a breather."
Ari glanced back and forth between them, understanding they were resuming an earlier conversation. He left them to it and went over to Carl. "How about you? Are you going to be all right? Wouldn't want to lose our ace in the hole."
Carl waved him away, jiggling the baby awkwardly. "I'm good."
Gloria climbed to her feet, leaning on Lila, grasped the banister and started up the next flight of stairs, a look of grim determination on her face.
Lila and Ari exchanged a silent look. Ari was glad the woman was finally motivated, but worried about having her collapse. Gloria looked about a floor or two away from a heart attack.
"I'll carry the kid now." Ari took Ian from Carl. He hadn't held the baby yet and was surprised to find the little guy felt like he weighed more than Ronnie. While the girl was all spindly arms and legs like a spider monkey, Ian was solid flesh. "Kid, you're going to be a linebacker some day," Ari told him.
Distracted from crying for a moment, Ian stared at him with big, goggly eyes, reached for Ari's dog tags and stuck them in his mouth. Happy to have the baby occupied, Ari hefted him onto one hip and resumed the climb.
Step after step, floor by floor, they made their way to the top of the building. By the time they reached the last landing, everyone was drenched in sweat and the rest of the group had already disappeared through the door leading to the roof.
Carl opened the door and the sunlight nearly blinded them. Ari shielded his eyes as he emerged from the dark stairwell. Across the roof, the corporate helicopter was parked on its pad as Marsh had promised. His heart soared as if he was already flying away, but it quickly landed with a thud as he realized the copter didn't look big enough to carry them all. He passed the baby to Lila and strode toward the group clustered near the helicopter.
Marsh and Streeter stood shoulder to shoulder, their weapons in their hands, not pointed at anyone, not yet, but a sinister threat all the same. Sondra was by Streeter's side, one of her famous modeling hands resting on his hip, claiming her allegiance.
"What's up?" Ari tried to sound casual, as if he and Streeter hadn't been ready to tear each others' throats out down in the lobby.
"I was wrong. It's a six-seater, not eight." Marsh was blunt.
"But we can fit everyone in," Deb said. "People can double up on the seats."
"I told you before. It's about weight. The machine can't carry this much weight and fly. A few of you will have to stay behind." He looked at Gloria.
"Unbolt a few seats and take them out. That'll knock off some pounds," Carl suggested.
"We don't have the tools or time for that." Marsh stared at Ari, challenging him with his gaze. "Since I'm the pilot, I'll decide who goes and who stays. After we get someplace safe, we can send help for the others."
Ari doubted that would happen. Marsh couldn't make such a promise, not unless he intended to fly back himself, which he wouldn't do. Looking into Marsh's eyes, Ari also knew the man had been aware how many this helicopter would carry and had lied about it seating ten.
He swallowed his anger and kept his tone cool. "Who do you plan to take with you?"
Marsh had the grace to hesitate before he replied. "Those with the greatest chance of survival."
"Survival of the fittest," Streeter echoed. "I told you, the slow and the weak got no place in this world now."
Sondra gripped his arm, sticking to him like a burr. "You'll take me, right?" She looked up at Streeter, eyes anxious, breasts pressing against his arm, reminding him of what she had to offer.
He looked down at her and grinned. "Told you I would, sweetheart. You got a ride. Might
have to earn it later, but you're on."
"Carl, of course," Marsh said. "He's worth gold."
That left two seats.
"I'll take the lesbian. She's tough." Marsh nodded toward Deb. "And you, Ari. You've got strength and skills. The rest of them couldn't have come this far without you. You deserve a ride out."
For one heartbeat, Ari imagined himself in that chopper, rising from the rooftop and flying away, tearing off the clinging vines that dragged him down, becoming himself again—alone, self-sufficient, no needy people asking him what to do next. Then reason slammed shut like a cage door, the bars solid and real. He had no choice. Of course, he wouldn't abandon them—not any of them.
"Great offer, but no," he said. "I'll give my seat to Gloria and Ian."
"You son of a bitch!" Deb shouted at Marsh. "You knew this. Even before we climbed all the way up here you knew we couldn't all go, you bastard. Do you think I'd leave my girl behind?"
Marsh shrugged. "Not really. It's your choice. I'll take Derrick then. He's a scrapper."
"Only if my sister goes," Derrick said. "She can sit on my lap."
"Sorry, kid. You're skinny and so is she, but with this one's weight," Marsh nodded at Gloria, "that's too many pounds. Can't do it. It's not safe."
"Then take Ronnie," Derrick said.
"Derrick, you can have my spot," Carl offered. "You shouldn't be separated from your sister. You're all she's got."
Marsh shook his head. "Nu-uh. You're too important to leave behind."
Ari hated to agree with him on anything, but he was right. Carl must be taken someplace he could work on a cure. Too bad Marsh and Streeter hadn't remembered that when they'd abandoned him on the street.
"Sondra?" Lila said. "Won't you give Derrick your seat? Or you, Mr. Streeter. It's the right thing to do."
Sondra looked down, unable to meet Lila's eyes, but Taishawn stared back at her. "Don't try to guilt me. This is the way it works. Better get the fairytale ideas out of your head and accept the truth—the world's a hard place."
"Forget it, Lila. They're assholes. They're not going to budge," Derrick said, then turned to Gloria. "Take care of Ronnie. Promise me."
"I will." She nodded. "I promise to look after her as if she was my own."
"Derrick?" Ronnie's voice rose and she grabbed her brother's arm.
He squatted to face her, took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "It's all right, Ronnie. Mrs. Patton will look after you and help you try to find mom or dad. I'll look for them, too, and probably we'll be together again soon."
"No! No, Derrick. I don't want to go. I want to stay with you."
"It's not safe here. You know what it's like. These guys are going to take you some place better. You should go with them." Derrick's voice was rough and thick. He suddenly seized Ronnie and gave her a hard hug. "Be good. See ya later."
Ari's throat was choked, too. He clenched his jaw hard. "Jesus, Marsh," he snapped. "The boy doesn't weight that much. Just let them double up. Let him on the damn helicopter."
"Can't do it. I'm not risking all of us crashing." Marsh had already turned away, heading toward the cockpit.
Ari took a step after him, ready to fight for Derrick, but Streeter brought his gun down off his shoulder and leveled it at him. "It wouldn't bother me at all to shoot you."
Ari knew he wasn't lying. There was a glitter in the man's eyes. Taishawn Streeter may not been just a regular guy working out at the gym a few days ago, but he'd turned quickly into a hard-ass, selfish prick without remorse or mercy in his nature. Streeter continued to keep his weapon trained on him while the others took their seats on the helicopter.
"I'm sorry," Carl said to Julie. "This is so wrong."
"You've got to do it. Go. Find a way to fix this," Julie gave him a quick hug. "Take care of yourself."
Gloria took Ian from Lila and murmured her thanks before addressing Ari. "Thank you. I know you tried to help Doug but there was nothing you could do. I needed to blame someone for his death so I accused you of leaving him behind, but I know it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry. And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving Ian and me a chance."
Ari nodded.
"Hurry up, lady, if you're getting on," Streeter prodded.
Gloria went toward the copter. Sondra had already boarded without a word of goodbye, thanks or good luck to any of them. She stared out the window on the opposite side of the helicopter, refusing to look back.
The engine growled to life and the rotors whirred, whipping the air around them. Lila held her windblown hair back from her face.
Derrick buckled Ronnie into one of the seats. Ronnie threw her arms around her brother's neck and clung to him until he pulled away and stepped out of the chopper. Then she gripped the little stuffed unicorn Ann had given her. Her face was twisted into a gargoyle's frown and tears spilling down her bright red cheeks.
Derrick moved away from the helicopter. Lila went over to put an arm around him. At last Streeter lowered his weapon, ducked his head to avoid the rotors and ran for the chopper. He boosted himself inside and closed the door.
Through the window, Ari could make out Marsh's head bent over the controls. A few seconds later, the helicopter rose into the air. Ari squinted as the wind blew grit into his eyes and when he opened them again, the copter was already a block away, flying low across the tops of the buildings. The sound of the blades cutting through the air faded. The sunlight reflected off the metallic body of the copter, blinding Ari for a moment, and then the bird veered southwest, disappearing behind a cliff of granite and glass.
"That's it." Lila had come over to stand beside him.
He glanced down at her. "Guess so."
"So we start for the marina again."
"Yep." He glanced at Derrick, who'd gone to the far edge of the roof for some privacy, and at Deb & Julie, who clung together in a fierce hug. Then Ari looked back at Lila, her beautiful eyes and grim mouth.
"We'll make it." She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "We will."
He nodded, too tired to say anything. He wished she'd stop trying to be encouraging. He didn't want a cheerleader right now.
Lila seemed to sense that and stopped talking. She let go of his hand, slid her hands around his waist and rested her head against his chest. He embraced her solid warmth, rested his cheek against her hair and closed his eyes.
Breathe. Just breathe. He remembered Lila telling him in the tunnel when he'd begun to panic about which direction to take. He followed her advice now and his accelerating heartbeats slowed. He drew strength and comfort from her like a vampire sucking blood, but the difference was, he gave it back and when they finally broke apart, both were replenished.
Deb and Julie came over with Derrick trailing behind them. His face was splotchy, his eyes red, but his voice was firm when he spoke. "Now what, captain?"
"How do all of you feel?" Ari asked. "We have a lot of daylight left so we could start for the waterfront. Or we could stay here for the night and regroup."
"Stay here," Julie voted. "And I mean right here on the roof. I don't think I could face those stairs again."
"I bet there are executive offices on the top floors. They might have a kitchenette where we could get food," Deb suggested.
"I don't want to go back inside yet," Derrick said abruptly. "Can't we just sit here a little while?"
Ari took stock of Derrick's pale face and drained expression. "Sure. We can do that."
He sat on the asphalt, leaning against the wall near the door, legs bent and arms wrapped around his shins, and the rest of them sat in a row beside him—five survivors perched like birds on a wire, silent, resting.
They remained that way until the sun was too hot to stay on the roof then Deb rose and held out her hand to Julie. The rest of them hauled their tired bodies upright and followed her inside.
The stairway that he'd climbed with rising hope in his heart Ari now descended in a leaden haze. He second-guessed every
decision he'd made along the way, decisions that had led to losing Ann, Doug and Joe. He wished they'd never met Marsh and Streeter, wished he'd never chosen to follow them. Even though Carl and the data were probably on their way to safety, Ari couldn't help but feel he'd failed by not delivering the scientist personally. What if something went wrong? Would Marsh leave Carl and the others to fend for themselves as he'd done once already?
When they reached the top floor of the building, Lila bumped shoulders with Ari as they walked down the corridor behind Deb and Julie. "Hey. Stop it. I can read you like a book. You're blaming yourself for stuff that's not your fault. Don't."
He shrugged, not denying her words, but not ready to admit to them either.
"If anyone should feel bad it should be Julie and me." A hint of laughter shimmered in Lila's voice. "At least you three rated enough to be asked along. Julie and I are apparently so useless Marsh didn't even consider taking us. Nice to know how we rate."
Julie snorted with laughter. Lila grinned, and a chuckle bubbled up in Ari's chest. Lila's comment wasn't that funny. It certainly didn't earn a belly laugh, but suddenly he was laughing uncontrollably. Deb joined in, too; the four of them with tears in their eyes, wheezing for breath, collapsing on the floor and letting their tension wash away on a wave of hilarity.
"It's not funny." Derrick's sober voice brought Ari under control. He looked at the boy standing in the middle of their sprawled bodies, glaring down at them. "Nothing about this is funny."
"Oh, sweetie, I know. That's why we're laughing. It's too horrible to do anything else." Lila climbed to her feet and reached for him, but he jerked away.
"I'm going to look for food." Derrick strode away, readying his rifle before throwing open the door of one of the offices.
Ari went to back him up. He would've been shocked if there were zombies all the way up here after so many days with no fresh food source, but you couldn't be too careful. He followed Derrick into a lavish suite of rooms. Some lucky corporate type had had an eagle-eye view of the city with windows spanning an entire wall. A glossy desk dominated one room, but there was also a sitting area and kitchenette as Deb had guessed.