“Annnnnd there goes the power,” Wesley said.
“It was only a matter of time.” Merlda sighed.
Tiffany walked up to Wesley as he reached the bottom. “We’ve taken too much time as it is. Let's go!”
Wesley shook his head. “Changed my mind. I think I like it here. We aren’t leaving.”
“Yes, we are.” Tiffany snatched Wesley’s hat off his head and sprinted for the exit.
Wesley screeched like a two-year-old. “My Zombie Killing Hat!”
He bolted after her, a backpack full of weaponry over his shoulder.
“Did he just say his ‘Zombie Killing Hat’?” Merlda asked.
I shrugged. “He’s got a high score to keep.”
“So he’s a nerd? Disappointing, I had plans for him later.”
I narrowed my eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with nerds.”
“Are you okay?” Kessa asked Merlda, who had broken into a sweat.
She shrugged in response. “My stomach just hurts, is all.”
“Well, time to go!” I announced and turned for the exit.
At first, Kessa didn't want to walk, but finally, she helped me hobble away.
Outside the rain drizzled, and soon became freezing rain. Tiffany had already reached the SUV while Wesley trailed her, waving his hands like an idiot.
“Please don't hurt her!” He screamed, drawing the eyes of every Corpse in the parking lot. “They don't make them anymore.”
I might have laughed, but given the hungry undead everywhere; I held it in. Even with Kessa's help, every step felt like labor. Merlda barely kept up herself. Halfway to the car, she came to a full halt and doubled over coughing.
“Are you okay?” Kessa and I turned as Merlda lowered her now blood-stained hands.
She cursed. “Crap. I’m pregnant, ya know. I think it's the baby.”
“Are you miscarrying?” Kessa gasped.
“Something isn’t right.” She muttered then fell to her knees.
I looked around frantically. The SUV sat a few dozen yards away. If I yelled, I risked drawing the Corpses.
“I’ll be fine,” She wiped her mouth.
“Are you sure? Maybe we can—” I asked.
Merlda slowly stood. “I said, I’ll. Be. Fine.”
I wanted to help, but at the same time, I didn’t. My friends were worth more than her.
“Let’s get her in the car,” I told Kessa.
Ahead, Tiffany glared through the SUV’s window. Her and her attitude; always mad for one reason or another.
We made it before any Corpses caught us. Merlda sat in the middle seat, resting her head on Kessa's shoulder. Tiffany took the driver's seat while Wesley grumbled next to her without his hat, which meant she hid it from him.
“You know how to drive?” I asked.
Tiffany nodded as she turned the key, and the SUV roared to life. “Just got my permit last week on my birthday.”
Kessa took one of my hands and wrapped bandages around my wound.
“You’re birthday was last week?” I asked.
Tiffany shrugged as we pulled out of the lot. “We played a game of D&D; the Gamer’s Guild that is. It sucked. I had to DM. I always have to DM.”
I chuckled. I’d never played a tabletop RPG, only the video games.
“What day exactly?”
“December 11th.”
“Belated happy bir—,” I said, but she slammed on the gas, and we shot over a bump, causing my head to hit the roof. Between the pain in my hands, and Tiffany’s driving, Bleeding out didn't seem like such a bad idea. Kessa held my hand steady and kept wrapping. I glanced in the mirror and saw Tiffany’s eyes. They were red and puffy. As tough as the girl tried to act, deep down she had a sensitive side, although she’d never admit to it.
The rain came down harder as we sped through town.
“Whoa!” Wesley grabbed the roof. “Careful!”
Tiffany ignored him.
“There’s no way you’d ever pass a driving exam!” I complained.
Tiffany ignored that too.
More than once Merlda cried out and each time I wondered if she could be dying? Bleeding internally from that bastard, Pa, hurting her? I didn’t want to care because she’d nearly killed me. But cruelty didn’t run in my veins.
Out of nowhere Tiffany slammed the breaks. We all lurched, saved only by our seatbelts. There were hundreds, maybe even a thousand Corpses swarming outside of Epic Impossibilities Games.
Wesley leaned forward putting his nose against the windshield. “This is effing amazing. Imagine the score I’ll get if I kill them all.”
“Idiot!” Tiffany grabbed him by the collar and smacked him hard across the face.
His head snapped to the side, and he stayed that way, cursing under his breath. The back end of the Corpse horde noticed us.
Tiffany released Wesley. “We need a way inside! Is there a back entrance?”
He laughed. “It’s built like a fortress, remember? We were ready for the Zombie Apocalypse!”
Tiffany put the SUV in reverse. “Now would be the time to tell us.”
“Tell you what?”
“The back entrance!” She jerked the wheel.
The SUV slammed into a flipped school bus. She tried to drive forward we were stuck on something. The tires squealed as she slammed the gas, which only drew the attention of every last Corpse in the horde.
Tiffany kept maneuvering the wheel, but we weren’t going anywhere. The undead reached the sides of the SUV blocking off our escape. Panic filled the vehicle, save Wesley. He looked calm.
I pointed up. “The sunroof!”
Kessa stood and pushed against the glass, but it didn’t slide.
“Is there a button?” she asked.
Tiffany growled as the Corpses pounded on the driver’s side window, sending a crack snaking up the glass. Wesley began to chuckle.
“This isn’t funny jackass! Help us!” I snapped.
Wesley sighed. “Tiff, baby, roll down the window would ya?”
“Are you bat-crap crazy?” she cried.
“No. Just get ready to run as if we all are.”
She shook her head. Finally, Wesley reached across and rolled the window down just a hand’s breadth.
“What are you doing?” I gasped.
Wesley held a grenade, tab pulled. He reached out and tossed it just a few feet. One Corpse ended up catching it as in mid-grasp. It pulled the object in close and chomped.
The explosion went off, and the SUV rocked with force as dozens of Corpses exploded, clearing a wide path, but also shattering the SUVs windows. My ears rang as we quickly shoved out the doors.
Tiffany whipped a dagger out as the rest of the Corpses shambled forward.
Wesley held his hand out. “The hat.”
Tiffany glared, reached back in the car. Wesley put the hat back on his head. “This way!”
Grinning like a schoolboy, he ran across the street and into an alley. We had no choice but to continue to trust the megalomaniac, so we followed.
LEVEL 10 – WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE?
Like lemmings, we followed Wesley into an alley near Epic Impossibilities Games. I felt like I should've questioned his motives, but with hundreds of Corpses on our tail, I didn't have time for such luxuries.
Moving single file, we maneuvered down the narrow alley. Tiffany hustled up front with Mr. Zombie Killer. Merlda took up the middle, limping as fast as she could with Kessa's assistance, and I took up the rear. The hissing Corpses lumbered along, sending spittle and gore splattering the back of my neck. It seemed as if they had gotten quicker, but I didn't plan on turning back to perform time checks or Q&A sessions. Although I wanted to spin back and shoot them all in the face, I couldn't. More likely I'd be overwhelmed in seconds. Kessa stopped suddenly, and I slammed into her, who bumped Merlda, who pushed Tiffany forward.
“Keep moving!” I cried as I spun to lift in my arms in defense.
Kessa pushed me aside
and jumped in front, crying out, “My angel!”
She lifted the Smith & Wesson and fired at the first Corpse. Her bullet struck its chest, slowing its momentum, but the next ones just pushed past it. I swallowed hard and pulled a card from Wesley's book, punching the next one in the face. It fell back, albeit briefly.
I shouted at Kessa, “Aim for the head!”
Up ahead, Tiffany ran again, and we all darted after her. We squeezed past a dumpster, which Kessa and I turned to block the Corpses.
Kessa breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh thank ya Lord!”
The undead tried to walk through the barrier, but they only managed to crush each other against it. When I turned back, I found again; we'd stopped.
“Can we keep moving?” Merlda pleaded, her voice cracking from pain.
Tiffany snapped. “I'm trying Wesley's stopped twice now!”
Wesley stood at the front of the pack, staring at the ground.
“Now is not the time for important self-reflection!” I shouted.
He ignored me and started moving his foot around in a circle. The dumpster started to turn as the Corpses forced it back. I spun back and braced my shoulder against it while Kessa already had done so.
“I couldn't hold it!” she whimpered.
I grunted, using all my strength. “Don't worry. I got it!”
Sadly, I didn't weigh enough to hold it either.
I shouted. “I lied! I don't got it! Wesley, we have to keep moving!”
A Corpse arm shoved through the crack between the dumpster and the wall. It snatched my sleeve, but I pulled away.
Merlda pleaded, “Yer gonna get us all killed!”
“Everyone, stay calm,” Wesley announced as he tapped his foot.
The dumpster jolted again. If we didn't move soon, the Corpses were about to have a five-course dinner. We pushed with everything in us, but we were losing ground fast.
“Tiffany, help!” I pleaded.
She pushed past Merlda, who had fallen into another coughing fit. The dumpster lurched before Tiffany could make it, and the first Corpse made it through.
“No!” we three cried, just as Wesley cheered. “Found it!”
Wesley disappeared through a hole in the ground. Merlda couldn't follow. She'd fallen to her knees.
“I'll help her! Just get inside, Kessa!” I said. She nodded and shoved her face against mine.
My cheeks burned as she hopped down into the opening. The last of her I saw were her green pigtails. Tiffany and I backed up as the first Corpse shambled towards us.
Turning to Tiffany, I said, “It's more important that you make it!”
“Don't ever say something so stupid!” She snapped and yanked me back. The dumpster, completely forsaken, gave way to the horde. I grabbed Merlda by her shirt collar as we went and pushed her through the hidden passage. She still wheezed as she fell in. I started to push Tiffany, but she spun me around and shoved me instead.
I fell into the dark pit and landed with a splash, knee deep in some gunky, putrid-smelling water. Tiffany's silhouette blocked out some of the light from above as she lowered her legs in. Shadows appeared above her, and she screamed, then thrashed about wildly. They had her.
My heart exploded. “Tiffany, no!”
Wesley and I both jumped up, grabbing her legs. Tiffany came crashing into the sewer, knocking me face first into the liquid. I splashed back to my feet, as a Corpse staggered into the hole. Wesley pushed Tiffany out of the way and grabbed the monster under its chin. With both arms in place, he twisted and snapped its neck. As it fell over, Tiffany stood up, soaked in the nasty water.
“Are you okay?” I tried to grab her shoulders.
She shoved me. “Get away!”
I scanned her trying to locate a bite.
“Stop gawking!” Tiffany yelled as the manhole cover slid back across. Wesley sloshed past me in the dark. “Come on, Jack.”
“Zach,” I muttered.
Tiffany shoved me again. “Just get your ass moving! I'm fine!”
Satisfied, she'd escaped unharmed; I started to turn, but I spotted Merlda standing up awkwardly.
“Merlda?” Kessa asked from behind me.
Tiffany slowly started to look over her shoulder as Merlda gave a great groan.
“Crap,” Tiffany said.
I lunged, but Merlda, blood running from her mouth, grabbed Tiffany's shoulder.
I cried out in disbelief. Kessa's screamed, and her gun went off. The flash was brief, but I saw the jaws of Corpse Merlda going for Tiffany's neck.
I only heard my voice shouting her name, followed by a big splash. Then nothing, save the water slowly flowing around our ankles.
The flash fire had blinded my eyes. “Tiff, did she bite you?”
Tiffany didn't answer, and a knot rose in my chest.
“Did. She. Bite. You?” Fear filled me.
Silence.
“Tiffany Gainsborough,” I whispered this time. “Did she bite you?”
A sob came from her direction, and my heart rose into my throat. I knew it; Merlda bit her.
“Go on without me,” Tiffany said through the darkness
Beside me, Kessa whimpered.
“I think they need a moment,” Wesley whispered.
“R-right.” Kessa stuttered, and they sloshed away.
“You're joking? This is a joke right?” I asked.
Tiffany spoke, her voice cracking, “You need to go.”
“I'll stay with you,” I said.
“Then you'll die!” she snapped.
“This isn't fair!” I hissed, slamming my fist into the gunk-covered wall.
“Life,” Tiffany hesitated. “Isn't fair. This is why you should never take a life, Zach. Each one is just too precious. Hell, I don't even know why Merlda turned.”
“She was pregnant,” I said. “Then that crazy ass at the department store kicked her in the stomach, probably killed the baby. It must've turned somehow inside of her.”
“Ate her from the inside out?” Tiffany whispered. “There can't be many worse ways to go.”
“Can I ask you something?” I said, my eyes overflowing with tears.
I needed to ask her about our childhood. Had we been friends? Did she want me to be her boyfriend back then? And why couldn't I remember any of it?
She came back with a flat voice, “No. Now get moving.”
Pain cracked its way into my heart, and I sobbed loudly.
She groaned. “Don't get emotional on me. I'm not that kind of person anymore.”
Anymore? I sucked in my breath, unsure of what to say next. She had just shot me down, even in death.
I reached into my belt and pulled out my Henry's handgun. “Here.”
“What are you giving me?” she asked.
Finding her palm, I set the gun on it, curling each of her fingers around the pistol.
“I don't think you'd want to become a Corpse. There's ammo still. Enough to.” I hesitated “Enough to--”
I couldn't say it. But she did.
“Get the job done?”
I nodded although she couldn't see me.
Tiffany said, “Enough mushy mumbo jumbo.”
“Of course,” I whispered, turning away.
“Zach?” She said.
“Yes?” I asked, without turning back.
Her next words tore me apart, “I never liked you. Remember that.”
I regretted giving her that gun. As I went to turn back, she pulled the trigger. A brief light lit up the sewer, and I could see Kessa and Wesley standing twenty strides away, looking right into my eyes.
Behind me, came another big splash as Tiffany's body collapsed. Everything went quiet once again. I bit my lip so hard it bled, trying hard not to sob.
“Are you gonna be okay?” Wesley asked.
I murmured, “Yeah. I mean why wouldn't I be? She hated me in any case.”
Wesley put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed hard. “Sorry, you feel that way, man.” He turned a
nd walked away.
Kessa wrapped her arms around me and said. “We shouldn't stay here too long. Your wounds might get infected.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “My wounds.”
The only wound that would get infected had to be my heart. Something from which I would never heal. Tiffany had to be mean to me, even in death. Even when she had a gun to her head, about to kill herself. I clenched my fists as I walked on behind the others. If she were still alive I would have killed her myself, or better yet, I would have let her become a Corpse, and with my luck, she would come back and bit me. Then my pain would go away forever.
“Zach?” Wesley said as we made our way down the tunnel.
“Yeah?” Anger leaked in my voice.
“Do you love her?” He asked.
He caught me off guard. “What?”
“Don't act like you didn't hear. Just answer the damn question.”
“I'll answer that later,” I said, and truthfully I'd never thought about it before.
“Then I have something to tell you later,” He said. “Just remind me.”
I didn't understand what he meant, but what did it matter? Nothing he told me would make me feel better.
“I see a light,” Kessa spoke up.
I peered ahead to see a speck of light as well. “I see it too.”
“That's where we're going,” Wesley said as he splashedthere must be
ahead.
We walked for a few more minutes until the light sat right before us. It had been an optical illusion, just a slit coming through a wall.
“What's behind this?” I asked.
Wesley said, “Epic Impossibilities Games. Your friends are hopefully here.”
I sighed. “And hopefully alive.”
Picturing the group, I saw them outside Milpeg High School, Dave in his dragon shirt, Jeff tall and silent, and cute Jessie, cute, innocent Jessie. They had to be alive. If they weren't, I'd be stuck with Wesley and Kessa for the rest of my life, however short.
Wesley tapped on the wall, and a green panel of light appeared; like a hologram with a handprint.
“A hand scanner here?” I asked
“We had to have more than one way in. The only person we never told was Serenade.”
I asked, “I know you said she was bad for the company but--”
“She was bad in general,” Wesley said. “Something that you wouldn't understand unless you were by her side every day.”
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