by D N Simmons
After a few more minutes of listening to Dr. Wheaton, she nodded again.
“Very well, Sir. We'll be waiting,” Felicia said, ending her call. She slipped her cell phone back into her purse once she checked her battery life.
After hammering one more nail into place, the door was as secure as it was going to get and the group settled as comfortably as they could among the other panicked individuals, nine to be exact, making it a total of fourteen, while they waited for their helicopters.
“We should have left with Jim and Rosa,” Martin Forrester said to his girlfriend who was sitting beside him, trembling.
“Don’t be an idiot. This is Downtown Chicago. Traffic on any given normal day is asinine. Look at it now,” Vincent said, gesturing toward Lake Shore Drive. “Go on; look at what's happening down there.”
Martin frowned, but he did rise and walk toward the edge to look down below. Cars were bumper to bumper, many were abandoned and others still held their owners inside seeking the only refuge they could find at the moment. It wasn't helping them; the zombies broke through glass windows, pulling victims from their automobiles.
William joined the two men. “You did the only thing that's going to give you a fighting chance. Anyone stuck in that down there is as good as dead.”
Martin gasped as he witnessed an attack. “My God, I can't believe this shit! It’s like they’re clamoring over one another to get to the people first.” With his birds’ eye view, he watched several of the infected people leaping and running toward the soldiers and police officers who were desperately trying to hold them off and save the people trapped inside their vehicles. Unfortunately, the bullets had no effect on their attackers.
Felicia walked over to the edge to look down. She huffed in agitation. “You’re right, William. It would be suicide for anyone who's trying to make it out of here on foot or wheels. With this traffic not moving, it's going to make it easier for this virus to spread when more and more people are attacked.”
Vincent watched the real-life nightmare take place. Just a short time ago, those very same people were having breakfast or going to work and school. Their day started off so normal, so safe and predictable. God, just how many lives was he responsible for ruining?
“What do we do now?” asked one of the women who had joined them in their rooftop retreat.
“Right now, we're safe. We just have to keep calm and wait for help to come—and it's coming—we are just going to have to be patient and quiet,” Felicia said, trying her best to keep the crowd calm.
“Is it the Coast Guard?” one of the people asked.
“I don't care who they send as long as I can get off this fucking rooftop. I don't give a shit if it's the Goodyear blimp, I'm hopping on that bastard,” Bruce stated. He put his arm around his wife and she shivered, more from the fear she felt than the cool summer breeze.
Vincent looked over the edge from his high vantage point and saw nothing but carnage for miles all around. Hundreds if not thousands of cars were in flames or overturned as they remained abandoned and stranded in the streets below. He strained his eyes to see more details, but to no avail. His condo building stood fifty-one stories high, it kept them far enough from the danger below for the time being, but that just meant they were sitting ducks.
“How long before the helicopter arrives?” Vincent asked.
“I don’t know. They had to deploy a lot more helicopters throughout the state. I’m hoping it doesn’t take long,” Felicia said. “It's already taking longer than it should have. I'm starting to worry.”
Both Felicia and Vincent turned towards the adjacent building as the sounds of more screams echoed in the air. Twelve frightened people spilled out of the roof-top exit door, some falling to their knees, while others ran to the farthest edge of the roof. Two took the time to slam the door shut behind them and blocked it as best they could with their bodies as the person who appeared to be the custodian locked it.
“Oh my God!” Felicia gasped as she watched them in their desperation.
The two men tried to keep the zombies from bursting through by combining their mass and strength against the door. Six other men and women joined them, adding extra weight. The others who were on the rooftop with Vincent joined him and Felicia, curious as to what they were looking at. They all watched as the people on the other rooftop struggled to keep the zombies away from them.
“Damn it! Where are those fucking helicopters?” Felicia fussed. She moved her glove aside and looked at her watch; then growled in frustration.
The people on the other rooftop jumped and screamed when the door shook on its hinges. Those who were sitting quickly moved away from the door, nearly to the edge of the roof. The door shook each time it was pounded on from the other side. Two of the people who were standing near the edge looked around seeing no other option but to jump from the twenty-five story building. The couple held onto each other as they stepped onto the ledge. Again the door vibrated, the metal denting with each thrust of powerful fists. The couple standing on the ledge was joined by three more people, thinking suicide would be the more preferable option to being eaten alive.
“Jesus Christ, they're going to break through!” Vincent's heart pounded in his chest so hard, he thought it would burst through his ribcage. He could feel the nausea rising along with the bile from his stomach and he swallowed hard to keep it down. Transfixed, his eyes stared forward as he remained helpless and terrified, unable to do anything for the people on the other rooftop.
Eyes remained glued to the others across the way as the door began to dent outward as the threat on the other side pushed its way through. The screams got louder and more frantic as the dents in the steel door grew larger and larger. The steel door ballooned outward and the lock broke as the doorknob fell to the floor. The screams reached a brand new pitch, turning into shrill cries as the monsters found their way through, overtaking their frightened prey with vicious speed and savagery. The first to die were the men who gallantly held the door closed as long as they could. They fell under their attackers, punching and kicking as hard as they could. The monsters tore into the men, ripping away flesh and other bloody bits. They reared their heads back as they swallowed their bounty before diving in for more.
Dozens of black-eyed zombies filled the rooftop overtaking the people within an instant. The first couple to take to the ledge managed to jump to their deaths before the zombies could attack them. The others weren't so lucky. They were snatched from the ledge, limbs separating from flesh with the force of the attack as they were yanked down towards the monsters.
Vincent and the others watched in shocked dismay and horror as the dead fed furiously and brutally on the living. The one thing they knew for certain was that they would be next if they weren’t rescued in time. They stood there, silent as the grave, watching other humans being devoured. Bloody teeth bit through warm flesh, ripping chunks from struggling bodies. Limbs were torn and eaten with no regard for human life.
Vincent grabbed Sarah and pulled her down hoping the monsters didn't see him. He reached out, pulling on the pants and shirts of those next to him, bringing them down, too. Soon, they were all hiding behind the edge and peeking over.
“We're going to die just like them if we don't get off this fucking rooftop!” Maria screamed. Her chest heaved as her breathing increased.
“Baby, calm down, we have to stay calm,” her husband whispered in her ear repeatedly as if trying to convince himself as much as her. His own voice wavered as he struggled to keep from going into shock. He'd seen the carnage on the television, but not with his own eyes and not so close to him. God, those things were in the building! They were going to be next, he just knew it. He began to wonder if their barricade was strong enough to keep those things back before they could be rescued.
“You need to find out the ETA of that helicopter, or that shit's going to happen to our asses,” William told Felicia.
“I'm already on it.” Felicia had pulled out her
cell phone and was now dialing her agency. “Where are those helicopters?”
“They're on their way, Felicia. Just hang on and keep a cool he—”
“Don't tell me to stay calm, Dwayne. You're safe, we're not!”
“Fair enough, but how is panicking going to help your case?”
Felicia's lips pressed tightly together. Every part of her wanted to reach into the cell phone and grab Dwayne by his neck and choke the life out of him.
“I'm not panicking... ” She said and withheld adding the word “Asshole” to the sentence. “... But I am very concerned. How much longer, we don't have a lot of time left.”
“Five minutes, tops,” Dwayne replied.
“Let's hope we'll live that long.” She ended her call, not wanting to talk to him any longer. “Fucking prick,” she cursed under her breath.
“Well?” Samantha asked.
“He said about five minutes. I half expected him to ask for a status update,” Felicia said sarcastically.
Sarah turned to Vincent, nudging him. “If they only send one helicopter, do you think there will be enough room?” she asked in a hushed tone so only Vincent could hear.
“No, but let's pray that both helicopters will arrive soon and I'm hoping that's enough,” Vincent whispered. “If it doesn't weigh ours down, I'm going to try to squeeze in Alex and Maria.”
"In all honesty, Vincent, there won't be enough room for them, just us five," Felicia said, after overhearing Vincent's response.
Vincent turned to her. “Then please, God, let both helicopters get here at the same time. I fear all hell is going to break loose if only one arrives.”
“I sent for what I could. Remember, the priority here is you and the information you know. We're not going to be able to save everyone in Chicago,” Felicia looked around at the others. Or maybe even everyone on this rooftop, she thought to herself.
“What are you saying… t-that you’re going to leave us here?” Maria asked, her voice quivering in her frantic state.
“I’m saying we weren’t planning on bringing more people with us. If the helicopter has room, of course we’ll take you. If both copters I asked for come, then hop on that one as soon as you can. But if it doesn’t or you're not fast enough and there's no more room, then you’ll have to secure yourself on this roof until more help arrives,” Felicia whispered, purposely lowering her voice so that Maria would do the same to keep others from hearing their conversation.
“We won't last long if that happens,” Maria said. Several tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked from Felicia to her husband, Bruce.
“You already know we’ve called for more reinforcements and the Coast Guard and the National Guard are already in route,” Felicia said as reassuringly as she could. By the bug-eyed expression on Maria’s face, she knew her words gave the woman and her male companion not one ounce of comfort.
“We should let everyone know to hang tight. That more help will be coming,” Sarah said.
“We'll do no such thing,” Felicia said, giving the other woman a stern stare.
“It will prevent a panic when they helicopters arrive. Once people see that there isn't going to be enough room...” Sarah frowned.
“We're not going to do that, Sarah. Telling them that some of them are going to be left behind isn't going to calm people down and make them rational. If anything it's going to cause more panic and turn this into an every-man-for-himself situation before help arrives. We're trying to survive here, I don't want to fight for my life with the people on this roof,” Vincent informed.
Sarah thought about what he said. She didn’t like it—not helping people in need was damn near an impossible thing for her to do—but she couldn’t deny the logic in his statement. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Good,” Vincent said. Slowly, he rolled over onto his belly and peaked over the edge to monitor the people who had been attacked on the other rooftop. The other scientists did the same. The roof was covered in blood, guts, and scattered body parts in the aftermath of the feeding frenzy. Only one naked female zombie remained, feasting greedily on the internal organs of a headless female corpse.
“I can’t watch anymore,” Sarah gasped as she turned away, lying back onto the tar-covered roof. She sobbed uncontrollably knowing that hundreds, if not thousands, of people were dying horrible deaths at that very moment. She couldn’t believe that only a few hours ago, the city had been thriving with people going about their normal day. Laughing, eating, working, driving, walking… living. What the hell was going on?
Felicia turned away from the lone zombie feeding, not wanting to draw attention to their rooftop location. She looked at William and Samantha. “Funny how five minutes can feel like forever, isn't it?” she commented.
“Funny isn't the word I'm thinking about.” Vincent turned to Sarah. “Let me see your cell, I want to check on Richard and Linda.”
“Oh my God, yes, please,” Sarah handed him her cell.
Vincent called Richard and only got his voicemail. He hung up then called Linda's cell and she answered.
“Thank God I reached you, are you okay? What about Richard?” Vincent asked.
“We're both fine. By the grace of God, Richard made it out of SciTech before they could get him. I'm so grateful you're alive. What about Sarah?” Linda asked her voice full of concern.
“We're okay, too. Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker, Sarah's right here.” Vincent pulled the cell from his ear and adjusted the setting. “Okay, we can both hear you now. Are you still in the city?”
“No, we're in Indiana now, but we're stuck in traffic. Richard thinks we need to get out and run, but I don't know.”
Oh sweet Jesus, Sarah thought. She looked at Vincent and then at Felicia. The three of them shared the same fear. There was no solace in either decision the couple had. Either way, they could be doomed. Tears began to run down Sarah's cheeks and she wiped them with the back of her hand.
“Are you still there?” Linda asked.
“What did they say?” Richard asked in the background.
“They aren't saying anything, now I'm really worried,” Linda replied.
“Ah, how far away from Chicago are you?” Vincent asked.
“None of that matters,” Felicia interjected. “Hello, you don't know me, but my name is Dr. Felicia Anderson from the CDC. These creatures are extremely fast on foot and they are spreading their ranks far beyond the city limits. If you stay in your car, you will be overtaken by them. Your best bet is to find a secure shelter—a place with very little entrances and windows. Lock yourselves inside and stay quite. I have no idea how well these things can hear, but you don't want to make loud noises that can draw them to you. Hopefully, help will arrive soon, but you don't, and I repeat, don't want to be caught out in the open when these things start attacking.”
Vincent was impressed with the female doctor. Her quick responses to everything thus far earned her his respect, even if she didn't need it or want it, she had it.
“I agree with her, Richard,” Vincent chimed in. “Find someplace safe, please. I don't want to lose my best friends.”
“We don't want to lose us either,” Richard said. “All right, this traffic hasn't moved anywhere in almost an hour, we're outta here. Come on, baby.”
“We'll call you back once we get somewhere safe. What about you? Where are you?” Linda asked.
“On the rooftop of our condo. A helicopter's coming to pick us up. Don't worry about us. Please, just go and be safe,” Vincent urged.
“All right, bye,” Linda said.
“See you later,” Vincent said.
“See you soon,” Sarah added.
Vincent clicked off the phone and gave it back to Sarah. “God, I pray that they'll be all right.”
Sarah nodded.
“Can I ask a question?” Maria looked at the three CDC doctors.
“What is it?” Felicia replied.
“Is the government going to bomb the city?” Maria whispe
red.
William nodded and answered the question, “It’s the only way to contain the situation now. Destroy everything before it can spread any further than it already has.”
“Wouldn’t they do that as a last resort?” Sarah asked.
“Don’t you think we’re at our last resort?” William shot back. “Look around you. It's been less than two hours and the city is in complete chaos.”
“Can you cure these people?” Sarah asked Vincent, looking at him with the innocent blue eyes he’d fallen in love with ten years ago.
He shook his head, running a finger over a furrowed brow. “Shit, I don’t know, Sarah. I won't know if we can do anything until I get a combined look at my research and Dr. Pierce's. Even then, I still don't know.”
“Truth be told, I don’t think these people can be saved,” William said. “Those things down there are dead—reanimated corpses. You can’t cure that.”
Vincent nodded. “I’m hoping I can cure someone who’s infected, but still alive. Hopefully, I can reverse the effects of the virus before it turns them into one of those things.”
“I hope so,” Sarah said.
She jumped at the sound of glass shattering two stories beneath them. The shattered glass was followed by the terrified scream of someone who’d just jumped from their condo. The sound of his voice faded the further he fell until it was silenced indefinitely.
“Oh Jesus! Help us!” she prayed as she gripped Vincent's hands.
“God, please let this damn helicopter get here!” Felicia gave her own prayer, just one of many she's said since receiving that telephone call from Bryant. Whatever forced that person to jump to his death, they didn’t want any part of it.
“I think this is our ride... at least I hope it is,” William said, pointing to the two white helicopters flying their way.