by Brett, Cal
DuPree nodded and they started moving forward again. Half way up the ramp they noticed that there was an entrance to the car park at the top. The gate was up and it looked like there was nothing to keep anything from getting into the garage. They carefully scanned the area as they rose until he saw that the opening was a car access from the river side of the building.
As they neared the top of the ramp, two undead stumbled inside, in pursuit of the source of the rattling sound that echoed from the building. They might have once been clerks, in any of the banks downtown, but after years in the elements their business attire hung tattered and torn, while their skin had turned a pasty grey. One had a dark socket where its left eye had been and the other seemed to have had its lips ripped off, exposing its white skeletal teeth. They instantly spotted the two live men standing in the middle of the down ramp and all but forgot why they had come. Instead, they turned towards the two meals that seemed in easy reach.
These moved more quickly than the ones they had been dealing with on the way up, so without hesitation the two Marines targeted and pulled their triggers. The backs of the things heads exploded and they spun away from the impact. One slammed back into the automated ticket machine and the other flopped across the yellow exit arrow. The shots of the men’s rifles had barely registered against the raucous chain rattling going on upstairs.
The two soldiers quickly advanced to the top of the ramp and scanned the area for additional threats.
“Fuck,” Dupree said looking down the driveway leading out of the garage. “Three o’clock! Twelve, maybe more, hostiles. One hundred yards out and heading this way.”
O’Reilly took in this information as he scanned his sector. Seeing nothing he quickly turned and glanced down the drive to see a mob of undead stumbling up the two lanes towards the car park. “Bollocks!” He cursed noting that the things had probably been chasing the noise but now had seen the two of them standing in the opening.
Suddenly the grinding of gears from above abruptly stopped. The two men quickly scanned around listening as the echo of the loud noise faded from their ears. The momentary quiet was replaced by the slapping sounds of something running somewhere up above. Some were faster than others, but they had never seen the creatures outright run before. Still, they had both seen enough in the last few years to know better than to rule out the possibility of things getting worse.
“Fall back!” O’Reilly ordered when he realized that whatever was running was coming down the ramps above, directly towards them.
The two Marines darted back down the ramp and ducked behind one of the large concrete pillars. They instinctively took up defensive positions knowing they would need to hold the line until the rest of the unit could get there to back them up. DuPree tapped his pockets making sure his extra rifle magazines were still there. They kneeled and listened as the rapid footsteps grew closer.
To their surprise, a woman, a live woman, suddenly darted down the ramp on their left and bolted for the garage entrance. She leaped over one of the dead they had just killed and seemed to hardly notice it. They were relieved that she was alive and not some new kind of living dead but concerned at what she might be running from. They both remained motionless and assumed she was trying to escape the garage. However, they weren’t surprised to see her stop at the gate when she noticed what was coming up the drive.
Instead of running away, as they expected, she began frantically searching around the gateway until she found a square metal box mounted to the wall. Pulling something from her pocket, she spent several seconds working it into the box. Her intentions became clear when her hand turned. The sound of grinding pulleys echoed through the garage and the rolling gate began to rattle towards the ground.
DuPree looked at his partner and lifted an eyebrow, silently asking if they shouldn’t give her a hand. O’Reilly, having no idea who this person was or what was going on, decided to be cautious and signaled that they should hold their position. Technically they were the same rank, Corporal, but O’Reilly was the lead scout so movements and actions were his call. Dupree nodded and they remained in observation mode as the gate slowly descended. Both glanced at their watches wondering how fast the group outside might be moving and whether she would get it shut before they arrived.
A moment later several shadows appeared as the angle of the sun gave away the arrival of the hungry creatures at the top of the drive. Dupree realized that the things were just a few feet away and it was looking like the gate would not be closed in time to stop them. He looked over at O’Reilly, who seemed engrossed in watching events unfold, and risked a low whistle to get his attention. When O’Reilly glanced over Dupree raised his eyebrows with apprehension and nodded towards the girl signaling that they needed to go back her up.
O’Reilly thought for a second and, though he clearly didn’t want to risk it, he saw the logic in stopping the things at the gate. They could deal with this girl and any issues she had after the immediate threat was blocked from entry. He signaled that they should circle around behind the girl who was focused on keeping the key turned in the lock. DuPree immediately broke from the cover of the support and moved quickly into position about 20 feet back and looking out the gate. O’Reilly was right behind him.
They girl’s attention was on the key and looking outside at the approaching undead, so she did not notice them move into position. As they kneeled and started picking targets, they saw that the gate had come down far enough to block head shots.
“Knees and hips,” O’Reilly said. “Stop them when they hit the ground. Fire at will.”
Dupree quickly lined up a shot on the closest creature, which was within arm’s reach of the gate, and took it out at the knee. It fell hard on its side giving him a second shot that went through its head and ended it. O’Reilly opened up as well and began taking down the front line of the gnashing mob. The pop, pop of the rifle reports, though diffused by their suppressors, echoed off the walls and this time were not drowned out by the sound of the gate clattering down.
Kelly jumped and screamed when the shots began to wiz by her. She spun around and gasped at the sight of the two armored and camouflage clad soldiers firing in her direction. She slammed back against the wall as her body subconsciously took her into flight mode. She screamed again when she realized there was nowhere to hide from the armed figures. With no other options, she sank down into a ball and pressed back against the concrete in a vain attempt to escape through the solid mass.
Without constant pressure, the key returned to its off position and the gate stopped moving. Its base plate remained several feet from the threshold and the undead were steadily pushing through their downed comrades towards the gap.
“Better get up luv!” O’Reilly yelled as he watched her slide down the wall. “Lets get that gate closed!”
They continued firing as Kelly tried to regain control of herself. Looking outside she saw the undead clawing their way forward through the hail of fire. The closest were only a few feet from the opening. She took a deep breath and decided she would rather be shot than eaten alive. Jumping back up she grabbed the key and turned it, causing the gate to start closing again.
The two men continued to keep the creatures back until the gap was too narrow to fire through. Soon after the gate closed, the things crashed into its metal grates, shaking and thrashing, desperate to get through and tear at the living humans on the other side.
“Bloody hell,” O’Reilly blurted. “You gave us quite a scare there.”
“I scared you?!” Kelly still shook as her wits came back. “You scared the crap out of me!?”
“Sorry, Luv,” O’Reilly said as he and Dupree stood up, lowering their weapons to the ready. “We saw you trying to close the gate and you looked like you wasn’t gonna make it. Just trying to help.”
“Just trying to help?” Kelly stuttered while she glared at the men. “Who the hell are you!?”
“Kelly!” a familiar voice called from down the ramp.
/> “Rob!?” Kelly turned to look but all she saw was another group of men dressed like soldiers coming up from the level below.
Then the lights went out. The garage was plunged into darkness. Only a small square remained illuminated. A narrow shaft of afternoon light pressed through the bars of the gate. Its thin shadows falling over the group. The lines rolled up and down as the creatures outside shook the barrier in frustration.
“Rob?!” Kelly shouted into the darkness. “Is that you?”
“Kelly!” the voice came back, “Yes! I’m right here. Don’t move I’m coming up.”
The sound of Robbie’s footsteps echoed through the cavernous garage as he ran towards the small circle of light where Kelly waited. When he emerged from the darkness and met Kelly’s gaze he started. “Are you…”
Kelly leaped up onto him, almost knocking him over, and wrapped her arms around him in her elation. “Oh my god,” she cried as she squeezed so tightly he could hardly breathe, “I knew you weren’t dead I just knew it!! Where have you been? What did you do? What happened with the lights?”
“I…” Robbie tried to answer but he was still trying to keep his balance as she squeezed him, “can’t breathe…”
“Ha ha!” Kelly laughed and climbed down but kept him in an embrace. Suddenly her face changed from happiness to anger, “Jesus you scared me! And, where the hell have you been! What the fuck is going on? And who are these people?!”
Robbie looked around to see that the military group had emerged from the darkness and were watching the two curiously.
“Oh yea,” Robbie said with a smile, “these are the Royal Marines four-three Commando. Can we keep them?”
Kelly looked at him quizzically and then scanned the shadowed faces of the armed men standing around them. She finally asked. “The what, of the who?”
“Look, they saved me,” Robbie explained, holding up his injured hand, “…and fixed my finger.”
“What the hell happened to your finger?!” Kelly grabbed his hand to get a closer look at his wrapped digit.”
“It’s fine,” he said.
“I’m sorry to interrupt this reunion,” the Major interjected, and pointed at the driveway full of ghouls struggling to get in, “but I don’t know how much pressure that gate can withstand and I don’t suggest we find out just now. Is there somewhere more secure we can go?”
“Yes,” Robbie answered, “we can go up to our place.”
“Rob?! We don’t know them,” Kelly glared and turned to the man with the mustache. “No offense but we can’t just bring every survivor home. I’m sorry, Mr…?”
“Major John Garrett,” the man answered politely, “and I completely understand your hesitation. These are hard times indeed. Perhaps we could just move away from the gate so that our friends outside are less inclined to test its integrity, eh?”
“Kelly, they are ok,” Robbie said. “I promise.”
“That’s what we thought before,” she replied with trepidation.
“This isn’t like that,” Robbie assured. “It’s going to be ok. They just need a place to stay tonight. Right, Major?”
“Quite so,” the Major agreed and nodded again towards the unruly crowd outside, “now, I think it’s in all our best interests that we should get moving?”
Robbie took Kelly by the arm and began walking with her towards the up ramp. He noticed that most of the Marines had already stepped away from the light and were working their way through the darkness ahead of them. The Major pulled out another of the small sticks, and shook it until it glowed green in the dark and threw it on the ground.
“What, what’s that?” Kelly asked.
“Bread crumbs,” the Major said from somewhere near her. “A few of our lads remained in the basement to work on the power. This will help them catch up with us.”
“Rob?” Kelly asked. She couldn’t see him but he still held her arm.
“He’s telling the truth,” Robbie said from beside her. “Relax, it’s going to be ok.”
Chapter 24
“This is quite a view,” Leftenant Windsor observed as he looked out from Robbie and Kelly’s balcony. The sun was setting in the west, sending its last beams of the day skipping down the river. The dark water’s waves, rolled and rippled across its surface as it made its way towards the sea. Sea birds swooped and dove overhead on the evening breeze.
“It’s my favorite time of day,” Kelly said from the doorway.
“Oh?” The red bearded officer inquired.
“The shadows start to cover up the damage in the street and you can almost imagine everything is like it was.” She explained as she walked out and leaned on the railing.
“It’s good to have a place to come where you can relax and forget about the state of things for a bit,” the Leftenant nodded, “recharge the batteries if you will. Too much time in the trenches starts to wear you down. Even if you survive, it eats you up. All the death.”
“Yes,” Kelly agreed.
“Sorry,” he added, “I didn’t mean to get all philosophical and depressing.”
“It’s ok,” Kelly smiled. “Just another day in the apocalypse. Can I get you some tea?”
“Tea?!” Windsor looked shocked in delight. “Are you serious?! You have tea?”
“There are advantages to living in a city of the dead,” Kelly joked. “You’d be surprised at how little they are interested in the finer things.”
“I’d bloody kill for a cuppa,” he quipped.
“Coming right up,” Kelly turned and lit a small grill. She picked up a tea pot that was sitting nearby and shook it. She seemed content with the sloshing sounds from inside and set it on the low flame. “Do you mind checking if anyone else wants some?”
Windsor stuck his head inside where the Major and Mr. Clark were sitting. “They have tea!” He called excitedly. “Anyone care for a cup?”
Kelly heard the Major laugh and respond, “Oh gracious yes! God be praised!”
“Phillip?” Windsor asked, “Would you like some?”
“I appreciate the offer and I hate to sound high maintenance but,” Clark responded calling past the young officer, “Ms. Kelly I don’t suppose you have any coffee?”
“As it happens,” Kelly answered, “Robbie has a French Press and some coffee in the kitchen. He can find it for you when he gets back.”
“Oh, thank you so much,” Clark replied, “It’s been forever since I’ve even smelled any coffee. A French Press you say?”
“Don’t get too excited,” Kelly warned him with a laugh, “The beans come from the back room of a Costco we raided a while back. They were vacuum sealed but, you know, it’s been a while.”
“That will be just fine, Kelly,” Clark said gratefully. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“Excuse me,” Kelly slid past the Leftenant in the doorway and went to the kitchen. From the back counter she pulled an ornate shoebox sized wooden container, which she brought out and set on the coffee table between the men. When she opened it up their eyes grew as wide as if she had opened a pot of gold in front of them. She indicated the small packages stacked neatly inside and said, “There are a bunch of different kinds. Pick what you like. Sorry were almost out of the mint. That’s my favorite.”
“Aaah smell that aroma,” the Major said as he breathed in deeply through his nose. “That’s the smell of civilization my friends.”
The two tea drinkers leaned in and began sifting through the options.
“You heard the lady,” Clark advised as they combed through the selection. “Lay off the mint.”
“Roger that,” Windsor assented.
“I think I shall go with a simple Assam,” the Major decided pulling out a pack. “I swear I thought I’d never have tea again.”
“Ah! Here we are,” the Leftenant pulled out a pack of Twining’s Earl Grey. “Just like my great grand ma-ma used to serve.”
Kelly brought them some cups from the china cabinet and stepped outside to check on
the water. When she returned with the steaming tea pot in hand, their cups were readied and set out on the table. Pouring the boiling water over their tea bags she apologized, “I’m sorry we don’t have any creamer but we do have some sugar packets.”
“Think nothing of it,” Windsor said picking up the steaming mug of Earl Grey, “this is fine. You are too kind sharing your supplies like this. We really appreciate it.”
“Major,” Kelly inquired, “can I get you some sugar?”
“Ordinarily I take it NATO style,” the Major laughed, “but seeing as there seems to be a shortage of cows, I wouldn’t turn away a bit of sugar… if it’s not too much trouble?”
Kelly giggled at their extreme politeness and enthusiasm over the tea. She hadn’t encountered anyone with such manners since long before the fall of humanity. As she handed the sugar packets to the Major, the front door opened and Robbie walked in with the Color Sergeant.
“We got the lads billeted in some of the other flats on this floor,” the Sergeant announced as he came through the doorway. He slowed and guffawed with dramatic incredulity as he entered the sitting area and saw the officers sitting in comfort on the sofas, drinking tea. “What’s all this, then? Why am I not surprised to find the Officers lounging about drinking tea at the end of the world?”
“There, there, Color Sergeant.” The Major laughed. “Who are we to turn down these good people’s hospitality?”
“And all the more so, if it includes tea,” the Leftenant smiled while holding up his cup.
“And coffee,” Clark said as he stood up. “Robert, Kelly said something about you having a French Press?”
Robbie replied, “Yes, but I’m not very good with it. Do you know how to get it to work?”
“Oh, indeed I do,” Clark exclaimed, “please lead the way.”
“Ok,” Robbie motioned for Clark to follow him into the kitchen. “It’s over here.”
“Color Sergeant, do we have a watch set?” the Major asked while stirring his tea.