E52

  Bill turns and opens the window again, takes me by the shoulders and turns me to face outside.

  “If it was, it is to late now!” he snarls.

  The man, that was just seconds before way ahead of the mob is now only a few inches from the closest Creetion. He is quickly taken over and within a matter of seconds surrounded by at least twenty of the older ones. The man has no way of escape.

  “I can’t watch,” I cry and turn my head away from the window.

  Bill stands in silence but, just for a moment.

  “What are they doing?” he questions.

  “They are getting ready to eat him,” I snap. “What do you think they are doing?”

  Squinting his eyes, Bill looks over at me.

  “I don’t think so,” he states. “Look.”

  He is right. They only have them surrounded, keeping him hostage like a gang of bullies. The man screams for help, but we are the only ones that can help and the two of us are no match for the army of Creetions that are outside. I feel helpless.

  “Why don’t they just eat him and get it over with?” I ask, tears streaming down my cheeks.

  “I think they are keeping him there until the younger ones get there,” he states.

  ‘What do you mean?” I ask.

  Bill slightly opens the window a tad more.

  “If you look over there you can see some of the younger ones coming, and the older ones still are not doing anything. That has to be what is happening.” he states.

  We continue to watch. As the young get closer to the man they begin to walk faster until they are running like the others. They can smell his live flesh and want it.

  “Oh my God!” I scream out.

  As the children reach the man, the older of the infected walkers move away, allowing the children to feast. The children take small bites, ripping through his flesh. With every bite they take the man screams louder, begging for his life.

  I plug my ears.

  “Shoot them,” I demand Bill.

  “I can‘t,” Bill answers. “It will draw their attention to here.”

  The man is silent now.

  Before they devour the man completely the elders take the children away, but continue to stand over the mans lifeless body.

  “Now what are they doing?” I ask.

  The entire group continues to stand over the man. They are waiting for something, but what they are waiting for I am uncertain of.

  “I think they are waiting for him to change like them,” Bill suddenly states.

  His statement makes no sense to me. How could these Creetions, these people who are of the walking dead, know to only eat part of a person and then wait for them to change to be part of their gang.

  “Do you really think that they are smart enough to do that?” I ask.

  Bill points toward the group of Zombies. They are walking toward our building again.

  “Where is the man?” I ask.

  “I think that is him there,” He states.

  By the abundance of fresh blood oozing from his torn flesh it is obvious that he is the newest of the group.

  Determined to find out if my husband is one of the men in the group I continue to search through the crowd.

  “I don’t think it is David,” I state aloud. “From here he looks a little shorter than David.”

  I glance over, but Bill is no longer standing next to me.

  “Get the baby,” He whispers in a frantic tone.

  Bill is standing at the door with his ear pressed against the wood.

  “I can hear movement outside,” he whispers. “We need to get out of here!”

  My heart skips a beat then rapidly pounds in my chest. Some of the Creetions have entered the building while we were watching what was happening outside.

  “Now!” he screams.

  Someone can be heard from outside of the door that Bill is standing at. Walking lightly I make my way over to the baby and slowly pick him up. I am afraid that if he wakes he will begin to cry, attracting more attention to us.

  “Where do we go?” I ask. “Last time I looked the Creetions were right outside the building.”

  Every inch of my body is shaking intensely.

  Bill so intent in listening to what is happening outside the door that he does not hear me.

  I take the gun that Bill had left lying on the couch and walk toward where he is standing. I am scared out of my mind and don't want to be even a few feet away from him.

  Suddenly someone slams against the door. The noise catching me off guard I leap back, I trip over my own foot and fall to the ground. The gun misfires and shoots a bullet through the door, missing Bill by mere inches. The pounding at the door ceases.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Bill growls.

  I look down, the fall has woken the baby. He stretches.

  “I am so sorry,” I answer. “I tripped.’

  Bill walks over , helps me up and picks up the gun from the floor.

  “I think it would be best if I keep hold of this,” He states.

  My mouth drops open and my eyes tear up. The man I had shot is now in the room.

  “What?” Bill asks, glaring at me.

  Paralyzed, I can not move, I can not talk.

  “Myrna, What is wrong with you?’ He asks again.

  Tears fill my eyes as I watch the man that I love hold his chest, blood seeping from between his fingers. He falls to the ground.

  “No!” I scream. “David!”

  I rush to his side.

  David has fell in such a manner that half his body is blocking the doorway.

  “Help me!” I yell.

  Beyond the door where David lies the Creetions can be seen down the hall. I am trying to move David away from the door but he is to heavy. If I do not get the door shut, soon we will all become victim.

  “Oh shit!” Bill screams.

  Bill rushes over, grabs David by the arms and pulls.

  “Hurry!” I scream.

  Two of the older zombies are just inches from the David’s feet.

  “Pull!” I scream.

  With the power of two men Bill tugs at David’s arms one more time. David is free from the door, I slam it.

  “It wont shut!” I yell in a panic.

  The door is being blocked from closing. I glance over. The fingers of one of the Creetions are keeping the door from shutting and locking.

  “I got it!” Bill states, slamming his body against the door.

  The pressure of his body causes the creatures fingers to snap in half, allowing the door to close.

  “David,” I think to myself, my heart pounding.

  There is no time to waste. I must get to my husband. I lay the baby down next to his lifeless body and with the help of Bill I turn David over so that he is facing me. I lay my head on his chest and listen for his heartbeat.

  “I can hear it,” I state aloud. “He is still alive.”

  His heart is beating at a slowed pace, but it is still beating.

  “David,” I whisper, laying beside him. “I am so sorry. Please do not die.”

  His eyes flutter.

  “That’s it. Listen to my voice and stay with us,” I beg.

  David’s eyes open. They are dull and lifeless.

  “Don’t die. I love you,” I chant, starring in his eyes.

  A slight grin appears on David’s face.

  “I have the medicine,” He whispers. It is in my pocket.”

  I feel the front pockets of the work shirt he has on. At first I do not feel anything but suddenly I find a syringe and a vile of medicine tucked in a smaller pocket.

  “That is for the baby,” He coughs. “I love you. I am so sorry for what I have done.”

  Blood escapes from his mouth, splattering onto my face. He is dying and it will only be a matter of seconds before he is gone.

  “Hand me the baby,” I demand to Bill.

  “What?” He asks. “he is already dead, he will never acknowledge him.


  “Just hand me the damn baby!” I scream.

  Bill leans over, takes the baby in his arms and hands him to me.

  “I hope your hungry,” I whisper.

  Bill stares at me, confused.

  “What are you doing?” he asks.

  Ignoring Bill, I scratch deep into David’s neck and then place the baby close to the fresh wound. Instantly the baby begins to suckle on the fresh blood, biting deep into his flesh.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Bill asks again.

  It is obvious by the tone of his voice that he is angered, but I do not care. I killed my husband but I will not allow him to die.

  Keeping my plan to myself I continue to allow the baby to feast. I am hoping that either the poison from my scratch or the venom from the baby’s bite will turn him into one of the Creetions If it works he will not be devoured by the others and will remain looking like “my David.”.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Bill screams. “You are trying to change him to be like one of them?”

  “Look!” I snarl. “If we leave him here like this they will turn him anyway but he will be mauled first. If this works he will continue to be the handsome man I loved and not torn into pieces and eaten by the other monsters. By the time they reach him he will be like them.”

  Disgusted, Bill shakes his head.

  “Yeah, until he starts to decay,” He says beneath his breath.”

  He glares at me.

  “If you believe that you or your son can change someone into a flesh-eating piece of shit like the people right outside the door, then I am not sure that I should help you anymore,” He snaps. ‘What is to stop you from getting mad at me and either scratching me yourself or your little monster attacking me?”

  In my heart I know why I am doing this. The thought of David dying because of me and possibly being eaten by the monsters he was trying to save me and our baby from is hard to bare .

  “I would never do that,” I state, tears flowing down my face. “I just can’t handle the thought of David being torn to pieces.”

  Glancing up at Bill I let my tears to flow freely.

  “Why can’t you understand that?” I ask.

  Bill paces back and forth rubbing his face with the palm of his hands.

  “I have the medicine now,” I state, holding up the syringe and vile for Bill to see. “I will give the medicine to the baby and some to me. We will both be healed.”

  “Do it now!” he demands. “Or your not coming with me!”

  The redness that has taken over his milky white flesh indicates the seriousness that Bill is feeling. For the first time since I have been with Bill I feel that the baby and my life are in danger from him.

  “Okay I will do it now,” I state.

  I have been so occupied arguing with Bill that I had realized that the baby was still eating on David’s neck, chewing on it to the point that half his neck is now gone. The baby is a bloody mess. My stomach sickens and I begin to wonder if I did the right thing, but I do not let Bill see my concern.

  I move the baby away from David and rest him to the side of me. My hands are shaking but I manage to get the covering off the needle.

  “Girl, you better hurry!” Bill yells.

  I glance up. The door to where David had entered is quickly becoming overcome by the Creetions. The wood door is no match to the power of their bodies. The wood cracks with every hit it endures.

  “I’m trying!” I cry.

  Now more than ever I am shaking. I try to keep my emotions under control but I can’t. I am scared to death.

  “Bill, I think we have a worst issue!” I scream, leaping up from my sitting position.

  David is already coming back from the dead. A yellow foam escapes from his mouth as he begins to groan. He opens his eyes and reaches for the baby. I snatch him from his side and take a step back.

  “Run!” Bill screams.

  I glance around. The front door is no longer an option.

  “Over here!” He screams. “And don’t forget the medicine!”

  For the last time I look down at David.

  “I love you,” I whisper.

  With the baby in hand and the medicine tucked within my front pocket I run to where Bill awaits.

  “You can’t go down,” He states. “We will have to go to the roof, go to the other side of the building and climb down the tree. It is our only option.”

  Glancing down at the ground below us I can see that he speaks the truth. The entire area from where the stairs end is bombarded by the creatures.

  After tucking the baby between me and my shirt I tie the ends together to ensure that the baby will not slip out. I know I am taking a chance of being bit, but it is a chance I will have to take. I cannot climb and hold the baby at the same time.

  “Okay I am ready,“ I state.

  Taking my hand, Bill helps me to the edge of the window seal. I hold the baby tight as I reach with my left hand and firmly grab the railing.

  As Bill releases me I slip. My fingernails dig deep into his wrist. He releases me, and I am able to grasp the railing successfully.

  “Wonderful!” he states sarcastically, grabbing my arm.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, his sudden act of aggression catching me off guard.

  “I want the medicine,” He states.

  “Why?” I ask.

  “You just scratched me. There is no way I am going to become one of them,” He snaps.

  My heart skips a beat.

  “But I don’t even know if my scratch will turn you,” I state. “I…..

  “Now!” He yells.

  Every bit of my body is shaking, making me feel weakened. With sadness in my heart, I look at Bill. I do not want to give him the only thing that will save my baby.

  Slowly I reach in my pocket and grab the syringe. I close my eyes and reach out; I can not bare watching the only hope I have given to a man that may not even need the cure.

  “Here,” I state, reaching out to hand the medicine to Bill.

  A sudden gunshot startles me. I drop the syringe. The medicine lands in the brush below us.

  “What was that?” I ask.

  “I shot your husband.” He answers, he tone uncaring. “He was coming out way.”

  Fresh tears fill my eyes as reality slams into me like a brick wall. My husband is gone.

  “Move!” Bill screams.

  “But I dropped the medicine,” I state between sobs.

  Bill glances down.

  “Well there is no way we can get it now,” He snarls. “They have almost busted through the door, we got to go now and we have to go up.”

  Disheartened, I climb up the old metal stairs to the roof. It is hot outside and with the fires raging around us it feels like it is 120 degrees on the roof. Sweat drips down my forehead and into my eyes, causing them to burn.

  “Which way?” I ask.

  “What do you mean?” Bill asks.

  I tilt my head and look at him in confusion.

  “How do we get to the Jeep from here?” I continue.

  Bill begins to pace, making me nervous.

  “I just don’t know Myrna. Right now I am a little worried that I have been poisoned by your scratch,” He states, continuing to pace. “I am kind of waiting to see if I am going to change.”

  The thought of having to fight off Bill if he turns worries me. I glance around trying to find a way of escape if something like that were to happen. I spot his gun, resting in a holster on his side.

  “Don’t even think about it,” He states. “I am not going to take the chance of you shooting me by accident,”

  I glance around again. There is one tree that reaches past the roof. I pray that is the tree that the Jeep is resting under.

  “Is that how we are getting down?” I ask, walking over to the tree.

  Bill nods his head as he sits under a branch that reaches over the edge, resting in the only shade that the roof has to offer.

  “You might as w
ell sit down and wait with me,” He states. “If I die and begin to turn then and only then do I want you to take the gun from my side and shoot me. You must shoot me in the head or I will not die.”

  Bill appears calmer now, so I sit down next to him.

  “David turned fast,” I suddenly state and the men that I scratched in the hospital died within minutes of my scratch. So I am sure if something is going to happen it will happen real soon.”

  Afraid of the outcome I find that I can not look away from him. I watch everything he does, listen to ever word that he says, analyzing his every move. There is no changes in his attitude, look, or move. He is fine.

  Hours pass by. I am scared, tired and hot. Since I am no longer waiting for my husband, I want off this roof…off this compound and as far away from here as I can get.

  “I think your okay,” I state, placing my hand on Bill’s shoulder.

  He flinches.

  “I think you are right,” He answers. “At least we know you are no longer infected. Just keep the baby away from me and we will be okay.”

  We both stand and glance down the tree. The roof of the Jeep can be seen from here and from where we stand it appears that there is no Creetions around. The only problem being is that the limbs are small up here and do not look like they would be able to support a small child, nevertheless a grown adult.

  Knowing there is no other option I stand on the edge of the building and grab the largest one I can find. My plan of action is to jump and hope that by some miracle I am able to catch a limb that will support me and from there I will be able to climb down safely, all the while keeping the baby safe from harm's way.

  “What are you doing?” Bill asks.

  In great detail I explain to him my plan on how to get down to the Jeep. He laughs.

  “Do you really think that is going to work?” he asks.

  “I don’t know, but I don’t see any other option.” I answer.

  Placing his the palm of his hand on the side of his face, Bill appears to be in deep thought.

  “It is only two stories so I don’t think we will die if we fall, what I am worried about is breaking a leg or something and not being able to get away from the Creetions if they hear us,” He states. “Let me think about this for a moment.”

  The entire time we were hiding upstairs I was under the impression that Bill had this whole way of escape figured out. I guess he missed some details.