by Andrew Lauck
I was ten feet from the wall when I heard a shout from behind as a guard must have spotted me. Unfortunately for the one closest to me, I had no intention of trying to make it out of this maze. You see, one thing that I learned long ago is that there are situations where running is futile. It’s better to make a stand and be aggressive, because that’s the least expected reaction.
I ran forward and jumped at the last minute, reaching high with my knife as my body slammed into the wall. When I made this plan, I wasn’t sure if my shoulders would be up for it after I pulled them in the previous room, but I didn’t have time to figure out a new one. My knife cut deep into the wood, and I began to consider the possibility of it getting stuck, something I hadn’t thought of.
The metallic barrel of a rifle clanged on the rail as the guard tried to shoot me off, but I reached up and pulled his knee forward into the rail to throw him off balance. I pulled my body up with my left arm as I gripped the railing to swing over, planting my feet firmly on the catwalk.
Before the guard had a chance to recover, I lashed out with my boot and kicked him hard in the stomach. His body flew back, and he lost his hold on the rifle which slid across the flat metal until the barrel hung off the edge. The guard realized my plan and turned over, trying to crawl toward the rifle. I threw myself on top of him and brought my elbow down on his head, ricocheting his skull into the metal grate like a boxing dummy.
His body went limp, and I rushed over him on all fours to grab the rifle and throw myself forward again as a bullet grazed just past my ear. The son of a bitch across the way was shooting at me! I brought up my rifle and took aim, lying on my back along the catwalk. The trigger collapsed, and the guard went down clutching his kneecap, crying out in pain.
There was no time to celebrate, though, because the third guard was almost on top of me. I stood in a low crouch and tried to run the other way in time, but a bullet pinged off the rail in front of me, and I heard a laugh.
“Turn around, and take it like a man,” he said, sliding the bolt back into place as he racked in another round. I did as he said while trying to form a plan. I was grasping at straws, looking for anything that could change the situation, but there was nothing. The guy brought up his rifle and took aim, tilting his head to look past the barrel at me. “Any last words?”
“Fuck you?” I suggested. I’ve never given much thought to last words, but I guess that could be important. I’ll have to give it some thought. Another problem is that I was never good with begging, so I relied solely on my charming humor. That never seems to go over well when a guy has you dead to rights.
The guard grimaced and pulled the trigger…but nothing happened. He looked down to his rifle and pulled the trigger again. The hammer went down, but his gun was empty. I couldn’t help but laugh from relief, bringing up my own rifle. The guy’s eyes went wide, but I didn’t care.
“Take it like a man,” I mocked, squeezing my trigger. You know, I’ve never really been a fan of irony because most of the time it screws me over. This moment was no different. My rifle was out of bullets as well. I sighed and looked skyward, silently asking why these things happen to me, but then I remembered the kneecapped guard.
The guy across from me must have had the same thought, because we both turned to run at the same time. I was almost there, but the guard dove forward, and reached for the rifle. I threw my empty rifle at him like a javelin and hit him in the face, his head snapping back from the blow. His head was just tilting forward again as I tackled into him, flinging us both over the railing with the loaded rifle. Not my best idea…but what can I say? I was in the moment.
We rolled in mid-air, but I was able to get him under me just before we hit the ground. It wasn’t a particularly long fall, but the impact knocked the air out of his lungs and gave me the opportunity I needed to tighten my knuckles and punch him in the throat. I rolled away and felt as if were eighty as I put a hand on my knee to stand, coming up with the rifle ready.
I checked the chamber quickly, making sure there was at least one round in this piece of shit before I had to use it this time. The guard was having trouble breathing, so I eased back and chose not to waste my bullet since there was no telling when I’d need it. I moved back through the maze to my knife that was still stuck in the wall and pulled myself up once more, taking a second to pull the knife out of the wood and putting it in my pocket.
As I moved along the catwalk and located an exit, I heard the guard pleading with someone below me. Looking down, I saw the maze zombie fall on top of the guard. The guard struggled with it for a moment, pushing its face away with his arm, but then he shifted and his arm entered the zombie’s mouth as it bit down and tore away flesh. I briefly debated putting the guard out of his misery, but I didn’t know how many bullets the rifle had left or what the remaining odds were past this room, so I couldn’t afford to help.
“Sorry, man. No one deserves that.” I shook my head and strode across the catwalk, hoping the door was unlocked. The handle shifted down and the door pushed inward revealing yet another hallway. I walked through the long corridor, eventually seeing a bright light. I stepped out of the tunnel and finally felt the heat of the sun hit me for the first time in what felt like a year.
Of course, I was also welcomed by the sound of a gun being cocked off to my right.
Fuck my life.
Chapter 19
“Easy now, mister. Just set your rifle down and kick it over.” Bill stood off to the side with his gun trained on me. Behind him, once my eyes adjusted, I could see Matthew looking apologetically at me.
“Bill, always a pleasure.” I looked past him at the little bastard that betrayed me. “Matthew, I bet you’re feeling really uncomfortable right now.”
“Hey, I said put your gun—”
“Yeah, I heard what you said, Bill!” I yelled, bending slowly at the hip toward the ground. I was careful to shift my body at an angle that hid the fact that my finger remained on the trigger. The only problem was that I didn’t know how many bullets I had left after the one in the chamber. Steadying my aim as I neared the ground, I slowly pulled the trigger, and the rifle jerked back. Bill yelled wildly and Matthew jumped, giving me the time to bring the rifle back up and close the distance to Bill.
As I approached, Bill slid across the ground, and I could see that I hit him in the wrist. That wasn’t exactly where I was aiming, but I’d take it. He writhed around and gripped his bleeding hand, but as much as I found the situation amusing and befitting a “My, how the tables have turned,” I needed to get his attention.
“Bill, stop moving.” I moved so that the barrel was a foot from his face. He turned on his back to face me, his eyes betraying the fear that gripped him when he stared down the barrel. “Now, right about now you have to be asking yourself, ‘how many shots did he fire?’ I don’t know how many bullets this particular rifle had in it, so I don’t honestly know the answer. So, the real question you need to ask is do you feel lucky?”
Yes, I was channeling my inner Eastwood. I even had the whole grimace going on, but it couldn’t be helped. The situation fit perfectly, and it really is the little things like that moment that help me stay sane out here.
Bill’s lips were beginning to tremble, and he anxiously shook his head, crawling backward away from me and his gun.
“See, Bill, I’m a curious guy. I always have been, so we’re gonna play a little…” I tried to find the right word…“game, if you will. If I shoot and you die, then, well, you’re dead. If I shoot and you live, then you get to run that way,” I pointed in the direction opposite of where I thought the town was, hoping my geography wasn’t off from being underground for a while, “Until you find civilization. It’s a fifty-fifty shot.” I was quite pleased with myself on the ironic phrase.
“But…I’ll die out there. The zombies will kill me!” he pleaded. The sick bastard was actually trying to beg the man that he had just put through his twisted concept of entertainment.
“Bill, you really don’t want to go there with me right now. Now,” I didn’t need to aim down the sights, but the added effect was nice, “any last words, you son of a bitch?”
“I hope you’re out of ammo.” I had to give him credit. Few people could make what I took as a joke in their last moments on Earth. Pulling the trigger, I expected his head to become intermixed with the sand and dirt underneath him, but as luck would have it I was, in fact, out of ammo. With the absence of a gunshot, Bill opened his eyes and looked almost ecstatic to be alive.
Unfortunately for him, his rifle was loaded. While he had been busy pleading for his life, I had edged his rifle onto the tip of my boot. I kicked the rifle up into my hands while throwing down my spent weapon, aiming Bill’s rifle in the center of his forehead, and pulling the trigger. His head jerked back and his body slid a few inches in the dirt from the impact of the round at this range. I cocked the lever forward and back, sliding a new round into the chamber. The whole incident took place in only a few seconds.
I stood there for a moment motionless, listening to the wind as it whipped through the flat area, and watching Bill’s blood pool in the sand near his body. Looking up to the sky and squinting, I cocked my head slightly to the side.
“Matthew,” I addressed him, “despite your betrayal, I’m not going to kill you unless you force my hand.” I turned to face him and saw that he visibly relaxed, though his hands still shook. “However, I do need your help.”
“M-my help? What can I do?”
“I’m going back to that town, kid. I’m going to get Kat out of there, and that’s where you come in. You have to get her in Bill’s car and drive her here. After I’ve taken care of some things, I’ll meet you at this spot. Can you do that?” I stared blankly at him, knowing that if a no left his lips it would be the last thing he ever said.
Matthew nodded hesitantly. Maybe he was smarter than I gave him credit for.
“Good answer. “
“Aren’t you scared, though? They’ve probably already killed her, and if you go back they’ll kill you, too.”
I sighed and turned to face him, rubbing my hand through the back of my hair.
“Matthew, I’m honestly surprised that I’ve lived this long. The way I figure it, that bullet’s out there somewhere, whether it’s some insane cannibal or a zombie trying to decide how many licks it takes to get to the center of a human tootsie-pop. If I’m gonna die, it might as well be saving a girl that’s become the one good thing left in this world.” I looked out onto the expansive plane and watched the mountain in the distance waver from the heat like a fire was set at its base. “Besides, kid, I’ve got a promise to keep.”
Chapter 20
We found Bill’s car parked around back; Matthew pointed the way back to the road and took us in the direction of the town until we found the wind-blown trail. The thought reminded me of when Bill brought us here, renewing my anger as if it needed help. I drove us halfway up the side road before angling off the path and stopping on the other side of a small dune to avoid being seen by any potential guards Dawes had posted. I also didn’t want the sound of an engine to alert anyone, so I shut off the car. There would be no underestimation of the enemy on my part, because as much as I know I’m capable of the only way this plan would work is if I used patience. It’s not that I’d consider myself to be very virtuous, I just know if I walk into the middle of the town guns blazing, I’d be a dead man before I got anywhere near Katherine. Not to mention I had no idea where they were keeping her.
I climbed to the top, and observed the town for five minutes, checking for guards, obvious patterns, anything that would make my approach difficult. Apparently, Dawes was the one who had underestimated me since he hadn’t bothered putting any guards up. The arrogant bastard probably chalked me up to being a zombie’s bitch by now. I gave a mental finger to Dawes and slid back down the dune to Matthew, trying not to draw up too much dust as I did.
“Okay, here’s the plan. We’ll wait until it gets dark, and then I’ll move in quietly. Every outnumbered military in history has utilized the cover of darkness, and we’re no different. You wait here with the car while I get Kat. Once I find her, I’ll bring her back here, and you’ll drive her to the garage as fast as you can.”
“What about you? I can’t just leave you here…” The kid actually seemed concerned for my safety.
“Don’t worry about me, Matthew. Just focus on getting her out. Once you’re clear of the town, let’s just say Daddy’s gonna have a chat with some people.” I stopped for a second before locking eyes with him. “Oh, and if you touch her in any way that isn’t trying to help, I will tear you apart with my bare hands when I get to the garage.”
Back with my wife, I had always wanted a daughter so that I could screw with the boyfriends. I had all these plans to scare the shit out of them when they came knocking on my door. Apparently, despite the change of setting and the method, the look on Matthew’s face told me that it all came down to fear, and it was priceless. I reached out and smacked his face.
“Now, come on. We’ve only got one shot at this, so let’s do it right.”
Chapter 21
Night
While most children were scared of the dark, I relished it. I used to lay awake at night and just stare into the darkness, unable to make out anything in the pitch black of my room. It allowed a certain concentration, because I thought of nothing but that darkness. I don’t know why, but it was always so peaceful and quiet that it brought a sort of calm to everything. In this case, I think it was a mixture of the night’s natural peace, and my own resolve at getting Katherine out of the town no matter what.
I left Matthew and moved in over the dune. He looked nervous, and I don’t think he’d be too useful in a combat situation, but he knew what was at stake here, so I had no doubt he would come through. I crossed the open ground quickly, watching my footing in the dim moonlight, and staying low. I had Bill’s rifle with me, but I would try to avoid using it and waking up the whole town. It occurred me to me that I could have forced Kat’s location out of Bill, but I was a little preoccupied at the time with my escape plan. Besides, I was sure one of the nice people of the town would help me.
Sneaking low through the shadows cast behind the looming structures of the town, I checked around the first house I came across. The lights were off, and there were no signs that anyone was home, with cobwebs strewn about and cracks in the furniture. I moved cautiously to the next house and was almost at the window when a light came on inside, illuminating the outside and bathing me in a warm glow.
Rather than panicking, I slid my body out of the light and moved to the door. Turning the knob slightly, I cursed to find it was locked and kept working my way around the perimeter. There was a window on the opposite side of the house from where the light came on, so I decided to risk it. It wasn’t latched, and I saw no apparent traps, so I slid it open slowly. As it was almost open enough for me to slip inside, the hinges creaked, and I closed my eyes in frustration.
I quickly pushed my body through the opening, and shut it behind me, moving into the shadows behind a small cabinet. I had to force my body into an awkward crouch to conceal myself behind the cabinet and knowing that any prolonged length of time in this position would result in cramping. Before I got the chance to adjust or find another location to hide in, though, muffled footsteps entered the room.
The vibrations from the footfalls beat in the wooden flooring as they moved across the room, and someone lit a match. In seconds, the room was cast in a disturbing light from a lantern that was being carried in my direction. The footsteps stopped a few feet from my cabinet, and I heard a male grunt of approval at the window before the latch clicked into place.
I edged my body around the cabinet and saw a rugged-looking man standing in front of the window. At this angle, all I could make out were his rough beard and his average height and build. With the reassurance that even in my exhausted state I could take him, I inched mysel
f toward him and readied to strike with the knife from my time in Bill’s game. Once I was close enough, I lunged forward and slipped my hand under his throat, pressing the blade into his skin enough to draw blood.
“I’m going to ask you one question, and your answer will determine if you live or die. Keep your voice down, though, because I’m feeling mighty twitchy, and any loud noise could end in your death. Nod if you understand.” I waited for his response, and when he didn’t nod, I prompted an answer by bringing the blade closer against his bared throat. The man nodded quickly.
“Alright, now where is Dawes keeping Katherine?” Upon the mention of her name, I felt his body stiffen, and his breathing increased. “Well?”
“I-I…honestly don’t know, man. Please…let me go.”
“What the hell do you mean, you don’t know? Were you asleep for the past two days or something?” I tried my best to control my impatience, because my hand kept wanting to slice the bastard open.
“I mean, Dawes kept that hidden from most of us. He didn’t trust us to not try something with her.” I guess Dawes at least had some concept of respect as diluted as it was.
“Okay, then who can tell me, and where can I find them?”
“Robert’s the one you want. He’s Dawes’ right-hand man. Rob lives across from me, one house to the left. Please believe me, that’s all I know.”
“I believe you, guy. The problem is that if I let you go, you’ll tell everyone I’m here, and I can’t have that.” I swept the blade cleanly under his chin, and he collapsed clutching his throat, blood seeping out between his fingers and dripping onto the floor around his body. I rubbed the blade on his shirt and stuffed it into my pocket once more.
I didn’t trust that one random townsperson to not be staring out their window, so I went back out the way I came in, and immediately noticed that a downpour had started. The sheets of rain cutting through the night helped to conceal my approach, and I made it to Robert’s house in no time. I saw that the window was open and decided to go with it since the idea had worked so well the first time. Of course, the torrential rain worked both ways.