“We’re going to play a game Darlin’. It’s called Marco-Polo. I'm going to put this blind fold over your eyes and hold you, I need you to say Marco and as long as you hear me say Polo, know that I'm right here and you are completely safe, okay?” John reassured her. Everlynn nodded and he put the blindfold over her eyes, pushed her long blonde hair out of the way and tied the shirt behind her head.
“Marco?” Raelynn quivered, her small dainty fingers touching the blindfold. John smiled.
“Polo.” He replied softly, pulling her into his arms and standing up. Everlynn snuggled against him, whispering Marco every few seconds as he replied Polo. Phoenix put James back in the capsule then turned to put on a pack of his own, Raelynn subconsciously grabbed James then led them out the door, her wary eyes checking every inch of the darkened hallway before stepping into it, grateful for the light coming in from the window at the end. They made a left towards the stairs, trying to get out of the building as quickly as possible but as they got closer to the lobby, so did the screams and growls. Rae stopped, holding her hand out to stop the others from moving ahead of her. She peered around the corner of the stairs, looking down into what was once the grand lobby, but was not any longer. It was a bloodbath. Pools of blood decorated the floor with bodies littering the foyer. Screaming, limping staff who hadn’t yet been attacked were running away but were chased down quickly. Zombies falling on them and taking each one down, tearing the flesh from their bones, spurting blood from their veins, repainting the walls in its deep red. Rae held in her gasp and looked back at the others with a shake of her head. She turned back, trying to see a clear path but there wasn’t one through the chaos. The staff began convulsing and turning beneath them and just as Rae was thinking of making a run for it, she remembered the capsule in her hand. They wouldn’t all make it. They had to find another way out. Cursing under her breath, Rae urged the others back upstairs, just as their presence became known to the few frothing, gnashing zombies at the bottom of the stairs.
“Go, go, go!” Rae screamed as the zombies scrambled up the stairs for them. The others ran back up the stairs, with her pushing them faster and John still muttering Polo to a shaking Everlynn. Rae moved ahead of the others as she tried to find a fire exit of some kind, but it was too dark, and the halls all looked the same. Her heart was racing, her veins throbbing with effort as her blood tried to circulate instead of freeze in fear. She couldn’t let that happen, she had Nix, Everlynn and even the baby relying on her to get them out. She couldn’t fail them like she had Jake. Rae looked back, the zombies were faster than she had learned from her horror movie fetish, and they were almost up to the landing where they stood. Rae surged forward, leading the group down the left hall, towards the elevator at the end. The window at the end of the other hall was the last option and she was pretty sure John would rather fight his way out than make that jump. He wasn’t far enough down his whiskey bottle for that kind of option. So, the elevator direction was her most viable plan. The power outage meant it wouldn’t work but at least they might find a stairwell close or simply hide in it until the zombies had run out of food and left. There was also the tube above the elevator that they might be able to climb but for her, that was not an option she wanted to explore if she could help it. Too many movies with missing limbs from elevator tubes that seemed like a good choice until the power came back on, had made her very aware that they were not as good an option as they seemed. Raelynn squinted through the darkness towards the elevator, shaking off the fear that rattled through her bones so she could concentrate on getting them out-with all their limbs. The further they got from the window at the other end, the harder it was to see and the more daunting the elevator seemed to be. They ran forward despite the darkness, her breaths heavy in her chest as she wished the zombies weren’t so close, so she had time to pull out her phone for a torch, but that wasn’t possible. It would only take a few seconds for them to catch up and she wasn’t about to let that happen. They were halfway down the long hall when Rae cringed at the sounds that burst through the chaos. James’ cry. A small wail that pierced her racing heart, drowning out the noises of the zombies and the screams of their victims. Rationally, she knew she had to keep him quiet because as his wail turned higher in volume, so did the creatures growling but her reasons were purely selfish, she wanted him quiet because it hurt too much to hear. But James crying was the least of her problems in the next moment, when they were stopped from reaching the elevator by a screaming man running out of one of the rooms, with his face peeling and bleeding and three zombies chasing after him. He was taken out by the zombies, only three doors down and as the zombies ripped through the man’s flesh, scrambling to get a bite before the others, Rae froze. They were trapped. Zombies were ahead of them, only distracted because there was their favourite food bleeding out in front of them but the zombies behind them were coming up fast. She didn’t know whether it was because of the fresh metallic blood scent, or because James was still crying but either way, they were close and there was nowhere to run.
Panic swelled in her mind, sweat began to spot over her forehead, they had to get out.
“Rae, what do we do?” Nix urged in a trembling whisper. Rae looked at him with wide eyes, then down to the crying baby. If she distracted the zombies behind them, then the others could get to safety in the elevator or the stairwell and get out when it was clear. It was the only thing left. Rae clenched her jaw and looked back up into Nix’s eyes and he read her like a book. She tried to hand him the capsule, but he shook his head and stepped back. “Don’t you dare. We’re getting out of here together.” Nix bit then looked around for an option as John pulled out his gun aiming it at the zombies that were surging towards them, growling and snarling. He knew they were trapped too. Rae thought about just running towards the zombies and then Nix wouldn’t be able to stop her but the look in his eyes said he would do everything he could to stop her from following through on her plan and she couldn’t risk him getting hurt. So, they would have to fight. Rae nodded slowly then turned to the group chowing down on the now silent man on the floor. She aimed her gun at them as John brought up the rear. They didn’t have enough time to load extra ammo, so there was a real chance they wouldn’t be able to take them all out with guns, but Nix was ready with a knife in his shaking hand. Rae wasn’t the only one prepared to do whatever it took to get out, whether for the kids like her, or for their own reasons; they weren’t going to go down easily. Rae aimed for the first zombie, about to take her shot, her breaths sharp as she pushed down the fear bubbling in her stomach that using guns was going to draw more to them. Her finger curled around the trigger, she squinted through the sight on the gun, her aim at the head of the first zombie, eating what looked like an arm. She pulled in a breath and just as she was about to release it with the trigger, the door on their right swung open.
Chapter Eight
“Get in here, now!” The man who had opened the door, called out. Rae didn’t hesitate. She lowered her gun and ran into the room, everyone following her in then ramming up against the door to slam it shut, just as the zombies reached it. Scratching, growling and attacking the door, but it was no match for the heavy set of drawers the man and Nix pushed in front of it. Raelynn let out a sigh of relief then turned to the man who had let them in with a gun aimed at him. He was wearing a fitted suit, with black hair that was brushed back. He had a friendly face, wearing a side smirk as he looked at her gun and his small tight eyes were crinkled at the sides. His amusement irked her. This was no game. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets, his tall body relaxing against the dresser.
“Do you want me to tell you how to get out of here before or after you shoot me?” The guy smirked, his perfect, straight teeth baring. Rae narrowed her eyes on him.
“Depends. Have you taken any drugs in the last couple of days and were you bit?” She demanded.
“No and No. Have you?”
“No. Why did you let us in?” She questioned warily. He
shrugged, nodding his head towards the baby.
“Because we were about to leave but we heard the baby. Now, I was happy to get outta here anyway but my sister wasn’t about to leave while there was a baby crying.” The man admitted walking over to the other side of the room where there was a younger girl with a round face and the same narrow eyes as him, and the same black hair as him. Hers was a straight, shoulder length bob though and she had a tiny petite frame that was the opposite of his strong one. She also had a more preppy choice of clothing, with a pleated burgundy skirt, a loose yellow blouse and a black blazer that matched her black stockings and flats. His black and white suit contradicted her colourful attire and yet they could have been twins.
“I appreciate you letting us in here, but I need to know if you have had any drugs in the past few days or been bitten?” Rae asked turning the gun to point at the girl. Her heart clenched at what she had been made to become. Pointing guns at girls that couldn’t be older than sixteen, was not who she was and yet she had to make sure they were safe. Apparently, the man had the same protective instinct. He stood in front of his sister, who blushed and cowered behind her brother who was much taller than her. She peered out from behind his arm as the brother glared at Rae.
“Take your gun off my sister or I will not help you out of here, baby or not. I am a nice guy, I swear but threaten my sister and I will change that. We’re both clean.” The guy swore. Rae’s jaw clenched, she didn’t trust people, especially ones she didn’t know, and she would have pressed for more answers, but John stepped in.
“Fine. We’re all good. Can we go now before the ravenous, human eating creatures out there, break through that door? We can all shoot each other later.” John scolded, his gaze staring pointedly at Rae. She glanced between John and the siblings before sighing and resting her arm and gun at her side.
“How do we get out?” She asked. He looked towards the window.
“Fire escape.” He said walking over and showing Rae the landing with the ladder leading down into an alley across from the carpark of the hotel, which was where they needed to get to. Rae nodded and began sending the others down the ladder one by one, until there was only her left. Sucking in a breath she glanced passed the others on the ladder down to the cold, hard concrete below and wondered whether it would be worth fighting her way out instead of attempting to climb down and risk falling. Nix looked back up at her, his gentle smile encouraging her.
“This isn’t like the tree from when we were ten, Rae. You won’t fall” He reassured. Rae offered a tight smile and grasped the first rung of the ladder.
“You said I wouldn’t fall that time too.” Rae reminded. Nix chuckled, waiting for her to start climbing before continuing down.
“Yeah but I was ten, give me a break. I was above you as well and couldn’t catch you. This time is different. I won’t let you fall, Rae. I’ll catch you.” He promised. Rae clenched her eyes shut, hanging onto his words as comfort then began to climb down with shaky legs. Each rung on the ladder became easier and easier with Nix just below her, looking up every few seconds to check on her. She knew he meant what he said and knowing that he would catch her, knowing that she was safe was the best feeling she’d had in a long time.
She jumped off the last rung to where the others were standing. John handed back the capsule that had been passed down and snuggled Evelynn closer into him. She took the capsule reluctantly, wishing they would stop handing it to her. Raelynn clutched it tightly despite her hesitancy and looked out of the alley to see if it was clear. She wished she hadn’t. It was clear of zombies, but there was one thing she was more scared of than those creatures. Her husband.
José’s car screeched around a corner, swerving into the carpark. Rae gasped and slammed herself back against the wall in the alley, clenching her eyes shut, her mind flashing with her husband’s face. He’d had his sunglasses on, so she wasn’t sure if he had seen her, but she heard the car door slam shut so she needed to know what direction he was going. She bit her lip as the group looked at her with a questioning glance.
“Is it clear?” Nix asked. Rae pulled in a deep breath, trying to hide the fact that her heart was racing, and her mind was having a complete shutdown.
“Uh, there’s no zombies.” She breathed. He frowned at her as the group accepted her information and moved forward.
“We have a van parked across the lot, we can all fit.” The brother said. John nodded for them and they all took off across the parking lot towards the van. Everyone except Raelynn who couldn’t make her feet move out of the alley. Something that Nix picked up on. His hand closed around hers as he tried to pull her away from the wall. She didn’t budge. Phoenix frowned.
“Move Raelynn, c’mon we have to go before those things get out of the hotel.” He tugged. Rae shook her head quickly, refusing to elaborate. “I am really opposed to becoming chomper chow, Rae. Come on!” He begged. Rae shook her head again, risking a glance around the corner to where José was walking across the parking lot, phone to his ear, speaking rapid Spanish as he yanked his sunglasses from his face and tucked them into the front of his button up shirt. Rae cringed at the memories of him doing that at home. Her heart rate picked up. Her wrist throbbed in response. She rubbed the purple bruise softly.
“No, just go.” She tremored. Nix shook his head at her, pressing back against the wall with her.
“If you stay, we have to stay.” Nix manipulated. She frowned at him and was about to respond when she realized what he had said. ‘We’ as in him, her and the baby who laid content with his pacifier in the capsule. James. She cursed under her breath through a clenched jaw. She had to get James to that van, she couldn’t let José kill another baby, hers or not. She looked at Nix, he hadn’t known how well that would work but he had known her enough to trust her not to leave a baby to fend for itself. Damn him.
“Low blow Nix. Low blow.” She whispered. He shrugged.
“Maybe but it had to work and once we are through this, you are going to tell me what keeps making you get that look on your face.” He said.
“What look?”
“Terror.” He revealed. Rae gulped; she couldn’t go there yet. She cleared her throat without an answer then peered around the wall of the alley. José stormed up to the building swinging open the door and entering the hotel. Smirking a little at what was going to greet him in there, Rae turned to Nix, clutching the capsule tightly.
“You coming?” She said then ran across the parking lot to where the others were reaching the van. Nix followed closely behind, his track skills from high school obviously still there as he kept up with her easily.
The brother had the door waiting and open for them to launch into. They did, and he slammed the door behind them, running back around to the driver’s side. Rae strapped James in the middle seat between her and Nix, then had just clicked her seatbelt in when the brother swung the car out of the carpark. She sighed in relief, sitting back in her seat, closing her eyes and relaxing her head against the head rest before taking a deep breath to steady herself and looking out the window at the hotel. She hated José for what he had done to her and James but seeing the spatter of blood against the doors had her heart clenching again. She wasn’t sure she wanted him dead, to suffer, sure but dead? She couldn’t say. All she knew is that she was glad they had made it out and just had to hope they could keep outrunning the epidemic right through to Colorado.
“I've always wanted to be in a zombie apocalypse and look at me now, already have my own little apocalypse family.” The brother interrupted her thoughts with his. She glanced over at his face-wide grin and raised her eyebrows at him. He was insane, the zombie apocalypse was not a game and the fact that her mother and husband had been the cause of it, meant she was definitely not sharing his excitement.
“Oh, where are my manners? I should probably introduce us. I’m Kenji Cho and this is my sister, Jenny.” He smiled.
“Seriously?” John groaned from the backseat where he was squ
ished in with Everlynn on his lap, her face leaning on his chest, his bottle of whiskey already in the cup holder next to him. He was a solid man though, and his big body was looking quite compact in the small space of the back seats. Rae only just held back her chuckle as Nix full blown cackled at Johns frame hunched over “A minivan, Kenji Cho, really?” He shuddered in disgust. Kenji snickered at the jibe.
“Well, I wasn't really prepared to search my dead father's pockets for his Jag keys.” He shrugged. “His headless corpse sort of put me off.”
Nix’s eyebrows shot up in reaction to Kenji’s words, his face scrunched with the thought.
“Why the fuck was your dad headless?” He exclaimed.
“Well you know the whole zombie thing? Well Pa died, I mean yeah, I'm sad he's dead but like I wasn't in any mood to be his next meal. Anyway, just after he turned, he ripped into Ma before he came after Jenny. My Pa was in big kahoots with the crowd making the drug that made everyone a little zombie like, so he and ma got first dibs on the drug before it was even released. We've been on the road for a while.” Kenji confessed as though it hardly phased him. Rae guessed he had been adjusting since it happened, but he seemed too cavalier about the situation for her liking.
“That doesn’t answer the headless question?” Rae prompted. Kenji sighed.
“I had to kill him, to protect Jenny. I went after him with the axe from the boot when he went after her. If it weren't for Jenny, I’d have popped myself off after that, but I have to live to protect my sister.” He explained and as much as it probably seemed cold, Rae related to it on a level that none of them understood. She ignored his explanation, agreeing with his reasoning then introduced everyone. He said the usual ‘Hi’ back then they all dropped the conversation, processing things in their own silent ways and after about ten minutes of silence, Kenji spoke.
Survival Instincts (Book 1): Sacrifice Page 9