Parasite; The True Story of the Zombie Apocalypse
Page 18
This roof was not going to be our death trap! Sitting by the door, I looked over at the tarp and tried to decide how thin I could cut the plastic material so that the strips would still bear our weight. It would need to stretch about three floors, or at least near enough that we would be able to drop to the pavement without risking serious injury. In the world today, an ankle injury would most likely be a death sentence.
The other problem was that we were getting weaker by the moment. The total lack of food for the last few days not only made us dizzy and lethargic, but we were losing our physical strength. If we waited any longer than morning, would we be able to climb down the makeshift rope?
I could hear the infected on the other side of the roof pawing at the steel-sheathed door. Moans escaping through the barrier caused goosebumps to rise on my arms and neck. My friends had retreated to the shady side of the roof.
I checked the edge of the pocketknife to test its sharpness. As I drew it across my fingertip, I didn't even feel the razor-sharp edge dig a little too deep. A drop of blood rose to the surface. A moment later, the sick people on the other side of the door positively attacked the metallic surface. They clawed at the door as if in desperation.
At first, I drew back in terror. But as the situation dawned on me, I became increasingly curious. I guess I'd been hanging around my husband a little too long, because I slowly rose to my feet. Leaning back against the cool surface of the brick wall, I gave myself a few moments for the world to stop spinning, then stepped toward the chained and locked door.
The fury of the predators on the other side increased. I literally thought I could see the metal barring their way vibrating with each attack. Then it dawned on me. It was moving. The doorframe set into the mortar and brick structure was coming loose. Eventually, it would break free, allowing the infected trapped on the other side access to the rooftop and everything there, including us.
I spun on my stocking-covered heel and sprinted for the others.
Chapter 18
Henry