The Last Alive

by H. L. Wampler

  “Damn. Emma is right. It’s too risky,” Liz said, shaking her head.

  “We need to get into one of these buildings and block ourselves off until morning.” Taz looked around examining the decrepit places around us.

  “Where do you think we should go?” Meaghan looked around at the crumbling abandoned buildings. None of them look particularly appealing.

  “Somewhere secure and safe where we can barricade a room off.” I also scanned the buildings along the street.

  A lot of them were overrun with weeds, falling down, or just looked like there may be an unwelcomed surprise or two inside.

  “None of these look to great,” Nathan mumbled.

  I smiled when I spotted my favorite place in the entire city before everything was destroyed.

  “The CONSOL Energy Center.”

  “What?” Liz asked.

  “We’re going to stay in the arena.” I smiled.

  “Is it safe?” Meaghan questioned.

  “It’ll be safer than out here. The locker rooms or box suites should provide a relatively secure place for us to sleep for the night, and we’ll only be a few blocks away from the town.”

  “Will the undead be gone by then?” Meaghan asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders at her. “I don’t know. I hope.”

  “What if they aren’t?” she asked again.

  “If they aren’t then we either get comfy here, or we fight our way through.”

  “I don’t want to stay out here any longer than what I have to.” Liz pulled out her gun, ready to go.

  “Neither do I,” Nathan said, walking toward the hockey arena.

  I looked up at the giant glass front. I had so much fun in the short time the arena was open. The year of the outbreak the Penguins were on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. They were up in the series and the city was in good spirits. Everywhere you turned there were hockey jerseys or t-shirts. I managed to pack my jersey as a reminder of better days. Hockey was long forgotten though. All sports were long forgotten. A few of the players who did not make it back to their home countries or states took up refuge with the rest of us in downtown. They were just as sad and despondent as everyone else.

  “Are you alright?” Nathan asked.

  I wiped a tear from my cheek. “Yeah.”

  “I didn’t know this place meant so much to you.”

  “Memories, Nathan, just really good memories.”

  “Come on, guys!” Taz pushed open one of the front doors.

  Inside it was silent. It was eerily silent. We crept along trying to find some sort of shelter maybe even food. I walked into the main arena not sure what to expect. Years ago it would have been cold from keeping the ice frozen. I leaned against a pillar watching a few zombie hockey players bump into each other and the Plexiglas.

  “Oh man,” I mumbled.

  “What?” Nathan asked.

  “Some of the team didn’t make it out.”

  “Oh,” he said.

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you going to put them down?”

  “Nah.”

  “Why?”

  “What harm will they do trapped in a Plexiglas cage?” I asked.

  I turned and walked out.

  “What’s in there?” Meaghan asked.

  “Zombie hockey players,” I told her.

  “Oh. Did you get them?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t feel like it, that’s why.” I walked along the perimeter of the arena.

  “But they’re undead,” she protested.

  “Leave them be. Let’s find shelter and then get out of here,” I muttered.

  I led everyone away from the seating area. A few food stands remained, but no edible food except a can of nacho cheese that expired in two more years. Dead ahead a zombie staggered toward us. It had the same greenish colored skin as the ones in the hospital.

  “Why do they look like that?” Meaghan asked.

  “It’s starving to death,” Nathan told her.

  “What? How can something dead starve to death?” Liz asked.

  “It’s decaying at a faster rate since it hasn’t had any food.”

  “You mean people?” Taz crinkled his nose at the undead.

  “Yeah,” Nathan said.

  I pulled an arrow out of my quiver, nocked it, and put down the unfortunate bastard.

  “I think the box seats are up this way.” I yanked the arrow out of the corpse head.

  Nathan looked at me with the most puzzled expression. “Why are we going to the box seats? Why not the locker rooms?”

  “If there are undead in the rink, they’re in the locker rooms. The box seats are blocked off rooms. One door in and if worse comes to worse we can escape to the main arena. Haven’t you ever been to a game?”

  He shook his head.

  “Well trust me that it’s the safest place in here.”

  I pushed open the first door to the first suite and was met by two undead. Sighing, I pulled out my dagger, stabbing them in the forehead, and shut the door again.

  “This one is no good,” I said.

  Nathan pushed open the second door and quickly pulled it shut. “There are five in there. I’m not even trying to get them all.”

  Meaghan stood in front of a third suite. “Should I even open this door?”

  “Yes,” the rest of us said at the same time.

  She took a deep breath and yanked the door open. Sighing with relief, she entered the spacious room which looked as though it were waiting for a game. Everything was clean, no signs of any turmoil. Even the paint looked like it did four years earlier.

  “I haven’t seen a place this nice in years,” Meaghan said, plopping onto a chair. She closed her eyes and moaned happily.

  “Neither have I.” Nathan smiled as he sunk into one of the plush leather chairs.

  I found a wooden chair and smashed it. Taking a few of the larger sections I wedged them into the handles of the door.

  “Is there any water in the fridge?” I asked, opening a bag of stale chips setting on a counter.

  I popped one in my mouth and was surprised it was still crunchy. Meaghan handed me a warm bottle. I crinkled my nose, but my throat was on fire. I opened and took a long swig. The lukewarm water did little to quench my thirst, but it would have to do for the time being. Meaghan settled onto a couch across from Nathan and was soon fast asleep. Taz slept against the door and Liz perched on the railing watching those on the rink roam about.

  “Do you want the other couch?” Nathan asked.

  I bit my lip and looked at him sheepishly. “We can share. If you want.”

  Liz giggled from her perch.

  “Share the couch?”

  I nodded my head diverting my gaze to my shoes.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” He smiled.

  “Really?” I asked, looking up at him; my cheeks were on fire.

  “Yeah. I haven’t been close to anyone in a long time,” he said.

  “Neither have I.”

  We both lay down on the couch. Exhaustion took over the nervousness, and I snuggled up against Nathan as he wrapped his arms around me. For the first time in four years I felt comfortable and slipped into a restful sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Staying Alive and Keeping the Hormones in Check

  I stood on the porch and watched for Meaghan’s car to come up the driveway. I felt a hand on my arm and turned to see Nathan.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “It’s okay if you’re not.”

  “Nathan, I’m fine just really tired.”

  “Go lay down,” he said.

  “I will after Meaghan gets here.”

  He brushed a few strands of hair out of my face and gazed into my eyes.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said softly.

  I looked down at the dusty porch. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”
<
br />   “Do this. We can’t,” I whispered.

  “Why not? What’s stopping us?” he asked.

  “Nathan, what if I’m bitten? What if you’re bitten? I don’t want to lose anyone else. I can’t lose anyone else.”

  “You won’t lose me.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and nuzzled my hair.

  “You don’t know that. I never thought Becca would die, and she did. She’s dead,” I said as tears welled in my eyes again.

  He pulled me in close to his body. I put my hands on his chest prepared to push him away. Using his free hand, Nathan tilted my head up. He lowered his head so that our lips met. His soft, delicious lips. For a brief moment I forgot what was going on in the world. For a brief moment my mind thought all was well. For just a brief moment, I forgot my sister was dead.

  The sound of Meaghan’s car horn drew me out of the peace. I broke the kiss and pushed Nathan back.

  “We can’t,” I whispered.

  He furrowed his brows, turned, and walked into the house. I sighed heavily and waited for my friend to get on the porch.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “The end of the world,” I muttered.

  “Who was that?”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t play coy with me, Emma. Who was the hunky man you were sucking face with?”

  “Probably the only doctor who made it out of the hospital when everything happened,” I said.

  “A boyfriend?” She nudged me.

  “No, and I don’t think right now is a good time to be thinking about that sort of thing.”

  “What sort of thing?”

  “Boyfriends, Meaghan. I don’t think now is a good time to be thinking about boyfriends.”

  “Okay, maybe now isn’t the time. But after all of this you may want to start if the world will need repopulated.

  “Seriously, Meaghan? Get in the house,” I grumbled.

  “Emma, dear,” her mother said extending her arms for me.

  “Hi, Kathy.”

  “How are you, sweetheart?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Meaghan told us about Becca. I’m so sorry, honey.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled slightly fighting back the tears.

  “Your pop in the house?” Meaghan’s father asked.

  “In the kitchen, Bob.”

  He put his hand on my shoulder, nodded, and went into the house. He showed as much emotion as my father did. Which was none.

  I trailed after everyone into the living room to see Kathy embracing my mother as she sobbed. I didn’t realize she had not started crying when I got there. Meaghan sat next to them looking solemn. I watched her for a few minutes, but opted to walk away when I saw a tear slide down her cheek. I poked my head in the kitchen. Dad and Bob sat at the table with tumblers of whiskey sitting in front of each of them. A bottle of dad’s bourbon sat on the counter. I made my way back down the hallway to the stairs, Nathan stood there looking at me. I felt so hollow and broken.

  “Are you going to bed?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” He turned and stared out the window next to the door.

  “Are you tired?” I asked quietly.

  He nodded his head, not turning around.

  “Come lay down with me?”

  He glanced over his shoulder at me briefly. “I thought you didn’t want to risk your feelings?”

  “Doesn’t mean I don’t like to cuddle from time to time.”

  “Is that all it will be? Just cuddling?”

  “And sleeping. Unless you want to sleep down here?”

  He stood there a moment looking as though he were lost in thought. “I think I can do some cuddling.”

  “I just don’t want to be alone tonight,” I mumbled.

  “Neither do I. I don’t want to be alone ever again.”

  “You could have gone to your family,” I said.

  He shook his head, his eyes full of sadness.

  “Why not?”

  “The only family I have left is my grandmother. She’s ninety-five and in a nursing home.”

  “I see.” I reached out and took hold of his hand. Without a word I led him up the stairs and to my room. I could hear the chatter and sobbing coming from downstairs, and I wanted nothing more to do with it for the day. I took off the ripped shirt and torn jeans, discarding them on the floor. Nathan stood there and watched. I walked over to him and pulled his shirt over his head, neither of us ever saying a word.

  I reached down for the ties on his scrub pants he grabbed my hand and studied my face closely.

  “I’m not afraid of a man in boxers.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m in my bra and panties. I’m pretty sure I’m sure, Nathan.”

  “Okay.”

  We climbed into bed and settled down. He was the first man to ever sleep in that particular bed. I pulled the blankets up to my chest and unhooked my bra.

  “What are you doing?” Nathan asked.

  “Have you ever tried sleeping in a bra?”

  He shook his head.

  “It’s not comfortable.”

  He watched as I deposited the undergarment on the floor. I lay back on my pillows and stared up at him. He kept himself propped up on one elbow as he ran his fingers through my hair.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself.” I feigned a smile.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “For what, Nathan?”

  “Your sister.”

  “Don’t be,” I said.

  He leaned down and kissed me again. He tasted so good. He settled down next to me continuing the kissing. I sighed deeply, I was so tired.

  “Sleep now,” he whispered gently placing his lips on my temple.

  He rolled toward me and wrapped his arms around my body pulling me into him. His warm skin felt comforting. The roughness from his unshaved face tickled my cheek, but I enjoyed it. For the second time that day, he made me forget about the horrors going on around us.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Making it Back Alive…Sort Of

  I opened my eyes and looked around the room. My breathing sped up as I listened hoping I didn’t hear what I thought I heard. The moaning on the other side of the door grew louder as the pounding intensified. That wasn’t what had my attention though. I half expected the undead to find us. They could smell fresh flesh miles away. At least I thought so. A light crack came through with the pounding.

  That was what I thought I had heard.

  ”Shit,” I muttered, slipping off the couch trying not to wake Nathan yet.

  I crept to the door and ran my hand over it. In the center the wood buckled and splintered. I knelt there for a few moments listening and rubbing my temples. Nothing was going right for us. At the rate we were going we would be eaten or at least bit before even left the hockey arena.

  Taz sat with his back to the door, eyes open and staring at me.

  “What’s wrong?” Nathan asked.

  “They’re breaking the door,” I whispered.

  “What? How?”

  “I don’t know,” I said, standing up. “Maybe from incessantly pounding on it?”

  “I’ve been holding it back for most of the night. I don’t know how much longer the door will withstand them,” Taz whispered.

  “Now what?” Nathan asked.

  “We leave.”

  “How? The only exit is blocked,” Liz questioned.

  “We go over the balcony. I’ll wake Meaghan.”

  I shook her shoulder while Nathan glanced over the railing of the suite.

  “What?” she grumbled sleepily.

  “Get up. We have to go.”

  “A few more hours,” she yawned.

  “No, we don’t have a few hours. I’m not sure if we have a few minutes.”

  She sat up looking around wild eyed. “Why?”

  “They’re breaking through the door.”
/>
  “God they’re worse than bloodhounds!” she yelled.

  “Shh,” Nathan said.

  “What’s the point of being quite now?” she asked.

  “We’re going to have to jump,” Liz said.

  “Jump? Jump where?” she asked.

  “Over the railing.” I glanced down and grimaced.

  It was a good ten feet, but it was clear of undead.

  “There has to be another way,” she cried out.

  “Sorry, Meg, there isn’t,” I said.

  “I hate heights,” she mumbled.

  “Get over it fast.” Taz quickly abandoned his post at the door and climbed over the banister first.

  “Get over it?” she asked.

  “That or enjoy being lunch,” he said, hanging down as low as he could before dropping.

  “That’s really not funny,” she hollered to him.

  The door behind us splintered and the undead burst through. The horde fell over each other, wild with hunger, trying to get to us.

  “Go, Meaghan! Now!” I yelled helping her climb over the banister.

  I climbed up as they reached us. One grabbed a hold of Meaghan and brought its drooling face to her arms. As it was about to take a chunk out I slammed my knife into its skull. Meaghan screamed, let go of the railing, and fell backwards. I watched as she landed on the seats below. She groaned and rolled over, but was okay. Taz, Liz and Nathan waited below us.

  “Let’s go, Emma,” Nathan shouted.

  I clung to the railing stabbing as many of the undead as I could.

  “Forget them and get down here!” Taz yelled up at me.

  “Considering they’re all grabbing me, I need to get rid of a few of them so I don’t get bit,” I yelled back.

  “Oh God,” I heard Meaghan gasp below me.

  I looked down and saw her slowly stand. I sighed with relief that they were both okay, but I wasn’t so sure how I was going to fare. I stood and turned ready to jump when an undead grabbed my leg. I swayed a bit and swung down with the knife slicing off its hand. Meaghan screamed below as it plopped onto the floor in front of her feet.

  “Here I come,” I yelled.

  I grabbed the railing and lowered myself as far as I could. As I was about to let go, an undead grabbed my hand. It had unbelievable strength for a corpse. I let go of the banister, but it held me there its cloudy eyes staring right through me. I was nothing but food to it. The drool dribbled from the mouth and landed on my arm. The smell from the slobber was unbearable. I stared up into the monster’s face. Terror gripped my stomach, and I wanted to vomit. I’d come close to dying a few times, but never this close.