The Dead in River City

by S. A. McGarey

  The elevator hit the ground floor with a crash. Alan was a bit jarred but more or less ok. Kendra was protected fairly well by Alan. She was shaken, but unharmed. They could hear the voices on the other side of the heavy elevator door. It sounded like they were trying to pry open the door, but Alan and Kendra could do nothing from their side. It seemed that they would just have to wait to be rescued.

  Alan slowly released Kendra from his embrace, and lowered himself to the elevator floor along with her.

  “Looks like we’ll be waiting awhile.” Alan told her.

  “That’s ok. Gives us more time to do this.” She said, moving in to kiss him.

  Alan had no time to respond. Kendra’s lips made contact with his and he became lost in the kiss. Just days ago, they were little more than partners in survival. Now, she’d learned to trust him, and was beginning to love him. He couldn’t deny that he felt the same for her. He was still afraid of hurting her, given her past, but the fear was subdued. Instead, the main feeling was just the warmth of being near each other, and the comfort of not being alone. It’s funny how people fall in love so easily when the whole world has collapsed around them.

  They sat in the enclosed elevator, kissing and idly listening to the voices on the other side of the door. From what they could tell, one of the cables had broken, causing them to fall. The power was still good, explaining the elevator lights still functioning. According to the voices of the people outside, Mr. Vaughan was on his way down with a solution to get them out. At that point, Alan stopped listening. He was having too much fun kissing Kendra.

  Alan wasn’t sure how long it had been, but eventually they heard what sounded like a piece of machinery. The heard the sound of the metal collapsing and folding in on itself. Whatever Mr. Vaughan was using, it seemed to be doing the trick. After a few minutes, the door was finally opening. The door looked completely ruined, like it had been cut apart and forced open. Alan helped Kendra step out of the elevator before coming out.

  “Alan, Kendra, I’m so sorry about all this.” Robert Vaughan spoke.

  “Oh, that’s alright, Mr. Vaughan.” Kendra replied. “We’re just happy to be unharmed.”

  “I’m thankful we had these hydraulic tools, or else who knows how long it would’ve taken to retrieve you.” Vaughan said.

  “Can you show us to the staircase? We’d like to get to our room.” Alan interjected.

  “Ah, of course.” Vaughan said in his baritone voice. “Just down that way, to the right.” Vaughan pointed towards the staircase.

  “Thank you, Mr. Vaughan.” Alan said. “Let’s get going.” He instructed Kendra to follow.

  They made their way to the staircase, which was admittedly small. Alan enjoyed the sturdiness of the stairs compared to the unstable elevator, but a part of him hoped that the elevator could be fixed. Climbing 11 flights of stairs was anything but fun. They ascended the grey staircase up the floor 11, and exited the door.

  Floor 11 looked like all the other floors he’d visited. They all looked like they once housed offices, but had been overhauled by the residents of Refuge. Some rooms had bathrooms, and some had little more than a mattress. Most rooms had some working lights, but some had been burnt out over time. Mr. Vaughan and his administration did the best they could with what they had, but they could only stretch things so far. Even with sending out salvage parties, resources were thin.

  They found their room on the 11th floor. Outside the door, a man stood, with a small box. He spoke as Alan and Kendra came nearer.

  “I’ve been waiting for you.” The man said. “This box contains gifts from Mr. Vaughan.”

  “Thank you.” Alan said, taking the box from the man.

  “Enjoy your room, and welcome to Refuge.” The man said, walking away.

  They entered their room and flipped the light switch. The lights were mostly functional, with only a few being burned out. The walls were neutrally colored and the carpet was the same. There was little more than a mattress in the room, but it would suffice. After all, you couldn’t be too picky during a zombie apocalypse. Alan walked over and placed the box on the bed while Kendra followed him. Both sat on the bed, and they readied to open the box.

  The first thing they noticed in the box was a note.

  Alan and Kendra,

  This box holds gifts for you, as a welcome to our community. We know you came here with nothing, and we wanted to fix that. We hope you feel at home here.

  -Robert Vaughan

  After the note, they looked in the box and found their gifts. The first gift was a pair of revolvers, each identical to the other. The second gift was a small belt of throwing knives. The third and final gift was something unexpected; a pair of plain rings. The rings had no adornments, and were simple silver bands. Attached to the rings was a second note.

  P.S. You two have a special connection. May these ever remind you of that connection.

  Alan and Kendra each took one of the revolvers, and split the space ammo from the bottom of the box. Kendra took the throwing knives for herself. Then, in a quirky, romantic gesture, Alan and Kendra placed the rings on each other, and shared another kiss. It wasn’t marriage, but it was definitely something.

  Alan pushed the box off the mattress and moved their gifts to the floor. He helped Kendra ease back, being careful of her arm. He lay beside her and they held each other and kissed. They let the rest of the day melt away, and appreciated the rest they would get at Refuge. For once they actually had a break without danger. For once, they could actually sleep at the same time.

  In that room, on that solitary mattress, Alan and Kendra held each other through the night. Neither one of them had ever slept so soundly.

  16

  It wasn’t the morning sun that woke them up, nor was it the stirring of either one of them in bed. Instead it was the sounds of muffled panic coming from outside the room. Beyond the walls of their room, doors slammed, people screamed, and gunshots could be heard outside the building. Alan and Kendra awoke to a community filled with sheer panic.

  Alan awoke first, and quickly moved to rouse Kendra. She woke up not at first realizing what was going on. Listening carefully, she was able to piece it together, the same as Alan did.

  “We need to figure out what’s going on.” Kendra said, looking at Alan.

  “Stay here, I’ll handle it.” Alan replied, going for his new revolver.

  “Stay Here?” Kendra sounded offended. “I’m going with you!”

  “Kendra, your arm is broken. You should rest. I don’t want you to risk damaging it more.”

  “My arm is broken. I am not.” She said, adamantly defending her decision to tag along.

  Alan knew there was no stopping her. In a way he admired that about her. “Come on then, let’s go see what the hell is going on here.”

  Kendra armed herself with the revolver, leaving the throwing knives for later. The both of them left the room, looking to find the answer as to what was happening. The noises were less muffled than when they were in the room, but they still sounded far away. Alan and Kendra moved through the halls of floor 11 to the stairwell. Every step towards the stairwell revealed that much of the noise was coming from there.

  Reaching the stairwell, they realized that many citizens of Refuge now populated the stairwell. Among the shouting, Alan heard phrases such as ‘dead attack’ and ‘undead horde’. He now had an idea as to what was happening.

  “We need to find a window, now.” Alan said, turning to Kendra.

  “There’s a big window on the other side of this floor.” Kendra remembered. “Let’s go there.”

  Kendra led the way to the window as Alan followed. If his suspicions were true, then everyone in the stairwells was either heading upstairs to shelter, or downstairs to fight. Reaching the window, the very thing Alan feared was confirmed to be true. 11 floors down, on the street, a large horde of Dead Ones gathered, as if prepared to turn Refuge into rubble.

  The horror on Alan’s face was undeni
able, and Kendra felt little more than pure, unadulterated fear. They both knew that it was only a matter of time before they were attacked here. A horde of this size was generally unheard of. Both Alan and Kendra knew in their hearts that Malcolm Graves had survived, and that he had found them.

  “We need to find Mr. Vaughan. NOW!” Kendra said, her eyes unwavering from the sight of the horde.

  Alan was way ahead of her. He was already making his way back to the cramped staircase. Kendra followed him to the stairs, and they began to make their way up, hoping that Mr. Vaughan was in his quarters where he had been the day before.

  The staircase was more akin to a tin of sardines than anything else. There was little empty space to be found, and people pushed other people constantly. Alan and Kendra needed to make it up 4 floors, to the 15th floor, where Robert Vaughan held residence. The staircase was so packed that it took a full 10 minutes for them to reach the top. They could only hope that Robert was still up there.

  Normally the room would be guarded, but all the people on guard duty were downstairs, preparing to fight off the innumerable horde. Alan pushed open to door to the 15th floor, which was little more than an open space. Looking around the room, He and Kendra noticed that Robert Vaughan had been quite a collector of weaponry. His quarters looked more like an armory than a dwelling. The room held guns galore, but Robert was nowhere to be seen.

  “Robert?” Alan called out.

  “Mr. Vaughan?” Kendra joined him.

  Only a mysterious voice responded. “Robert isn’t able to talk now. I’d be happy to give him a message though.” The voice mocked them.

  No sooner did the voice sound out, the door to Mr. Vaughan’s quarters slammed shut, and out of the shadows stepped the elusive Malcolm Graves, holding Robert at gunpoint. Alan almost didn’t recognize him at first. He now wore a plain white bandana around his head in the shape of a headband, covering the eye that Alan had shot during the escape from the library. Malcolm looked rougher. He’d obviously been struggling since the injury. Alan didn’t know how he found them, but he was ready to find out.

  “You survived.” Alan quipped. “And here I thought I’d sent you straight to hell.”

  “Oh I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.” Malcolm replied, continuing to subdue Robert. “You’ll be coming with me though.”

  “What’s your game, Malcolm?” Kendra blurted out, looking for answers.

  “Ah, dear Kendra, I suppose I could divulge my plans to you. It’s not like you can stand in my way.” Malcolm began. “I came here to get medical attention after your boyfriend there shot me with a crossbow bolt. I’ve been aware of Refuge for some time now, but I had yet to execute an attack. I was given the perfect opportunity however, when you gave me that grievous wound. I got myself inside Refuge, and then summoned my horde to the tower. I stayed up all night, since my release from the medical bay, bringing the horde to me. The defenses of Refuge will be torn asunder, and I will turn every last resident into an undead pawn, obedient to my every command.”

  “You’re an insane person!” Kendra shouted. “First an obsession over a zombified girl and now this. You need to die!”

  Malcolm ignored her comment. “Now, Robert, are you going to follow my order?”

  “What order?” Alan queried.

  “I gave Robert here a simple choice. Either lead his citizens into a trap of my design, resulting in a massacre, or die.” Malcolm explained. “It’s a simple choice, Robert. I suggest you make it.”

  “Don’t do it, Robert!” Kendra interjected. If you bow to his demands, everyone gets turned into those sick creatures, including you. He can’t be trusted to spare you. We can fight this!”

  A small spark of determination shone in Robert Vaughan’s eyes. “To hell with you, damned psychopath!” He roared.

  “Sticks and stones, Mr. Vaughan.” Malcolm said. Robert began to struggle against Malcolm’s hold on him. His struggle was abruptly ended with a bullet to the head, ending his life.

  “You bastard!” Kendra yelled as Robert’s body hit the floor with a thud.

  “Guilty as charged.” He replied. Malcolm closed his eyes and entered a state of concentration. He held the gun pointed at Alan and Kendra, making sure that they wouldn’t make a move towards him.

  Outside, the massive horde of the dead began to stir. Malcolm had used his control over the dead to give an attack order. The horde was attacking. The battle for Refuge had begun.

  15 floors down, on the ground level, the makeshift fortifications of the tower were already beginning to crumble. The sheer amount of Dead Ones made it easy for them to overrun any and all obstacles in their path. They shambled slowly, but their strength in numbers outweighed their lack of speed. Any citizen of Refuge who could shoot a gun was down on the first floor, hidden in the fortifications, raining lead down upon the undead.

  Malcolm had finished the attack order, and now turned his full attention to Alan and Kendra. “The horde cometh.” He spoke, pompously.

  “What are you going to do with us?” Alan asked, doing anything to buy themselves time to come up with a plan.

  “Well, for you Alan, I can’t decide whether to add you to the horde, or just kill you now. I’m still thinking it over.” Malcolm said. “As for you, Kendra… I’m going to make you my new plaything. Seeing as you injured my old one, it seems fitting that I take you as a replacement.”

  Kendra balled her fist. Upon hearing Malcolm’s plans for her, she was enraged and frightened. She’d escaped being used and abused once. She would be ready to do so again, no matter how much fear flowed through her being. Before she knew it, she was subconsciously growling at Malcolm, gnashing her teeth as she entered blind fury. She began to step towards Malcolm, wanting nothing more than to crush his trachea under her heel.

  A gunshot rang out, and a bullet ricocheted of the floor just in front of Kendra. “Not another move.” Malcolm said, pointing his gun squarely between her eyes. “Alan, you should get your girlfriend under control. She’s liable to lose her life if she keeps that up.” He taunted.

  “Can’t be done, Malcolm. She’s her own woman. I couldn’t control her even if I wanted to.” He defended the honor of his newfound love.

  “Well then, I suppose I’ll have to show you how it’s done!” Malcolm exclaimed. “Let’s see how defiant you feel when I’ve got her under my thumb.”

  He made a move towards Kendra, looking to subdue her. Suddenly, just before her could get a hold on her; he was knocked to the ground by a powerful blow on his face. Malcolm screamed in rage, as Alan stood over him, enraged and ready to kill.

  Kendra didn’t miss a beat. She pinned Malcolm to the floor without a second thought. “Alan, get me a weapon.”

  Alan did as she said. He went to one of the nearby weapon racks and grabbed a sword. It was a katana, just like the one she’d had before. It looked razor sharp to his eyes, and he instinctively knew that this was the weapon he should grab. He ran the weapon over to Kendra and handed it over.

  “Nice choice.” She said to him with a slight twinkle in her eye.

  “Thought you’d like it.” He replied. “Only the best for you.”

  She smiled slightly before turning the weapon on Malcolm. She held the blade up to his neck. “Feeling lucky, Malcolm?”

  He chuckled to himself like a madman. It was as if he had no fear of the blade held to his throat. Kendra believed that his sanity had passed long ago. She tried her best to ignore the disturbing laughter, and instead, focused on making Malcolm submit.

  “You’re lucky I don’t kill you right now.” Kendra’s voice was soaked in venomous fury.

  “You wont kill me.” Malcolm gasped out between his spurts of laughter. “You wouldn’t want to do that.”

  “Oh, but I do. I really, really do.” She assured him, inching the blade closer to his throat.

  “I’d take her word for it.” Alan chimed in. “When she wants something, she usually gets it.” He smirked as he spoke.

&
nbsp; Kendra smirked slightly too. She enjoyed hearing him talk about her like that. In fact, it only drove her closer to showing Malcolm just what she was capable of.

  Malcolm opened his mouth again. “New ring, Kendra? Did your new man give that to you? It looks quite lovely on you.”

  “Alan, give him a close up of your ring.” She said in a flat tone.

  “Oooh Alan has one too? Malcolm toyed with them. He barely finished the sentence when Alan’s fist made contact with Malcolm’s nose. Alan was sure he’d broken his nose, and was quite proud of it too.

  “OWWWWWWW!” Malcolm howled in pain. He had blood running from his nose. “I’ve had just about enough of you! Why don’t you both just die?!”

  It was only just then that Alan noticed that Malcolm had a hand in his pocket. It was too late though. Before they knew it, a thick cloud of smoke filled the room. Kendra was caught off guard and Malcolm threw her off of him in one swift, strong movement. She landed on her back, but managed to avoid hitting her bad arm. Alan and Kendra were basically blind within the cloud of smoke. They called out to each other, and frantically searched for one another. It wasn’t until the smoke cloud cleared that they found each other. Malcolm, however, was nowhere to be found. He had escaped when his smoke bomb enveloped the room in thick, grey smoke. Alan and Kendra were alone in the room, and they held each other while the smoke dissipated. Malcolm was gone, but his undead forces were still on the offensive. The battle for Refuge was long from over.

  17

  Alan helped Kendra get back on her feet. The smoke had cleared, and there was no one else to be found in the room, save for the corpse of Robert Vaughan. Alan and Kendra were both distraught at his loss, but they could allow themselves no time to mourn. Their heavy breathing was the only sound still in the room.