“What’s that?” Jimmy said grabbing onto Amy.
“I don’t know,” Glenn said.
The ship slowed noticeably and turned slightly to the right.
They stood in silence for a few minutes staring at the ceiling. The sound of the ship returned to a steady hum.
“I’m suddenly feeling very claustrophobic,” Amy said finally.
“Me too,” John said.
Just after John spoke the lights flickered and went out. The red night-watch lights came on soon after and bathed the compartment in an eerie blood red glow. The anxiety in the room was palpable.
“Oh my God,” Amy said.
“We’ve got to get off this ship,” Derek said. “We still have the news helicopter. We can take that.”
“You fly Seahawks?” Glenn asked John.
“My bird of choice,” John said.
“Good, there are two tied down on the flight deck right now,” Glenn said. “Fueled up and ready to go.”
“What kind of supplies are on them?” Derek said.
“Water, MREs, extra ammo and medical supplies,” Glenn said.
“Ok,” Amy said. “What’s the plan?”
“That’s where I come in,” Glenn said. “I can get us to the flight deck. I’ve been on this ship for two years. I know it like the back of my hand.”
“Right,” John said. “So lay it out for us.”
“The shortest route, toward the bow, is blocked,” Glenn said. “So we’ll have to go to the stern. We’re two decks below the hangers so we also have to go up at some point. We can work our way to the fan tail. Once we get there we can climb the outside ladder to the hanger deck.”
“Where are the helicopters parked?” Derek asked.
“Amidships right across from the superstructure,” Glenn said. “We’ll take the closest one to the stern.”
“So we’ll have to cross half the flight deck to get to it,” John said.
“With our luck the flight deck will be crawling with dead,” Derek said.
“The problem is going to be when we start the aircraft’s engines,” John said. “They’ll be crawling over us like maggots.”
“Can you get a hold of some flares?” John said to Glenn.
“There will be flares on the helicopter,” he said. “Why?”
“The regular zombies are drawn to them,” Amy said. “It’s like moths to a light bulb. But,” she added, “The demons ignore them.”
“There are flare guns too,” Glenn said.
“Is that the only weapon you have?” John said.
“No. I have an M-4 just outside and a back pack with three or four thousand 5.56 rounds and a couple hundred for the nine.”
“Cool,” Derek said patting his rifle.
John smiled broadly and fist bumped Derek.
“Oh my God,” Amy said. “Please…” she looked at Shanna and rolled her eyes. “These two will bore you to death with the macho BS.”
“The dog is going to make it a little more difficult to get out of here,” John said.
“Nah,” Derek said. “She’s been through this before.”
“He’s right,” Amy said. “She’ll follow us anywhere we go and stick close by.”
“What about food and water?” Amy asked.
“No problem,” Glenn said. “There is plenty of water and MREs on the aircraft.”
“We should go as soon as possible,” Derek said. “I’m for leaving now.”
“Right,” John said. “I agree.”
They grabbed their weapons.
“Glenn you lead the way for now,” he said. “I’ll be right behind you. Derek you guard the rear.”
“Got it,” Derek said.
They opened the door and entered the passageway. Glenn put the backpack on and headed out. The rest came out single file. Glenn and John at the front, Derek in the back. When they reached the dead gomer they stepped over the body and continued on. Amy looked down sadly. Shanna was relieved they didn’t have to go back the way she had come. They came to the first ladder and stopped.
John looked up and listened for a moment. He heard nothing to raise alarm.
“Wait here,” John said. “I’ll go up first.”
Derek gave him a thumbs up.
John held the M-4 at the ready and climbed the ladder. When he reached the top he looked toward the rear. It was clear. The hatch hung over his head and blocked his view in the other direction. He leaned out and looked foreword. What he saw made him gasp.
No more than four feet away was a partially devoured corpse in a large puddle of blood. Pieces of meat and intestines littered the deck around it. Two empty bloody eye sockets stared back at him sending a chill up his spine. The body looked like it had been through a meat grinder.
He turned to Glenn who was standing at the bottom of the ladder and put his finger to his lips indicating that they should be quite. Glenn turned to the others and did likewise. John gestured for them to back up.
As John was about to descend the ladder he heard a grunt to his front and froze. His heart pounded in his ears. He had heard that grunt before. It came from a compartment ahead and to the left.
The sound of shuffling footsteps met his ears as the zombie came into view. John watched as it turned away from him, moved down the passageway and stopped. It raised its head high and sniffed the air.
Shit! John thought.
John’s first instinct was to duck but he couldn’t look away. He was stunned at the zombie’s appearance. A pretty young woman with a bloody Navy work uniform. He could see that she was a Third Class Petty officer. There was blood around her mouth and on her neck. There were no signs of injury or damage other than an injury to her right hand. The skin and muscle had been completely torn away from the thumb. Blood dripped from the exposed bone. The white bone glistened in the florescent light.
Slowly it turned and headed in his direction continuing to sniff at the air. Its head jerked from side to side trying to determine from which direction the smell of fresh meat came.
John ducked. He raised his rifle and flipped off the safety. He motioned for the others to move back. Derek took up position at the bottom of the ladder. John was relieved to see him there. Their eyes met in silent communication.
The zombie moved closer until finally it came into view. John was looking almost straight up at it. It passed to his left but stopped again and sniffed at the air. John held his breath.
The zombie lowered its gaze. John sighted in just as his eyes met those of the walking corpse. He held his fire for a second. The young woman’s zombie growled and snapped its teeth together several times. He had hoped they wouldn’t have to deal with this one. But now he had no choice.
He squeezed the trigger. The slug left the barrel and blew the top of the zombie’s head off. Blood brains and bone fragments speckled the bulkhead behind it. It crumpled to the deck and was motionless. One arm dangled over the edge of the hatch and hung in John’s face. He pushed it out of the way.
Another group turned the corner and headed in their direction. John stuck his head above the deck and counted six. Only forty feet away.
“Derek!” John shouted. “I need your help. Now!”
Derek rushed up the ladder, grabbed the zombie by the feet and dragged it out of the way. John braced himself at the top of the ladder and sighted in. The dead shuffled closer. The scent of fresh meat driving them forward.
“Take ‘em down,” Derek said pulling his pistol out.
On the deck below Jimmy covered his ears. Suzie stood at his side barking furiously.
Derek and John opened fire. The first four dropped. The remaining two tripped over them and fell to the deck.
“Hold your fire,” Derek said calmly.
He approached the two zombies and dispatched each one with a single shot. The shots echoed through the ship.
“Lets go,” John yelled.
John took the supports off the hatch and held it up while Derek descended. Once Derek was d
own he lowered it, turned the handle and dogged it down. They sat down on the deck breathing heavily. The others, who had retreated down the passageway, re-joined them.
“Well...” Derek said. “We’re not going that way.”
“Right,”
“That’s ok,” Glenn said. “There is another ladder we can go up. It’s not far.”
“Lead the way,” John said.
They headed out again passing through two more open hatches before coming to the next ladder.
John and Derek crept to the top. John looked around. Everything seemed clear. He stepped up and onto the deck with Derek following close behind.
Glancing toward the front, John saw there were several regular zombies milling about on the other side of the nearest hatchway. It was clear in the other direction. He gestured for Derek to follow him.
As they made their way to the hatch the butt of Derek’s rifle bumped into the bulkhead causing a loud metallic thud. They froze.
“Shit,” Derek said under his breath.
The zombies on the other side of the hatch turned and headed in their direction. One burst from the group and raced for them.
“It’s a demon!” Derek yelled.
Before they could act. Glenn rushed by them and ran for the hatch. The demon was closing at the same speed. John raised his rifle but couldn’t shoot. Glenn was in the way. He reached the hatch just before the demon and closed it. John ran to his aid and held it while Glenn dogged it down securing it.
The demon beat on the thick metal. The sound resonating through the compartments. The demon’s muffled screams could be heard through the metal.
“Derek get the others up here,” John said.
Derek called the others to join them. When they were all up the ladder he removed the braces and lowered the hatch. The demon continued to pound.
“We need to keep moving,” Amy said.
“We’re not going to last long if we don’t get off this ship,” Shanna said.
“We’re close,” Glenn said as he headed down the passageway.
Finally arriving at the fantail, Glenn opened the door and peered out. “It’s clear,” he said.
Derek went out first. The rest of the group followed. The salt air met their noses. Amy breathed in deeply. Glad to be out of the interior of the ship, the fresh air felt good as it inflated her lungs.
The sun was just below the horizon to the East and rising. The sky was getting lighter. The cool morning breeze caressed their faces.
“There,” Glenn said pointing to a nearby ladder that led up to the flight deck.
“I’ll go first,” Derek said.
He put the M-4 over his shoulder and climbed up. Once at the top he knelt down on one knee and surveyed the surroundings. He saw nothing in the morning light to raise alarm. He gestured for the others to climb up.
Amy pulled Jimmy over to the ladder, pushed him up and followed close behind.
“I’ll go up last,” Glenn said. “You’re next Petty Officer Johnston.”
“I’m good with going last,” Shanna said.
“No,” Glenn said. “I’ll go after everyone else is up safely.”
“You do know I outrank you right?”
“Not really,” Glenn said. “I’m the master at arms here so when it comes to security on this ship, well, your rank doesn’t mean much. Sorry.”
Shanna stood staring at him for a second then begrudgingly started up the ladder.
At the top she took position on the other side of the group. Gripping her pistol tightly she checked it several times to make sure the safety was off.
“Help me with Suzie,” John said to Glenn. “I need to put her on my shoulders.”
“What if she tries to jump off?”
“She won’t. Lift her up and put her over my shoulders.”
Glenn lifted the large dog and did as John asked.
“My God this dog’s heavy,” John said.
He climbed up the ladder holding the dog’s legs together at the ankles with one hand and climbing with the other. He had to stop twice to reposition her.
Glenn put his rifle over his shoulder and prepared to climb once John was up. He stood with one foot on the ladder ready to go.
As John reached the top Glenn heard a sound. Before he could act to protect himself the zombie was on him. Its teeth sinking into the flesh of his right forearm. He jerked away. A chunk of flesh now gone from his arm. Blood ran down the zombies chin. Excruciating pain shot up Glenn’s arm. Grabbing the walking corpse by the throat he pushed it back to the rail as it clawed at him. Teeth snapping together. Somehow he managed to lift it up and over the rail sending it falling to the water below. Stumbling, he made it back to the ladder and climbed. Blood ran down his arm soaking his shirt. Finally he gained the top.
“Are you ok?” Derek asked noticing the blood.
“I cut my self on the ladder,” Glenn lied.
“Go,” Derek said to John.
John sprinted for the helicopter with the others following. Derek, bringing up the rear, looked around for any sign activity.
John reached the aircraft and jumped into the pilot’s seat. He powered up the aircraft, checked gauges and started the engines.
Amy helped Jimmy in and put him in a seat. She placed Suzie in his lap and instructed him to hold on. Shanna climbed in the aircraft and sat at the open door.
Glenn and Derek set to work removing the tie downs that held the helicopter to the deck.
Finally the rotors began to spin. John tapped the fuel gauge. There was a full load on board. He scanned the gauges again surprised at how easily he remembered the checklist for take-off. Even under these circumstances he couldn’t help but smile at the feel of the Seahawk’s vibrations as it roared to life.
The sound of the helicopter powering up caught the attention of six zombie sailors. They shuffled out of the ships superstructure.
Amy saw them and opened fire. She dropped three quickly and stopped to reload. She cursed herself for not making sure the clip was full earlier. Derek dropped the other three.
Another burst through the hatch and sprinted toward them.
“I’ve got it,” Shanna shouted jumping from the helicopter.
“Wait,” Derek screamed.
Shanna rushed forward and opened fire. Shot through the head, the body stumbled forward, collapsed, and slid to a stop just a couple of feet in front of her.
Derek ran to the body and looked down in horror. On the ground was a young sailor. He looked as if he should still be in high school.
“It’s not a zombie,” Derek said angrily. “He was just running for his life. You should have waited. I said wait and you shot him anyway.”
“Sorry,” Shanna said. “But shit happens.”
Derek, stunned at her response, turned to go back to the helicopter.
“Come on,” he snapped. “There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
Shanna stood scowling at him. Derek walked briskly back to her and grabbed her by the arm.
“Lets go!” he said forcefully.
“Don’t touch me!” she said jerking her arm out of his grasp..
Derek put his face close to hers and stared into her eyes for a moment. He started to speak but thought better of it. He turned and headed back to the helicopter.
A scream came from behind them. They turned to see a figure standing just outside the hatch glaring at them.
“That,” Derek said, “is a demon.”
Another corpse shuffled slowly out and stood behind the first.
“And that,” Derek said, “is not.”
Raising his weapon Derek took careful aim as the demon headed toward them. He squeezed the trigger three times, connecting with each shot. All three rounds entered the zombie’s face and forehead sending a spray of blood, brains and gray matter exploding out the back of the zombie’s skull. The demon fell face first to the flight deck.
“Watch,” Derek said to Shanna as he held the slower zombie in his s
ights.
“Watch what?” she said.
The zombie stopped, straightened up and screamed. It glared at them with wild red eyes. Derek squeezed the trigger again. The demon dropped to the deck.
“That’s what can happen when you take out a demon. It can jump to another one.”
Shanna looked at him as if he were crazy. “You’re out of your mind,” she said.
A dozen more walking corpses poured out of the hatch. Derek opened fire but soon realized he could never hope to slow them down.
Tugging at her sleeve Derek pulled Shanna back toward the aircraft. Afraid to take their eyes off the hatch, they back pedaled expecting to be rushed by a demon at any second.
As they reach the Seahawk the rotors are spinning at take off speed. Glenn is crying as he struggles to remove one of the tie downs. Derek gestured for him to get in the aircraft and removed the last tie down himself.
The mob, hell bent on killing them, shuffled closer and closer.
Derek and Shanna climbed into the helicopter stepping over Glenn who was sitting on the floor sobbing. Shanna took a seat in one of the jump seats while Derek climbed into the copilots seat. Amy watched as a the dead came to within yards. There were too many to count.
“Go!” she screamed at John. “Go!”
John gave the helicopter full throttle as it lifted free of the deck. He tilted the nose forward and raced the length of the deck gaining altitude as he went.
Amy looked around the cabin and to take stock of the situation. Jimmy sat quietly in his seat. Suzie scrawled across his lap. Glenn sat on the deck leaning against the bulkhead. Amy noticed the bite on his forearm and knelt down beside him. Glenn looked up at her. His eyes red. Tears streamed down his face.
“How bad is it?” Amy asked.
This only makes him sob more.
“I can’t breathe,” he said finally.
Amy directed him to sit by of the open door to get some fresh air.
“You sit tight OK,” she said.
“I’m dead,” Glenn said looking at her.
Amy, not knowing how to respond, smiled and gently touched him on the arm.
“It’s OK,” she said knowing full well it wasn’t.
Glenn turned to look out the cabin door.
The Demon Dead (Book 2): Troubled Waters Page 3
