by Doug Ward
I was in mid-sentence with Henry when the infected broke through. Not from the elevator area where we all gathered but from the stairwell. The two coworkers who were watching the stairs door had moved to help us with what we all thought was the most immediate problem. We never saw them coming and as they attacked from behind. We had no defense.
Our line crumpled as they bit and tore their way through. Two or three of them would drop with their prey to rip out large chunks of flesh to devour. Most of us dressed in business casual, but others wore professional clothes or uniforms dictated by their job. I watched as a custodian pulled our receptionist, Judy's, head back. Screaming, she bent to his will, only to feel his teeth penetrating her neck. Blood, pumping in rhythm with her heartbeats, spurted across the room.
A rough hand gripped my wrist and pulled. I tried to twist free, but as I spun about, I saw that it was Ned.
"We gotta get out of here!" he screamed over the chaos.
A loud crash signaled the collapse of the barricade. Some people turned and fled while others fought. All were about to die in the very near future.
"Where to?" I asked, thinking that we were trapped.
Stumped, he looked all about. "Let's try the stairs."
"They're full of infected!" I reminded, breaking his hold on my arm.
I felt a tug on my ankle and, looking down, saw Bernie, the annoying guy from the next cubical. "Help me," he said, red foam bubbling from his lips. Two infected women, having pulled his shirt apart were devouring his midsection. Intestines were spilled all over the floor. With a last tug, his weakened hand dropped off my limb. Eyes rolling up into his head, I knew he no longer needed my help.
"Not anymore," he said, indicating the door, which was hanging open. "Run!"
I tried to run, but my leg was pulled out from beneath me. I felt vise-like pressure on my ankle as I sprawled on the floor. Flipping onto my back, I looked down and saw that Bernie truly didn't need my help. It was his hand that had tripped me.
Head rearing back, the annoying man prepared to take a bite of my leg. His mouth worked the whole time, opening and closing as if in anticipation. As his head began to descend, a flash of light caught my eye as a cubical support caught my former office neighbor in the temple.
His body dropped, covering my lower legs with his bulk. I reached up, meeting a hand halfway. It pulled me free, raising me all the way to my feet. Bernie dropped face first on the carpet, its nape wicking up a spreading wet stain.
We shot through what was a battle scene. Arms reached for us, but we dodged the majority, Ned getting his suit coat snagged once by a pot-bellied computer programmer but sliding free of the jacket and leaving it behind. When we crossed the threshold of the door, we immediately started down. Slow-moving bodies lurching up filled the stairs, changing our minds and our direction.
We run up taking two steps at a stride. Ned, in the front, hit the push bar on the door, expecting it to give way to the roof. He bounced back and would have fallen down the stairs if it weren't for me catching him on his rebound.
The dead below continued their awkward march up the stairs. Their progress was slow but had a steady pace. It was already far too late to turn back. Ned struggled at the door, trying to figure out why the push bar wouldn't open the door. Giving out to frustration, he began pounding at the door.
"Go away." came a voice, muffled by the barrier.
"Let us up there or I swear I'll bring all these zombies with us!" Ned called back, as loud and threatening as he could. He punctuated it by striking the metal door with his cubical support as hard as he could.
"How do I know you haven't been bitten?" the voice asked through the door.
"These zombies may not know how to take this door off its hinges, but I sure do." He paused, shrugging his shoulders at me. It was a bluff. After a short pause for effect, Ned continued, "I'd rather leave the door in place, but you're forcing my hand."
The silence above us was drowned out by the moans from below. I could hear the infected approaching us, their feet dragging across each step as they precariously ascended the stairs. The lead one came into view. It paused momentarily as it saw us. Mouth opening wide, a long line of drool ran down his chin, falling to his chest. He moaned encouragement to the ones behind as he once again lurched in our direction.
"Ned!" I urged, making him aware of our situation.
About ten steps below us, the creature's arms were reaching as he locked his eyes on this new meaty prize. There was a metallic clanking sound behind me and the door opened a crack. My coworker seized the opportunity and rammed into the door with everything he had. It flew wide, slamming against something on the other side as I bolted up the last few steps, following my friend. The natural light nearly blinded me as I crossed the threshold.
The door slammed shut and was secured with a chain and padlock. My hand immediately sought out my inhaler. Fumbling to get it out of my jacket pocket, I took a quick pull on the device then hurriedly put it back.
I had never been on the roof before. I walked to the edge, which was surrounded by a low wall. The pea gravel-covered roof was rough on my stocking-covered feet. The stones were hot but not uncomfortable. As I gazed about the wooded scenery, I had to take a moment and marvel at the beauty surrounding my place of employment.
I remembered driving here when I was first interviewing for the position, thinking it was breath-taking, that I would love to have a house in such a setting. But over time, it had just become a place where I worked. I hardly noticed the pretty oaks and maples as I mechanically drove back and forth each weekday. It would have been positively serene if it weren't for the sickened people clambering at the only door to our escape.
No one stirred about the grounds. I guessed that they were all trapped inside the building. The cars in the parking lot were all still lined in neat rows. Everything seemed very normal from the outside.
"It's beautiful up here, isn't it?" came a female voice behind me. A bit startled, I turned and saw Amber, Thaddeus's personal secretary, taking a position beside me. Aside from her auburn hair being a little ruffled, she looked perfect. Her gray business jacket and matching knee-length skirt didn't show one wrinkle. Blouse unbuttoned a little too low for business, I can see why the letch hired her.
For all her outward appearance, she was an incredible administrative assistant. She was positively brilliant. Never let any prejudice tell you that beautiful people are dumb. She had it all and was a sweet person, too. I never got to know her too well, but I would hear the other women putting her down, saying that she only kept her job because of the way she looked.
"Sure is," I answered as I returning to looking at the trees. "Have you ever been up here before?"
She hesitated for a moment, then, softly admitted, "Ted brought me up here right after he hired me."
I felt bad for having asked the question. The jerk had probably tried to take advantage of the young woman up here, so I changed the conversation.
"How are you holding up?"
"Good," she said, sounding happy that I had not pursued the original discussion. "All things considered, I'm doing fine. How about you?"
"I'm surviving," I answered, not noticing the pun.
"Do you think any of the others...?" she asked, leaving the rest of the inquiry hanging as a tear ran down her cheek, marring her perfection.
"I hope so, but I don't know. It was all so crazy."
Amber reached a hand up and wiped the tear away with her index finger. She turned and began walking away from the edge of the building toward the other two. I could see that Thaddeus and Ned were in a heated discussion.
"You jeopardized our lives, you sniveling jerk!" Ned accused.
Our boss looked half crazed. Face still ashen, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he roared in defense, "I was looking out for our sa
fety."
Amber interposed herself between them, putting her back to Ned and softly taking the other's wildly swinging hands in her own. "It's ok, Ted," she said soothingly. "You were only protecting me. Just let it go."
It was amazing. His rage melted away, leaving him looking exhausted. I took that moment to calm Ned. "They didn't know. It's ok," I explained, also in an even tone. "We need to work together if we are going to survive."
"How are we going to survive up here?" he asked, doubt creeping into his voice for the first time.
I understood his frustration. We were trapped with no visible means of escape. I turned to Thaddeus. "Is there any other way down?"
"No," he said, slumping down on a lone folding chaise lounge chair. "There is no other way."
"Now what are we going to do?" Ned asked, defeated.
"Now we are going to sit here and wait to be rescued," I answered resolutely.
"By who?" he asked, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm.
He had a good point. This was not a localized event. The news and the internet alluded to the fact that all the emergency resources were strained beyond the breaking point. The National Guard, as well as all the other military branches, were recalled and were trying to regain order. I had no idea where help would come from.
"My husband is on his way!" I said firmly.
"The bug guy? What is he going to do? I know your husband, and a hero he is definitely not!" Now Ned was becoming panicky.
I knew it was a long shot and that he was right, but we all needed to stay calm. "He has been in dangerous situations before," I assured. "He has been deep in rainforests and jungles looking for his specimens and has always survived."
Ned shrugged at my answer, but it seemed to have the desired effect. "I was speaking to him when we were attacked and he sounded fine. He said he was on his way."
"I hope he brings an army!" Ted remarked, head hung low in defeat.
Everyone knew we were in trouble. We could hear the infected pawing at the door to get at us. The four of us were partially safe, protected by the metal door, but nothing was protecting us from the elements. If we were not found soon, we would die from exposure or the lack of food and water.
Chapter 8
Henry
