Respect for the Dead (Surviving the Dead Book 1) (26 page)

Britney stumbled out of the house to the front lawn.  The bright sun blinding her momentarily after the dark of the house.  The grass needed to be cut, but this had never been her job.  That had fallen to her brother.   Her brother had been missing since the outbreak had started.  She wandered down the empty streets toward the downtown.  She was so hungry and something told her she could find food this way. 

She found her way blocked many times.  It took a long time to get around the burned out cars and fallen ruble.  She had left the house hours ago but time didn’t really matter anymore.  What was time when no one was around to meet you, with no appointments needing to be kept? 

              Many times she saw several zombies shambling off in the distance.  They took no notice of her so she kept moving forward.  The life she had known was over.  The things she had cared so much for no longer mattered.  She just needed to find food.  Her reflection showed a torn t-shirt with the logo of her favorite book and movie.  She didn’t care about any of that now.

She stumbled out of the alley and tripped over a half full trash can.  It rattled loudly along the empty street.  Moving forward she slipped on the rotting corpses of several children all dressed in choir robes.  She took no notice of the smell or the tragedy of the little lives lost.   She tripped over more debris and headed for the fence.  It was inside, the food was inside.

Steve was at his post in the bell tower of Saint Andrews downtown church.  He looked through the scope of his rifle down to the barricade buses and whatever else they could pile up.  Something moved to the right of an overturned car.  Steve sighted in the rifle and waited.  It had been a while since he had seen one of them wander this close.   He wondered if it knew they were here or if it just chanced upon them.  “If they knew we were here, this place would be covered with them.”  Steve reassured himself.  It seemed strange that of a city this size they had seen so few of the undead around.  Especially after seeing so many at the ball park, it made him wonder if they might be safe and the zombies had moved out of the city.  His thoughts interrupted by the sound of metal clanging down the street. 

Steve returned to his scope searching for the source of the sound.  Sweeping the street he discovered a girl stumbling out of the shadows.   At least that was what he concluded judging by what was left of the thing’s clothes.  She was a teenager, he thought.  He noticed the “Twilight” t-shirt and had to laugh at the irony. 

“Well you loved the undead,” he mused “now you are the undead.”  He thought of Beth and how much she hated those books.  “I guess you and Beth wouldn’t have been friends, I wonder if she knew you.”    He thought back to the last time he had talked to his sister.  Hadn’t he given her a hard time about that stuff?  He smiled, it was just an older brother messing with his sister.  A frown crossed his face,  “She knew that.”  He whispered, “Right?” 

Steve looked back through the scope but he had lost sight of the zombie.  He scanned the area, “Beth was too cool for that vampire soap opera crowd.  Is too cool.”  He corrected himself angrily.

Looking over the scope he spotted her at the fence.  She was clawing at the interlocking metal rings, trying to get through.  He returned to the eyepiece adjusting the cross hairs on her face.  He flipped off the safety, exhaled, and squeezed the trigger.

Britney crumpled, now completely lifeless.  Her broken body lay at the bottom of the fence outside the church.  

“Beth you had better be safe.”  Steve grunted.

The truck rolled on in a deep silence, the quiet only broken by the huffing of Stancy or her whine of discomfort.  Finally returning to the downtown area Trevor broke the spell.  “Hey Doc.  Where do we go from here?”  They sat idling at an intersection.   

Startled, Gillian looked up from Matt.  She gave him the cold compress to hold against the knot on his head then struggled to moved up to the front.  Looking out the window it took a moment to her bearings.  The downtown area was littered with debris, crashed cars, and signs of violence.  Gillian knelt down next to Trevor.  Stancy had stayed in the passenger seat.  She was staring out the window not looking at anyone but silently daring them to make her move. 

It was uncomfortable for Gillian to sit on her knees giving directions.  She heard grumbling and turned around.  Max gave a disgusted look at Stancy and made to say something, but Gillian just shook her head.  It took a while for Gillian to find her way back to the apartment.  It had been several years and the way she remembered had been blocked by a fire.  It looked as if an entire block of the city was burning out of control.  Fear boiled up, what if that had been the building they needed?  What if this was another wasted trip, another disappointment or worse.  What if she got them trapped? 

After a the third backtrack Stancy wasn’t the only one grumbling.  Finally she breathed a sigh of relief.  There it was, the place she was looking for, a Hardware store with two stories of windows above it.  “There is a dance studio on the second floor and three or four apartments on the third.”  She smiled pointing to the building.  “Down the alley is the door to the stairs.  You had to either be buzzed in or have a key.”  She continued. 

“No way!”  Max exclaimed and slapped the back of the driver’s seat happily as they pulled down the alley. 

Gillian looked at him perplexed. “What?”  She asked.

He pointed at the fire escape hanging out into the alley.  “Perfect.  It is perfect.  We don’t have to force the door we just have to climb up on the truck and up the fire escape.”  He grinned at her pulling her up into a one armed hug.

Beth interrupted, “that is if we are the only ones here.”  She pointed out the windshield to the open door just below the fire escape.  Max’s face fell.  “Damn it.  Now what?” 

“Maybe it got left open when the residence left?”  Trevor noted hopefully.  Beth felt the way their luck had been, he was being grossly optimistic.  

Hector slapped a full clip into his rifle, “Well it looks like we need to check this out.”  Beth pulled her gun and fixed him with a gaze, she refused to be left behind this time.  He nodded.  “The rest of you stay here.  Beth and I will check it out.”  She gave a quick nod and clicked off the safety. 

Trevor pulled up to the door.  Beth and Hector jumped out.  As soon as the cleared the bumper the truck’s back door slammed shut.  It sounded louder than a cannon being fired to Beth.   Standing in the deserted alley, she was suddenly aware of how fast and loud her heart was beating.  She followed close to the military man.  The gun in her hand, again, felt light, too small, like a toy.

“What are you doing out here?”  Her brain screamed.  Shaking the thoughts away she charged forward.  The door into the building swung a little in the light breeze.  Beth hesitated.  The breeze brought with it the smell of smoke and old garbage from down the alley.  Hector signaled her to wait and to keep watch.  He took a deep breath. Swinging around the door he aimed his weapon up a flight of stairs. He clicked on the flashlight attached to the barrel.  Seeing nothing he reached into his pocket pulling out a second flashlight.  Beth glanced over her shoulder as he flashed the light around the stairwell.  She could see the streaks of blood on the walls and her stomach tightened. 

“This is not going to be good.”  She whispered. 

Hector nodded while Handing Beth the flashlight.  He motioned her to keep quiet and watch behind them as they ascended the stairs.  Gaining the second floor landing there was a door to the dance studio and another that lead to more stairs.  Beth wanted to go up the stairs but Hector indicated the door to the studio.  They spent several seconds having a silent argument with furious hand motions and pointing from door to door.  Finally Beth threw up her hands in frustration.  She moved closer to Hector and the closed Dance studio door.  She really didn’t want to see what was in there. 

Carefully and quietly Hector opened the door.  It opened into a huge open room.  The light flashed through the empty space.  Beth’s light fell on a large pool of drying blood on the floor.  There were no streaks to show a body being drug.  Moving closer they checked the floor for signs of the blood’s owner.  Only one set of bloody foot prints led toward the stairs disappearing before reaching the door.  Scanning the rest of the room they saw no sign of the living or dead just a couple of doors  at the far end of the room. 

Moving further in Beth jumped with a squeak.  She swung around to aim at the person who appeared directly across from her.  She gave a small stifled laugh and sigh of relief as she saw only herself in the wall length mirror.   Behind her she could see Hector trying to cover his amusement.  She gave him the finger in the mirror.  This did nothing to stem his mirth.  She motioned him to move.  He saluted, took a breath to regain focus, and moved on gun at the ready.  She took a moment to calm herself and get ready.  She followed him, keeping an eye on their backs as they snaked around the support columns. 

Hector headed to a door in the middle of the opposite wall.  He kicked it open and shined his light around.  “Clear” he whispered.   Beth was at his side.  They were looking in at an office.   The desk was messy but clear of any sign of violence.  Hector pointed to another door.  Together they eased silently toward it.  Hector held up a hand.  He showed three fingers then two then one.  Beth nodded.   Three fingers…Two….One…he reached out, turned the knob then threw the door open and stood back. 

Beth held her flashlight next to the barrel of her gun, breath held.  The light weakly illuminated the next room.  Hector peaked around the corner and then went in.  Beth followed him into a locker room.  Again there was no one there.  He motioned for them to head out and up to the next floor.

“Where did they go?  Beth whispered as they returned to the stairway to head up to the third floor.

“I’m hoping out the front door and far far away.”  Hector replied quietly when they were halfway up the stairs.  Reaching the top of the flight they came to yet another door. Hector looked at the door then at Beth.  She shrugged and raised an eyebrow.  “How many doors do they need?”  Hector grumbled.  There was a small window on one side just above the handle.  Beth mused this must be so people could see who was coming up.  Hector reached out slowly and tried the knob, it was locked. 

“What do we do?”  Beth hissed. 

Hector looked at her then at the small window.  He raised the butt of his rifle and smashed the window.  Beth’s ears rang.  She frowned at Hector.  He stood listening for a moment, pointing both his flashlight and the rifle through the opening down the hall.  He motioned for Beth to open the door.  She stared at him questioningly, he urged her forward.  She shook her head.  He motioned for her to put her arm through and unlock the door.  She pointed at him.  He pointed to his rifle, she to her gun.  In the end their grunting and motioning lead to Beth edging up to the door, frowning and ducking as Hector pointed his rifle over her head. 

“You so owe me for this.”  Beth slowly snaked her hand through the broken glass.  Hector moved close to her, continuing to aim down the hall.  She noted with some satisfaction that if anything touched her hand she would jerk it back through causing some sever discomfort to Hector.  Fumbling for a second, she quickly found the knob on the other side unlocking the door.  Every hair on her hand felt the tiniest movement of air.  Quickly as she could she pulled her arm back through, she made sure to give Hector a soft elbow to the gut earning an “oomf” from him. 

Smiling, she turned the knob.  Her smile faded as she saw the blood on her hand, tacky and congealing.  She quickly started rubbing it off against the wall.  A panic began to swell; she wanted it off her hand Now!  Hector handed her a rag, she couldn’t surpress a shudder as she wiped her hand clean. 

  Beth took a calming breath as Hector moved around her through the opening.  The hall was empty.  Beth followed.  Hector looked at the back of the door, Beth peered around him.  The knob was covered in blood but the rest of the door was clean.  Still shuddering and rubbing her hand raw with the rag Beth turned away from the site. 

Hector gave her hand a squeeze as he took the cloth away.  Shaking her head to clear it she observed the rest of their surrounds.  Three doors stood on the right, light came in from two windows on the left.  Looking out the window Beth could see a balcony that ran the length of the building that lead to the fire escape. 

Returning her attention to the doors, she saw the third door down the hall was open.  Hector eased to the first door and tried it.  It was locked, he edged down along the wall to the second door.  He pressed himself flat against the wall and motioned for Beth to do the same.  Reaching out he tried the knob, it turned.  With a soft click the door moved slightly.  Hector let go and held up a hand.  Beth readied herself.  Hector pointed to her and she understood.  She was to kick open the door and he was to go through it.  He moved out of her way.  She took a step back lowered her weapon, built up the energy rocking back and forth ready to kick in the door.  She stumbled and fell back as Hector waved frantically. 

“What the hell!?”  Beth hissed angrily.  He hushed her.  He was listening.  She moved closer and heard it too.  A soft cry a mournful type of whine emanated through the slight crack in the door.  Hector motioned for Beth to get behind him.  Slowly he pushed the door open with the muzzle of his rifle.  Beth gasped but held her aim.  Standing in the middle of the apartment with her back to them stood a small woman.  Beth thought she couldn’t be more than five one or two at the most.  The floor creaked under Hector’s boot.  Slowly the woman turned toward the sound. 

Her face while pale was framed with unnaturally deep red hair.  Her mouth and chin covered in dark dry blood.  Hector flipped his rifle up and charged the ghoul.  She advanced toward him oblivious of what he intended.  Beth flinched at the crack of rifle butt against skull.  The small girl crumpled but still clawed at Hector’s boot.  He brought the stock down again and again.  Beth looked away as the head came apart all over a tan and blue area rug. 

Covering her mouth and nose from the stench and gore Beth closed her eyes.  The cracking of bone still rang in her ears.  No that wasn’t it!  Her eyes flew open, a pale hand missing two fingers appeared around a door frame to her right.  The door slowly opened revealing a young man soaked in blood from his chin all down the front of his shirt..  He gurgled at her from a torn throat shuffling slowly out of the bedroom toward her.  He was

“No don’t shoot!”  Hector gasped, “You’ll let them know where we are.”  Beth looked over at Hector.  He motioned for her to smash the zombie on the head.  Beth backed away, the zombie wasn’t much taller than she was, he was thin, deceptively so.   She knew the type from the wrestling team.  She had one shot at this.  She turned the gun like a hammer, rushed forward smashing it on his face.  The ghoul took a step back but came at her again.   She smashed it harder in the nose, she heard the crack. 

“Hit it again!”  Hector yelped rushing to her aid.  Gathering her strength she smashed the metal of the gun to the broken nose.  The zombie faltered then dropped.  Hector was at her side, she looked away and covered her ears but she couldn’t completely block out the crunch as Hector stomped on the boy’s face.   Beth felt Hector’s hand on her shoulder.  

Shaking slightly they checked the rest of the apartment.  Thankfully they found it empty.  Moving back into the hall they moved toward the third apartment.  The door was unlocked, to Beth’s relief it was empty but in a terrible mess.  It looked like the occupants had left in a hurry.  Drawers stood open with their content spilled out on the floor.  “Maid must be off this week.”  Hector commented.

They swept through the rest of empty rooms then returned to the hall.  Beth followed as they returned to the first apartment.  Hector gave a quick rap on the door and waited.  No sound came from inside.  Beth pressed herself against the wall, Hector moved into the hall, braced himself then kicked the door open.  He pointed his rifle ahead and rushed in, Beth followed.   The apartment was completely empty; it apparently had not been rented.

Wiping a cold sweat from his brow Hector returned to the hallway.  Beth followed, her breathing and heart rate slowly returning to normal.  Hector moved to the middle apartment.  He paused at the door for a second then closed it.

“No need for the rest to see that.”  He said,  “Do you want to wait in the other one?”  Hector motioned to the furthest door.

Beth thought for a moment, torn between not wanting to be alone and with really not wanting to go back outside.  She pulled the clip from her gun checked her ammo, stalling for time.  Finally she spoke.  “I’ll, um, what do you guys call it?  Secure the area.” 

Hector laughed, gave her a salute, then headed down the stairs to get the others. His footsteps disappeared leaving Beth alone in the hallway.  Every sound in the building became suddenly amplified.  Every creak was a zombie wandering closer, the slightest draft was the hands of the undead about to grab her.