*Discontinued* Project Storm

17. Zombie Magnet

The zombies only tried harder as Virgil laid there whimpering. Logan was starting to get worried. They all were. They wouldn't be able to stay there much longer. The problem was Virgil was unconscious and Janus was no better... Actually, he was worse seeing as how he had been shot. Roman's head was far too muddled to even think about anything right now. He just held on tighter to Virgil as the others tried to figure out what to do.

Virgil tensed up in his arms before crying out and Roman could swear that he heard the zombies scream out in response. It was like they were trying to get in... because of him. Roman only pulled him in tighter, this sudden sense of panic making him want to cling to the man in his arms. He just... Something in him told him not to let go. Logan was pacing about the room trying to think of a plan as Patton attempted to get Janus ready to be moved, while also grabbing as much as he could for supplies. They didn't know when they would be able to get more again.

They had a tiny window to escape. Literally... There was a tiny ass window to escape from and two unconscious men. Roman felt as Virgil twitched in his arms and he jumped at the sudden loud bang on the wall behind him. This was completely ridiculous and it only furthered to pull at Roman's heart. If he had just moved like he wanted maybe he could've been able to help Virgil out of his panic. Then it wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did and Virgil might not have passed out from it all. Another twitch from the man in his arms and another bout of very loud banging against the wall. It really was like they were trying to get in. Almost as if... As if they're reacting to his fear!

Roman jumped up, his breathing erratic as his panic only built. He clung to Virgil tightly as he brought him closer to the door. The other two froze seeing Roman move but Roman was far too focused on what he was doing. Virgil twitched again whimpering out and the reaction was intense. The zombies started pushing against the door so hard it was pushing the machinery out from in front of it.

"We have to get Virgil out of here!" Logan's eyes went wide with rage, making Roman groan in annoyance. Yes, Roman was terrified of what would happen to Virgil but did Logan really think he would just leave Janus there to die? Honestly, the trust in these people! "He's attracting them."

"That's not..." Virgil tensed up crying out again as his arm spasmed a bit. It took all Roman had to hold him so he didn't drop. Logan's eyes went wide as the walls came alive with the sound of zombies throwing themselves into it to get inside. Virgil was not being any quieter. His shaking only intensified as the second tick past and Roman was honestly freaking out. If they didn't get Virgil out of this room they would all be dead. He didn't even know if the zombies would ignore Virgil right now, to be honest. Roman watched as Logan ran to the window and pierced his lips.

"They're gone."

"What?" Roman slowly walked over to Logan, still holding tight to Virgil, and Logan started to shake his head. "The zombies Virgil distracted with the cars... They're gone."

"There they are..." Roman spun around at the sound of Patton's shaky voice, only to see him pointing at the door. Several zombie fingers poked through a crack as they slowly but surely made headway into opening it.

"Logan, do you see any outside?" Patton shot this confused look back at the two of them as Logan shook his head and Roman frowned. "Hold him." As much as it hurt him to let Virgil out of his grasp for even a second, he didn't have a choice. He practically shoved Virgil into the other's arms, trying to move as quickly as he could, and opened the window as wide as it could go. Patton instantly tried to complain but that didn't stop Roman from climbing out and dropping into the dirt below. Roman could see the fear in all of them as his feet touched the ground.

"Roman, are you sure about this?" Roman looked around seeing the empty parking lot and this pit grew in his stomach.

"Nope." He couldn't help but pop the 'p' as the anxiety started to burn in him badly. "But we have to do something." Logan only nodded as Roman held his arms out. Roman could see the skepticism in his eyes as he carefully started to ease Virge out of the window and into his arms. The second Virgil was back in his hold Roman felt some of his panic ease up... as if just having that contact meant he could at least keep Virgil safe... Now he just had to figure out how to protect the other. Roman absolutely hated out Virgil was so limp in his arms. He pushed his head into his chest more, curling him up as Roman held him tight. "Give me five minutes. If the zombies haven't cleared by then use the window."

"What are you planning?" Logan's voice shook a bit as Roman started back up. "Roman..."

"I'm going to lead them away as long as I can." His eyes went wide and Patton cried out seeing the door open a little more.

"That's suicide!" Roman just laughed as he pushed Virgil's head in a little more hearing him start to whimper again.

"It's the only plan we've got." Roman didn't give them a chance to respond. He just took off running back inside without giving himself even a second to doubt his choice.

The plan wasn't to lead them out of the hospital that doesn't help the others get outside, just out of the room. The plan was to lead them away as far and as fast as Roman could do so. So that was why Roman found himself holding onto a very terrified and unconscious zombie boy tightly in his arms in front of a room surrounded by a literal horde. He didn't have to draw their attention. Virgil had already done that. The moment Roman's foot hit the floor in front of them they all spun around and started running right for them. Roman ended up sliding a bit just so he could change his direction without stopping. If he stopped then they were dead.

Roman ran as fast as his feet could take him silently thanking all the training he had to do for the military. All the miles he ran and all the things that he did for endurance because he needed to. It was even harder carrying someone in his hands. He wasn't a child by any means, however, he was light for someone his size and that was worrying but if Roman couldn't allow that to distract him. Not when he needed to focus on running and keeping not only himself but the man in his arms safe as well.

Roman reached this flight of stairs and groaned at the madness behind him. He only had a split second to decide but ultimately going up is better. He climbed the stairs two at a time ignoring the burning in his lungs and the ache in his legs as he passed floor by floor until bursting through this door. He wasted no time quickly setting Virgil down before having a bit of a freakout. That was until he spotted a plank. Roman grabbed the plank as fast as he could wedging it tightly between the handle and a pipe effectively locking them away from the zombies that now tried to burst through the door. Shorter passage... Fewer zombies able to reach the door... less weight... less chance of breaking through and a higher chance of survival. There was only one problem.

They were on the roof.