The Boss Is Dead

Chp:7 The Shelter

The group pulled Diana to safety with a collective sigh of relief. "Nothing like a near-death experience to get the heart pumping," quipped Greg. Diana shot him a withering look as she dusted herself off.

Amanda peered over the edge, eyes widening. "Guys... check it out." Three stories below, a small horde of zombies lapped at a crimson pool staining the alleyway concrete. A pair of disembodied legs twitched feebly amid the feast. Eew.

"Blech... I think that's what's left of Larry down there," gagged Sarah, looking decidedly green. The group inched carefully away from the gruesome scene. "Note to self...watch where you put your heels from now on," muttered Diana.

Crossing the rooftop, they neared the eight-foot gap separating them from the next building. "So who wants to go first this time?" asked Ben with a slight smile face. All eyes turned expectantly to Greg. He scowled. "Oh come on... why does it always have to be me? I'm no spring chicken you know."

"Last, it was me. We believe in you... young grasshopper!" encouraged Amanda, giving his butt a playful pat that nearly sent him toppling over the edge. Regaining his balance with an indignant huff, Greg backed up a few paces and took a running start. He soared gracefully through the air for an excruciating couple seconds before slamming chest first onto the adjacent roof.

The group cringed in unison as Greg lay wheezing like an accordion. "Nailed it," he gasped, giving a thumbs up. One by one they took turns bounding awkwardly across, with varying degrees of success. Jake made it look almost elegant, while Amanda landed in an undignified sprawl. According to her, she would have landed gracefully if she hadn't worn those impractical boots.

At last only Diana and Sarah remained on the first roof, eyeing the gap doubtfully. "You go first," grinned Diana, gesturing at Sarah. She backed up nervously. "On second thought...maybe we could find another way like sane people—" But with a cackle, Diana pushed her running at the ledge.

Sarah let out an ungodly squawk as she sailed through the air, snagging her shirt painfully on a radio antenna halfway. There she dangled precariously for several nauseating seconds, limbs windmilling. Just like a demented sock puppet.

Just when it seemed she must surely plummet to her doom three stories below, strong arms encircled her waist and heaved her to safety. How hot she thought. But said, "I had it under control...Ben, jeez!" Ben gave her a sheepish grin. "My hero instincts took over... what can I say?"

Once Diana finally made the jump with slightly more grace, the reunited group took stock of their surroundings. The roof access led down to an empty office floor, deserted like the rest of the post-apocalyptic city. In the distance, a towering skyscraper burned hot, black smoke staining the ashen sky.

"So much for shelter... where to now?" sighed Greg, stating the obvious question on everyone's minds. Eyes turned expectantly to Ben once more. He frowned, deep in thought, then pointed across a broad boulevard at the city's remains. "There—that old library was always a fortress. If anywhere's still standing... it will be."

With no better option, the others nodded in agreement and followed Ben toward the stairwell access. But just then, a bone-chilling moan rose from the streets below, quickly taken up by others. Beneath the smoke, a new group of undead was shambling into view, driven out from other places by the spreading flames that were also making weird sounds.

"Looks like our rescue will have to wait," gulped Diana with a worried glance at the masses growing larger by the second. The library was still a good city block away from the exposed ground. But the alternative was to become trapped atop the burning skyscraper.

Their remaining choices were looking grimmer by the minute.

~

"Welp, ain't this a fine pickle we've gotten ourselves into now," drawled Greg as the group surveyed their unenviable options. They were trapped atop a burning building now because the flames were spreading. The horde of zombies was slowly encircling the block below, cutting off any hope of an escape to the nearby library.