Safe haven | Rick Grimes

009. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE

Chapter nine

"What would you do to save someone's life."

Forced deeper into the high school, Shane, Scarlett, and Otis tore down the dark hallway with a swarm of walkers snapping at their heels. When they reached the far end, they slammed into a set of double doors only to find them chained tight. With no time to waste, the three pivoted hard and sprinted down a corridor to the left, the shuffling horde screaming and echoing right behind them.

They burst into the dark gymnasium and scrambled up the metal bleachers, climbing as high as they could. Below them, a sea of pale, decaying hands thrust upward, fingers scratching desperately against the metal framework.

Shane swept his flashlight beam across the wall to their left, illuminating a row of narrow windows near the ceiling. "Those windows, what's on the other side?" He panted.

"About a twenty foot drop with nothing to catch you," Otis breathed, wiping sweat from his face. "Maybe some bushes, then the athletic field."

Scarlett didn't blink. "So we just need to get there. Get em open and get out."

"Not me. Maybe you two," Otis said, his voice dropping.

"Hey, hey, hey." Shane cut in, shaking his head.

"Come on, man, look at me," Otis insisted, gesturing to his heavy frame. "You really think I can squeeze through one of them tiny windows? They'd be all over us before I could clear my hips. Look, we lay down some fire to get a head start. You two stay up here. I hop down and draw 'em away. That gives you two the chance to get up the bleachers and out a window."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "And where are you going?"

Otis grabbed the flashlight from Shane's hand and shone the beam toward the far corner of the gym. "Locker room down those steps," he pointed out, before handing the light back to Shane.

Shane stared down at the dark stairwell, his brow furrowed. "Looks like a good way to get trapped."

"It's got windows too, and more my size," Otis explained, trying to reassure them. "I get out through one, I double back, and we meet up out on the field."

Otis handed his heavy medical bag to Shane, who immediately passed it to Scarlett. She slid her arms through the straps, tightening it against her back.

Shane stared at the older man, a mix of disbelief and respect in his eyes. "You're a crazy son of a bitch, ain't you?"

"Just trying to do right for that boy," Otis replied quietly.

"You take three shots, and then you go," Shane commanded, laying out the timeline. "After that, me and Scarlett fire. We'll lay down cover for you and get you a lead."

"All right," Otis said.

He raised his weapon and fired, dropping a walker instantly. He racked the bolt, fired a second time, and dropped another. He reloaded swiftly and fired his third shot, clearing a small pocket in the crowd. Otis crammed a few more rounds into the magazine, turned, and leaped off the high bleachers into the fray.

Shane and Scarlett instantly opened fire, picking off two walkers closest to his landing zone. Despite their cover, a stray walker managed to grab Otis by the leg. Shane squeezed the trigger, blasting the creature's skull open.

Otis ran toward the locker room, drawing the walkers away. Shane and Scarlett shot four more of the creatures before turning to flee. They scrambled down the bleachers and rushed up the stairs, where Scarlett kept watch.