Short Stories

Walter, the girl and the Zombies

They were tears. Not spilt water. Walter stepped on tears. He lifted his foot up and then looked into the eyes of the young girl that was curled up terrified on the ground, huddled between two large crates. Walter crouched down, despite the urgency to tell him to keep going.
"Hello." He said. He wasn't much good with children. "What are you doing here?" he asked. The girl shook her head and continued crying. "We don't have much time. How did you get here? Who's looking after you."
"My dad." The girl whimpered. Walter couldn't see anyone else in the hallway.
"Your dad? Who is your dad? Which way did he go?" Walter asked, he stood back up to scan the coast this time. The girl pointed back to the way Walter came. Walter hid is concern with a rusty smile.
"He'll be back. But you must come with me." He offered. He extended a hand and without hesitation the girl gripped to it like a long lost toy. Walter led her down the hallway at a slow enough pace that he could hear the gargling start from behind him. "We might have to run." He said allowed and then he realized he wasn't talking to his partner, he was talking to a child. A weak, innocent child. He looked at her gripping his hand and wondered how to tell her.
"That way." He pointed to a door at the end of the hallway. "Well have to run." The girl started to run, but didn't let go of his hand, and he stumbled to keep pace with her, trying not to trip on her. When Walter and the girl got to the door he used his other hand to pull out his key card and scan it on the AUTOPAD. As the door slid open and he pushed the girl inside he turned back to see the dead creep down the hallway. Though slow, their bodies moved aggressively and tauntingly. Their heads looked snapped and hanging just by the skin alone.
"Inside." Walter said as he slipped into the room with the girl. The door slid closed and it was quiet for a second.
"Where's my dad." The girl asked. Walter wouldn't answer. He looked around the room for an escape. There was a door that led to a set of stairs. It was shut and had not AUTOPAD to open it. With all his strength be slammed his body against the door. It's wood splintered and sent Walter flying back. He caught himself and while ignoring the pain rammed the door again. It broke, the door fell to the ground and splinters tornadoed about the stair way.