Stella the Zombie Killer

Stella the Zombie Killer Part Five: The Killer

Stella hefted the headless body of the angel onto her back. Its metal components grated uncomfortably across her shoulders and the smell of its rotting corpse was disgusting. The head dangled from her belt, the leather looped through its mouth making it leer up at her. 'Easy there, fella. Not on a first date,' she said to it.

'You what?' said Hook. He had an angel over each shoulder and was smiling broadly, happy with the day's catch. He stood on top of a car bonnet, scanning the street. His weight pushed the vehicle's front end down towards the debris strewn, filthy ground.

'Nothing.' She stared at Hook's crotch. His legs were parted, braced against the weight on his shoulders and through them she could see a broken shop window, scattered mannequins...

Hook's smile disappeared when he saw the look on Stella's face. He raised his eyebrows.

Stella nodded behind him. Movement, she mouthed to him, silently. She placed her angel carefully onto the floor. 'Just need to check the lobby one last time,' she said. 'I'm sure I saw some food in that back office.'

Hook nodded. 'Take your time. The thumpers are still up and running; we'll be safe for hours.' He dropped the angels from his shoulders, letting them slam and slide from the car's bonnet. The car rocked and rolled as he stepped down.

Stella glanced back on her walk to the hotel lobby to see Hook hoist his foot onto the bonnet of the car and bend to his shoe laces. His massive frame looked slightly ridiculous competing such a mundane task.

Entering the lobby, she ducked down, sure that the debris in the street would cover her, and scampered back out of the smashed doorway, switched left, crouch-ran for fifty yards and dashed across the street. On the opposite path she straightened and trotted towards the broken shop window opposite Hook, who was still investigating his shoe laces. He was never one for subtlety, she thought to herself.

The shop window was just a few yards ahead. Glass crunched as she covered the distance in two seconds.

Hook, matching her approach, dropped his foot and ran at the window.

They both burst through into the shop, scattering the mannequins and surprising the man cowering amongst the plastic limbs. Feebly, he held his arms over his head, remaining silent, just waiting.

Stella had stopped and held her arm out to halt Hook as soon as she saw him. The man was pathetic, no threat. She stared down at him, watching him try to push himself away, scraping his worn out shoes against the broken glass and mannequins. The dust and filth from the crash was still thick in here; the building itself sheltering the shop from the rains. Stella glared at him and realised that he had nothing left. 'Who are you?' she said.

The man stopped his futile efforts and slowly lowered his arms just enough to peer over them. 'Jared,' he said. 'Jared Jenks.' His voice was tired, defeated.

'Sounds like a superhero alter ego,' said Hook. 'You got a mask in your pants?'

Jared looked to the big man, confusion and terror in his eyes.

'Don't worry about him,' said Stella. The man on the ground was older than her, mid forties at least and possibly even older at first glance. That could be his condition, Stella thought. Half starved and exhausted did nothing for the complexion.

Jared stared at her. 'You're her,' he said, his eyes widening in recognition. 'You're The Killer.'

Stella grunted a laugh. 'Not for a long time, Mr Jenks,' she said. 'My days of killing in the ring are over.'