Better off Undead

Chapter 5: Run For Your Life

As soon as he exited the hallway, Eli knew something was wrong. He had gone around the outside portion of the complex, following the gate until he had managed to put some distance between himself and the creatures he was hoping were still attempting to get into the pool. Once he felt comfortable doing so, he cut through one of the buildings back to the parking lot. He didn't see the overturned SUV immediately, but it was almost as if he sensed it. It was blocked from his site by one of the complex's dumpster sites, where two large city dumpsters sat walled off by a brick enclosing. It was only a few steps before he noticed part of the vehicle, clearly lying on its side, sticking out from around the dumpster block. A few steps more, and he noticed something odd and reflective lying on the ground, and yet a few steps more made it clear what the object was.

Aviator sunglasses.

Mac's aviator sunglasses, Eli knew immediately. Which meant... Amber...

He broke out into a run. Run was hardly even an adequate description. Eli had quite possibly never moved so quickly in his entire life. Barely a thought entered his mind. He was no longer concerned about his exhausted body, his tired limbs. They were a thing of the past, long forgotten to the annals of history. The undead creatures roaming about did not even enter his consciousness. They, too, were now non-entities. All that existed for him was the overturned SUV, and what was inside the SUV.

He skidded to a stop right outside the front window, leaning in close so he could peer inside, hoping to get a glimpse of the passengers. There was some kind of moment, and one of the side doors popped open.

Eli straightened, and hurried over to the open portal. A hand and arm reached out from the inside. He grabbed it and pulled, helping the person climb out of the vehicle. It was Rob. With an annoyed grunt, he pushed the man to the side and climbed up to the doorway.

"I... I think everyone's okay. We weren't going that fast," Rob was saying, but Eli paid no attention. He was too focused on the task at hand.

Through the opening, he could see Amber. She was kneeling over the prone form of Nancy, whose window had been shattered, and whose head now lay in a small pool of blood. "Amber!" he called, desperate to get her attention. "We have to go!"

Amber glanced up, tears welling up in her eyes. "She's unconscious," she replied, numbly. "I can't wake her."

Eli turned his head and gave a good look at his surroundings. The large group of zombies he'd lost at the pool gate earlier was making its way out to them, slowly but definitely. They would be upon them in a matter of moments. He dropped his head and peered back through the door, the look on his face making the reality of their situation all too clear to Amber.

She stood up as straight as she could and bent over the side of the seat to look into the back of the car. "Help me with the kids," she said. She squirmed around the seat and into the back, out of Eli's sight, and muttered several words he couldn't quite make out. From within the car came the sound of the children sobbing quietly, their moans and whines the only sign they were still alive. Moments later, Tyler was in front of him, reaching up with unsteady arms.

With a grimace, Eli grabbed on to the young man and pulled. The effort was not an easy one as the boy had only precarious footing upon the sides of the seats, and it was an awkward angle he was forced to squeeze through in order to get out of the car. It took some doing, but the two finally managed to wiggle the young man free. Eli quickly handed the boy off to Rob, who thankfully was prepared to help.

"Okay, next," Eli called, uncertain of what else to say. Almost immediately he found Mandy's terrified face before his own. Smiling with as much assurance as he could muster, he reached down for her and pulled. To his surprise, this time the process was completely different. Her smaller frame and lighter body made for a much easier time, and he quickly pulled her free from the car. Turning, he handed her off to Rob, and then quickly turned back to the car door again. Amber was already climbing over the back of the seat, and he reached down to help her, but she clearly had other plans. Pushing his hands aside, she dropped back down to the ground inside the car. She looked up, frowning, and waved him away.