The Last City

Chapter 5

Crestfield University, Cite De Sierra, 2:10 A.M.

Belle stood facing the undead with the only thing between them was the broken piece of wood from a chair which she had managed to grab from nearby; nails sticking out menacingly at the end. She waved the wooden mace in an attempt to scare off the undead that stood two feet taller than her. Its teeth snapping randomly back at her.

Another scream of pain overwhelmed the rest of the sound as the tallest undead was tearing the flesh of the stubborn guy at the other side of the reception hall. Belle could not help but think that this was actually the last moments of her life. The only thing prolonging her before death was the improvised mace she had.

Belle signaled for Flannery and her family to sneak behind the undead she was taunting, towards the basement garage together with professor Dean. On the other side of the reception hall, Winona and two African guys were cornered by another undead that was leaping ferociously over them.

She weighed her options, should she continue to wave aimlessly ahead of her, the undead would definitely get her rhythm and attack on the opposite side. She needed to do something quick.

Time was not her friend at that instant though. The undead seemed to have calculated way advance as it nudged its razor sharp claw towards the opposite direction of Belle’s swinging sending the mace skittering across the floor over the broken shards of glass and her with it. Just in a blink of an eye, the undead kicked through the air and was inches already above Belle when a crowbar had locked its hook into the creature’s head and tearing it into two.

Belle at once saw her savior, as Curt hurriedly helped Belle on her feet. She was not sure of what she felt, the words thank you got stuck in her throat as she felt static overwhelmed her body the moment Curt touched her hands.

The screaming of the stubborn guy had faded now, and Belle quite suddenly knew that the undead leader had just finished its feast and could at anytime divert to them.

A loud screeching of tires echoed from behind, with two headlights blinding everyone that instant. The undead attacking Winona’s group flinched to hide away from the light.

“Get in!” bellowed Flannery who was driving the black range rover that had just emerged from the garage. “Quick!”

Without hesitation, Curt took Belle with him and jumped into the truck, followed shortly by Winona and the African Guys. Just as Flannery shifted the clutches the undead leader leaped over the rover sending it rocking sideways.

“Go, go go!” shouted Winona, shutting the door tight.

Flanery pulled on the clutch and the Rover zigzagged madly backwards. With one swift maneuver Flannery shifted the clutch and went roaring forward sending the undead leader flying backwards into the hard ground.

“Hell yeah!” shouted Winona as their Rover zoomed madly towards the main road.

They were speeding fast through Acacia lane as swirls of dark gray and black played outside the car’s windows. Belle sank back to her seat, wiping the sweat on her forehead. She watched as everyone was thankful of making it out of the school campus alive.

Belle just recently noticed how Curt was holding her in his arms tightly. She carefully placed her eyes on the delicate masculine hands that were wrapped around her; several fresh cuts were evident on his long fingers. Her eyes traced the entirety of his big arms, up to the biceps that lay bare from his shirt. Just behind her, she could feel how extremely close his chest was that she could actually feel the rhythm of his breathing.

Belle’s eyes went towards his bare neck that was freshly shaved. The moment she shot her eyes upwards it met with his eyes and instantly Belle could feel the blood rush into her cheeks. He was just so handsome. He smiled.

Belle’s heart began to beat faster as she quickly turned her head back to the road ahead, so quick that her neck could have snapped. Batting her eyelashes excessively and struggling to swallow through her dried mouth.

Belle spotted Flannery looking at her from the driver’s mirror with a what-is-going-on-there look across her face. She quickly rolled her eyes and stared to another direction instead.

“Thanks earlier,” said Belle, trying hard not to choke in her own words. “You saved me twice.”

No response from him, but his grip on her went tighter as if telling her silently he’ll never let her go, if only Belle could fully surrender herself to those very protective arms of his.

Several feet above them, the undead leader was still in pursuit, jumping from tree to tree – gaining momentum until it finally overran the Range Rover speeding down below. It was not letting anyone escape tonight. Its undead instinct commanded. The moment it was already some good distance ahead, it lunged downwards into a small archway that opened up from Acacia lane towards the city – dropping quietly on its four limbs.

It could feel the rover speeding unknowingly towards it. Relying on the thick fog of darkness to veil it until the car was fairly close enough before it would attack. But it noticed something strange, the rover was supposed to skid sideways in an attempt to avoid the monster – but it instead accelerated more as if it was to hit the monster head on.

The undead felt challenged. How dare these humans think they could kill it tonight? It gave one loud growl before lunging to meet the rover. The look on the driver’s face was not fear – what was it? Its undead instincts had no time to discern Flannery’s expression anymore as the collision sent them flying all over.