Prevail

Chapter 9

I never thought I'd ever be in this situation. 

I mean who would have predicted the dead would rise and it would be the end the world as we know it. Okay, maybe many people who had books published or even made movies and t.v shows about it.

I let go of the awning and tried landing as stealthily as possible on the street below. The same street that zombies are cruising on, freaking me the f*** out. I knew that now is not the time to play popsicle, so I did what I do best and started running.

Three Zombies were directly in front of me, the rest were just wandering on the street. Sidestepping the three on the pavement I ran straight for the studio door, just as I managed to get to the door and close it, deja vu hit.

I heard a rustling and shuffling sound coming from directly behind me.

I didn't see it because it was possibly obstructed from view by Dean's Truck.

Without missing a beat I took the zombie down with a sweeping kick. I suddenly had their full attention, so change their course and began ambling towards me. I began running down the street towards Beach Road.

The ones that were wandering, turned around heading for me their arms outstretched in welcome. I pulled out the knife on my right, Brady's knife, It felt light as I adjusted my hold on it the way Brady had coached me.

I swivelled to the left to avoid a grabbing hand, skidded under an arm and came up in front of one of the zombies, who charged at me teeth gnashing. With no panic or hesitation, I pushed the knife up into the underside of its jaw in a quick motion. As I yanked the knife back out smoothly and the corpse fell to my feet. I felt elated but there was no time for celebrations I had to get those things to follow me so everyone could get out and away safely.

With one last look at my open apartment window where I noticed Brady and Andi standing, I turned and started jogging down the street at a leisurely pace to tempt the zombies to follow.

After running and walking on and off for what felt like hours. Perspiration ran down my back, my tank top sticking to me like a second skin. It was blistering hot, I managed to maneuver a bottle of water out of my backpack as I ran. I took small sips before putting it into one of the side pockets on the bag.

I had a small crowd chasing me like crazy fans. If you thought that them being so slow would have enabled me to lose them by just sprinting, you'd be wrong.

With every turn or corner, I made I seemed to get cut off. If I was questioning whether they could communicate before, now I'm certain. It's as if they are linked somehow and that thought alone terrified me. How the hell would we ever be able to get to safety if they would always have eyes on us?

I had to put down a good couple more zombies when it was impossible to evade them. And those weren't as clean as of a kill than my first for the day. It's safe to say I could've really done with a good shower. But that was least of my problems, I was way off course. I had to take so many detours that I wasn't quite sure how to get back on track. My group should be safe now, hopefully, waiting for me to show so we can get the hell out of dodge. First I needed to ditch my followers.

While running, a familiar apartment building came into view and without giving it much thought I ran straight for the charred building. I've been in that building more times than I could count. Jen's place was on the fifth floor, but that's not what I was there for. It was obvious that no one is in the building, it looked as though it could've collapse at any minute. I just hoped it wouldn't give in until I managed to escape.

I sprinted through the opened lobby door and ran directly for the stairs. There was soot covering the once flawlessly clean lobby tiles, the furniture was blackened ghosts of their former selves. Walls that once held beautiful landscape wall art now forever tarnished much as the world, now changed, holds horrors. 

The damage is done. 

The question now is would we ever see a glimpse of our past world again.

Now not waiting for my fans to catch up I bolted up the stairs taking them two at a time. Almost falling as the wooden railing I held for support succumbed to its fate, collapsing down to the first floor taking two zombies down with it. Alerting the rest to my location, with increased urgency they stumbled up the stairs after me. Reaching the second-floor I scaled over broken down doors and fallen debris. I could feel scratches to my arms and my legs as I tried to evade the rubble. I ran frantically through the hallway towards the door with the bold exit sign above it. I reached for the handle and silently prayed that it would be open. When I turned the knob it gave way and opened, I let out a relieved breath.

Though I could hear their clumsy approach as I look back, the hallway remained clear. I quickly and quietly close the door behind me and silently made my way down the fire escape and into a deserted alley.

I bent over with my hands on my knees catching my breath. I wiped the perspiration off my face with my forearm and walked cautiously towards the street at the back of the building.

I turned back with a gasp and stared at the fire escape door I had just exited as another bang resounded off it. How could they still be on my trail? I was positive I would have lost them in there.

Still looking at the door, I slammed into a solid form causing me to lose my balance. As I began to fall back, a strong hand clamped around my wrist and pulled me upright. A shriek stuck in my throat and I tried to pull away but the hand was gripped firmly to my wrist.

He jerked me to him with little to no effort and the shriek made its way out my mouth as I looked up into a startling shade of gold-rimmed green eyes.

"My Queen."