Z: In The Heart of the Queen City

Chapter 21

I stood up, “What was that?” Everyone stared at me and stopped what they were doing. “Your armband! You took off whatever that shit was! I saw you!” I said pointing at Carlson. Karen looked at me worriedly, “Emma, what are you talking about?” “Didn't you see it a while ago?” I asked the people around me. “I just blinked and the armband was gone!” Jaycee pulled me back down. “Shush Emma! Your voice could attract more zombies.” He said putting his hand over my mouth. JR and Skipper showed their arms to me, “Here you go little lady, see any weird symbols there?” Carlson said joining in and laughing. I blushed, feeling embarrassed and stupid at the same time like a kid getting caught in a lie only I knew I wasn't lying I did see what I saw a while ago. “Look, can we just go back to planning an escape? We're recharged, we're ready to go so let's try to make it out without dying or turning to zombie meat.” Karen suggested and everyone agreed, including myself even though I was feeling pissed at everybody for not believing me. Then Carlson stood up and began to map out our escape, turns out we had one route to the second bridge after the first one was blown up to prevent any civilians from entering the city during the start of the outbreak. Someone raised questions while others stood up and began to voice out their concerns. To my surprise, it was me, Martin and Elise who kept our mouths shut. I observed Elise silently wiping tears at the loss of her friends and Martin, who kept shooting glances at me while biting his thumb, this was really not the right time to play googly eyes. For a moment, I thought he was winking but the stares looked a little nervous like he was trying to say something but couldn't in front of all these people. I blinked at him back then he rolled his eyes as if he was giving up.

“This could really come in use.” Carlson said picking up the makeshift mace that Jaycee held. “You guys keep that,” Then he handed over a hammer and bat to Elise and Karen. He turned to me and smiled giving me a gun straight out from his pocket. I stared at the black object in my hands, “Thank you.” I finally said. “Your a brave one little lady.” Carlson told me I turned away thinking for one crazy moment that he was just doing this to take my mind off from the symbol I saw on his arm.

I couldn't shake the image off, a gas mask and three snakes. Yeah that was what it was. Like a medical symbol infused with, oh I didn't even want to say it.

Biologcal Warfare.

We were walking again, meticulously making our way through the mall. As we passed by the grocery we immediately began to run until someone clumsily slid to the ground. This woke up the zombies that were dormant and the ground rumbled when they began to chase us. “Shit!” I cried, “SPLIT UP!” Carlson commanded and we were immediately separated. I grabbed Elise hand quickly and began to run to the left when we made the turn I took a quick glance to the entrance where zombies started to spill inside. I pushed forward with Elise and went up the escalator. We sprinted together throughout the mall and since I wasn't looking I had accidentally bumped into Martin. “Emma!” He cried, “Come on!” But before he could grab my wrist I stopped in horror when I saw a horde surround the soldiers from the second floor. It was just Carlson and Skipper, they were obviously outnumbered, hopelessly firing shots everywhere. Then an explosion from a grenade threw us all away. I rolled over to the ground as shattered glass flew everywhere. Everything was in slow motion but I still had the view of Carlson and Skipper and saw that even with the impact there were still a relentless zombie jumping up to Carlson. My eyes widened when it bit his shoulder sinking its teeth in. I forced them shut as Martin pulled me up and began to run and half drag my dead weight. I saw Elise running close by but I seem to have gotten deaf. Nothing but ringing sounds surrounded me.

We were still moving to the department store when a horde was still in hot pursuit, to my relief Jaycee was there so when me and Martin arrived he pulled the steel door down. Jaycee collapsed to the ground, breathing fast. “Emma, are you okay?” He asked panting while he put a hand over his chest. “We lost the soldiers. I just saw Carlson get bitten.” I said as Elise dug her fingernails to my skin. “We can't make it back can we?” She asked me. Karen arrived, holding a bloody bat. “Better watch yourself here. Some undead shop attendants if you see one don't hesitate to kill it.” She said wiping her glasses. She took out five shirts for each of us. “We have 4 hours 38 minutes left.” I looked at my wristwatch, finally the glass was broken I had to take it off since the shards made cuts on my skin. “We're going to die, might as well die in the department store.” Jaycee said sitting below a clothes rack. There was a loud banging sound from the outside it was all the zombies trying to get in. “We can still make it guys, come on we have to find a way to get out of here.” I said trying to encourage the group. Martin rested his head in the pillar next to me his eyes drooped down to the ground while Karen was still nervously wiping her glasses and coughing a bit.