Z: In The Heart of the Queen City

Chapter 23

“MARTIN GET DOWN!” I screamed then the machine gun fired. It shot some zombies for some good riddance but I was sure they were trying to get us because the shots were aimed at where we were. I was confused, why? Why did they want to kill us?

It hit me, no survivors. That's what they wanted. Some kind of genocide perhaps? I didn't have time to think, neither did Martin we were thrown to the side of the road before we knew it. Falling on each other as we did, I got up first then we ran when the truck started to swerve, sliding over to an electric post and narrowly missing us. Martin was quick, he carried me when the truck began to leak running to the bridge that we saw just a few steps away.

Then an explosion. It was so loud, my ears felt like they were about to burst.

The fire rose so high and wide it struck the military helicopter above. Whoever was driving lost control and began to fly down. Oh no, not another explosion that shit was getting old! I braced myself as Martin enclosed his arms around me, we were taking shelter behind a beaten down SUV. When the impact came I saw the blades fly directly above us. “Emma!” I heard a familiar voice, I turned around to see Elise, her face charred and bloody but thank goodness she was okay. “Come on! We can still make it!” Fire was everywhere, we were joined by Karen and Jaycee who struggled while we took the remaining steps to the bridge. There were zombies laying on the ground and there were some, being brainless and ignorant to danger, that still tried to get to us. One zombie grabbed Karen's foot and she screeched as it almost bit her but before it could smoke engulfed and it suffocated to death. “How much further do we have to go?” Jaycee yelled over the chaos. I couldn't see the bridge from where we were but as I looked up there were flags from different countries all catching fire and waving at the auburn sky. “We're almost there!” I cried. “We can make it!” Then Jaycee collapsed to the ground, “Who were those people Em?” He asked me his eyes all teary from the smoke. “I don't know! But they tried to kill us!” I told him feeling my feet go numb. “Then how do we know that whoever is beyond that bridge won't kill us too?” I couldn't answer that question but I forced myself to drag him back up. “Please Jayce, we've made it this far! Don't give up!” I began to cry, not because of the smoke that filled the whole environment but because I was tired and scared at the same time. I was desperately trying to catch my breath between my tears and everything so when the path cleared I found myself running again.

I saw people beyond the bridge, actual human people in military garb. I forced myself to believe that this was no longer a figment of my imagination so I ran with every piece of strength I had. “EMMA WATCH OUT!” Karen screamed. I looked below me. One more step and I would have fallen to the water, then I turned my gaze to the soldiers on other side. They had guns pointed at me and it was then I realized that the bridge was gone. A long stretch had been blown up, we were separated completely at them. “HEY!” I called in desperation. “PLEASE! LET US IN! WE'VE TRAVELLED FROM THE CITY! PLEASE! PLEASE!” I pleaded raising my hands in the air. The soldiers didn't speak instead they lowered their weapons to my relief. I felt the others join me from behind, they too waved their hands and pleaded along.

But still the soldiers just stared, their gaze fixed on us.

“Can they hear us?” Elise asked wiping away tears. Martin whistled to no avail. “Please, we're human! Help us!” I called again.

Then we heard rumbling noises, an army of zombies were rising up and heading towards us but they were killed abruptly as a black van drove towards where we were. I rubbed my eyes, was it another group of survivors? No, I opened my mouth in shock. Out from the van was a bloody and burnt Carlson and his crew. “You were bitten.” I whispered, “YOU WERE BITTEN! I SAW YOU!” I took a step back when I saw he had a manic look in his face.

“No..one..gets...out...The Queen City...is...OURS!” He shouted then pointed his gun at us. My eyes widened and my body felt numb. Carlson, Skipper and JR raised their weapons but before they could shoot a familiar voice came from the other side. “EMMA! GET DOWN!” I docked and before I knew it, bullets were flying everywhere. I titled my head up to see Officer Lauron holding a machine gun and shooting at them. We were all flat on the cemented ground of the bridge. Martin put his hand on my head to keep it down as we were hopelessly caught in the crossfire. Then the sound of another helicopter, this time it was so close to us, I looked up to see that it was just steps away. A soldier was stretching his hand and was calling us. I felt deaf for not hearing a thing and numb for not knowing that zombies were running to where we were. “Emma!” Elise called. Turns out I was still on the ground, I got up and began to run beside her. It took me a while to realize I was half supporting Elise, she was in pretty bad shape too. “Emma it hurts!” She cried but I had to push her further because a horde was fast approaching. Elise was shot in the leg, she limped and bled as we walked. Karen, Jaycee and Martin had reached the chopper already. Martin was out extending a hand, “Emma, come on!” He called, the soldiers were shooting at the zombies but they kept coming. Elise collapsed to the ground, her bullet wound bleeding profusely. One soldier bravely ran to where we were and carried her on his back. When we climbed the chopper, I felt something grab my foot.

“SHIT!” It was Carlson. He was somehow still alive. The helicopter began to move away when everyone began to pull me in. “YOU...WOULD...MAKE..A..GREAT..ADDITION...LITTLE LADY...” Carlson said, his gums filled with blood. What shocked me more was that there were zombies chewing on his leg but he made no signs of convulsing or turning into one of them. “FOLLOW THE ORDERS OR YOUR ALL GOING TO DIE! NO SURVIVORS REMEMBER?” Carlson screamed at the soldiers in the helicopter. I was hanging midair, well you could imagine we looked like a really bad game of holding-on-for-dear-life. I was holding onto Martin while Carlson was holding on to me and zombies were just hanging on to Carlson. One soldier pushed Martin away, another pointed his gun at Jaycee and a third one held Elise and Karen by the shoulders. “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!” Martin cursed screaming obscenities, the soldiers didn't speak instead they wore look of uncertainty and quite honestly they looked guilty as hell.

I was still holding on for dear life on the edge of the chopper trying to kick Carlson off. I was tired and I didn't have a clue on what the fuck was happening or why the soldiers were taking orders from him all I did was try my best to ignore the pain in my arms. We were all silent for a while until I managed to pull myself up, Carlson still held on but I broke my left leg free. As soon as I did, I grabbed the Swiss knife Officer Lauron gave to me and sunk it in his hand. He gave a wail then let go. My victory was cut short though because at the last minute a zombie that held on to Carlson climbed up as he fell down.

It quickly gained momentum and with the last of his zombie strength it dug it's teeth on my wrist.