Carrion (The Bren Watts Diaries #1)

Chapter 73

The number of vectors had increased since we left the apartment. I saw soldiers engaging them from back alleys and out on the open streets, civilians running for their lives as vectors chased after them, strewing dead bodies on their wake. I was rattled knowing that some of these people might turn within two minutes or in a day, joining the horde.

Peter turned on the radio, and we received a barrage of calls for evacuations for this place and reinforcements for this sector—calls that ninety percent of the time were left unheeded.

"This is from one vector?" Haskell asked in disbelief.

"We're all clumped together like sardines. It's going to spread like wildfire," I said.

Peter shut off the radio. "Okay. The city's fucked."

I didn't realize that the hotel was only a couple of blocks away from Times Union Center. I could already hear artillery discharges and gunfire resounding just beyond the buildings. Most of the refugees were cowering inside, and I didn't have to imagine what would happen once the vectors managed to.

Peter veered into the street where Hilton Hotel was. I immediately saw the sixteen-story building, its entrance littered with debris and dead bodies as the soldiers still left inside the lobby battled the vectors. Some of the hotel's windows higher up had been broken, some had little fires blazing in them.

More vectors were still coming.

We couldn't move further as there were dozens of vehicles left abandoned on the street ahead.

"It looked overrun!" I said.

Peter pointed up. "Look."

I craned my neck and looked up. A helicopter had just left the rooftop on the roof, and I could see people peeking out of the open cabin. I thought we were too late and that our helicopter had left us, but another one came from behind a building and slowly touched down. I saw more helicopters flying overhead, waiting their turn to rescue some survivors. I hoped there was still some space for us left.

Luke grumbled loudly. "What now?"

"We can't go through the lobby. Maybe there's an emergency stairwell somewhere?" I said.

"But we're gonna have to make a run for it! Are you crazy?" Haskell exclaimed.

"We have to find it first, then get closer."

Peter started the vehicle again. "Sounds good to me."

We must have been looking for five minutes, driving around the block, frequently getting attacked by a vector or two, but Haskell quickly put them down with a machine gun. In the end, it was Henry who pointed out the emergency escape stairwell, tucked and hidden from view, running at the side of the building. It looked cramped and narrow, and a hell lot of climbing for my poor legs and knees, but I had to work with what we got.

Peter stepped on the gas and headed over there until the humvee couldn't move any further. We were about a hundred yards from the alley.

"Alright. This is it, people! We're gonna have to do this smooth and fast! Shoot anything that looks crazy and wants to eat you!" Logan shouted from the backseat.

From the turret, Haskell had already shot two vectors from afar. "They're fucking coming out from everywhere, man!" He fired more shots from our rear, which was then followed by the vector's dying shrieks. "I'll go stay and give everyone some cover!"

Peter looked up. "Hoss, are you sure?"

"Just go, man!" Haskell yelled. "Get everyone on that stairwell!"