“Smart guys.”
“I thought we had one left.” Myron grunted and stood. “He was supposed to be up here. Are we going to tell Paul?”
“I hate to do it, but it’s only right.”
“I agree.”
“We can always knock him out if he….” Eugene walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. “Holy shit.”
Myron rushed over. ‘It wasn’t like this twenty minutes ago.”
“And it won’t be like this twenty minutes from now.”
A sea of infected had converged on the school property, a few still straggled on the street, but they crammed in. The barricade had completely collapsed from the weight of all of them pushing through.
“So much for five at a time,” Myron said. “We should move on this now.”
“Agreed. Let’s get Paul, radio Tara that we’re leaving, and get everyone to the roof to evacuate.” Eugene climbed in the hatch and down the ladder. “Max is getting them ready now.”
The last they had seen him, Paul was in the south hall. That was their first destination. A twenty foot walk was all. If Paul was sleeping, he had no idea what was going on. When they arrived at the south hall, the door to the science center was open.
“Paul?” Eugene called out.
Myron walked ahead and checked the four rooms. “He’s not here. You think he left?”
“No. He must be in the gym. Let’s radio Tara.”
“Wait.” Myron moved toward the stairwell.
“What are you doing?”
“Just seeing if he left. If he did, this door…” Myron reached for the emergency exit. A blue door that led not only to another staircase, but an outside exit. Something was wrong.
“What is it?”
A hint of sunlight shone through the single pane of glass of that door and then… the face of an infected appeared.
Myron backed up. “They’re in.”
“Shit.” Eugene hurriedly turned around. “We have to warn the others.”
Down the hall and rounding the bed, they hit the main hall, both skidding to a stop in front of the main office.
The chorus of high pitched squeals carried to them as a mass of infected poured in through the main doors, one of which was propped open by a garbage can.
The can toppled over and when Eugene was spotted, the infected raced his way.
“Jesus!” Eugene said. “Someone let them in!”
Both men spun on their heels and ran.
“What about the others in the gym?” Myron asked.
“The doors are closed. We have to get to the roof. We can reach them from there.”
When they passed the south hall they were met by a horde of the infected. They reached out, grabbing for Eugene. Two of them managed to grip on to him and Eugene screamed out in pain as one chomped down on his shoulder.
Myron quickly grabbed Eugene, pulling him from the hold. Pivoting his body, Myron pushed Eugene forward. The masses of infected were relentless. Eugene made it only a few feet, grabbed for the stairwell door, and collapsed.
“No! No!” Myron shoved forward. He was surrounded and couldn’t move. It was like pushing through a wall. They raged for Eugene, grabbing and clawing, and Myron learned something new. The infected may not have chased after Myron, but he wasn’t immune if he got in their way. His heroic attempts to save Eugene were futile. While trying to help, he got caught in the attack and was clipped by a swinging arm. The fingernails of the infected attacker clawed with such force that they seared through his belly with razor sharpness. A rough and jagged slice gutted Myron.
Blood poured from his stomach and with every bit of fortitude he had left, Myron forged for the stairwell. After climbing only the first flight of stairs, he collapsed. He’d try to keep going even if he was on his hands and knees. He’d get to that rooftop.
After the departure of the soldiers and those who had died, out of the forty-three people left, only twenty-four remained. They stood in the gym, what few belongings they had perched with them.
“We’ll be taking it to the roof slowly,” Max explained. “Four at a time. The scaffolding will not hold a lot of people, so, keep that in mind.” He walked over to Grace. “Keep Candice close to you.”
“Where will you be?” she asked.
“Down here helping people up or on the roof making sure no one jumps the ladder. It’ll be fine.”
“Is Canada really a safe zone?”
“That’s what they say. Eugene will fly us somewhere, that’s for sure.” Max quickly turned his head at the sound of the gym doors being pulled as if someone were trying to open them. “Are they locked?”
Grace shrugged.
Beret walked across the floor. “I think they are. It’s probably Myron. I’ll get it. Start getting everyone up the scaffold.” He pushed the metal bar on the door and opened it.
The door widened and infected poured in. So many rushed through the doors, even though he was immune, Beret was trampled beneath them.
Max didn’t have enough ammunition in his clip. He grabbed on to Grace’s arm and pulled her to the scaffolding.
By the time they arrived there, many had already climbed on, running in a panic to get to the ladder.
A tsunami of infected flooded the gym, making their way like a wave to the corner where the scaffolding was located.
Grace held Candice close to her and Max blocked the way. He looked at the infected, then to those climbing the scaffold. It wasn’t going to work. No way would he get Grace there in time. His only option was to get them on the top bleacher. Making that decision, he reached for Grace and was shoved forward by someone running to get out. He stumbled, and when he regained his footing, Grace was gone.
“Grace!”
“Max!” Candice yelled.
He looked back. They were on the first level of the scaffolding. It was already shaking. Twenty people weren’t a lot, but enough to topple it.
Reaching for the scaffolding, he held it tight. He was only one man, and chances were it wouldn’t make a difference, but he would try to keep it steady.
The scaffolding shook and swayed. Grace held onto the bar as she and Candice climbed. There were five levels. People were below her and above. The ones on the ladder weren’t moving fast enough.
“Mommy,” Candice whimpered.
“Keep moving, baby. Move.” Grace tried to see below. Where was Max? The infected aimed for the scaffold, hands reaching. They were safe as long as they were above them,
Three more levels to go.
“Grace!” Max shouted. “Keep moving! Don’t stop!”
Grace looked down. She caught a quick glimpse of Max on the bottom steps of the scaffold. Lifting her head, she saw everything was at a standstill. Four or five people were crammed on the ladder.
Please hurry. Climb faster. Climb faster!
As they rounded the bend to take the next flight of stairs, the scaffolding swayed drastically, causing a blizzard of frightened screams. It steadied and Grace sighed. She inched Candice to the next set of stairs and without any warning, the side gave out. The scaffolding jolted and, screaming loudly, Candice flew backwards. At least ten people above her fell off.
Grace quickly reached out and grabbed Candice. Holding the bar above for balance, she held her dangling daughter by the wrist.
“I got you. Don’t move!” Grace yelled down.
“Mommy!”
It took all Grace had to hold her. There wasn’t a speck of floor to be seen, and the massive crowd of infected had gathered under her little feet, all reaching for Candice, their fingertips mere inches from her.
“Help!” Grace yelled. “Someone help me!” Someone joined Grace, extending a hand down for Candice. “I’ll help.”
“Mommy!”
“We have you, baby!” Grace kept her eyes on Candice, assuring her daughter with a look that all would be fine.