One Thing After Another

The sound of footsteps running down the alleyways as a little drizzle of rain started to fall from the sky. A man with military clothing could be seen leading a group of four as an average height woman followed behind just behind here was a five-foot female with a baseball bat in hand as well as a video camera hanging from her neck and right behind her stood a kid with a busted lip and cuts running down his arms. Nothing life-threatening but was painful to deal with.

As the group kept running from the dead as a hoard seemed to be following them through the alleyway. No matter where they went or where they have gone. They kept on following the group. Alex could be seen grabbing trash bins and anything that was in the alleyway tossing them behind himself to slow down the zombies. But no matter how many tripped and fell more and more would come.

As they kept running they would make a turn seeing the street further down they went into a dash. Candy seeming tired already as a zombie would burst through a door that was apart of a building. Almost grabbing candy. Alex would snatch Candy away grabbing his pistol sticking it inside the zombies mouth before pulling the trigger. As a loud bang echoed through the alley way. They once again were on the run however when they kept running they seen the exit was blocked off by another hoard of the dead.

As Dom looked over to the group starting to aim his rifle towards the dead the girl ran over snatching the baseball bat out of Candy's hands getting ready to swing at any of the dead that started to make their way.

"Alex up there!"

Candy yelled out after the bat being snatched from her hands, only to see a fire escape with a ladder. Candy took a few steps back as Alex gave a very confused look.

"Give me a boost. Cup your hands like you are going to get water and then lift me up with a big push."

For a moment he was very concerned for this plan as he placed his back against the wall remembering she was one of the girls they threw into the air. Candy was a cheerleader at the college they had attended. And yes she did throw up a lot after every time they tossed her into the air. She would get thrown into the air and once she landed do her best to finish the routine they would do. Once they finished she begin to run off the field, stage anywhere once she was done she would hurl it all out. She avoided eating before any performance which of course didn't help her out.

So as she was taking her steps back she put her hair in a tight pony tail. Starting to run over to Alex at full speed placing her foot into the palms of his hands he would start to lift up throwing Candy into the air as she would grab onto the bars of the ladder climbing up a little trying to use her weight to bring down the ladder but it didn't budge at all.

Nothing was happening as she made sure it wasn't latched onto anything which it wasn't. She was confused why it wouldn't go down.

As the zombies began to close in Alex and Dom would begin firing off rounds killing as many as he could as Alex would slowly walk over to where Candy stood to get her running start. As Alex fired off more shots into the dead hearing a click then seeing his gun was empty he would holster it beginning to get a running start as he dashed forward stepping against the wall as he grabbed onto the second bar of the ladder using his force to bring it down. Which after two pushes the ladder came down.

"Good job you two. Let's go!"

Don yelled out as Alex began to reload his pistol with the last magazine he had. He turned to face the ladder as the girl with his baseball bat was doing the same thing, both would stare into each other's eyes. Nothing of it was romantic as she scowled at Alex and he starred ready to hit the girl. But instead let her go up first. As he turned to Dom letting him know he's going up.

Which he did not hesitating climbing as fast as he could seeing Dom climbing up behind him he would reach for his hand quickly pulling him up as the dead quickly closed on the ladder. All scratching and clawing for the group. Dom patted Alex on the back as well as he patted Candy it was an intense moment as he took a few steps back looking down then up the stairs. Figuring going through the building would be the best option but first getting an overview of what is around them might be beneficial to the group. Dom began to climb up the steps as Alex stood there breathing in heavily as he looked down at the zombies. All dressed up and for what? None of them knew this was going to be their last day. Yet he looked down and only smirked.

"Losers! Alright Candy lets go. And you... let's get moving."

Alex spoke up as the girl held tightly to the baseball bat scowling Over at Alex as candy went up first leaving the two behind.

Candy didn't like the energy the girl had, seeing them two there was such a tension it was nearly hard to breathe around them.

"Hannah. My names Hannah."

The girl spoke up to Alex as she walked over gently brushing past him, touching his right arm as she began to walk up the steps. She was trying to get one over him but he wasn't buying anything he rolled his eyes more annoyed than before. He didn't care for how her figure was or how tanned she was. She was clearly trying to try him maybe end up using him. The only thing he was fond of was the fact she seemed smarter than she looked. Those sorts of tricks would work on Dom. Seeing Dom was more willing to want to help others he could easily be manipulated into falling for this girls trap.

"Names Alex. Now let's avoid this bull shit of greeting each other. What did you give me last night. I don't remember drinking anything besides meeting you and then boom. I wake up in the alley way and walk back home."

She scoffed seeing Candy and Dom were already more than half way to the roof. As she turned around looking down at Alex. The tension built between them was already high. She kept her eyes on him not flinching nor blinking as he done the same thing. He couldn't read her. He wasn't sure what she was thinking or planning but she her self knew that her tricks won't work on this one.

"It was an injection. Well it's a sticker. I put it on the palm of my hand. Once I made contact with you. You would be out cold. But you were such a pain in the ass to deal with it didn't work all the way. If only you stood still we would have been able to done a successful contract. So if you say anything about this to anyone I'll be sure to kill that little friend of yours. She doesn't seem very wise with her surroundings."

Alex slowly began to climb the steps with a smirk on his lips as he quickly grabbed the girls arm as he pulled her down a little as the two were now  more at eye level as he noticed the slight wince she made from how tightly he gripped her. He then leaned down with his other hand grabbing the baseball bat as he gently pulled it away from her he honestly couldn't care any less for the girl but he knew he can't do anything about it.. even deep down he could just say she had accidentally fell down to the dead that littered the alley way just below them.

"Alex. Hey you need to come check this out."

Candy would call up already at the top of the stairs with Dom as Alex would start to pick up the pace looking back seeing the girl doing the same. It didn't take long not even a minute to reach the top once he did he had a view of the city streets and most importantly the airplane crash site. It was a large plane and already a stream of fire was down blocking on of the paths. As they glanced up seeing one of the tall buildings still with a plane wing hanging from it. Zombies seemed to have been swarming that area as Dom was seen crouched down over the ledge with a pair of binoculars in hand scanning the area. Candy just on the other side with her camera using the zoom on her lens seeing all the activity.

"Well. This doesn't look too good. And we are starting to run low on ammunition. Alex how many rounds do you have?"

As Dom had asked the question he began looking at his own gear counting off with only two magazines left for his rifle and Alex gave a small laugh not checking anything as he tapped his gun slightly.

"About fifteen maybe fourteen shots left... but hey every shot counted."

Dom smirked a little what was he going to expect honestly. Not very much to say the truth. Either way they stood on the roof top for a long while wondering what to do. Once ten minutes had gone by Dom was done marking up his map. As the group began to gather around.

"Okay. We are not to good on many options right now. The plan is blocking the main route to where we need to go, leaving us with having to go around it or if worst situation under it. I don't know how you guys feel with going through the sewer but if I'm not mistaken this right here is a recent subway construction zone which isn't finished yet."

Dom was pointing all over the map to the point Alex simply lost idea what he was saying. Then as he looked out over the ledge he noticed a fairly large size of people running across with a man leading them across the streets. The group with no one very impressive mostly that of your average Joe and damsel in distress yet they ran at full speed pushing off as many zombies as they could however when one was held back the man leading the group stopped cold in his tracks quickly running back and what seemed to be a cross slammed the zombies head in repeatedly pulling away the survivor as they turned the corner vanishing from sight.

"Hey guys. There was a group down there right now. A bunch of other people running around through the streets. It seemed pretty safe which ever way they were going but probably not for long with all the dead going their way. Also look down there. The entrance to the highway. We got let's say three options. The highway, sewage, and going around the entire crash and from here we can't even see where the crash ends or what's on the other side."

Alex soon crouched down over the map with Dom as Dom was seen thinking his job was to make sure he keeps these three to the evacuation. Candy, Alex and the new girl named Hannah.

"My job is to get any survivors to the evacuation so I say the freeway would be the best choice of current destination and if we get a chance I need to find those survivors and get them out of here."

As Dom began to grab his map he stood up walking to the stairs they climbed up seeing the entire alley way filled with the dead. Dom stuck with another dilemma unsure how hey would be able to escape this sticky situation as he looked back seeing Candy standing with her video camera watching Alex get a running start as Dom was puzzled for a short moment looking over to where he would be running, he noticed the ledge and a wide gap with a building just on the other side.

"Hey! Yo! Wait don't!"

Dom went yelling as he tried running over to Alex to stop him but the kid was fast going into a full sprint he would run as hard as he could stepping onto the ledge with his right more dominant foot as he leaped into the air Candy could be smiling behind the camera as Dom would have a pale white face however for Hannah she didn't seem to even bother looking at the kid jump and for the longest moment it was as if time had slowed down as Dom stood there silently only to see the boys foot touch down on the gravel of the other building as he would soon be seen rolling standing up fairly quickly as he turned around cheering with a baseball bat in his hands. Candy could then run up to the ledge cheering with the camera still recording.

"Alex! You mother fucker! Why in hell do you think it's okay to jump across buildings! Who raised you! And you! Why are you cheering him on!?"

Dom soon began yelling at Candy and Alex almost as if he was being the parent in this situation Hannah turned around seeing the boy across the way. She looked down seeing nothing but the dead then back up seeing the smirk on his face. She scoffed a bit starting to go for a running start as Dom was more focused at yelling at Candy and Alex he didn't notice the girl gathering the distance needed for a good take off.

"Why are you mad? He made it! That's just Alex.. he does what he wants when he wants either you shut up or just don't look there is no in between. Plus it's not the craziest thing he has ever done you remember not even an hour ago he chased a man through a zombie infested hotel only to basically kill him. Sure Alex didn't finish him off but he made the man know he was... wait uh excuse me? What are you doing?"

Just then Hannah could be seen dashing at full speed the same as how Alex done so, this time Candy wasn't filming she was truly concerned for this girl as Dom turned already seeing how far she was there was no chance of stopping her. Instead he seen another crazy stepping onto the ledge taking that leap but instead of making it across the same way as Alex has done so, her left foot hitting the edge of the other buildings ledge causing her to trip a bit however Alex was standing there ready to catch her if she truly didn't make it.

Gripping her by her arms he would help her stand up straight he would give off a small laugh seeing this woman do something so daring in such an intense situation where life and death are on a thin line.

"What the fuck is wrong with you two!"

Dom would yell out looking over at the two unsure how to really take in this moment.

As Alex would just stand there laughing with Candy giving off a smile. The woman. Hannah. She would been seen bent over trying to catch her breath. Her mind was racing why did she even do this what was the reason? What was the point?

"Hey man relax. I just seen a bridge thing. Some wood left behind give me a moment I'll place it down and we can use this to cross the buildings until we can't anymore after that we run to the freeway. The group I seen earlier are in that direction so maybe if we are lucky we can run into them so give me a damn moment."

Alex shook his head as he began walking around the roof top seeing both Candy and Dom argue about what Alex has done almost completely forgetting about the girl doing the same thing. Seeing how she was still trying to catch her breath he simply walked over to what would be a large wooden board. It was a bit heavy for him but he mustered up enough strength to be able to drag it along the floor pushing it across to where Dom and Candy were standing. As he stood there wiping the sweat from his head he glanced over seeing the girl was walking over to him.

"Look I'm sorry what I did last night. It was only my job. I completely understand if you don't trust me or if you just hate me but I need your help."

Alex scoffed at what she said her needing his help? Just after she tried to drug him the night before. Unbelievable. Who in their right mind would want to even bother to help someone like her.

"What do you need?"

Of course.

"My brother. He's in the children hospital across the city. I need to get him before anything bad happens."

From the tears in her eyes Alex almost wanted to believe her completely but this could be another one of her dirty tricks. But even so he nodded his head seeing Candy was now crossing the little makeshift bridge. He would reach out grabbing Candy's hand to help her cross the finishing end as Dom was seen crossing just after her. Again doing the same thing. Only small talk was made about the current situation nothing about each other. Honestly not many words were exchanged between the group and the girl didn't mention her brother to anyone else but Alex. He took note of that it only adding onto his suspicion of her. But no matter. They kept on going with this tactic of crossing the buildings. One after another until they reached the edge of the street now standing at the corner building.

Dom would begin to check if the roof access door was unlocked but unfortunately it was locked leaving the only way down through the fire escape. However not many dead were there. They were still focused on the first building they climbed up on. Seeing that was the only option the group began to walk down the fire escape as quietly as they could possible do so. Once they stood there at the last steps. Alex held up the group for a moment.

"Guys.. I have an idea. Once we unlatch the ladder boom it's going to make a lot of noise. I can simply drop down quietly and then Candy can jump down and I'll catch her. After you guys unlatch it and slide down instead of waiting for two other people you just wait for each other."

The group paused all with confused look pointed at Alex. It was amazing to them how he would think of such odd plans like that in such a fast moment. But they let him do it. As he placed his chest against the floor of the fire escape he simply pushed himself off hanging onto the last bar of the ladder. Dropping down as he caught himself in a frog position there was nearly not a single sound when he done so. The tiniest thud ever not heard. Not soon after Candy would toss down Alex's bat as he placed it against the wall. Getting himself down in a readied position to catch Candy. She she sat down grabbing onto the last bar she swung for a small moment soon letting go as Alex would catch her gently putting her down.

She quickly hurried away grabbing the baseball bat as Dom would nearly instantly unlatch the ladder but instead of letting it fall he caught it doing his best to let it go slow as possible. Until it touched down to the floor. Alex had a bit of an annoyed face seeing Hannah and Dom come down quietly. Not making a single sound. He gave them a look in disbelief. If he knew they were going to do that he wouldn't have jumped down.

"What? You seemed so determined in your plan I couldn't ruin it for you. Alright come on it's time to move."

Dom said to Alex then began speaking to the group. They soon left the alley way seeing the empty streets or well.. the dead streets with cars littered all over a fire still burning inside one of the vehicles as the smoke from the airplane crash completely changed the color of the sky. It was if it was already night. With such a dark red gloom in the sky it was terrifying walking through the streets but it was better than being on the sidewalks. Well that's what they figured as no matter where they looked dead were everywhere.

From where they stood the corner building they got off from was just behind them as the hotel Alex and Candy stayed in was off to the left in the far distance was the highway entrance. A turn ramp. Taking this would take a few hours but would save still within the twenty hour time frame the group has. As they marched their way through the streets avoiding the dead the best they could. Alex soon noticed they were approaching the Alley way the group of survivors had gone in as he was in the back of the group watching the rear end as Dom would say. Dom, Candy as well as for Hannah passed the alley as he stood there in the middle of the roof he looked down seeing it was nothing more than a dead end. But in the center was a dead body.

"Hey guys hold up. Remember the group I saw earlier this is where they went. But it's a dead end."

Dom and the others stopped for a moment as they glanced over to each other starting to make their way back to Alex seeing he had already began walking into the alley way. There was nothing to it. Just trash bins on each side of the wall and a dead body there alone in the center. No zombies, no people. As Alex approached the body he would kick the body. Seeing no reaction he held out his pistol placing it to the head of the dead Incase it decided to move around he would be quick to fire off a round. However he noticed a slip of paper in the hands of the dead grabbing the hand he forcefully opened the hand seeing it was a photograph of a family. Two littler girls and what he assumed to be the mans wife.

He then flipped the body over only to see a huge stab wound where the heart would be. As well as a carving on the forehead in a shape of a cross. He was puzzled for a moment unsure why someone would do this then he looked around seeing the world he was in now. He then realized someone was up to something a cult maybe.. it isn't hard to assume that when he see a dead man with a carved in cross on their head. As Dom, Candy and Hannah came in they seen Alex hunched over a dead body. But Alex has covered the mans head with the photograph.

"He was killed by a person no zombie did this. If they did he would've became one already. I don't see anything else around here. Sorry guys I thought there would've been people here or a sign or something."

The group looked down at the dead body there wasn't much really needing to be said as they began to leave however Alex stood behind for a short moment Hannah took note of this as she waited for him. Alex was fascinated with how this man was killed what reason what purpose did it take for this man to be killed. No matter as he stood up he turned facing the group seeing Candy and Dom already on the sidewalk as he looked over he noticed a metal door just behind a wooden pallet. There was a small trail of blood as Alex had walked over taking notice of the blood trail he would push the pallet off doing so a gate had closed between him from Dom and Candy who were already out on the street. Alex turned quickly seeing the gate shut as barbed wire was all over the gate completely blocking them in.

He then felt something tug at his foot as he looked down a classic trap.

As the rope gripped his ankle fairly tightly he was swept off his feet as he was pulled up into the air being suspended upside down. He seen Hannah equally puzzled clearly she didn't plan this as the sound of door starting to open could be heard. Two men leaped out from what Alex couldn't see but what he could only hear was the metal door being opened. As the two men quickly ran over to Hannah grabbing her but of course she did her best to put up a fight.

"H-hey! Let go of her!"

Alex felt a bit light headed as the back of his head began to feel warm he gently placed his hand to the back of his head only to see blood on his finger tips.

"Ah.. ah fuck."

He said quietly to himself as the rope he was tied from began to get pulled up. He took a glance up seeing a figure with what seemed to be an animal skull mask.

Alex Sighed to himself as he was soon met with the being eye to eye.

"Are you the prophet or the sacrifice ?"

Clearly being a man with a show man voice. Almost like the guys who would do storage auctions loud and after every word he would make sure to annunciate them just so you could understand what he meant.

After a moment Alex said nothing only starting to slowly spin around.

"Hold on skull. Give me a moment."

Alex would say still spinning in place as he was once again met eye to eye this time the man grabbed onto Alex making sure no more spinning was done. However Alex wasn't keen on talking very much he would quickly reach for his pistol taking aim and just before he could speak the person pulling Alex up had let go of the rope. As Alex fell he made sure to fire off a few rounds seeing he struck the mans mask it would fall along side Alex.

"Ha! Bitch!"

He yelled out as he turned around seeing the concrete floor below him. At what was now being two stories high from the ground. He soon hit one of the metal trash bins before smacking against the concrete floor still with a strong impact.

As he tried rolling his body over he held his pistol tightly in his arms. The gate soon began to open as he flipped his body he seen Candy and Dom running over to him. But his Vision began to grow blurry seeing a large crowd Dom would fire off a few rounds killing two men but being overtaken by the group he was quickly pinned down as a man kicked Dom in the head knocking him out as Candy was simply grabbed and carried off with a bag over her head. One of the men began to make their way to Alex but another shouted at the man saying to leave him. As he was basically dead already.

As everyone began to leave the area going back inside the building Alex's eyes were fixed on the mask that fell of the man he shot. Seeing the animal skull there he grew angry. Soon it began to rain as his eyes slowly started to close shut. His breathing was slowed but still a strong beating heart drifting off to a sleep. As the light rain began to patter all over drenching him in water.