Getting Infected
Feng windmilled his left arm and threw the backpack forward. It landed with a thud in the back corner of the elevator just as he crossed the threshold of the cage. He reached out with his free hand and slid the door shut with a squeal and a clank as it landed home. The latch to close it was small and weak—Feng knew it wouldn't last long. He closed it anyway, then kneeled on the floor and pushed up on the lever with his shoulder, screaming with the effort until the thing finally snapped into position.
With a lurch, the elevator started moving upward just as Alice and dozens of the screaming mob slammed into the cage, clawing at the steel, screaming, and spitting.
Hundreds of scabby fingers squirmed through the small openings, some of the crazies climbing onto the elevator, others violently pulling and pushing on the door. Feng scrambled to the far corner, staring at the sickening sight.