Don’t Duck

Without thinking twice, I jumped.

Clunk. Clunk.

My feet landed on the low aluminum overhang that was just within reach. The zombies below shifted their sights to me. Moments passed and I found myself surrounded by them with the only barrier between us being the overhang.

"Get in the rv, Andy! Go and don't look back!"

"Jake, What the fuck are you doing? You have at least one hundred zombies below you!" Kara scolded through the walkie talkie. "Get back to the car! Now!"

"I can't, Kara." I objected as I put my mouth to my walkie talkie. "You guys need to go. I'll hang on as long as I can. Go before this overhang caves in and they come back for you guys!"

Bang! Bang!

Behind me, the window of the building revealed zombies on the second floor. They banged against the glass in an attempt to get me. This is it, I just know it.

At least I'll go out for the people that saved me.

"We'll find another way, kid. Jump back to the suburban. We don't have to lose anybody to make it out of here." Vick came over the walkie talkie, his voice staticky.

"Do you see how many there are?" I hissed into the speaker. "Your only chance is right now while they're focused on me. Go."

Moments passed and I noticed Andy did go back into the suburban. He actually listened.

"You're being reckless, son. Get down. We can make it through this together."

Just as I held the walkie talkie to my mouth, I was interrupted.

Bang! Crsssh!

The zombies made it through the window behind me. An infected woman's arms reached out, knocking the walkie talkie out of my hand. It smacked the concrete below and broke into pieces.

I have to get back to the car. Vick was right.

Maybe we can do this together.

Eeerrrr, crssshh!

The cheap overhang caved in, leaving me hanging by the window sill the zombies reached out of. They attempted to grab me from both above and below as my legs dangled inches away from the heads of the zombies.

Everything slowed down but it still happened too fast for me to process. I skimmed my surroundings.

This is how I die.

As long as the others make it out alive, I'm okay with that.

Rrrrghhh!

One zombie in the window succeeded in grasping my arm. As her teeth got closer to my skin, I attempted to reach for my knife.

Clink!

It slipped out of my hand and down below. There were so many zombies, I didn't even notice where it landed.

C'mon, cmon...

I reached for my gun with my free hand and I gripped it tightly. Just as her teeth came within millimeters of my skin, I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

I clenched my jaw and shut my eyes tight as the shot went off. My ears began to ring. The zombie woman was now slumped over the hand that is keeping me alive.

I can't hold on for much longer.

More zombies reached from behind her slumped body in an attempt to get me. If I want to live, I have to do something.

Rrrghhh!

As I pulled myself up, the zombie in the window grabbed me. I threw myself into her, landing on the tiled floor inside of the building.

Bang!

The bullet pierced through her skull. I stood up and skimmed the room to realize there were more.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

When all was said and done, lifeless bodies surrounded me. They lay on a cold, white tiled floor that was now stained red from the puddles of blood. My eyes widened in shock.

Rrrghhh!

On the other side of the unfamiliar door, zombies slammed in an attempt to get to me. I attracted them by using my gun but I had no choice.

Now, if that door caves, I'm in trouble.

_

I searched the room for clues. Someone must've been living up here — there was sleeping bags and pillows. I found a can of beans but I couldn't open them because I lost my knife.

I peaked my head out the window to examine the outside. The zombies were still there. When the overhang fell, it trapped some of them underneath and barricaded the front door. Just my luck.

There's a slight chance I could take the zombies on the other side of the doorway. It depends on how many there are and I'm not sure if that's a risk I want to take.

"Damn it!" I yelled in anger before turning around to punch the wall behind me.

How could I let this happen?

Grrrhhhh... rgghhh...

My fist punctured the flimsy wall to reveal more zombies on the other side. I could barely see them, nonetheless, they're there.

They're always there.

Hours passed and I finally decided I have to try. I can't let myself die, not here. I picked up the small, cheap wooden table and slammed it to the ground, taking one of the legs right off.

1...2...3!

Whoosh!

The door swung open.

Grrrgghh! Rrgg!

They immediately swarmed me. I swung my new weapon. A couple of them went down quickly. As I took them out, they seemed to just keep coming. Eventually, I could barely stand.

Smoke rolled into the small room and left me fighting for each breath. The building is on fire from the bombs.

I saved the last bullet for this.

I fell to the ground in defeat. Just as I held the gun to my head, the zombies began to drop.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Is he in here?"

"I think that's him!"

The familiar voices began to sound distant as I became more exhausted by the second. Before long, I couldn't fight it anymore. The darkness took over and my eyes shut.

_

Where am I?

I approached the familiar home with ease. Upon entry, I removed my shoes and placed them to the side. The house smelled like potatoes and steak. Maybe apple pie?

"Well, hello, handsome." Kara greeted me with a warm smile and a kiss on my lips. "Missed you today."

"The burial was awful." I muttered, "I still can't believe she's gone — the woman that took care of me when my parents didn't."

Kara reached over, her blue eyes gentle. As she wrapped her arms around me, a sense of relief washed over my tense body.

"I'm so sorry, baby. We're going to get through this, alright? You're strong. Stronger than most. I won't let you give up."

"Thank you," I spoke in a weak, hushed tone. "For everything. You're my rock, Kara."

"Always — and I mean it." She turned, nodding to the steaming pie that sat near the window sill. "I made your favorite. Thought you could use some apple pie to brighten your day."

Our lips met once more before we sat down to a perfect dinner. My steak was made the way I liked it — just a little pink in the middle — enough to melt in your mouth within seconds. When all was said and done, Kara picked up the now cooled pie.

As she handed it to me, she stared into my soul and spoke four words.

"You're going to die."

_

My eyes shot open.

Kara met my gaze immediately as she stood hunched over me.

"What's going on?" I asked as my blurry vision began to clear.

"Oh my God," she huffed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you're alive."

She bent down to squeeze me tight.

I could barely utter the words "Me too."

"You know, there's a shit show out there and you're the main actor."

"I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely. "I thought if I was the decoy, you could get away. I couldn't let you all die."

"Well, you're damn lucky Vick knows what he's doing. We couldn't get in because the overhang collapsed in front of the door. Had to find another way in. By the time we found it, the place was filled with smoke and almost engulfed."

"They're all probably pissed at me." I shook my head in disappointment. "I don't blame them."

"It's the thought that counts." Vick interrupted as he entered the room, "I get what you were doin', kid. You have to start listening to me. I had a plan."

"I didn't see any other way out. The suburban was rocking from the waves of zombies slamming against it. Sooner or later, they were going to get in."

Vick advised hawkishly, "Just be thankful you didn't get yourself killed."

I skimmed the room. "Where are we?"

"Found an old vet's office that was going out of business. Luckily it didn't have anybody in it," Kara explained gently. "We pretty much walked in. Good thing, too."

"We can't stay here long." Vick interrupted firmly, "the bombs are still going off. This whole place will be gone soon."

In the distance, the bombs could be heard. I gulped in suspense and my body tensed up. We could die any minute and we could've been away from here already if it wasn't for me.

"Get some rest, alright?" Kara advised warmly before bending down to peck my lips with hers. "I'd sleep with you but there's not enough room on the exam table."

As the night sky rolled in, smoke could still be seen under the moonlight. I couldn't hear the bombs anymore. The exam room was cold and empty. I stared at the painting on the wall. It was a watercolor of a Labrador retriever that seemed to be smiling.

Blood was splattered across the painting.

Eeeee....

The sound of the door creeping open caused me to jump up. The figure slowly made their way into the small room before sitting down on the chair nearby.

"Thanks for earlier."

I know that voice. Is it Christie?

This must be a hallucination. The smoke got to my brain.

"Thanks? For what?" I questioned skeptically. "I almost got you guys all killed and damn near offed myself in the process."

"You risked your life for us. That's enough for me."

"You guys saved me. Your dad, he took us in and he's the reason we're still here. I could never let anything happen to you guys."

He asked me to watch over them.

"When shit hits the fan, people either duck or they grab the shit fan and stop it their damn selves. You've proven you don't duck."

"Really?" I asked, furrowing my brows in the darkness.

I don't?

"Yeah." she responded, heading for the door. Before she exited, she called over her shoulder.

"You're alright by me."