Free Omega Virus (Book 1): Beta Hour by Jake A. Strife Page B

had no choice
but to continue to trust the megalomaniac, so we followed.

 
    LEVEL 10 – WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE?
     
    Like lemmings,
we followed Wesley into an alley near Epic Impossibilities Games. I felt like I
should've questioned his motives, but with hundreds of Corpses on our tail, I
didn't have time for such luxuries.
    Moving
single file, we maneuvered down the narrow alley. Tiffany hustled up front with
Mr. Zombie Killer. Merlda took up the middle, limping as fast as she could with
Kessa's assistance, and I took up the rear. The hissing Corpses lumbered along,
sending spittle and gore splattering the back of my neck. It seemed as if they
had gotten quicker, but I didn't plan on turning back to perform time checks or
Q&A sessions. Although I wanted to spin back and shoot them all in the
face, I couldn't. More likely I'd be overwhelmed in seconds. Kessa stopped
suddenly, and I slammed into her, who bumped Merlda, who pushed Tiffany
forward.
    “Keep
moving!” I cried as I spun to lift in my arms in defense.
    Kessa
pushed me aside and jumped in front, crying out, “My angel!”
    She
lifted the Smith & Wesson and fired at the first Corpse. Her bullet struck
its chest, slowing its momentum, but the next ones just pushed past it. I
swallowed hard and pulled a card from Wesley's book, punching the next one in
the face. It fell back, albeit briefly.
    I
shouted at Kessa, “Aim for the head!”
    Up
ahead, Tiffany ran again, and we all darted after her. We squeezed past a
dumpster, which Kessa and I turned to block the Corpses.
    Kessa
breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh thank ya Lord!”
    The
undead tried to walk through the barrier, but they only managed to crush each
other against it. When I turned back, I found again; we'd stopped.
    “Can
we keep moving?” Merlda pleaded, her voice cracking from pain.
    Tiffany
snapped. “I'm trying Wesley's stopped twice now!”
    Wesley
stood at the front of the pack, staring at the ground.
    “Now
is not the time for important self-reflection!” I shouted.
    He
ignored me and started moving his foot around in a circle. The dumpster started
to turn as the Corpses forced it back. I spun back and braced my shoulder
against it while Kessa already had done so.
    “I
couldn't hold it!” she whimpered.
    I
grunted, using all my strength. “Don't worry. I got it!”
    Sadly,
I didn't weigh enough to hold it either.
    I
shouted. “I lied! I don't got it! Wesley, we have to
keep moving!”
    A
Corpse arm shoved through the crack between the dumpster and the wall. It
snatched my sleeve, but I pulled away.
    Merlda
pleaded, “Yer gonna get us all killed!”
    “Everyone,
stay calm,” Wesley announced as he tapped his foot.
    The
dumpster jolted again. If we didn't move soon, the Corpses were about to have a
five-course dinner. We pushed with everything in us, but we were losing ground
fast.
    “Tiffany,
help!” I pleaded.
    She
pushed past Merlda, who had fallen into another coughing fit. The dumpster
lurched before Tiffany could make it, and the first Corpse made it through.
    “No!”
we three cried, just as Wesley cheered. “Found it!”
    Wesley
disappeared through a hole in the ground. Merlda couldn't follow. She'd fallen
to her knees.
    “I'll
help her! Just get inside, Kessa!” I said. She nodded and shoved her face
against mine.
    My
cheeks burned as she hopped down into the opening. The last of her I saw were
her green pigtails. Tiffany and I backed up as the first Corpse shambled
towards us.
    Turning
to Tiffany, I said, “It's more important that you make it!”
    “Don't
ever say something so stupid!” She snapped and yanked me back. The dumpster,
completely forsaken, gave way to the horde. I grabbed Merlda by her shirt
collar as we went and pushed her through the hidden passage. She still wheezed
as she fell in. I started to push Tiffany, but she spun me around and shoved me
instead.
    I
fell into the dark pit and landed with a splash, knee deep in some gunky,
putrid-smelling water.