Free Run: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Rich Restucci Page B

came up and shook hands. Earl nodded. Anna walked up to Dallas and gave him a peck on the cheek.
    “I’m Anna,” she said, “Thanks for noticing me in the window; I would have been dead in another minute or two.” 
    “Sorry,” Rick said, “I forgot you two never got to meet.” 
    “My pleasure, miss,” a red-faced Dallas replied sheepishly, “least we could do.” 
    “Alright everybody, listen up,” Rick told the group. “We’re fairly secure here, and we have limited supplies, so we’ll hang out until tomorrow, and make another run for the docks in the early morning. Let’s make sure we’re good here, and I want to check out the upper floors and see if there’s anything we can use up there. Chris, you and Anna go and check all the doors again, and see if you can barricade them. Dad, you and Earl get some food going, and watch Sam. See if you can find something for Billy to wear. Dallas and I are going up to the fourth floor.” 
    “I knew I should’ve taken that left turn at Albuquerque,” moaned Billy. 
    Rick looked at him quizzically. 
    Sam giggled and Billy beamed.
    “Finally!” he said and sat down cross legged next to Sam. “Which one is your favorite? Mine is Hillbilly Hare, and anything with Yosemite Sam.” 
    Sam was a bit scared, but she replied quickly, “I like the ones where Bugs dresses like a girl.” 
    “He dresses like a girl in Hillbilly hare!” Billy was ecstatic, he took off his bloody shirt and wiped his chest with it. Sam sat down next to him. When he was done he threw it to the side, “Awesome tiger, where did you get it?” Sam smiled.
    “What happened to your face?” she asked, pointing to his scar.
    “Tigers!” he replied a little too loud, and she smiled again. He and Sam continued to talk while Dallas and Rick walked to the door to the balcony. Anna had given Rick the keys earlier, and he unlocked the door and they stepped through. Chris came up and followed them through the door. Rick raised his eyebrows. 
    “Your leg, Rick.” 
    “Hang on, Bubba,” Dallas said, “What does he mean?”
    “I got bitten getting here, but it’s nothing.” 
    “Where?” asked Dallas. 
    “Outside, when we were try—” Dallas cut him off with a head shake:  
    “No, I mean where on your person didja get bit?” 
    “It bit my boot, I guess my boot will come back and kick us,” Rick said. 
    “Still gotta see it, Bubba.” 
    Rick nodded and sat on the step and rolled his pant leg up. He undid the laces on his boot and took it off. He pulled his black sock down, and there was a small bruise over his Achilles tendon, but the skin wasn’t broken. 
    “Well, OK then,” Dallas said. “Let’s quit all this lollygaggin’ an’ git goin’.” 
    Rick laced his boot up. Chris smiled at him and walked back into the theater, and Rick and Dallas climbed the stairs to the fourth floor. They passed the short corridor where Rick and Chris had entered the theater, and continued up another flight. A door-less entryway led them to a large room with many desks, each with a sewing machine. It looked like the room hadn’t been used in years. “Sweat shop,” Rick said. There were two other doors at the far end of the large room. One was a bathroom full of chairs and other junk, the other door was locked. A loud thump from above made both men look at the ceiling. 
    “Thought there were only four floors?”
    Rick looked at Dallas with eyebrows raised. Dallas shook his head and motioned with his chin toward the door to the stairs. Rick nodded and they cautiously moved back to the stairway. They crept slowly up the stairs, senses wary. The stairs ended in a heavy door, not like any of the others in the upper floors of the theater. Rick knocked on the door, but heard nothing. Rick put his hand on the door handle, and looked at Dallas. Dallas gave a curt nod, and Rick threw the door open. Another short corridor with a door on either side. There was a brass 1 on the door on