Free Undead L.A. 2 by Devan Sagliani

“I did.”
    A loud explosion outside interrupted their moment, causing them both to flinch and hold their breath. There was a scraping sound in the distance, then a loud thud as something heavy rammed into a structure, followed by a tinkling and clanking as two by fours, stucco, wire, and glass rained down on hot asphalt.
    “What was that?” Emily whispered.
    “I don't know,” Tyler answered back. “Hold on a minute. Listen.”
    They both held their breath again. Emily began to squeeze his hand hard as the seconds clicked past.
    “I don't hear anything,” she whispered in frustration.
    “Exactly,” Tyler replied. “It sounds like somebody's house just blew up, and the noise drew away all the monsters. This may be our only chance to make a break for it.”
    “I don't know,” Emily murmured, looking pensive. “What if you're wrong? What if you throw open the door and they rush in?”
    “I'm not sure we have much of a choice at this point,” Tyler argued. “We can't stay in here indefinitely with no food or water. Hell, for all we know they might bring back more zoms with them and finally knock the shed down.”
    He held both her hands and stared into her eyes.
    “This may be the one shot we've been waiting for,” Tyler reasoned. “All we gotta do is get over the back fence, and out into the trees. Once we're on open ground we can get ahead of them, that is, if they haven't fed. I don't know why, but they are much faster once they've just gotten a mouthful of human flesh.”
    “That's not very comforting,” Emily said with a smirk.
    “I think it is,” Tyler countered. “There aren't many people out in the woods, and something tells me the bigger predators can take care of themselves and fend these things off.”
    “How are we going to survive out there?”
    “I was a Boy Scout,” Tyler assured her.
    “You got to Tenderfoot and quit,” she whispered.
    “That doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. I've been camping in the high Sierras for weeks on end. I know how to start a fire with two sticks, trap food and fish, and ward off animals. I know it's a risk, but it's a bigger risk staying here and waiting for someone else to come rescue us. We have to assume that there isn't anyone left. We have to assume we're on our own if we are going to make it out of this alive.”
    “But I'm so scared,” Emily moaned.
    “I am too, but that just means we'll both be on high alert. What do you say? Do you trust me?”
    “Yes…I love you.”
    “I love you too,” he exhaled, leaning over and kissing her. He pulled back first, working himself up to execute their great escape. He took several deep breaths, turned his neck from side to side, causing it to crack loudly, and shook his hands. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer. When he opened them again, she was expectantly starting at him.
    “I'm ready,” she said, giving him a nod. “Get us out of here.”
    “Count of three?”
    “One, two, three...”
    Tyler grabbed her by the hand and kicked open the door. The undead monsters that had been patiently waiting to feast on them all night were now lumbering along the side yard, and heading back towards the front of Emily's house. Through the narrow gap, Tyler could see that Mr. Hendrix's neighbor’s house was engulfed in bright yellow and orange flames. A hole had been torn through the roof. Flickering tongues of fire and smoke poured out of it. There was a large crack in the side of the house. The zombies were climbing over one another as they flooded into the damaged structure.
    There was screaming coming from inside. It sounded like a man was being pulled apart. There were no discernible words, just anguished syllables crying out and echoing up the street. The more he screamed, the more zombies flocked towards the house, desperately searching for the entrance. Tyler didn't waste any time.
    “Keep up with me, and whatever happens, don't fall down or trip! Got it?”
    Emily nodded her head in reply,