'What's the situation?' one of them barked.
'We're not sure,' Newman responded.
'How many are out there?'
Suddenly, Newman gasped in alarm. He backed away from the peephole as headlights raced toward the blockaded doors.
'Oh sh-'
A second later, they saw the sunrise after all.
It burst inside the lobby.
'
The fertilizer bomb exploded as the truck crashed through the barriers, the massive concussion rocking the building. Fire and smoke ripped through the first floor. Shards of metal, chunks of concrete, and shattered glass hurtled into the air. The lobby and all inside it were instantly vaporized. Then, the billowing smoke cleared, revealing twisted steel girders and tongues of orange, flickering flame.
Amazingly, the building stood firm.
Ob watched through the binoculars. His gray lips pulled back in a grimace.
'The bomb didn't work as well as I'd hoped. That blast should have taken out the first five stories. Instead, it only destroyed a portion of the first floor and the parking garage. The building was touted as being indestructible. The designer was a bit of a gadfly, given to hype and self-grandeur. Perhaps it wasn't hype after all. No matter. Ready the artillery and the mortars. Take out the section where the building's generator is housed. I want the power out immediately. Also, bring the tanks forward and have them create some more entrances. And send in the first wave of foot soldiers.'
As the column of tanks rumbled toward the skyscraper, a horde of zombies charged across the plaza toward the gaping hole created by the truck bomb. Heedless of the damage to their bodies, they strode through the flames. Their burning corpses emerged on the other side. Not slowing, they clambered through the wreckage. Moments later, they burst into the stairwells in search of more prey. When the stairs became crowded, they even climbed up the elevator shafts, using the service ladders and cables.
Then the screaming began.
The elevator doors slid open. Danny squeezed Jim's hand tighter as they stepped out.
'Was that thunder, Daddy?'
'Sure sounded like it. It rained most of the night, I think. But you're not scared of a little thunder and lightning, are you?'
Danny shook his head. 'No, but Frankie might be.'
'Why do you say that?'
'Because she's a girl.'
'You might be surprised,' Jim chuckled. 'Frankie's pretty tough. Girls can do just about anything boys can do- Frankie especially. I bet she'll be happy to see us.'
They started down the corridor. Despite the alarm, Jim was surprised that none of the medical staff was present. The entire floor was eerily silent. His boots echoed on the tiles.
'Do you like Frankie, Daddy?'
'Sure I like her. She helped me find you.'
'Are you going to marry her now that Mommy and Carrie are dead?'
The question stopped Jim in his tracks.
'Now where did that come from?' he asked.
Danny shrugged. 'I think she's pretty.'
She is pretty, Jim thought to himself. But with everything that's been happening, I guess that I never really thought about it until now.
'I think we've got more important things to worry about right now,' Jim said, hoping Danny would change the subject.
But the boy refused to be diverted. 'I think she'd make a good mommy.'
They approached Frankie's recovery room. Jim considered explaining to his son that Frankie had been a mommy, and what had happened to her child. But he decided against it. Danny had seen enough horror and lived through enough traumatic events. He deserved some time to be a kid again, free of violence and terror.
'Daddy?'
'What, buddy?'
'I smell smoke. Something's burning.'
Before Jim could respond, the door to the recovery room opened and a man stepped out. He wore wrinkled gray trousers and a sweat-stained white dress shirt. His right hand clutched a pistol. Despite his disheveled look, Jim recognized him immediately. It was Darren Ramsey.
A large, unkempt man followed, pushing Frankie in a wheelchair. She'd been gagged, and bound to the wheelchair's armrests with rubber surgical tubing. A thin line of blood dribbled from her nose. Her eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Jim and Danny.
