I open a slight gap as I reach the top of the escalator and I turn, shooting the M4 in automatic. The creatures directly behind me fall back into the others as my bullets rip their heads apart and then the grenade explodes. Rabid bodies erupt into the air as the sides of the escalator concentrate the power of the explosion inwards and upwards. Mangled bodies and limbs spin high into the air as their black blood sprays. Bodies reach their highest trajectory before they drop straight back down back onto the escalator. Others are blown outwards, over the side of the escalator in an arc, their final destination splattering into the floor of the departure lounge below.
The explosion subsides and the smoke clears. My slim hope that the Rabids are dealt with is short-lived. Others are already clambering over the bloody carnage, hell-bent on climbing the stained escalator. I shoot down at the creatures at the front, slowing the ascent, but the fresh bodies are but a small obstacle to the fevered attack.
There is no choice but to grab the last grenade from my body armour and to pull the pin. The grenades lever releases with a metallic click as I throw it down underarm. Aiming for the entry point of the escalator at the bottom where the biggest concentration of Rabids is clamouring to get on, I immediately start firing again. The M4’s bullets take down, one by one, the Rabids at the front as they present themselves until the second blast goes off. The explosion throws more bodies into the air and this time the blast explodes the glass sides at the entry onto the escalator. Shattered glass is ejected at impossible speed sideways on each side of the entry and it is joined by pieces of flesh, blood and bone spraying out.
Continuing to fire my rifle again, I despatch the last few remaining Rabids at the front that weren’t blown up by the grenade. As the last one falls, I turn and make a run for it. I haven’t enough ammo to deal with the throng of creatures that survived behind the explosion and are now climbing over the latest gore to get up the escalator.
Sprinting in the direction of the First-Class lounge. I eject the mag from the bottom of the M4, pull a new one out of my body armour and snap it home into the rifle while I run. Screeches sound off behind me as the Rabids climb, but the First-Class lounge is now in view.
Pushing the solid dark-wood entry door of the lounge I half expect it to be locked or barricaded. I’m wrong; the heavy door swings in deceptively easily. The lounge is deserted, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I haven’t found them, but at least they won’t be in the vicinity of the oncoming hoard of Rabids that are on their way. Hopefully, they are somewhere safe, or safer anyway.
I don’t hang about; I exit the lounge and the door swings slowly shut behind me. Rabids are reaching the top of the escalator. I know it, I can hear it. There is only one direction for me to go, right, to keep following the corridor. I set off running again as screeches reverberate along the walls of the corridor to me. The last thing I want is for them to see where I am going and follow me. Luckily, the corridor curves left, so it hides me from the creatures behind as I go, but it sounds like they are gaining on me.
I pass doors on either side of me; my children could be behind any of them, but I don’t stop. The odds on them moving such a short distance are small. Quickly, two stainless-steel lift doors come up on my left. I ignore them and stop to push the door to the stairwell open, which is positioned just past the lifts.
Florescent lights show me that the stairwell, at least on this level, is clear. The light also highlights debris on the ground and stairs. Rabids have been here.
Sounds of stomping feet draw closer and I lean against the entry door to stop any inquisitive creatures coming through it. A shadow flickers past the glass panel in the door, then another. More flickers follow, building up to a crescendo. The door vibrates as the horde runs past the stairwell. I apply more pressure against the door as they pass, sounding like a herd of elephants.
My pressure against the door eases as the noise dissipates and they move on, to who knows where? Tightly holding the door handle, I move up to peer out of the glass panel. There is no sign that any creatures have been left behind, all I can see is empty corridor.
Turning my back to the door, I look at the stairs, up or down, which way do I go? Gunshots echo in the stairwell and they come from above. There is no guarantee that it is either Josh or Alice firing, but it’s the only clue I’ve got. I move for the flight of steps that go up. I turn once, as I climb to the two flights on my way up to the next floor’s door, which I approach cautiously. There is only empty corridor again as I peer out of the glass panel in the door. I then crack the door open slightly
