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Xander pushed through the hospital doors. He and Ethan had watched as Zahara disappeared behind cars and buildings. They’d looked back up to the second floor to see the people inside stunned with horror filled faces. Ethan had barked with dark humor and Xander figured the agent was getting used to his new reality. He was smacked with the stench of putrefaction when they entered into the hospital lobby. There were clouds of flies that covered bodies that littered the once sterile floors of the hospital. Maggots covered the bodies in moving masses as they multiplied and cascaded onto the polished floor.
There were more black body bags lined up against the walls and on gurneys, most of the bags moved with their restless contents within. Both men moved down the corridor, looking into each room. A nurse came staggering out, her neck ripped open. Xander lifted his weapon and shot her. They could hear the moans and cries of zombies and moved cautiously. Both men jumped when there was a loud crash and Xander looked into the window and saw a room full of zombies bouncing off the walls. They left the door secured and continued on. Making their way to the emergency room, Xander peered through the narrow windows of the double doors. They were confronted with an area fill with nearly three dozen zombies.
“Is it worth going in there?” Ethan whispered softly.
“Let’s get to the second floor, where those people were. I’m sure they know where meds and supplies are.” Xander turned and they backtracked to the elevator. Ethan was about to push the button when Xander stayed his hand.
“What happens if there are a bunch of those things trapped in there?”
“Shit, you’re right. Stairs I guess,” Ethan said and they followed the signs. Looking in through the door’s glass window to the stairwell, he saw three zombies. He nudged Ethan and Ethan brought his Walther PPQ up, ready to shoot. Xander opened the door and Ethan led the way, dropping the zombies. Xander leaned against the rail and looked down and saw at least ten more zombies below. He nodded his head to proceed up the stairs. As quietly as they could, they moved, the stairs were covered with dried blood and the flies buzzed around them. On the landing on the second floor were three zombies and Xander shot each one in the head. He was thankful for the suppressor, it made killing safer. He wasn’t sure if the zombies below could climb, but the noise of a shot would echo in the stairwell and perhaps draw more zombies to their location.
Ethan looked through the glass pane and eased the door open. He looked up and down the hall and nodded at the double doors fifteen feet away. There was a baker’s dozen that were trying to get through the double doors.
“Quick as we can, I’ll take the ones on the right, you the left,” Xander whispered. Both men raised their weapons and began to fire and drop the zombies. Several of the creatures realized there was something going on behind and turned. They started screeching and moved toward them. Xander systematically shot each one and they turned when more zombies came around the corner behind them. Now it was getting a little sketchy and he ejected his mag and slid in a fresh one. Ethan did the same and they began to fire and drop the newcomers. Sweat broke out on his forehead and for a minute, Xander thought he might have to turn into the wolf.
He didn’t mind turning into his altered self, but it was painful as hell and he wasn’t sure he might not kill Ethan in the slaughter. He didn’t think he would kill the man, but sometimes the animal inside him had other plans. He caught movement and saw that it was the woman he’d seen from outside the hospital. He saw two other faces behind her, fear and hope mingled in their expressions. When Ethan shot the last creature, he nodded and the woman opened the door.
“Thank you, my Lord God, thank you! You’ve saved us. We’re nearly out of food and I thought we were going to die here,” she said, her voice breaking and tears streamed down her face.
“We’re here to pick up medical supplies, can you help us with that?” Xander said, getting to the point. He didn’t know how long the ambulance up the street would keep the zombie away. The woman jerked slightly at the abrupt request.
“Oh, well. Yes. How is it out there? All we can see are those zombie creatures around the hospital. Aren’t the military or police doing anything about them?” she asked. The other two women nodded, looking at Xander and then Ethan.
“How long have you been hole up here?” Ethan asked.
“Nearly a week, things started getting crazy and when we tried to leave, we kept running into those things. Patients, doctors, nurses and staff were attacked. We managed to block many of the doors,” the woman said, pointing behind her. Xander and Ethan walked down the hallway and looked into several rooms. They could see zombies trapped in the rooms and he shook his head.
“I hope you have some place to go, away from the city, the whole downtown is full of zombies. Once we get what we need, we can escort you to the lobby.” Xander looked expectantly. The woman realized they were waiting for supplies and blushed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, but there are several of those things in the supply room,” she said, looking nervous.
“We’ll take care of them,” Ethan said softly. Xander noticed that Ethan was eyeing the woman with keen interest.
