Evan's pulse raced as he moved through the back door, crossing into the cool air of outside once again. Last time, he had gone outside to check up on a friend. Now he would ensure that one of the infected would be less likely to bite another person. He knew it wasn't the safest thing to do, but he did know out of those in the building, he was likely the one most capable of handling this. The people within the building watched him as they locked the door.
The length of old pipe given to Evan felt heavier than it looked, giving him the confidence that it would not break easily. It was unfortunate it was the best option available, but it was not like it wasn't still better than nothing. He had done a little sparring with similar implements before, but had never needed to use such methods before in genuine self defence. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the heavy pipe firmly in both hands and gave it a slow swing to test its balance.
Blackwood dormitory was laid out in the shape of a capital 'L', with the common room occupying the first floor of the shorter side of the structure. The longer part of the building faced the park blocks, where Evan's target was trying to get inside. Across the broad, empty walkway, the library stood tall, the edges of the structure lined with tall bushes. To the right, there was a broad open field for soccer or football and a grassy hill. To the left, there was the path leading towards the side of the Sanders building and its adjoining structure.
Evan turned to the left, advancing in a slow, meticulous walk. He edged away from the building cautiously, thinking about the inarticulate, almost clumsy charging exhibited by the zombies so far. He fully expected the thing to charge him when it saw he was outside the building. If so, he would be ready for that. The only real problem would be if he had to deal with more than one.
Creeping carefully away from the door while actively watching for
movement, Evan kept his thoughts focused on his surroundings. Surveying
the adjacent areas from the rooftop before coming down here was
important, but he still had to be aware. A man easily could run several
blocks in the time he took to arrive here. Chances were good that
it wouldn't be clear for long, even if it was still safe right now.
Evan had almost hoped to see another lurching figure from the rooftop, because then the operation would have been too risky to attempt. Still, someone had to do this while they had the chance. It was the responsible thing to do in order to prevent the spread of the disease. After all, someone had to sort this thing out, or at least prevent it from getting any worse than it already was.
Passing the last barred window on the first floor of the dorm, Evan edged up to the corner of the building. He could hear the eerie groans and snarls of the thing clawing futilely at the door. Aside from the desolate breeze of the cold wind blowing through empty branches and the occasional bird call, it was the only notable sound.
Doing one last check of his surroundings and mentally preparing himself for the task ahead, a sense of dread washed over Evan. He knew people were inside these buildings, but it was still so desolate within the most busily trafficked part of the University during the middle of the day. It was an unreal sensation to look around and see absolutely nobody where usually people moved in flowing throngs.
With the pipe lifted and ready to swing, Evan made his way around the corner, witnessing the zombie producing a harsh tug upon the door's handle. Evan watched its futile, almost clumsy attempts, still rattling the glass door within its frame against the lock. For one thing, it was definitely persistent. The thing still fixed its gaze on those inside, distracted. It was about a hundred feet away.
Like before, nothing seemed wrong with the man apart from his behavior. He was a regular Caucasian about forty years old and bald. He was short and a bit chubby, but otherwise he looked healthy. From this side, it wasn't even possible to see the small blood stain on the front shoulder of the grey suit he wore. He still produced that unnerving, groaning snarl, almost sounding frustrated with the door's refusal to budge.
Evan planned on using the momentum of the zombie's own run against it. But he didn't want to make any more noise than necessary, lest he unexpectedly attract another one of the things. Carefully, he crept about twenty feet closer. There was a very slight incline in Evan's favor, which would help to knock the thing down once the fight began.
The zombie twisted its head towards Evan during another failed attempt to rattle the door open and suddenly released the handle. It began its charge almost immediately after sighting Evan, half stumbling as it appeared overly eager to begin its dash. For just a moment the zombie seemed like it would topple, but it somehow managed to regain its balance and continue charging.
Evan gripped the pipe so tightly it felt like his fingers would hurt as the zombie came for him. He waited until the last possible moment to react and suddenly sprung to the right. At the same time Evan swung the steel pipe against the side of the zombie's head, its momentum bringing its head right into the line of the swing. A heavy crack reverberated back through the pipe as the blow connected.
Off balance, the figure crashed to the ground, its suit and skin scuffed as it rolled across the pavement of the sidewalk. Taking advantage of the tumble away from him, Evan shifted to the zombie's extremities and brought his blunt implement down onto the lower right leg with a sick crunch.
Reacting to his proximity the zombie tried to lunge for Evan's leg, but in the attempt it had to completely twist its body. Evan easily jumped away as it made the attempt, leaving its open mouth hammering on the solid walkway. Evan winced, glimpsing a bit of a shattered tooth skidding across the pavement and out of sight. Even knowing what he was doing, that was a little hard to watch, it almost made his own teeth hurt.
Slowly circling around, Evan moved onto the slightly higher ground as the zombie pushed itself back to its feet. Scrapes and tears were now covering several places on its hands and face, and its blank stare looked right towards him as it rose, seemingly without result from the injured leg or the severe blow to the head.
The zombie advanced on him again, its arms outstretched, moving with a slightly uneven gait. It had slowed down in response to the strikes against its body, but not by much. Though this time, instead of attempting to tackle Evan it was trying to grasp him directly. Without thinking about the change in strategy, Evan reacted on his own.
Given Evan's greater reach with the pipe, he made a strike downwards on one arm and sent the thing tumbling onto its face again. Quickly, Evan moved around the side of the thing and down hill, taking an easy strike at the uninjured other leg with a carefully aimed swing. With the zombie unable to lunge like it had before, Evan had time to deliver another weighted blow to the same place without danger, hearing a sickening wet crack of presumably bone snapping.
As Evan moved away the zombie tried to stand again, but fell down the first time it tried. It was now bleeding from several deep injuries all over and its suit was badly torn. There were growing red markings on its legs where Evan had targeted his attacks. Satisfied with the results, Evan returned to the front door of Blackwood dorm and gave the observers pressed up against the glass a thumbs up to indicate the task was complete.
From their vantage point it was doubtful they could have seen much of the fight. With no visible signs of danger, Jorge opened the door quickly and let Evan back inside.
