Into the Fire

The highway swerved gently through the wooded hilltops, weaving through a valley out of the city.  A lone car made its way along the curved path, bright beams sharply cutting into empty darkness.  Occasionally, an odd bit of refuse littered the side of the road, but there were no obstructions upon the road itself.  One car rested along the shoulder of the freeway; abandoned for no reason that could be intuited quickly.

A slight misting had begun to build upon the windshield, but the traces of growing heat seemed to be keeping it from getting much worse.  As Lucas allowed himself to ease up on the accelerator his sense of nervous tension melted away.  As scenery changed, the extremes of the evergreen dotted hills gradually gave way to gentler slopes.  This freeway led westward out of the city and away from the northward bound river.

The survivors listened in silence as buzzing static came through the speakers.  When comprehensible words finally emitted from the radio within the static, a collective welcome sigh of relief passed through each one.  Evidence that the civilized world was still out there.

"I got something!"  Exclaimed Ryan as he adjusted the dials.  The occupants listened with hopeful fascination as a thin voice became audible.  The signal was interspersed with static, even while the voice came through in decipherable bursts.

"...curfew enforced for those within fi..."

"...limited to the boundary region..."

"...not approach or use firearms against the..."

"...activity within the quarantined zone..."

"They mentioned a quarantine!  That's going to be a safe place, isn't it?"  Ryan exclaimed.

"We're inside it.  We just need to get out of it."  Zack replied.

Something rankled as the words rattled in Lucas's mind.  He grit his teeth, dismissing the sensation as the lingering guilt of a betrayer.  Nothing could avert the course laid out.  The entirety of his being needed to concentrate on the final resolution of their nightmare.  It must end.

Shapes ahead prompted Lucas to first ease his pace, then halt.  There were a number of cars obstructing the route.  Each one rested perfectly within the guiding lines of the freeway in both directions.  Side by side they sat in a pristine row, suggesting deliberate placement.  Beyond, another row sat.  And another.  The path leading up to this point had been mostly devoid of vehicles.  From what the headlights revealed the area ahead was also clear.  Although he could observe no dents or scuffs, something had apparently been punctured inside.  Large pools of oil stretched over the pavement.

Lucas examined it all studiously, as if a critical answer were hidden within the spectacle.  Yet there was something subtle underneath it all which forced a blink.  An attempt came to wipe his glasses free of smudges.  Then another view without glasses.  A whine and a scraping of the windshield.  Nothing worked.  The bewildering impulse could not leave, yet the compulsion to examine only intensified.

Something is very wrong with those cars, blew a chill like a whisper.  A gnawing terror grew, consuming his heart as it enraptured him.  His mind strained in agony, reaching for something concrete to resolve his senses into.  Struggling to create something comprehensible, a label for the strangeness, just so he could blink again.

The oily blackness ahead was a nothingness leaking into the world.  The voids within each car sang harmoniously.  The mundane road beyond became a grotesque painting.  The emptiness surrounding them glistened with malice.  Only the cars existed.  All of it was true for an instant, then it all fell apart.

 A label finally arrived.  "Go back!"  Jennifer.

"No!"  Came a scream.  Or was it a thought?  Maybe within the proximity of those cars, there could be no sound.  It was impossible to know.

A sudden jolt of activity pulsed as air surged back into the universe.  Gasping, Lucas hammered the accelerator and veered off road, careful to avoid seeing the anomalous discovery.  Shaking, riotous movement slammed into him as wheels jounced on wildly inappropriate terrain.  Thunderous screeching.  Screaming could exist again.

"What the fuck was that!?"

"We have to warn Evan!"

"Bad...  Really bad trip..."

"We're past it now!  He'll get past it too!"

Their vehicle swerved from side to side as bodies throttled into restraints.  Somehow, the wheels found a strait path and tore down the freeway.  The cacophony of screams continued, growing louder as bewilderment became terror.  Whatever strange affixion that place held over Lucas, it had apparently impacted all of them.  Ignoring the others, he steeled his mind upon his task.

Ryan's voice cut through the maelstrom.  "It's not following us!"  Nobody questioned the usefulness of the statement.

Recovering from the encounter, it was difficult to tell how long it had been or how far they had traveled since that blasphemous thing.  At some point, Lucas became aware of the radio, producing flurries of speech between intervals of static.  He begrudgingly allowed the car to slow to a more manageable speed.

Lucas realized with a start that he was still upon the familiar highway.  But even better, somewhere ahead was a tiny smattering of dots.  Lights.  He couldn't tell how far away they were, only that they would soon be there.  Checking the fuel gauge, he felt a confidence they would make it.

Then the high-intensity beams illuminated something large standing in the road.  Something moving.

Agitation

Evan awoke alone in a shapeless, cold void. For just a moment, fear of isolation prompted a sudden jarring impulse to be alert. By the time he could feel the slight traces of warmth coming from his nearby companions, he had already risen into a seated position. Breath came in practiced, slow waves, his urgent instinct to fully stand gradually faded.

A faint draft drifted over Evan as he listened to the distant white noise within the sealed abode. In disquieting time, traces of vision came to his eyes. Drowsiness had departed him as he gradually came to the realization he could just barely see. Starlight filtered inside, even as his mind was lost amid intruding thoughts in the lonesome abyss.

Evan stood and stealthily moved, making his way along the dark interior staircase and onto a flat concrete rooftop. He recalled the area was clear from before and felt no fear of any lurking terror. It was in a way, a refuge from recent events, from people and things. Walking to a boxy, jutting shape he sat and stared into the sky. Unfamiliar fires hung in the deep reaches of the sky, poking through sparse clouds.

Staring up for a long while, Evan never faltered in his waking state. Lost before the immensity of the structures overhead, thoughts wove together in oddly relaxing forms. His own microscopic existence, and miniscule world grew smaller as the Earth's grasp weakened over him. Everything would be okay because nothing really mattered.

He had not been aware of anything until a moving shape flicked through his perception. For an instant of fatalistic acceptance, he had no reaction. Heavy fabric rustled.

"Couldn't sleep?" Came a gentle vocalization.

"No." Evan answered, peering into an unfamiliar, yet well-known sky.

"I couldn't either." Minoko's voice returned softly.

Evan thought he had committed himself to some socially required response, but later on, he wasn't quite so certain he had spoken. Either way, silence lingered whilst the lightweight girl picked a place to sit. Breath billowed out, mingling while dispersing into the still air.

"I don't think your friend is a bad person." Came another statement with that minimal accent.

Evan allowed the words to linger between them for a while. As if the longer the sounds remained aloft, the truer their meaning would become. Finally, he spoke. "He could have waited until we found another car." There was a period of relative silence punctuating each fragment of thought. "Left some water. Food. The ammunition. The rest of the keys. Anything..."

Thinking fell into a temporary lull as he just stared into the tattered, unpolluted sky. He spoke again with a shake of his head, not looking towards his visitor. "No. Leon is right. A good person wouldn't have done that."

He could feel the weight of Minoko's gaze upon his side, but he couldn't quite look at her. He had the uncanny feeling she wanted to speak, but couldn't. He inhaled sharply before his voice flicked out from his throat. "I'm not angry. I thought I could trust him. I thought I could trust my judgement."

Evan hung his head with a heavy sigh. The thoughts which had been keeping him awake remained. He couldn't lie to himself; he actually was angry with Lucas. He couldn't force the emotion away, but he knew it also couldn't solve anything. The only thing it could do is distract his mind from the situations that he could still influence.

Whether Lucas would return or not, that was out of his control. Either outcome didn't matter, the memory would forever linger that his trust was misplaced. They were thirsty, hungry and their plan was derailed. He was just as angry at himself that he didn't foresee that outcome and prevent it.

"I- I almost did the same thing today." Minoko replied with a quivering voice. "When we first got to the car. I- I hesitated before unlocking the doors. If I didn't- reconsider- I would have abandoned you."

Evan sat upright, staring off towards the nearby buildings reflecting starlight. A tension shot through his palm, but he hid it from her.

"I- I was afraid. I was-" Minoko continued after clearing a lump from her throat. "Escape felt so close. I wanted it so bad." She paused there, as if expecting Evan to ask a question. "But then I thought of how Robert acted, when... It happened. The attack."

Minoko struggled to speak. She sniffed and wiped tears away, but Evan had the distinct impression that she wasn't done speaking. So he waited for her to continue while still staring ahead.

"Robert was strong like you. Not physically. He had asthma. He couldn't lift me. But he wouldn't- He didn't hesitate." Evan looked over at Minoko as she set her face in her hands. His fingers unclenched as he offered an arm in a attempt to console. She leaned in, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I couldn't.. Let his final act be for nothing. It couldn't be meaningless."

Evan ruminated over the confession, wondering just why she was giving it. Perhaps she felt an irrational jealousy towards Lucas. Maybe she felt guilty that her impulse was to do the same thing. "So, you tried to act like Robert would have." Evan finally concluded.

"No. I'm- I'm not that kind of person." Minoko's voice hitched. "It was Evelyn. Robert died to keep her alive. If she had been in the car, then I would have..."

Evan allowed Minoko's sudden outburst of emotion to flow. She needed it, and as strange as it was, listening did make him feel a little better. Occasionally a breeze would sweep by, adding a bristling of branches to the distant, continuous babble.

Minoko was the first to speak again, sounding much better now. "Thank you. Your friend.. Lucas..." Minoko seemed unsure of what she was going to say, then resumed along a different line of thinking. "Your friends. They all think so highly of you."

Evan acceded to the statement with a brief nod. He wasn't quite in agreement with the sentiment, but there was no denying they often spoke highly of him. At the very least, they believed it.

"I think your friend.. Lucas. I- I don't think he's a bad person. But... If I thought about Evelyn the same way that your friends think about you... Then I wouldn't have needed to have her with me..."

Evan sat in silence for a long while with Minoko, looking into the partly obscured starlit sky. Agitation continued to linger but it felt less volatile, less personal now. He could finally rest.

Out of the Frying Pan

In the middle of an intersection a few blocks from the university's grounds, the stolen car idled.  Cab light from inside spilled out as the lone figure inside maneuvered from front to back, establishing a fragile semblance of order.  Everything which had been haphazardly discarded needed to be visibly passable as pre-arranged.

After one final examination, Lucas returned to the driver's seat and extinguished the cab light.  Taking a deep breath to calm himself he focused his mind upon the coming evening.  Satisfied with the reading on the fuel gauge, he geared into drive and allowed the car to slowly coast forwards.  Approaching the Mansfield building, he parked the car along the curb just outside the sealed metal gate.  Even inside the car, the noxious odor of decay greeted his senses.

With the last vestiges of light fading from the sky, Lucas killed the engine and carefully examined his surroundings.  Feeling a momentary sense of dread, he extinguished the cab light and sat in darkness, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the traces of starlight.  Knowing he- alone- was in control of his own security in the dark was a terrifying thing.  Stained sheets nearby concealed lumpy remains, but nothing he could see was moving.

An initial shock gave way to relief as a spark of light sprang up from within the building.  After a moment it spilled down the walkway, illuminating the car.  Lucas waved to whoever was there, and cautiously emerged from safety.  To maintain an illusion of confidence he retrieved a rifle, although feeling the weight of its carrying strap pressing into his shoulder felt awkward.  Approaching the building, he scanned his eyes over the surrounding streets and sidewalks.

Jennifer approached the gate wrapped within a heavy grey coat.  A strap from one of the scavenged rifles crossed over her ample chest.  Wide hazel eyes peered through the bars hopefully as she gripped the lock.  "Where's Evan?"

"We-"  Movement suddenly drew Lucas's attention, spurring him to whirl around.  After a few seconds of staring at the surrounding emptiness he concluded he had overreacted to shadows cast by the light source Jennifer had brought with her.  "We found a working bus."

"A bus?"  Jennifer regarded him with a curious look, her straight, medium length dark hair fluttering in the light breeze as she unthreaded the steel from the gate.  She rewove chains effortlessly through the iron lattice once he slipped through.  "So why didn't the others come back with you?"

"We found supplies too.  More guns and ammo and water."  Lucas fidgeted with his glasses as he tried to recall what he had planned to say.  "I mean, it was all abandoned stuff that was probably brought in to help the trapped people.  I guess they just left it behind when the black notes hit.  He- er, we were- are- the others are gathering some before they head this way."

"In the dark?"  Jennifer asked with a worried tone in her voice.

"There's floodlights that were set up.  On a jeep crashed near the bus.  Anyway, we turned it on and it lit up the surrounding area."  Lucas added with what he hoped was an air of confidence.  "Evan sent me here so we can leave now.  He'll be going out to Blackwood dorm with the bus and the rest of the supplies.  We're going to check the path ahead is clear so the bus won't get stuck."  Lucas proceeded towards the building with Jennifer trailing.  Ahead, he could see Ryan peering out at them.

Ryan opened the door with his eyes wide.  "Dude!  You guys find anything?"  He stepped outside just enough to hold the door open, snugly wrapped in his mildly tattered blue-grey winter coat.

Lucas made a sweeping motion with his arm, pointing out.  "A bus!  We're leaving tonight!"

"Score!"  Ryan took a step outside with a goofy grin, but halted mid-step and stepped back.  "Whoa, almost forgot."

"If we're leaving, we can't forget someone."  Jennifer proceeded past Ryan into the building.

"Oh yeah!  That too."  Ryan withdrew, leaving Lucas alone in the chill.

A growing sensation of alarm welled up within Lucas as he halted.  He hadn't seen anyone else here earlier and hadn't considered that possibility.  Too many others would delay this course of action by an unacceptable margin.  Time pressure was mounting and in his imagination he could picture Evan catching up with him at any moment.  Alternatively, the others could grow suspicious of him or ask too many questions he couldn't convincingly answer.  Lucas forced himself to steady his breathing with considerable effort as he waited.

It wasn't long before Ryan emerged with an overloaded backpack and held the door.  Jennifer followed with a light in one hand, assisting a broad-shouldered, but slightly shorter man at her other side with his right arm in a splint.  She spoke words which hit as a wave of relief to Lucas, "Okay, let's get out of here."

With few spoken words passing between them, they departed in an orderly fashion.  Jennifer unsealed the gate, handing her light off to Ryan in the process.  With zealous focus, Lucas advanced and hasted to activate the vehicle.  Locks clicked; the engine flared to life in a gratifying burst of activity.  Headlights threw their illuminating glare on the building ahead.  The others packed their gear with alert haste and secured themselves inside.  Soon the quartet were fully prepared for exodus with no signs of trouble.

As anticipation of successful escape filled his mind, Lucas thought about the route ahead.  He did not have much direct experience with driving, but the only path he had considered taking was also the most familiar one.  If there was a blockage or trouble somewhere, he would find an alternate path through.  He just had to hope that the evacuated, dangerous zone didn't extend too far outside Portland.

"Which way are we heading?"  Jennifer asked from the back seat as she rearranged the various weapons Evan had successfully recovered.

"Past Hillsboro."  Lucas replied, taking them around the corner slowly.  "Along sunset highway as far as we can take it."

Beside him, Ryan looked up.  "How far do we have to go?"

"Hillsboro was evacuated."  Jennifer responded.  "So at least that far."

"That's not too bad."  Ryan declared as a momentary lull overcame the occupants.

Lucas thought he glimpsed a standing figure somewhere along the streets.  As he discovered the freeway onramp he dismissed the vision from his thoughts.  If something or someone was lurking in the city, it was now too far away to matter.  Accelerating down the freeway onramp prompted a release of anxiety like a pressure valve being toggled.

They hurtled through the dark tunnel separating downtown Portland from the surrounding area,  Emerging on the other side, the car traced the freeway's winding path.  It ran through the narrow, wooded valley between the hills dotting the edge of downtown Portland's western flank.  Although the light posts dotting the sides of the freeway were dark and the asphalt was atypically empty, the natural scenery did promote a degree of comfort Lucas hadn't realized he was missing.

As Lucas eased the car along at a steady pace, Ryan reached forwards from the passenger seat to turn on the heater.  Without speaking, he also turned on the radio and fiddled with the controls, seeking a signal.  Trying not to distract himself too much from the drive, Lucas briefly wondered why he hadn't thought to try such things.  As they listened to static coming out of the speakers in a slowly warming environment, Lucas grew more and more at ease with how the night was resolving.

Having other people around to help was wonderful.

Betrayal

As soon as Evan heard the burning squeal of tires upon pavement, he realized what was going wrong.  Without a moment's delay, he ran to obstruct the escape, but with an energetic swerve and a near-miss, the vehicle broke away at a good clip.  Futilely, he shouted, dashing down the asphalt and arriving at the ramp into the garage several seconds behind the car.

Pursuing after the sounds of frenzied, erratic driving, Evan believed he would sight the vehicle ahead until the moment he could see it tear onto the street.  Slowing his pace to a walk, then resigning himself to failure, Evan came to a halt midway towards the slope leading to the first floor.  Nothing he could do now but salvage the outcome.

As the sounds of the vehicle diminished Evan tried to set his mind on what could be done.  He warily eyed his surroundings and called out to the others.  "He's gone.  I'm coming back!"  A shout of recognition returned.  Now they were only accompanied by the low hum of the nearby river.

Evan had made a terrible mistake.  With uncanny clarity, the sudden shriek of rubber combined in his memory with Lucas's declaration that 'someone like him' could survive here.  In retrospect, the eagerness to help out despite the seemingly morose mood made a lot more sense now.  In his own way, Lucas had almost given a warning of his intention.  But as aggravating as it was to know his trust had been woefully misplaced, being angry with Lucas right now could not solve any problem.

Careful to remain wary of his surroundings, Evan ascended to the top floor of the parking garage.  The others were waiting anxiously just at the peak of the ramp, weapons drawn and ready.  Leon spoke out when he spotted Evan walking up the sloping ramp to the roof.  "Wasn't that guy a friend of yours?"

Evan exhaled wearily as he brought the white hood of his coat over his head.  "Yeah.  Lucas is- uh, he's a really good guy.  He's just..."  Sighting the keys he had been tinkering with on the ground, Evan moved to retrieve and pocket them.

"When things get tough, people show you what kind of person they really are."  Leon shook his head in exasperated fashion.  "Damn it, I left my backup ammunition clips in there."

Evan made a sound as if to reply, grasping for a response.  He believed his friend was better than that action would indicate.  Certainly, once Lucas returned to his right mind he would realize this was a terrible mistake.  Evan just realized it wasn't the time to tell that to the others right now.

"We don't have lights!  What should we do?"  Minoko spoke as she fidgeted with her blue coat.

Leon sighed heavily  "I don't think we'll be able to make it all the way back before the sun sets."  He gazed off in the direction of the university grounds, over the Willamette river and many city blocks distant.  "Shit, do you think zombies can see in the dark?"

"They have the same eyes we do."  Evan wasn't certain, but even at a quick pace he thought it would take about an hour to return the way they had come.  Lengthening shadows of evening were crawling across the landscape.  Glancing up, Evan saw dark clouds littering the sky in artful smatters, threatening rain.  "But it's still probably not a good idea to travel in the dark.  We should find shelter somewhere as soon as we can."

"Sounds like a good idea."  Leon approached the edge of the structure and gazed at the street below.  "I don't see any zombies down there.  But I hear something."  He gazed in one direction away from the river.

"That's not the Willamette?"  Minoko's eyes became wide with sudden alarm.  She turned towards the direction Leon had subtly indicated.  Evan knew there was a mall somewhere close by over a gentle hill, though it was obscured by trees and buildings from this vantage point.  He could see a big hotel and an office building over in that direction, though.

"It does sound like the river...  But it seems like there's something else too, I think whatever it is must be a ways off."  Leon added.

Now that someone had suggested something more sinister, Evan began to reevaluate what he had been idly dismissing.  Being more skeptical, he couldn't discern the direction of whatever the source was...  "Hurry then.  First thing that might work, we go for it."  Evan glanced sideways towards Minoko, giving her a chance to speak.  She shook her head, remaining silent, apparently content to let him and Leon decide their course of action.  She still seemed genuinely uneasy with the firearm she carried, nervously inspecting it now and then.

"Well, if either of you see somewhere that might work, say something."  From their vantage point, Evan examined the nearby blocks in the direction they had arrived from.  They didn't have much time to delay, so he scanned hastily.

They needed somewhere suitable to hide from whatever would be lurking in the dark.  The majority of structures in their vicinity were considerably smaller than the dominatingly large convention center.  Dismissing the larger structure, Evan examined what else laid around, reasoning that the smaller buildings would be more likely to be safe.  Yet as far as he could see, the businesses nearby were also broad-windowed in design, easily providing a view of the interior.

Trying to recall the recent sights upon their arrival to the area, Evan sighed.  Each business he remembered within a minor walk, from a bank to coffee shop to fast food restaurants and a marijuana dispensary all seemed unsuited to their needs.  Every place he could recall had big windows so they seemed impractical for hiding.  They might have to just return along their course of arrival and duck into the first suitable building they found.

Just as Evan turned back to face the others, Leon gave a cautious shout and waved.  The slightly older man had progressed a little ways along towards the further end of the structure. He pointed downwards, to something very close.  "Hey, what about there?"

Leaning over to better see what was indicated, Evan peered at a flat-topped squat building with crimson walls just on the other side of the street and hugging the far intersection.  The layout was rectangular with one section in the middle sticking out.  "What is that place?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't have huge windows."  Leon stood up tall and reclaimed his weapon from his shoulder strap.  "Just very small windows.  It looks like."

"Well, the sooner we begin..."  Evan motioned to the others as his voice trailed off.

Evan led the two at a brisk pace, keeping just enough of an eye upon them to make sure he wasn't leaving the others behind.  They progressed through the parking structure and emerged onto the street.  Leading them along the center of the road hurriedly, Evan turned towards the near corner.  Hastily edging forwards he proceeded into the intersection, checking in all directions before waving the others towards him.

Directing his attention towards the structure, it appeared as if it had been closed for a while.  Something about the exterior coat of paint looked old, but it wasn't yet cracking or peeled.  The tiny fraction of interior he could see through the small window on the door had a peculiar air of disuse.  A sign on the door indicated it was available for lease.  Evan tested the handle before facing the others.  "This could work for tonight.  Given the window, I think we can keep the lock intact."

"Got it."  Leon stepped forwards and motioned the others away.  Evan watched him take steady aim at the window and deliver a crack of violence to the glass.  Once more, and the spidery web that had formed had a secondary webbing.  Leon frowned and took another step back, firing twice more.  Then he raised the butt of his rifle, bringing it down hard on the tiny window with heavy blows.  "We're lucky we have these guns.  Sheesh."

Evan looked around, pausing to nod confidently at Minoko, who seemed quite anxious.  He didn't like the way that cascading series of echoes had seemed to fill the city.  But there was nothing he could do about it but remain alert.  Still nothing in the area from what he could see.  When Leon finally forced a few chunks to loosen, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Leon paused briefly to inspect the tattered, uneven fracture, and turned to look at the others.  "Shit, anyone have gloves still?"

Evan flinched slightly as Minoko replied.  "They were in the car."

"Right."  Leon set down his rifle carefully and flicked off his heavy sweater.  Now with the grey thermal undershirt, he wrapped the black fabric quickly over his arm and hand.  Gingerly pushing through the opening of glass, an audible click came after a moment.  Withdrawing his arm just as cautiously as he had pushed it through, he shoved the door open and stepped back.

Although Leon had already ventured his hand in there, Evan was ready for the signal; entering the small structure with his pistol drawn.  Quickly walking through the open, dim interior, he looked around what corners and hidden spaces there were in the mostly open structure.  Slightly discolored regions on the white walls were the only shapes he saw and there was nothing moving he could see.  There were a couple of doors, but Evan only checked they were secure before moving on.  A faint scent of musty paper wafted in the air as he stepped over a few scraps.  A fine sheen of dust laid on basic furnishings too old or cheap for the former user to want.  As he turned back, Leon and Minoko were already inside the doorway, alert but hopeful.

"Safe.  Looks like it's been empty for a while."  A look of eager relief passed over the others.  Leon reset the lock and walked inside to look around.  Minoko placed her rifle aside, taking a breather against the wall.  Evan exhaled slowly, suddenly aware how it felt easier to breathe.

Holstering the weapon, Evan proceeded to a worn but sturdy table and tested its weight with one arm.  Zombies seemed to capable of operating door knobs and handles, but he wasn't sure if reaching inside a door's broken window to twist a deadbolt lock would be similar instinct.  It seemed at the very least to require a little thought to be capable of such a thing.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Minoko had come to the other end of the table and positioned herself as if to move it.  After a moment of what must have been a confused look, Minoko spoke.  "Just in case, right?"

"Right."  Together, they effortlessly moved the table into the entryway at an angle to obstruct the door.  They worked with it until it was wedged tightly against the door and wall, creating a barricade for the door.  Minoko took a step back and leaned against the wall.

Just in time, Evan thought as he looked around.  Although it hadn't been too long, they had just about lost the last of the light.  Shuffling over and standing up tall, he peeked through one window.  From it he could see the parking garage across the street, but visibility was very poor.  It was definitely the right call to find somewhere to shelter during the night.  In a few more minutes it would probably be almost completely dark.

Leon returned and set up a few folding chairs.  "Looks like this used to be an art gallery.  I found a storage room in the back.  Also, there's an access to the roof."

Evan slumped into one of the chairs, allowing nervous tension to fade which he had not realized was present.  Hopefully, Lucas would survive on his own until he either escaped or decided to return.

Leon carefully checked on the door, ensuring the lock and barricading table was in place.  He took a scrap of paper he had found to the tattered, torn sections of bullet resistant glass and taped it to drape over the cracks.  The extra effort made them completely concealed.

"So what do we do in the morning?"  Leon's barely visible outline returned to a chair.

"Probably head back.  Let everyone know we're okay."  Evan replied.  "How much ammunition does everyone have?"

Leon checked his pockets and tossed something against the nearby wall with a jingle.  "Whatever's left in the rifle.  I think it's something like six or eight bullets.  The rest was in the back seat."

"I only fired a couple times."  Minoko added as she watched the door.

"I think I have a couple shots left."  Evan sighed as he unclasped the holster for the pistol and set it aside.

"What do we do with the keys we still have?"  Minoko whispered.

"That was just a trick to get us out here to steal the car."  Leon gestured.

"Maybe..."  Evan briefly considered the idea.  Lucas had once told him that the best deceptions were the ones partly based on truth.  "But I don't think he would have suggested it in the first place if he didn't think the plan was reasonable."

"We have less than half of what we started with."  Leon continued.  "Good idea or not, we're less likely to get a hit now."

"On foot, it would take us longer to search..."  Evan began, but shook his head.  "No, I think we should head back in the morning.  Maybe we can come back to this when we're better prepared."  Or maybe, Evan thought to himself, if Lucas returned with the car they could get back to their plan.

The three of them sat in the dark quietly for some time, listening to the steady white noise in the distance.  Idle talk came now and then in whispers before they finally decided it was time to try sleep.  Evan tried not to think too deeply about the soft noise that lulled him to sleep.

Necessary Action

Despite a pervasive twinge of unease, Lucas knew the hard task which laid before him.  He just had to keep his wits about him and seize the opportunity when it came.  He just had to make sure to do it right.  He'd only have one chance.

With his thoughts coming into focus, Lucas examined his surroundings with new awareness of his situation.  The others were speaking to Evan as they loaded bags into the car.  Still lounging in the vehicle, Lucas took in a deep breath of air and adjusted the positon of his glasses.  Although they were exposed here, he knew Evan would be well alert.

The others finished loading the trunk, sending the carts clattering to a noisy rest in the entryway of the store.  They then piled inside the car, continuing a conversation which had been going on briefly away from Lucas's attention.  The doors were locked, windows raised until only a slim crack of air was allowed through.

"So if this whole area is under some kind of quarantine, what's the new plan?"  Leon asked after he locked his front passenger's door.  "We can't fit very many people in here."

"Everyone who can walk, gets out on foot."  Evan replied from the driver's seat, turning so he could look at the others.  "Use the car to make sure the path ahead is clear, and everyone follows behind with something to defend themselves."

"You can't be serious."  Minoko replied with a hint of emotion in her voice.

"I am."  Evan regarded Lucas with a solemn look.  "If we can't rely on outside help, that's the only option we have."

"I don't like that idea."  Leon shook his head.  "How many of us even know how to defend ourselves?  One mistake and we're all in trouble."

Evan hesitated.  "Well, it's either that, or there's going to be a lot of people left behind.  They'd have to raid the nearby stores and malls for supplies.  With the hope to wait it out until this is all over."

"Maybe," Leon tentatively began, "We use the car to take a lot of shorter trips?  Find a relatively safe place five miles away and return.  Transport everyone a short distance in small groups, then go on from the new point."

"I think we've got about fifty people in total..."  Evan paused.  "And we don't know how far it is we have to travel.  We'd run out of gas before getting very far."

"When we run low on fuel, we should be able to salvage something from all these vehicles around, then continue."  Leon speculated.  "Make short hops like that in a secure car instead of having all of us outside in one big group."

"Um.."  Lucas didn't like where the conversation was going, but what could he say?  The plan seemed fundamentally sound as it was coming together.  Just too slow and indirect as far as a tolerable solution went.  Although, maybe Lucas could direct their focus.  "We could look for other cars to use."

There was a brief exchange of glances as those gathered were clearly confused by the proposition.  "You mean, like hotwiring?"  Evan asked.  "Do you know someone who can do that?"

"Uh-  Someone might, but I wasn't thinking of that."  Lucas pointed to the keys in the front seat.  "I mean, those..  Well, those don't have it, but you know those beeping things keys sometimes have on them?  So the car makes a sound?  Some of the zombies may have those..."

"So we go search the-"  Leon hesitated.  "Remains, then if we find keys with those, we bring them with us..."

"And try using them to find other cars."  Evan added, but shook his head as he turned to look at Lucas in the back seat.  "But even if we do find keys with those remote chirpers, the car it goes to could be anywhere.  I don't think those have very good range."

"When I watched the news on that first day, there were a whole lot of people trapped in the convention center.  Some of the zombies we've seen may have come from there.  Probably a lot of them, even."

"Oh, so it's likely any keys we find would be for something parked close to the convention center."  Evan concluded.  "In one of the lots nearby..."

"Even if we just find one car, that would cut our time to escape in half."  Leon looked at Evan, clearly regarding him as the one in charge and his own thoughts as mere advice.  "It's worth a shot."

"Aren't there going to be a lot more of the- things there?"  Minoko had remained silent until now.

"They seem to walk around randomly if they don't see anyone."  Leon suggested.  "If we're lucky, there might not be many of them around."

"What about the aliens?  If we've been abandoned, isn't this their territory now?"  Minoko crossed her arms over herself, though not because of the freezing air.

Evan turned in his seat to address Minoko.  "We've seen no more signs of them since those black notes hit us.  But if we do see anything strange or hear something, we'll head back."  Evan paused a moment, then thoughtfully added.  "Since we don't know anything about them or what they want, we can't really know how to avoid them.  So, worrying about it won't help at all.  Right, Lucas?"

Lucas held his tongue, nodding silently.  Privately, his mind weighed the unknown threats against the possibility of escape.  The only certainty was that the black notes were last fired when there were a lot of people exploring the immediate area.  If his wormhole theory was accurate, by venturing elsewhere in the city, they might accidentally stumble across something and trigger another black note.  And with it, an uncertain fate.  But as far as he was concerned, any risk that would get him out of this zombie-infested zone was a required gamble.

The others made plans without his input, and began to go about their heroism.  Lucas had nothing to contribute to their ideas for proceeding, nor the execution of their ideas.  He merely had to tag along, helping, while remaining vigilant.  Evan would keep them safe, so he merely had to concentrate on not seeing the things passing in front of his eyes.

With clarity of purpose, Lucas saw the actions being taken as if he were even watching himself.  The group brought supplies to the Blackwood dormitory.  Weapons and food were given, although Simon still regarded Evan with a dark gaze.  Plans were discussed both with the people in Blackwood dorm and the few remaining in the Mansfield building.  If there was any objection, the arguments from others were seemingly minor and brief.

Finally, bloodied remains were examined for keys.  That last step before the crucial plan was laborious, eating up a great deal of daylight.  Numerous bodies in front of each dormitory were searched with gloved hands while their safe haven was parked nearby.  Knowing he would be useless on lookout Lucas forced himself to search, frequently gagging or vomiting when he accidentally saw too much.  Then they drove to a few other locations with a number of downed figures and searched through those.

Keeping his mind singularly focused upon imminent escape, Lucas worked through every unsettling sight and rancid odor.  Eventually the others decided they had what they needed to make the attempt and indicated it was time to proceed.  Lucas discarded the grimy gloves he had been using and returned to the car.  Leon offered him a squirt from a bottle of hand sanitizer as Lucas finally allowed himself to see.

The size of their collection of keys with the remote beepers was really quite surprising.  As Evan drove the vehicle down the street and began their journey to the convention center, Lucas felt a gnawing discomfort of internal tension.  Considering the shock of greater success than he anticipated, niggling doubts coalesced.  Thoughts whirled around for brief moments before Lucas arrived at a renewed, resolved confidence that this could only be a good thing.  Considering his friend's capabilities, this meant his envisioned ultimate outcome was only more certain.

When Lucas returned to his senses, they were already over the river and in the midst of crossing a smaller bridge over a highway, the sprawling convention center ahead on their left.  The sounds of keys jingling filled the vehicle as the others handled multiple sets.  Leon's voice was coming from behind.  "...until then."  Lucas realized with a momentary sense of bewilderment that he had been sitting in the front passenger seat.  He grasped a couple of the keys and held them up, finding the beeper buttons with clumsy fingers.

The car slowed to a crawl upon nearing the adjacent intersection, windows lowering just slightly to allow sound to pierce inside.  Evan gazed intensely down the streets and along the sidewalks.  "No zombies yet.  Everyone stay alert."

"No sounds, either.  Moaning, anything."  Leon added, over continued activity with various keys.

Lucas exhaled tensely, gazing about with something else in mind as the vehicle edged forwards.  The convention center was surrounded on the edges with well cultivated greenery.  Though out of leaf now, at other times trees would color the streets and shade the pedestrian traffic.  Other than the convention center itself, the buildings around here were smaller in scale with some service business and several tiny lots, dotted with cars.  Parking areas were around the larger structure, but the population of cars currently present all were distressingly sparse.

Although the city was still eerily empty, rare signs of the peculiar malady and the resultant abnormality of their locale seemed slightly more common in this area.  One vehicle had crashed into another vehicle on the road; neither contained bodies.  Personal items such as purses, umbrellas and bags of collectable junk were dropped in abnormal locations.  Of particular distracting focus Lucas saw what appeared to be a sword stuck in a bush.  Not far from one motionless body slumped against the building there was a single severed arm.

Without any sounds other than their engine, Lucas felt a hitching moment of dread and excitement as he spied what was necessary.  He pointed off to the right, a short distance down a side street.  "There!"  He motioned to Evan, who drew the vehicle to a slow stop.  "Back that way!"

Evan glanced back to Lucas peering in the indicated direction down the street.  "What is it?"

"Parking garage."  Lucas paused briefly, then added.  "There's going to be a denser population of cars inside.  So we're more likely to get a good response there."

"Good thinking."  Evan turned the car around easily and guided them towards the three story structure in silence.  The others appeared to have no qualms over that particular tactic.

Lucas maintained fumbling with his share of keys as the car circled back around the block to arrive at the sturdy, square structure.  Strong wired rails lined the broad, open faces of the structure, occasional stony pillars of beige standing strong.  Although the deeper interior of the structure was difficult to make out in the evening light, a casual look suggested that Lucas's prediction was accurate.

"We should have brought flashlights with us."  Minoko commented.

"We might have to come back tomorrow."  The headlights came on as Evan drove carefully inside.

Evan drove within, bringing them deeper to some arbitrary point in the middle and idling the car in park.  Lucas breathed in deep to ease his nerves, listening and watching their surroundings as the others attempted triggering various beepers in safety.  From what reflected from outside and their headlights, vehicles were in maybe slightly less than half the spaces.  Better than outside lots, but not as much as it first appeared.

After securing a few keys in one hand, Lucas chanced to unlock his door and swing it open in one swift motion.  With alarm, Evan placed his hand upon Lucas's shoulder and hesitated.

"What are you doing?"  Leon asked from the back in alarm as Lucas threw open the door and swung his leg out.

Striding out a few steps into the dark garage, Lucas turned to face the others before replying, trying not to let his uncertainty come out in his voice.  "What?  If any zombies were nearby, they would have come to us by now.  Our car is the only thing that's making any noise in the whole city."  Lucas then held up a remote beeper and pushed at the button on it.  "Besides, I'll be able to hear anything better standing out here."

Disbelieving looks were exchanged as the others didn't seemingly know how to reply, but to Lucas's relief, Evan soon followed suit.  "Okay, but we still need to be super careful about this.  There's not much light to see by."

Leon and Minoko were more wary of such activity, but they seemed satisfied to let their oddball companions take the risk and be lookouts while handing off keys to be tested.  They tried each beeper in turn, keeping track of what had been used so far before entering the vehicle again and driving to the further end of the building, still on the first floor.

That time, with the slightly upward sloping street now cutting off the open walls, the only light they could see by was secondary; reflected shadowy dimness gleaming off of various surfaces.  Still, Lucas repeated his act, casually stepping into danger with a madman's confidence: only possible by knowing it was a required step in an important plan.

Nothing came of the second point, yet they all seemingly were marginally more at ease with what Lucas was doing.  But there were two other floors and rooftop to go to.  Lucas became silent again, waiting for the needed criteria as they proceeded to check the other locations.  Light was rapidly leaching from the sky as they came out onto the roof, providing a much clearer view of substantially fewer vehicles.  Success was least likely here of all, yet they began again.

Just as Lucas was beginning to despair that things would be inevitably postponed, everything fell into place.  While he had been searching through those mutilated, bloodied corpses, Lucas had numbed his mind and tried to become blind to his surroundings.  Activity became a deliberate and necessary awful thing he could not allow himself to linger upon.  If he had not done so earlier, he simply wouldn't have been able to function.

The moment right now was such a time, yet Lucas couldn't quite recapture the same sense of numb blindness to what he saw.  He was trapped in an inevitable flow with only one possible outcome and nothing could be done differently.  Yet he wasn't watching himself this time.  He was watching someone despicable betraying a close friend.

Lifting Up Others

The car door's slam echoed through the desolate streets.  Breath billowed out before him as Evan moved to the center of the nearby intersection.  Looking into the surrounding distances, he scanned for movement while straining to listen.  Whatever clues of activity which had been present before had since vacated.  A couple cars were visible which were in a crashed state, but nothing moved.  Except for the city's usual detritus, most of the visible streets were pristine.

"I think we're clear for the moment."  Evan called out as he relaxed his grip upon the pistol in his hand.  "I don't see anything out here."  He flicked at the safety and lowered the weapon into its holster.

"I see a couple of bodies.  Nothing moving, though."  Leon's voice became clearer as he emerged from the vehicle.  A rifle hung from his shoulder via a strap.

They had brought their vehicle a few scant blocks away; the distance to the nearest grocery store.  Parked along one corner, the engine was cut.  They had waited in silence like that for a while, slowly recovering from the ear-shattering gunshots fired within the enclosed space.  Nobody spoke to clarify why they were lingering.  Evan had been the first to be satisfied and emerge for a better examination of their surroundings.

Minoko tentatively exited from the vehicle, following the lead of her peers.  Pausing, she reached into the car and retrieved another of their scavenged rifles.  The sling was lifted and placed carefully upon her shoulder.  She did not speak or step far from the driver's door, instead keeping a watchful vigil on the streets.  Despite notable nerves, she held rigidly upon the weapon exactly as Leon had instructed.

The building had several stories, but they were only concerned with the immediate ground floor.  A heavy concrete pillar was positioned near the corner and on each side a few steps downwards led from the sidewalk into a small inset patio.  Along the left edge was placed a sloping ramp.  The sliding glass doors composing the store's front were closed.

Evan descended the stairs and tested the automatic doors with his hands.  "Locked."  He inhaled deeply as Leon sidled closer with a flashlight, providing light as Evan made a futile attempt at force.

"Doesn't look like that will work."  Leon approached, swaying the beam of light around.  "Do you think someone could be hiding in there?"

"It would be a good place to hide."  Evan pounded on the glass and waited, watching for any hint of movement or shadow to stir inside.  Calm silence persisted, nothing but the unreliable, low whistle of air sliding through lanes of brick, cement and asphalt.  "Seems no.  We'll have to break in."

"Step back."  Leon used the butt of the rifle to hammer repeatedly at the barrier.

Retreating to the sidewalk as Leon worked, Evan gazed along the intersecting streets.  Standing beside Minoko, she was still frantically gazing into the distances both up and down the slight incline as well as the transverse path.  She gripped her weapon in an agitated, nervous fashion.

Noticing that Lucas remained inside the vehicle, Evan retraced his steps.  He still wore the same startled, bewildered expression on his face from walking through the zombie slaughter.  Slowly, Evan waved his hand around in an attempt to draw his focus before rapping upon the partially lowered window.  "Are you coming?  Lucas?"

With his eyes wide, Lucas turned just enough to regard Evan.  "I- I.."  He forcefully exhaled.  "I can't-"

A nearby bang made Evan jump back with a start.  Frantically looking around, he calmed as he realized that Leon had fired at the door, and was continuing to pummel upon it.  After a moment, he resumed speaking to Lucas.  "Calm down, relax and tell me what's wrong."

"Before the power went out, I saw some videos online.  In one of them a zombie had its arm ripped off and it was still moving around.  It was- pretty bad, v- very bad, actually, but I could watch it.  I thought that meant I would be okay with...  But just now with the smell and stepping on..."  Lucas stared back at him so intently Evan thought something was behind him.  "Having to do this all...  I don't think I will survive..."

"You're not alone.  We are in this together."  Evan could sympathize with the lasting impact the carnage had upon Lucas.  After disposing of several zombies previously with an axe, what they had just done together was a lot less awful by comparison.  But even so, Evan could feel the visceral sensation of every strike clawing at his mind.  Stains lingered in memory, accumulating.

Lucas hadn't yet been directly exposed to such things, so it was likely even worse for him.  Leon and Minoko had quietly averted their eyes once their confrontation had ended.  Nobody seemed fully intact.  The others were simply too busy to let themselves feel it yet.  But once they were somewhere safe, all of them would likely witness those events again in their mind.

Perhaps once Lucas had other things to focus his mind upon, he would recover more quickly.  Evan rapped on the window again to maintain his friend's attention.  "Lucas, we need to help each other through this.  I know what just happened was very, very bad.  There's no way seeing things like this can't disturb someone.  But I came to get you because I know you are strong."

Lucas silently listened, watching Evan as he waited for a reply that did not come.  Warm breathing misted in the air as Evan contemplated his word choices.

"Lucas.  You're the smartest person I know.  And right now there's a lot of scared people who let their fear paralyze them.  People who are too scared to make sense of what they see happening around them.  But I know you.  You've been carefully examining everything you've seen so far and you've been thinking about it.  You will realize things other people won't, and right now that is the single most valuable thing anyone can contribute."

"I don't know anything."  Lucas replied in a monotone fashion.  "Not really."

Glass fell to the ground in a noisome crash.  Leon reached inside the hole to unlock the doors.  He stepped back and called out.  "It's open now.  If someone was in there I think they would have come out by now."

Evan replied.  "Give me a moment, I'll go in with you."

Minoko spoke nervously, moving incrementally towards the building.  "Actually, if nobody is inside, it might be better if you were the one out here."

"Yeah, I think I'd rather have you watching our back."  Called out Leon, before he addressed Minoko.  "No offense."  She indicated no objection as she entered with Leon.

Evan waved them on to begin their forage.  On their initial examination of the building, they had noted that the exterior facings of the structure were still intact.  He couldn't blame them for preferring the dark but presumably safe enclosure to uncertain daylight.  With the others on their task, he circled around the vehicle and entered it to sit beside his friend.

"Lucas, we've got a car now.  We're getting out of this."

"Good.  I can't-"  Lucas paused to inhale deeply a few times, easing his nerves.  "I- I don't want to be here.  I need to go."

"That's what we're doing.  We're leaving to get help, just as soon as we get food for everyone."

"Bring Jessica and Ryan.  They need to be with us."

"They're going to hide out and wait for the rescue."

"No."  Lucas spoke slowly, forcefully taking deep breaths of air between words.  "We all need t- To stay together."

Evan started to reply, but words failed him as he had a thought.  The focus with which Lucas was speaking was intentional.  If only a few would escape, he wanted to make sure they were the people he cared about.  "We're going to get help.  For everyone."

"We can't get help.  Nothing we d-"  Lucas hesitated, easing himself back with a deep breath before continuing to speak.  "As long as there is a single zombie remaining, there is reason to come here.  But they haven't come back.  Not since the- the mass knockout event."

"You mean the- uh- black note?"

"Black note?"

"Yeah.  Uh, Ryan sort of came up with that."  Evan admitted.

"Like a brown..."  Lucas broke into a chuckle, then a robust laugh.  A mad display of sudden, unnerving emotion that kept spilling out for far longer than it should have.  When Lucas finally settled down enough to be capable of speech, he seemed a bit more himself.  "Sounds like Ryan...  Anyway, after the blackou-  Err, those black notes- all those people, they're...  Keeping away.  Maybe some of them also heard the sounds you talked about.  Or saw something more..."  Lucas trailed off, an inquisitive look on his face.

Evan had no good idea how to talk about what he knew.  At the time, the sounds were just one additional surreal sensation during an avalanche of hazy experience.  Harried as he had felt at the time, he had almost neglected the noises for their duration.  "Whatever that thing was, it sort of...  Made a whistling and clicking which sort of partially overlapped.  Almost like wind chimes, or a pipe organ with loud snapping."  Evan briefly thought back to the street littered with metallic debris and the whine of squealing metal.  "I also saw a place where people should have been, but were just missing.  There was torn metal and things were left."

"Interesting..."  There was a moment of silence before Lucas continued.  "See, before the- the black note and anything else they may have learned, our rescuers were treating this like an ongoing natural disaster.  That made sense, because a natural disaster is random and undirected.  So once you understand the dangers, you have some idea of how to keep yourself safe while resolving the issue.  But now we know the real situation is fundamentally different.  This isn't just some random event."

"What difference does that make?"  Evan spent the effort to look around as he spoke.  The streets were still clear.  "Either way, we're still here."

"Because, what is really behind the zombie event is another civilization.  So the choices for how to respond to it need to happen on a broader scale.  From a scale where we, as individual people simply do not matter."

"So, you're saying we're not important enough to rescue?  That the zombies here aren't worth killing?"

"Right now, yes.  As long as they're around, it's the aliens that matter."  Pausing for a moment, Lucas inhaled deeply to ease his nerves.  "And there's only two responses I can think of for this kind of thing.  The first is to attack any footholds as hard and quickly as you can to prevent encroachment from the invading civilization.  And the second is to abandon anywhere you think is a lost cause so you might be able to defend yourself.  So you don't pointlessly waste resources.  Like what happened when the- uh, black note hit."

They sat in contemplative silence for a moment as Evan considered his friend's logic.  It felt like something had to be wrong with it, but he couldn't figure out what it could be.  "What if they wanted to establish contact?  Try to communicate instead of fighting?"

"That's- sort of covered by the second thing.  It would probably look the same to us, at least."

"So, you really don't think we could get help?"

"I think if we could, we would have already seen someone from outside come through here by now.  Someone's family would be motivated enough to try."  Lucas stared off through the windshield, still not seemingly focusing his attention on anything.

Evan frowned as he focused his thoughts.  If they really could not get outside assistance, what other options did they have?  "Is it dangerous to stay here for a while?"

"I- I don't know.  It's impossible to know.  Maybe if they're lucky, someone like you could survive here for a while, fighting the zombies and hiding until all this is over.  But I- I can't."  As Lucas's voice trailed off, Minoko and Leon appeared from the store with carts full of supplies.

Evan partially emerged from the vehicle, waving to indicate the area was clear.  As Leon and Minoko began to approach, Evan returned his attention to Lucas.  "It's going to be okay, we're going to get you out of here."

"All of us should leave..."  Lucas whispered as the others were hurriedly tossing things into the trunk.

"We'll do what we can."  Evan replied, thinking of Zack, weak with a broken arm back at the building.  Maybe if they had weapons and the distance to safety wasn't too far, they could get everyone out on foot.  Evan wondered if there was anyone else that would be better transported in the car.

Location Issues

Lucas stood before the glass doors at the front of the lobby, silently watching the roiling group of moaning bodies.  Traces of light filtered through the shuffling forms.  Eyes tracked his motion while hands and teeth tried to grasp him through the glass.  The monsters definitely responded to his presence.  Somehow, they knew he wasn't one of them.

One of the many zombies at the door had a grievous wound over it's chest.  Out of those present, it definitely fit its moniker more accurately than its peers.  Few of the others had prominent injuries except for minor nicks and scratches.  They all shared the same pale, partly frozen look to their skin from the overnight rain and cold.  The appearance of the things was sickening, but worse than that, the rank odor was enough to make Lucas glad he hadn't eaten anything.  A few moments' worth of observation partly desensitized him to the sight, but the stench would eventually drive him into retreat.

The solitary, shadowy chamber was rife with a feeling of palpable tension.  Although the zombies factored into the mood, Lucas was more nervous that Simon would assert he was pointlessly agitating them.  He watched the stairs, listening intently for any indication someone was moving through the halls or descending in haste.  He was primed to bolt down the one hallway and proceed up the other stairway.  Yet as the seconds became minutes and nothing came of Jorge's retreat, Lucas's nervous energy receded.

He seemed to have some time; there was only one observational experiment Lucas had in mind.  Taking one step back from the doors, he selected an unstained area and laid upon the icy floor.  Moving limbs continuously rattled upon glass while he moved.  They followed his movement, some of them splaying their fingers uselessly upon the lower portion of the doors and the large, full windows.  Their moaning calls droned on.

Lucas attempted to remain motionless, closing his eyes and settling his breathing into a slower rhythm.  The unholy stench seeping through the cracks made it difficult to relax.  Just beside the rattling doors, he was uncertain if he could remain motionless enough to feign sleep.  He wondered how long being inert would take before the droning monsters would lose interest in him, if they would.

Forcing himself to take slow breaths, Lucas recalled everything he could which might contain meaning.  For some reason, these zombies remained here at the door whether or not someone was down here for them to directly see.  He was uncertain of the intervals at which the group had sent an observer, but their continued presence outside could mean they remembered that people were inside.  If so, he wasn't sure if he could hold his position long enough to have them forget he had been moving.

Thinking back, he recalled how one zombie had passed over those struck by the blackout event, deliberately avoiding them.  They did not lash out at one another.  It was laughable to think they could see human consciousness, but with those anomalous facts and the strange animal immunity Lucas no idea what else could explain the behavior.  A far more sensible explanation might linger just beyond his imagination.  But maybe not.

If being conscious was not the fundamental distinction, then what could be?

As Lucas waited, other thoughts intruded.  Nearly a full day had passed and there was no indication of their rescuers returning; the power had not been restored.  He had little concrete idea what a dedicated response team's priorities would be, but it seemed that if they did not arrive by now then at least they should have restored communication.  The ongoing lack of power within the city was troubling.

The monsters and strange events known so far should be surmountable with clever engineering.  Anyone should realize these issues were solvable with the right approach and a bit of time.  There had to be some reason they weren't solved yet by the people whose job it would be to solve these issues.  They should have seen some indication of that by now.

Yet the only explanations Lucas could fathom were things like more z-rays burst events hitting Earth, or the blackout events spreading out to mask the travel of those unknown aliens into the wider world.  Maybe yet other forces were making their presence known.  Regardless, it was as if the outside world had vanished.  Something else was ongoing- something that kept people with resources and organization away- the immediate problems would have to be solved locally.

Distant, muffled sounds of voices drifted in from elsewhere- barely audible in the eerie silence.  Food was apparently running low for many of those in the building.  Soon the others would also realize they would have to take matters into their own hands.  Of course, safely leaving the building to search for supplies or flee would present problems, especially if they did not have good leadership.  It wasn't a pleasant prospect to consider. 

Lucas could be careful and smart about what he did.  But he could not control the choices of all the people he was with by circumstance.  Additionally, the zombie presence outside was increasing in numbers over time.  It was direct evidence that others were facing the same scenario and evidently handling their situation ineptly.

Lucas halted mid-breath, suddenly realizing that he had no longer been hearing the droning call of the undead.  The doors had ceased rattling in their frame; yet the foul stench lingered.  The only sounds discernible were muted voices participating in a lively conversation.  He couldn't hear the zombies any more; he couldn't see them.  Other than the smell, which could simply be lingering, he had no direct experience of knowing that they were still outside.  Could they have left?

With his head turned to face the floor-to-ceiling glass, Lucas opened his eyes.  Blank gazes returned through the translucent barrier, fingers spread and teeth gnashing.  The aggressive challenge of the door continued a moment later along with the familiar droning calls.  Lucas closed his eyes again.  The racket continued.  The undead were active once more, seemingly because he had became aware of their presence.  It was crazy, but how did they determine when to be quiet?  Lucas puzzled thoughtfully over the curious observation, speculating if it was further evidence in favor of the outlandish theory.

A firecracker jolt tore Lucas from his contemplative reverie.  Another came as he sat up, sending his heart into rapid motion.  Dead peeled away from the door in ones and twos.  Beyond, a jet of material shot into the air, coinciding with another heavy crack.  Beyond the bodies, he could see something fall.  Hastily, Lucas stood again and backed away.

For one joyous moment, Lucas discarded his thoughts, thinking that their help had finally returned, but the relief quickly faded as he realized the source was from a solitary civilian vehicle.  Still, the arrival was slaying the zombies.  He further backed away, almost into the hallway in order to help divert the undead attention.  Excited voices began to echo from above, steadily rising in volume as more people were drawn to attention.

As the final body fell, Lucas approached the doors to look outside.  Several people who had been hiding upstairs came down to gawk.  Outside, a few remaining stragglers revealed themselves from around the corner, only to be taken down once in closer proximity.  As the action settled, the vehicle was littered with bodies and viscera, but the occupants were seemingly alive.

"Did they come back?"  Jorge asked as he descended the stairs among a cluster.  A mingling roar came with him as excited voices spoke, some declaring their imminent rescue while others were quickly rebutting the optimism.  Many from the crowd brought with them their own light sources, giving the area a soft glow.  A few coughed at the reek in the air and withdrew.

"It's just one car."  Lucas called back.  "But they killed all the zombies."

Simon came down, passing by everyone without giving them much of a glance.  He approached the doors with an authoritative stance.  Others tentatively followed, most keeping close to the stairs or standing somewhere upon them.  Lucas sidled away to where the glass facing met the wall.  A combination of excited and disgusted voices filled the room as additional observers arrived.

Lucas's eyes widened as he witnessed Evan emerge from the vehicle and gaze slowly around himself.  He carried a pistol with him and appeared to have been sprinkled with the violence of the event outside.  Hushed silence fell over the throng as they watched his approach.  Lucas raised his hand to wave.

"No way are you coming inside like that."  Simon called out as Evan halted before the doors.

Evan shook his head and returned Lucas's gesture with his free hand.  "I don't want inside.  I'm only here to get someone."

In one awkward moment, Lucas realized the everyone was watching him.  A few voices protested to one another that more could escape with the vehicle, but the enthusiasm of that realization seemed to be tamped down somewhat by the visible carnage.  Lucas regarded Simon with an uncertain glance and tentatively approached.

Simon glared at Evan.  "Well, you don't need to be standing right there for any reason."  Simon scowled as he took the keys for the door from his belt.  Evan nodded and moved back, returning to his attention to the surrounding environs.

Tentatively, Lucas approached the doors and spoke.  "You'll let me back in?"

Simon regarded him with puzzlement before replying, as if he considered the question absurd.  "You'll have to prove you're okay if you want back inside."

"Okay.  I'll be back in a bit, I think."  A cold chill rushed to envelope exposed skin.  Ice felt its way through the cracks in his coat.  An errant breath of supremely foul air produced a gag.  A sudden force propelled him into a reflexive walk.

Rattling clatter, and muffled voices emanated from nearby as Lucas coughed.  Apart from a vague awareness of movement and fallen bodies with slimy spillage oozing forth, all he knew was his friend was there.  Outside, they were alone.  Events transpired whilst he struggled to sensibly interpret the essential elements of the scene surrounding him.  Sensations flickered, drilling into his skull and lingering in memorandum long after exposure.

Lucas exhaled harshly, muted awareness communicating place, scent and noise.  Safety.  He closed his eyes, feeling fabric beneath him and streaks of color upon glass.  Watching the slaughter from the interior of the building was one thing, as body after body fell in a horrid, yet comprehensible escalation.  Fluids gradually spread over the ground.  He had witnessed everything.  But he hadn't seen them.

Necessity had forced prolonged observation of things he now realized his gaze had unconsciously avoided.  If he hadn't really looked this time, he would have fallen.  To trod amongst the detritus was wholly otherworldly.

A repeated voice came to him.  "-okay?  Lucas?"  Evan had been waving his hand in front of his face.  They were inside a vehicle, its exterior littered with discolored smudges.

"Yeah.  I-"  Lucas stifled a wet convulsion in his throat and readjusted his glasses.  "I don't...  I'm okay."

"How is everyone in there doing?"

"Not good.  Running low on food."  Lucas idly glanced at the door beside him.  Someone had locked it.  Leon and the Asian girl he had seen only briefly a couple times before were in the vehicle as well.  Weapons and ammunition had been strewn about the interior.

"Okay, so we pick up some supplies."  Evan gazed towards Blackwood dormitory and the scared people riotously chattering inside. "Any ideas after that?"

"Leave?"  Leon suggested from the front passenger seat.  "To get help, I mean."

"That sounds good."  Said the girl as she rubbed at her ears.

Lucas stared at the back of the seat before him, silent.  Thinking they may be on their own was disquieting, but he had figured this situation was something he could handle.  Merely walking a few feet outside shattered that idea as the fragile delusion it had always been.  Taking useful action meant being capable of accomplishing what his friend had done.

"Lucas, what about you?"  Evan paused cleaning himself off with a towel to touch him on the shoulder.

"Yeah."  Lucas closed his eyes and tried not to breathe.  Once they left, he doubted any of them would return.  Likely, nobody else would venture this way either.  "Let's go find help."

There had to be a very good reason for their complete abandonment.  Whatever it was, nothing they could do would change those reasons.