They Walk

Chapter Seventy Four

With the feel of the earth quaking for the third time that day, we drive away from the open alley of the school and from the dead that are now exploded into tiny body parts. I sit back in the seat, and for the life of me, I don’t feel anything at all. My clothes are drenched in sweat and my mother’s blood, but that is the only thing I feel. I don’t know why, maybe I’m just numb or something.

All I know for certain is that we better find what we are looking for.

The sky is already getting darker by the time Gabe pulls up in front of the City Hall building that is just down the road, and I can’t help to see that there are more dead wandering the streets here. More importantly, the dead seem to be stationed at the front steps of the entrance, almost like there were people outside not that long ago. This makes me thrilled that maybe they are all safe here. The street is full of empty cars, and I really hope some of them belong from the people at the apartments.

When Gabe turns off the car and just sits there quietly gazing out the window, I follow his gaze and stare at the City Hall that I’ve never really been to before. It’s a good sizes building I suppose, sitting on maybe two acres or more, and it has that old time feel to it. Like maybe it would look more normal if it were sitting in the early 1900’s and not right now, though it was probably first built at that time. Why I am so set on figuring out the building I have no clue, but I do notice that no one else in the car makes a move to get out.

I for one am grateful for the reprieve though, but, it can’t last forever.

We lost an entire day over being captured and having to get away. Now my mom is hurt, and we have very little time to get out of here before the bombs finally come. Are they coming tomorrow? Damn, things are going too fast for my liking. When I hear my mom cry out, I get brought out of my reverie. Gabe and I turn in our seats at the same time and look to the backseat. My mom is now stretched out across the entire backseat with her head in my dad’s lap. He is taking off his outer shirt and balling it up, by the time I realize what he is doing, I notice then that my hoody is now soaked with blood on her shoulder.

With tears in my eyes again, I watch as he removes my hoody from her, and he has a hard time to, since it seems to be heavy with blood. It’s finally off, and my mom is gasping for breath when he finally presses his shirt to her. I realize I’m practically sobbing when Gabe pulls close, and I finally take a deep breath.

I cling to him and wish there was some way to fix this and for my mom to be alright.

“It’s going to get better, it has to.” Gabe whispers to me, and I want it to be true so badly.

He gives me a final squeeze before he lets me go so that he can sit back in his own seat. He does give me a reassuring look though, and it’s one that makes me wonder what is going through his mind. I don’t have to wonder about it for long though.

“Maggie, if we can get inside we can find Kelli and she can help your mom.”

My eyes go wide, and my face breaks out into a grin. Holy crow Batman, I forgot about that. Kelli is the one that stitched up my forehead, and he’s right, she’d be the one to be able to help my mom if anyone could. This make my body rush with adrenaline, and it takes everything in me to just stay seated inside the car and not to get out and run for the building. Gabe nods his head at me, and joins me in the excitement, but of course his is more reserved and not as mad looking.

“Mark, do you think you have enough room to get the trunk open?” Gabe says as he turns to face my dad.

He raises his head and gives Gabe a blank stare, his eyes are filled with unshed tears and he seems confused as to what Gabe even said to him. The fog clears I think and he finally focuses though.

“For ammo you mean?”

Gabe nods in reply, and my dad shifts a little and when my mom cries out he stops moving. He looks so guilty that he doesn’t try to do it again and Gabe doesn’t ask him to. Looking out the window at the handful of the dead, I just hope they have enough to get us inside the building, but maybe we will. I do cross my fingers just in case though. I lay the ax across my lap while fiddling with the hilt of it, and think that if they run out of ammo then it’ll be up to me to defend us. No pressure or anything. Here’s seriously hoping I don’t pass out or something stupid like that. A hand stills my own, and I look over to see Gabe watching me intently.

He is about to say something I think, but my mother’s quiet voice interrupts him. “Are we waiting for Christmas, or can we go now please?”

I turn in my seat, and find her half awake and smirking slightly. Leave it to my mom to be on deaths door and still be able to pull off a funny. Go mom, you rock.

“There aren’t as many of the dead as before, so as long as we stick close together, we should be fine.” Gabe says as he takes out a handgun for each hand, not even bothering to check how many bullets he has and swings the satchel over his shoulder again.

“Sounds good to me, lets blow this pop stand.” I say back to him with a smile.

Gabe looks at me funny and shakes his head before reaching for his door.

He doesn’t have to say anything, I know I’m weird, but that’s why he loves me. My mom is sitting up with the help of my dad now, and her face pales for the position change. But she stays sitting, like the trooper she is. I know where I get my strength from finally, her. I force my head to clear, as Gabe pushes open his door and the sound alerts the dead by the building steps about a couple feet away from us. They are all in better condition than the ones we’ve seen lately, almost appearing alive. When they all growl as one and rush the car, all the illusion of life disappears.

I have to wonder though if it wasn’t the sound of the car door that alerted them.

But maybe my mother’s blood instead?

Gabe is already out and shooting by the time my father jumps out to help, they seem to be doing alright too. I get out and am careful to stay out of the firing range, as I race to the backseat door my dad left open for mom. Who, by the way is already half out by the time I get there, see, she’s a trooper. With the ax held tightly in one sweaty hand, I use the other to help my mom get to her feet and by the time we are steady the sound of gunfire fades away. I find that like we thought, all the ammo is now gone, and dad is stuck using a knife, while Gabe swings around a shotgun he stole from the school.

I wait with my mom, and hold her tightly to me and already I can feel her blood socking into my shirt again. She is shaking uncontrollably now, and I know it’s a matter of time before she blacks out. While Gabe and my dad finish off the dead, since there are only two of them left now. When Gabe shoots a middle aged man in the head and causes it to explode, the path to the steps is finally cleared. He doesn’t wait for the rest of us as he rushes the steps and heads for the closed door, and I don’t have to ask what the problem is.

He’s afraid the door is locked, him and me both.

My dad is on my mom’s other side now, and takes her weight from me. Being stronger than me, he has a better hold on her and she doesn’t have to do as much. It reads on her face that she can relax a little, and I feel bad that I’m not strong enough to help. Relinquishing custody I turn around and race towards the steps and to Gabe, who is just reaching for the handle to open it. I’m beside him in a flash, and I don’t even remember running up the steps, when he turns the knob and pulls it open with no resistance. He sighs in relief, and I pretty much do the same only second after. It’s almost completely dark outside now, and with no street or car lights, and it’s difficult to see anything inside.

When my parents make it up the steps and are right behind us, Gabe finally takes the first step inside.