Читать книгу Respect the Dead - Shawn McLain - Страница 22

Steve slammed through the gate separating the lot from the loading area. “What the???” The building across the street was completely engulfed in flame. Steve watched three flaming bodies fall from the second floor. His attention shifted immediately to the front door as it was flung open. Three people ran from the flames. One ran toward him, it was a young guy Steve had seen a few times in passing. The young man fell, Steve stepped forward to help him. He heard the man scream, one of the burning bodies had grabbed the guy’s ankle. The other two burning bodies got slowly to their feet, advancing on the downed man.

The top windows exploded sending glass raining down on other escaping workers. Steve looked back at the Distribution center. His co-workers were also all running from the buildings. He saw several friends attacked. The attackers were, to Steve’s horror, also his friends and co-workers. “This can’t be happening this can’t be!” They were killing and eating each other. “This is like some messed up horror movie!” Steve shouted as if this would make it all go away.

Smashing through the gate he turned back toward the parking lot running for his car. He dodged several cars that sped past. Jumping over the hood of his boss’ car Steve barley avoided being hit. The BMW he slid over was not so lucky. Shakily regaining his feet he jumped aside again as a pickup truck skidded to a halt in front of him.

“Steve! For fuck sake boy! Get the hell out of here!” It was Brad. “Oh shit boy run!” The truck’s tires screamed, the engine roared, and the glow of taillights were all that was left.

Sparing a glance over his shoulder Steve saw several bloody creatures stumbling toward him. “Fuck this!” He ran for his Mustang while digging in his pocket for his keys.

He had parked further out in the lot thinking it would be easy to leave later, it now felt miles away. He regretted the decision with every step he ran. “Seriously! I swear I didn’t park this far away.” He gasped as another car squealed out of the lot.

Finding the keys, he hit the fob unlocking the door. Slamming into the door a second later he wrenched it open flinging himself in. “What the hell is going on?” He breathed, his hands were shaking so bad it took several seconds before he was finally able to get the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life.

Taking a moment to clear his head, he tried to rid the vision of half Rachel and the burning corpses. "They got up and were walking." He stuttered rubbing his eyes. He could still see them, he could see them every time he closed his eyes, “This can’t be happening, this can’t be, can’t be.” He repeated still trying to will it to be true. He shut his eyes tight, pressing them with his palms so all was black except the geometric shapes. He tried to block out the sound. Opening his eyes, it was all still there, the running, the screaming, the burning were all still there.

“Beth, Dad!” he cried reaching for his phone, “Holy SHIT!” Steve slammed against his door kicking away at the passenger seat. The office manager crashed against his passenger window and slid down it. He was beating on the glass with torn hands leaving bloody streaks.

Steve screamed again throwing himself in the other direction as a face slammed against the window next to his. The owner held up a bloody hand that was missing several fingers. The dead eyes locked on Steve’s they stared for a moment. Suddenly the corpse opened it s mouth calling our a long howl.

“WAAAAAA FUCK YOU!” Steve screamed throwing the car into gear. His foot slamming down on the gas. The car lurched forward sending Steve back into his seat. Suddenly he was thrown forward. The front wheels blocked by the body of the business manager. The rear tires squealed in protest as they tried to gain traction. The corpse writhed trying to claw away. The rear tires of the high powered performance car grabbed the asphalt. The front powered over the body pushing it along the ground. Then with a mighty lurch the front wheels where over the back wheels spit flesh and muscle as it crushed his spine and sped off.

The gate to the lot was already off its hinges, the guard shack was empty. The building across the road was sending flames fifty feet high into the air. Several flaming people were stumbling out of the burning building. Steve sped past. A couple made a feeble attempt to grab at the car.

“What the hell? What the FUCK! They should have been dead!” Steve screamed pounded the wheel. “You should all be dead!” He yelled at a flaming man who was missing his lower jaw.

Steve returned to searching his jacket for his phone. The engine revved high. He fumbled with the phone dialing his house. Pressing the phone to his ear with his shoulder he shifted gears. “All circuits are currently busy. Please try your call again later” Was the phones reply.

Fear bubbled up in his stomach. He tried his father’s cell. It was the same taunting response. Panic was rising, he tried his sister. Still the computer voice mocked his growing terror. “LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE, BITCH!” He screamed, the phone flew onto the passenger seat.

WABAM! A dark color flew over the hood of the beautifully maintained sports car and out of Steve’s view. He had been so distracted with his phone that he had stopped paying attention the road.

Smoke billowed from the wheels as he slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel. The gleaming car skidded to a halt in the middle of the empty road. Heart beating in his throat he looked out of the window. The sight that met his eyes was the mangled remains of what only moments before had been a man.

Steve was glued to the vision of the broken body lying in the street. One leg was twisted backward and up, the foot lying next to the head. The left arm was pinned under the body, the other flung out to the side. As Steve tried to slow his panicked breathing the body on the road raised its head and moaned at him. Steve looked past the crumpled body down the street. The road was filling with shambling dead. They were shuffling to the car as if answering the moan.

Steve swore, pushed in the clutch, slammed the car in gear and sped down the road toward his home. He prayed that the man he just hit had been dead before he had shattered him. That thought nagged at him. He pushed his foot harder on the gas pedal.