Jacqueline Druga - Immune

The can toppled over and when Eugene was spotted, and the infected raced his way.

Both men spun on their heels and ran.

“What about the others in the gym?” Myron asked.

“The doors are closed. We have to get to the roof. We can reach them from there.”

When they passed the south hall they were greeted by a swarming mass of infected. They reached and grabbed for Eugene, and Myron quickly intervened, shoving them away. Their only option was the east wing stairs and hopefully, Paul hadn’t opened that emergency exit as well.

After the departure of the soldiers and those who had died, out of the forty-three people left, only twenty-four remained. They stood in the gym, what few belongings they had perched with them.

“We’ll be taking it to the roof slowly,” Max explained. “Four at a time. The scaffolding will not hold a lot of people, so, keep that in mind.” He walked over to Grace. “Keep Candice close to you.”

“Where will you be?” she asked.

“Down here helping people up or on the roof making sure no one jumps the ladder. It’ll be fine.”

“Is Canada really a safe zone?”

“That’s what they say. Eugene will fly us somewhere, that’s for sure.” Max quickly turned his head at the sound of the gym doors being pulled as if someone were trying to open them. “Are they locked?”

Grace shrugged.

Beret walked across the floor. “I think they are. It’s probably Myron. I’ll get it. Start getting everyone up the scaffold.” He pushed the metal bar on the door and opened it.

The door widened and infected poured in. So many rushed through the doors, even though he was immune, Beret was trampled beneath them.

Max didn’t have enough ammunition in his clip. He grabbed onto Grace’s arm and pulled her to the scaffolding where many were already climbing on, running in a panic to get to the ladder.

A tsunami of infected flooded the gym, making their way like a wave to the corner where the scaffolding was located.

Grace held Candice close to her. Max looked at the swarming infected then to those climbing the scaffold. It wasn’t going to work. No way would he get Grace there in time. His only option was to get them on the top bleacher. He reached for Grace and was shoved forward by someone running to get out. Max tripped, and when he regained his balance and turned, Grace was gone.

“Grace!”

“Max!” Candice yelled.

He looked back. They were on the first level of the scaffolding. It was already shaking. Twenty people weren’t a lot, but it was enough to topple it.

Reaching for the scaffolding, he held it tight. He was only one man, and chances were it wouldn’t make a difference, but he would try to keep it steady.

The scaffolding shook and swayed, and Grace held on to the bar as she and Candice climbed. There were five levels. People were below her and above. The ones on the ladder weren’t moving fast enough.

“Mommy,” Candice whimpered.

“Keep moving, baby. Move.” Grace tried to see below. Where was Max? The infected aimed for the scaffold, hands reaching. They were safe as long as they were above them.

Three more levels to go.

“Grace!” Max shouted. “Keep moving. Don’t stop!”

Grace looked down and caught a quick glimpse of Max on the bottom steps of the scaffold. Lifting her head, she saw everything was at a standstill. Four or five people were crammed onto the ladder.

Please hurry. Climb faster. Climb faster!

As they rounded the bend to take the next flight of stairs, the scaffolding swayed drastically, causing a blizzard of frightened screams. It steadied and Grace sighed. She inched Candice to the next set of stairs and without any warning, the side gave out. The scaffolding jolted and, screaming loudly, Candice flew backwards.

Grace was fast. She reached out and grabbed Candice. Holding the bar above for balance, Grace held her dangling daughter by the wrist.

“I got you! Don’t move!” Grace yelled down.

It took all Grace had to hold her. There wasn’t a speck of floor to be seen through the massive crowd of infected gathered under her little feet, all reaching for Candice, their fingertips mere inches from her.

“Help!” Grace yelled. “Someone help me!” Someone joined Grace and extended a hand down for Candice. “I’ll help.”

“Mommy!”

“We have you.” Grace kept her eyes on Candice, assuring her daughter with a look that all would be fine.

The stranger joined forces with Grace. They had her and then… a taller infected man reached up with ease

With sheer horror Grace watched him grab and pull Candice from her grip.

“No!” Grace bellowed as her child sunk into the mass of infected.

Candice screamed, high pitched and shrill, though her screams were instantly muffled by those who encompassed her.

Max saw it all. The shake of the scaffolding, the breakage, and Candice falling from the edge.

Grace had her and someone was there helping.

And then… Candice dropped.

Heart racing and a dire sickening feeling in his gut, Max climbed the side of the scaffolding, searching for Candice, listening for her screams.

The infected swarmed like ants into one spot and Max knew why.

Without thought, he dove into the mass of infected.

Max hit them, pulled them, he gave his all, but he wasn’t making a dent. It was an endless tunnel and he wasn’t reaching the end.

Grace tried to get back down. In fact she fought to get there, but someone grabbed her, anchored her around her waist, and hoisted her.

“I’m sorry, there’s nothing you can do. Nothing.”

“No!” Grace screamed over and over. She couldn’t handle the pain. It was horrendous, an emotional pain felt like a thousand knives in her soul. What her poor child was enduring. It worsened when she no longer heard Candice cry.

No screams.

Only the sound of infected.

There was nothing left. Bits and pieces of flesh, some of her hair, and a single shoe. Not even a shred of clothing was recognizable. In an instant, Candice was devoured.

Max could not tell Grace. He didn’t need to; more than likely, Grace knew.

When it happened, Candice wasn’t the only casualty. Seven others fell into the throes of the infected, but Max focused on Candice, his heart breaking.

He plowed his way through them, fighting with everything he had. Driven by emotions, he reached into the crowd, trying to pull her out. At one point he had her. Her little hand reached out and Max grabbed it. “I got you. I got you,” he said.

Her fingers wrapped tightly around his hand and Max pulled. He swore he felt an emotional reprieve, but it was short lived. Her grip released.

He screamed. They were overrun and he realized when he finally made it to the roof that most of the infected were inside the building.

Eugene approached him when he climbed up. “We thought you were dead.”

Max shook his head. “I failed.”

“No. You tried. You’re hurt.” Eugene reached for his arm.

“I don’t care.”

Myron was helping people on the fire ladder.

“We have a chance now,” Eugene said. “There aren’t many infected out here. We have to take it. We have to move now, as hard as this is.”

“Is Grace on the bus?”

Eugene shook his head. “No.” He pointed.

Grace sat on the roof, her legs brought to her chest, and it was a painful walk to her.

“Grace. I’m sorry.” He reached for her and she swatted his hand away.

“Grace, we have to go.”

“I can’t.”

“You have to. We have to go.”

“I’m not going. I’m done,” she sobbed. “I’m done!”