Necropolis

1:30 am


Keri rested her head on Dave's chest and fell asleep. She was tired there was no doubt about that. Her mind slowly started to replay the events that she wanted to forget.

She woke up on a bench, she could feel someone's hands running all over her chest. Her eyes flew open and she saw the guy.

"Get off me." She cried trying to wiggle out from under him. She couldn't and all she got from it was a slap on the face. She screamed and tried even harder, her arms were pinned down by his body along with her legs.

"Why should I, you could make this more enjoyable if you coraperated." He hissed biting her neck. She whimpered trying to pull away. He just smiled and tore her top all the way off throwing it to the ground.

"Get off, please." She cried. 'Where the heck are you Derrik.' She screamed in her head.

"Not yet, you'll be loving this by the time i'm done with you." He said sucking her breast.

"GET OFF ME YOU FUCKING PERVERT! OH GOD!” She screamed out before her voice was muffled by his hand.

"Shut up you bitch." He hissed, the door was thrown open and Derrik ran in.

“Oh look,” the stranger said quietly, “the Peeping Tom is back!”

'Please help me Derrik.' She begged him in her mind. The rest went by in a blur until she saw the man running. "GET HIM Derrik!” She shreaked. Derrik slowly picked up the gun and shot twice. He was soon running after the man, Keri grabbed her top and ran up to Dave's room she had to talk to him. But instead of Dave answering the door it was the man, and he was smiling. He grabbed her arm yanking her in the room.

Keri sat straight up, she was shaking. She looked down beside her and saw Dave's eyes lazily open,

"Whats wrong?" He asked sounding half dead.

"Nothin, I just needed to get something to drink." She lied as he closed his eyes. She got a drink then finally got back to sleep. She woke up before Dave and climbed in the shower trying to wash the memories from the night before from her mind.

1:03 am . Derrik

Leaving Keri to get dressed, Derrik pushed open the door with his right hand and walked through it. The adrenaline of what he’d just done coursed through his bloodstream and he clutched his gun tight in his free hand. He was not going to let himself drop it again.

He stood quietly and listened to the sound of the man he had shot stumbling down the corridor. He was not far away, but Derrik was surprised at how quickly he had moved, considering his injuries. Soon, all Derrik could hear was his heavy breathing. He looked down at himself, as if to check for any injuries he hadn’t noticed, but he was not too concerned. His heavy breaths were not from nervous thoughts anymore. They were from excitement.

Bringing himself out of his calm analysis, Derrik started to track the man. He followed the spots of blood that zigzagged backwards and forwards across the floor. Observing the staff notice board as he passed, Derrik began to wonder why no-one had come running to the sound of his pistol. It hadn’t exactly been quiet.

As if called by his thought, a young woman in a dark blue dressing gown stepped out into the corridor ahead of him.

“You see any of the commotion?” She asked him in a calm voice. To Derrik, it was obvious what her job was. Only a receptionist could be so devoid of emotion and care. She was only up because she felt it her duty to be here. Derrik did not feel sorry for waking her.

“Yeah, the bastard got away.” Derrik felt obliged to answer. He didn’t, however, feel obliged to actually stop to speak to her.

“And so, you are?” The receptionist asked him, hands firmly planted on her hips.

Derrik ignored her. His continuing footsteps, steady and carefully placed, told her all she needed to know. He was doing something important.

“You can speak to the police when you get back here then!” Derrik paid no heed to the woman’s shrill cry after him. He would play that game only when he needed to.

Leaving the still shouting woman behind, Derrik continued through the reception area, following the bright red spots of blood. He saw where they led. Unfortunately, they led outside.

“Fucking typical,” Derrik swore and started running. He needed to catch up with the bastard before he escaped too far outside. A man could stay hidden for hours in the leafy twilight outside.

He pushed open the door and scanned the grounds around him. It was then that Derrik really thought about what he was doing.

“I’m playing police!” he whispered to himself in surprise. It wasn’t the idea of catching the criminal that scared him. It was the fact that he enjoyed it. He enjoyed it a lot.

A rustling in the bushes attracted his attention and he crouched down and sneaked towards it. Surely it couldn’t be this easy.

Something screamed out, loud and in pain. Derrik’s pistol was already in his hand but he gripped it tighter still. He hoped it was an animal. He knew it wasn’t.

“Ok, scumbag,” Derrik called out, not wanting to get much closer to the bush. Something was very strange. The rustling continued.

A deep throated moan came from the bush. Derrik gritted his teeth and strode towards it. He pushed back the leaves and looked down at the man.

The first thing that he noticed was that there were two men there. One was the man he was after. The other couldn’t be human.

Its pitted remains of a face were contorted into a half smile, half scream and it smelled deeply of rotting flesh. Both of its hands were clutching the man’s throat and it showed no sign of letting go.

After looking at Derrik it spat something small, round and white on the floor. Looking at the feebly struggling man, he realised exactly what it was doing.

It was eating his face.

Derrik shuddered and something inside him made a thick gurgling sound. He turned away and threw up. The brown sticky mess did not appear to have carrots in it. Derrik was too worried to notice. He began to run.

“Help- ” Derrik heard the call as he raced towards the door to the hotel. Its humanness was amazing. For a second, Derrik slowed down. He felt sorry for this man, even though he deserved it. No, Derrik though, no one deserves that.

Running inside, Derrik slammed shut the door and turned the key with shaking fingers. He was safe. He then ran out to the reception and tried the doors there. They were already locked.

“They’re all locked,” the bored voice from behind the desk was emotionless. Derrik silently thanked the receptionist.

“You know,” Derrik spoke quietly. He could still taste the sick in his mouth. “You know, I think I’m gonna go get some sleep.”

He turned away and started up the stairs. The lady in the dark blue dressing gown didn’t follow. And that’s good, Derrik thought absentmindedly.

Derrik reached his room in a daze. The night’s events span through his mind. He couldn’t believe what he saw, yet he knew he had to tell Dave. Standing outside his door he heard a female voice inside. It was Keri.

Derrik realised what he’d have to do. It wasn’t fair to break in at 1:30 at night to wake them all up. Especially, with the stories he’d have to tell. No, it was better to wait.

He slumped to the floor outside their door. Gun in hand he waited, as a sleepy sentry. He waited, and when the dawn broke, he was peacefully asleep. The pistol still firmly gripped in his hand.

7:21 a.m.

The demonic groans had faded since the sudden blast that caused the concerned cleric to flee further into the St. Asbotine's wine cellar. The atmosphere was wrought with low-set butane torches... A more convenient way to preserve the traditional aesthetics then authentic ones. With a low grunt, Evanuel shifted his weight in order to better accommodate the gash running down his leg.

He'd received this memento hardly 20 minutes before, when his daily meditation had been interrupted by several of his recently deceased colleagues breaking through one of his two treasured possessions. It was the window, of course, and Evan appreciated, with a small smile, the irony in the entry method of his undead brethren.

He Had run blindly, initially terrified by the sudden outbreak of...well, zombies. Now that he'd had some time to collect his thoughts, he'd decided upon a course of action. He'd pick up some things from his hastily departed room, before heading downtown. Perhaps he'd find other survivors there. But how had this horrible plague broken out? Was the rest of Ashville in shambles... Could even the Vatican have succumbed to this unholy horde?

His ponderings were broken by a wine bottle that became unsettled, shifted slightly, and rolled before falling and shattering on the grimy flagstone below.

Damn, he thought, That sounded like it came from the row of 1742 Tokay... that was a good year.

It was upon this grim conclusion that the Cleric first noticed the shuffling. It sounded rather like sand paper being drawn across hardwood....or was it more like dead skin on flagstone? Evan would soon find out....

Day 1, 7:23 AM

Kevin

I awoke to the sound of a woman's scream, one wholly different than the one that haunted my dreams and memories.

Dressed only in my boxers (Snoopy print, popular with the ladies), I hurried into the hall, the fact that I had two women in my house completely lost on me. I was more intent on finding out who deigned to wake me with a scream.

There was blood on my carpet. The living room had become mostly a puddle of crimson. For a moment I saw Cameron sitting in the middle of the pool, his hands covering the chest of the man he'd just--

--Then there was Joanna , kneeling next to the guy on the ground, her fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse.

"Oh Jesus, John--the fuck happened?"

My room mate and friend, John Dentman lay on the carpet, the pool of blood slowly spreading from beneath him. The front door stood open, and his legs were still laying over the threshold. It looked like he'd fallen through after opening the door. At the sound of my voice he'd lifted his head slightly, revealing a torn and bloodied face. His mouth worked as if to tell me something, but he only managed a strangled gurgle. I tore my gaze from him and looked to the others.

"Mev, call the 911. You--get some towels from the bathroom. Jo, let's turn him over to see how badly he's hurt."

"Kevin...I don't think--"

I cut Jo off as the other girl ran past me and Mev pulled out his phone. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Adara in the corner, her eyes welled up with tears and her knees drawn up--she must have been the screamer.

Joanna and I worked to turn John over; she didn't so much as flinch as her hands were quickly covered with blood. Even as we started to lift him, blood spilled from his gut, splashing to the floor in a torrent. It was as if the only thing keeping him together was the carpet beneath him.

We quickly set him back down, expecting him to scream, but there was nothing. Not even a gurgle. I looked at John's face, thinking him dead, but he stared back at me with unblinking eyes, his mouth still working as if he was trying to tell me something. It sent a shiver up my spine.

"Kevin, this guy has no freeking pulse. He's dead." Joanna said. Her voice cracked at the last word.

"You must have checked him wrong. He's looking right at me--" Quicker than I would have thought possible, John reached out for me and grabbed my shoulder. I felt his fingernails dig into my skin and I grunted in pain. He pulled himself toward me with one arm and opened his mouth wide. Blood trickled from between his teeth and out a hole in his cheek, and his breath smelled like rotting meat.

"John, let go man--we're trying to help you here! You're just making it worse--" I pushed him away, but he held on tight and bared his teeth, trying to bite my arm. "Jesus John--fuck you!" I pulled away and scrambled to my feet.

"Motherfucker tried to fucking bite me."

I stepped away and pulled Joanna with me.

"Something's wrong."

"What was your first clue, ace?" she said.

"Wait here," I told her. "Don't let him get close to you."

"No shit. You're a real genius today, Kev."

I hurried to my room, passing the new girl and Mev in the process, and pulled a smooth black case form beneath my bed. Spinning the combination locks quickly, I opened it.

My Springfield Arms XD .40 lay inside.

Katalyn 8:30

I awoke to the sound of screaming and sprang from my bed. Hurrying out of the room, I found Mike in the corridoor.
"Was that Louis?" I gasped, hurtling towards his room.
"Wait. Let me go in first," Mike decided. I obediantly moved aside and watched, transfixed, as Mike pushed the door open and leapt forward. Following him into the room I stared around in horror.

The room was inhabited by two people or rather one person and one zombie. Louis was backed up against the wall, clutching at a bleeding shoulder. The zombie lay on the floor amidst pieces of pottery and glass.
"Are you okay?" I asked shakily.
"That thing bit me..." Louis mumbled in shock.
"Is it dead?" Mike asked.
"I hope so. Let's not stay here to find out. Come on Louis, I'll put a dressing on that wound first."

Louis began to recover and even offered to carry the bag as we left his house but I said I'd hang onto it. I didn't want to admit it but I was worried. His eyes were feverish and his temperature high. Something wasnt quite right and I didn't trust my limited knowledge on the undead but I saw this one film where the victims of the zombies turned into foul creatures too.

5:30ish, Day 1 (time-hopping a little, since I've been busy)

I didn't wait for Alain to speak, just finished dressing, not bothering to tuck my blouse in, and hurried out of the hotel. The night was surprisingly chilly, and there were more people around than usual; a few slowly diverted their paths to follow or run parallel along mine, and I shivered, rubbing my hands over my arms. "Can I help you?" I asked one of them coldly. He didn't respond, just kept walking singlemindedly toward me. "Can I help you?"

Again, there was no response, and I paused long enough to slide off my heeled sandals and hurry on in my bare feet, wincing as pebbles dug into the flesh. Still, it allowed me to move faster, and these people were seriously freaking me out--I broke into a run and dodged around a corner into a quiet side street where my sister, Maria, leaved. I'd been planning on heading here anyway, because a) she lived close to the Doubletree, and b) I didn't really feel like explaining to Mom that I was back so late because I'd been fucking her beloved lecturer, but with the addition of these freaks, I was more than normally relieved to see the white picket fence around her yard.

That was always Maria, though. White fence, dog, 2.5 cars and 1.8 kids, or whatever the hell those statistics were. I set my jaw and unlatched the fence, reflexively closing it again behind me. There'd be hell to pay if I didn't. I started up towards the house, pausing only when I stepped in something wet. "Eurgh!"

I stepped into the grass briefly and wiped my feet off, then continued into the house, eyeing the line of dark, liquid drips suspiciously. My nephew was notorious for making unrecognizable messes--but what he'd been playing with this time was really beyond me.

I was halfway up the sidewalk when I heard a scream and what sounded like three gunshots from inside the house. I stopped and staggered back a few steps before reprimanding myself. I'd never understood Maria and her husband's tastes in horror movies, or why they insisted on listening to them so loud--and yes, I'd always been rather jumpy--but Christ, I really needed to get a grip on myself.

I'd rather get a grip on Alain's throat. Or some other part of his anatamoy. Preferably with something sharp and lethal.

I padded up the stairs, sandals swinging from my hand, and cursed at myself under my breath for flinching when another gunshot resounded from inside. Funny, though, I couldn't hear any soundtrack--their sound system must have been on the blink again. And that could only be Teddy crying--what on earth were Maria and Juan doing, letting a six-year-old watch those movies? He should have been asleep hours and hours ago!

I tried the doorknob and found it unlocked, but once again wet with that dark liquid. I made a face and held my hand up to the dim orange of the streetlight, my disgusted expression slowly settling into a blank stare as I realized what I was looking at.

"Mierda!"

I pushed the door open and hurried down the front hall, following the trail of blood into the kitchen, where I stopped cold and hurriedly turned my back to the doorway, hands clamped over my mouth as my stomach roiled. There, on the tile floor, lay Juan, his exposed skin covered with what looked like claw and bite marks and blood leaking in large puddles from his head and chest. Against the cabinet slumped Maria, her eyes open and glazed, a gun in her limp hand and blood flowing down over her shoulder from her temple; there were deep scratch marks across her left cheek. Somewhere further inside, Teddy cried.

I ran to the bathroom and vomited into the toilet.

---

I found Teddy hiding in the little nook under the stairs where the dog usually slept; Tigger was nowhere to be found, but the six-year-old boy was covered with his long golden hairs. "Teodoro?" I whispered. A whimper came from the child, curled into a fetal position on the dog bed behind the curtain, and when I touched his leg tentatively, he flinched and began to sob. "Teddy, it's Tia Angelina."

He lifted his head a little and peered at me over his arm. "You're not one of them, are you?" he asked sotto voce.

"One of who, cariño?"

"The zombies."

I blinked. Zombies? Juan and Maria really had let him watch too many horror flicks. I swallowed hard against another surge of bile at the thought of the bodies in the kitchen, and shook my head. "No, sweetheart. I'm just Tia Angelina."

He launched himself into my arms, knocking me back on my butt in the middle of the hall as the boy, tall for his age, nestled into my arms and sobbed against my shoulder.

8:03 AM, Day 1

Teddy stayed in the dog nook as I took sheets and covered his parents' bodies, morbidly curious about their wounds. I was no detective, and my eyes kept blurring with tears, but it seemed that Juan had--attacked? No, Juan would never attack his wife... but that's how it looked. She couldn't have given him all those scratches and bites, either; for one thing, she always keeps her nails painfully short. But she had shot him, and she wouldn't shoot him unless he was dangerous. Once in the chest, one bullet had hit just below his throat, and another had caught him just above his mouth, to the immediate right of his nose. I gagged and tried not to vomit again. After shooting him, she seemed to have killed herself. Maria always was a selfish bitch.

Later, Teddy corroborated these guesses as near as he could. Shaking, he sat in my lap up in his bedroom. "P-Papi came home bleeding, and wouldn't let Mami put any band-aids and stingy stuff on him," he said, his head nestled against my shoulder. "He said Mami sh-should take me and go away, go far away, and he kept yelling but then he started to fall over. Mami tried to help him but he threw his gun at her and started yelling louder, saying she should stay away, stay away!"

I made a comforting hushing sound and rocked him lightly, smoothing his hair in an unnaturally maternal gesture.

"He s-s-said there were zombies and that one had bit him and M-Mami would have to kill him so he wouldn't eat Mami and me," Teddy whimpered against my shoulder. "And she kept saying no, no, no, no! But then he--he fell down again, and when she went to check on him he reached up and scratched her face hard and tried to bite her. I ran away and Mami distracted him, and when he wouldn't stop trying to hurt her, she... she..."

"It's all right, cariño. You're safe now"

He sniffled. "And then... Mami pointed the gun at herself." He looked up at me with watery eyes. "Why did she go away, Tia Angelina? Why didn't she take me with her?"

I bit my lip and then kisses his forehead and both his cheeks, squeezing him protectively to me. "Because she loved you, cariño. Now, stay here, okay? Don't leave your room, and keep the shades down, and if anyone comes to the door don't answer it. I'll be right back."

Despite his pleas not to leave him, I hurried into my sister's bedroom; Juan had been a police officer. No doubt that was how he'd been exposed to the zombies so early. Christ, I could barely believe I was thinking that. Zombies. Still, what little I knew from horror movies was that the only way to stop a zombie was to shoot them in the head. I got the shoebox down from the top of the closet and dumped it out on the bed, then pulled off my skirt and replaced it with a pair of jeans, switched out my trendy sandals for socks and Converses, and threw a tee-shirt on over my blouse. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and then began sifting through the contents of the box. As much ammunition as I could find (or identify) went into my pockets and purse, and I stuck the gun in the back of my pants like the hero always did in movies. The metal was cold against my skin.

"Tia Angelina!" Teddy's voice wavered tearfully. I turned to see him in the doorway, clutching his stuffed frog and staring at the handgun. "W-Why?"

I smiled tautly and hurried over to him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Because I love you."

Day 1, 7:28AM

Jo shivered. She had volunteered in enough hospitals to keep a clear head, and she had patched up her parents' drunken wounds enough to not mind blood. This, though... This was something different.

She eyed the "corpse" -- God, he should be dead! -- suspiciously, watching as he still mouthed wordlessly. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to check on the other people present in the room. Adara was rocking herself in the corner. Jo went to her.

"Come on, sweetie, it's okay. Shh," she said, cradling the girl in her arms and smoothing down her hair. "Shh, it'll be okay. I know, I know. We're going to get help, okay?" She glanced back at the body and jumped. "Stay here," she ordered Adara, her voice suddenly cold.

John -- or what was previously him -- was trying to get up, trying to claw its way over to them. Joanna couldn't get past him safely.

"Kevin..." she called nervously, looking for anything within reach that could be used as a weapon. John came closer, his mouth still working, his dead eyes still staring. Blood continued to seep into the carpet.

Jo had nothing to help her. Adara screamed again.

"Kevin, get the fuck out here NOW!" Jo yelled, kicking at John's face with all her might. His face practically swallowed her foot, but she felt her toes connect with a bit of skull. John fell back, but it didn't deter him for long.

"Kevin!"

A gunshot rang out, leaving only Jo's panicked breathing and Adara's sobbing to be heard afterwards.

8:55 P.M Ashville Motorway

The bridge crossed over the Ashville Harbour, leading into the city centre. On the water’s surface, the reflection of the moon was distorted from the ebbing and flowing, caused by a nearby supply vessel.
“Where exactly are we going?” she asked while gazing at the city’s lights at the end of the harbour.

“You should worry more about me getting caught by the police for driving over the limit,” Espona responded over the top of the roaring of the cars. Their lights illuminated the white stripes on the road.

“It’s cold.”

“Well I guess you aren’t fit to own a Ferrari like me.” They were now driving beneath the support beams of the bridge. The lights on the arcs glowed amongst the beams, showing its rusted bolts. The lights of the cars revealed the stretch of road up ahead. In the early hours of the morning, when the fog blanketed the harbour, the bridge was cast into darkness.

“You should know I’ve made a special booking for us at the French restaurant in the city.”

“Who’s coming?” Raya questioned. Raya was always interested if guests are coming. That way, if her dreaded grandparents came, she’ll know what to do.

“Only us two, what do you think?”

I tried to move but my body stayed still and shook violently. What had just happened there? What was that thing? The gunshot rang in my ears and I could hardly hear Jo when she came over to talk to me. I caught small words like help, breathe, and move. But I couldn’t do any of those things.

My eyes glanced at the body and I stared. It had almost gotten me and what had I fucking done? I’d stood there like a damn damsel. What was wrong with me? The memory flashed in my mind. That little girl, she was so young and I couldn’t do anything. I shook my head to clear it and stood with all of my strength. My legs wobbled and threatened to fall in but I rested my back on the corner. Only then did I begin to notice what was going on. Kev for once had a look of stunned amazement on his face and Jo had left me and began pacing the room. Mev had his hands over his eyes and his head was lowered. I doubted he was crying but I couldn’t be so sure.

I came to a very slight moment of calm. “J-J-John’s dead.” I said nodding and covering my mouth with my hand. I’d said something so obvious that I expected to be ignored. Instead I got a worried look from Jo.

“Are you okay?” I hadn’t been the one whose foot was almost completely swallowed by an average sized man. I nodded and looked at her reassuringly.

“I’m fine. Is your… foot okay?” She looked down at it and then nodded after a while. I turned from her and walked over to the corpse. John’s body was covered in blood and his jaw had been torn from his mouth after opening it too wide. A clear shot burned in the middle of his skull and I looked over a Kev. He was still quiet and I was worried. I knew I couldn’t do anything. What could I possibly do? I could prepare myself. The thought came clear. This was the second attack in two days and I knew something was going on.

“We need guns.” I said as sturdily as possible. I got a feeling of lightheadedness and became sick with my weakness. I didn’t use to be this way. I use to be so strong, this shouldn’t have even feigned me. I gagged a little and started making my way to the bathroom. “I need to puke and then we need guns!” I yelled over my shoulder.

Katalyn 10:00 AM

As the hours progressed and we sat in Louis' car, parked at the end of a quiet, empty street. We could see movement in some of the houses and occasional screams reached our ears but it was safer than wandering aimlessly. We'd thought about leaving town actually but Louis is in no state to drive, Mike doesn't know how and I'm not so sure that my English license (I think that's the American spelling) is legal here. Of course, that might become the least of my worries pretty soon and I did drive us over here and... my head hurts.

Louis' breathing is getting worse. That's more than just a cut. I know it. Every now and then Mike looks at me as if to suggest we should kill him. I know that seems a ridiculous assumption to make of a man I have just met but I swear he wants to kill my manager. Perhaps with good reason but perhaps not. He seems pretty coherent in the brief intervals between his pain and I've even considered driving to the hospital. Maybe it can be treated. There again, it might just be over run with zombies.

"I've got guns," I said. Joanna and the other chick looked at me incredulously.

"Yes, Kevin, we know you have big biceps," Joanna said dryly.

I let a moment pass.

"...No--I have guns. Real ones. Including this one--" I tapped the Springfield against my temple. "--and the one miss princess here so graciously gave me, I have five guns. I've got a shotgun and two rifles in the closet."

They stared some more.

"Now ah...let's get to work. Mev, get some food form the kitchen. Preferably something NOT perishable. Jo, help me with the guns--new kid...don't touch anything."

10:00 am. Dave

Dave woke up remembering just in time Keri head was on his bare chest. He lightly pushed her brown hair out away from her ears and kissed her cheek lightly, making quite sure she still slept. Moving with extreme caution he lifted her head and placed it down on the pillow. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips. Climbing out the bed he put his shirt back on then placed the covers just over Keri's neck seeing she was now wearing a blue nighty with white shorts.

Dave smiled at her relaxed, he had been worried after hearing of incident last night. She was so relaxed like a sleeping goddess. He walked into the bathroom and did the old routine. Before locking the door and stripping down to take a shower.

He climbed out now refreshed and got dress. He saw she was still asleep, he was late, but did hacking matter now. What was he saying 'course it mattered. He strode over to Keri and lightly shook her shoulder.

A eye flickered open tiredly, "Wha' do you wan?"

Dave smiled warmly, "Time to get up sleepyhead, and may I just say I like your pyjamas."

"Huh? oh thanks." she groaned blushing and trying to sit up but was to tired, 'maybe swimming so late wasn't a good idea'

Dave nodded, "I missed the feeling of us being so close."

Keri blushed and nodded not knowing what to say

He continued, "just us being so close, our bodies touching, but not sexual... all relaxed."

She began with a nervous smile, "Just like..."

Dave finished for her, "..before."

She stretched lazily letting out a low yawn, Dave smiled, "I'm just going to get breakfast.

He pushed the door open to hear a loud, "OUCH!!!" Dave rushed out to see Derrick holding his 45' like his life depended on it, but his expression was passive.

Dave stared as Derrick stood up rubbing his head, "Great now I've a fucking hangover and a sore head.

Dave rolled his eyes feeling a quite irritated, "Well that's really to be expected if you pour down half the contents of a hotel bar down your throat." Dave replied venomously.

Derrick opened his mouth to speak, but Dave snarled, "Not one word, your along for ride now and if you don't stop drinking vast amounts I'll seriously make you regret it!"

Dave walked off just in time to see Keri lean down and thank him, Dave slapped his forehead and muttered obscenities.

Dave went down to help desk and rang the bell impatiently getting no answer, where was that bitch of a receptionist. It was then Dave smelt the unmistakeable smell of blood and rotten meat.

He leant over gingerly to see a half mauled corpse of her. Dave eyes opened wide and he rushed upstairs bumping into Derrick, "We're leaving NOW!"

Derrick stared at him as if he was nuts, "Why!"

Dave pushed away from his eyes goggled madly, Keri chose to walk out her room fully dressed, "What's the hurry?"

Dave repeated, "WE'RE LEAVING NOW!! IT'S NOT SAFE HERE!"

Keri stared at him confused, "Dave you okay?"

Dave ignored the remark and dragged Keri and Derrick out despite there protests, "We're leaving, our stuff not important!"

Dave muttered under his breath,

great welcome to Hotel Freaky Towers

Dave basically leapt in the van and held the door just till Keri was in locking it immediately as her whole body was in. Derrick watched laughing, "Calm down dude it can't of been that bad, what was it Dave a grey hair!"

Dave stared at Derrick his face almost all white, "The... the... recept...tionist, won't... be hel...pi.ng.. peo..ple anymo..re."

"Dead? She's.... dead?" Keri asked surprised.

Dave looked down, "Yes... not natural causes!"

"Then what?" She demanded."

10.27 am . Derrik

The sudden removal of the door behind Derrik’s head brought him up from the thick stupor in which he lay. He ached all over and light lanced into his eyes as they flickered open to find out what was waking him up.

“Great. Now I've a fucking hangover and a sore head,” he mumbled as he leaned backwards and his head gently touched the floor beneath him again. He almost closed his eyes and went back to sleep when he saw the shoes: dark, black, shiny shoes. He could see himself in the reflection. He did not look good.

“Well that's really to be expected if you pour down half the contents of a hotel bar down your throat” The voice of the shoe wearer boomed down at him. Instinctively, Derrik clasped his hands around his head and covered his ears, but the uncaring voice carried on.

“Not one word, you’re along for the ride now and if you don't stop drinking vast amounts I'll seriously make you regret it!” Derrik knew exactly how much of a hangover he had and so, apparently, did this other man.

“Gonna go back to sleep,” he muttered, hoping that he would pity him and let him slumber a bit longer but the shadow had gone. Derrik shut his eyes again. Out of the darkness a name bounded out towards him. Dave

“What’s up with Derrik?” Another voice rang through his head, but this one was different. It was feminine, soft but piercing. Derrik had no trouble naming this one.

“Please be quiet, Keri,” he whispered. Surely Keri would let him sleep. But Dave didn’t answer her. Keri stepped into the doorway.

“You ok?” Finally, someone who gave a flying shit was here.

At the back of his mind, something important nagged at him. He tried to brush it away but it persevered. Something was not right.

The words jolted him. Last night’s events slid into his mind like a knife. Shit. Something was definitely not right.

“Keri,” Derrik began but waited as he heard the rapid footsteps of Dave approaching. He hated repeating himself. He’d wait until they were both there.

He noticed something wrong with Dave only as the tall man crashed into him. Derrik stumbled backwards and looked nervously at him. Dave wasn’t usually this clumsy.

“We're leaving NOW!” The previous irritation had left his face, only to be replaced by blind fear. Derrik knew why. He must have seen one of the things from outside. This was not good. It was safer inside, surely Dave must understand that.

“Why?” Derrik replied. As soon as he said it he knew he’d made a mistake. But, before Dave could retort, Keri stepped out of the doorway.

“What’s the hurry?” she asked lightly. Dave was in no mood for explanations.

“WE'RE LEAVING NOW!! IT'S NOT SAFE HERE!” The order was clear, Derrik knew not to argue. Even so, arguing seemed a long way away from him.

Derrik’s mind started to slip again. He tried to claw it back, but the drowsiness returned. Now Dave ordered, Derrik complied. That was the way it was…

“Dave, you ok?” Keri at least offered some resistance, but it was ignored. Dave brutally grabbed both of them and pulled them down the corridor to the fire exit. In less than a minute they were at the van.

“Dave, I need to get my stuff!” Keri almost wailed. Derrik checked his gun at his waist. He had all he needed.

“We're leaving, our stuff not important!” From somewhere in the back of Derrik’s mind he considered cheekily correcting Dave’s bad grammar but, before he could voice it, the thought vanished…

Dave threw open the van doors and they all climbed in. Dave didn’t start the engine, he just sat their. Remembering it had something to do with the receptionist, Derrik attempted to break the awkward silence.

“Calm down dude it can't of been that bad. What was it, Dave, a grey hair?” The question did not have the desired effect, but Derrik struggled to remember what that effect had been.

Dave’s face was bloodless. The skull-like face turned to look at him and the haunted eyes met his. Derrik felt ill. What had he seen?

“The... the,” Dave stammered, “recept...tionist, won't... be hel...pi.ng.. peo..ple anymo..re.”

Again, the nagging sensation bombarded the back of his head. Derrik put his head in his hands. He couldn’t concentrate with those other two chatting all the time.

“Dead? She’s… dead?” Keri asked the obvious question.

“Yes,” Dave gave the obvious answer, “not natural causes.”

“Then what?”

Before Dave could reply, Derrik threw up noisily in his lap. Disgusted, Dave threw a paper towel at him. He used it to clean round his mouth, but he left the pile in his lap. Happily, Derrik noted that there were carrots in it, but didn’t understand why it meant anything to him.

“That’s sick,” Keri commented and Derrik burst out laughing. Keri obviously hadn’t intended that.

With the silence now successfully broken, Dave turned the keys to the ignition and roared out of the hotel’s car park. Absently, Derrik pulled out his gun and started checking it.

“So-” Keri began but was immediately cut off by Dave.

“Wait ‘til we’re further away.” His angry voice easily put Keri back in her place. She stopped and sulkily sat back down. Derrik giggled to himself. Dave would pay for that later.

It was then that Derrik flicked open the cartridge. To his horror, he saw what he’d done. Two bullets were missing. Something was not right.

“Oh shit,” Derrik gasped as the memories hit him for a second time. A kaleidoscope of images flickered through his brain: Keri, the man, the thing. Derrik felt his blood turn cold. They had made a big mistake.

“Dave-” Derrik started but he was interrupted.

“Save it for inside.”

The van stopped suddenly outside a gaudy building. Derrik knew this building well, and so did Dave. Dave jumped out of the van. Derrik and Keri followed.

Laughing, Derrik realised why Dave had chosen this place as a sanctuary of all places. What better place for a hacker, than the city’s cybercafé?

10:30 am - Katalyn

"Kat there are people coming out of one of the buildings," Mike exclaimed, ducking down in his seat. I peered through the windscreen and noted that there were two guys and a few girls, all carrying rucksacks and climbing into a car.
"They've got guns," I realised a moment later, "I don't think zombies carry guns or drive cars."
"Well let's follow them. I don't know about you but I don't like being alone out here," Mike decided.
"Right," I replied and started the engine. With a quick glance back at Louis I was glad to see that he was conscious and much calmer than before.

I turned back to the road and, at a steady speed, drove towards the car in front. It had yet to start moving and I beeped the horn.
"Way to get the zombies attention," Mike muttered.
"Sorry," I apologised, "But at least they heard us." And sure enough, their faces were peering out of the back window. The gun held by one of the boys was a bit unsettling but generally I was relieved to be amongst other people. I pulled the car alongside and wound down the window.
"Hi. Are you guys zombies?" Louis joked, "Only we've had bad experiences with them." At that point I was glad that his bandaged wound was not visible below the jacket we had helped him put on.

10:35


Keri looked around the cafe as they sat down. She sat at the computer next to Dave, Derrik on his other side so there couldnt' be any nosy people. Derrik was busy typing something as Keri watched Dave log onto some site.

"Wait, i gotta talk to you." Derrik said turnign towards Dave.

"i don't..."

"I'm gonna talk." Derrik cut him off. Dave ignored him and Derrik finally gave up. Dave started to hack but couldn't stop glanceing at Keri. He just couldn't consentrate.

"Dave, you just logged out of the page." Keri said looking at him confussed. He looked at the screen surprised he logged back on and frowned.

Keri just smiled, Dave gently pushed her foot under the table and Keri pushed back. She smiled trying not to laugh. Dave had slid his shoe off and pushed hers off.

Dave smiled at her his hands whizzing across keyboard and concentrated on rubbing her leg causing her to squeek out pleasuable sighs.

Keri smiled as she rubbed her foot against Dave's leg, his smile widdended.

Out of no where a loud beeping started from Dave's screen, he looked at it and saw an error screen pop up. His smile faded and he started furiously typing.

Keri frowned and turned back to her own computer as Dave moved his leg back in front of him.