Siege (As the World Dies #3)(148)

“Katie, are you okay?” he asked worriedly as Katie pushed past him.

“We’re fine,” Jenni answered as she reappeared next to Katie and dragged the blond into the elevator. The reverend’s eyes grew wide just as the elevator doors shut cutting Katie off from his view.



Katie whirled around and tried to punch Jenni in the arm, but her hand went through her. “What is going on?”

“Crap. I’m losing it fast,” Jenni pouted.

“Jenni!”

“Oh, Curtis is the freaking Vigilante and about to kill Travis,’ Jenni answered. Frowning, she kept trying to touch Katie and failing.

“Oh, God!” Katie felt her chest tighten and she gripped Jenni’s wrist tightly. “I’m back!”

“Jenni, you have to help me save him! I can’t lose him, too!”

“I know! That is why I’m here,” Jenni poked Katie’s forehead with one finger. She smiled as she managed to touch Katie.

“Jenni!”

“Okay, okay. They’re on the wall where Curtis was going to meet you. Curtis was originally going to toss you over the wall as a punishment to Travis. Curtis is way sick in the head.”

“Oh, God. He killed the other people. Curtis killed the other people!”



Jenni nodded. “Oh, yeah. He’s twisted. He would have killed more, too, but me and the other ghosts worked hard to try to stop him.”

“The other ghosts?”

“Lydia, Ralph, and some others.” Jenni bounced on her heels as she waited for the elevator to hit the ground floor. Katie blinked, not sure what to say, and looked toward the doors. She had to save Travis. To lose him would be too much to bear.



The doors slid open onto an empty lobby. Grabbing Katie’s hand, Jenni pulled her from the elevator and across the lobby. Katie ran as fast as she could, desperation clouding her senses. Raw fear gripped her and she ran with her ghostly friend in a mad dash to save her husband.





*

Travis ducked under the first swipe of the knife and slammed into Curtis with his shoulder, knocking the attacker back. Curtis hit the catwalk on his back, the knife clutched tightly in his hand. He scrambled to get up.

Kicking at the younger man, Travis tried aimed for the wrist of the hand holding with the knife. Instead he hit Curtis’ arm, enabling Curtis to grab onto Travis’ leg with his other hand. Trying to keep his balance, Travis grabbed onto the rail next to him as the hungry moans of the zombie grew louder. Getting some leverage, Curtis managed to get to his knees and drew the knife back to stab Travis.



With a grunt, Travis managed to twist away and staggered back a few feet as the knife cut through empty air.

“Curtis, think this over,” Travis said in a firm voice. “You can’t do this.”

“Oh, cause you’re so damn important?” Curtis laughed and began to close the gap between them. Travis took another step back to find himself in the dead end. Sliding into a defensive posture, he readied himself for Curtis’ attack.



Curtis drew back his hand and brought the knife down toward Travis. With a quick swipe of his arm, Travis defected Curtis’ attack and shoved him back hard with both hands. Shocked, the younger man took several steps back.

“I’ve got a wife and a kid. I’m not going over this wall,” Travis said firmly.

Below, the zombie watched them, moaning hungrily, its hands reaching up. “Yes, you are,” Curtis hissed through clenched teeth, then attacked again.



Again, Travis deflected the attack, shoving the younger man back, but Curtis grabbed onto his t-shirt and dragged Travis with him. Struggling with each other, off balance, and both desperate, they fell against the railing over the grasping hands of the zombie far below. Managing to plant his elbow in Travis’ throat, Curtis raised the knife over his head. “It’s better for the fort this way,” Curtis hissed.

“No!”



Katie slammed into Curtis full force, knocking him and Travis off their feet. Travis had a moment of complete vertigo before he managed to grab the rail as his feet swung over his head and he toppled over the wall. His shoulder popped painfully as the full weight of his body jerked his arm and he almost lost his grip on the rail. Groaning, he reached up to grab the rail with his other hand. He could hear Curtis and Katie wrestling above him and the zombie moaning below.



“Katie, don’t fight him! Get help,” he called out to his wife.

Curtis appeared over him again. “That’s not going to happen,” Curtis hissed.



The knife glittered as he brought it down to stab Travis’ hand. Instinctively, Travis tried to jerk away, but only managed to lose his grip with his second hand. The blade sliced easily into the back of his hand and he cried out as he lost his grip and fell. Despite the sheer terror of the moment, he remembered to tuck his body and roll as he hit the ground. The impact was jarring and he immediately tasted blood as he bit the inside of his mouth.

The moan of the zombie was near and he panicked as he struggled to his feet and tried to catch is breath. He sensed more than felt the creature. He struck out with one foot, catching the beast square in its torso and sending it falling to the ground.

Bracing himself against the wall, he looked around desperately for a weapon. To his relief he saw the knife glittering nearby. He moved swiftly to kick the zombie over as it tried to scramble to its feet. Travis darted to snatch up the knife.