Siege (As the World Dies #3)(149)

“Travis!”

Above him, he could hear the struggle. He looked up to see Katie gazing down at him as Curtis grabbed her from behind.

“Katie, just run! Get help!” Forcing himself to look away from the top of the wall where his wife grappled with Curtis, he reached for the knife.

The low, hungry growl of the zombie made him spin around and he was surprised to see the creature so close. Its gnarled, gray hand reached out to grab him as its teeth snapped together. Circling around it quickly, Travis thanked God for its slowness. He shoved it over as hard as he could. It landed face down and began to claw at the ground. He gave wide berth to the zombie and snatched up the knife.

He fought the urge to look up and see how Katie was doing. He had to kill the zombie before he could even begin to figure out how to get back into the fort and help Katie. The thing was trying to get to its knees and he moved around it and kicked its hip as hard as he could, knocking it over. Disoriented, the thing writhed on the ground, then its dead eyes found him and it began to try to rise.

A scream from Katie made him look up and the creature grabbed his foot far faster than he would have expected. Its strength startled him and he found himself losing his balance and falling.



Concentrate, dammit, he thought to himself. Shifting his body weight so he had leverage, he kicked the thing as hard as he could in the face with his boot heel. Its head bobbed back, but immediately, the thing reached for his foot, trying to grip it again. Kicking it again as hard as he could while shoving himself backward, he managed to get to his feet and away from the creature.



It began to try to rise and he rushed forward and planted his foot squarely on its brittle neck. He could feel it give way under his weight as he brought his left hand downward, the knife glittering, and rammed it into the creature’s eye socket. He felt the mush inside give way as the thing continued to grab him. Its teeth champed just inches away from his hand as he leaned all his weight into the knife and felt the knife push further in. Working the knife back and forth, he finally felt the creature go limp. Another scream made him look up. Katie dangled from the railing, her blond hair obscuring her face. Curtis was struggling with her, trying to pry her grip lose from the bar.

“Curtis, stop,” Travis shouted angrily, rushing forward, but standing helplessly under his wife. He could see her legs kicking as she tried to get leverage, but she was dangling precariously.

Then it occurred to him that she might be safer with him than up there. “Katie, drop,” he ordered, preparing to catch her.



Low moans from behind him, made his scalp crawl. Slowly, he turned. At least a dozen zombies were lumbering into the mouth of the alley. “Don’t drop, Katie!” His voice was harsh and full of fear.

Looking up, he saw her look down toward him, then toward the zombies.



He felt completely and utterly helpless.





*

Katie struck Curtis as hard as she could as Travis fell from view. Terror unfurled within her as she heard the low moan of the zombie below. Hissing with anger, she grabbed Curtis’ shirt and tried to knee him. Stunned by her abrupt movement, he staggered back, but then he seized hold of her with shocking strength. His fingers dug fiercely into her wrists as she tried to draw back from him. Though her haze of fear, she could hear Travis calling out to her. She managed to look down and see him deflect the zombie’s attack below.

Curtis whirled her around and shoved her hard against the rail. It was then she regained her senses enough to fight back. Twisting her wrists inward and down as she tucked her fists in, she broke his hold and shocked him. Shoving him hard with both hands, she saw him stagger back. Quickly she turned to see if Travis was okay. Below, her husband was shouting at her, but she barely heard him over the harsh beating of her own heart. Looking around, she tried to see what she could lower to him to pull him up.

“Travis,” she called out.

He looked up at her just as Curtis grabbed her from behind. “Katie, just run! Get help!”

Curtis lifted her up off her feet, his grip hard and suffocating around her chest. She kicked her feet and wiggled, trying to get away. Attempting to scream, she found she could not. Her breath was being cut off.

“You stupid little lesbo whore,” Curtis hissed in her face. His features were so distorted he looked as unreal and corrupted as the thing trying to attack her husband below.



“Let me go,” she managed, gasping for breath. He tightened his grip and dragged her to the rail. “Don’t worry. I will.”



Katie’s eyes widened as he lifted her up over the rail and let go of her. She managed to grab onto the bottom rail and hold on tight with both hands. Pulling herself up, she managed to hook her arm over the rail as her feet scrabbled against the wall. Calmly, Curtis leaned over and began to try to dislodge her grip.

“Let go of me, you f*cking bastard,” she shouted at him.



“Katie, drop!” Travis’ voice rose from below her. She craned her neck and looked down toward him. Her husband was looking back toward the mouth of the alley and he took a step back toward the wall.



“Don’t drop, Katie,” he said in a stricken tone. And then she saw the zombies in the alley making their way toward the man she loved.

“No! No!” She held on tighter, her feet fighting for purchase on the wall, as she looked up and saw Curtis smile. Leaning over her, he looked even more hellish as he tried to pry her hands loose. She managed to get her boot up onto the wall and began to push upwards, but he put his hands on her shoulders and shoved downwards.