Twelve

Angie snapped her phone shut. She felt like crying.

Freeda put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm sure they're fine.”

They were both sitting on the nurse's desk, facing the doors. Corpses groaned and clawed at each of the three glass planes.

“Dead, huh?” said Freeda, staring at them.

“Yeah,” said Angie.

“So Jimmy was dead the whole time?”

Angie nodded and bit her thumb.

“Damn.”

Angie dropped her hand. “Yeah.”

“Dammit,” said Park, walking in from the empty hallway. “Moe looks awful. We have to get out of here.”

Mr. Paulson chuckled from his wheelchair. “And take him where, numbnuts, the hospital?”

“We know how to kill them,” said Park, nodding at the corpses clawing at the glass. “Why can't we just make a run for it?”

Kristen shook her head and adjusted the oxygen tube on Mr. Paulson's face. “We couldn't move Dad that quickly.”

“Or your friend,” said Freeda.

“Then we need guns,” said Park.

“Yeah,” said Mr. Paulson. “A wrecking ball and a fucking helicopter would be nice too.”

“Now, Dad,” said Kristen. “They're just trying to help.” She stroked his head.

“Get your fucking over-lotioned hands off of me,” Mr. Paulson grumbled, twisting his head away. “Point is, we don't have any guns.”

“I've got guns in my truck,” said Park.

Sam, who'd been sulking against a wall, stepped toward Park. “Great. The truck in the parking lot? If we could get to the parking lot, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

“No,” said Park. “We all couldn't make it, but one or two of us might. Get some guns back here, then we can use them to clear a path for the others.”

Sam shook his head. “This is crazy.”

“Yeah,” said Angie, “but it's better than nothing.”

“How would we even get to the parking lot?” said Sam. “The hallways are full of those things.”

“Watch,” said Park. He fished his lighter out of his pocket and stepped over to the door. He flicked it on and held the flame to the glass. The corpses on the other side backed away from the flame. “Noticed this in the parking lot. These things don't like fire."

Sam looked at the lighter, then at Angie. "You said you think we just have to damage the brain, right? I bet fire would kill these fuckers, too. Cook their brains."

Park nodded. "Maybe we can rig up some torches or something to hold them back.”

Angie pushed herself off the desk and walked over. “You'd just set off the sprinklers and end up wet and eaten. And besides, there's another way out.”

She walked over to a utility closet and opened it. Inside were a mop bucket, some gloves and a chain to turn the light on. She grabbed the chain and pulled. Park walked up behind her.

“Ok,” said Angie. She looked up and found a leather strap hanging from the ceiling of the closet. She pulled and a wooden ladder unfolded downward. She stepped back to let it connect to the floor.

“And where's that go?” said Park.

“The roof,” said Angie. “To allow work crews quick access to the lights up there. And not only that. There's another, metal ladder attached to the side of the building for the same purpose. And it goes right down to the parking lot.”

“Well fuck-a-doo,” said Park, looking at the ladder and nodding. He stepped back into the room. “Okay. Looks like we're taking the roof.”

Angie walked over to Park. “I'll come with you.”

Sam laughed. “No offense, but you'll need someone tougher than...”

“Hey, funny story,” said Park. “Remember about fifteen minutes ago when she pounded one's head in while you shit your pants?”

Mr. Paulson laughed. “I love that story.”

Sam went red. “Listen, I don't trust this prick to come back even if he does get to his damn truck.”

“We don't have time for this,” said Angie. “I have no idea if my kids are in trouble or not. We have to get out of here!”

Sam turned on her. “And what's stopping you from bolting home the second you get outside?”

Park made a growling noise. “Listen, dickburger, my friend's in that room back there...”

“Well, my wife's here!” said Sam. “So I guess we'll both be coming back.”

Angie opened her mouth, then looked at Freeda. Freeda was looking at the floor, her hands clenched together.

She stepped over to Freeda. “You ok?”

“Yeah,” said Freeda, looking up at her. “Just make sure you get back quick.”

Angie looked at Freeda, then over at Park and Sam.

“Hey,” she said. “Let Sam go with you. I'll stay. Your friend will need Freeda and me to look after him. Maybe the two of us will add up to a real nurse.”

Sam shot her a look.

“Whatever,” said Park. “Let me go check in with Moe, then me and dick-face'll make a run for it.”