A/N: I'd like to say thanks to everyone who reviewed this. I didn't think it'd go down so well! I'm so glad you all like it and hope you enjoy the rest. And sorry for the delay in chapter two.
Oh, and as one of my lovely reviewers pointed out, the other zombie writer here is 'tell them I hate them'. Her story is called Infected and is much more brilliant that this is.
I'll be going back and forth between scenes now.
Part Two
Although there were several more incidents through the night, none of the creatures seemed to travel too far into the hospital.
During the night shifts, they all sat near the stairs. There was no point anyone staying on the roof as the city had been plunged into darkness and although the moonlight did usually shed enough light for them to be able to spot the infected approaching, they had all agreed it was a little creepy, so they stuck together.
They all sat silently, no one speaking through fear of giving away their position. As the sun started to illuminate the sky, Jim became more anxious to leave.
They had looked over a map to find each of the houses they wanted to visit. They planned to get to all four in two days as none were too far from one another, but they didn't want to try and go to too many in case they were caught short for time.
The Janitor had told them they could use his van, it was the only vehicle that would potentially carry all the survivors. No one mentioned the possibility that the people they were going to try and save could be dead already.
They packed light. Basic medical supplies, some bottles of water and each of them carried a weapon. Jim, Elliot, Doug and Ted made their way to the stairwell, the others watching them leave.
"If we see any of those things, we'll make sure they follow us away from here." Jim said.
"Don't worry about us, son." Kelso said. "Just take care of each other."
"You guys do the same." Elliot said.
"We'll be fine." The Janitor said.
"We best get going." Jim said.
Tapping the Janitor's shoulder, Perry said "C'mon, we'd best make sure we get that barricade re-built once they get through." The small group made their way down the stairs. Once Jim, Elliot, Ted and Doug had moved enough stuff out the way, they all climbed through to the other side. They all looked around nervously, waiting to see if anything would leap out at them. When nothing happened for a few minutes, they headed off.
Perry and the Janitor rebuilt the barricade and hurriedly made their way back up.
Downstairs, the foursome made their way down the halls quietly. Elliot lead the way, being the natural leader out of the three who knew their way around the hospital. It wasn't far from the stairs to the east exit, which would take them out into the car park and the closest to the Janitor's van.
They got to the doors before they hesitated. From this point they couldn't see very much.
They had no idea what they might be walking into. But they all had a reason to step beyond the door. With keys at the ready, they made their way to the van, walking briskly. Each of them looked for any infected and kept looking while Elliot unlocked the van's door.
The quickly climbed in, grateful for their luck and knowing that eventually it would change.
They all crammed themselves into the front of the vehicle as Elliot turned the key and the engine started.
"Lets get going. No doubt someone heard that." Ted said anxiously.
Elliot put her foot down and sent the vehicle down the street and away from the hospital.
Back At The Hospital
Bob Kelso made his way down from the stairs leading to the roof. "They made it away safely."
"Good." Jordan said.
"So what are we gonna do now?" Janitor asked. "We need to think of a better way to keep this place safe."
"Like what?" Perry asked.
"I don't know. It's just an idea."
"It's a good idea, I just don't know how we can scale this place down any more." Perry said.
"Maybe we should give up the stair patrols?" Jordan said.
"It's the best way to take those things out." Janitor replied.
"Maybe we should go to the roof and set up camp." Perry said.
"That's an awful idea, Perry." Kelso said.
"Well you think of an idea then." Perry replied.
"Perhaps setting up a smaller area and sealing ourselves in will be better." Kelso said.
"This is stupid. We need to keep doing what we're doing. I'm not locking myself in one room, that's a death trap." Perry replied.
"Fine, you can go on watch first then." The Janitor said. With that he walked away, Kelso following him.
Perry moved to the stairs, leaning over the railings, looking down. "If I see any of those damn things coming, maybe I'll just throw myself over the edge and let them devour me while everyone else runs for the hills."
Jordan walked over next to him. "You'd better not." She kissed him.
"Sorry." He said. "Take Jack away from here."
"Be careful." She said.
In The Van
They sat in the van and looked at their surroundings.
They'd seen bodies on there way here, but nothing had came after them. That wasn't to say they wouldn't at any minute.
"Everything seems quiet." Elliot said. "Should we go?" She looked at the others, they all looked as nervous as she felt.
"This is what we came for." Jim said. Turning to Ted he patted the man on the shoulder. "You ready, man?" Ted nodded.
With one last check, they all got out of the van and headed to the house. They moved quickly and quietly. Everything was so quiet it made it seem eerie. As they got to the door, Ted took out his key which he'd managed to keep safe in the chaos of the last few days. He unlocked the lower lock first, before extracting that key and pushing the second into the lock. He paused before he turned the key, peering through the darkened glass.
"Come on Ted." Elliot said.
"There's someone moving in there." He whispered. Jim locked eyes with Elliot but neither spoke a word.
Elliot looked at Doug. "Keep an eye out. Tell us if you hear or see anything." Doug nodded as he walked down a little further from the house so he could see the road more clearly.
Jim moved closer to the door, trying to see inside but there was no way he could see anything other than the shadowy figure standing by the door. "What should we do?" Elliot asked.
"Let's see who it is." Jim said. "Ted, call for your mom, not too loud though. I guess we'll soon know if it's her."
Ted nodded and moved close to the door so he didn't have to call too loudly. "Mom?"
As soon as the words left Ted's mouth there was a frantic banging and clawing at the door. All three jumped back with the fright. They could hear the woman's angry yells and screams inside. Ted fumbled with the key to try and securely lock it again as it had been before.
"Leave it!" Jim yelled, knocking the keys from his hands. "Everyone to the van, now."
All four raced towards the vehicle, not parked far from the house. Doug was first in and started the engine. They left the keys in the van knowing if a fast escape was needed they'd have to be ready to go. Jim reached the passenger door first and waited while Elliot and Ted got in first. He heard the smash of glass just as he got in himself. "Drive." He yelled at Doug, who started the vehicle in motion. Looking around to the house they'd just left, he saw a woman dragging herself through the smashed window.
He closed his eyes. He'd never imagined the infected would be like this.
Next to him, Ted sat in shock at what had become of his mother, as Elliot comforted him.
"Where next?" Doug asked.
"JD, Turk and Carla's."
Hospital
The Janitor walked down the abandoned hallway and towards the stairwell.
He knew something was wrong straight away. Perry was stood on the other side of the doors, carefully letting the doors close silently.
"How many?" He whispered, aware that alone it was impossible to take out more than one of the infected.
"Too many." Perry said, a slight shake in his voice. "Where are the others?"
"Cafeteria."
"It's not safe enough." Perry stated.
"The roof's the best place. We have enough stuff moved up there to barricade that stairwell and we've got an advantage of height if they come after us."
"I guess if things get really bad we can always throw ourselves off." Perry said. "Let's go, quick and quiet."
Walking quickly into the cafeteria, Perry saw Jack asleep in one of the makeshift beds they'd set up there.
"We need to go." The Janitor said as Perry scooped Jack up off the bed and walked back across to the door. Jordan and Bob followed straight away. The Janitor got to the door first. "Shit." He said. "One of them is up here."
"Well just kill it." Jordan said.
"We can't. There's more." Janitor said.
"How many more?" Bob asked.
"I'd say a good three or four that I can be certain of. Who knows how many others down there. We go out there and that thing will make enough noise to let all of those damn things nearby know we're in here."
"What are we going to do?" Jordan asked, gripping Perry's arm.
"There's only one way up to the roof." Kelso stated, knowing that it was the safest place.
"Okay, it's gone round the corner. Should we try and get tot the roof?" Janitor said.
Perry moved to the door and looked carefully through the glass window.
"Bob?" Perry said.
"What?"
"See what you think." Perry stepped away from the door to let Bob view the situation. "Well the door to the stairs is nearer to us that it is to the stairwell. We go quickly and quietly enough and we should be okay."
"Okay, lets do this." Perry said. He moved to Jordan and gave her Jack. "Jordan, stay right behind me." Opening the door, Perry stepped out, making sure he was quiet as possible. He took large steps, keeping his back to the wall as much as possible, his eyes stayed fixed on the stairwell. He knew that if the other creature already up here spotted them they were in trouble, but knew they'd be able to reach the door if that happened, but wasn't so sure if one came up the stairs. He reached the door to the stairs, and carefully turned the handle. He opened it and waited as Jordan and Kelso passed him. The Janitor passed by last, a bag full of their food supplies. They'd kept as much as possible in bags for moments like this when they had to move and time was not on their side. As the Janitor passed they both heard a distant scream of one of the infected. Perry felt his heart skip a beat as he closed the door quickly, locking it straight away.
"Let's hope they don't find us up here." The Janitor said.
As they stood there, they heard the sound of someone moving just beyond the door.
TBC.