Chapter Ten: The Threat Lives On

The two troopers forced Sawyer and I onto our knees. I looked out at the city in front of me. The one I had worked so hard to protect, was now a wasteland of zombies that was about to be blown to hell. This isn't the way it was supposed to end. No. Not now. I felt my heart rate increase at the thought of what I was about to do next. Jeremiah walked over, and I heard the gun cock.

"Any last words, before I end your pathetic lives?"

Sawyer glanced back at him and glared. "How about you go fuck yourself?"

"Soon. But first…"

"I'm gonna kill you."

Jeremiah laughed at my comment. "Sure. Do your worst."

I looked over at Sawyer. I nodded to him. He looked at me, and then nodded back. "Take care of her, Sawyer."

He didn't say anything. He just looked away. Suddenly I stood, and kicked backward with my right foot. I felt it make contact, and heard Jeremiah stumble backward, the pistol dropping to the ground.

Sawyer fell backward, and snatched it up, and shot the two troopers, before rolling to the other side, and shooting at the other troopers.

Jeremiah touched his bottom lip and drew blood to his fingers. "You son of a bitch…" He murmured. I walked over and pulled him up by his collar and ran my fist into his stomach. He doubled over with a painful yelp.

"Before I kill you… I'm going to fuck you up."

"Like I said… do your worst, Smith."

I straighten him up and drew my fist back. As I brought it in toward his face, his hand stopped it in mid air. "I said your worst, you pussy!" He shoved me back, and threw a punch into my face. I stumbled backward toward the edge of the roof. I shook my head.

"That was pretty good…"

I saw Sawyer shoot down the remaining troopers and run over to the chopper. I then saw, out of the corner of my eye, Jeremiah race toward me, fist ready. I ducked suddenly, and grabbed him by his shirt, and yanked him back again, running him into my fist. He fell backward onto the ground hard, his breath being forced out of him.

"Get up!"

"Go to hell!"

He kicked out, knocking me back. I fell to the ground, and forced myself up quickly – but not quickly enough, as Jeremiah ran over and kicked me in my side, sending me rolling over, breathless.

"You make me sick." He muttered, spitting on me. I wiped it off my face as he started to walk away. I looked around, and smiled.

"Hey, Jeremiah." I said, standing up, and limping after him. He turned, and laughed at me. "You don't give up do you? Do yourself a favor, and just jump off the roof, will ya?"

"I'll pass. But… I would like to help you off." I grabbed him and yanked him around, tossing him as far as possible. He stumbled forward, and fell to the ground, rolling once. He let out a scream of frustration.

"You know what makes me sick, Jeremiah?"

I stared at him as he stood up.

"That you weren't much of a fight. I expected better. But in the end… your just another fucking zombie." He glared, and I raised my silencer up and fired a bullet into his temple. He stood there a moment, a surprised look on his face, before he fell backward, over the edge of the roof, and disappeared from sight.

I looked at my watch. We had about 8 minutes before that missile hit. I ran over to the chopper, and got in. I put the gun to the pilot's head. "Get this thing in the air, if you want to live." I said.

He swallowed, and flipped a few switches. Suddenly we were airborne. I walked over, as Sawyer sat next to the pilot, making sure he flew us out safely, and sat down next to Lilly, who was sitting quietly. I looked at her. She was a mess. Her hair was all over her head. Dirt was smeared in spots on her face, and her clothes had dirt and shit all over it. I winced at my twisted ankle as I took her hand in mine.

Suddenly I pulled her into a deep kiss, as the missile hit the city in the distance, causing a massive explosion.

Sawyer looked back at us, as we flew over an open field. He chuckled. Below us in the field, a zombie growled as it watched us fly into the distance; destination unknown.