Disclaimer: I do not own the 2004 or 1978 film Dawn of the Dead; I own Angela and any other unfamiliar characters. WARNING! Rated T for violence, death, gory scenes, and any other adult content.

Just a quick note to say I really am overwhelmed with the support I have received for this story. I knew when writing this story that the fandom was only small, but I didn't expect so many reviews and messages over the past few months! So once again, thanks to everyone who has been reading. Only one more chapter to go after this!


Chapter Twenty

"Back it up, back it up!" CJ shouted, looking out through the window, "back up!"

Putting the bus in reverse, Michael backed up slowly until they reached the alleyway, seeing the damage caused. The second bus had skidded on its side for about fifteen feet before crashing into a wall, bricks sprawled over it. Angela and CJ looked at the overturned vehicle with silent alarm, Ana pulling out the walkie talkie.

"Kenneth, you there? Kenneth?" she asked, receiving no reply, "Kenneth, are you there?"

"We need to get them out before those things catch up to us," Angela finally said, looking out to the empty street, which they knew wouldn't be for long.

"Kenneth, you okay?" Ana asked once more, the walkie crackling in her hand.

After no reply, Angela heard CJ groan with frustration next to her, his shotgun pumping. When she looked at him, he was already sliding the metal bar out of its holder on the door.

"What are you doing?"

"Fucking nursery school," he muttered, kicking it open, checking the surrounding area before jumping out.

Pulling her gun out of her holster, Angela gave a disquieted glance to Michael and Ana before following CJ, her sneakers hitting the concrete. Feet still wet from the sewers, they squelched with every cautious step she took, eyes taking in her surroundings, hearing Ana's own feet slap the ground behind her.

The streets were once chaotic, cars abandoned haphazardly in the roads while litter and personal belongings were strewn everywhere, Angela ignoring the bloody teddy bear she stepped over. It was eerily quiet, which only heightened her nerves. They crept around the over-turned bus, keeping low and quiet with their backs pressed against it, guns at the ready.

The roof hatch flew open, Angela jumping at the sudden noise, quickly following CJ to investigate. They found Kenneth climbing out, gritting his teeth painfully, his arms covered in grazes.

"CJ," he called, throwing the bag of weapons, CJ catching and slinging it over his shoulder.

Angela rushed over to help Terry out the bus while Ana quickly checked over Kenneth, noticing the blood on him. Bracing one of Terry's arm over her shoulders, steadying him while he regained his balance, she helped ease him out the hatch, the young man taking in short breaths.

"Where's Monica?" she asked, looking back at the hatch once Terry was out, only noticing the alarmed look on his face when he remained silent. "What?"

When Terry refused to answer, she left him leaning against the bus, her heart racing as she stalked back to the hatch. Before she could look through, Kenneth blocked her way, shaking his head.

"No, Angela" he said firmly. "Everyone's dead, Steve took off."

Taking a few seconds to process those words, repeating them over in her mind, Angela's body became numb. Pushing past him, Kenneth sighed sadly but didn't stop her again, she looked inside, a sorrowful cry ripping from her throat at the sight.

Monica's beautiful face looked away from Angela, but she didn't need to see her cold eyes to know the woman was dead. Drenched in blood, her body lay in an awfully unnatural position, legs bent and arms splayed. The chainsaw imbedded in her stomach, her body had savagely been ripped open from the shoulder down, the inside of the bus sprayed with her blood. Next to Monica, Glen's unmoving eyes stared up unfocused, his body lifeless, the back of his skull caved in and brain matter leaking out.

"Let's go, c'mon!" CJ shouted, tugging Terry to head back to the bus.

Tears spilled from Angela's eyes, bile threatening to rise to her throat before she was pulled away by Ana, who had also seen the horrific sight inside the bus. Nothing felt real, Angela's body momentarily shutting down, just letting Ana drag her in a daze. Monica, sweet and caring Monica with the curly hair and red lips, the woman Angela had grown especially close with, was dead. Two more of the group, gone in an instant.

It wasn't until a figure stumbled out from behind a car, blocking their path, that Angela recognised the person's black shirt and pants.

"Steve?"

White eyes looked up at the two women, an infected Steve crouching low as a raspy cry came from his bloodied mouth.

"I got him," Ana simply said.

Without hesitation, she raised her handgun and pulled the trigger. Head jerking backwards, blood and brain matter projecting on the car behind him, Steve slumped backwards and slid down to the floor.

"Damn," Kenneth said at Ana's bluntness, who had watched from behind them.

"Guess you kept that bastard's promise then," Angela muttered, snivelling as she glared down at the pathetic dead body.

A low screech ripped through the air once more, a lone infected jumped from behind the over-turned bus in front of CJ, who had stopped to watch Steve meet his demise. Before he could react, Terry ran past, shooting it in the head.

"Come on!" he yelled, running to the functioning bus ahead.

Not too far in the distance, the horde's close screams echoed down the streets, causing the group to run. Looking around from the alleyway, Angela saw the undead appearing around the corner up ahead, heading straight for them. However, Ana suddenly disappeared from her side, Angela skidding to a stop when the blonde ran back towards Steve's corpse.

"Ana, what are you doing?" she yelled, looking between the woman and the oncoming dead crowd.

Angela couldn't fathom why Ana had gone back, especially with the horde so close to them. Everything seemed to slow down, Angela torn on what to do; she could hear CJ calling her name, telling her to get on the bus, but she couldn't leave Ana. They'd already lost more than enough of the group today, Angela just witnessing one of her close friend's mangled body, and she couldn't lose anymore.

Making possibly the stupidest decision, she ran after Ana, hearing the confused shouts from everyone else. Reaching the blonde, who was searching Steve's pockets, she grabbed her under the armpits and yanked her away.

"Wait, no!" Ana shouted, struggling against Angela.

"We need to leave now!" she yelled, dragging her towards the bus.

"Hurry!" Michael yelled, CJ and Terry shooting at the crowd.

Only a few feet away from the undead, Angela hauled Ana to the bus door, pushing her into Michael's arms. CJ stuck his hand out for Angela, pulling her inside when another hand grabbed her leg. Feeling the cold, decrepit flesh of the infected being, she screamed when it tried to pull her back out to the hungry mob, more filthy hands reaching for her. Clinging desperately to CJ, Michael stuck his shotgun out, delivering a fatal blast that rattled Angela's ears. Feeling the grips loosen on her legs, CJ finally pulled her inside, the two tumbling to the floor.

"Go!" Terry yelled to Kenneth in the driver's seat, slamming the door shut.

Still feeling the dead hands on her, like their touch had burned her skin, Angela frantically pulled her jeans up. In her state of panic, she began hyperventilating, checking her bare skin for any sign of injury.

"Have I been bit, have I been bit?" she cried manically.

"Angela, look at me!" CJ said, grabbing her shaking hands and forcing her to calm down. "There's nothing there, you're fine! You haven't been bitten!"

Standing above them, Michael angrily shook Ana by the shoulders, in disbelief at the stunt she had just pulled, possibly endangering everyone.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he asked her, his anger morphing into worry.

"The keys!" she finally said, pushing him away and breathing heavily. "The keys to the boat – Steve's got them, and I was trying to grab them!"

Silence fell over the bus, the realisation hitting them all. Breathing levelling out, Angela let her head fall back against the bus, suddenly feeling incredibly guilty since she had stopped Ana. Mouth in a tight line, Michael exhaled loudly through his nose, eyes squeezing tight in frustration while he rubbed his forehead.

"Jesus Christ," CJ muttered, fist hitting the floor of the bus.

"What are we going to do now?" Terry asked, panic in his voice.

After several moments, Michael stood straight, moving to the front of the bus behind Kenneth, looking out through the windshield.

"We stick with the original plan."

"And how the hell are we supposed to do that without the goddamn keys?" asked CJ, helping Angela stand up in the moving bus.

"We can't start the boat without them keys," Ana added.

"We can."

When all eyes flicked to Michael, who turned back around to the group, he hesitated before explaining. "I used to work on boats – building them and taking them apart; it was one of my jobs." The corners of his mouth twitched up slightly. "I'm pretty sure I can hotwire it."

"You're pretty sure you can?" CJ repeated sceptically.

Michael stared directly at him, nodding his head. "I can hot wire it."

The tension seemed to disappear, Angela beginning to chuckle with disbelief. "You got anymore tricks up your sleeve?"

They continued to drive for another half a mile before the back entrance of the marina came into view, the chain link gates locked tightly; Angela hoped that meant the marina was clear of those things. Kenneth put his foot down, the bus gradually picking up speed as they neared the gates. Everyone braced themselves against the sides of the bus, Angela holding onto CJ.

"Hold on!"

Crashing through the gates, flattening the fences with ease, the bus vibrated as they drove over the rocky surface. Still maintaining a dangerous speed, Kenneth swerved through the entrance, avoiding cars and boats before mounting the bus straight on the dock. The front of the large vehicle smashed through the wooden planks, tipping forward and landing harshly in the shallow water hard.

Jerking forward, Angela lost her grip and hit her head on the safety bar in front of her, collapsing to the floor. Plunged into darkness, her vision was blurry the next time she opened her eyes, sharp pains shooting across her head. Sensing people moving around her, someone knelt next to her and called her name, but it sounded far away, like she was under water.

"Angela! Angela get up!"

Head spinning, her eyes finally landed on CJ in front of her, trying to get her on her feet.

"CJ, come on!" she heard Kenneth shout, "just carry her!"

"Do it, man! We'll catch up!" Arms hitched under her shoulders, CJ hoisted her up on her feet, supporting her weight. "Come on, Angela, we need to go now!"

"My head…"

The world came crashing down around her, bringing a hand up to caress throbbing pain in her head, though her eyes focused again. Looking at CJ, bus trying to help her to the door, her head then swayed to the left, looking outside. From the path they had just driven through, emerging around the trees and boats, the first few undead from the hoard ran towards the bus.

"CJ!"

Following her terrified eyes and seeing the crowd coming towards them, he let go of Angela and pumped his shotgun. "Shit!"

Backing away from the open door, CJ shooting the infected that closed in on them, Angela frantically looked around the bus for another escape route. Spotting the emergency side door, she pulled the lever to open it, only to realise it was stuck, the impact of the crash denting it inwards.

"The door's jammed!" she yelled, eyes wide with fear.

"Fuck!" he growled, dropping his empty shotgun and pulling out two handguns from his belt.

The monsters fought each other to jump in the bus first, CJ barely keeping them at bay, though Angela saw more flowing into the marina, a never-ending crowd of them swarming the bus. Feeling a cold draft hit her, Angela suddenly looked up, eyes landing on the empty hole in the roof.

"The hatch, CJ!"

Sparing a quick glance up to it, still shooing the infected piling up at the door, he then kicked the large propane tank that stood next to them.

"Angela, light a flare and attach it," he said, managing to throw a flare at her from his belt.

Catching the red stick, a bewildered expression wrinkled her face. "What? CJ, we need to go now!"

"Just do it then get out!" he yelled, shooting a zombie that jumped in the bus, the rest attempting to climb over it.

Popping the cap, the spark sizzled in her hand, Angela shoving it through the handle of the tank. Having no time to pull the ladder out, she kicked over a crate and stood on it, jumping up to the hatch. Fingers latching on the metal edge of the roof, Angela groaned dangled for a second, kicking her legs to give herself momentum. Slamming her hands flat against the roof, her arms strained when she finally pulled herself up and out. Rolling on her stomach, she tuned back to the hatch stuck her arm back inside, looking at CJ, who had backed further into the bus.

"Grab my hand!"

"Angela, just go – shit!" he exclaimed, the empty clip from one of his guns dropping to the floor.

Without hesitation, Angela pulled her gun out, leaning her torso in and began shooting, killing one that got too close to CJ.

"I'm not leaving without you!" she yelled.

"There's too many of them," he glanced up through the hatch, Angela seeing no fear but determination in his eyes, "just go now!"

However, the same determination sparked in her eyes, and she fired at another infected. "Don't be fucking stupid; grab my hand and I'll pull you up!"

"Angela, listen-"

"Dammit, CJ, you listen to me!" she yelled, voice rough against her tight chest. "I am not leaving without you, I am not leaving on that boat without you, I will not leave you here to sacrifice yourself like some fucking hero movie! I'll jump back into this goddamn bus if you don't grab my fucking hand right now!"

Brown eyes meeting green, faces dripping with sweat, their breaths caught in their throats, they both held each other's gazes for a split second, but that was all it took. A split second to see the fight in each other, the will to keep each other safe. A split second to see love reflecting in their eyes, engrained deep within them. A split second for CJ to realise if he stayed in the bus, Angela would jump back in with him.

A figure jumped in the door, a hungered howl ripping from its throat before charging at CJ.

"NOW!"

Shooting the infected, CJ stood on the crate, jumping up to grab Angela's hands. Fingers digging in his forearms, groaning through her teeth, she began pulling him up. In the bus below, the infected spilled into the bus, one of them grabbing CJ's legs.

"Shit!" he hissed, trying to kick it away.

Tensing her jaw, Angela strained to pull him up, arms moving to his upper body for better leverage. Before it sank its teeth into his flesh, CJ stuck his gun down next to him, shooting it through the mouth just as Angela found the strength to haul him up. They landed in a heap on the roof, Angela flat on her back with CJ on top of her. For a few seconds they laid there, the adrenaline coursing through their veins, chests heaving in sync.

"Don't ever pull that shit on me again," Angela finally moaned, rubbing her palm over her eyes.

Breathing heavily, CJ shook his head with a small smile, though the moment was interrupted when decaying hands reached out through the hatch. The couple staggered to their feet, looking down through the hatch, the bus filled to the brim with the things. They surrounded either sides of the vehicle, even splashing through the water, Kenneth and Terry still shooting from the end of the dock while Michael tried to start the boat.

"CJ, Angela, hurry!" Ana yelled, watching anxiously from the boat.

Still looking down the hatch, the red spark only just visible through the bodies, CJ gripped Angela's hand hard.

"When I say jump, you jump," he said, aiming his gun down.

"What?"

"JUMP!"

Before Angela could comprehend what was happening, CJ shot into the bus, the gas canister exploding inside. They both jumped, but the impact of the explosion sent Angela up through the air, heat consuming her whole body. The sound of the explosion thundered in her ears while she soared over ten feet away, landing on the wooden dock, covering her head as her body hit the planks harshly.

When the third explosion Angela had experienced in just mere hours simmered, she cracked opened her eyes. Slowly lifting her head from her arms, she gasped for breath, inhaling the thick clump of black smoke that rose into the air. A high-pitched ringing vibrated her ears, her vision blurry due to the smoke irritating her eyes. Pain pulsed through her body, heat flowing through her veins, and she could feel wood and metal splinters prickle her skin, dots of blood seeping into her clothes.

Fire crackled from the bus, or what was left of it – a burnt-out shell, pieces of metal projected everywhere. The explosion has blown up the dock, preventing anything from crossing over. It had also blown up the surrounding undead bodies, disintegrating them as well as knocking down the rest that continued to pour into the marina.

Someone crouched next to her, CJ's bruised and ash-covered face invading her sight. "You okay?" he asked.

Regaining the feeling in her arms, she pushed herself up, CJ helping her when she coughed hoarsely. "You asshole, you could have warned me."

"I did," he said, his usual grin appearing, tinged with pain, "I said jump."

Hands wrapping around his neck, Angela couldn't help the small chuckle as she let him pull her up to her feet. However, when they tried to walk, her legs wobbled before giving way, Angela stumbling over.

"My legs," she gasped, face pinching in agony.

Kenneth ran up to them, grabbing one of Angela's arms and slinging it over his shoulder, CJ doing the same with the other. They hoisted her up, taking her weight off her legs, carrying her along the dock to the boat. CJ huffed painfully while he ran, body also aching from the blast, but managed to make it to the boat with Angela.

"Holy shit, are you two okay?" Terry asked, slightly in shock but helping Angela on the boat.

"Yeah, just a few bruises," she tried to laugh, though it came out as a wheeze.

CJ stepped up after her, he and Terry carrying her to the seats at the back, Kenneth helping Michael with starting the boat. Setting her down on the plush leather seats, Terry went to untie the boat from the post while CJ knelt in front of Angela, inspecting her injuries.

"You've got some burns on your legs," he said, hands ghosting over the raw flesh.

Letting her head roll back against the head rest, Angela only smiled lazily, her hands reach out to him. "I don't care, just as long as you're here."

"And you might have a concussion," he said, though he smiled along with her, his hand brushing her face.

Hearing the engine grind and moan, rusty after being not in use for quite some time, a loud rumble suddenly vibrated underneath them and the boat stuttering to life. In perhaps a rare and long-awaited moment of ecstasy, Michael clapped his hands with a laugh before embracing Kenneth, the latter displayed a pure smile on his face. The former cop then took to the steering wheel, Michael joining the others.

"She's running!"

"Good, then let's get the fuck out of here," CJ said, grinning widely up at the ecstatic man.

The boat slowly started moving forward away from the dock, beginning to gently rock as it sailed over deeper water. Terry sat down next to Angela, giving her a bottle of water from a mini fridge on the top deck while Ana appeared next to CJ, inspecting her leg injuries.

"Thanks," she croaked, sipping the much-needed refreshment.

"I need to clean this up," Ana said, beginning to rip away the ruined jeans, Angela hissing in pain. "Terry, can you see if there's a first aid kit on board?"

When the young man disappeared down the lower deck, CJ took his place next to the woman he loved, brushing her hair away from her moist face. Resting her head on his shoulder, Angela looked out at the ocean, letting the sunrise wash over her, finally feeling at peace.

"We made it, we really made it," she whispered.

"I told you we would, didn't I," CJ said, his arm resting around her shoulders, taking her hand in his other.

"Where do we go now?" Terry asked, returning with a green box in his hands for Ana.

Michael smiled, leaning against the railing, also looking out to the horizon as they sailed further away from the dock, away from the horde of wailing monsters, away from the nightmare they had endured.

"Anywhere we want."