The man stopped where he stood, resting the crossbow across his shoulder. "I could ask you the same thing."
Melissa wanted to rub her eyes in shock like she had earlier, to make sure she wasn't seeing things, but she was afraid of rubbing the zombie blood in.
"I asked you first," Dean told him belligerently.
"Um, hate to interrupt the little reunion here," Melissa stuttered, "but I don't think we should still be standing around here. My screaming probably is going to draw some more zombies in."
Dean looked down at her. "Why did you scream?" he asked her. He obviously hadn't seen the zombie hit the ground.
"She was attacked by a zombie," the unnamed man commented. "I shot it."
"I didn't ask you," Dean muttered.
The man who had saved Melissa took a step forward.
The Shield reacted automatically, forming a sort of defensive triangle. Melissa was somehow shoved behind Seth. Roman spoke. "Stay where you are, Orton."
Melissa almost grinned as she realized her suspicions were correct; it had been Randy Orton who had saved her. She peeked around Seth to see that Randy had once again stopped.
"I was just going to check that she hadn't been bitten or scratched," he said, the crossbow now hanging down by his leg.
"I haven't," Melissa piped up. "It only grabbed my shirt. It didn't get to my skin. Though I would like to clean my face; it got blood all over me."
"See, she's fine," Seth said.
Randy looked ready to argue some more, but he simply said, "The girl was right when she said that we should leave this for another time." He pointed with his crossbow down the street, where several zombies were wandering around the corner.
"Let's go," Dean muttered, signaling for Melissa to head down the alley. She started down the alley, hearing the Shield follow her.
As she started up and over the wall, she saw Randy Orton following. Unfortunately, so did Dean. "Go away Orton."
Orton shook his head. "I'm going wherever the hell you're going."
Melissa could almost feel the zombies getting closer. "Now is not the time!" she yelled. "Just let him come!"
Orton had a smug grin on his face as he pushed past the Shield, following Melissa over the wall.
Melissa watched as Seth and Dean came up and over the wall. She saw Roman start to come over. All of a sudden he was pulled backwards, back down into the alley.
"Roman!" Seth screamed, leaping forward to grab ahold of the other man's hands. Dean, after hesitating, probably from shock, did so as well.
Randy moved forward, his crossbow in hand. He jumped to the top of the wall, and fired off one of the bolts, probably shooting at the zombies that had followed them into the alley.
Melissa dropped the heavy backpack she was wearing, joining Dean and Seth as they tried to drag Roman over the wall. She ignored the fact that there were zombies swarming down below. Eventually, with the effort of three people pulling, Roman was dragged over the wall down to the street, where he collapsed, breathing heavily.
Randy jumped down from the wall. "Now is not the time to be catching your breath," he warned. "It won't be long before they're over the wall."
Dean and Seth helped Roman to his feet. "Are you alright?" Melissa asked him. Underneath her question lay another question, the one they were all wondering; had he been bitten?
Roman smiled weakly, his normally tan face pale. "Thank goodness for riot gear, right?" He lifted his torn pant leg, showing undamaged skin.
"Come on then," Orton said, taking control. "We need to find someplace to hide. Quickly."
Dean signaled for Melissa to lead the way back to the church. "Orton, watch our backs," he said. "That crossbow will come in handy if the zombies make it over the wall."
Randy shrugged. "I doubt it'll make a dent on those numbers."
Melissa started heading down the street, picking up her backpack and screwdriver. In the dying light, the usually safe-looking street frightened her. She picked up her pace, constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure everyone was following and that no zombies had come over the wall. She made the mistake of forgetting to check the street as she crossed it.
The lone zombie from earlier had wandered down the street and had spotted her. It roared incomprehensibly before charging her. The weight knocked her to the ground, the zombie landing on top of her. All she could think of was that it smelled and looked awful.
The thoughts fled her mind as it lunged at her, spittle falling onto her shirt. She reacted instinctively, her left hand, which held the screwdriver, coming upward. She shoved the screwdriver into the zombie's eye socket, wincing as it made a squelching sound as it sunk in. Blood spurted outward, once again spraying all over her. She almost relaxed, thinking it was dead for good until it lunged again, its mouth wide open. She rolled away with a scream, watching as it hit the pavement. She brought the screwdriver down, stabbing it several times, hoping she hit the brain.
It didn't get up again. She didn't realize she was crying until Seth knelt beside her, wiping away a tear. "Come on, we need to keep moving." She let him help her to her feet. Roman was looking at her with sympathy.
"Today is not your day, is it?" Randy joked slightly.
Dean glared at him, obviously still wanting him to leave. He turned away to follow Melissa and Seth, who had started down the road. Roman silently followed Dean, and after a moment's pause, Randy did as well.
Melissa shuddered in relief as the church came into sight through her blurry, tear-filled vision. She dashed the last few feet, jumping the picket fence. She made her way to the back door, opening it quickly. She waited until everyone was inside before closing the door, sinking down with her back to it.
She barely noticed when Seth came to stand by her. "Melissa, are you alright?" he asked. She didn't answer. "Melissa?" he repeated. Melissa looked up, trying to focus in the dark church. She went to answer, but her voice caught in her throat. She blinked, her vision going black around the edges. "I…I…" was all she could manage to say before she passed out.