Chapter 9

Artie and Forest appeared in the second floor east wing. A zombie approached from the corner on the far side. Forest fired at it with his pistol. It took five shots to bring it down.

"Hold on a sec," Artie said.

Forest turned to him. "What?" he asked.

"I can't believe I didn't think of this before," Artie began. "It takes multiple shots to the chest to take them down, but when I was outside, I noticed that when I shot the dogs in the head, well they just.....died."

"I guess that's the strategy," Forest replied. "One shot to the head kills."

There was a door to their right.

"Why don't we split up and look for the rest of your Bravos?" Artie suggested.

"You sure you can handle yourself?" Forest asked.

"Yeah, now that I know that "one head shot" rule," Artie replied. "By the way, if you run into anyone else, make sure you tell them that."

"No problem," Forest said.

Artie jogged down the hall and Forest went through the door to the right.

Forest came into a dim hallway. He started to walk and heard a moan. He ran around a corner to see Rebecca still aiding Richard.

"I thought you guys went to the medical room in the west wing," Forest said.

"He's too weak to move," Rebecca replied.

Richard began to cry out in pain again.

"He needs serum," Rebecca began. "It's in the medical room we were going to."

"Stay here, I'll get it," Forest said.

"Please hurry," Rebecca replied.

Forest nodded and sprinted out of the room.

Jill went back to the hallway she and Barry were in when the dogs crashed through the windows. She looked down at the two they had killed and continued around a corner to see another door at the end.

She opened it and turned left down another hallway. She turned yet another corner and saw two windows. She began to walk pass them when-

CRASH!

-the windows were busted open and three zombies pulled themselves in and fell onto the floor.

One began to crawl towards her as the other two stood themselves up. She shot that one through the head and aimed at the others. She fired five shots and reloaded another magazine. Another two shots each and they fell down, twitching.

Jill walked pass them and opened a door around the next corner.

This room was square and small. She went to the next door and opened it.

It led to a small room with a fire place. She looked over to the side and saw a shotgun placed neatly on two hooks. She walked over to it and took the shotgun off the hooks. After she did, the hooks rose and locked in to the top of the open section.

Jill shrugged and moved back into the other room. When she shut the door, she felt something falling on her shoulder.

She caught it in her hand and saw that it was dust. She looked up to see the ceiling of the room descending.

She went to the door that led to the hallway. It was locked. She tried the other door. It was also locked.

"Oh god, what did I do now?" she said to herself.

She ran to the door that led to the hallway, frantically trying to pull it open.

"Chris, Barry, someone help!" she cried.

"Jill, is that you?" a familiar voice shouted on the other side of the door.

The ceiling continued to descend.

"Artie, get me out of here!" she cried.

She was now laying down on the floor.

"Get away from the door!" he shouted back.

As Jill crawled backwards, she heard a gunshot from the other side.

Artie tried to open the door inward, but the ceiling had already gone over the frame. He pulled it open and reached out for Jill.

"Grab my hand!" he shouted.

Jill crawled forward, threw the shotgun out into the hallway, and gripped his hand as hard as she could. He pulled her out a second before the ceiling met the ground.

They both sat up against the wall opposite the room, trying to catch their breath.

"What happened?" Artie asked.

"I don't know," Jill began. "But I'm glad you were here when you were. Thanks."

"You're welcome," Artie replied.

"I don't understand," Jill continued. "Weren't you supposed to be going through the second floor with Forest?"

"Yeah, but I thought Forest and I should split up to look for the Bravos," he replied. "There was a hallway that had stairs leading down to this floor, so I decided to come down and just as I entered the room, I heard you."

They got up and Jill brushed her shoulders off. Artie went for the double doors he came through.

"Thanks again, Artie," Jill said with a smile, picking up the shotgun.

He stopped and turned to her.

"Don't mention it," he replied. "Were you going this way?"

"Actually I was," Jill answered.

"Come with me," Artie said.

"Okay," Jill replied.

They both headed to the east stairs.