Authors notes: Let's finish off No Mercy and hopefully get moving on to what comes next, time for the rooftop finale that's all known and loved by most at this point.
Chapter 7: Rooftop Escape
The group sat in silence for a few minutes as they gathered their thoughts of doom and try to push them to the back of their minds, "let's find that radio and get a hold of that pilot" Bill said marching up to the safe room door Francis and Louis right behind him as Zoey hesitantly rose to her feet, sighing and blowing a strand of hair out of her face as he kicked the door open marching up a flight of stairs and out into a long narrow corridor with dark rooms all around them. "It can only get better right?" Louis said trying to keep them motivated as Francis led the way flashlight checking all the dark rooms and spaces they passed as they made their way up the corridor, "through here I think I can here the radio!" Louis yelled as he used a vent grill to get behind a lift shaft spotting a ladder leading up to the roof the group all keeping close together as the went up one by one. Bill cursed under his breathe as he was met with cold pouring windy rain at the top as they had finally made it out onto the roof, "there's the landing pad" he said grunting as infected were seen stumbling about the roof, Zoey grunted shivering as the cold rain poured down on her, chilling her to the bone as they jumped down onto the landing pad, Bill grunting as he noted a large portion of the landing pad had been destroyed as he gunned down some infected stumbling about the roof. "Mercy Hospital if you can hear this pick up this is news chopper 5" they heard looking down at the bottom of the ramp leading up to the bad to small building with a mounted mini gun on the second floor, "there it is let's get in there and let him know we are here" Bill said marching down as they gunned down any infected in sight, most of which barely even noticed they were there before biting the dust altogether.
Inside the building was a table with the radio set on it and a medical cabinet and a weapons rack with a large pile of ammo in front of it, and a small pile of canned food and bottled water the team quickly stocked up as Bill approached the radio, he grabbed hold of the mic and pressed the button clearing his throat before he began, "news chopper 5 this is mercy hospital requesting pickup are you receiving over?" He said loud and clearly as there was nothing but static for a moment. "It's good to hear from you Mercy Hospital finally someone made it, hang tight and I'll come and pick you up, you are going to need to fortify and hold out until I get there, we left a mounted gun and other supplies to help out, set up and call me back once your prepared, News chopper 5 out" the pilot said as they stocked up on their ammo. "Alright let's get up to the floor above and take advantage of that gun, Zoey get to higher ground and use that rifle as best you can watch out for smokers and hunters, Francis watch the stairs for anyone trying to climb up, let's get set up and call him back" Bill explained as the three of them nodded heading up the stairs to the floor above as Louis ran to the mini gun whistling as he took hold of the handles, "man I always wanted to fire one of these things" he said as he nodded to Zoey. The young woman had positioned herself on en elevated platform on the roof of the building, allowing her to see most of the rooftop, scoping in as she scanned for any incoming targets, while Francis positioned himself on the stairs, Bill tossed two gas cans in radius of the mini gun nodding up to Louis who gave him a thumbs up, "alright people here we go, let's get this show on the road" he said going back to the Radio ready to get them out of this city. "News chopper 5 we are prepared and ready for evacuation, come and get us we are good to go" he said as the pilot returned again, "ok Mercy Hospital I'm on way, ETA 15 minutes just hang in there News chopper 5 out" he said as Bill raced past Francis taking position next to Louis as they waited patiently...
Just when they thought things would be easy for them Francis was taken by surprise as a boomer had been idly sitting on the rooftop before it heard caught wind of their presence using a ladder at the bottom of the stairs behind the building it had managed to take the biker by surprise who yelled loudly as it puked all over him, "ah shit... just when you think it will be an easy wait!" He yelled blasting the bloated figure out of existence as the angry cry of a horde alerted by the bile rose up above the howling wind telling them a firefight was immanent, "whatever happens we hold this roof, send them to hell people here they come!" Bill yelled as Zoey but her lip nervously waiting for dark figures to appear in her scope as screaming and shouting could be heard all around them. The sharp Bang of Zoey's hunting rifle caused Louis to jump as she began to fire at figures emerging on to the roof from the lift shaft they had come from, "here they come boys!" She yelled firing bullet after bullet as the bile finally cleared off of Francis, Louis wasted no time spinning the mini gun to life as the front of the pack came charging down the ramp after them, the mini gun spat flames as it bullets tore fragile infected to spreads drenching the ramp and floor in blood and guts as Bill fired at flankers from the left. The shotgun of Francis also boomed into action as flankers came from the same ladder as the boomer not allowing himself to be caught of guard again as the horde poured out onto the roof from all sides, "rock and roll!" He yelled as he fired shell after shell into grey bodies removing limbs and making holes as he spattered blood and organs everywhere. Bill continued to fire at the left flank ejecting a spent mag and slapping another one in as he continued to play his part in holding out long enough for them to escape on the helicopter, halfway through a mag something screamed loudly as he suddenly leapt up and pinned him down to the ground, using his rifle to keep its swiping claws at bay as a clean headshot from Zoey splattered its blood all over the old man who grunted annoyed before turning and nodding his thanks to the young woman as he set off one of the gas cans engulfing a large area in flames and keeping the horde at bay for a moment as he ejected another mag... they were going through ammo like it was going out of fashion. Thankfully Louis still had plenty of mini gun ammo to work with and there was more below them if they really needed it, "mercy Hospital ETA 10 minutes, just hang in there I'm coming as fast as I can, news chopper 5 out" he could hear the pilot say on the radio.
They just had to hold off a little while longer and things would soon be going their way for once, Bill gritted his teeth as he unloaded a full mag on 15 or so infected reducing them to a bloody heap on the floor as blood filled the floor around them, ejecting another mag and slapping in another as the flames his gun spat illuminated his grizzled bearded face in a deep frown as he fought long and hard to keep the infected horde at bay. Zoey was cold, tired, wet and fed up of running and having to fend for her life... she couldn't wait for the helicopter to arrive and whisk them all to safety, this wasn't the life for her and the sooner she could get a bit of normality going the better, firing shot after shot downing attackers with headshots and gaping holes through their chests the bodies that littered the rooftop were piling up, infected climbing and stamping over their dead brethren as they fought to get their hands on the survivors who disturbed their peace. Francis cursed as each gaping hole he put in an infected coming up the stairs after him he sprayed blood on his vest and jacket, the corpses and blood pouring next to the staircase was pilling up and showed no sign of stopping anytime soon, despite this he pressed on knowing that very soon it would all be over and he could go and relax somewhere without the over positive Louis bugging him. Speaking of which the office worker laughed heartily as he used the mini gun to build up the body count from the front, bodies and blood everywhere as he continued to spit hot lead at any attacker foolish enough to be in his line of sight, he wasn't going to give up now that they were soo close to finishing this shit and getting on a one way trip to freedom.
After a few more minutes of shredding the horde the number of infected moving out onto the roof drastically decreased meaning they could finally take a moment to catch their breathe or so they thought... no sooner had Louis spun down the red hot mini gun did he do a double take as a large muscular infected 15 feet tall stood on the landing pad growling aggressively as it laid eyes on the four survivors giving a loud roar as it slammed its mighty fists into the ground. "Shit, we've got a big problem and not much time to deal with it!" Louis yelled as they went wide eyed with terror at the Tank blocking their chance at freedom, "we need to take that thing down before he lands or else we are done for... light him up!" Bill yelled opening fire with Zoey and Francis as Louis spun the mini gun back to life, the beast grunted in pain as the bullets slammed into it blood spraying from its body as it ripped a large chunk of the floor out of the ground and threw it towards Louis. The man cried out leaving the mini gun as the debris slammed into it, smashing the mini gun off the roof and crumbling broken and dented down to the ground below, "shit, why now..." Louis cursed unloading with his Uzi as the beast roared and began to charge to their position, climbing up as Bill and the team backed down the stairs, running and firing as it gave chase to them.
"Mercy Hospital 5 minutes news chopper 5 out" the pilot came as the beast slammed its fists into the radio smashing it to bits before giving chase to Bill and Francis as Louis and Zoey split from them, jumping on to another shallow roof and opening fire, they fired at the beast pelting it with bullets as Zoey suddenly felt something wet and rubbery wrap around her waist causing her to drop her hunting rifle as she was pulled down and out of view of the others. "I'm coming hold on!" Louis yelled jumping down and firing behind her at the offending smoker which had its tongue cut and hissed as it dropped Zoey where she was and lunged for Louis slashing him on the arm with its clawed hand and backhanding Zoey into a wall where she hit her head and stumbled to her knees. Louis yelped as the infected bit into his arm and slapped him across the face, he looked up as the gangly figure stood above him hissing as it bared fanged bloodied teeth raising his hand to strike again... a sharp bang occurred followed by the smoker exploding as Zoey got to her feet, firing a single shot into the smokers heart. "Aww damnit, thanks girl but this stings like hell..." Louis muttered as she nodded getting the medkit off her back and disinfecting and bandaging the wound as Louis nodded his thanks, "come on we need to help them" he said grabbing hold of his Uzi as Zoey followed close behind, only to see Francis fly by and crash into a wall with a grunt of pain as the beast through more debris at Bill who fired at him from a rooftop.
Louis lit a mollie and threw it as it exploded on the beasts body engulfing its alright bloody form in flames causing it to turn on him sharply and roar smashing its fists down as it gave chase, it punched him sliding across the roof where he cried out as he slammed into a stairwell, Zoey helped Francis up as Bill continued to fire on the flaming beast, he nodded looking back as Bill was hit by concrete and crumpled to the floor as the beast grabbed him and held up against the wall by the neck choking him out. All three of them fired causing the tank pain as it dropped Bill and grabbed hold of an infected corpse throwing it, Zoey yelled as it sent her flying against the radio table and crumpled to the floor, she tried to get up but whined as her ankle hurt like hell, she suddenly felt the ground shaking and look up her blood running cold as the beast charged towards her roaring as it raised his fist, "oh god no help!" She cried as bullets from three different sources slammed into the beasts back and it finally succumbed to the burning and blood loss it had taken...
With a farewell yell it crumpled to the floor, blood pouring from its massive corpse as Zoey shakily pulled herself up with the table and whined as her left ankle hurt like hell, sage had sprained it when she crashed into the table, Louis put an arm over her shoulder and helped her towards the landing pad as Bill and Francis looked up hearing blades and an engine above them. The hail of a horde occurred as the helicopter had finally arrived, "Mercy Hospital it looks like your gonna be my final run... get to the landing pad I can't land but I can come on hot next to the pad!" He yelled through his megaphone as banging began to occur as infected fought their way out onto the roof, "the birds here let's get the hell outta dodge!" Bill yelled as he and Francis held the attacking infected as the vent grills from the life shaft smashed open.
Zoey tossed a pipe bomb away from them as the helicopter flew in close next to the pad, she and Louis made it on to the back of the chopper as Francis and Bill baked towards them firing at the horde, "get in we need to get out of here now!" Louis yelled as huge hole was put in the wall of the life shaft as another tank emerged onto the rooftop roaring in fury as many infected charged out behind it, Francis through the bile bomb at the tank and chuckled as the infected turned on it, punching and kicking as the beast flared around. Bill and Francis finally stepped into the back as he banged on the door, "we are all here get us up now!" Bill yelled as the door slid shut and the chopper pilot began to lift them away from the rooftop leaving angry screaming infected flailing their arms around as he flew further and further away, Louis and Zoey cheered as they sat down in the back of the helicopter, "that's right baby nothing can stop us you hear me nothing can stop us!" Louis yelled as Bill and Francis also took their seats. "Hey you folks ok back there?" The pilot asked as Bill put on the headset, "yeah we are good, few minor injuries but nothing serious, thanks for coming to get us we would be screwed without you" he said as the pilot chuckled but his voice with hoarse and whispery like he had a fever, "glad I could help... I swear those things can sense hope and when they do they have to destroy it... but never mind that now, you folks sit tight I'm taking you to the military safe zone up north" he finished with a sickly cough as Bill put down the headset Zoey resting her head on his shoulder.
"Well shit what do you know looks like we are gonna make it kids" Francis said as Louis laughed, "we did pretty damn good back there people... don't let it go to your head" Bill finally said lighting another cigarette as Francis and Louis conversed quietly as he and Zoey sat in silence the helicopter flying away from the damned city of Fairfield... he had finally done it, after a week and a half of trying to find them safety he had gotten them the last ticket out of the city... he kept them safe his people and that's all that mattered... nothing was going to stop them now...
...
An hour of so later as the sun began to rise in the sky, and they had all fallen asleep Bill was knocked awake as the helicopter jerked violently, shaking everyone else as the helicopter began to beep as red warning lights went off all around the, he looked to the front, "hey what the hells going on up there..." he managed as his blood ran cold, the pilot slowly turned around, his face pale grey and his eyes ghostly white muttering to himself as he laid eyes on them, the yes turned red as he began to scream and shake violently as Zoey fired a shot from her rifle hitting him in the chest as they began to fall to the ground. "Oh no god no, he's infected what the fuck happened..." Zoey whined as Bill jumped into the front pushing his body aside as he tried to stabilise their fall... "GRAB ON TO SOMETHING SON WE ARE CRASH LANDING!" He yelled as he could see the ground coming up fast, closing his eyes and leaning back as suddenly they met the ground, the helicopter was ripped apart as it crashed into a car park, the engine exploding as a ball of flame went up into the air before the horrid noise of metal scrapping on the ground finally came to a stop... the noise stopped altogether as Infected stumbled around the area around the crash paying no mind to it as if they didn't even acknowledge what had just happened... their day just got a whole lot worse...
End Chapter
Authors notes: I would like to take this time to apologise to anyone who has been waiting for more chapters, but now I can finally happily say No Mercy is finished and we are now moving on to the not soo popular campaign Crash Course, I hope to see you all again very soon.
Have a great day.