Ch. 10 There's No Time Left

"C'mon!" Kevin yelled as he leaped onto the long narrow ramp that lead across the roof of J's Bar behind its mammoth sign. The eight survivors followed, with Kevin offering his hand to Alyssa in a futile but intentional attempt to help her up. As expected she gave him a sneer to which he answered with a sly, sarcastic smirk, enjoying immensely the smallest chance to irritate her.

Mark tried hard not to look at Bob's corpse. "Ah used ta' look up at this sign," he said sadly, stopping himself from finishing his sentence with "with Bob that is."

Jim reached the end of the ramp and looked down between the gap of the two buildings.

"Man, I can't even see the floor!" he said. "What the fuck are we gonna do!"

"Don't be such a chicken shit Jim!" Kevin said, taking a few steps back, then vaulted him self toward the other roof's edge. He clasped it with his hands and hit the edge with his shin, then picked himself up easily and pat his pants with his hands in a confident nature.

"What the fuck is this the Olympics!" Jim complained. "First I gotta chuck fuckin' spears at ugly walking dead things, now you got a brothah jumping rooftops like he's in the fucking Matrix an' shit!"

David shoved Jim aside, a look on his face as if he'd tasted spoiled milk, and swiftly made the leap. Together the two waited by the edge for the others. George stepped up to the edge and peered down the side of the building. Cindy grabbed his arm and he looked into her eyes.

"George, please be careful," she said in a heartfelt tone.

"Don't worry, Cindy. Just remember the three C's." he said.

George jumped as the other two caught one of his arms and pulled him up. Next Mark made his jump, with help from all three of the others, and soon it was Cindy's turn. She crept toward the edge as her knees knocked together, barely able to stand from the fright that ran across the hairs on her back and slithered up her spine. She took a few steps, but then retreated.

"C'mon Cindy," Kevin said. "We'll catch you even if you can't make it all the way."
"Cindy would you PLEASE," Alyssa said agitated and bored. "Just do it!"

Cindy looked down the side of the building, and that did her in.

"I can't! I can't!" she said while covering her eyes.

"Cindy, please!" George pleaded with his arm outstretched.

"Oh for the love of God," Alyssa said, then without warning placed her boot against Cindy's buttocks. "Move your ASS sister!"

Alyssa shoved Cindy forward, sending her diving towards the roof ledge. George fell to his chest and grabbed her wrist just in time to catch her, and with the others' help they lifted her up onto the roof. Yoko neared the edge and looked at Alyssa, who frowned, and without a word Yoko decided not to hesitate and made the leap out of fear of receiving the same treatment.

"Shit, if lil' miss Yoko can do this," Jim said, half strutting to the edge of the room. "Surely the Jimster can!"

Jim spit in his hands and rubbed them together, then leaped forward. David grabbed him from the coat collar.

"Ah! Pick me up, pick me up!" Jim squealed, dangling from David's arm like a fish on a hook. David lifted him up and tossed him to the side.

"Looks like we saved the best for last!" Kevin said, looking at Alyssa across the gap.

Alyssa leaped, grabbing hold of the ledge from the waist and struggling slightly, but gradually pulling herself up. Kevin grabbed her arm to help but she shoved him off.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed. "I don't need YOU to help me!"

"You look so hot when you're pissed off," Kevin said with a wink.

The eight entered a room on the rooftop and found a flight of stairs. They raced down them until they reached the first floor and entered a narrow T shaped corridor. Alyssa, Kevin, Mark, George and Cindy were first, with the others lagging behind. They turned left down the corridor and found a door; the sound of a megaphone and gunfire could be heard just behind it.

"There! Go!" Kevin said, pointing to the door. The others followed when the glass of the windows positioned along the hallway burst into a rain of shards as first two, three, then four of the undead creatures poured into the room. Kevin tried to fire but found the numbers overwhelming, and saw that David, Yoko and Jim had been separated on the other side.

"Shit! Run, hurry!" Kevin said, sending a sidekick to one of the things, knocking it back into another one.

"Move your ass!" David said as he took swipes at one of the walking cadavers.

"Don't hafta tell Jim twice!" Jim said as he bolted through the door on the opposite end of the hallway. "C'mon miss Yoko, let's get our booties in gear and get the hell outta here!"

"Wait!" she said, reaching out. "David!"
"Man, fuck that guy," Jim said. "Just more food for those freaks!"

David followed, one of the creatures taking incredible strides that made it seem frightfully fast, and closed the door behind him. The creature put a hand through the opening and tore at David's arm.

"You piece of shit," David said as he plunged the knife into the creature's throat, then slammed the door hard making a loud cracking sound, the bone in the thing's arm shattering. David then opened the door and reached into his tool belt, grabbed a wrench and smacked it in the face, then slammed the door shut as more approached. He then followed Yoko and Jim into the darkness of the alleyways, all three running as fast as they could.

On the opposite end the others walked through the doorway, with Kevin and Mark last, to find themselves in the middle of a massive war zone. All along the streets civilians screamed and fled as the undead creatures surrounded and mauled several innocents, and even a few Raccoon City Police officers. Kevin led the team down the streets, following the rush of civilians that traveled in waves as in a flood, an increasing number of zombies trailing behind them. Together they reached a blockade of police cars, a man with a police issued hat and gray, shoulder-length hair standing beside the cars and waving people through.

"Go on, hurry!" he said, turning his head toward the group. Recognizing Kevin, he turned his attention away from the group of people climbing over the cars.

"Sergeant Raymond," Kevin said, approaching the senior officer. "I have some civilians with me."

"Kevin Ryman, is it?" Raymond responded. "Hurry up and get them behind this barricade, and grab a better firearm from the trunk."

The eight followed orders and climbed over the cars. Raymond and Kevin each grabbed a shotgun from the cars as the civilians gathered in front of a clothing store.

"Where is everybody else?" Kevin said to Raymond, aiming at an approaching undead.

"Somewhere in that pile of dead," Raymond responded, almost uncaring. "Best not to worry about backup son, the entire city is in total chaos. We had NO time to prepare, most of us were stationed at the ball game. The only help these people will be getting is us, so DON'T fuck up!"

Raymond fired a deafening round into the group of approaching zombies, knocking two to the ground while the others proceeded unaffected. Mark approached the two to offer his aid as Alyssa looked around the area, noticing the chain link fence and large double wooden doors. A short, pudgy man with glasses and a bad hair cut struggled with his baton as he bashed the lock over and over in attempt to break it.

"Don't you have a gun?" Alyssa said.

"Wh-what? It-it's out of ammo!" the man said.

"Gawd," she said, throwing her head back in disgust. "You men can't do anything right!"

She shoved the man aside and got to work picking the lock when the familiar sound of shattering glass and human screams rang out behind her. From the originally seemingly empty clothes shop approached an armada of the undead.

"Oh this is just great," Alyssa said. "Hey cowboy! The sheep are getting mauled over here!" she yelled towards Kevin, who turned around.

"Shit!" Kevin ran towards the crowd that was being mauled, but a massive group of nearly a dozen zombies flooded the civilians, knocking them over and biting into their flesh.

"I got it!" Alyssa said, pocketing the lock. "Get over here if you wanna live, idiots!"

George, Cindy, Mark, Kevin and Raymond followed, Kevin hesitating for a moment and considering his options. The sight of the helpless civilians being engulfed by the living smog of zombies pierced his soul, but Raymond pulled him through before he could make a mistake.

"They're gone Ryman," he said. "These people need you! You can't save everyone! Now come on!"

The men closed the double doors as Alyssa refastened the lock on the other side. Cindy took a few steps forward, scanning the wide alleyway that lead to another pair of double doors. Raymond raced ahead as Kevin and Mark reloaded their guns.

"Goddammit," Raymond said, kicking the doors. "There's a steel bolt on the other side, we can't get through.

"It's okay," Kevin said. "I don't think those things can get to us from the other side of that door, it's too thick for them. We're okay for,"

Suddenly something from the shadows pounced, knocking Cindy to the ground. An immense insect, its body resembling a scorpion and its head an ant with thick cartilage over its body, mounted her, biting and scratching at her throat.

"What the hell!" Alyssa screamed. "What is that!"

"Just shoot it!" Kevin said, firing his .45 with one hand, his aim hitting the monster in its head. It tumbled around on the ground, flailing in agony, gurgling and screaming with torment. Mark ran up to it and fired several rounds into it until it stopped moving.

"Cindy," George said running to help her up. "Are you okay? Did it harm you?"
Cindy struggled to gain her footing.

"I-I think, I've been poisoned," she said, nearly fainting.

"Um, guys," Alyssa said, pointing at something that was stuck sideways on the wall.

From the darkness that surrounded the alleyway dozens of the plague crawlers crept their way towards the group. Everyone with a firearm fired rapidly, the area thrown into chaos. Raymond managed to maneuver his way around the crawlers and to the door, then aimed his gun at the lower portion of it, and fired off several rounds.

"Cover me!" he screamed.

Alyssa shot several of the crawlers and began to notice she was running low on ammo. Kevin guarded George and Cindy, kicking a crawler in mid pounce with his sidekick before it could reach them, as George struggled to carry Cindy on his own. Mark ran towards Raymond, seeing one of the crawlers creeping stealthily over his head, its sharp ant like jaw slowly opening to attack Raymond from above.

"Look out!" Mark said, then quickly fired as Raymond ducked instinctively, the crawler sprawling to the ground directly beside him.

"Bastard!" Raymond said as he fired a round into the thing, ending its miserable existence, then heard the click click of his empty shotgun. He tossed it aside and looked at the door.

"It's almost loose enough, we can fit through here." Raymond said kicking at the hole he created in the door underneath the large steel bolt. "C'mon c'mon!"

Alyssa slipped through easily first, then began to run up the hilly pathway behind the door. At the top of the path was a large semi truck parked against a wall, a large thick tanker attached to its back end, and to the right a long drop into a sewer waterway. George and Cindy soon followed, with Kevin and Mark close behind, Mark just barely squeezing himself through.

"I'll bet you think twice the next time you reach for that donut, huh tubby?" Alyssa said with a sadistic smile.

"Ah tell ya' yer lucky yer a woman Alyssa," Mark said. "Raymond, c'mon!"

Raymond crawled through, but as he reached the other side one of the crawlers sunk its ant like jaws into his calf. Raymond shrieked in pain as Mark pulled him through, ripping off a chunk of his calf which stayed in the mouth of the crawler. Raymond cursed as Kevin and Mark tried to pick him up, but noticed the crawlers slipping through the hole they had made and climbing easily over the wall.

"What now!" Kevin said.

"Cindy," George pat Cindy's face. She appeared to have fainted. "Cindy wake up, please!"

"The tanker," Raymond said. "Let the gas out, we can burn those sons of bitches to a crisp! NOW! GO GO GO!"

Not thinking very much about it, acting more out of orders rather than his own volitions, Kevin sprinted forward towards the tanker. From under it emerged a plague crawler, which leapt at Kevin frightfully quickly. Kevin spun himself and pivoted like a professional football player, dodging the crawler, then grabbed the nozzle and turned it, letting out the gasoline.

Alyssa quickly ran beside Kevin as George tried desperately to pick up Cindy, who was nearly unconscious. Mark tried to shoulder Raymond, but suddenly a crawler pounced on him. Mark regained his footing and aimed at the monster, which was grinding its jaws into the back of Raymond's shoulder, when he heard the click of an empty handgun.

"Shit!"

"Just go goddamn you! GOOOO!"

Mark ran to Kevin and Alyssa, who were fighting off one crawler with kicks.

"What do we do now!" Mark said as the crawlers slowly began to flood the area, the floor covered in gasoline.

The group looked over at Raymond, who reached into his pocket and pulled out a small lighter. Realizing what was going to happen, Kevin tried to run toward Raymond, but Mark and Alyssa grabbed him.

"RAYMOND!" Kevin screamed.

Blood began to pour from Raymond's mouth as the crawlers all bit into his helpless, paralyzed body. With what little strength he had left, he raised the lighter above his head.

"Burn in HELL you goddamn MONSTERS…" he said as he flicked the lighter on with his thumb.

"NOO!" Kevin screamed, but it was too late. In an instant Raymond was engulfed in flames, and all around him a massive fireball lit the monsters into a bright glow of flames. Raymond screamed in agony as the fire spread all around the area, and towards George and Cindy. George quickly turned his back to the fire, shielding Cindy from the blast, and with a wild and unrestrained (almost animal like) ferocity never before seen the fire ran towards George from behind, the back of his coat jacket becoming enflamed. He grasped Cindy tightly and rolled both of them into the sewer river below with a splash, the water extinguishing the flames that scorched his back.

On the other side Kevin looked in horror at the large mass of flames, which had dipped into the water. In utter horror he simply stood and stared where his fellow comrade had once been, where he sacrificed and scorched his own body to save them.

Suddenly a thin hand slapped him across the face, snapping him back into reality and out of the sea of illusion he dipped into even if only for a second.

"Move your ASS cowboy," Alyssa said, grabbing Kevin from the shoulders. "You don't wanna DIE do you!"

"GOO!" Mark said, pointing to the river below. "That tanker's gonna blow!"

Alyssa dove into the river with both hands clasped together like a professional diver, and soon after Mark jumped in feet first. Kevin sprinted towards the edge, Alyssa and Mark calling to him, as the tanker behind him erupted into an immense ball of fire and smoke, sending Kevin hurtling down into the river head first almost on top of the others, the fire from the explosion only inches from his body and burning at his flesh slightly. In the middle of the river a large wall of fire had formed from the gasoline that spilled from the hilltop, and the group scanned around until they found an opening into a sewer. They climbed in and collapsed into the dark tunnel of the sewers, exhausted yet relieved. For a time there was nothing but silence, Kevin silently lamenting over the loss of Raymond, Mark and Alyssa taking deep breaths, each of them leaning with their backs against the cold cement walls of the sewer passageway. Mark thought about Bob again, feeling himself almost overcome with grief, but then considered the loss this young man had experienced, and found himself feeling selfish and guilty. Alyssa watched Kevin out of the corner of her eyes as he began to punch the wall angrily. She considered trying to calm him down, if just to get him to stop making so much damn noise, but then assumed it might be confused for compassion. Instead she sat there and tried to imagine what it was like to lose two friends in one night. Kevin dropped to his knees, having tired himself out from his lashing at the blank walls and wiped his face clean.

"We better get goin," Alyssa said, standing up, but not in the usual bitter tone she usually spoke to Kevin with.

"Just give me a fucking minute!" Kevin shouted, his voice bouncing fiercely around the room in an echo. Alyssa was started at the outburst, not expecting it, then frowned and blew at her hair with her mouth, then walked away down the passageway. Mark walked up behind Kevin and put one large, thick and work worn hand on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, son," he said. "So…very, truly sorry."

Kevin said nothing, but grabbed Mark's hand and squeezed it tightly.

On the opposite side of the wall, George pulled Cindy out of the river and into a similarly large tunnel passageway. He laid her on the floor and opened her medical case. Inside it was a collection of herbs of varying color, and he gathered them together and pulled out a medical case from his half charred coat. Her face had turned a dark purple and her body was limp and lifeless. Quickly he mixed the herbs together into a fine powder and placed them on a paper, then slipped them into a small plastic capsule making a pill. He then held Cindy and put it into her mouth, tilting her head back to let it drop down her throat. He could hear her struggle with it.

"I'm so sorry to do this Cindy," he said. "But I must."

He dipped his hand into a puddle of water along the floor and held it with his cupped hand up to her gaping mouth and poured it in. For awhile nothing happened, and George's heart began to steadily increase, pounding so viciously against his chest he felt physical pain. The adrenaline in his body rushed through his vein as sweat trickled down his forehead, burning his eyes. He caressed Cindy's dirty yet still delicately smooth face and through her wet blonde hair.

"No Cindy, no," he pleaded. "Please. Don't die! PLEASE!"

He held her tightly, fear coursing through every inch of his body so that his limbs, face and legs shook violently as if struck with frost bite.

"Please God, don't take this woman. Not here, NOT NOW. She doesn't deserve to die. You don't have the RIGHT! Please, God, PLEEEEASE!"

Suddenly Cindy's body began to move, she began coughing and hacking. George quickly turned her over and she vomited a blue and greenish liquid from her mouth. After she stopped expelling the poison she began to shake feverishly, and George removed his coat and wrapped it around her, then held her close to him and caressed her head gently and carefully.

"What…" she said very low and weakly. "George…where…"

"Shh," George shushed her. "Try to relax. Please. Don't talk for now."

Despite her confusion and fright, the warmth of George's coat and, especially, the warmth of his embrace made Cindy feel serene. She closed her eyes and hugged George back, letting her head rest against his chest. She listened to the thump thump thump of his heart, fast and hard at first, then steadily decline in intensity until it became serene and peaceful. George took one of her hands and kissed it, then held it tightly, almost too tightly; Cindy let out a quiet yelp at the strength of George's grasp, after which he loosened his grasp and held it tenderly against his cheek. He sighed with deep relief and looked up, as if to a sky that wasn't there.

"Thank you, God."

"Wha-what?"

George had accidentally said it out loud. Never before had he asked God for anything, and in fact he didn't really believe there was a God.

"Nothing," he said, holding Cindy's face. "Just…try to rest."

After some time Cindy got to her feet. She felt weak and dizzy, and with George as support the two made their way down the dark lonely waterway, their footsteps echoing around them, unknowing of what lay ahead in the darkness before them.

Kevin, Alyssa and Mark walked down the dark sewer way, Kevin's head drooped down like a wilting flower. Although he had regained himself, the sadness in his eyes persisted, as he nearly forced himself to drag himself along the wet, cold floor of the sewer. Alyssa glanced over at him, seeing the once cheerful smirk he had taunted her with gone. Normally she would laugh to herself at something like this, but for a reason she couldn't explain she actually felt a little guilty. She didn't think she was a mean person, not at all. She admitted to herself that maybe she was a little pushy, but she knew the best way to earn somebody's respect is through intimidation. But Kevin never responded to that; instead he put out his bright, annoyingly optimistic smirk and her attempts to overpower his ego were futile. She didn't meet many men like Kevin.

For a second she considered trying to cheer him up, but before she could open her mouth Kevin spoke, towards Mark.

"I couldn't save them," he said. "Any of them. David and the others, Cindy and George, those civilians. Raymond…Will…I can't do anything right. I can't even pass that stupid test."

"Kevin, get ahold of yo self," Mark said. "You got us outta here alive, didn' you?"

"But I'm a cop," Kevin said. "It's my job to help people. I couldn't even keep a senior officer alive."

"On c'mon," Alyssa said. "You kicked some ass out there, get over it and just keep moving. You can't be all that useless if you made it this far."

"Listen ta' her, son," Mark said. "You a damn good cop, an' we need you tah get us outta here alive. You cain't save the WHOLE world from these undead monstahs. Nobody could on their own. But if you lead us, an' we work togethah as a team, ah know we gonna make it outta this stinkin' hole alive."

"Cheer up cowboy," Alyssa said, playfully punching Kevin on the arm. "You're no good to us if you're all pissy like this. Grow some balls for god sakes and be a man!"

Kevin smiled, much to Alyssa's relief. "Can I borrow some of yours? I'd probably grow more hair on my chest if I took one of yours!"

The trio continued down the hallway until they a ladder that ran up to a closed manhole. Mark climbed it and managed to lift the manhole and move it enough so he could peer out. The manhole led to a seemingly empty alley, and he waved the others to follow.

"Ladies first!" Kevin said, bowing in mock courtesy to Alyssa. Alyssa smirked, but said nothing.

The two climbed out when suddenly a loud screeching echoed through the alley. Around the corner raced a blue police van, which stopped only inches away from the trio, startling them. A policeman looked out and waved them to enter.

"Hurry! Come on!" he said frantically. "They're right behind me, get in!"

Kevin led the others to the back, seeing a massive crowd of zombies step into the alley. Kevin jumped in the van and it sped off, then recognized the driver.

"Dorian!" he said. "Do you know where Leon is?"

"Leon who?"

"He's a friend of mine, new to the force, just got in."

"A rook? No idea. Raymond sent mostly everybody to the game, but he sends rooks out to patrol the streets when the senior officers are busy, he has to be out there somewhere. Poor bastard, what a first night this'll be for him."

"He'll manage," Kevin said. "I just know it. He has to."

"Everybody grab a gun," Dorian said.

"What?" Alyssa said, confused. "Where are you taking us?"

"I got a call from some of the others, they managed to build a blockade and plant bombs in one of the streets that's already been lost to those things. They're trying to blow it sky high, and they need backup."

"Are you goddamn insane!" Alyssa said. "Take us to the RPD now buster!"

"I'm sorry ma'am," Dorian said. "But this is more important right now. You'll get to the department as soon as we clear this mess up."

"Calm yourself Alyssa," Mark said. "You a good shot, we need yo marksmanship, an' we'll be outta here in no time."

"He's right Alyssa," Kevin said. "Besides I always enjoy watching you shoot things in the head! Your hair gets all messy the way I like it." Kevin winked at her. She frowned bitterly, although inside she didn't feel so angry.

The trio equipped themselves, Alyssa with handgun ammo, Mark with a shotgun and Kevin with a magnum revolver. Kevin whistled almost seductively and stroked the gun as if it were dear to him. Dorian drove down the maze of alleys, hitting various zombies head on and with little to no concern or notice of their destruction, until he reached a dead end with a stairway along the side of the alley. He stopped the van and got out, un-holstering his firearm.

"We have to walk from here," he said. "As soon as the situation is under control we'll come back."

"I can't believe we're risking our lives helping these pigs do their jobs!" Alyssa said in a harsh tone.

"That's enough," Kevin said. "The sooner we get there the better!"

The four of them ran up the stairs until they passed through a long bridge overlooking Main Street. Mark peered out into the street, the sight before him like one he could never imagine seeing in his lifetime. He sniffed the air.

"Oh Gawd," he said. "Ah never wanted tah experience that smell again…"

Spread across Main Street was literally a sea of the undead, cramped together and wandering aimlessly, bumping and stumbling into each other. As far as the eyes could see (or until vision was blurred by the smoke rising from the various fires from the stranded cars) zombies covered the entire street. Down below several police officers worked frantically on a device in front of a long line of steel barricades that were the only thing shielding them from the hungry army of undead. Their moans and cries filled the air with a wailing symphony of enduring torture, an everlasting plea for the sweetness of death. Down below a small group of police officers stood guarding a technician, who worked frantically on a small device.

"Eric," Aaron, one of the officers, said. "Hurry up! We don't have the luxury of time!"

"I almost got it," Eric said. "Just give me a few seconds, please!"

"Harry!" Aaron bellowed. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Get over here, they're almost through!"

Harry, a short man with glasses, trembled with fear at the back of the street, his gun shaking in his hand.

"Goddammit Harry!" Aaron said as he heard the first steel barricade fall. "You goddamn coward! We are going to DIE!"

One by one each barricade fell to the ground, and soon the onslaught of zombies were mere inches away. Eric looked up for a second to see their approach, then resumed his work, sweat pouring from his forehead as Aaron fired round after round into the approaching mob.

"COME ON you sons of BITCHES!" Aaron screamed, kicking one zombie aside. He positioned himself in front of Eric in attempt to distract the monsters. He fired and fired until the most horrible sound he had ever heard in his life burned the inside of his ears: the sound of his empty handgun.

He tried desperately to pull a clip from his pocket, but before he could take aim the horde was on him. They grabbed and bit him, scratching his face and arms. He tried to fight them off but three at once pulled him to the ground and drove their decayed and green teeth into his chest and neck. Aaron screamed as blood gushed from his mouth and stared back at Eric.

"Hurry," he muttered before one of the undead ripped into his esophagus.

"Harry!" Eric screamed at his partner. "Please help me! Please Harry!"

Harry's knees shook, and in an instant he bolted away, dropping his gun. Eric cursed to himself and continued working. The horde of zombies slowly turned their attention to him, and step-by-step crept his way. Eric pulled out his single handgun and fired a few rounds, only some of them hitting the things in the head, and very soon he was out. He tossed the gun aside and continued his work, trying to ignore the drips of saliva that fell from directly on top of him. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as a zombie chomped into him, but with a newfound focus he ignored the pain and attached two wires together. He shoved the zombie off and attached two more wires.

"There!" he said. "I got it!"

But no sooner than he said it did a zombie grab him from behind and sink it's grimy teeth into his neck. Eric screamed and let go of the device, sending it flying into the sea of undead. The monsters pulled him to the ground and feasted on his screaming, still living body.

Harry sat at the foot of the stairs hiding as Kevin and Mark approached, armed to the teeth.

"What are you doing!" Kevin said.

"I-I-the detonator handle," he said. "You have to go get it! Hurry!"

Kevin ran out to the street as Alyssa and Dorian approached. Alyssa glanced at Harry.

"Coward," she said, giving him a dirty look.

Mark fired round after round into the mob, sending large wide sprays of bullets into the undead.

"Ah can't find it!" he said. "There's too many of them to see!"

Alyssa and Dorian fired round after round as the four formed a circle.

"Hey cowboy," Alyssa said to Kevin. "We'll cover you, go into that group there and have a look!"

"Roger!" Kevin said, running towards a group of zombies. He sent a sidekick into one, pushing it to the ground, then ducked the grab of another and shoved it to the ground with a hard elbow to the chest. He searched the ground, then found the small device. He stepped towards it, but before he could reach it a lumbering figure stood in front of him. He looked up and recognized the now bloody, scratched and mauled face of Aaron, who stared at him with teeth gnashing.

"Aaron," Kevin said.

"Not again!" Alyssa said, trying to find a spot where she could provide aid.

"Shoot him Kevin!" Mark yelled. "He ain't yo friend no more!"

"Please Kevin!" Dorian pleaded. "We can't hold this group off much longer! If you don't do this, we will DIE!"

Kevin looked at Aaron again, who had begun to slowly tread toward him. Kevin grit his teeth and reached for his .45 pistol.

"I'm sorry, Aaron," he said, taking aim.

The walking cadaver that once was Aaron let out a frightening wale and took long strides toward Kevin, grabbing him arms. The incredible power of Aaron's physique overwhelmed Kevin, who tried hard to keep Aaron's gaping maw from his face. Slowly Kevin maneuvered his gun nearer and neared to Aaron's head until he pointed it directly between his eyes, then pulled the trigger. Aaron's head exploded in a shower of crimson, and Kevin shoved his now lifeless body to the side and grabbed the device. He ran back to the group.

"What should I do!" he asked Dorian.

"There, push the switch down! NOW!" Dorian responded, trying to push off a zombie that clung to him.

Kevin looked at the device and saw the switch.

"DO IT KEVIN!" Mark screamed. "DO IT!"

Kevin looked into the immense sea of dead, then put his hand on the switch.

"Hey guys," he said with a smirk. "I smell toasted marshmallows!" then pushed the switch in.

An immense, deafening explosion arose from the concrete ground of Main Street, burning and tossing groups of zombies in every direction, and was quickly followed by another and another, sending bodies left and right against building walls, many of the bodies eradicated just from contact with the gigantic fireball. The sight resembled an aerial assault the likes of which obliterated military bases coming from below, a glorious eruption of human bodies and flame. The group of survivors retreated, but Alyssa tripped over a body and fell to her knees. She struggled to her feet as a sudden loud whistling filled the air. She looked up to see a gray car flipping and hurling directly her way.

"LOOK OUT!"

Kevin dove forward and grabbed Alyssa from the waist, shoving her just out of way as the car smashed face first into the concrete, only inches from the two's bodies. The car's front was smashed and it spun around like a top for a few seconds. Alyssa and Kevin glared at the twirling and once aerial vehicle in utter shock. Alyssa then noticed Kevin's position as he held her from the waist as if in embrace. Alyssa shoved him off.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!" she said. "Trying to feel me up! Perv!"

"Geez," Kevin said. "You were almost a former human being a second ago. Good thing you're thankful!"

Alyssa got up and dusted herself off as Mark and Dorian approached.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked.

"Fine," Alyssa said, crossing her arms angrily. Kevin dusted himself off.

"You owe me now, Alyssa." He said. "I saved your life, and now you're in my debt!"

"I don't think so," she said. "I'd rather be dead than owe YOU anything!"

"Say what you want," Kevin said. "You know very well that you would NOT be here if it weren't for me."
"I would have moved!" she said, clenching her fists. "I don't need YOU or ANY man to save me! ESPECIALLY not you! You hear me pal?"

Kevin laughed. "Just remember, Alyssa. You owe me."

Kevin swaggered towards Dorian, who was breathing deeply, still moving on his adrenaline.

"Well," Kevin said putting out his thumb out and pointing behind him at the massive pile of charred and burned bodies that covered the crates in Main Street. "I'll tell you one thing, I am NOT cleaning up this mess!"