3

After moving through the entrance doors, Claire was faced with a vast empty lobby. The building was beautiful, but it certainly didn't look like your average run-of-the-mill police station. Her brother Chris had told her it was a former art museum, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the great goddess statue and a proud marble lion, sitting not far behind.

One thing was missing from the vast space.

People.

Claire sighed to herself, and walked up to what she assumed was a reception desk. She noticed from the corner of her eye a small monitor screen flickering.

Perhaps there are people hiding here… maybe Chris? If I can access the building's CCTV system?

Speaking her thoughts aloud, Claire said "Come on, Chris, where are you?"

As Claire bent over the desk to watch the screen, she noticed a flashing link, and hovered the mouse cursor over it and clicked. The feed flickered slightly, and then the image of a man appeared. He was shooting at an approaching zombie, and then he turned towards the camera.

Seeing the man's dilemma, Claire said aloud, "Shit... They're inside too..."

The man turned to the camera and said, David! Marvin! You there!? I found a way out. As Claire watched, the man waved something small towards the camera adding, It's in here! Send reinforcements! East hallway.

Claire clicked the screen again, and a small map appeared highlighting the man's location.

Claire stood up and said to herself, "I should help this guy." Then she turned towards a doorway with a closed shutter.

Noticing a switch, Claire flicked it upwards, and the shutter began to rise. Suddenly it got stuck several inches from the floor. Claire took a moment to consider her options.

The gap beneath the shutter should be large enough for me to squeeze through...but it looks awfully dark in there.

Claire looked back towards the lobby. Her eyes quickly took in the few useful items scattered across the desk. Mind made up, she ran back to grab a flashlight and then returned to the shutter, crouching, and began to crawl into the dark opening.

Halfway through, she clicked on the torch and directed its beam down the pitch-black corridor. Nothing stirred, but the smell was almost overpowering. Claire quickly got to her feet in her haste to cover her nose against the sickening stench.

Claire made her way slowly through the menacing darkness, until she came upon an area that was clearly the source of the awful smell. There were bodies everywhere, cop and civilian alike, and the floor was a pool of crimson.

Covering her nose with the crook of her arm, she said "Ugh, oh my god..."

A sudden wild banging and a man's voice startled Claire, breaking her trance and reminding her of why she was there.

The desperate voice from beyond the shutter cried, "OPEN UP! HURRY!" Claire quickly ran into the opposite room as the voice continued to boom, "OPEN UP! OPEN THIS GODDAMN DOOR!"

Claire cried back, "I'm here!" and her eyes darted over the metal shutter looking for a switch, or anything that would open the door.

As the man continued pleading, Claire forced her fingers under the small gap and pulled with all her strength, only managing to create a small opening before the thing jammed. She quickly dropped to a knee as the desperate man tried to pull himself through, and she cried, "Here, give me your hand!"

The police officer slapped his hand into hers, "Hold on" Claire cried "Give me your other hand"

She was ready to pull him through the rest of the way when the officer suddenly began screaming. Horror-stricken, Claire noticed pools of crimson forming beneath the trapped man's body and cried "It's okay! I got you!"

With one last heave, Claire pulled the trapped officer through, but then her eyes fell on where his legs should have been.

They were gone.

Everything below his waist was gone, the emptiness replaced with red and pink organs.

Murmuring under her breath, Claire whispered "Oh my god." Her eyes were drawn away from the horror when the officer forced a few gurgled words out of his mouth. "Tell...Marvin..." And then Claire heard the final breath as it passed the man's lips.

Hearing nothing now but her own breath, Claire said gently, "I'm so sorry."

Suddenly, Claire's eyes fell on the man's open hand clutching a small notebook.

Huh?

Claire remembered the footage she had watched earlier. This was the item the poor soul had been waving in front of the camera -a way out- he had said. She took the notebook and flipped through it quickly, but nothing within it made any sense to her.

Perhaps this Marvin will know...

Claire turned back towards the lobby, fully determined to escape the nightmare she had found herself trapped in. But unfortunately, it seemed like the commotion and noise caused by the dying officer -and her attempt at helping him- had roused every undead in the immediate area.

A zombie suddenly smashed its way through the opposite window. More were coming behind it. Claire ran, but as she made her way back, it felt like she was about to be overwhelmed by the undead.

Where did they all come from!?

The noise from her bullets wasn't helping her situation...

Claire reached the shutter to the lobby, and she dropped onto her belly. As she emerged into the light, she felt relieved, until she felt a strong, cold hand grip her lower calf; sudden visions of the officer she had tried to help flashed through her mind. And fear flooded her thoughts that the zombies were going to tear her apart. Almost giving into fear, she cried "Get off!...Help! HELP!"

Suddenly, Claire felt a warm hand grasp her arm and she was pulled through the gap as she cried "Watch out!"

An unfamiliar voice replied, "I'm on it"

The dark-skinned stranger gripped the shutter, and slammed it down with his foot, crushing the zombie's skull into pieces. Claire looked at her savior, who turned out to be another police officer. He turned to her, holding the side of his shirt that had turned from pale blue to a dark red, and he asked "You alright?"

"Yeah" Claire answered, a little out of breath.

The man fell into a lean against the wall and said "you're safe...for now" giving her a small nod, he added "Marvin Branagh"

Claire nodded back, and said "Thanks"

Marvin grinned at her cautious reply, "obviously someone taught you well"

"Yeah" Claire replied "I know how to take care of myself"

Marvin offered his hand "Come on"

Claire took the hand, and got back onto her feet.