Stunned by her abrupt movement, he staggered back, but then he seized hold of her with shocking strength. His fingers dug fiercely into her wrists as she tried to draw back from him. Though her haze of fear, she could hear Travis calling out to her. She managed to look down and see him deflect the zombie’s attack below.
Curtis whirled her around and shoved her hard against the rail. It was then she regained her senses enough to fight back. Twisting her wrists inward and down as she tucked her fists in, she broke his hold and shocked him. Shoving him hard with both hands, she saw him stagger back. Quickly she turned to see if Travis was okay. Below, her husband was shouting at her, but she barely heard him over the harsh beating of her own heart. Looking around, she tried to see what she could lower to him to pull him up.
“Travis,” she called out.
He looked up at her just as Curtis grabbed her from behind.
“Katie, just run! Get help!”
Curtis lifted her up off her feet, his grip hard and suffocating around her chest. She kicked her feet and wiggled, trying to get away. Attempting to scream, she found she could not. Her breath was being cut off.
“You stupid little lesbo whore,” Curtis hissed in her face. His features were so distorted he looked as unreal and corrupted as the thing trying to attack her husband below.
“Let me go,” she managed, gasping for breath.
He tightened his grip and dragged her to the rail. “Don’t worry. I will. ”
Katie’s eyes widened as he lifted her up over the rail and let go of her. She managed to grab onto the bottom rail and hold on tight with both hands.
Pulling herself up, she managed to hook her arm over the rail as her feet scrabbled against the wall.
Calmly, Curtis leaned over and began to try to dislodge her grip.
“Let go of me, you fucking bastard,” she shouted at him.
“Katie, drop!” Travis’ voice rose from below her.
She craned her neck and looked down toward him. Her husband was looking back toward the mouth of the alley and he took a step back toward the wall.
“Don’t drop, Katie,” he said in a stricken tone.
And then she saw the zombies in the alley making their way toward the man she loved.
“No! No!” She held on tighter, her feet fighting for purchase on the wall, as she looked up and saw Curtis smile. Leaning over her, he looked even more hellish as he tried to pry her hands loose. She managed to get her boot up onto the wall and began to push upwards, but he put his hands on her shoulders and shoved downwards.
“Fuck you!” she screamed.
“It’s okay,” Curtis whispered. “Really. It will be okay. Y’all will be together in the afterlife. You, Travis, the baby, your dead wife. . . ”
“Go to hell,” Katie spat at him.
“Looks like Travis is going first,” Curtis answered, winking.
The moans were louder below and Katie screamed.
* * * * * The elevator doors opened and Peggy blinked.
“What?”
Nerit walked briskly past her, sniper rifle slung over one arm, barrel pointed downwards, as she moved down the hall.
“Nerit?”
The old woman stopped and turned. Her gaze was steely and her face seemed younger somehow.
“You’re. . . you. . . ”
“I have a job to do,” Nerit answered, walking on.