Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

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Private Jesse Sven shook with fear.

“Sergeant Keyes?” Keyes was slumped against the wall at the bottom of the stairwell, the M9 barely held in his loose fingers. “Sergeant Keyes!” His voice cracked as the gunfire in the lobby stopped and the moans of the undead soon drowned out the cries of the dying. The stairwell door shook in its frame as they began pounding against it in an uncontrollable rage. The scared Private quickly reached over and grabbed the dead Sergeant’s M9, stuffing it in his belt next to his own. He ejected his Rifle’s magazine and counted the rounds.

“Shit…” He cursed, only 3 rounds left and it was his last load, the rest spent trying to hold the lobby. Jesse Sven took off his helmet and threw it against the wall, wishing he never enlisted in the army. He was only 18 years old, just a kid fresh out of high school. All his life he wanted to make a difference, wanted to help people. What better way to do it then fight for his country?

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind…” He mumbled to himself as he dreadfully looked up. He had a long way to go before he was out of this mess.

“Ugh….” Sven’s head snapped back towards his “dead” Sergeant. Blood dripped from Keyes mouth as he used his hands to push himself up. The wound on his neck was now a deep shade of purple and grey, his eyes milky white.

“Sergeant Keyes?” He knew the man was dead, but didn’t want to make a horrible mistake. Keyes stumbled forward, his hands clenching as they reached out to grab him in attempt to fill an insatiable hunger. “Sergeant please, stay back!” Tyrell Keyes moaned and lurched forward. Private Sven sidestepped as his former Sergeant collapsed at the bottom of the stairs, already struggling to get up and eat one of his own men.

“I’m sorry, Sarge.” Sven looked away as he aimed his rifle down and fired his last three rounds into the back of his head. Keyes didn’t get back up. “Oh man…” Sven tossed his rifle aside and pulled out both of his M9 Berettas. The door was about to give in any moment, he didn’t have much time. Giving his Sergeant one last glance, he turned around and started jogging up the stairs.

He wasn’t even at the second story when the stairwell door crashed open, the undead flooding in.

“Ah shit!” Private Sven picked up his pace, not wanting to end up somebody’s lunch. He reached the 5th story when the stairwell door leading to the office complex burst open, two business clad shamblers storming out. Stopping midway up the stairs, he raised both of his M9s and let loose a hail of gunfire. The hot lead tore through the expensive suits and flesh, staining the concrete and dropping both of the former professionals.

“Sorry.” He hopped over them and began the long trek up, not encountering any resistance on the way except for a few people trampled to death. It sort of made him sad, each body he passed, he quickly stopped and checked for a pulse.

He finally stopped for a quick break once he came to the fifteenth floor. He breathed in heavily, large beads of sweat fell from his face and splattered on the concrete stairs. Looking over the rails, he could see a huge crowd just a few flights below him.

“Unlike me, you bastards don’t need rest…” Sven unzipped his pants and took a piss over the edge, letting out a slight grin as it splashed all over the undead as they made their way up towards him. As the last few drops came out, he zipped up and took his vest off, discarding it over the edge. A blast of cool air met him, which felt refreshing. “Time to get moving again.” Sven turned an quickened his pace up the stairs, the sounds of choppers becoming audible.

“Just a few more flights.” He turned his run into a full out sprint, the end of the stairwell in sight now. His shirt was completely drenched in perspiration, his dog tags and holy cross clanking together as his body slammed against the wall below the final flight before he forced himself up that final flight. The tired Private slammed his weight into the door and stumbled onto the roof, what he saw made his jaw drop.

“Oh no… oh dear lord no…” The shamblers dominated the roof. Two military helicopters could be seen flying off in the distance, a single one remained and was circling the roof, a lone woman was waving her arms frantically trying to signal the chopper for pickup.

“WE CANNOT LAND, WE’RE LOWERING A LADDER, GET TO THE EDGE!” The pilot’s voice boomed over the helicopter’s intercom.

“Hey, over here!” Private Sven raised one of his M9s and fired a round in the air. The woman spun around.

“Please…” She pleaded as she slowly backed away, three shamblers stumbling towards her. Sven, out of breath, jogged forward, emptying one of his handguns into the shamblers. Two of them fell, he threw the empty gun aside and crashed into the remaining shambler. The zombie moaned as he threw if over the edge of the building into the dying city below, it plummeted silently.

“HURRY!” Sven stood up, the wind from the chopper blowing across his face as the ladder was lowered. Sven looked back towards the stairwell and saw dozens of shamblers making their way towards them.

“We’ll never make it!” She cried as she slowly back towards him to the roof’s edge. Sven knew right then and there what had to be done. They would both never make it up in time.

“I’ll hold them back, get outta here.” He instructed her.

“You can’t stay here, it’s suicide!”

“I said move it!” He pushed her towards the rope ladder, she gave him a final look before grabbing hold of it as the first of the undead were in reach. Private Sven raised his M9 and began picking off each on, waving the chopper away.

“GOD BLESS, SOLDIER.” The final evac chopper pulled away, leaving him alone on the roof, the last of Sergeant Keyes men. As he backed towards the edge he fired off his final round. He hands shook as the gun slid from his fingers.

“Father… I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you.” Sven grasped the cross around his neck in his hands. “I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you.” The shamblers were spread out all over the roof, no escape. “Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I- I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins…” Tears rolled down the kid’s face. “…was resurrected from the dead,” moans filled the air. “is alive, and hears my prayer! I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.” Sven ripped the cross from his neck, grasping it tightly in his hands. “Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life… In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” Private Sven kissed his cross before looking over the edge of the building. “Forgive me, Lord.” As rotten fingers brushed against his skin, Sven closed his eyes and jumped.