Dawn of the Geordies Pt 1

         I don’t know how it all started. It was a normal Saturday afternoon, I was in town with my friends. I’d just picked up a corset, the perfect piece to finish off my friend’s pirate outfit, when the screams came. I froze as I listened to the shrill pitch harmonised with the gruff sound of the shouting of men. The screams were soon accompanied by the pounding of feet. Outside the shop I saw mass panic. Men and women scurrying back and forth, small children crying. I watched as a young boy was knocked over by a herd of thundering feet.
Nobody picked him up.
         The screams of agony came closer, people began to rush through the doors, others racing right past it, a mass of bodies running blindly. I looked over and spotted my friends, rooted to the spot, but I knew that we had to move. In a dash I scrambled past several rails of clothes, feeling a metal bar jab my ribs, and grabbed Louise by the arm. It was like it broke her out of the trance. Immediately she stepped back, turned and ran for the door at the back of the store away from the riot.
         “Guys.” I yelled over the commotion. My other three friends snapped out of the shock and followed me as I raced through the door behind Louise.
         We were in a stock room, high metal shelves reached either side of us, huge cardboard boxes stacked up, overflowing onto the floor.
         “What’s going on?” Sam asked, her voice high pitched, frantic.
         “I don’t know,” I panted. “But I don’t think we should hang around to find out.”
         She shook her head and looked up at me, her eyes asking where we should go.
         “Okay, come on.” I took charge, holding up my arms ushering them towards the back of the room. There had to be an emergency exit. Ahead of me I watched as they trotted forward, close together, avoiding strewn cardboard on the concrete floor. Louise clasped Sam’s hand and followed.
         I began to follow when I heard something rumble behind me. Glancing back I wondered how long the wooden door to the stock room would hold back whatever was out there.
         Catching up to my friends I urged them forward. We spilled through a fire exit at the very back of the stock room and found ourselves in a long narrow corridor, the concrete floor had been painted grey to match the plain brick walls. The door shut heavily behind us.
         “Where are we? Which way?” I heard one of them ask. Sam I thought.
         I glanced to my left and then right. I spotted several other fire exits planted along the stone walls.
         “Let’s try this way.” I turned right and began to creep down the corridor trying to keep quiet. I wondered how long that exit door would hold, how long before it opened. I didn’t need to warn the others. I heard small noises, squeaks, steps they took on the ground but I knew there were all taking precautions to stay silent.
         Survival instinct was kicking in.
         But survival from what?
         I felt someone close behind me reach for my hand. I entwined the slender fingers, feeling the hang snug against mine. It was hot. I kept moving forward, close to the wall, my posture slightly hunched.
         The corridor seemed to stretch on forever. The other emergency exits made me uneasy. We rounded a curve in the corridor and I glimpsed an exit door ahead of us at the very end, a green man shone above it.
         “There’s an exit up ahead.” I whispered to the four people following me. “Come on.” I added to my speed and felt the others adjust to keep up.
         We were almost there, the exit so nearly within reach. I could feel myself wanting to run for the door, to break free of the group but I resisted knowing it would be foolish to risk it.
         It got closer and closer. I felt my stomach churn. About thirty yards left.
         I was just about to stop the group and warn everyone to be ready. I had no idea what we would come face to face with when I opened that door. A pair of legs rushed past me. A pair of chunky sandals and white linen pants, fluttering with the force of the breeze.
Rachel!
         I reached out my arm, my fingers grabbing for a pale orange top. I felt soft fabric brush past my fingers but she was too far away to grasp.
         “Rachel, no!” I shouted, forgetting my need to stay quiet. My voice echoed in the corridor.
         Shit!
         Behind us I heard a huge crash. I whirled but the corner of the wall blocked my view. I knew what it was. I pictured it in my mind, one of those heavy blue doors swinging into the corridor with a huge amount of force, slamming the wall. Perhaps chipping the brick.
         I could hear the distant sound of screaming back in the main shopping centre. The sound of tramping feet echoed through the corridor, not moving at a fast speed by the sounds of it. But the low guttural noises that accompanied the shuffling feet scared me.
         They weren’t people running away.
         What are they?
         I felt a shiver run down my spine, goose bumps rose on my arms.
         We had to get out.
         I turned back to my friends. Rachel had just reached the door, her manicured nails clicking on the grey metal bar. The other three still stood behind me, eyes wide in terror. I watched as Rachel lunged into the door and light flooded the dull corridor. The sounds behind us got closer. I heard another door slam.
         “Go.” I instructed them. Claire searched me, her eyes full of fear.
         “Now.” The trance broke and she was spurred into action. She ran for the door. Louise and Sam followed suit hot on her heels. I waited until I knew they were safely ahead of me before chasing. The noises behind me got louder but the shuffling feet kept the same pace.
         At least we’re faster.
         Ahead I saw Claire had reached the door, she stood shock still in the doorway staring. Louise and Sam reached her and stopped. I paused behind them staying on my toes. I glanced behind me. Still no sign of anything.
         “What’s wrong?” I asked, craning my neck to see around them.
         I didn’t get an answer. I didn’t need one. The sight I saw filled me with horror, and dread. I felt my stomach drop, my throat burned and I forced back the need to vomit.
         The door opened up onto a sunny Northumberland Street. The scene we had first encountered when we began shopping was one of happy shoppers rambling back and forth in vest tops and t-shirts. Girls wore skirts and groups of lads whistled. Kids ate ice cream. None of that remained. Despite the afternoon sun, the sight on and street was sobering. Instead of shoppers and groups of young people I saw bodies. People lying motionless on the pavement. I leaned forward. Glancing around I made a quick estimate from what I could see; at least eighty.
         At least.
         Are they all dead?
         I couldn’t move. All those people. Men. Women. I saw children. I saw abandoned pushchairs and felt glad they weren’t facing me.
         What did this?
         I was suddenly aware of my friends in front of me. I let my hand rest on Louise’s shoulder. I felt her shaking. With a quick squeeze I tried to get some sense out of things, “Where did Rachel go?”
         Claire pointed towards the bottom of the street.
         “Come on, we’ve got to find her.” I gently pushed Louise, trying to urge the three girls out of the door. I felt her resist, Claire shook her head.
         “We have to.” I tried again. It was Claire providing the resistance. She clung onto either side of the door frame, her knuckles white. She was terrified.
         I heard the shuffles behind me. I’d forgotten. I spun around to see the first of them come around the corner in awkward steps. It was an old man, his face wrinkled whiskers flecking his cheeks. He tottered unsteadily on his feet, black boots scraping the floor with every small step forward. He moved with hands by his sides. His originally white t-shirt was untucked, stained a bright red down his left side. It came from a mark on his chest, a huge wound gaped just under his nipple. It still oozed blood, dark but not as fluid as it should have been. The flesh surrounding it wobbled with every jaunt.
         I felt the vomit rise in my throat again, swallowed it back.
         His eyes were blank, unseeing. Pupils huge. A string of drool hung from his cracked lips.
         I was rooted to the spot, unable to move as the man stepped closer. He should have been immobilised, getting treatment. He was so close that I could smell the sour stench of sweat, it overpowered me.
         Then I was jerked backwards. I felt myself being flung to the ground, my stomach dropped, I felt it scream. My hands flew upwards looking for something to cling onto, to stop my fall. My hands hit thin air but I fell into something soft long before I hit the ground. I looked up, it was Louise.
         She helped me up, I nodded thankfully and headed back to the door taking Louise’s hand in mine. With a final shove I pushed Claire out into the street with the help of Louise. She yelped. I grabbed her arm guiding her in the right direction and started off at a trot. I was still clutching Louise’s hand, our strides eventually meeting so our arms swung in unison.
         She looked at me, “What was wrong with him?”
         “I don’t know.” I considered it.
         Claire and Sam followed close behind and I could soon hear ragged breathing. I figured it was Claire, Sam trained often and was fitter than any of us.
         I glanced back and saw the old man coming out of the door. He stood for a while head jerking, searching. Then we were spotted. I didn’t tell the others we were being followed.
         I kept my eyes open searching the shop windows and doorways for a slim figure in linen pants. We were almost three quarters of the way down the street and I saw no one.
         Except the bodies that is. Small heaps left on the ground, most of them surrounded in pools of blood. I saw a woman lying on her side, mouth hung open, eyes wide and unseeing. The skin on the right side of her face was missing, I could see muscle and a glimpse of pearl white bone. The red flesh was still weeping. Her leg had been mauled, flesh hanging in strands exposing more bone.
         I tried not to look but I didn’t want to step on anybody. I skimmed the ground as I ran, picking my way around them.
         Behind me something changed. There was quiet. I stopped running, jerking Louise backwards where we were still attached. Claire had stopped a while back. Hands on her knees she was panting loudly, her face red. I could see her skin was slick was sweat.
         “Come on.” I shouted.
         She shook her head.
         “We need to keep moving.”
         “I can’t.” She whined dropping her head. I unwrapped my fingers from Louise’s and left her standing with Sam.
         I began to go back to get Claire, “We have to move, now.” Behind her the man shuffled forward, slowly but surely followed by a troop of others. I spotted a young girl, her denim skirt spattered with blood, one side of her t-shirt torn, exposing a white bra. Her legs were red and blotchy. It looked like she’d been bitten.
         “Claire, come on!” I was getting frustrated. I could feel myself beginning to panic, they were driving close.
         Shit she’s stubborn.
         Still, she didn’t move. My anger flared and I strode over to her, my legs striding wide.
         “Claire, move or-”
         The or happened.
         The shop window of the Carphone Warehouse to my left exploded outwards, shattering into thousands of shards. I turned my back just in time managing to only catch a few pieces of shrapnel in my back and legs. When the pricks of pain ceased I turned around.
         A pane of glass had sailed into her stomach. She stared at me with wide eyes and looked down at the glass protruding from her gut. Blood began to trickle from the wound. People began to pour from the shop, each looking as savage and bloodied as the next. All with the same dull, blank eyes.
         They made a beeline straight for Claire. I reached out my hand but she didn’t see it, didn’t take it. Her eyes were fixed on the forthcoming onslaught. As they gained I stumbled backwards away from them. I watched as the first one grabbed her. A middle aged man with streaks of blood staining his face. He grabbed her by the neck and opened his mouth wide moving forward to bite down.
         I heard her scream as I turned away.
         I ran forward pushing Sam and Louise in front of me. They stumbled but regained their stances and ran on, with me in tow. One last glance proved those things weren’t an immediate threat.
         I heard another scream. I winced and felt wracked with guilt. I wanted to turn around and go back, rescue her from her undeserved fate.
         I just left her. Left her to die.
         A trickle ran down my back sticking my t-shirt to my skin. It could have been blood or sweat but I guessed it was the former. We needed to stop so I could sort myself out.
         But where?

         “Come on.” I grabbed Louise’s hand. She shot me a puzzled look but didn’t question. Out the corner of my eye I saw Sam was following behind at a fast trot. I’d spotted Superdrug. At least I’d be able to sort my back out there.
         We made out way across the expanse of the street. To my left I saw the group with the old man still shambling down the pavement. It looked like more of those things had joined him, following him.
         Is he their leader?
         I couldn’t see Claire. She was surrounded by a cloud of people leaning over whilst crouching on their knees in a tight circle.
         What are they doing to her?
         At the store front I halted against the wall, pointing to the other two to follow. I peeked around the corner of the paint-chipped white wall. For a moment all I could see was the reflection of myself and the buildings behind me. Finally my eyes adjusted. Inside the store I saw racks and shelves holding various things, many of them having been knocked from the shelves in what I presumed was the mad dash to escape.
         I saw no movement.
         All I could hear was the sound of my heart thudding against my chest, blood roaring through my ears.
         With a glance back I saw the group had changed their direction slightly West; they were coming for us.
         They’re hunting us, we have to be quick.
         “Follow me.” I whispered to the other two and without waiting for a response I pushed myself from the wall and through the doorway into the shop.
         I realised that they were following me. They were trusting me to lead them.
         I stayed low and as quiet as I could. The air conditioning blasted me as I passed under it and I felt the hairs on my arms rise in protest.
         I kept low as I got further into the shop, my eyes alert and looking for danger as well as the aisle I needed.
         “What are you looking for?” Louise whispered from behind me.
         “First aid.” I answered. I was wearing a black t-shirt so my blood wasn’t visible to them. She pointed to the farthest aisle in the store. I headed in that direction sweeping my gaze down each of the aisles in case we had unwanted visitors. The second row was the home of a body.
         I began to retch but forced my hand against my mouth and shut my eyes for a moment, calming myself. I couldn’t tell if it was male or female. I could see a pair of generic blue jeans dotted with blood, a pair of shoes with black soles. It lay in a dark pool of blood that looked like it was beginning to dry. Droplets of blood flecked the bottles either side of the aisle. I wrenched my eyes away and hurried to the last row hoping Louise and Sam didn’t see it.
         I heard a soft gasp behind me. One of them at least had spotted the lifeless body.
         We got to the end of the shop where I saw bandages and plasters adorning the shelves on small hooks. I didn’t know what I needed. It occurred to me to hope that one of them had first aid skill. More than likely Sam, though Louise was a mam now and seemed very worldly.
         When I was sure we were alone in the aisle I pulled my t-shirt up and over my head, felt it stick to my skin and peel.
         I turned to my friends and asked, “How bad is it?”
         Louise gasped, “I didn’t realise you were bleeding.”
         “I caught some glass from the shop window.”
         Sam took a few minutes looking at my back. “There’s nothing too bad but you still have some glass stuck in a couple of places though, I’ll have to get it out.”
         “Okay,” I nodded, “But let’s make it quick. I don’t want to hang around here.” I braced myself against the counter and closed my eyes.
         It can’t hurt anymore going out than getting in there. Can it?
         I felt a sharp sting in my back and winced as I felt something slicing through my flesh. Back out of my flesh I hoped. I gritted my teeth. It didn’t seem to end. It kept sliding, cutting against my flesh, burning. I could feel my blood bubble, ready to spill out.
         I wanted to cry out in pain, it was there in my throat. My mouth opened to let it escape.
The pain stopped. I felt blood begin to trickle down my back in a steady stream, soaking into the black denim of the jeans I wore. I let out a sigh.
         “Thanks Sam, I-”
         “That was just the first, hold still.” She placed the first shard of glass on the counter beside me. It was about two inches long, drops of blood still clung to its sharp edges.
         I sucked in my breath as I felt her cold hands reaching for the next piece.
         After what felt like an hour of agony as she pulled the shards from my back, I was all patched up. I pulled my t-shirt on and felt enveloped in it’s warmth, I hadn’t realised how cold I had been while I stood there. My t-shirt was sticky and clung to my back, it was uncomfortable but it was all I had.
         “Thanks,” I told her. “How long have we been here?”
         “Maybe five, ten minutes.” Louise told me glancing at her wrist watch. My concern heightened. I had forgotten about the horror outside. We’d been hanging around for too long.
         “Okay, we need to find a safe place. Any ideas?” I threw the idea out.
         They both shook their heads but looked deep in thought.
         I thought rationally. Someplace safe where we could hide and wouldn’t be found. But to hide out we’d need supplies; food and water.
         I told Louise and Sam. I found an abandoned backpack on the floor and emptied its contents onto the floor. Library books fell out, and a notepad dropping open onto a page of notes.
         “Sam, get us some drinks. Louise get some food. Think energy. Grab as much as you can, stay low and quiet. Back in two minutes.”
{indentThey scurried off towards the opposite end of the store. I unzipped the side pockets and began to stuff them with first aid supplies. If the beginning of the onslaught was anything to go by, I guessed we’d need plenty more. I picked up a couple of sprays, plenty of gauze and cotton pads as well as plasters and bandages.
         Anything else?
         As I was contemplating I saw something out of the corner of my eye; Louise padding back. Her arms were laden with multi-coloured packets pf crisps and cereal bars with the occasional chocolate bar. Not wanting to stop for long we stuffed them into the rucksack.
         I glanced around. Where was Sam?
         “Can you think of anything else?” I asked Louise while we waited for Sam.
         “How about a flashlight?”
         I didn’t know where the idea came from but it was a good one. Obviously we wouldn’t need it now but who knows how long this thing would stretch on for. I nodded and paced back up the first aisle. I grabbed a few torches, two smaller and a bigger one. I filled my jeans pocket with batteries and took a couple extra to be on the safe side. They went into the side pocket of the bag along with the bandages.
         Where is Sam?
         I glanced up again and felt a wave of relief as I saw her slim figure darting down the store towards us. All of a sudden she stopped and turned her head. She was staring down the aisle, her eyes wide. She clutched bottles of water and pop in her hands and under her arms.
         “Sam?” I hissed.
         “Jo, come here.” She spoke softly.
         “What’s wrong?”
         “See for yourself.”
         I felt my anger flare, why couldn’t she just tell me herself? It wasn’t the time or place for games. I pushed myself up from my perch against the counter and stepped over to Sam. I turned my head, following her gaze down the aisle.
         I saw a pool of dark blood, the splashes on the bottles either side, but no body. It was gone.
Impossible. I did a double take.
Still gone.
         “Let’s go.” I grabbed Sam and pulled her over to the counter. I crammed the bottles into the bag and shouldered the pack. It was heavy but comforting.
         “Move.” I told them.
         I waited behind as they made for the front of the store. I felt responsible for their safety. They were both vigilant, eyes gazing side to side looking for danger. They were on edge. I stepped in behind them and stole a quick glance at the street outside. To the right something caught my eye. I saw a black boot come into view, pause for a moment, then the other. I felt a wave of panic and almost lost it. I almost dropped the bag and bolted. But I knew that wouldn’t get me, or those two, anywhere. I propelled myself forward and after three steps came into contact with something. It was Louise, she stood stock still staring in front of her. I grabbed the tops of her arms and held her against me. I could feel her heart pounding, her body shaking in terror. Beyond her I saw Sam lay on the floor her legs twitching. A pair of legs wrapped in blue covered her.
         I saw that it was a man, he leaned over her, knees either side of her body straddling her. He hunched over her in an chilling embrace, it looked like he was kissing her neck. The blood that sprayed from her body told me otherwise. It hit Louise in splashes soaking into her jeans. Her face was pale, eyes open wide in a look of terror. I hadn’t even heard him move, she hadn’t screamed.
         He was distracted for now, but I didn’t want to hang around. Tightening my grip I steered Louise around Sam. I had to pry her away.
         “We have to get out of here,” I whispered softly, “It’s not safe.”
         I felt her head move slightly and assumed that was the affirmative. Urging her forward we finally reached the front of the store, the glass allowing me to be aware of what would greet us. We were at the left of the shop, the group at the other side on the street.
         Outside I felt the sun beating down on my arms, felt my scalp burning. I felt no enjoyment.
         Looking at Louise I began to move, I knew she’d follow. It dawned on me that her life was in my hands. I felt bewildered, overwhelmed. I’d already failed my other friends. They’d died because of me.
         That won’t happen to Louise.
         I heard her trainers slapping the pavement behind me, hoping her eyes were on me and not on the bodies that littered the ground around us. I saw a small boy, his blond hair matted with blood. I was glad he lay on his stomach.
         The pack on my back burned into my shoulders. I adjusted it slightly. I thought about the drugstore. That man was dead. He had been lying in a pool of his own blood. There was no way he could have gotten up.
         So why did I just see him rip the throat of my friend?
         I wondered if he was still there now, eating her. The thought struck me.
         Eating her.
         We reached the bottom of Northumberland Street and I stopped, trying to catch my breath a little. I glanced left and right. I debated which way we should go. We had two options. We could have turned left and head out of town.
         I wonder how far this thing has gone?
         Or we could have gone right, stayed in the heart of Newcastle. More chances to meet people. But more chances to meet more of them I guessed. I’d already lost three of my friends.
         Dare I risk another?
         I didn’t want to risk Louise’s life. We needed to get to safety but I couldn’t wrack my brains. I couldn’t think of anywhere in town we could go to stay safe, get away from it all.
         I didn’t want to ask Louise. She was following me, she thought I knew what I was doing.
         Let her carry on thinking that.
         There was no need to add panic to the situation, it would make things worse. I took in a deep breath and opened my mouth.
         “I think we’ll go-”
         I felt a hand grip my shoulder, firm and strong. I yelped and spun.
         This is it. I’ve gotten us killed.
         Lifting my arm I turned and shot out with my right hand, feeling it connect with something. I prepared myself for the assault.
         “Ow.”
         Ow?
         I looked up. A man stood in front of me, his long hair hung past his shoulders, dark. His face was shadowed.
         “I’m not one of them.” His voice held a hint of anger but he stepped back, raising his hands in an open gesture. I glimpsed a flash of blue on his arms before I looked at his face.
         “How do I know?” I asked, my suspicisions still aroused. I had a charge to look after.
         “Well, I’m not eating you for starters.” He shot back at me. Defiant for a moment I glared at him.
         His eyes searched mine.
         I backed down. He was right. I nodded, “Sorry.” I told him. I felt his mood change, his anger dissolve.
         “It’s okay,” He lifted his hand to his jaw. I saw him work it, make sure nothing was too damaged. “Good shot by the way.”
         I grinned.
         “Do you guys knows whats going on?” He asked glancing at Louise, she looked shy, unsure.
         I shook my head. “We were shopping one minute and the next…” I flung my hands out indicating the street. I suddenly became aware of the fact that we were stood having a conversation in the middle of a battlefield.
         “Same. Do you want to stick together?” He asked us.
         I didn’t even have to consider it, “Yeah.” I told him.
         Safety in numbers.
         “Where were you headed?” He asked.
         “In all fairness, I was just debating. Stay in town or head further out.”
         He nodded in agreement. I watched his eyes flick past me, watching what was going on in the background. “I think for now we need to just find somewhere safe to camp out and try and figure out what’s going on.”
         “I agree.”
         “Let’s get moving then.” He cast a glance backwards. I looked too. The group was collating, a line of them limped, walked and staggered towards us. We set off at a quick place towards the Monument, each of us looking, listening. I didn’t have any clear idea of where we should go. I wondered if he did. It didn’t look like there were many of those people up ahead, but to assume would be dangerous.
         He paused at the Monument gazing down each of the streets. A girl lay sagged against the statue, her head lolling to the side. There was no visible blood. It almost looked like she was just sleeping but I was wary. I gently elbowed our new friend and pointed. With a frown he stepped closer. He nudged her with a foot and jumped backwards expecting her to try and hook him. She remained motionless. Louise stood by me, quiet.
         “Let’s head down towards the Quay.” He suggested.
         “Sure.”
         “We might get lucky.”
         I nodded. We began our march down the street. I felt incredibly vulnerable and realised I wanted something to hold in my hands. Something to protect myself, and Louise. A weapon.
         We drew near to the underground entrance of the Metro station. Just as I was about to cast a glance over the wall, see if the mutation was down there too, I was pulled back.
         “They’re coming from the alley.” He pointed. Behind me I saw a small girl making a beeline for us, followed by a dozen or so more. Her once cute dress was stained, rust coloured. Her clips were crudely coloured red as if she’d been playing with her mother’s lipstick. But I knew it wasn’t make up. We backed away from the alley that opened to the left of the bank. I almost tripped on Louise behind me. A pair of arms caught me hoisting me back to my feet, I shot a grateful glance. It was the second time she’d done that for me.
         I saw they were behind us, coming from below in the metro station.
         They were coming from every direction. Where had they all come from?
         We were still backing away from the alley, the metro station. From the oncoming wave of blank eyes. I felt cold stone wall on my back. There was nowhere left to go and they were closing in, a tight mob of ugly monsters. Faces all blurred together, they all looked the same, inhuman and insane, all tinged with blood. I felt panic well in my chest, I couldn’t breathe. They moved closer and closer, leering at us; their prey. I had to fight the urge to scream. I felt claustrophobic.
         They were on us.
         I shielded my face, turned away. Awaited the pain.
         A hand grabbed mine and yanked me aside. Waving my arm Louise saw we were moving. She followed with lightning speed then we were inside a set of doors. They were closed by a pair of hands just as we got inside, locked. The keys still dangled from the door as I backed away. Within moments hungry faces and searching hands were against the glass. The window took on that red tinge that was becoming all too familiar.
         I was panting. I heard Louise struggling to catch her breath too. She was panicking. I was worried she’d have an asthma attack. I grabbed her and pulled her close.
         “It’s okay, we’re safe.” I held her for a moment and felt her body begin to shake with sobs.
         “My baby,” She wailed. “My baby, I want Katie.” I felt tears soak through my t-shirt.
         “We’ll get there, she’ll be safe.” I tried to reassure her.
         “Come on, this way.” A voice called out, frenzied.
         I led Louise in the direction of the voice. It didn’t sound like the guy we had met up with, this was someone new. I didn’t care, the farther we could get away from that door the better. I could see them banging on the glass. It began to rattle in the frames becoming a rhythmic beat. I saw a red tongue covered in boils slide across the glass.
         They were hungry.
         As we ran towards the back of the building I saw we were in a bank. We moved past the cashiers counter, I pulled it shut behind me for what good it would do. I heard the sound of glass shattering behind me, the shards dropping on the carpet.
         A picture of Claire, a pane of glass embedded in her stomach, flashed through my mind.
         The pounding beat stopped, replaced instead by moans and croaking and crunching glass. They were in.
         We hurried on. I didn’t know where to. The thought of the barrier I’d just put between them and us brought me some comfort.
         “Quick, it’s closing!” I heard that same voice. A young man. I kept my head down and hurried on.
         What’s closing?
         “Run! Run!” I heard again. We were running out of time, but for what?
         I felt a hand grab my wrist, I knew it was our companion. As he jerked me forward I felt Louise’s hand slip from mine. I tried to stop, tried to reach for her but I was being careened forward. I couldn’t get out of his grasp.
         “Louise!” I screamed for my friend.
         One last pull and I felt something hard thump my shoulder. I stumbled forward into a pitch black place falling flat. Luckily I landed on something soft. I felt a gasp then a grunt as my elbow crushed into someone. The last little sliver of light disappeared and a loud clang ensued. The door had shut.
         I jumped up ignoring the dull pain in my shoulder, “Louise!” I threw myself against the door. It was metal, cold. I thought I heard a scream. I banged on the door.
         “Open the door, we have to help her.” I demanded, shouting into the darkness.
         “I can’t, it’s on a timer. We’re not getting out of here for a long time.” It was the young boy whose voice I heard earlier. I threw my pack against the door and sagged beside it. The door was cool against my back, soothing the sticky places the blood had left.
         I sat for a long time catching my breath, collecting my thoughts. I flinched when I felt someone grab my foot.
         “It’s just me.” The familiar voice soothed me, I saw his face in my min. I felt him drag himself up, felt his arm slide against mine his back against the door. “Are you okay?”
         I heard him panting. “Are you?” I asked him.
         “Yeah, you just got me good when you landed on me.”
         I imagined he’d be smiling.
         “I’m Mark.”
         I wondered if he was holding out his hand. “Jo.” I told him. I felt his hand grip my knee and squeeze. The sudden warmth and contact broke me. I felt my eyes sting and fought the need to cry. An arm went over my shoulder and I leaned into Mark like it was the most natural thing in the world. He held me while I cried.