Writing on the Wall Read Online Free PDF Page B

which means close contact in close quarters.” He looks at me with a grimace. “I sort of hate that.”
    “Me too.” I agree heartily. “But opening the gate and letting them come at us means close quarters too and we both have melee weapons. Can’t really get a good swing in this stairwell. Especially not side by side. We might accidentally hit each other.”
    He smirks. “Tell me how much that idea bothers you.”
    “At the moment, you’re more inconvenient to me unconscious or dead than alive.”
    “I’m glad you’re warming up to me.”
    I snort derisively.
    “So…” he says slowly. “What do you want to do?”
    I sigh and rub my hand over my eyes, feeling tired. “Go back upstairs, eat dinner and watch another movie.”
    Beside me I feel his chuckle as much as I hear it. We’re pressed in tight together standing in front of this door with sixteen pair, wait, no an odd fifteen (someone’s missing one) opaque eyes staring at us.
    “What are we having for dinner?” Ryan asks.
    “Homemade waffles, hot off the skillet.”
    “With fresh strawberries?”
    “And whipped cream.”
    “Scrambled eggs.”
    “And bacon.”
    “ Lots of bacon.” he says emphatically.
    My mouth is watering. I regret playing this game. My cold carrots and potatoes are going to taste especially bland now.
    “Let’s get this over with.” I glance at him questioningly. “Shove them back? Get the range to beat their heads in?”
    He nods once. “Sounds good. On my count?”
    “Go.”
    “Three… two… one!”
    I unlatch the gate and we kick it out toward them. It connects with the two that were pressed against it and shoves them back into the throng. They all jostle loosely, one falling down completely. I’d rather he’d stayed vertical because now we’ve got a potential ankle biter to worry about.
    “Crawler on my side!” I shout to Ryan in warning. “Watch the floor.”
    “Got it! I’ll cover you while you take him out.”
    As we push the horde back, avoiding snapping jaws and clawing fingers as best we can, I keep an eye on the floor. The group tramples over their fallen buddy, reluctantly giving up ground to us as we push them back with weapons held out against their chests. I have to let my mind go blank as we get this close to them, as we intentionally touch them. I can feel the texture of their skin beneath the remnants of their clothes. It’s waxy and disturbing in its cold malleability. I worry my fingers or knuckles are going to sink into their flesh, tearing through the skin and driving right down to the bone. And they wouldn’t even flinch.
    They’re hideous and strong, stronger than you would believe, but they’re also clumsy as hell. They push back against us hard but all it takes is a swift kick to the knee and they stumble, making it easier to push them. You have to be careful not to get overzealous though, or you end up with more crawlers.
    I have nightmares about crawlers.
    When this one’s head is in sight and the horde is almost out the second doorway and into the street, I step quickly to the side, leaving Ryan exposed on his left. I don’t like doing it, to him or myself, but this guy on the floor has got to go. I lift the ASP and line up the shot like a golfer. When I swing the steel ball at the end toward his temple, I know it’ll do its job. People I can’t count on, but steel is a faithful friend. The resounding crack! that echoes through the entryway and reverberates all the way up my arms tells me this Risen is no more.
    I quickly fall in line beside Ryan again to help him push the remainders outside. Once we’re clear of the doorway we spread out slightly to give each other room but we keep our backs to the wall. You learn that real quick, alone or with an army. Keep your back defended.
    The dead heavily favor Ryan, probably drawn in by his injured hand and the blood readily available at the surface of his skin. Five of them move to surround him while only two stick with