Chapter 7: Three Zombies vs A Crossbow

My blood ran cold. I needed to come up with a solution before we were locked in with hordes of zombies.

“You have got to be kidding me” I said as the first zombie climbed over, releasing a wet animalistic groan that made me want to bend over and puke.

How fantastic.

“We need to turn off the generator” A small squeaky voice said from the corner.

My gaze swung to her, I didn't even know her name, I had been so overwhelmed I had forgotten to ask.

“What's your name?” I asked, surveying her carefully.

“Nia, and my dog is Biscuit” She squeaked, her voice was scratchy from all that screaming and crying earlier.

“Tell me Nia, why do you think we should turn off the generator? It's a soundless system, the lights are already off and we are being dead silent, I doubt the generator has anything to do with all this, besides, it's nighttime, the solar panels can only do so much, we wouldn't be able to monitor their activity if we turn off the generator” I reasoned.

“I mean, if the lights are off, there's no sound coming from here, the only other option is that they're following the vibrations from the generator. I may be wrong, but it's worth a try, "she said.

“Jade..” Kael called again, “one is already in the compound, two more are scaling the gates, we need to hurry” 

My heart dropped to my knees, “I have to get outside to shut it off, and if I do the monitors would stop working till morning, we would basically be blind.”

"Not necessarily." Nia stepped forward, her eyes darting between the monitors and the control panel. "If the generator is what's attracting them, we can switch the fence and the cameras to backup power before shutting it down."

“I'm not an electrician, I don't know how to do all that” My heart thumped as I crossed the room, picking up a cross bow and a couple of bolts, preparing to go outside.

“I know how to do it .” She swallowed.

I stared at her. "You know how to do it?"

"My dad was a lineman. He taught me how to work with electrical panels when I was nine."

Another crash sounded from outside.

Kael glanced at the monitor, "Jade, we don't have much time."

I looked at Nia, then at the three infected struggling over my fence, "Fine. Are you sure you can do it?” 

She nodded "I think so."

"You think so?"

Her face fell, "I've never worked with this exact setup before."

Wonderful.

“Come with me” I sighed, I was about to entrust our survival to a frightened teenage girl who had just admitted she wasn't entirely sure what she was doing.

I marched outside, breathing shakily as I cocked the crossbow. The zombie’s head was cocked to the side, and its hand hung like a deadweight. It looked like a walking corpse, skin looking gray and all. 

"All right, Nia. You'll work on the backup power. I'll keep the infected away from you.” I said.

“Okay” She said,

I nodded my head at Nia, “The generator room is over there, shut it off and get the cables you need from the cabinet, I'll take care of this.” 

Nia took off at a run in the opposite direction, the noise attracting the first zombie and two others that had managed to scale the fence.

They turned their heads, changing directions and following in the direction she took off in.

“Hey you ugly bastards!” I shouted, cocking the crossbow, they stopped, turned to me and started dragging their feet towards my direction, “I didn't want to do this, but you have to go” I screamed and released the bolt.

It flew straight at the first

zombie, and fell flat on the floor two meters from the target, the zombie didn't even flinch.

I stared at the bolt lying uselessly on the floor and felt a wave of irritation wash over me.

Crap!

I have never fired a crossbow in my life and I just missed a target that was walking in a straight line.

“That's not how to do it,” Kael said from behind me, like he just materialized from thin air.

I turned so sharply that I nearly dropped the bow.

He stood in the doorway, one hand pressed against his injured side. His face was pale, but his expression was composed.

“What are you doing here?! Your wounds are still fresh and if you've not noticed, I have no medical skills, if you get worse, then you'd most likely die” I said to him through gritted teeth, loading another bolt.

“I'm just trying to stop you from embarrassing yourself even more” He smirked, wincing slightly.

His pain brought me a little satisfaction.

“How touching, unfortunately, I have bigger problems” I fired back and turned back to the zombies who were advancing towards me.

“I may not have the strength to fire but I can guide you, here keep it this high and bring your eyes here, the key is to not look at the bow, instead look at your target and keep it level” 

He was behind me now, one arm supporting my left hand and the other supporting my right, my back was flush against his chest and his arms engulfed me, it made me want to puke.

Get a grip Jade, you're one second away from becoming zombie dinner.

“Then you release” he said and I did, the bolt flew straight to the first Zombie, landing right between the eyes.

The infected crumpled to the ground. 

“Did you see that?!” I yelped.

He stepped back, his expression tight from pain “Yes Jade, I was standing right behind you, try not to act too surprised. Also, you have two more coming” 

I moved closer, without Kael to guide me, I needed to be a bit closer in order to stand a chance at making a clean shot.

The second infection lunged forward with surprising speed and slashed at my shoulder with it's filthy fingers.

 I fell to the ground, scrambling back up and putting some distance between us.

The creature slammed into me again, sending me crashing against the wall, my bow flew a few metres back and pain shot through my skull.

From my peripheral vision, I saw Kael cocking the bow at the third zombie and heard the wet thud as it fell to the ground. 

The second zombie’s jaws snapped inches from my face, and the stench of rotting flesh filled my nostrils.

I shoved my forearm against its throat, desperately trying to keep its teeth away from my skin as a wave of nausea crashed over me from the smell.

I couldn't breathe and my arms were beginning to shake.

No. Not like this.

I had already died once, I absolutely refused to let a walking corpse finish the job.

With a desperate twist, I drove my knee into its stomach and forced it sideways, the zombie lost its balance.

With no crossbow, I reached into my holster and pulled out the gun, firing three clean shots into its skull, my hands shaking as the zombie released a wet groan and collapsed on the floor.

For several seconds I couldn't move.

"Well," I whispered finally, "that was absolutely horrible."

Kael chuckled, he was slumped against a wall, his wound bleeding "Your technique needs work."

"Do you want me to shoot you?" I cocked my head.

"With that gun? I imagine you'd miss.” he smirked, his expression full of pain.

How could someone be so badly injured yet so infuriating?

"Jade!" Nia came running toward us, "The generator is off! I've switched the essential systems to backup power. The cameras and fence are still working, but I don't know how long the batteries will last."

I looked toward the damaged wall.

The generator's rumble had finally disappeared, and all the noise from the zombies was gone.

The ones that were pounding on the gate seemed to have lost interest totally.

My knees finally gave out on the concrete, a long sigh of relief leaving my chest as the blue system notification flared to life in my field of vision.