Human Extinction Level Loss (Book 1): Nicole's Odyssey by Philip A. McClimon Page A

the forklift as it crashed into the doors.  Glass shattered and the Dead wasted no time.  They clamored in, trying to squeeze past the forklift.  Nicole stared in horror as Sam struggled to unbuckle his seatbelt.
    He’s gonna be a Samwhich, Nicole thought and immediately chastised herself for her mind’s choice of coping mechanisms.
    “Come on, Sam!” she yelled. 
    Sam unbuckled and jumped from the lift as more of the Dead poured in, blocking their way back to Receiving.  Nicole turned and began to climb the shelves of the racks.  Sam saw what she was doing and quickly followed her.  They reached the top and looked back down.  Thirty feet below them, the Dead clamored. 
    Nicole turned on Sam.  “A forklift!?  We could have been using a forklift to move those pallets!?” she screamed. 
    Sam was nonplussed.  “We couldn’t.  There were no other employees here.  Safety rules clearly state that during business hours while customers are in the store, aisle blockers and spotters are required when using the power equipment,” Sam said. 
    Nicole thought briefly of shoving Sam off the shelf and into the horde below. 
    Sam looked down at them.  “What are we going to do now?  I set those bug bombs off, but it would not be good to be in here when it starts to fill up,” he said. 
    “As opposed to now?” Nicole quipped.  She turned and looked at the rows of racking behind them. 
    Five rows of shelves of equal height led to the receiving area.  Nicole crawled to the opposite edge and looked across the aisle to the next shelf. 
    “What do you think that is, six feet?”  she asked.  Sam turned and looked at the width of the aisle. 
    “Yeah, why?” he asked. 
    “Cause we are going to have to jump for it,” she said. 
    Before Sam could respond, Nicole leaped across the aisle.  She landed on the other shelf and rolled, her momentum carrying her over the edge.  Now it was Sam’s turn to stare in horror as he watched Nicole disappear from view.  Precious seconds passed before he saw Nicole throw up her hand and try to climb back up. 
    “A little help,” she said as her head appeared. 
    Sam readied himself and jumped across.  He landed on the shelf and steadied himself, then helped Nicole up to a sitting position.  The Dead remained where they were, their addled brains unable to work the logic of what was happening above them. 
    “Four more to go,” Nicole said as she readied herself for the next jump. 
    “Try not to fall this time,” Sam suggested. 
    “Words to live by,” Nicole said as she made the leap.  She landed on the next aisle and held on tight.
    Three more jumps and they were staring down at the Receiving bay door.  Behind them, the Dead still were squeezing in past the forklift by the droves.  Sounds of the other doors in the store being twisted and pushed open mixed with the cacophony of moans from the Dead.  Sam and Nicole climbed down the shelves and ran to their waiting carts.  Grabbing the small animal repellent, they doused the curtains in the foul smelling liquid, then climbed underneath them and waited.  Nicole could hear the doors caving in and knew they only had seconds left before hundreds of the Dead would rush in to them, rush in to them and away from her car.  Outside the Receiving Bay door, just inches away from Sam and Nicole, the Dead pounded in impatient fury.  Nicole reached over and unscrewed the caps off two five-gallon gas cans.  When Sam had said he was going to set up the bug bombs, she had agreed.  It was the only way he could get him to help her.  Sam had taken precious time setting up bug bombs along the floor.  It was a good plan, he had said.  Once all the bugs were in the store and the bombs set off, they would die.  Clean up would be a hassle, but then it would be back to business.  She had agreed to the bug bombs to appease Sam’s delusion.  Mostly though, she agreed because the insecticide spraying from the cans was