The Real Night of the Living Dead by Mark Kramer, Felix Cruz Page B

prepared for any cunt dog queers that try and sneak up on him.”
    Again, we threw Melvin’s arms over our shoulders and began to move ahead, across the dark field. All we could see were the lights of N-5’s parking lot in the distance, probably about a hundred yards away.
    Around us was nothing but darkness and heavy rain. The ground below us had become very muddy and was making our trek sluggish and backbreaking; more than once, our feet would sink a few inches in the mud, and we’d have to stop and free ourselves.
    The sound of the crashing rain was loud, but we could still hear faint moans and shrieks behind us.
    “Looks like the cavalry came this way,” said Billy, motioning to the ground below us.
    My eyes went down and saw trails of footprints and handprints, even body-prints. I’d imagine there was blood at one point, but the hard rain washed it away.
    We were in the middle of the field now, closer to N-5. I turned back to see the mob pressed against the wrought iron gate, doing all they could to try and get through.
    Facing N-5 now, we drudged forward. Then, the lights went out. Everything everywhere was black.
    Melvin moaned and screamed as he said, “What? God, what’s going on?”
    “ It’s fine, pal,” I said, trying to relax him. “The power got cut off. Calm down, we’re still walking.”
    “No, no, they’ll get us in the dark, see? They’ll find us. And eat us.”
    Billy interrupted, saying, “Pipe down. You keep ballin ’ like that and they will find us. Just keep them chapped lips puckered. We movin ’ along. Soon we be safe again.”
    “Listen to him, Melvin,” I said.
    We walked in the dark. I was nervous. It was just so goddamn dark. I tell you, if I’d’ve put my hand in front of my own face I wouldn’t be able to see it. I mean, it was BLACK.
    Then the goose bumps shot up on my arms as I heard the wheels of the gate screeching. I could only imagine what was going on at that moment. The screams and moans grew louder, like the bastards were excited.
    A minute later, Billy fell. His face hit the mud. Still holding Melvin, he brought him down, and Melvin took me along for the ride.
    We were lying in the mud now, moving fast, trying to get up. “What the hell was that, Billy?” I said.
    “I hit some’um on the ground,” he said.
    I reached back, trying to feel what tripped him. It was a body. As my hands wandered, trying to figure out who or what it was, it said, “ Heellpp …Please…Let them…No…”
    “It’s a chick,” said Billy. “You all right there, darlin ’?” She screamed again. “Calm down now. We got’cha . Ain’t no one gonna hurt ya .”
    “No, she could be one of them,” said Melvin. “Leave her and let’s get going before it’s too late.”
    “She ain’t sick,” said Billy.
    “And how in the heck would you know?” Melvin shouted.
    Billy shouted right back, “’Cause, by now she’d be treatin ’ us like a goddamn T-bone steak.”
    The lights flickered again and were back on.
    I looked at Billy and Melvin, then at the woman on the ground; she didn’t appear to have been bitten, but was covered in mud and was semiconscious. Then I turned back and, with the light from N-3’s parking lot reaching the edge of the field, I could see the silhouettes of the figures heading our way.
    The nervous feeling came back again. I turned to Billy and said, “Grab her, I’ll get him.”
    “My pleasure,” Billy said and lifted the woman off the ground and began carrying her across the field.
    I walked with Melvin, but we were a few feet behind Billy, moving slow . My right arm was around his waist, and my left arm was carrying the mop and broom. We were near the edge of the field now and almost at N-5.
    The creatures were a good hundred yards behind us.
    With the rain hitting my eyes, I squinted at the woman in Billy’s skinny arms. From the looks of her filthy uniform I could tell she was a nurse. The rain was crashing against her face and was washing