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up.
    “Climb .”
    Jake reached for the ladder, giving Chris a knee in the face for his troubles. Chris was left hanging by his legs, his arms dangling toward the ground. A rush of rage pushed the door open and the infected poured into the fenced in space with a booming roar of bloodthirsty lust. The piercing screams of infected madness engulfed them as they climbed over one another to get at the fresh meat.
    “Jump,” Chris said, as if the woman needed encouragement.
    She bent down and pushed off the concrete with all her might. Chris caught her hands and pulled with everything he had left. She was climbing when the infected bodies swept in below them in a frenzy. They reached out for her as she dangled, climbing over one another to get a piece. The woman reached the ladder and Chris discovered he lacked the strength to reach up and straighten himself. The fenced in space filled with the infected and the gathering resembled a mosh pit.
    “A little help here.”
    His backpack was dangling and he was sure it was a goner. Only then, did he realize he’d dropped his bat somewhere during the fray. An abrupt grip on his belt buckle pulled his attention up above his position. The woman had one arm wrapped around the top rung of the ladder and the other around his belt. The force of the pull surprised Chris as he rocked his body to help his rescuer. It took two good swings for him to rise up far enough to grab hold of the ladder, then another few deep breaths before they climbed up.
    The infected were everywhere below, like ants swarming on a dead carcass. The figures climbed over one another creating a mound of raging fury. The highest among them grabbed hold of the bottom of the ladder, trying to pull themselves up. Chris looked down over the side of the roof before going to work. He slammed the heel of his boot into the top of the ladder and the woman followed his example. She didn’t have to look over the side to know what was coming.
    The metal pins holding the ladder to the roof screeched as the load increased. The sheer volume coming over the edge of the building was enough to cause the kids to run to the other side of the roof, engulfed by panic. They huddled close together in the far corner as Alicen cried. Chris kicked at the ladder with all his strength, until in one panic filled moment, the device pulled free. The crash that followed was lost within the howling vehemence of the infected below.
    Chris followed the woman toward the kids cowering in corner and each gasped for breaths as they took in their surroundings. Chris considered for a moment how many times he’d come close to being torn to pieces since the infection broke. He was sure this was one of the all-time worst. It was in the middle of his internal debate that Alicen’s voice cut through with a simple question.
    “ How are we going to get down?”
    #
    “You left two kids to fend for themselves?”
    This was the third time Jenn had asked the question, or made the statement, depending on how you looked at it. The introductions had been pleasant enough. They gathered in the corner of the roof overlooking the parking lot as soon as the group considered themselves safe. Light from the remaining operational parking lamps revealed the true extent of the infected and slumbering zombies attracted to the area by the recent chase. It was in this first calming moment that Jake explained how the kids knew Chris.
    “How could you do that?” Jenn asked.
    The tone of her voice told Chris she wasn’t re ally looking for an answer, but he felt compelled to defend himself. “First off, they left me,” he insisted, then he glared at Jake. “…and they stole some of my food in the process.” He conveniently left out the fact that he’d already decided to part ways with the kids before they ran away. “What was I supposed to do?” he asked, now on the offense. “It’s not my job to save everyone I come across.”
    Jenn threw up her hands in frustration.