Chopper Down! |
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An entry into the January 2008 Twilight Creations contest by Craig Brenizer
The red flashing warning lights cast everyone inside the chopper in an unearthly glow as the warning buzzer nearly drowned out all the hysterical screams.
Yesterday, a small group of survivors had managed to find a chopper at a helipad, that an army unit had apparently abandoned (they were probably really all dead) but they didnt get far when the engine began to malfunction.
"We're Screwed!" Paul screamed, trying to hold onto one of the seat belt straps as the helicopter tipped into a sideways lurch.
"Shut up! I'm trying to land this son of a b***h!" Robert replied, fighting with all his strength for some control as the ground came rapidly towards them. He managed to bounce the chopper once, and then the nose drove downward with a screech of tearing metal. They slid for an agonizing amount of time until they finally came to a stop on what looked like an interstate road.
Five people quickly jumped from the wrecked chopper. It was nighttime but they could all clearly hear numerous distant groans from the undead all around them. A small fire was steadily growing from the engine compartment of the chopper, which shed a pale glow on their immediate area.
"Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse..." John replied and calmly lit his last cigarette.
Michael reached into the chopper and grabbed the Fire Axe. He let out a nervous laugh that echoed eerily into the night.
"We have to get inside somewhere!" Cathy nearly screamed, which brought a new series of groans from the undead. Only they sounded closer now. She clamped a hand over her mouth as her eyes got wide with terror.
"Get anything you can use as a weapon out of the chopper now! We'll have to try to find a building nearby and fast! Paul, how's the ammo situation?" Robert asked as he flicked on a flashlight and shown it around the area.
"Are you trying to draw them to us?" Cathy nearly shrieked.
"We have to be able to navigate and not run blindly off into the dark!" Robert replied angrily.
"I only have one bullet left for the pistol. That's all we got left. One shot. Oh, and one Molotov Cocktail!" Paul replied, holding up a bottle with a loose rag handing out, to the flickering glow of the fire.
"Hey guys!" Michael yelled. "Over here! The Keys are still in it!"
Robert looked up and down the road with his flashlight. "Looks like we might be able to make a run in that. Not many cars on this road and most look like they ran off or over the sides anyway."
"Well, count me out as the driver. I have a very Bad Sense of Direction," Cathy exclaimed and then she thought it was a silly thing to say at the moment.
The temporary lull was shattered by a single gunshot, making everyone jump. A lone zombie fell at Paul's feet, a bullet hole directly through its forehead. "So much for that last bullet", he said holstering the empty pistol. "We need to move now."
Everyone rushed for the car, which Michael had successfully started up. "Almost a full tank of gas! Hot damn!"
"Oh my God! There's a dead body in the back seat!" Cathy screamed, getting back out of the car.
John took hold of the feet and removed the partially mummified body with one swift pull. He then paused and reached down towards the floor mats. "Hey look... A shotgun!"
Robert checked the glove compartment. "All I got is a small First Aid Kit and an old business card for a Kerry Breitenstein of Twilight Creations Inc. whatever that is..."
Michael switched on the headlights and they could now see how close they came to being eaten alive. A hoard of shambling zombies was directly ahead in the road before them.
"At least we can get a much needed rest for now," Michael stated, making sure all the windows were wound up. A CD left in the radio began to spew out some heavy metal band music as Michael put the car into drive.
"Man, this just gives me a huge Adrenaline Rush!" Michael stated as he swerved the car into the path of the undead. Zombies began bouncing off the bumper, hood and windshield. Others thumped or clawed at the windows as they drove through them.
"Oh my God, I'm getting really Claustrophobic!" Cathy stated, holding her face in her hands and covering her eyes. She could not believe she had made it this far. She just didn't feel cut out at all for this survival nonsense. The only thing she figured had saved her was her father teaching her how to shoot. Her ammo had run out long ago but she put a reassuring hand to the long knife at her side.
"There must be nearly a hundred zombies out there!" Robert exclaimed as the car thumped and bumped over the bodies that were unlucky enough to be in their direct path. Michael expertly kept the car on the road and the pedal to the metal. He occasionally had to turn on the windshield wipers to get rid of the blood smears.
"Hey," John spoke up. "I think there's a Kat's Navy Surplus Store around here somewhere. I just saw a billboard advertisement for it and it's off the next exit. If we can get there, we may be able to re-supply with ammo, weapons and food!"
Michael cut the wheel and took the next exit. It wasn't long before they could clearly see the large surplus store on the left. As they pulled into the parking lot they could see the front of the store contained a large group of zombies.
"Slight Miscalculation, guys?" Paul stated, wishing he had another cigarette.
"We'll just have to fight our way in!" Paul stated jacking a round into the shotgun and clutching it tightly.
Everyone gripped their weapons and headed towards the front doors...
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