The Dead in River City by S.A. McGarey

jumped down into the bush, with
Kendra tumbling after.
    The pain was just about what Alan expected. He’d
landed on his right arm, and slightly on his back. He’d be feeling that in the
morning for sure. He didn’t think he broke any bones, so he worked on standing
up and getting out of the bush. As he struggled to stand, he heard groaning
that undoubtedly came from Kendra. He stood and limped towards where she
landed, and tried to help her up.
    “Are you alright, Kendra?” Alan asked, obviously in
pain.
    “I think I broke something.” She groaned out.
    Alan tried to help her up and examine her to see
what condition she was in. Taking her left hand, he tried to pull her up, only
to hear her yelp out in pain. He knew instantly that the fall had broken her
left arm. Quickly adjusting his plan, he picked her entire body up and started a
slow jog away from the library. They had escaped certain doom, but the
situation had potentially become worse. They now had nowhere to run to, and no
transportation, and on top of that, they were unarmed, save the last bolt for
the crossbow pistol.
    Alan carried Kendra away from the building, looking
for someplace to hide until they could figure out their next move.

13
    “Run. Just run. Don’t stop,
just keep running.” Alan told himself. He ran as best as he could while carrying Kendra,
who was still in pain from her fall. At that moment, Alan had no clue what to
do or where to go. He could only outrun the horde for so long, and he knew of
nowhere in walking distance where he would be safe. He was out of ideas.
    Kendra was still fully conscious, but in terrible pain.
She didn’t have any desire to walk anywhere, and was actually glad that Alan
had decided to carry her, even though it would endanger them in the long run.
Kendra didn’t have any ideas either, and truthfully, in her heart, she wasn’t
sure they’d last to the next day. It was still relatively early, and they would
have a long way to go before they would be even remotely safe.
    After about 10 minutes of fleeing the library, Alan
slowed and turned around. He didn’t see any of the Dead Ones directly following,
but he knew they’d be on their heels before long. Malcolm was sure to follow as
well, if he was still alive. Alan didn’t know why, but he knew that Malcolm
seemed almost bent on killing the both of them. Alan was sure they needed an
escape, and they needed it now.
    Looking down to Kendra’s face, Alan spoke. “Are you
doing alright?”
    “It hurts, but I should be ok.” Kendra replied. “Do
you have a place for us to go?”
    “I’ve been racking my brain with no real luck. I
don’t really know where to go.” He replied. “I’m guessing you don’t have any
ideas?”
    “Not really.” Kendra said. “I thought of one thing
but I don’t think it will be of any use.” The pain in her voice was evident.
    “Anything is better than nothing.” Alan reminded
her. “What were you thinking of?”
    “Well, you know how people sometimes tend to stick
together in situations like this? Like how people make communities all on their
own?”
    “Of course.”
    “Well I’ve heard rumors of a place like that, within
this very city. I don’t know much about it, or even it’s exact location. I just
know I had heard other survivors saying that that’s where they were heading
to.”
    “A community of survivors? Did they give any remote
indication as to where it might be located?”
    “Somewhere closer to the east end. Sounded like
maybe it was in a tower or something.” Kendra said.
    Alan pondered that single clue: a tower, or
something similar, closer to the east end of Louisville. Alan knew it was a
long shot, but he had an idea. He immediately picked up the pace again, looking
for some way to get transportation to the place he’d thought of.
    “You have an idea, don’t you?” Kendra asked Alan.
    “Oh yes…” He said, his breathing strained by the
running. “I think I have a very good clue were