Science had created a bewildering array of drugs, but in doing so people became less and less concerned with the long-term effects. No one was quite sure exactly which cocktail of chemicals “Zombies” had come about from. Whatever it was, they’d stopped caring about the real world.
As Ghost and Amber moved further into the mall, they could see zombies everywhere. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands standing or shuffling while they gazed; some into space, others were transfixed by anything from a crack running through a wall to overfull litter bins. This was where the decisions got harder. In theory, they could walk straight past the zombies without disturbing them from whatever world they were seeing. Unfortunately sometimes the synapses in the zombies’ brains convulsed sending them into uncontrolled rages. Listening carefully, in the distance Amber could hear what sounded like something heavy and wet being repeatedly smashed against a wall. She tried not to imagine what it was.
Ghost nodded to the stairs that lay several hundred yards along the corridor to the right. Slowly and calmly they began to make their way towards it. The one benefit was that the zombies didn't pay any attention to them, even when they pointed their shotguns directly at their heads. They didn't have nearly enough ammunition to deal with all of them, but the trick lay in stopping them as quickly as possible before they disturbed any other zombies. It was a lot like fighting a fire in a dry forest. Stamp on the first beginning ember quickly enough and you were safe. But let it get fanned by the wind…
Amber kept her back towards Ghost as much as possible allowing them to see a wider area. Ghost was able to slip between realities aiming at different zombies and choosing different paths between them, but Amber just had to hope each time she edged past another one that it would remain docile. They were about half way to the stairs when one of the zombies turned towards her and slowly reached out for her. She placed her shotgun under its chin, brushing aside a lock of matted hair, but instead of attacking it merely grasped her coat and stared at it vacantly with washed out blue eyes. Ghost heard her sudden sharp inbreath and he spun gracefully, levelling his shotgun at the rear of its head, being careful to keep Amber out of his line of fire.
“Now what?” she hissed at him. There was a reasonable chance the other zombies wouldn't react to the sound of shotgun fire but she really wanted better odds than that. Ghost blurred, his shotgun fired and then reality snapped back into focus. The now mostly headless zombie dropped to its knees and collapsed in a heap on the stone floor. There was no reaction around them. Amber led out her breath and they continued towards the stairs. She was really beginning to hate zombies. As they got further into the Mall it became increasingly crowded with them. Soon they were brushing against them with almost every step. She tried not to breaqth - hygiene was not cleary not important to zombies.The stairs at least appeared to be empty. Amber breathed an audible sigh of relief when they reached them.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked.
“Good is such a relative term,” he replied with a smile. “On the bright side I think the shop we want is that one over there.” He gestured to a shop on the next floor which was at the front of the Mall.
They ascended the stairs and looked around. Presumably because of the difficulty in climbing stairs or finding another way up, there were considerably less zombies on this level. Those that were here seemed to be more interested in their surroundings. At a restaurant zombies sat patiently at tables. In the bookshop, they stared at books, though Amber noticed that many of the books were in fact upside down or closed.
Cautiously they made their way forwards towards the shop, ever watchful for any hint of rage in the dulled eyes.
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