Markus Quint's Story

I don’t know this boy, I don’t know why this boy would want to help me, I don’t really think he can help me, but he’s holding his hand out to me.

Why me, out of all the people here? But the sight behind him, Elizabeth’s eyes fixed blankly on the ceiling as the last drops of blood flee her veins, makes me think fast. The ‘why’ isn’t important. The how is.

Pointing wildly to the nearest counter, I blurted out “There!” I worked in the KFC a few floors down last summer, so I knew that every kitchen needed a fire exit by law.

But what if all the doors are sealed? What if there’s no escape? A line she vaguely remembered from a movie shot into her mind: ‘If you are trapped behind enemy line, find a safe spot to hide.’ “No! Wait. That way!” A space was clearing near the door the monsters had streamed through, and on the other side was an elevator.

In glimpses between dodging snarling men, women and children I pieced together the incredible defence the boy put up, but with half my focus on him and the rest concentrating on swerving wildly into safe spots, I had no chance to watch my step and fell heavily onto the floor. One of the monsters noticed me fall, and I grabbed desperately for the hunk of wood I tripped on – a broken leg from a shattered table.

I swung the table leg violently upwards as the monster dived towards me and, as if it was being led by a stronger force than me, the tip of it connected with his jaw and he flew straight over me, crumpling on the floor, apparently dazed. By the time he was moving, I was up, smashing around his head with the table chunk. It may not seem like much, but any sort of weapon was a huge advantage.

The boy caught up with me and as we continued our all or nothing dash for the doorway, I scanned the hall, using this brief moment of almost calmness to survey my enemy.

None of the things were using weapons. They might have superhuman strength, but they weren’t using tools. So these things can't be intelligent; they must be easy to outwit.

Suddenly we were through the doorway! There were more of the monster things, far away enough that they didn’t seem concerned with us; they were hunting people down in the stores. I touched a finger to my lips in the universal gesture for ‘shh!’ and pointed at the elevator.

I was expecting a sharp snap or a thud, some sign that the mystery man had toppled another of the monsters, and if it wouldn’t have been the last sound I’d ever uttered, I would have shouted out loud when he came round the corner with that man. With a soft ding the elevator doors slide smoothly shut, and I almost demanded to know why he had added another member to our group – wouldn’t it be hard enough with just us? – but then I remembered he’d just picked me up for no reason, and I was probably only slowing him down. But I couldn’t stifle a hushed hiss of “Who are you?” towards the strange man who had just saved my life.

But before he could reply, the elevator door slide open, but no one stood outside. “It must be automatic.” I concluded, dipping my head through the doorway.

One of the creatures, closer now, began a shuffling run towards us, and I pounded the close doors button, although we had time, it was still far enough away. Through the last inch of doorway I caught sight of other monsters coming our way, following the first one. Diving for the button to take us to the top floor of the mall, I almost slammed into the newcomer, who was still just staring from the other stranger to me. Speaking of the other stranger… I should probably consult him.

“Where shall we go?” I asked carefully – I didn’t think survival would be easy without him, so I didn’t want to offend my new companion.

About to answer the girl he helped escape, Markus's heart skipped a beat when the elevator door decided to re-open. Nothing being in the way, he was able to take a deep breath in relief. Of course, this was short lived, as one of the creatures had attained the inspiration of charging the elevator door. Keeping the other two toward the side with the buttons, Markus squared off for a kick to keep the thing out of their only means of escape. Fortunately, this was unnecessary. Practically diving, the girl beside him managed to shut the door before it reached them. The only thing audible from that point was the slam against the door. Oddly metallic sounding, for a person slamming against the door. Must have lead with his head. He thought. With another breath, Markus sunk into the floor to relax a bit.

"Where shall we go?" was the question that finally broke the silence. Looking up at his new companions, the kid to the girl's right was obviously not in the position to say a word.

"Hell, if I know!" he replied. It might have come across slightly aggressive, but it was the first time he spoke after all of that adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I'm from Vancouver. I barely know where it is I am right now. Lets just find a relatively empty floor, and take a look at a map?"