It was the other zombies gathering before the hotel that gave Jenni pause. They were looking around, as if sensing that there was flesh to consume nearby. One of them looked up and reached toward her.
About ten of them began to screech at her. Backing away, she looked toward the doors behind her. She had no gun and no idea if anything lay beyond that door.
Taking a deep breath, she began to reach out to open the door when the doors began to shake under the pounding of fists on the other side.
Jenni looked back at the other balcony she had come from. Her gun lay that way as did the other zombie.
Looking back at the door quivering before her, she made a choice.
2. Nightmares Realized
Katie came running down the hall with Travis and Felix close behind. They had heard the screams and had immediately charged down the hall. Roger huffed and puffed behind them as they rounded the corner.
Curtis and Jimmy stood out in the hall shouting at each other as screams came from beyond the door.
“Where is Jenni?” Katie shouted at them.
Jimmy desperately checked his pockets as Curtis cursed at him.
“Jimmy flipped out and shoved me out of the room and shut the gawddamn door. Jenni is in there. She has a set of keys and Jimmy can’t find his,” Curtis responded, his face red with anger.
Jimmy continued desperately checking his pockets as Katie whirled on him. “Jenni is in there? Screaming? What the fuck were you thinking leaving her alone?”
“I got it. ” Roger unlocked the door with their set of keys.
Next to Roger, Travis steadied himself, ready to fire.
“That fucking zombie had a metal plate in his head,” Jimmy screamed at Katie. “Our shots didn’t even phase him!”
“You don’t leave people behind,” Katie shouted angrily. For a moment, Lydia flickered in her mind. She fought back the image.
“We don’t leave people behind. ”
“Ready?” Roger asked.
Katie nodded collected herself and readied herself.
Roger flung the door open.
Something that had been human was on the floor crawling toward the balcony. When the door banged opened, it slid around, opened its mouth and hissed. Katie felt her stomach flip-flop but managed to keep it under control as she raised her gun and shot the thing in the head.
“Jenni,” she called out cautiously. That thing on the floor could not be Jenni. Jenni had to still be in here, somewhere, alive.
But if she wasn’t…
Entering first, Travis right behind her, Katie held her gun up and ready.
If Jenni were turned, she would have to kill her. Jenni was her friend and she loved her. It would be only right for her to be the one.
But it was a task she didn't want.
Jenni couldn’t be gone…
A shape loomed in the doorway.
It took a second for her to take in the long black hair. The form limped into the room and raised its head. Blood poured out of its mouth.
It was Jenni.