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  Remembering his rumbling stomach he ran over to the food section and grabbed a carton of juice and a box of Poptarts. He shined his flashlight on the door as he made his way to the stairwell entrance, there were at least thirty people, he wasn’t sure if he could call them people anymore, crammed into the entry way pushing against the doors and scratching at the glass.

  Pausing Roland shone the flashlight across the entryway and examined the faces of the creatures on the other side of the glass. He could now see that they were definitely not people, their eyes were yellowish and their lips pulled back to the point of being almost nonexistent. Ignoring the obvious wounds they all sported and the red stains around their mouths, Roland couldn’t look away from their yellow eyes; their dead, lifeless eyes. The sound of cracking glass ended his reverie and Roland ran for the stairwell as the panes started to give way.

  He could hear the panes shatter as he reached the top of the stairs and the moaning filled the stairwell as the creatures started for the stairwell. Crashing through the heavy door at the top of the stairs Roland spun and kicked the door shut locking the heavy deadbolt. He could hear the bloodcurdling moans and scratches at the door and wondered how long it would keep them out.

  Entering the supervisor’s area Roland shined his flashlight around doing his best to ignore the moans coming from the other side of the big door. A large square with two exits; other than a counter around most of the room and a photocopier in the center the supervisor’s area was empty. He didn’t know why and he hadn’t been there in years but Roland couldn’t help an intense feeling of loneliness as he looked around. Ignoring the supervisor’s area Roland headed off down the long dark hallway towards the break room, lighting a cigarette as he went. “Don’t think anyone will mind.” He chuckled out loud as he blew smoke towards the roof.

  Pausing at the entrance to the break room Roland held his breath and listened, the moans were muffled and he couldn’t hear anything else nearby so he exhaled a sigh of relief as he headed for the nearest couch. Crushing the smoke under his boot Roland opened the juice and Poptarts, quickly devouring four of the s’mores flavored breakfast snacks. Putting down the empty juice carton his stomach full again Roland thought about everything that had transpired in the three hours since he had woken up.

  He knew the power for the entire town was out; there was no cellular services, and what seemed to be dead bodies were walking around and attacking people. He considered his current situation; there were at least thirty of the creature not far away; looking for him, he had no vehicle, he had a shotgun with twenty five spare shells, and the only way south was blocked by hundreds of vehicles. “Well I guess I’m pretty much screwed.” He pulled out another smoke and leaned back into the couch.

  Chapter 4: Now What

  The crash of someone moving around in the dark brought Roland to his feet in an instant, the shotgun in one hand and flashlight in the other. The crash had come from around the corned near the washrooms and emergency exit. Stomping out half a cigarette Roland walked over to the corner, the light and shotgun leading the way. Stepping quickly around the corner he couldn’t see anything moving near the emergency exit or between the bathrooms but another sound coming from the women’s bathroom caught his attention. Tip toeing up to the door he was about to push it open when it was pulled open from the other side and a very frightened face was staring back at him blinking in the bright light.

  It was a woman in her early twenties and he guessed she had been in there for quite a while. Her short black hair was messy and there were large black bags underneath her blue eyes. She was a head shorter than Roland and could not have weighed more than one hundred pounds, she wore blue jeans, a black nylon jacket, and black hiking boots that looked liked like tiny versions of Roland’s.

  “Are you okay?” The expression on her face changed from terror to relief as he spoke and she started sobbing as she walked up and wrapped her arms around him.

  Unsure of what else to do Roland slowly lowered her to the ground as he felt her collapse letting the shotgun clatter to the floor when he was close enough and wrapping his now free arm around the sobbing form pressed against the bulletproof vest he had almost forgotten. After a few minutes she pulled her face away from his chest and looked up at him with blood shot eyes.

  “Thank you.” She whispered.

  “Your welcome.” Was all Roland could think to say. “Who are you and what happened?”

  “My name’s Crystal Hills, I got separated from my brother during the evacuation and then the car ahead of me went into the ditch and I went in behind it, when I got out of the car to check on them they attacked me.” She showed where the left forearm of her jacket was torn. “Then I tried to find somewhere to hide and this was the only place with the door unlocked.”

  “The door was unlocked?” Roland’s raised his right eyebrow at that.

  “Well not the main ones, but the one off to the side.” Roland let out a laugh and she looked a little confused. “Who are you and how did you end up here?”

  “I’m Roland Castle and I slept through the evacuation I guess; then I totaled my truck and a mob of those things chased me here.” She gave him a look that said she questioned his sanity. “So tell me what were you planning to do next after hiding in the bathroom?”

  “Well I was hoping that rescue would come eventually but it looks like you’re all I’m gonna get.”

  “I’m afraid so sister, I don’t think anyone is coming to help either of us, so any ideas on how to get out of here?” Roland helped her to her feet, she was cute he thought and hoped the attitude was just a result of the situation.

  “Maybe we can get another vehicle since ours are both wrecked and head south and maybe find my brother on the way.”

  “Gonna need to be something for heavy duty off road, and what happened to your brother anyways?” The shotgun retrieved he led her back to the break room.

  “He was in Timberlea house sitting with his girlfriend, the last text message I got said they’re outside before the phones quit.” Crystal sat down on the couch and taking a Poptart muttered to herself. “Leave it to a guy.”

  Roland smiled to himself. “I hate to tell you this sweetheart, but if your brother might not be you’re brother anymore and we’d need a vehicle to get to Timberlea and it might be for nothing.”

  “He’s alive, he has to be!” Anger and fear covered her face. “Plus it might interest you to know that his girlfriend’s parents own a Hummer H1 which is parked in their driveway.”

  Roland’s eyes widened and his smile grew. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go get your brother.”

  Finishing off the last of the Poptarts Roland thought of his family; hoping they were okay. His mother and brother were in North Carolina, his sister was in Edmonton, and his dad lived in Kelowna; he hoped that they were okay and whatever was going on in Fort McMurray hadn’t hit there yet. He worried about his sister most, Edmonton was closest and all those cars on the highway had been headed south.

  He still didn’t know what was making people turn into monsters or why Crystal and he hadn’t become them, but he figured he probably didn’t want to know anyways. The Poptarts gone Roland took out his cigarettes offering one to Crystal. “Yes, thank you.” She inhaled deeply after lighting it. “I left mine in the car along with my cell, haven’t had one since. What time is it anyways?”

  Roland look at the glowing dials on his watch as his lit his own cigarette. “Twenty after ten.” He had only been awake for four hours but it felt like an eternity.

  The cigarettes finished Roland grabbed his backpack and the shotgun and they headed for the emergency exit. Holding the shotgun in the crook of his arm he pulled on his gloves making a mental note to find a strap for the big gun. “Here’s the plan, were gonna make a run for the mall; the storm is probably still pretty bad so to keep from getting split up we should hold hands until we get to the mall.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you get a
shotgun?” Crystal said pulling on a pair of gloves.

  “I found it in a cop car that wasn’t being used.” She nodded and Roland shoved the emergency exit open.

  Chapter 5: Christmas Shopping

  They stepped out into the still raging blizzard and Roland thought the blizzard seemed worse than before, thirty feet above the ground on the rickety metal stairwell it felt like a subzero hurricane. He felt Crystal’s small hand close around his and they both started off down the stairwell taking their time in the almost knee deep snow. The sun behind the clouds made it so they could see without the flashlight but the heavy snow stung their eyes and limited their visibility.

  They trudged through the snow heading towards what Roland could only hope was the mall, the moans of the undead carried by the wind chilling him more than the cold ever could. That’s what they were Roland thought they were dead of that there could be no doubt, and yet they were up and walking around. Crystal stumbled over something midways across the parking lot and Roland turned to catch her seeing the fleshless face staring up from the snow she had disturbed. “Thanks.” Was all she said as they pressed on towards the mall.

  Roland almost walked into the wall before he saw it; coming to a quick stop Crystal bumping into him as he did. Putting his right hand on the wall and keeping Crystal’s in his left he followed along the wall until he came up to the first door. Looking towards Superstore he thought he could see something moving through the snow towards them, actually it looked like a lot of something. “Cover your ears.” He instructed as he aimed the shotgun at the deadbolt while she put both her gloved hands over her ears.

  Roland squeezed the trigger and the big gun barked and recoiled against his should as the deadbolt disappeared replaced with a gaping hole. Reaching for the door he hoped that was the only lock as he pulled on the handle. The door swung open and he held it for Crystal as she hurried through. Turning to look through the snow he saw the horde was very close as he stepped through pulling the door shut behind him.

  Seeing a pin style lock at the bottom of the door Roland shoved it into place thankful it hadn’t been locked before following Crystal out of the backroom and into the store. Looking around Roland saw they were in the high-end clothing store but couldn’t remember what it was called. “What’s next?” Crystal asked eyeing a jacket and looking at her ripped sleeve.

  “I’m thinking we find out if anyone is here, and then make our way up to Timberlea.” Roland clicked on the flashlight; it was dark in the mall. “You gonna take it?”

  She looked at him with a shocked expression. “But that’s stealing.”

  “I don’t think the owners of this place are gonna know or even care. If they aren’t dead already.”

  She though about this for a bit and then nodded stripping of her jacket and pulling the new one off the rack taking the tags off it. Roland took an extra second to look at her as she checked the new jacket over, she was really cute and in any other situation he might have asked her out but these were unusual circumstances and it would have to wait. Unlocking the standard issue fold up door Roland looked out into the central area of the mall, the Santa display was set up in the center and Roland had a brief mental image of Santa as one of the creatures attacking children.

  Shaking his head he continued to look around the mall and noticed artificial light coming from the second floor food court. Roland jumped as a small hand touched his shoulder before he realized it was Crystal now wearing her new jacket. He pointed towards the food court and motioned for her to follow him. They moved quietly as they could towards the escalators that led to the food court, as they got closer Roland found he could make out voices and smell something cooking.

  Ducking down Roland turned to Crystal putting a finger to his lips as they crouched at the top of the elevator, light coming from the nearby food court. Peeking his head over the railing Roland saw two young women and two security guards sitting at a table with an electric lamp in the center of the table and a gas grill on the table next to them.

  They were talking rather loud and seemed to be concentrating on each other, almost as if the events happening outside the mall didn’t exist. Just outside the edge of the lamplight Roland tapped the shotgun on a nearby table a smile at the corner of his mouth as all four jumped and turned to look at him and Crystal. “How’s it goin’?” He asked, stepping closer.

  One of the security guards spoke up. “What the hell is wrong with you, scaring people like that?” The guard was tall even sitting down; with a shaved head and jowls that told Roland he worked out but over ate.

  “Sorry, my bad.” Roland stepped closer getting a closer look at the other three. “Didn’t think there would be anyone here. How did you guys end up here anyways?’

  The other security guard who could not have been taller than Crystal spoke up now, his hair was a military buzz cut and his shirt bulged from an excessive amount of muscles. “We were working a night shift and these two showed up about three am. How did you get here?” He spoke bigger than he actually was.

  “I missed the evacuation and met up with her at Superstore, now we’re trying to make our way to Timberlea to look for her brother.” The women were short, one short and thin with blonde hair, the other just as short with dark hair and olive skin. “How did you two end up here?” Roland asked them.

  The blonde spoke. “We went in the ditch not far from the mall during the evacuation and no one would stop for us so we came here. We have keys and we thought it would be safe until rescue came.” Her voice was high and apologetic.

  “I don’t think anyone is come to get any of us, we need to head south towards Edmonton, but there’s a problem.” Roland looked at the grill where several chicken breasts were cooking, his mouth watered at the smell.

  “Oh yah and what’s that? Thought you were trying to get to Timberlea?” The shorter guard’s arrogance annoyed Roland and he considered hitting him with the shotgun but thought better of it.

  “There are hundreds of vehicles blocking the road just south of town and you need something big with four by four to get around. As for Timberlea I fail to see how that’s any of your concern.” Ice dripped from the last sentence as Roland’s eyes focused on the shorter guard but he felt Crystal’s hand on his back and relaxed.

  “Well I’ve only got a Jeep but Rick has a jacked up Chevy diesel. We could take that.” The big guard put his hand on the shorter guard’s shoulder as he spoke.

  “That would make it around the mess, do you mind if I borrow your Jeep?” Roland directed the conversation at the bigger guard “I’m Roland by the way.”

  “James. Are you sure no one is coming because we could probably hold out in the mall for quite sometime.” Fear showed in the big man’s eyes as he spoke.

  His answer came in the form of shattering glass and a bone-chilling moan from the first floor. “No, I think we should go now.” Urgency filled Roland’s voice.

  Everyone at the table stood up grabbing jackets and purses, James tossing Roland a set of keys and they all looked at him expectantly. “Okay, what side of the mall are you guys parked on?”

  The moans were getting louder and Roland realized the monsters were directly below them. “We’re parked at the other end of the mall in front of Zellers.” James said zipping up his dark blue security jacket.

  “Alrighty, we’ll have to stick to the top floor and I suggest we hurry.” Roland could hear the undead scratching at the escalator as the four moved past him heading towards the opposite end of the mall.

  Clicking on his flashlight Roland shone it briefly towards the bottom of the escalator and what he saw there made him pick up his pace until he was almost running; two dozen undead were gathered at the bottom, their progress slowed by their own lack of cognitive skills and a rather obese creature that had gotten wedged in the up escalator. The others were already half way across the mall Crystal with them and Roland had to jog to catch up when something stopped him.

  Hanging just on the other side of t
he door to leather store was a black leather duster, something Roland had always wanted. Using the butt of the shotgun he smashed the plastic pane out of the door and reached in.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Crystal yelled at him from the door of Zellers while one of the security guards attempted to unlock it.

  “Just grabbing something, I’ll be there in a second.” The duster came free and Roland pulled his arm out just in time to see that several of the creatures had cleared the escalator and were headed his way. He started running. “Get that door open!”

  The shotgun under one arm and the duster under the other Roland reached the doors just as the lock clicked and James ushered everyone else through. Looking across the mall Roland saw that the creatures had already made it halfway to them and as he stepped through the door his heart started to pound. James stepped through the door right behind him closing and locking the big glass door.

  The three girls and Rick were almost to the escalators in the middle of the store by the time Roland and James were able to catch them. Stopping for a breath Roland stripped of his old jacket and pulled on the duster listening as the creatures started slamming against the big glass doors. Seeing what he had done Crystal punched him in the arm.

  “You risked your life for a coat!” She fumed.

  “Hey! That hurt. This is a duster, not a coat and I wasn’t really in danger.” Roland put his things into the duster’s pockets and picked up the shotgun.

  “As cute as your little lover’s quarrel is, I really think we should get going.” Rick’s voice practically dripped acid.

  “Agreed.” Roland lead the way down the escalator Crystal behind him and James at the back.

  Roland could see that the storm was easing up through the doors to the parking lot. The Jeep was parked in the center of the lot and the Chevy was of to the right near the corner of the mall. Roland realized the Jeep was actually a Jeep Compass a smaller crossover that looked like the love child of a Jeep and a sports car but it only need to make it to Timberlea so he wasn’t worried.