"It's a black hole in here. I'm going as fast as I damn well can." Tension edged his whisper. She smiled grimly. Maybe MacEwan wasn't the cool, calm and collected type he liked to appear. They reached the exit to the roof. MacEwan opened the door and peered out. A cold wind ran in, whipping around her ankles. She shivered and peered over his shoulder, trying to see Jake.
MacEwan nudged her back. “I see them. Wait here."
He disappeared out the door. Nikki snorted softly. Stay here indeed . Slipping out the door, she ran in the opposite direction. The warning pulse grew more urgent. The zombies were dragging Jake to the edge of the building.
She raced around a crumbling chimney, then stopped. The wind slapped against her face, as cold as ice. The zombies were heading for the building's edge, Jake's unconscious figure held between them. MacEwan stood twenty feet away, gun drawn but by his side.
"Police! Stop or I'll shoot,” MacEwan warned.
The zombies paid no notice, ambling on towards the edge. Again MacEwan shouted a warning, this time aiming his gun. The zombies continued to ignore him.
The gunshot reverberated through the night. One zombie stopped, then dropped his hold on Jake and ponderously turned to face MacEwan. The other limped on, dragging Jake's still body by an arm. Nikki broke into a run. Out of the corner of her eye she saw MacEwan take a step, saw him raise the gun.
"Stop or I'll shoot!"
The creature continued to ignore him. Another shot reverberated. The zombie staggered sideways as the bullet hit, but it wasn't stopped. She didn't know if MacEwan had aimed to wound or kill, but it didn't really matter. Bullets wouldn't stop them, as she'd feared.
The second zombie had almost reached the building's edge, and she wasn't close enough to do a damn thing. Desperately, she kinetically wrenched Jake's unconscious body away from the creature, hauling him across the darkness into her arms.
She staggered under the impact of his weight, her mind reeling with pain. She'd never attempted to move anything as heavy as a man before, and it was harder than she'd ever imagined it could be. Sweat broke out across her brow, quickly chilled by the cold wind. Licking her lips and tasting fear, she thrust her shoulder under Jake's arm. Holding him tight, she walked away as quickly as she could. The zombie howled in frustration. Heavy steps followed.
"How the hell do you stop these things?"
MacEwan's sharp question jarred the silence.
"I told you. Break their necks.” She barely glanced at him, all her attention on the exit across the far side of the roof. A warning pulsed through her, and she checked.
The door opened, and two of MacEwan's men stepped out. They looked around, then ran towards the detective.