Shadowy figures were moving in the darkness. I shivered as dozens of cold white eyes pierced me with an icy stare. The dead were making for the bridge. We really had to move. I grabbed the nearest torch from the wall and took Kaatje by the hand.
She was rooted to the spot. “Come on! We need to go now!” I shouted, shaking her slightly. She nodded and started to back up slowly, her eyes still fixed on the dead. Bodies began to rain into the chasm.
Something was approaching fast, rapid footsteps echoed down the tunnel behind us. I turned and unsheathed my knife, leaving Kaatje watching the bridge. I waited, the footsteps coming ever closer. Frequently a wet slapping noise reached up from the chasm as another corpse impacted the ground far below.
Without warning, Black burst around the corner, moving with incredible speed. His white eyes flashed and I threw myself at Kaatje, pinning her against the wall. I felt a rush of air as he sped past and turned my head to see him sprinting straight across the bridge, charging the undead. I watched as he collided with the leading pack, scattering them over the side.
I almost felt impressed until I realized we too were not alone. Cold sweat ran down the back of my neck when the moans reached my ears. Shuffling feet were advancing and they were not far behind. Kaatje heard them too. She pushed me away and fell to her knees, tearing things from her pack.
She pulled out two bottles, both with rags stuffed in the top, and handed one to me.
The smell of fuel filled my nostrils. I ignited both rags with my torch as several corpses shuffled into view. I waited as long as I could and threw hard. My Molotov fell short but Kaatje found her mark moments later, her bottle exploded on the head of the nearest zombie, engulfing the group in a ball of flame.
With the tunnel burning behind us, we had no choice but to head out onto the bridge. I tried to steady my shaking legs as I took the first steps, being careful not to look down. Black was still fighting off the horde, which now had him completely surrounded. The sound of the fighting was joined by the steady pop of burning flesh from the walls behind me.
I stopped a second to look over my shoulder, checking Kaatje was with me. “Get down!” she shouted, her eyes wide.
I hit the floor just as her blade sunk into the face of a near-skeletal corpse. I swept my leg round, knocking it off balance and over the edge.
“Stragglers!” Kaatje’s voice came again. I sat up. A few of the dead engaged with Black had spotted us and were limping excitedly in our direction. I searched frantically for something to defend myself.
“Hand me your pack,” I said, a plan forming in my mind.
“What? You won’t have time to...”Kaatje stopped midsentence as realization dawned, and quickly handed over her pack.
It was bulky, stuffed to overflowing with supplies and other random salvage. I put one arm through the straps and held it out in front of me. The bridge was only wide enough to allow one corpse at a time.
I took a deep breath and advanced, using the pack as a shield. The first zombie came at me fast but careless and bounced harmlessly into the chasm. I took a second to smile before the next one attacked. He broke free of the melee and headed straight for me, moving in a wild spasm.
I braced myself as his rotten body fell against the pack, pushing me back slightly. His eyes were level with mine, blank and expressionless, yet cold and hate filled. Immediately he bit into the fabric, forcing his head forward. I twisted my arm hard and ripped the teeth from his mouth causing him to release a horrible gurgling shriek before I planted my foot into his knee and sent him tumbling into the darkness.
We were close to Black now, a few feet away, I could see him snarling and biting, huge gashes in his body and flaps of skin hanging loose from his bones. Suddenly the pack pulled to the right, and I lost balance. I felt Kaatje grab my shoulders as I looked down. The toothless corpse was hanging from the stone trying to pull itself to safety, one arm grasping the free strap. I stepped back, dragging him up. I pulled out my blade with my