Read The Rot (Post Apocalyptic Thriller) for Free Online

plenty to get myself and this guy off the roof. “Listen, I can fly that helicopter but we have to go, right now! ” I said to him.
    “You’re the one who’s insane,” he told me. “I’m not going anywhere with—”
    “Take a look if you don’t believe me,” I said, waving a hand for him to step through onto the stairwell and look down. “Only hurry the fuck up.”
    He skirted around me slowly. “Keep that door open, I’m warning you.” The guard backed out, still training the gun on me. He leaned over and cast a glance down the well. I have no idea what he saw, but all the blood had drained from his face when he ran back to me. “Close the fucking door. Close it now!” he ordered.
    I waited until he’d stepped clear, then tried to slam the thing shut again. But it wouldn’t close. Someone had shoved a fire extinguisher in the gap. I kicked at the metal cylinder, but by that time there were already hands, arms and legs through as well. The extinguisher was gone, but I still couldn’t close it – and although I leaned hard against the door, it was obvious there were several people pushing against it from the other side; all desperate to get through and do us as much damage as possible.
    The guard had his gun up, aiming at the limbs, but was hesitating. “Do it!” I shouted, having seen what they were capable of – and knowing what wavering might cost us. He swallowed dryly, then fired. The bullets came pretty close to hitting me, but he didn’t have a bad aim and a number hit their marks – puncturing arms and legs. Blood spurted from the wounds, but still the people they belonged to wouldn’t withdraw. I felt more bodies join these on the other side, and motioned for the guard to come and help me. “I can’t hold them on my own!”
    He shouldered the rifle and added his bulk to the door, which helped considerably. The noise was incredible: shouting, screaming – even some singing wafting through the gap… an old hymn that rang a bell from my childhood. The man nodded back to the helicopter. “Go… get that thing fired up. I can hold them.”
    “You sure?”
    “ Go! ” he snapped. What choice did we have – we needed to get the chopper going or it would be overrun before we could take off.
    I gave a curt nod and let go of the door, lingering just long enough to make sure it held – or I’d need to lean against it again. Then I sprinted towards the squirrel. As I neared it, I realised that I had no idea whether it had even been left unlocked. Fortunately, the door opened when I tried it – so it was just a matter of starting her up.
    I slid into the cockpit, shooting a look across to see how the guard was doing. Not great, it had to be said – the gap widening more and more. A visible thump against it saw him almost lose his footing, but he managed to regain his balance. I didn’t have long, though. Quickly, I did pre-flight checks started the engine and got the rotors turning – just in time to witness the guard releasing the door.
    The door swung back almost immediately as he started his run towards the chopper, and the first of the crazies piled through. They scrambled over each other, even fought with one another – which bought the man a bit of time – but my God, there were so many… He didn’t hesitate to turn and fire, arcing the machine gun and crippling those on the front line. Most had been covered in blood even before he started to shoot; flashes of white from eyes, teeth and what remained of clothing, the only thing breaking up the scene.
    He faced me again, made a sprint for it – as I reached around and opened the back door for him, so he could just jump straight in. The thickset man practically ran into the helicopter, almost knocking himself out, just like Weeks had done back there with the glass. “Hurry!” I shouted, though I don’t think he needed telling. He tossed the rifle inside, and was about to join it when they caught up with him.
    All I can remember