Black Stand

Chapter 03: Downfall

Chapter 02

The crew had just fought off a horde of zombies, along with experiencing the death of a fellow comrade. The pain continues as the team climbs a never ending stairway to the rooftop. It’s been approximately half an hour since they started to ascend the steps.

“How long before we get there?” Brandon asked quietly, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

“We should be getting close,” Edward said panting, “We’re right underneath the rooftop now…”

“I see it! I see the door!” Angela said.

The “door” was a small opening on the ceiling, approximately two flights above the team. Edward saw Brandon’s eyes flicker with hatred, and followed him from a distance as they ascended the steps. Angela seemed to have noticed this too, because she was doing the same.

When they arrived to the topmost platform, Edward took off his backpack. He took out a small box, with fusion wires visible underneath the glass case.

“We’ve got to get this,” Edward said, pointing at the box, “up onto the roof. I’ll set the timer to two minutes, which will give us enough time to escape the big boom that’s gonna bring these retards down.”

“We can’t go back down there, there are too many of them!” Angela said.

“I’ve got an idea, don’t worry.”

Edward proceeded with starting the bomb, while Brandon and Angela watched. Suddenly, a familiar choir of moaning came from the first floor of the staircase, all the way down from the hallway.

“Ed, no mean to pressure you,” Angela said, “But you might wanna hurry up.”

“Got it,” Edward said, as the box emitted a small beeping sound. “Brandon give me a boost so I can get up there. After you do that, help Angela too, and we’ll both pull you up afterwards.”

Brandon nodded, and clasped both his of hands together. Edward stepped onto his hands, and Brandon, with a grunt, heaved Edward to the top. Edward managed to squirm through the hole, and he called out to Angela and Brandon.

“Alright, Brandon, bring Angela up!”

Brandon clasped his hands together once again, and helped Angela up to the top. She managed to get through the opening fine.

“Alright, Brandon, its your turn!” Edward said.

Edward and Angela held out their hands for Brandon, but Brandon just stood there, looking down on the ground. He clenched his fists, and looked at Edward in the eyes.

“I’m staying down here.”

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOU MIND?!” Angela screamed, “JUST TAKE OUR HANDS, SO WE CAN ALL GET OUT OF HERE!”

Brandon shook his head.

“No. You guys have got to get out of here. Life means nothing to me without Katie. I promised revenge, and I’m going to kill as many of these bastards as I can before I die. I won’t have the willpower to go on without her, anyways. Just plant the bomb, and get out of here, and don’t you dare think about me again.”

Brandon turned around, unable to face his friends.

“BRANDON, STOP BEING A WUSS AND GE—“

Edward put his hands over Angela’s mouth, looked at her, and shook his head. Angela opened her mouth as if to argue, but then closed it. The moaning was getting a lot louder, and Brandon seemed absolutely sure that he wished to remain behind.

“Brandon,” Edward said, “Just make sure you don’t die too fast.”

Brandon smiled weakly.

“You got it, pal. Now get out of here.”

Edward grinned, and stood up. He took a final view of Brandon, then turned around, and started to walk towards the center of the roof, bomb in hand. Angela stood up as well, but remained rooted to the spot. The moaning was at a level of such loudness it almost seemed unbearable.

“Brandon. . .”

Angela bit her lip. She turned away, and ran to Edward. Brandon stood there, beneath his friends, inserting another magazine into his pistol, face twisted with sorrow. The zombies were in view now, and they were dragging themselves up the stairs at a decent pace. Brandon’s expression remained unchanged. He aimed his gun down at the zombies, and proceeded to shoot. The zombies were still gaining feet as time went by, little by little.

Eventually, the zombies were level with Brandon, and they were started to crowd around him.

“You boys are gonna have to work for your food tonight.” Brandon growled.

“Angela, I’ve planted the bomb. We’ve got two minutes before this building is sent down onto the ground.” Edward said, checking his watch.

“What?” Angela said in surprise, “What about Brandon?! Are we just going to abandon him? Are you crazy, Ed?!”

“Angela,” Edward said, back turned. “This isn’t easy for me either. But please, we’re not ones to force Brandon on how he carries his life. You knew Katie was the only one for Brandon.”

Angela held her finger up as if to contradict him, but must’ve thought better of it. She looked back at the hole.

“If by some miracle. . . He survives, then. . .”

“We’ll come back for him.”

She looked up, to see Edward right in front of her. She turned away.

“You promise?” She said childishly.

“I promise. Now let’s get out of here, quick.” Edward said.

“But. . . How?”

“Easy,” Edward said, as he held up his backpack. “I think this built-in parachute will be able to support both of us.

Edward broke into a run, towards the edge of the rooftop, Angela beside him. He strapped on the parachute, and grabbed hold of Angela’s hips. They were right there, at the edge of the roof. . .

“HOLD ON!”

And suddenly, they were in the air. Edward gripped tight onto Angela’s sides as they momentarily flew off the building. Edward felt the stinging winds slapping against his face, and with difficulty, he managed to pull the string, activating the parachute.

The parachute flew open, and Edward and Angela both felt a jerk as their speed dropped dramatically. Relief spread over their faces as they were both floating down. Edward and Angela were uncomfortably close.

Then, a large explosion told Edward and Angela the bomb had detonated. The floors were exploding, one by one, destroying everything in its path on the way down. This was dangerous, because Edward and Angela were close to the building. If the explosion reached to where they were, it would mean trouble.

“Ed, we’ve got a problem!” Angela said, pointing to the building.

Edward cursed, and began to urge for the parachute to take them down faster. It was no use, they were floating down like feathers, and at this rate, the explosion would catch up to them, having a very good chance at killing them.

Suddenly, Edward got an idea. He looked down below them, to find out there was a manhole directly beneath them, 150 feet down. Taking out his machete from his ankle, he began to hack at the ropes supporting the parachute.

“ARE YOU CRAZY, ED? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Angela screamed.

Edward ignored her, and continued to cut the ropes. When the last rope was severed, the parachute flew away, maximizing Edward and Angela’s velocity once again. Familiar gusts of wind hit Edward everywhere on the arms and legs painfully. He could only imagine the pain Angela was going through. She seemed to be taking it in however, as she didn’t show any signs of distress. It seemed that they had outpaced the explosion. They were safe, for now.

“ED, THAT WAS CLEVER AND ALL, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE SMASH ONTO THE GROUND?!!?” Angela yelled, ignoring the loud winds. She pointed at the ground, almost less than 100 feet below them.

“SURELY YOU DIDN’T THINK, I DIDN’T HAVE A PLAN FOR THIS?!” Edward replied at the same volume, grinning. Saliva flew out of his mouth. They were going faster than he expected.

Ed took out a magmum from his jacket with his teeth, and straining not to let go of her, he handed the gun to Angela. She took it with surprise.

“ANGELA, SHOOT THE MANHOLE COVER SO THAT IT FLIES OFF. WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THE HOLE! THE SEWER WATER WILL BREAK OUR FALL!!!”

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!!? THE HOLE’S TOO GOD DAMN SMALL FOR US TO FIT THROUGH, LET ALONE FROM A DIVE FROM THE TOP OF A BUILDING!!”

“JUST DO IT!!!!”

Angela obeyed, took aim, and with expert precision, shot the side of the manhole cover, making it flop out.

“NICE AIM!” Ed yelled. After saying this, his grip on Angela tightened, and he pulled back, changing into a vertical position.

Timed correctly, they both flew down through the manhole, unharmed. They both splashed into the depths of the dirty sewer water.

As they submerged from the water, Angela spit the water out of her mouth, wiping it with her wet sleeve. Edward choked and gagged. They both rushed to the ladder with disgust on their faces.

“That, was, gross.” Angela said, once they were out of the manhole, squeezing her soaked hair.

“Hey,” Edward said, panting, “At least we didn’t die.”

“That would’ve left a mess,” Angela said, smiling weakly. She made a move for the van, but made a grunt of pain as she fell to her knees. “I think I need a rest.”

Edward smiled. “Maybe I’ll drive this time then, just this once.”

Author’s Notes:
Wow, this chapter was unusually long. I kind of rushed it in the end, but I’m trying to get to chapter four, so I can introduce many of the new characters you guys submitted. Keep in mind however, that I was half way through Chapter three when you guys started to submit your character ideas/thoughts. So take it easy kids, there’s enough Spade to go around.