If schools still existed during the Zombie Apocalypse, Spencer wouldn’t have finished Elementary School yet. But there he stood trying to take in a situation that most adults couldn’t handle. It didn’t surprise him that the shooting had attracted a few hundred zombies. It also didn’t even surprise him that along with the zombies a handful of living raiders had shown up. What he couldn’t wrap his head around was seeing his father fighting alongside the sniper who had killed Jewels. How was that possible?

Another thing that didn’t seem possible remained how he might be able to rescue his dad on a rooftop surrounded by frantic zombies while four shooters kept them pinned down. With just two pistols, he also wasn’t sure how he could help and where was Emily? He refused to believe something could happen to his sister, but where was she?

He couldn’t worry about her, he had to figure out a way he could help his dad, but what could he do?

His young mind thought of plans, but then rejected them just as quickly. It all came down to not being able to get anywhere near them due to the large number of zombies.

It was then that one of the four men’s heads exploded in a red flash of gore.

Emily!

But his joy proved short lived for the men spotted her as well and laid down fire. It remained difficult to tell if they just kept her pinned or if she’d been hit, for Spencer saw no further movement on the hill she had fired from.

The men had found some old barbecues and other supplies to hide behind and once again the firefight drew out with each group taking sporadic shots at each other, but not making any more progress in their small war.

It was three on three, but Spencer didn’t like those odds at all. They had already lost Jewels. He didn’t think he could make it a day if something happened to his father or Emily.

Angry at his own uselessness, he kicked a rock off the cliff he stood on. As he watched, the stone fall it came to him and a wicked smile spread over his face.

The fenced in tennis court that held their enemies was right below him and down the incline. Two hundred zombies surrounded it, but they were spread thin. Looking around, he saw what he needed.

Rushing to the side of the cliff, he looked at the large boulder shaped like a jagged goose egg, it weighted a good ton. He pushed against it, but might as well been trying to move a mountain. That wasn’t going to work.

He dreaded exposing himself, but with the gunman focused on his father and Emily, he had to hope they wouldn’t look over their shoulder or he’d be as good as dead.

Rushing to the lower front part of the stone, he began to scoop handfuls of dirt away with his small fingers. More concerns filled his mind for he realized that if the rock came away too quickly he could be crushed, but soon he had new problems. Three approaching zombies had spotted him and lumbered his way. The rocky incline slowed them down, but they would reach him soon. He hurried to dig faster.

Rocks and dirt came away and the boulder shifted an inch. Behind him the zombies moaned. He had to hurry. He put everything he had into the digging until his fingers bled. A skull sized rock was jammed into the space. Drawing his bat from off his back he used it as a lever and went at the stone. Sweat poured from his skin and the hairs on the back of his neck rose as the zombies neared.

He struggled. Every inch of him strained with all his might. The zombies were only ten feet away. This could be his last chance—his only chance to save his dad.

The rock came away, but the boulder didn’t move. Dodging past the three zombies, Spencer ran up to the top of the boulder. He pushed. Nothing. The zombies climbed after him. He kept pushing. “Come on!” he could feel tears welling up in his eyes as the undead reached for him. “Come on, please, please, please.”

With a loud growl, the biggest zombie lunged at him and Spencer had no choice but to dive away. As he lay there with a mouthful of dust, the most remarkable thing happened. The big zombie hit the rock and they both went tumbling down the hill.

Spencer’s mouth hung open as the large boulder raced down the hill picking up more rocks as it went. Twelve seconds later it crashed through the fence that surrounded the tennis courts. The men gazed in wide-eyed horror as the zombies funneled in. The shooters tried to gun them down, but it was hopeless.

Soon the zombies surrounding his father moved away to join their fellows and Spencer saw his father and the masked gunman climbing down the back of the building.

He sprinted down the hill toward his father. From the other side of the valley, he saw Emily doing the same, but he beat her there.

“Dad, DAD!” he yelled.

His father caught Spencer up in his arms and gave him the biggest hug Spencer could remember ever getting. He whispered in Spencer’s ear. “You saved me, Spence. You really pulled through. You saved us all. I’ve never been more proud of you.”

Spencer couldn’t remember being happier since the apocalypse had started and when Emily joined them in their hug all three of them burst into tears.

Spencer and Emily’s tale is not over yet, so turn in next weekend for a new chapter in the Eternal Aftermath!

You can explore more of the Eternal Aftermath here!