The three men didn’t hesitate when Jack told them to run, but Rollie stopped to look back at the bouncer once he reached the stage. Jack fought an impossible battle against the horde of infected men and women that pushed their way into the bar.

“Just go!” Jack yelled, as he picked up a table and threw it into three lurching freaks.

Will grabbed his arm and pulled. “Come on, Rollie.”

More of the infected poured in and many locked their milky eyes on the men standing on the wooden stage. The bartender had already rushed back stage.

“Come on,” Will said again. “Before those idiots end up locking us out here.”

The last Rollie saw of Jack was him fighting with a table leg as the growing mass backed him into the main dining area.

Once they were in, Will slammed the door behind them.

Raquel was quick to ask, “Where’s Jack?”

“He’s not down yet,” Will answered, “but the bastards were backing him up the other way, toward the bar.”

Silent tears began to stream down Sammy’s face and the two waitresses hugged and didn’t let go until the first dull slap banged against the door they had so recently passed through.

“So what now?” Steve asked, “We’re just trapped in here. Who’s great idea was this, oh yeah, the guy’s who just died.”

“Don’t say that!” Sammy yelled and it startled Rollie.

The bartender, Andy, fell into a chair and opened up a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. “Here’s to Jack. I hope he’s still kicking their ass.”

Rollie watched as his lover’s eyes scanned the room. “Okay, we have four men and four women here.”

“Oh great, we can repopulate the world once this is over,” Andy said, before taking another long pull.

“I don’t think these two would be fighting us for the privilege.” Steve said.

“Hey watch it,” Will said. “I’m not in the mood to hear a load of shit right now.”

“I’ll say any damn thing I want.”

Rollie got between them. “Maybe we should be doing something besides drinking and arguing.”



The louder banging against the stage door helped emphasize his point.

“Yeah,” Will was quick to agree. “There’s all sorts of things we could use to fortify this door.”

“So what, you’re a carpenter now,” Steve asked.

“I actually worked as a stage hand on many sets,” Will countered.

“What musicals?”

Will turned red, but actually smiled, “Yeah, but I think we should brace this door with these stray one by sixes and then roll the amps in front of it.”

For once he got no argument and Steve, Will, and Rollie did as suggested.

Once they were done, the crying woman who had just lost her friend said, “Julie.”

“What?” Andy asked.

“My name is Julie.”

“Okay,” Steve started, “Now that we know everyone’s name and have this place reasonably safe, what do we do now?”

“Not sure, actually,” Will answered.

Outside of the door the banging grew louder.

“At least we have some food,” Rollie said.

“How long do you intend to stay here?” Steve asked. “Personally, I’d like to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

The bartender pointed to a hallway behind him. “There is always the musician’s loading door if you’d care to try.”

Will grew serious. “What, there’s another door into here?”

“Well yeah.”

“We need to make sure-”

But before he could finish his words, a horrid moaning filled the hallway behind them. Their heads turned as the shadows of lumbering figures appeared on the wall.



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