40

"I think you two should head to the car and pack everything in. I'll go to the roof and stand guard. If any zombies come, I'll take care of them to give you enough time to load all of the bags."

Emma and Heather nod in agreement. They each load up on bags and wait by the door.

"Give me five minutes to get in position."

You run up to the second floor and climb out of the window. Standing on the windowsill, you wipe moisture from your hands and grip the edge of the roof, pulling yourself up without looking down at the street. With the rain falling, you slip several times but manage to maintain your balance. You scramble to the level rooftop, and from this vantage point, the neighborhood is in full view.

The rain slows, but clouds in the distance hang dark and heavy. Your sister and her friend move to the black Jeep Wrangler parked in the narrow driveway. You scan the area for any signs of trouble. Several zombies roam the north side of the street, over a dozen houses away from Heather's House, but you still recognize their staggered walk. To the south, the street is clear. From around the side of a house across the street, a zombie dressed as a mailman wanders only thirty feet away.

Emma heads to the driver's side door and pops it open, while Heather swings up the back hatch. Little noise is made: the hissing of the back door hydraulics, the clicking of locks, the stamping of feet across pavement