Chapter 6

The train rattled through the tunnel. Car 4—the dining car—was quiet when they stepped inside. Jennifer Trump led the way, her metal pole stained with blood. Chloe followed, holding the baby tight, its soft cries filling the air. Marie waddled behind, her hands on her belly, breathing hard. Ken Carpenter came last, his wrench in one hand, his bitten arm dripping blood. The door to Car 3 clicked shut behind them, locking out the infected—for now. The banging on the other side was loud, but the glass held.

Jennifer stopped and looked around. The dining car was different from the others. Long tables lined the walls, covered with white cloths. Plates and cups sat neatly, some tipped over. A counter ran down the middle, stacked with sandwiches, pastries, and coffee machines. The air smelled like bread and spilled juice. Windows showed nothing but the tunnel's black walls. The lights flickered, weak and yellow.

"Five minutes to Bordeaux," Ken said, checking his watch. His voice was rough, tired.

Jennifer nodded. "We rest here. Then move."

Chloe set the baby on a table, wrapping it in a napkin she found. "It's safe?" she asked.

"For now," Jennifer said. She shined her flashlight—the one from Ken—around the car. No infected. No passengers. Just them.

Marie sat on a bench, groaning. "My belly hurts," she said. "It's tight."

Jennifer walked over. "You okay?"

Marie shook her head. "I think… the baby's coming."

"Now?" Chloe asked, her eyes wide.

Marie nodded, wincing. "Soon. Maybe."

Ken leaned against the counter. "Bad timing," he said.

Jennifer glared at him. "Not her fault."

"Didn't say it was," Ken replied. "Just bad."

Marie took deep breaths. "I'll hold on. We need to get out."

Jennifer set her pole down. "We will. Five minutes. We can do this."

A loud bang hit the door to Car 3. The group froze. The infected were there, smashing the glass. Cracks spread fast. "They're breaking through," Chloe said, her voice shaking.

Jennifer grabbed her pole. "We need to block it."

"With what?" Ken asked. He looked around. Tables, chairs, a trash can—nothing big enough.

"The counter," Jennifer said. "Push it."

Ken nodded. "Help me."

They ran to the counter. It was heavy, bolted to the floor. Ken swung his wrench at the bolts. Metal clanged. Jennifer pulled at the edge. "Come on!" she yelled. Chloe joined, tugging with one hand, the baby in her arm. Marie stayed back, breathing hard.

The bolts loosened. The counter shifted. "Push!" Ken said. They shoved it toward the door. It scraped the floor, loud and slow. The door cracked more. An infected hand pushed through, bloody and clawing. Jennifer swung her pole. The hand pulled back.

They got the counter to the door just as the glass shattered. Infected poured in, hitting the counter. It rocked but held. "More weight!" Jennifer shouted. Ken grabbed a table and dragged it over. Chloe added chairs. The pile grew, blocking the infected. They snarled and pushed, but couldn't get through—yet.

Jennifer stepped back, panting. "That'll hold?"

"For a bit," Ken said. "Not long."

Marie groaned louder. "It's coming faster," she said. She lay on the bench, her face wet with sweat.

Jennifer ran to her. "What do we do?"

"Help me," Marie said. "It's time."

Chloe set the baby down and knelt by Marie. "I've seen this on TV," she said. "You push, right?"

Marie nodded. "Yeah. Push."

Jennifer looked at Ken. "Guard the door. We've got this."

Ken raised his wrench. "Got it."

The infected kept banging. The counter shook. Ken stood ready, his arm hurting more now. Black lines spread from the bite, up his shoulder. He felt hot, weak. He didn't tell them. They had enough to worry about.

Marie screamed. "It's coming!" she yelled.

"Push!" Chloe said. "You can do it!"

Jennifer held Marie's hand. "You're strong. Keep going."

Marie pushed, her face red. The train shook, making it harder. The lights flickered again. The infected roared louder. The counter slid an inch. Ken pushed it back, grunting. "Hurry!" he called.

"I'm trying!" Marie shouted. She pushed again. A cry—not the baby's—filled the air. A tiny head appeared. Chloe gasped. "I see it!"

"Almost there!" Jennifer said. "One more!"

Marie pushed hard, screaming. The baby slid out, small and wet. Chloe caught it, clumsy but quick. It wailed, loud and sharp. "It's a girl!" Chloe said, smiling through tears.

Jennifer grabbed a tablecloth and wrapped the newborn. "You did it, Marie."

Marie laughed, weak. "Yeah. I did."

Chloe cut the cord with a knife from the counter. She handed the baby to Marie. "She's perfect," Marie whispered, holding her close.

The counter crashed forward. Infected broke through, tumbling over the pile. "They're in!" Ken yelled. He swung his wrench, hitting one in the head. It fell, but more came—six, then eight. Their white eyes glowed in the dark.

Jennifer grabbed her pole. "Chloe, guard Marie! Ken, with me!"

Chloe picked up the first baby and stood by Marie, holding her seat arm. Marie clutched her newborn, too weak to fight. Jennifer and Ken faced the infected. Jennifer swung her pole at a woman with torn clothes. The head cracked, and she dropped. Ken hit a man in a hat, knocking him back.

Two infected rushed Chloe. She screamed and swung her arm. It hit one, but the other grabbed her leg. "Help!" she yelled. Jennifer turned and smashed the infected's head. It fell, letting Chloe go.

"Thanks," Chloe said, shaking.

"Stay close," Jennifer replied.

The infected kept coming. The dining car was small, no room to run. Tables flipped. Plates shattered. Ken fought hard, but his arm slowed him. An infected grabbed his wrench. He punched it, pushing it back. "Too many!" he shouted.

Jennifer swung at another, panting. "We need a way out!"

The door to Car 5 was at the far end. Blocked by infected. "We can't reach it!" Chloe said.

Ken looked around. "Windows," he said. "Smash one."

"They're sealed!" Jennifer yelled.

"Try!" Ken said. He swung at an infected, giving her space.

Jennifer ran to a window. She hit it with her pole. It cracked but didn't break. "Come on!" she shouted, hitting again. The glass splintered.

An infected grabbed Ken from behind. He yelled, falling. Jennifer turned. "Ken!" She ran back, swinging. The infected fell off him. Ken stood, shaky. "I'm okay," he said. "Keep going!"

Jennifer hit the window again. It shattered, cold tunnel air rushing in. "We've got a hole!"

"To where?" Chloe asked.

"Out," Jennifer said. "Or forward."

The infected swarmed. Ten now, maybe more. Ken fought, but his swings were weak. "Go!" he yelled. "I'll hold them!"

"No!" Jennifer said. "We're together!"

"Someone's gotta stay," Ken said. "Get them out!"

Jennifer hated it. "You're bit. You'll turn."

"Not yet," Ken said. "I've got time."

Marie sat up, holding her baby. "We can't leave him!"

"No choice," Ken said. "Go!"

The infected pushed closer. Jennifer grabbed Chloe. "Help Marie. Now!"

Chloe pulled Marie up. Marie clutched her newborn, limping. Jennifer led them to the window. "Climb out!" she said.

"It's a tunnel!" Chloe yelled.

"Onto the train," Jennifer said. "We move outside."

Chloe went first, holding the first baby. She climbed through, onto the train's side. Marie followed, slow, her newborn tied to her chest with a cloth. Jennifer looked back. Ken was surrounded, swinging slow.

"Come on!" she yelled.

"Go!" Ken shouted. An infected bit his leg. He screamed but kept fighting.

Jennifer's eyes burned. She climbed out. The tunnel wall was close, cold. The train shook under her. She helped Chloe and Marie move forward, clinging to the side. Wind roared past, loud and fast.

Inside, Ken smashed one last infected. Then they overwhelmed him. He fell, growling starting in his throat. His eyes turned white. He was gone.

Outside, Jennifer led the way. They crawled along the train, toward Car 5. The tunnel was dark, endless. "Keep going!" she said. Chloe held the baby tight. Marie gripped her newborn, tears on her face.

A crash came from behind. Infected broke through the window, climbing out. "They're coming!" Chloe yelled.

"Faster!" Jennifer said. They reached Car 5's window. Jennifer smashed it with her pole. Glass fell in. "Inside!"

Chloe climbed through, then Marie. Jennifer followed, pulling her backpack with the BioGenesis box. The infected were close, clawing along the train. She shut the window latch. It wouldn't hold long.

Car 5 was empty, dark. Three minutes to Bordeaux. Jennifer sank to the floor, panting. "We made it," she said.

Chloe rocked the first baby. "Ken didn't."

Marie held her newborn. "He saved us."

Jennifer nodded. "Yeah. He did."

The infected banged on the window. The train kept moving. They were alive, but the fight wasn't over. Jennifer gripped her pole. Three minutes. They had to hold on.