She hesitated, glancing at the hoard of infected snarling and snapping through the fence, then back at her husband lifeless body. The metal hinges creaked, on the brink of breaking. The horrid screams sent an uneasy feeling of dread that clutched at her chest, but the urgency in his eyes pressed her to decide as the infected raced up the fire escape.

“Please, he wouldn’t want this,” he pleaded, stretching his arm out further to her, desperation painted on his face. With a deep breath she started making her way across ladder. Suddenly, the middle hinge of the fence gave way unleashing the infected onto the rooftop like rushing water. They screamed and clawed their way towards the ladder. Constance was less than a few feet before he lunged forward, grabbing her and pulling her onto the ledge, kicking the makeshift gangway in the process. The fiends tumbled into the dark depths as their shrieks fading into silence. They laid there for a moment catching their breath still hearing the snarls from the building across.

As she rose to her knees, Constance watched in horror as the infected tore into to her husband remains like children ripping open a birthday gift. All she could do was watch, immobilize by grief.

“You pieces of shits! Leave him alone!” She screamed, her voice cracking as she desperately tried to draw the others attention, but they were too consumed, too ravenous to care.

“You pieces of……….shits……..you….” Her words faltered, more tears and snot streaming down her face, distorting any mascara she had left.

“I’m truly sorry for your loss Constance, but we need to keep moving,” he said gently, his voice cutting through her sorrow.

“You pieces of……..shits……… you pieces…..” she was lost in her anguish, her words trailing off into sobs.

“Constance, please” he put his hand on her shoulder trying to reassure her, “we have to move before they regroup”

With a fierce shake, Constance brushed his hand aside and stepped back, leading her towards a closed metal door written SERVICE ENTRANCE.

“If we head down this way, I have a car waiting,” Without uttering a word, she stood up and walked towards the door. Her expression blank. The weight of loss hung heavily in the air, but the means of survival demanded they pushed forward.

As she descended down the steps, he looked back one last time at the horde feasting on the husband remains before closing the door firmly behind them.