Chapter 15

Laying beneath the surface

From the hole in the second floor suddenly exploded with the sound of thousands of leathery wings beating and the high pitch screech as bats dove through the hole flying frantically everywhere making Kat scream as she swung her hands at them to keep them away from her face as Artemis smacked at them with his almost invisible movements.

"I will not stop," snarled Artemis as the bats flew out the doorless entrance.

Kat gasped from her shock she look back at Lexy then before she could warn Artemis to tread carefully in the ruins of the hospital he launched himself into a run toward the stairs that laid at the end of the hall; gray, cement with exposed rebar from the missing cement. Peter said nothing just looked up at Lexy who swayed ever so slightly in the breeze of the roof.

"Artemis careful," was the only thing she could call out before her she found herself being pulled towards the stairs driven by her want to get to Lexy not being left behind. The group ran toward the stairs Kat and Peter stumbled at their fast pace trying to avoid the rubble on the ground that couldn't be seen in such a low frequency of light presented by the waning crescent moon. There feet echoed up the stairs turning the stairs to only screeching to a stop at the platform between the first and second floor as a decomposing filling the air with a rank smell like garbage and death making Kat and peter hold their noses. Forcing their eyes away from the body they looked up realizing that the rest of the stairs to the second floor had been destroyed.

"How are we suppose to," Kat started to say between gagging breaths to only stop speaking as he ran jumping up on the banister which reached further than the platform running to the edge using his last step launching him self into the air towards the second floor landing inches away from the edge. Artemis didn't wait for them as he disappeared down the hall into the shadows.

"He's not waiting for us." Peter said pulling out a white handkerchief out of his pocket dropping it over the dead's face. "I guess this is where it ends for us."

Turning Kat looked into his face her pupils dilated into small slits. "I don't think so she's up their you wanted to come we're going! You still are keeping something for me and Artemis; I will know by the end of this. You understand me." She spoke between clenched teeth grabbing Peters arm throwing him over her shoulder following Artemis's lead leaping from the end of the banister knowing she couldn't just as far she spun bouncing off the wall hitting the floor of the second floor she and peter skid a few feet before they stopped. A sound of footsteps made Kat jump she opened her eyes pushing herself up off the ground to stare in shock to see the dismembered view of rotting flesh with open mouth staggering towards them.

"Oh god." Peter said as if he had read Kat's mind. The only thing that stood in front of them as a barrier between the deformed walking dead and them was a six foot, hundred sixty-pound vampire that they knew as Artemis.

The creature turn toward the sound of Peter's voice it's mouth that hung open was only connected by some rotted flesh and the side of his jaw still connected to its hinge. Its stagger suddenly turned to a sloppy charge at Peter moving forward tripping over rubble and debris paying it no mind it was a creature pure running on predatorily instinct. Stumbling back peter fell on the ground with a thud as Artemis moved to engage the undead of another short.

His footsteps were like a trigger as the creature turned to him now on his tail. Before it could reach Artemis a look of nothing grew on his face before he turned on the ball of his foot angling his other foot up at an angle catching the creature in where the jaw was sending it back a few feet into the wall. That's when moan like growls spread through the hospital.

"Don't let them bite you and stay quiet." Kat order glaring at Peter who looked up at her terrified angrily she moved her lips leaving out the sound. What the hell is this! What are these you better say now or I will feed you to them. Is this what you've been keeping quiet?

His look turned sad as he lipped his words. They were experiments some vampires some humans drained of all blood by vampires making them theses. This is why I destroyed this place. He finished as more ghoul seemed to come out of the wood work. Artemis faced them frowning he stood strong standing firmly on the ground spreading his stance.

"Be quiet I will make them follow me. I will be with you shortly." Artemis said loudly stomping his foot before he ran straight for them dodging them with every slightest moved as they ran after him like a pack of animals.

When the hall was finally empty Kat grabbed Peter by the wrist yanking him towards the stairs slowly to ensure not to draw any attention to them. The third floor was completely silent chewing on there very last nerve fearing at any moment that something would come out and attack them.

"Poor Artemis. What chance will he have against these things." Kat said making to the last flight of stairs, as they pressed on unhindered by any more obstacles. The roof was missing at the little moonlight spilled down on them, as the air grew ominous with strange power like of which Kat had never seen before. Reaching the top of the roof the energy enveloped them leaving them staring at the sight they saw.

Meanwhile Artemis ran through the hall keep a good amount of distance between them unable to kill these creatures with hand to hand combat left him to look for anything that could be used to destroy these creatures. Turning a sharp left he skidded to a stop as he found him self faced with more ghouls. He looked around him seeing the IV drip stand resting next to the wall he let relaxed letting his vampire blood control him motions a he moved like a real fighter letting his free hand flow flawlessly grabbing the stand.

Turning slightly he put his back to the wall twisting the stand like a boa staff letting it cut through the air sending them into a frenzy as they tried to swarm him. Mouths open hungry hand ready to tear through anything it could reach. Breathing in sync with his movements he stepped and swung his make shift weapon hitting the ghouls pushing them back and knocking them back. Yet, they still got up undamaged by his attack.

Hit them in the head that's the only way. A familiar voice echoed through his head as he brought his weapon up smashing their skulls sending them sprawling on the ground no longer moving.