Two Alive, стр. 33

But the man’s empty, bloodshot yellow eyes, showed no conscious understanding. Just a visceral anger. And he kept moving forward.

 “Hey, calm down man. You look like you’ve had a rough night…” Johnathan trailed off, seeing the homeless man approaching quicker. This was on the verge of being physical. “Back off man.” Johnathan was balling his fist now.

“Mr. Johnathan…” Miles whimpered, standing behind him and clutching the cardboard against his chest.

“Back off!” Johnathan shoved at the homeless man and sent him backwards, stumbling.

The drifter just came back more aggressive with his hands outstretched and hissing as he charged. Johnathan didn’t want to fight with the stranger but had to defend himself. He pushed the vagrant again and warned the man to get out of the parking lot. This time the bum seemed to fly back at Johnathan with ravenous intent. Johnathan found it difficult to fight off the wild man who seemed to have unnatural strength. But with a hand around the lost man’s neck, Johnathan pushed him back with one hand and punched him with the other. The hits only seemed to make the man more intense and he was snapping at Johnathan, trying to bite him.

Punch after punch, the homeless man took shots from Johnathan, but the attacks seemed ineffective. Finally, Johnathan gave him one last hit and the derelict spun in a one-eighty turn and fell to the concrete with a sick thud. Johnathan was breathing hard and looked at himself, checking for scratches or wounds. If it wasn’t for the thick Ascend hoodie he was wearing, Johnathan was sure he might’ve been scratched up all along his arms.

Johnathan turned to the frightened Miles, “Are you ok--” He noticed something moving in his peripheral.

Three other vagrants were shambling through the park nearby and making their way through the grassy field headed for the fence that separated the playground and the school. They had the same vacant expression as the man Johnathan fought and the same feral atmosphere that he could feel even from far away. Then he saw the man on the ground start to push himself up, moaning incoherently, with blood beginning to pour from his mouth. Johnathan grabbed Miles and they took off running up the stairs to the school door. He started jamming in the security code to open the door but when he turned the knob, it was still locked. He had meant to fix that stupid thing ages ago and right now he was regretting he put it off for so long.

One last look back and Johnathan saw the man in the parking lot turn to him with a broken jaw that he didn’t seem bothered with. Blood was running down his lips and was pouring down his chest. He screamed through broken teeth and the men in the park started running for the gate. Johnathan snapped around again and punched in the door code and this time it worked and he snatched the door open. He rushed inside and dragged Miles with him. The door slammed shut behind them.

Down the hall, Sam was exiting the staff restroom, ushering Greg out. Sam was explaining why what Greg was doing was inappropriate and the nineteen-year-old student couldn’t hide his embarrassment. When the two saw Johnathan doubled over and trying to catch his breath at the back door, they both looked at him puzzled.

“Is everything ok Johnathan?” Sam asked, seeing the fear on Miles’ face.

The staff bathroom door was flung open and Ms. Dottie came lunging out, howling and grunting. She shoved Sam and Greg, knocking them out of the way and fell to the floor on her hands and knees.

“Ms. Dottie!” Johnathan called out and went to help her up, only stopping when he saw her shake violently. A growl was coming from her and was rising.

“Oh my god, Ms. Dottie are you ok?” Sam went to help the elderly woman off the floor.

“Sam, wait!”

Ms. Dottie let out a guttural roar and jumped at Sam fiercely. Her swimming yellow eyes were like daggers aimed at him and he screamed when she overwhelmed him. Greg whimpered and took off running down the hall, past Arthur and Antonio who had just arrived on the scene. Antonio was laughing at first, thinking the staff were playing in the hallway. Arthur understood this wasn’t horseplay but couldn’t figure out what to do.

“Ms. Dottie! Ms. Dottie!” Sam shouted, trying to fight the older woman off but finding it surprisingly difficult.

“Ms. Dottie!” Johnathan rushed the woman and tried pulling her off Sam. She was like a lashing whip with flying elbows and fists.

“Mr. Arthur, go help them!” Antonio was finally gathering that this was serious. “You ain’t gon help them? Go help them!”

Arthur flinched at the boy’s words but still couldn’t bring himself to move towards the struggle.

“Damn it!” Johnathan wrenched Ms. Dottie up and off Sam but his heel came out from under him and he fell back. Ms. Dottie shook free and dropped back down on Sam and sank her teeth into his shoulder.

A high pitch scream came from down the hall, and it was coming from Arthur, who was still watching the madness. Arthur looked about ready to run and Antonio was afraid for everyone's safety.

"Arthur, get Antonio back to class! Tell Michelle to call the police!" Johnathan went back to helping Sam fight off the wild Ms. Dottie who was gnawing on his shoulder.

“Ahhh, shit!" Sam screamed.

Michelle came running around the corner and was floored by the carnage in front of her. Ms. Dottie was on top of Sam, growling like a dog with a bone and Johnathan was trying to pry her off using whatever method he could to do so. All Michelle could think was that Johnathan wasn’t using a proper CPI trained hold when dealing with a biter.

Ms. Dottie’s backhand hit Johnathan