The Restroom Part 4

Todd thought about Jo, and how he had seemed like a regular person not a couple of hours ago. When Todd had first come in through the front door, the clerk was just a regular bored young man. He may have smoked a little too much dope and was a bit spacey, but no one deserved that type of fate. Then Todd's mind had come back to Susan.

Susan was quiet now, more than she had ever been. She would stare at her feet, with a glance at the front door every few seconds, then back to her feet. Todd knew what was going through her mind, it was obvious. Her brother is out there, acting just like this guy did. A monster of some kind. I doubt that he ever deserved it either. And of course those at the front door were not making anything easier. Their hands were pounding on the glass so hard it was shaking now, and it appeared that there were more of them out there at this time. Add to this pounding was the noise that they were making.

The noise was actually the worst part of it all. It was like this low wailing noise, like a banshee in the night. It made the hair on Todd's arms stand up. Every few minutes there would be a louder one that was a bit higher pitched and frantic, these made Todd's blood run cold. He did not think that his nerves could take much more of this let alone days like he thought he would need to endure.

"Do you think that they are still in there?" Susan asked. The words were low, but somehow pierced the wails from outside to reach Todd's ears.

"I don't really think so. Something happened to them and I don’t think they are still in there. Maybe they were replaced, or possessed?"

"So, you think my brother is possessed?" Susan retorted sharply.

"Maybe. I don't know. This is all so new. Who would even know?" Todd replied quickly.

"Well, I think they died. I think that maybe the person dies and that they are taken over by a demon or something."

"Isn't that being possessed?" Todd asked. Curiosity creased his face.

"No. Being possessed means you are still in there, experiencing everything, seeing everything and knowing everything. I hope to God that my brother is still not in there knowing what is going on. I hope to God that he died, and that somehow his dead body is what is being taken over. If there was any God, then that is what would have happened." Todd found himself calming her again, but tears could now be seen in his eyes.

This was the first time that Todd had let his mind wander to Mike. He was most likely at home right now, waiting for Todd to get there and freaking out about him being so late. What if these issues have spread all around? The thought frightened even more now thinking that Mike may be in a situation similar to his own. Although Mike worked out a lot more than Todd and was much more physically fit, he was also not as scrappy. Could he take care of himself?

It was no use thinking about it though. All it did is wear on his nerves even more and there was nothing he could do about it right now. Todd was sure he was safe somewhere though, along with the rest of his family. And as long as he was trapped there, Todd would continue telling himself that.

"Hey Todd. What are we going to do?"

"I don't know. Wanna play hang man?" Susan smiled with that.

"No, I mean what are we going to do to get out of here? What if they get in?" Susan had a look of worry, but not fear. She had the look of survival growing across her face.

"I am still thinking about the escape thing. I don't know about how or when we will be able to do it, but I am sure we will. Now, the other question is a little bit more serious. Do you think there is some place around here that we can go to in case they break in?"

"What about the cooler?" Susan's first idea only took a second to come out. "It would have water and drinks and some food in there, just in case."

"Yes, but what about the cold? And the fact that the front is all glass. Couldn't they break that?"

"Ya, your right. Where else around here can we go back into. I don't really wanna go into the office."

"I doubt the office would do much good as it is. I think it is open around the side there." And with this they both pondered for several minutes as to where they could possibly try and hideout while in the store. Todd looked around the store, trying to draw inspiration from anything that he could find. The ceiling was high, but without the normal paneling, so no attic to climb into.

Todd thought back to when he first came into the store. He tried to think if he saw anything that might provide them with cover. Nothing was coming to mind though. He had been so focused on getting to the restroom that he hadn't really paid attention. The restroom, that was brilliant.

The restroom Part 3

The adrenaline pumped through Todd's body in preparation for the worst. His eyes had not fully adjusted to the light yet, so everything was a strange shade of gray. "Todd. What happened?" Susan's voice quavered, her hand had reached out and was now squeezing Todd's arm so hard it was actually hurting.

"Susan, stay calm." Todd went to take a step forward, but Susan's arm kept him from moving at all. "Susan, I need you to let go, so that I can go check it out." Susan nodded slowly and her fingers let go of his arm. The noise came again from the office again, this time followed by a few shuffling sounds.

Todd stepped around the counter to the door that would lead to the back office. The floor was littered with small bags of chips and candy bars, walking through it was like walking through a minefield. He stepped carefully trying not to make too much noise. A banging noise came from the room again, along with the low sound of a moan. Todd was distracted by this sound and missed his step. A loud popping noise was heard as his foot came down on a bag of chips.

"Shit." Susan hissed under her breath. Todd held his fingers up to quiet her and pointed to the backroom. All the sounds in there had stopped. Todd gripped the door handle and turned it, opening the space into the backroom. It was a terrible mess, with papers and notebooks all over the place. On the floor was a large stain of blood. In the emergency light it looked almost black already with the smears looking like some strange painting in a museum.

Other than the blood on the floor, it looked to be an empty office. The room though was not just a room, it was the entire back area and went around the back side of the store for the deli area and there freezer stuff. Although the office was lit, the rest of the back area was shaded in darkness, and it was from this darkness that the shuffling sound and the moan came from.

Todd's eyes searched around the room for something that he could defend himself with, but nothing came to his eyes that was a real weapon. Something glinted in the corner that caught Todd's eyes, though whatever it was it was completely covered in papers. The moan came again, but this time it was much closer, causing Todd to jump into the air a bit. He spun around and was met with the store clerk that he had seen earlier.

Todd panicked and did what he could to turn back around and flee. His feet though could not follow as fast and slipped in the blood that was smearing the ground. Todd went down fast, with his arms flailing around him he tried to catch himself on anything. The next sound that was heard was that of his head cracking against the ground and the room fell into complete blackness.

Todd did not know what had happened or where he was. The word was fuzzy and dim. Nothing made sense except the pain in his head. Above him he could see a figure approaching him. They were bending down now. Must be someone coming to my aid. I hope they can help my head, it hurts something bad. And who is that shouting at me?

***

Susan was standing a few feet away, watching as Todd went into the back room. Although she could see what Todd was doing, she could not see what was beyond the small opening the door provided into the office. Susan saw Todd's face as he realized that something was coming towards him, and then she heard the sound of the moan.

It came from around a corner. Susan's eyes strained to see what exactly it was, but the darkness was great and the door only opened to show so much. She watched in absolute fear as Todd looked around frantically and then as he attempted to flee. His feet went out and he fell to the ground. The sound of his head cracking against the ground was as loud as a gunshot in the store. All Susan could do was shout at him to get up.

***

That shouting was so loud it hurt. Todd's head pounded, and when he opened his eyes he was met with a sharp pain and needles that shot through his eyes. That man that was kneeling above him was now snarling, his jaws snapping open and closed. Why is he snarling at me? I thought this guy was supposed to help me.

Todd came to his senses as the memories of the last few hours came back into his mind. With a final desperate push he made some space between himself and the clerk above him. Todd's hands searched frantically for anything that he could use to defend himself. His hands found a grip on something hard and he brought it around.

Todd hit the clerk square on the chin, spinning his head to the side with a vicious snap. Still, the clerk moved forward and snapped his jaws at Todd. Todd looked at the object in his hands and found he was gripping a fire extinguisher. With a slight adjustment Todd brought it smashing down onto the top of the clerks head. There was an even louder crack as the guy's head caved in and he fell to the ground in a heap.

Todd rolled the man off of him and clumsily got to his feet. Susan was at his side and helped him to his feet. Todd looked down at the now dead man at his feet, the name tag said his name was Jo, and wondered what in the world could possibly cause someone to act so crazy or live through that much damage.

The Restroom Part 2

Todd could feel the bile rising in his throat as he looked out the window, and with every nerve in his body, he was able to not upend the last meal he had. Todd's chest could be seen rising and falling, as he took deep breaths in through his nose, out through his mouth. It was an old technique he had learned in anger management to calm himself, but it seemed to be working wonders now.

Susan also could not keep her eyes away from the window. The banging was constant, but it appeared the windows were strong and could withstand many people hitting them. Not that Susan could really see through them anymore, so smeared that any details were impossible. Susan felt something warm on her face, and with a finger touched the spot to find that she had been crying. She did not remember actually crying, but there they were, the tears that had been falling from her eyes and running down the sides of her cheeks. With red eyes, she looked to Todd, "What now?"

"Well." Todd ran his fingers through his hair, moving his mind to Susan finally and realizing that he was not fully alone right now. With a start Todd realized that his hands were still on his head and he forced himself to lower his hands to his sides, but allowed them to enter his pockets to prevent them from shaking anymore. "I don't foresee us able to leave here right now. Maybe they will go away?"

Todd looked hopefull with his last words. As if he was wishing every second that this would all go away and that maybe he had fallen asleep in the bathroom. Todd turned back to the corner where the door to the bathroom was still open and beyond. There was another door that had an exit sign right above it. "There, over in the corner by the bathrooms. Maybe we can get out of here through there and escape. Hopefully that gang out there is only out front."

Todd's feet began moving before he had really thought it through. Within a fraction of a minute, he was standing at the back door, staring at the handle. It was one of those doors that only needed to be pushed, no knob. "Are you going to open it?" Susan's voice directly behind Todd made him jump.

"Yes, but only just a little bit, I want to make sure there is nothing out there." Todd's hands reached forward, each one shaking like a leaf. He pressed down upon the door and eased it open just an inch. Todd put his eye up to the crack and looked outside. What he saw shocked him.

Nothing. It looked completely normal out there. No one could be seen within the sight of the crack. Todd eased it open just an inch further, gaining a greater perspective of the world outside. Still, everything looked normal. He could hear the sounds of commotion from the front of the store, but none of those at the front window had decided to come around the side at all.

"Is it clear?" 

"Looks to be clear over here." Todd whispered it to Susan. "Maybe we could make a break for it. What do you think?"

"Anything to get out from here." Todd looked back at Susan and could see desperation there. Her eyes were darting back and forth, and he could see that sweat was on her brow. Whatever was going to happen, staying trapped in the store was not going to work for her.

"OK. We will have to move fast and quiet. I do not want anyone to notice us getting out of here." Todd felt his hand fall from the door, and he temporarily lost his balance. He went to grab for the door but he found that it had opened more and Todd fell over onto his side. When he looked up, he found that one of the guys from outside had grabbed the door open and was now coming inside.

Todd was frozen in place. His muscles had become rocks that could not be moved, his brain was caught in the moment. Time itself was stopped. This is how I am going to die? Sitting on my own ass? Time began to move forward once more with a loud clang. Susan had picked up a trash can and pegged the guy in the face.

It was what Todd needed to move again. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed the same can that Susan had just used moments before and shoved the man back out the door. Whoever it was fell backward and landed on its back. The whole time the guy had been reaching for Todd, but with him out of the way Todd was able to reach for the door and pull it shut.

The door clicked, and right behind it Todd and Susan could hear the man's fists banging against the door. It only took a minute, but from the sounds a few extra hands were being used to bang against the door.

"It looks as if we are stuck here a while longer. There are more of them out that door, so I doubt we could make any sort of run for it." Todd looked to Susan, who had tears welling in her eyes.

"Maybe there is another exit? Maybe if we just run for it we can get away?" Susan's voice raised several octaves while she was speaking, her hands and body began to shake as the tears began to flow down her face without impediment.

Todd did not hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her in a big hug and held on tight. Susan tried to escape, but Todd was stronger and her efforts waned as she gave into his warm embrace. "It will be OK. I promise you." His words were empty, but still reassuring. Slowly her body relaxed and stopped shaking.

"Thank you." She whispered back to him. She found herself sinking further into this man's arms that she had just met. It was comfortable and familiar and new all at the same time. "I think I am better now." Susan pulled back from Todd.

"That is good. So, what do you think we should do now?"

"I don't know. I guess we just have to wait it out." Todd moved back away from Susan and scanned the store they were in. It was a normal looking convenience store, with the regular pile of junk food and soda. In the cooler was soda and water, even one case was filled with beer. "At least we can eat and drink. Would really not be fun if we didn't have any food."

"Way to look at the bright side of things." Susan walked to one of the counters and opened up a candy bar. "Well, this is good, my stress relief in a bar." Even with the banging on the door and the sounds of  those outside Susan was cheering up just a little bit.

Out from the back of the store, there was a banging noise. "What was that?" Susan asked.

"Something from the backroom? I think maybe it is the person that was working here when I first came in." There was another banging sound, and a moan type sound came from the back office. Todd was shaking again. The store was bathed in an eerie light as the lights went out and the emergency lights kicked on. "Oh, Shit."

The Restroom Part 1

 "Gotta go. Gotta go." Todd's bladder and stomach felt like it was going to explode. His face was pinched as he concentrated on not going just yet. Every step sent pangs through his body and a chill up his spine. He was not quite dancing like a child, but with just one glance one could tell he really needed to go. The light from the convenience store lit his way as he made it into the store.

"Which way to the restroom?" Todd asked the attendant behind the counter. All they did was nod to the corner with a door. Todd quickly found himself inside the bathroom and immediately a look of disappointment came across his face. It smelled of urine an the toilet itself was stained an unnatural gray. The pressure inside Todd's bowels told him that there was no chance of any other option.

After the initial relief of pressure, Todd finally was able to relax his muscles and rest a moment. It had been draining in more ways than one and he wanted to take the time to ensure that everything was done. It was during this daydream session that a smashing sound was heard.

"Hey, you are going to have to pay for that!" Todd could hear the cashier shouting at someone. They must have dropped some merchandise on the floor. "Hey! Stop what your doing!" The voice sounded almost desperate. Maybe the store was going to be robbed while Todd sat his ass on the shitter, the thought of which actually excited him just a bit.

The frustrated sounds from the cashier turned completely frantic as Todd heard the man yelling into the phone for help before he was cut off with a screech. The sounds in the store became unnaturally quiet. Todd heard nothing for several long moments. He cleaned himself up and headed for the door.

Todd's hands were shaking as he reached for the door handle. He turned the knob slowly and pulled, but nothing happened. He tried it again to find the same results. Finally, Todd looked down to find that the door not only opened outward, but that the dead bolt was clicked over.

With the door unlocked he eased it open, peering around the corner to see if the cashier could be seen at all.  The store appeared to be completely empty. Todd stepped out a few more inches and could see a large mess over in the corner. The cashier must be hiding in the office until the police show up.

Todd was feeling confident and took a full step out the door, allowing him to see almost the entire store even the front door. A scream was heard from just beyond the glass of the front store, but no details could be seen. The lights created such a glare that nothing could be seen through them at all.

A woman in her early twenties came running through the doors, closing them shut behind her and using a display to wedge them closed so no one else could open them from the outside. She took a deep breath and sat down on the floor. Todd could see that she was wearing a pair of jeans that fit her snugly and a sweater over another shirt.

Todd looked at her for another long moment before he realized that there really was no one else in the store. "Hello there." Todd spoke loud enough for her to hear, but so as not to scare her. It didn't work. She jumped up like she had see a ghost and grabbed a nearby piece of wood an brandished it like a sword.

"Hi." Todd tried a second time. "Are you ok?"

"Who are you?" Her eyes were wide, and a look of panic could be seen on her face. She kept glancing around, as if expecting someone to come out of the shadows and jump on her.

"My name is Todd. I was using the restroom over there when I thought I heard the store being robbed. That is why your scared, isn't it?" Todd had been pointing behind him to the restroom in the corner, but had turned back to her confused look. "The store was robbed, wasn't it?

Her confused look changed to horror as she thought about his question. "They ate his face." Was all she said, it was so low that Todd wasn't sure if he heard her correctly.

"They did what?"

"They ate his face. We were stopped at a light just down the road there and they came around the car. We thought it was a bunch of homeless men or gang members or something crazy like that, but they weren't. My brother rolled down his window to yell at them to get out of the way, and that is when it happened." She paused for a moment, tears welled in her eyes.

"You do not have to continue." Todd tried to reassure her, but there was no stopping her from continuing.

"When his window opened up, they reached in and grabbed him. He had fought hard for a minute, but then they started to bite his face and neck. They pulled him completely out of the car and onto the ground. All of them gathered around him and began biting him as well. I have never seen anything like it before. I screamed so loud I thought that I was going to lose my voice. They began to stop biting him and stood up to look at me. I ran, as hard as I could and came here."

She finished her story with a large sigh, and new tears began to well in her eyes. "Hey now, what is your name?"

"Susan." she answered with a quick breath.

"Well, Susan. It appears that we are safe in here. I know the police will most likely be here in just a minute or so. We can just wait here until they do." Todd watched as her body loosened up a bit at the thought of the police coming. Todd found that he was looking at quite the attractive young lady. She was fit, with short brown hair that framed a pretty face. In another world, Todd was sure she would have had an easy time finding a boyfriend. Not that that really mattered to Todd, who was gay.

"How long do you think that it will be until the police get here?" Susan looked as if she was going to run again if they did not get here in a few seconds.

"It was a few minutes ago that I heard the cashier yelling at the robber person and yelling into the phone for help. I am actually surprised they are not here yet. Must be something like traffic slowing them down."

"Where is the cashier?" Susan asked.

"I don't know actually. Like I said, I was in the rest--" But the rest of Todd's words were lost in a scream. Susan's mouth was open and her eyes were staring at the door that she had come through. Her finger was raised and pointed at the man at the door.

"Mark?" Susan whispered to no one in particular. Her mouth continued to move, but no sound came from it.

"That is your brother?" Todd asked, but got no response from Susan. She continued to just stare at the doorway. "I can let him in here if you want." Todd headed for the doorway, planning on releasing the door and letting this girls brother into the safety of the store.

"No!" Susan yelled. She finally snapped out of her shock and stopped Todd from opening the door. "Look at that." She pointed past her brother into the night. Todd looked, but had a hard time making out what was going on beyond the glare. Finally several figures appeared through the glass.

"Holy Shit." Todd's mouth hung open at what he was looking at. There must have been ten more people, all of them looked like they had been to hell and back. Several of them were so mangled that it was a wonder that they were still standing.

"That is the group that attacked my brother. I thought he was dead, but now I am not so sure." Susan explained to Todd. The figures reached the glass and began pounding on it. It looked to be that they wanted to break in, there hands were covered in blood and now the glass was smeared as well. Their mouths also kept opening and shutting, with these low moans escaping from them every few seconds. To Todd, it felt like a horror movie.