I didn't want to believe it. The abandoned mall we'd taken refuge in was under siege. Those undead were clawing at the shutters, their bloody, rotting talons shredding through the metal. Their pained groans echoed around us. I felt the sweat dripping down my face, my legs trembling—the instinct to run began to enthral me. But I fought through my fear. I tightened my grip on Crowley, my beloved crowbar—he was all that remained of my brother.

Beside me were my comrades—my family. We'd spent the worst parts of this year with each other, and we had come together in one final attempt to save our sanctuary.

The shutters gave way. Undead poured in. I scowled determinedly—we swung together. Frank's bat turned a zombie's head into mush. Sandra's machete sliced a creature's body in two, and Crowley...he made quick work of the undead before me.

We fought side by side, as always. Frank had my back, Sandra my right, and Rita—such a bewildering woman. She shot a smile over at my flustered face, slicing two undead with her blade.

But as the gaping hole in the shutters grew, the hallway was quickly overwhelmed. We began moving back, cutting down as many of them as we could. The once white floor was painted red, the sound of dragging feet and snarling beasts filling us with dread.

We'd not give up without a fight. At least...that was how I felt until a zombie the size of five men dragged its enormous body through the shutters.

This thing was massive. It crushed everything in its way, snarling, screeching, setting its eyes on Frank, who pulled his bat from the gut of the creature he'd just slain. I wasn't going to let it catch him off guard. As Frank stumbled back, I charged at the incoming monstrosity. Crowley and I had this.

The girls had my six, taking down all the creatures in my way. I gripped Crowley tight, I gritted my teeth, and lunged forward, plunging my crowbar into the monster's head.

Blood splattered onto my face. The creature gurgled, but Crowley didn't kill it like he did the rest. Instead, the creature scowled angrily and roared ferociously.

The sound threw me off. I fell back, my ass hitting the floor with a thud! The groans of the undead grew, and it wasn't long until Frank was yelling, "It's time to leave!"

Leave? I remained where I'd fallen, staring up at Crowley. He was stuck in that creature's head—

"Let's go!" Rita grabbed my hand.

I didn't want to leave Crowley! I pulled free and reached for Crowley, but the beast slammed its arm into my stomach, sending me tumbling back.

As I hit the ground, Frank and Rita helped me up. Sandra led the way down the hall—my friends had to drag me. I watched as Crowley disappeared into the tsunami of undead.

And just like my brother, Crowley suffered a fate worse than death.