With a sense of determination, I approached the task at hand and made sure I had all the tools I needed. Then, I positioned myself with a knife underneath one of the screws. Using a rock, I hammered on the back of the knife, creating a chisel and hammer effect, causing it to slide under the bolt and pop out, almost hitting me in the face. Wow, did that ever work well. I moved on to the second one, and after a few good pounds, it snapped off the head. I was flying through these bolts faster than I could ever imagine. The rock definitely paid off, and within no time, I had the bolts removed from one of the sheets of steel. The glue was still an issue, but with the knife and pry bar, I was able to dislodge sections inch by inch until I could get good handholds and pull up. It was a bit difficult with the sharp edges, but I managed by cutting the woman zombie's shirt into strips and wrapping them around my hands, creating a pretty solid glove.
With the light drizzle coming down, I managed to stay warm by prying and pulling up the sheet. The glue was stubborn, but with the tools I had at hand, I was making decent progress until I could pry up enough to stick my head in and look inside. I thought it would be pitch black, but to my surprise, I could see light shining down from inside the structure. From what I could tell, there were large banks of square-looking grayish electronic boxes that looked like rows of bookshelves. Fortunately for me, I think there was one just underneath the opening I was starting to create.
With renewed vigor and a sense of purpose, I finished getting the sheet up and slid in very carefully to avoid scraping my back on the sharp edge of the steel. I managed to position myself between the rafters connecting the metal sheets, holding onto the structure as I stepped onto the electrical boxes below. A slow, steady light emanated from a few emergency LED light units, casting a dim glow. It took my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the new light. I realized that the entire building might not be lit and considered going back to grab my headlamp.
Deciding that I was already here, I might as well make my way through the building for a quick reconnaissance before going back up to retrieve my gear. I kneeled on the large electrical boxes, sliding my body down cautiously. However, I soon realized it might be wiser to stay on top of the breaker until I could confirm that there was no one else in the building. The breaker boxes, being about six and a half feet off the ground, provided a good vantage point if anyone else was present. With the pry bar spear in hand, I began making lots of noise to detect any presence in the building. After a few minutes, I realized my paranoia was unwarranted and crawled off the electrical equipment onto the ground. Wires and conduits were plentiful, making it easy to find footholds and handholds as I descended from the short height.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The room I found myself in appeared to be the main functioning area of the structure, occupying about two-thirds of its total volume. It featured two large banks of electrical breaker components and infrastructure running longitudinally with the building. Each bank was equipped with switches, breakers, and computer panels, resembling a massive server farm. However, it was clear that this setup wasn't for computing but for electrical distribution to the light rail transit system on the other side of the highway. Across the room, I spotted a door leading to another area, while at the back, forming an L-shape against the far corner, was a workbench and small desk. Various tools and miscellaneous items adorned the surfaces, prompting me to make it my first destination for investigation.
As I surveyed the contents of the workbench, I was greeted by an array of tools—hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches—everything I would have needed to access the shed within minutes, had I been aware of their presence. It was a classic case of Murphy's Law. Among the tools, I spotted a particularly hefty pipe wrench, possibly 24 inches in size, along with smaller ones. The weight and solidity of the larger wrench made it an appealing choice for dispatching zombies, so I swapped it for the spear. After tightening the buckle to ensure a solid grip, I tested a few practice swings to familiarize myself with its weight. Satisfied with my new weapon, I turned my attention to the desk, which boasted several drawers. A cursory glance revealed paperwork and a disorganized mess of items. While I considered delving into the drawers later, I focused on clearing the area leading to the mystery door. After ensuring the immediate vicinity was free of surprises, I found myself standing before the enigmatic door, pondering my next move.
Drawing from my knowledge of zombie movies, I couldn't shake the suspicion that behind every locked or closed door lurked a potential threat. Was I being paranoid or simply cautious? Erring on the side of caution, I decided to take preemptive measures. A ladder conveniently stood near the workbench, and I wasted no time in dragging it over to the door. Extending it straight for greater height, I positioned one section of the ladder against the door and the other against the electrical banked equipment, creating a stable barricade. Wedging it tightly in place, I ensured it would serve as a formidable obstacle for anything that attempted to breach the door. Taking it a step further, I positioned myself on the other side of the ladder, ensuring any zombies would have to navigate both obstacles to reach me. Additionally, I strategically placed my spear on top of a bank of electrical equipment, which boasted enough conduits and pipes to provide a feasible escape route if needed. With everything in position, I approached the door and attempted to open it, only to discover it was locked—a detail I probably should have considered beforehand.
Realizing the door was secured with a deadbolt, I understood that breaching it wouldn't be easy for me—or anyone on the other side. With that in mind, I collapsed the ladder and made my way to retrieve my backpack and other equipment from the roof.
