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<DOCID>the_last_stand.doc.txt</DOCID>
<AUTHOR>Justin Schnurer</AUTHOR>
<TEXT>
Dr. Schemm and I stood in the rain. Our conscripted soldiers stood behind us, barely visible in the moonlight. We were situated on the remains of the bridge, blocking the only path leading to the Soo. I looked to Schemm and he nodded slowly. The rain was cold but invigorating on our bare chests. The tattered remains of our last set of clothing whipped wildly in the wind. How did we get here? What had happened to the world?

It seemed like only yesterday. Spring was coming and the snow was almost gone. Sault Ste. Marie could see grass again. Every day grew warmer and warmer. We had made it through the winter. The welcomed warmth, however, brought dire news

Apparently, during the winter, a secret Canadian military testing facility had an accident. The biological weapon they were developing slipped through their fingers and escaped into the world. Canadians everywhere turned into them during the ensuing days. Flesh-eaters. Rot-walkers. The undead. Luckily, rigor mortis and the wintry cold caused the zombies to freeze and be buried in the daily snowfall. 

No news of this left the country as the Canadian government closed their borders. It seemed strange at the time but nobody really pays much attention to Canada anyway. The rest of the world went on their merry way waiting for summer. Our ignorance would not last forever.

When spring came, it thawed the frozen dead and they consumed Canada. The U.S. blocked the border with troops but they were battered terribly. The U.S. army was stretch dangerously thin. The hoard finally broke through and consumed most of the country. We in the Soo blocked our borders and prepared for the onslaught.

With no help coming from the U.S. government, Schemm and I realized it was up to us to stop the zombie hoard from crossing the International Bridge. This time, however, we couldnt do it alone. We drafted anyone we could find that was still alive. All-in-all we ended up with 300 soldiers wielding baseball bats, golf clubs, machetes and whatever else was handy.

Lightning licked across the sky and revealed the hoard. They were thousands strong, advancing slowing across the bridge. Fear swept through our militia and the nervous chatter of the men, women and children behind us was obvious.

Schemm turned, This is where we fight! This is where they die! He paused for a moment, Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time! The chatter ceased and Schemm continued, A new age has come, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 men, women and children of the Soo gave their last breath to defend it.

I shook my head, Were in for one wild night.

With that, we turned to the swarm and charged! Hundreds lay in our wake as our desperate bloodlust continued. We were losing soldiers fast! I took a blow to the head and when I stood and gathered my senses, I could see our remaining army. Myself and Schemm. He was maniacala beast of pure rage. His shirt was gone now, it was replaced by gore. I watched, deafened by the blow as lightning lashed out at the tumultuous sky. He was wounded. I watched numbly as he took blow after blow, bite after bite. He dropped to his knees dazed as the swarm overran him. He was no longer visible.

I stood and my befuddlement ceased. I continued the rampage with my bare handsscratching, clawing, biting at anything that was in my path. I hurt; my wounds were everywhere. They were heavy. I had to stopto rest. I fell and lay on my back. The sky cried on the battleground as my vision darkened.

The last thing I heard was gunshots. I heard the yelling of soldiers as they closed in, ending the zombie advance. We had done it. We held the horde at bay long enough for the military to arrive. We had saved the Soo.





Justin Schnurer

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