The Big (undead) Easy

[ConSeannery]

"Is there any way to tell the difference between who needs help and who needs a bullet? I don't want shooting some innocent average Joe on my conscious."

[Billy Bones]

"Oh, it's quite obvious," called the sergeant into the wind. The other men laughed. The medic nudged the man holding onto the rack. "Eez eazy man," drawled the Cajun, "Yuh jus' follow the blood."

[ConSeannery]

"I'm sure I'll figure out what that means soon enough."

Trent makes sure there's a round chambered in the pistol, and prepares himself.

[Billy Bones]

"There is no architecture in New Orleans, except in the cemeteries… white roofs and gables stretching into the distance on every hand, the phrase "city of the dead" has all at once a meaning ..."

~Mark Twain, 1875

8 blocks from the Mississippi River, the truck came to an abrupt halt.  The city was eerily silent.  A dozen set of eyes scanned the surrounding buildings and streets for any signs of life. Climbing out slowly and methodically, the men formed a loose circle around the sergeant.  He reached into his vest and removed a tourist map of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

[ConSeannery]

I tuck the pistol into my belt and hold the fire axe with both hands, alert for any movement

[Billy Bones]

"Alright gentlemen, we've received a call that civilians form the Cemetery Tour may be caught within the gates. It is our job to get them out. But they are not alone." The sergeant chambered one round in his Remington 870 with a loud 'CLICK-CLACK'.

[ConSeannery]

I cautiously approach the gates, axe at the ready, and await orders

[Billy Bones]

The sling caught the Remington from dropping to the ground.  Deveau moved to the hood of the truck and unfolded the map.



"Here we are," Deveau put his finger on the southernmost entry point to the cemetery.  "They are reported to be here," he put his finger at P2, the top most section of the cemetery.  He drew a small circle around the tomb #115  "Sounds like that's where the caller reported from.  Lots of space between here and there."  The sergeant removed his cap and wiped the sweat from his forehead.  "Now we don't know what to expect in here, but identify yourself, whatever doesn't reply, shoot.  Some strange things folks are seeing here in the city."  The sergeant folded the map and tucked it back into his vest.  "Alright gentlemen, take your positions."

The small team assembled near the gate.  With a loud 'POP', the bolt cutters sliced through the rusted lock.  Knowing only one way in from the west, it would be nice to have an emergency exit, but protocol called for different measures.  Deveau stuffed the cutters into a small satchel he wore over his shoulder.  Only one set of gates was unlocked for tours, those on the far west side of the cemetery.  The driver and two officers were to meet up with them on that side and cordon off that entrance.

"Lock the gate behind us.  No one in, no one out," stated the sergeant bluntly.  

The gate swung wide with an ominous creak as if the doors to hell itself had been opened.  A light rain began to fall.

[ConSeannery]

I stretch out my shoulders, a feeling deep in my stomach that the axe is going to get swung more than once. I step in line directly behind Deveau, prepared to defend myself and my new comrades to the death. From what the policemen were chattering about, it seemed like that was a perfectly likely scenario.

"Are we supposed to clear this huge son of a bitch out, or just find any survivor pockets and help them get out? There are a lot of places for whatever you guys are worried about to pop out from and get someone by surprise."

[Billy Bones]

"Orderscare to retrieve a tour group that is lost. Apparently there are pockets of people in the city trapped." Deveau stopped because he knew there more to the reports, but the less info that was out there the less he would have explain. The sergeant tapped the officer in front on the shoulder. With a sweeping motion, he cleared to the left and stayed in a low walk as he hugged the right side of the tombs.