"Dear G,
I recommend you take a look at //The Hungry Tide// by Amitav Ghosh next. It features a riveting plot, a love triangle, and interesting facts about irawaddy dolphins. I just finished reading it, so I left a few notes for you inside. Take a look over and let me know what you think. - O"
The book had clearly been read many times. The corner of the cover was torn off and there was clearly water damage at the bottom of the book. I slipped the copy into my backpack, taking a moment to breathe in the musty, stuffy smell of the empty library. The lobby, where O had left the book for me, was silent. It was unlikely anyone other than O and I had been in here for years.
Picking up a piece of paper from behind the counter, I reply to O by writing,
[[Thanks! I'll bring the copy back tomorrow.]]
[[See you later, O.]]
[[Can't wait to read it! I've got to find it, but I'll leave behind one of my favorites for you to read, as well.]]I set the note down on the counter and make my way to the exit. The heavy doors that swing outward and the lack of appeal to a library in the apocalypse meant that the library was one of the few buildings that remained in a similar condition to what it was like //before//.
Making sure my path was clear, I ran across the empty townsquare, noting to avoid the carnage left behind, to a side street that would help me cut closer to my home. When I was in the side street, I paused to listen. Other than occassional wind gushes in the tree branches, it was quiet. I continued down the street, coming out in a residential area. Here, the area was less destructed, but signs of the Beginning were there. Busted windows, cars in yards, and trash on the road. I found Cherry Lane and run down the sidewalk, careful to be aware of my surroundings. Everything seemed to be peaceful today. The wind was blowing softly, and the sun was shining brightly.
Cherry Lane lead me out to the outskirts of town, where farming land began. I slowed down to a fast walking pace, knowing that I was in a safer area. There were a few families that were still alive in the area that maintained their farms and kept the population of the undead in the outskirts down.
On my right, the Carvers' long, winding driveway approached. Their house was perched on a hill overlooking their fenced-in land. It looked peaceful and well-kept, and I knew they lived, but I hadn't seen them in about three years, a little after the Beginning.
Looking up at the house, I noticed something odd. There was smoke pouring out the right upper window. Then, I heard a scream from within.
[[I began to run up their driveway to help.]]
[[I winced and picked up my speed so as to get home sooner.]]
[[I froze, wondering whether I should go home or help.]]After I finished writing the note, I looked around the library to make sure there wasn't anything that I needed to take with me. The sun was shining through the windows on the front of the library, catching the dust in its rays. I took a deep breath, then stepped out of the front door. The library opened into the town square, which was empty, other than the disarray that had been left after the Beginning. I looked around to ensure I was alone, then I began to walk over to the alley that would connect me with the road I needed to take home.
As I was passing //magnifique//, the women's boutique, I noticed something odd in the window. It looked like someone had spalashed the inside of the window with red paint. Such destruction wasn't unusual, but I hadn't noticed it two days ago when I came into town. Curiosity tugged at me, and I thought about going in.
[[I decided to go in and see what was going on.]]
[[I shook my head and decided to stay out of it.]]
[[I approached the window to get a closer look.]]Tossing the pen I used behind the counter, I walked deeper into the library, searching out the fiction section. It took me several minutes to find what I was looking for, but when I did, I smiled brightly. Even though the book was a heavy one, I had fond memories of reading before the Beginning. I pulled //Stolen// by Lucy Christopher off the shelf, making my way to the front of the library slowly. Slipping the book under the note on the front counter, I made sure the coast was clear and walked out the front door. The front of the library opened up to the town plaza, which looked semi-normal for an apocalypse. There were a few remnants from the Beginning that reflected the chaos of that time, such at the broken glass of some of the stores and the upended car in the corner. I took a step towards the alleyway that would lead me home, but I was stopped by the sound of a voice.
I instinctually reached for the knife in my bag, but when I saw a young teenage girl approaching from my left, and most certainly not a member of the undead, I stopped.
"Please, help me!" She said, desperation in her eyes. I could tell, outside of our current situation, that she had sweet, doe eyes.
"What's wrong?" I said, hurrying over to her.
"I..." she gasped, as if out of breath. "I was taken by these men to see this man named The Doc... And they have my little sister. I... need... to save... her."
I frowned, confused by her words. Looking around, I saw a bench and gently guided her over to it. "Here, take a seat," I said. "Take some deep breaths and tell me what happened."
She breathed deeply with me, calming down somewhat after a few minutes.
"Ok, now tell me what happened."
She looked down at her hands nervously. She had a short sleeved shirt on, and for the first time, I noticed that she had a lot of recent puncture wounds on her arms. It also looked like her wrists were bruised. "My sister and I, we were just out in our garden when we heard a truck approach. We went out to see what was up, and we saw this storage truck with a bunch of men. My brother tried to stop them... but he couldn't. They took me and my sister anyways."
She paused, fiddling nervously with her fingers. I extended my hand to offer her, and she gently took it. I could feel her hand shaking in my grip.
"They took us to a school and took us in to the gym. The whole building is like this compound. The gym is set up like a hospital. Women were tied down to table across the room. Some turned, some not. It's a gruesome sight." She shut her eyes, as if trying to block out the memory. "They... tied us down. Then the Doc came to see us, as they called us. It seems like he's in charge. He did... some experiments on us. But my ropes, they weren't tight enough to hold me, so last night when they left us alone, I slipped out and ran." She looked at me, her face devastated. "Why did I leave her there? I was just so scared and wanted to get out... I have to go back and get her." She stood up.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. You can't go on your own," I said.
"Then come with me," she replied.
"Well, why don't you come home with me? Then we can get some back up to help us out?"
She shook her head. "No, you don't understand. They'll kill her! I have to save her, with or without your help." She turned to go.
[[I followed her.]]
[[I let her go on her own.]]The driveway was long, so it took me several minutes to get to the house. In that time, more and more smoke poured out. The screams intensified, clearly made by more than one person. It seemed like the whole family was trapped in there.
At the foot of their porch, I threw my bag down. //The Hungry Tide// fell out onto their driveway. I climbed up the stairs quickly, opening the creaky screen door and then their front door. Smoke hit me in the face when I opened the door, making me cough. There weren't any flames directly in my view.
I took a step in, calling out, "Hello? Is anyone here?" There was no reply. I heard the cries were coming from upstairs, though. I didn't know the layout of the house, so I began searching the large farm house. It didn't take long for me to come across flames that I kept having to dodge. I found the stairs at the back of the house, and they were covered in flames. All of a sudden, the Carvers' young daughter appeared at the top of the stairs, screaming and crying. She couldn't be more than five. She was born after the Beginning, clearly. Through the arcing flames, I could see the tears streaming down her face.
[[I ran up the stairs despite the flames to save her.]]
[[I ran outside, looking for a well for water.]]
[[I looked at her sadly, then turned around. It was time for me to get out of there. They were lost.]] Who knew how far they were gone, and if they died, they would soon be a part of the undead, and I wanted none of that. Let the undead burn. I hurried home, knowing I ought to warn the others in case the flames spread.
When I got home, I told everyone what I had seen. We kept watch on the edge of the woods for several hours, but there was no indication that the fire had spread.
I was tired out from my run, so I laid on the couch reading the book O had recommended to candlelight until I fell asleep.
-
I woke up to a thud on the front porch. It was pitch black outside, except for a weird glow on the porch where the thud had come from. I got up and opened the door, curious. My mouth dropped.
Flames arched across the porch. Their source wasn't the spreading flames from the Carvers', however, that had never showed up. I saw O's face, a malicious expression on it, through the flames, looking right at me.
"What the hell?" J shouted from behind me in the back of the house. Then I heard the groan of one of the undead. J ran into the room in just his boxers. The undead man was chasing him closely behind. I grabbed a chair and hit the creature over the head. It didn't go down immediately, but that gave J enough time to hit it over the head with a hammer. It wasn't the last one, though. We heard another one cry from the back of the house, clearly hungry.
"How the hell did they get in here?" J cried. Then he saw the flames that were quickly catching on the front of the house. O was still standing outside, as if to watch the show. "That bastard let them in!" J came over to me, grabbing my hand. "Let's get out of here." I nodded, following him towards the back door.
Another member of the undead was in our way. This time, J was ready with the hammer. Stepping over its carcas, we exited the hallway into the back storage room. There were three there. One charged J, and the other two charged me.
[[I ran back down the hallway.]]
[[I grabbed the closest thing to me to fight.]]
[[I grabbed J away from the other creature.]]If I went and helped, they could die in that time and turn into the undead, which would be difficult to deal with. But if they were still alive and could be saved, was it a crime for me to leave them? Certainly, there had been enough death in this world.
I took a step towards them when I felt the breeze on the back of my neck. The wind! If it picked up the flames, then we were screwed. It would catch the woods on fire and spread to our house in no time. Should I run home and warn the others? Wouldn't that be abandoning the Carvers?
I didn't have much more time to contemplate it, however, as I heard the rev of an engine behind me. I turned, and there was a SUV barrelling down towards me. I screamed, trying to run out of the way, but the SUV followed me.
Upon impact, I was thrown into the woods. Almost immediately, I passed into the realm of one of the undead. All I saw was the [[//red.// ->Point of Contact]] Very quickly, the flames grabbed onto my cargo pants. I made it up half of the stairway before the immense heat radiated across my skin, making me scream. In a moment of shock, I fell to my knees on the flaming stairway. Then, I fell backward.
And everything went [[dark. ->Point of Contact]] It took me a moment to find my way back out, but when I did, I began running around the house looking for a well. I knew they had to have one around here. How else would they get fresh water?
I passed their barn, where they had some livestock. But there was no well. Where was it??
There was a loud crash behind me, and the screams stopped. Looking back, I saw the second floor of the house had collapsed. They were dead.
[[I went to the barn and let all the livestock go.]]
[[I leave the farm, disheartened by the deaths of practical strangers.]]It hurt my heart to leave her behind, but there was nothing I could do for her at this point. Besides, I had bigger issues if the wind outside picked up the fire and spread it. It could very easily catch the farm where I lived on fire. Hurrying down the driveway, [[I ran home to warn the rest.]] There were pigs, chickens, and cows. All of them worth killing for in the current world. I let them all go to run into the woods nearby. I watched them as they ran away from the flames, feeling the heat from behind me. The wind was picking up. I wondered if this fire would spread.
[[I ran home to warn the rest.]]
[[I kept looking for a well to put the flames out.]]
[[I ran into the woods after the livestock.]]I couldn't get the image of the young girl out of my mind. She had looked so pitiful. All she wanted was help, and I couldn't provide. Then, a thought hit me. If that fire was picked up by the wind, it could very easily travel to my home. The thought caused my heart to flutter. I picked up my pace, and [[I ran home to warn the rest.]] The driveway was longer than I remembered it. I stumbled my way down, tripping over my feet in my hurry. I knew that if this fire was picked up by the wind, it would spread quickly. The farm I lived on with the others would catch fire in hours, considering it was only a few miles down the road. When I got to the pavement of the road, my shoes slapped against the hard surface as I raced down the road. Birds were chirping in the heights of the trees. The warmth of spring caused me to perspirate as I sprinted faster, taking gasping breaths of air in.
It took me about a half hour to make it home. I could see J was out front carrying in a bucket full of the things he had harvested from the garden that day. I called out his name, and he turned around in surprise.
"What's wrong, G?"
"A-a fire," I huffed, coming to a stop in front. "I tried to save them-"
"Take a deep breath," J said. "I'll go get the others and get you some water." I nodded as he jogged into the house. I took gasping breaths of air in, the light breeze helping to cool me down.
Before long, J came out with B and Y in tow. "Ky and R are out hunting," J said. "We're the only ones home. Tell us what happened." I recited the events in detail to all three, who listened intently.
"We don't know that the fire will spread, though, G. The wind has calmed down over the past few hours." B's words were comforting. I hugged her tightly, grateful that she was there. "Come on, tell me about your trip to the library."
It hit me that my backpack and //The Hungry Tide// were next to the front porch of the Carvers'. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought of the things that had been in that bag. "Oh, B," I said, telling her what was on my mind as we walked into the kitchen. She handed me the glass of water J had forgotten earlier.
"It might still be there tomorrow, G. I promise we will go check in the morning." I nod, agreeing.
The next few hours, we anxiously watched the treeline, but nothing happened. I fell asleep sat in a chair facing the trees in the living room.
I woke up to a thud on the front porch. It was pitch black outside, except for a weird glow on the porch where the thud had come from. I got up and opened the door, curious. My mouth dropped.
Flames arched across the porch. Their source wasn't the spreading flames from the Carvers', however, that had never showed up. I saw O's face, a malicious expression on it, through the flames, looking right at me.
"What the hell?" J shouted from behind me in the back of the house. Then I heard the groan of one of the undead. J ran into the room in just his boxers. The undead man was chasing him closely behind. I grabbed a chair and hit the creature over the head. It didn't go down immediately, but that gave J enough time to hit it over the head with a hammer. It wasn't the last one, though. We heard another one cry from the back of the house, clearly hungry.
"How the hell did they get in here?" J cried. Then he saw the flames that were quickly catching on the front of the house. O was still standing outside, as if to watch the show. "That bastard let them in!" J came over to me, grabbing my hand. "Let's get out of here." I nodded, following him towards the back door.
Another member of the undead was in our way. This time, J was ready with the hammer. Stepping over its carcas, we exited the hallway into the back storage room. There were three there. One charged J, and the other two charged me.
[[I ran back down the hallway.]]
[[I grabbed the closest thing to me to fight.]]
[[I grabbed J away from the other creature.]]I found it hiding behind a truck that clearly hadn't been running for a while. I found several buckets nearby, and I got to work.
It took hours to make a dent in the flames, but eventually they calmed down to embers. I came across the Carvers' bodies, but I couldn't stomach to do anything with them today, so I made a mental note to come back in the morning to give them a proper burial.
[[I sat down next to the well to get a drink of water.]]
[[I find my backpack, which surprisingly was not caught up by the flames.]]
[[I climb in the rundown truck to take a nap.]]After a mile or so, I lost all of the animals, and I collapsed to the ground laughing hysterically. I laid down there, looking up at the sky as tears replaced the laughter.
A familiar groan alerted me to the fact that a member of the undead was uncomfortably close to me. I looked around for my backpack where my knife was hidden, but I remembered I dropped in front of the Carvers' house. I laughed through the tears.
Sitting up and looking around, I saw there were four of them, and they were within a few feet of me, approaching fast. I couldn't get to my feet before they were on me.
They tackled me to the ground, taking hunks of my skin out with their bites. I felt the sickness taking me over as the edges of my vision went black, speckled with white dots. The sky, which I stared at, became blurry. Then, I was (text-style:"fade-in-out")[lost. ]All that was there to meet me was the flames, which had spread into the house. As I paused to think about what to do, I felt the painful downbite of one of the undead. I screeched and fell to the floor. They descended on me, making a feast out of me as the flames inched closer. I felt their sickness spreading inside me, conquering every vein and organ. My lungs filled with smoke. Then, everything went [[red. ->Point of Contact]] This thing happened to be a handheld radio. It made a dent in the first creature, but the second one took advantage of the time I was distracted by taking a bite out of my shoulder. I screamed. J cried out as he was taken down as well. They began to feast on us, ripping us apart. Their sickness spread through me, but not as fast as they made a meal of me. I was feeling the effects of blood loss, my vision growing weaker. Then, everything faded out, and I was [[gone. ->Point of Contact]] This gave him enough time to hammer it successfully, knocking it to the ground. When his back was facing them, though, the other creatures attacked. He screamed. I paused, unsure if I should help him or run.
"Run!" He screamed. I listened and dashed out onto the back porch. I ran down the stairs, looking around frantically for B and Y, but no one was around. I was alone.
Except for O.
"So you made it out?" He called out as he rounded the house. He approached casually, as if approaching a baseball game.
"Why are you doing this?" I gasped. "You're killing them!" I screamed as I pointed at the house.
O rolled his eyes. "Everyone dies nowadays. Its more likely you'll see twenty deaths before a birth anymore." I looked at him as if he was insane. He grew closer to me, so I backed up. "You //really// don't know, G?" He asked.
"Clearly not, asshole!" I yealled in frustration.
"You and I used to be so close!" He shouted, losing his composure. He paused, wiping away some spit that had landed on his chin when he yelled. "And you had to //leave//. Did you even read //The Hungry Tide//?"
"No, I lost it at the Carvers' fire... wait, did you start that?"
"Duh, silly girl. You really are a coward, aren't you? Running away from the flames like that? //Twice.//"
"Why are you doing this?"
"You left me. For //J// and his stupid crew. How are they any better?"
"I didn't leave you, O. You left! You wanted to live life differently than how we live it, and it wasn't going to work for me to follow you. I had to stay with the family I know."
"Oh, I'm not worth staying with?" He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small handgun.
"O, that's not what I said," I replied, putting my hands up in a defensive stance.
"That's what I heard." He lifted the gun up and pulled the trigger.
I fell to the ground, gripping the gaping wound in my shoulder, trying to blink through the immense pain. He walked over to me, standing over me with hatred in his eyes.
"I'll see you when you join the undead," he said smuggly, spitting on me and standing back.
I felt my life force escaping as the blood pooling under me increased. My vision got fuzzier, and I felt like I was floating.
[["Goodbye, G." ->Point of Contact]] My throat was dry and scratchy. This drink was needed. The sun was beginning to set, sending spectacular colors throughout the sky. Looking at the beautiful sky that illuminated the carnage, I felt a familiar sense of unease. Ever since the Beginning, it had been so hard to find peace. I got up, brushing off my cargo pants. I jumped when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Hi, G."
I took a deep breath of relief when I saw it was O. "You scared me," I said awkwardly with a smile, holding my chest.
"I should," he replied with an empty look in his eyes.
"What?" I replied, taking a cautious step back.
"You and I used to be so close!" He shouted, losing his composure. He paused, wiping away some spit that had landed on his chin when he yelled. "And you had to //leave//."
"What are you talking about, O?"
"You left me. For //J// and his stupid crew. How are they any better?"
"I didn't leave you, O. You left! You wanted to live life differently than how we live it, and it wasn't going to work for me to follow you. I had to stay with the family I know."
"So you don't know me well enough?"
I took another step back, taking a quick glance behind me. I saw the pail I had used to carry water earlier.
"I don't understand what you want, O."
He frowned, pulling out a small handgun. He didn't point it at me to begin with, but he played with it in a clearly threatening way. "What I want? My heart back, please, G. Give me my heart back."
While his eyes were down on the gun, I
[[pleaded for my life.]]
[[grabbed the pail and hit him in the head.]]
[[ran towards the woods.]]//The Hungry Tide// sat next to it, undisturbed. I put the book safely in the backpack and headed back to the well. [[I sat down next to the well to get a drink of water.]] I fell asleep quickly, the day catching up with me.
I woke up to a banging on the window of the truck. I squinted. It was early morning based on the lighting. Surrounding the truck was at least twenty of the undead. And they knew I was there. Their empty, hungry stares and drooling mouths sent shivers down my spine. I tried not to panic, but I couldn't think of how I was going to get out of there.
Hours passed, and they refused to give it up. It was time to make a decision.
[[Make a run for it.]]
[[Wait for help here.]]He laughed, as if what I was saying was funny.
"Oh, there's no use in that, G. You're a gone-er." He aimed the gun and fired before I could react. The bullet pierced my heart, and I collapsed. The last thing I processed was my red, red [[blood. ->Point of Contact]] He fell to his knees, dropping his gun to hold his bleeding head. It looked like I had hit his temple and eye area. He yelled ferociously, so I reached under him and snatched the gun before he knew what was happening. I aimed it at him.
He looked up at me, surprised.
"You won't use that, G," he said. "You're too //pure//."
I fired, hitting him in the forehead. "You're wrong."
Walking over to the house, I found an ember burning and brought it over to his body. I stoked it until it started to spark. I made sure the flame caught on him and doused the surrounding grass with water. He quickly went up in flames. I grabbed my backpack, pulled out his note and book, and thre them in the flames too. I stood there and watched for a few minutes before the smell got to me.
"Goodnight, O," I said to him before turning my back on him and [[leaving again. ->Point of Contact]] I heard O laughing behind me. I ran as fast as I could, hoping to make it to the trees where it would be harder for him to hit me.
Then, I heard the gun go off. Immediately, pain radiated out from the wound in my leg, causing me to collapse. I fell on my face, likely breaking my nose. Blood poured down my face and out of my leg. O approached.
"You won't escape me this time, G," he cooed, as if talking to a lover. He aimed his gun again and shot me in the head. That was [[it. ->Point of Contact]] The undead don't even let me get out of the cab before they descend on me. The last thing I'm aware of is the awful smell of their rotting flesh and breath. Then I turned to [[madness. ->Point of Contact]] No help comes for me, though, and I die of hunger. I die feeling the same thing that the undead surrounding the truck feel. Then, I turned into one of them, embracing [[eternal hunger. ->Point of Contact]] The door squeaked when it opened, and a bell above me jingled. It was about ten degrees hotter inside, and due to the paint covering the window, it was harder to see inside.
"Hello?" I called out, reaching behind me to pull my knife from my bag in case I was in danger.
There was no response to my call, so I took another step inside to see past the glare of the sun. I blinked a few times as my eyes adjusted to the darkness in the shop.
When my eyes focused, I saw that the entire shop was trashed, which wasn't a surprise. Clothes were tossed around and paint was thrown on random surfaces around the store, in seemingly meaningless places. It appeared that I was alone, so I sighed and put my knife away. Taking a step forward, I looked around at the clothes on hangers that had been collecting dust for years. Running my hand over the nearest rack that hadn't been destroyed by the paint, I stopped over a soft, cotton t-shirt. It wasn't anything special beyond its softness. The color was a dark brown, almost black. I reached down, sniffing my shirt. Wincing at the smell of my B.O., I pulled off one of the shirts from the rack. Taking my bag off, I set it at my feet. Looking around to affirm I was alone, I pulled my old shirt off and tossed into the corner. I pulled the tags off the new shirt and slipped in on over my head. The fabric was very soft against my skin, and I hugged myself to appreciate it.
The sound of the bell above the door jingling made me freeze.
"Hello, darling," said a gruff voice. Grabbing my bag, I whipped around. A bald man with incredibly tanned skin stood in the door, dominating it with his broad frame. "What are ya doin' out here on your own?"
[[I answered him by saying, "Just passing through."]]
[[I backed up behind the counter.]]
[[I pulled out my knife and held it between us.]]For all I knew, some weirdo was just trying to make abstract art. Or attract a curious passerby for who knows what. I continued on my path home, very aware of my surroundings as I cut through an alleyway in between shops that opened into a road that was perpendicular to the town square behind me. Across that street lay a neighborhood that was just as empty and destroyed as the town square. Some yards looked like their owners had just left a week or two ago, while others showed the evidence of the Beginning.
I crossed the street, jogging through the neighborhood and following the familiar path home. It didn't take me long to get to the outskirts of town where farmland and woods began. As I found the route that would take me home, I became aware of the sounds of shouts in the distance. Confused, I looked behind me. I was also aware of the sound of a vehicle's engine. From where I was, I could just make out the road that the alley I went through opened up on. I saw a large storage truck driving along that road. I couldn't make out much detail, but I felt a shiver run down my back at the sight. Something felt off about it.
The vehicle quickly continued out of sight, so I turned to continue my journey home, careful to be cautious of my surroundings.
Once I felt that it was safe enough, I slowed down to a fast walking pace, knowing that I was in a safer area. There were a few families that were still alive in the area that maintained their farms and kept the population of the undead in the outskirts down.
On my right, the Carvers' long, winding driveway approached. Their house was perched on a hill overlooking their fenced-in land. It looked peaceful and well-kept, and I knew they lived, but I hadn't seen them in about three years, a little after the Beginning.
Looking up at the house, I noticed something odd. There was smoke pouring out the right upper window. Then, I heard a scream from within.
[[I began to run up their driveway to help.]]
[[I winced and picked up my speed so as to get home sooner.]]
[[I froze, wondering whether I should go home or help.]]It took my eyes a moment to adjust, so I held my hand over my eyes to help them see through the shadows inside the shop. The dark blobs began to become clearer and took shape in the form of racks of clothes and tables with clothes on top, most of which were covered in the paint that someone had trashed the place with. It didn't appear that anyone was inside, so I shrugged.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Whipping around, my heart racing, I felt a little bit of relief when I saw it was a living man. He was large with bulky shoulders and a bald head. He had a serious look on his face, but some part of me told me that I could trust him.
"You aren't safe out here," he said, looking around over his shoulder.
I took a step back so there was some space between us. I noticed he was holding a shovel in front of him, which looked like it was his weapon. "What makes you think it's //ever// safe out here?" I asked, studying how he gripped the shovel tightly.
He chuckled slightly at my words but quickly turned back to being serious. "Seriously, though. I saw you out here on your own, and I thought I should warn you. There's this gang of men going up and gathering women up for who knows what." He sighed, his shoulders falling. "They took my sister," he said quietly.
I frowned. "I'm so sorry."
There was an awkward pause between as I realized I had no idea what to say in response to something like that.
He shook his head. "Anyways, I just wanted to warn you so you could get somewhere safe. You have somewhere to go, right?"
I nodded. "Thank you for letting me know," I replied slowly. "I'll be extra careful."
"Do you want me to escort you home?" He asked.
[["No, thanks. I can manage."]]
[["Um...sure. Thank you."]]"All on your own?" He asked, taking a step closer to me, blocking out more of the light from outide. Instinctually, I took a step back.
"Uh, no..." I murmured. "My-my boyfriend is waiting for me just outside of town."
The man raised an eyebrow in interest but, thankfully, didn't push it.
"Well, you better be careful out here. A young woman like yourself shouldn't be alone these days, you know?" His face frowned slightly, and he stepped out of the way of the door.
"Thank you for checking on me," I replied, the slight quiver in my voice giving away my anxiety.
[[I walked past him quickly.]]
[[I asked him where he came from.]] "What do you want?" I said, quickly glancing behind me at the door that likely led to the stock room, hoping to peek an escape in case it was necessary.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm not here to harm you," he said softly, his deep voice filling up the small shop. "I just came to check on you. It's not safe out there."
I gave him a 'duh' look. "It hasn't been safe out there since before the Beginning," I replied snarkily. "Besides, why should I trust you?"
"Because they took my sister," he said with a harrowing look in his eyes.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"There's a gang of men going around, gathering all the women they can catch up together for God know's what. They took my sister." I recognized genuine heartbreak in his voice and eyes as he said this. "That's the only reason I came in here to check on you." He stepped out of the way of the door, no longer blocking my exit. I looked at him cautiously, but I felt as if I could trust him. He seemed genuine.
I came back around the counter, approaching the exit slowly.
"Thank you for letting me know," I replied. "I'll be extra careful."
"Do you want me to escort you home?" He asked.
[["No, thanks. I can manage."]]
[["Um...sure. Thank you."]]"Whoa, whoa," he said, holding his hands up non-threateningly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"Prove it," I said, refusing to put my weapon down until I had a reason to. I felt fear rising up in my throat, but I recognized fear in his own expression that made me pause.
"I came in to check on you. It's not safe out there. There's a gang of men going around, gathering all the women they can catch up together for God know's what. They took my sister." I recognized genuine heartbreak in his voice and eyes as he said this. "That's the only reason I came in here to check on you." I stared at him a moment, trying to decide whether I could trust him. After a few moments, I decided he seemed genuine enough and lowered my knife.
"Thank you for letting me know," I replied slowly. "I'll be extra careful." I began to move to exit when he stopped me.
"Do you want me to escort you home?" He asked.
[["No, thanks. I can manage."]]
[["Um...sure. Thank you."]]As I walked past him, he grabbed my arm to stop me. I felt fear rising up in my throat, but I recognized fear in his own expression that made me pause.
"I meant it, about it not being safe out there. There's a gang of men going around, gathering all the women they can catch up together for God know's what. They took my sister." I recognized genuine heartbreak in his voice and eyes as he said this. "That's the only reason I came in here to check on you." He let go of my arm.
"Thank you for letting me know," I replied slowly. "I'll be extra careful."
"Do you want me to escort you home?" He asked.
[["No, thanks. I can manage."]]
[["Um...sure. Thank you."]]"Oh, I'm just out scavenging. My family lives in a little set up maybe halfway between the middle school and high school," he replied.
"Oh, I thought that area had been run over pretty quickly?" I asked.
"It was in the beginning, but we were able to reclaim it about a year ago. But we have been having issues with whoever lives in the high school. I don't know who it is, but it's a large group, and they make me feel uneasy."
"Weird," I replied, wondering who would've taken over the high school. "Well, I better get going," I said awkwardly.
As I walked past him, he grabbed my arm to stop me. I felt fear rising up in my throat, but I recognized fear in his own expression that made me pause.
"I meant it, about it not being safe out there. There's a gang of men going around, gathering all the women they can catch up together for God know's what. They took my sister." I recognized genuine heartbreak in his voice and eyes as he said this. "That's the only reason I came in here to check on you." He let go of my arm.
"Thank you for letting me know," I replied slowly. "I'll be extra careful."
"Do you want me to escort you home?" He asked.
[["No, thanks. I can manage."]]
[["Um...sure. Thank you."]]"Alright...well, please be careful," he pushed.
I nodded. "I will be." Pulling out my knife, I said, "Look, I've had to protect myself before. And I don't have to far to go."
He nodded.
"I'll be off then. Thank you for the heads up," I said, pushing my way through the door and looking at my surroundings. It looked like it was clear, so I quickly ran across the square to the alley I needed to take. By the time I reached the neighborhood beyond the alley, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I heard multiple men's voices howling and hooting somewhere nearby, and they were getting closer. It didn't sound like they were of the undead. No, these sounded like the sounds of the hungry living. I realized this could be who that man was talking about. Looking around, I tried to find somewhere to hide.
[[I ran back into the alley, pressing myself against the wall.]]
[[I continued into the neighborhood, seeking a better hiding spot.]]I wasn't sure how I felt about a strange man knowing about where my family and I lived, so I decided I would have him escort me as far as the Carvers' farm, and I would finish the journey from there on my own.
We stepped into the townsquare. He picked up a shovel he had left leaning against the side of the builing. "Better protection than you'd think they would be," he said, gesturing to his shovel. "They can knock down one of the undead just like that," he continued, snapping at the end. I nodded, smiling awkwardly to acknowledge what he said, unsure of how to respond. "Alright, show the way," he said.
I stepped toward the alleyway that would lead us to the street we could take to get near my home. The man followed behind me closely, but not so close as to make me uncomfortable.
"So, what's your name?" I asked the man, trying to make our walk less uncomfortable.
"My name's Lyle. What's yours?" He replied. At this point, we were coming out from the other side of the alleyway, which opened up to a neighborhood. We crossed the road into the neighborhood, and I guided us toward the outskirts of town.
"My name is G."
"Really?" He said, as if surprised by that name. "How do you end up with a name like 'G'?"
"The group I'm with--we all decided that our before-names didn't fit who we are now, so we picked new names. Most of us picked letters for the simplicity of it."
"Wait-" Lyle said, stopping behind me. I spun around, staring at him in confusion. He held a finger up to his mouth to 'shush' me. I paused and listened. In the distance, there was the sound of men hollering and the sound of a roaring engine. "That's them," Lyle whispered, eyes widening. I felt a chill run down my back at the sight of Lyle scared. If such a big guy was scared, what was this group capable of?
"I have to go get my sister!" He said after a moment, collecting himself and wiping the fear from his face.
"Wait-" I said, stopping him by grabbing his arm. "That sounds like more than just a //few// guys. Are you sure you can handle yourself with only a shovel?"
His face settled into a determined expression. "I have to."
"What if she's... dead?" I asked, frowning at the last word.
"Then I'm going to get revenge for her, or die trying," he replied gruffly.
[[I nodded, letting him go do what he felt he had to.]]
[[I grit my teeth and said, "I'm coming with you."]]The voices were getting louder, and I could hear the sound of an engine. My heart rate picked up, and my chest tightened. My breaths came in quick huffs. The howls sent shivers down my spine, and they continued to get closer.
I heard the engine turn on the road running parallel to the town square along the edge of the neighborhood, right next to the exit of the alley. They were about to pass where I was. I wanted to move, to run, but I stayed frozen where I was. It was too late to make a break for it.
The vehicle that passed was a large storage truck. At least five men were packed into the cab, all carrying weapons. Their windows were down, and they were howling and hooting as I had heard them earlier.
Then, one of them spotted me. He pointed at me and shouted something I couldn't understand. I froze for a second, eyes wide, wondering how I got out of this. It didn't take long for me to make a break for the town square, though.
I knew the truck wouldn't make it through the alley as it was too narrow, but I heard some of the men climb out and follow behind me. As I reached the town square, I picked a random alley to run towards, running blindly as I just tried to get free.
I heard a strange whistle just before a new kind of pain blossomed from my calf, causing me to stumble and fall to my feet. Crying out, I looked back to see an arrow sticking out of my leg. I didn't have much control over it, so I tried to keep moving by crawling by using my arms to pull me along. However, the men quickly caught up to me. One of them snickered as he grabbed my ankles and viciously dragged me back towards the alley and the truck. I screamed from the pain in my calf, my vision going white. The pavement burned and cut my skin as he drug me quickly. We were almost to the end of the alley. I tried to kick away, but he had too strong of a grip. Reaching back, I tried to get my knife from my bag, but one of the other men saw and stopped me by snatching it away. I cried out in frustration. All of their hands came in as we reached the back of the truck, forcing me inside. [[They had me. ->Point of Contact]] I ran down one of the roads across the street from the alley, looking at the houses around me for any indication of a good hiding spot. I knew I had to chose a house, and quickly, as the sound of the men grew louder and more animated. However, I hesitated in picking a house because I knew that during the Great Migration, many people locked up their houses, expecting to return some day.
The growing sound of an engine and the voices made me choose the brick one story house on my left. I quickly cut through the over grown grass, nearly tripping on a hose that was hiding in the weeds. Dashing up the front steps, I reached for the front door. //Locked.//
With a sigh of frustration, I hopped over the railing and ran around to the back porch, hoping to find the back door unlocked or a lose window. The wood of the back porch creaked under my weight as I took the few stairs two at a time. When I tried the knob of the backdoor, I sighed in frustration. I thought about breaking the glass, but I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to myself. I turned around, looking for a hiding spot.
[[I dove for the dog house.]]
[[I squated behind the locked shed.]] I was immediately hit with spiderwebs. I winced at the feeling of tiny creatures crawling over me, but I made myself stay put in the shadows. I stopped to listen. The group had grown close. They had to be on the road the alley opened onto. They were loud and aggresive sounding. I was glad to be out of sight. I heard their vehicle slow down. Each second that passed was agonizing as I stared out of the small opening at the front of the dog house, wondering where they were. Eventually, after a practical lifetime, I heard their vehicle pull away, and their sounds dissipated.
I stayed, frozen, for several minutes. My breaths came in huffs as my heart raced. Eventually, I decided it was safe to climb out.
As I extended my limbs, I wiped the spiderwebs off, knocking a few bugs off as well. I stretched, relieved to be out of the tight space. I still felt little legs crawling over me, making me feel itchy. I knew I'd probably find a few spider bites that evening.
[[I made sure the coast was clear.]]The weeds and grass were tall enough to cover me. From this angle, I could see the road the alley opened onto, but anyone there wouldn't be able to see me easily. I stopped to listen. The group had grown close. I saw them pull into view in a large commercial truck. They were loud and aggresive sounding. I was glad to be out of sight. They slowed down, inching through the opening between houses that I could see. I saw several men inside the vehicle, the source of the rowdy noise. They were looking around for their next prey, I guessed. And that wasn't going to be me.
Each second that passed was agonizing as I stared out of the small opening between houses, wondering what they wanted. Their vehicle left that opening after a few moments, but I could hear they were still nearby for a while. Eventually, after a practical lifetime, I heard their vehicle pull away, and their sounds dissipated.
I stayed, frozen, for several minutes. My breaths came in huffs as my heart raced. Then, I stood up straight, stretching my limbs that felt cramped from holding my squat.
Deciding it was time to get moving, [[I made sure the coast was clear.]]Once I was sure that it was safe to get on the move, I made my way to the path I knew would take me home. On my long walk, I thought about the day's events, feeling lucky to have made it out alive. Not everyone was so lucky. [[Most weren't. ->Point of Contact]] I stopped for a moment, watching him turn towards the direction we had come from, where the noises were approaching. Then, with a sigh, I looked around for a place to hide and shelter until the men were gone. I was only too aware of what gangs of men were capable of.
I was about halfway through the neighborhood, the edge of the woods within sight. I considered running ahead, but by the sound of the vehicle the men were driving, they were close, and I believed Lyle could only hold off a vehicle full of men for so long. I needed to pick somewhere closer to me, and quick, so I would not be seen.
To my right, there was a neighborhood playground. The small parking lot next to it had a few vehicles in it, so I jogged over there. I came up to a little pick up truck, whose window had been smashed in. I reached through the broken window and opened the door. In the distance, I heard the men's voices growing louder and closer. I climbed in the small cab of the truck, closing the door behind me quietly. Then, I laid down on the floor board of the truck, pulling out my knife to hold in front of my chest. //I should've asked J to come with me today,// I thought.
Taking deep breaths, I focused on the small section of blue sky I could see through the windshield from where I was. I began to practice the breathing exercises that B had taught me. Slow in, slower out. Repeat. Pretty soon, my racing heart slowed down.
The sound of the men was fainter inside the cab, so it was harder to pinpoint where they were. However, it was not hard to mistake the multiple gunshots I heard, which made me wince. I knew Lyle was probably dead now. I prayed they shot him in the head so that he wouldn't turn.
I heard the roar of their engine once again, and it slowly grew fainter and fainter. I waited at least a half hour to be sure I was alone, and then I sat up, looking around through my window. No one was outside, so I climbed out, brushing the dush off my back.
When I stepped on the road, I looked towards the town square. That's when I saw Lyle, undead, wandering aimlessly down the road. In my direction.
[[I ran towards home.]]
[[I decided to approach him and kill him so that he could rest in peace.]] "Are you sure? You don't have to." He said sternly, as if to a child. I crossed my arms, determined.
"You aren't going to face them on your own. I don't care what you say," I replied, stubbornly. I pulled out my knife, clutching it tightly in my dominant hand. "Come on, let's go kick some ass."
We ran back towards where we came from. It was pretty clear from the sound that they were coming along the road that was behind the shops in the town square, the one we had crossed not long earlier. When we grew close, we slowed down. That's when we saw the large storage vehicle approaching. The cab was crowded full of menacing looking men who were hollering and hooting. The sound gave me chills. The vehicle slowed as it approached us, coming to a stop in front of us.
The man driving looked me up and down, as if admiring the meal he was about to devour. I felt my stomach twist in disgust. "What's a pretty gal like you doing out here?"
"Leave her alone," Lyle practically growled. The driver turned his attention to Lyle.
"Hey, don't I know you? You were with that blonde chick, right? Ah, The Doc loved her, didn't he?" He directed his last question to the men in vehicle with him, who all agreed quickly. As Lyle bristled next to me, I saw some of the men climbing out of the other side of the vehicle. I held my knife tighter, wondering if we were going to have to fight our way out of this, and how we would be able to against so many people. I began to wonder if I should've gone my own way.
"What did you do to her?" Lyle exclaimed, stepping forward aggressively.
"Can't give away business secrets, now can we?" The driver said, sending me a wink. I frowned, stepping back and looking at the men approaching from around the front of the vehicle. They were each carrying a large gun, which made me swallow nervously. It was common knowledge that only the gangs had firearms these days, and they were hard to come by. I knew they were real deal.
"Where is she?!" Lyle pushed, seemingly oblivious to the men in front of us.
I grabbed his arm. "Lyle," I growled under my breath, nodding my head toward the men. However, he was too wrapped up in his conversation with the driver. Looking between him and the guns, I decided it was a lost cause. This was not how I was going to go out.
I turned and ran as quickly as I could toward the nearest break between houses. The bullet that made a hole in the sidewalk ahead of me made me freeze in my footsteps, however.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," the driver called. "Throw your knife to the ground, sweetheart." I did as he asked, raising my hands to where they could see them and slowly turning around. My hands were shaking slightly. I had seen what a gunshot could do to the living, and I was terrified.
I saw some of the men were apprehending Lyle, but my focus quickly turned to the two men who were approaching me, weapons aimed at my torso.
"Better do as we say, unless you wanna be one of the undead," one of the men said gruffly.
"Leave your bag. You ain't going to need it," the other said. Blinking nervously, I slipped my bag off my back and set it on the ground gently.
"Come on, then," the first one said, gesturing towards the back of the storage truck with his gun. "Get in."
They were already forcing Lyle into the truck, and before long he was out of sight, his shovel abandoned on the ground. I looked around at my surroundings, hoping by some chance for an escape. But there was no one there to save me, and I couldn't save myself. So, I did as the men asked and got into the truck. I was now a [[victim ->Point of Contact]] to whatever sick and twisted things they had planned. I lost Lyle pretty quickly, as he hadn't completely noticed me yet. Once in the woods, I diverted myself towards the road I needed to take to get home, where farming land began. I slowed down to a fast walking pace, knowing that I was in a safer area. There were a few families that were still alive in the area that maintained their farms and kept the population of the undead in the outskirts down.
On my right, the Carvers' long, winding driveway approached. Their house was perched on a hill overlooking their fenced-in land. It looked peaceful and well-kept, and I knew they lived, but I hadn't seen them in about three years, a little after the Beginning.
Looking up at the house, I noticed something odd. There was smoke pouring out the right upper window. Then, I heard a scream from within.
[[I began to run up their driveway to help.]]
[[I winced and picked up my speed so as to get home sooner.]]
[[I froze, wondering whether I should go home or help.]]I walked slowly, a bone-deep sadness filling my chest. It had been several months since I had seen someone I knew turn. It was devastating then when I really knew the person, but now it was just disappointing. I wondered, briefly, what had happened to Lyle's sister.
Lyle's corpse seemed to realize a snack was approaching him. He sniffed the air, his arms twitching. Then with a growl only the freshly undead can muster, he began quickly shuffling towards me. I held my knife tightly, avoiding the urge to turn around and run.
A shuffling sound behind me made me twirl around. Another member of the undead, a young woman, was racing towards me. //Shit.// Spinning around, I looked for somewhere to run. There was no way I could fight off two of them at once, especially with how large Lyle was compared to me. I took off into the opening between houses, looking desperately for an escape. Behind the houses, I went to the left, which was a bad idea. There was a tall wooden fence blocking my path, and the two undead were closely behind me. Glancing around, I saw a lawn chair. I grabbed it and put it in the front of the fence. I placed my foot on it and began to shift my weight. Just then, I felt Lyle's still-warm hand grab my shoulder and drag me with a slam to the ground behind me. Then they began to [[//feast.// ->Point of Contact]] "Do you have a weapon?" I asked her.
"No."
"Then we need to get you one. We can't go in with only my knife," I said. Sighing, she turned to me.
"Where should we go to get a weapon, then?" She asked.
"Follow me," I said, grabbing her hand and taking her across the town square to the small hardware store. "It's mostly been picked over," I said as I opened the busted door. "But there's surely something here."
We made our way to the back of the store, picking through the well-destructed mess. Most of the shelves were empty, the floor trashed. Towards the counter at the back, however, we found a wrench.
"This'll do," she said, tossing the wrench in the air and catching it.
"You never told me your name," I said as we stepped outside again.
"My name's Nina. What's yours?" She asked, leading me the opposite direction of home.
"I'm G," I replied. She gave me a look. "My new name after the Beginning. My whole group adopted new names, trying to distance ourselves from Before, ya know?" She nodded.
"Ok, so tell me everything you know about what we're about to face," I said to Nina.
"They've got lots of men, and some women, working with them. I don't know what they're trying to do, but it isn't pretty. That's why I need to save Hailie."
The rest of the walk passed in an awkward silence. I looked around us, where there were sparse trees and distanced houses. I could see the school zone road sign not far ahead of us, but I couldn't see the school just yet.
"What's the game plan?" I asked.
"There was a hole in the fence around the school that I escaped through. I can take us back through there. We just have to get to the gym undetected."
I nodded, frowning. I wasn't sure this was going to work, and the thought of being caught scared me a lot. But I also felt for Nina and felt like I should help her. It would suck to die at this point, but I was no stranger to death.
Pretty soon, the school came into sight. It was a wide, two story brick building. A wire fence surrounded it entirely. We could see two guards on the roof and some patroling inside the fence from where we were.
"Over here," Nina said, grabbing my hand. She guided me behind a house into a patch of trees that backed up to the school. We quickly and quietly made our way towards the fence, careful to not be seen by the patroling guards. "It's over here," Nina whispered, pointing to where two guards were passing. Once they were several feet away, we approached. I looked to the roof to make sure the guards up there weren't looking, and then we climbed through.
Nina held my hand tightly as we quickly jogged across the parking lot to a side door. The afternoon sun was bright, which made it harder for my eyes to adjust as we went inside, where it was quite dim. We were in an empty hallway. There were cardboard boxes lining the wall. I peaked in one and saw vials of some kind of liquid.
"The gym is two hallways over," Nina whispered, gesturing to the hallway that was perpendicular to this one.
"We have to be extra careful now," I whispered. "We don't want to be caught."
The school was quiet other than some distant banging sounds, so we continued down the hallway. When we reached the one that was perpendicular to this one, I looked down both ways. There was a man at the end on our right, but he wasn't looking this way. Unfortunately, this was where we needed go. A sudden clang made the man turn and take off down another hallway out of sight. I grabbed Nina's hand, hugging the wall as we made our way down.
The sound of men's voices shouting, and close, made me grab Nina, and step into the doorway of an old classroom where the lockers would hide us from sight. We stood there frozen, and I looked over my shoulder into the classroom.
Inside, the light from the windows illuminated a grotesque scene. Several members of the undead were strung up via a wooden poll and had IVs in their arms. They seemed almost really dead, if it weren't for their open, roving eyes.
"Psst." The noise jolted me back to reality. Nina had left my side and was already halfway down the hallway, and she was calling for me to join her. I looked over my shoulder once more with a shiver.
"What are you doing here?!" A loud, masculine voice called. I froze, pushing myself against the locker closest to where the voice was coming from.
"Let me go!" I heard Nina cry. //Oh no, they've caught her,// I thought.
[[I ran out to help save her.]]
[[I stayed where I was, hoping to not be found myself.]]I watched her go a ways, but then I decided it was time to go home. It wasn't any hope now.
Making sure my path was clear, I ran across the empty townsquare. When I was in the side street, I paused to listen. Other than occassional wind gushes in the tree branches, it was quiet. I continued down the street, coming out in a residential area. Here, the area was less destructed, but signs of the Beginning were there. Busted windows, cars in yards, and trash on the road. I found Cherry Lane and ran down the sidewalk, careful to be aware of my surroundings. Everything seemed to be peaceful today. The wind was blowing softly, and the sun was shining brightly.
Cherry Lane lead me out to the outskirts of town, where farming land began. I slowed down to a fast walking pace, knowing that I was in a safer area. There were a few families that were still alive in the area that maintained their farms and kept the population of the undead in the outskirts down.
On my right, the Carvers' long, winding driveway approached. Their house was perched on a hill overlooking their fenced-in land. It looked peaceful and well-kept, and I knew they lived, but I hadn't seen them in about three years, a little after the Beginning.
Looking up at the house, I noticed something odd. There was smoke pouring out the right upper window. Then, I heard a scream from within.
[[I began to run up their driveway to help.]]
[[I winced and picked up my speed so as to get home sooner.]]
[[I froze, wondering whether I should go home or help.]]I was immediately met by four men standing in the hallway around Nina. They swung around towards me in surprise, and one smirked at me. The gun brandished in my face kept me from using my knife in self defense.
"The Doc is going to love you," he said. He grabbed my arm and began dragging my towards my [[inevitable fate. ->Point of Contact]] I knew I shouldn't've come here to help her! It's a death mission. And now, how was I going to get out of this?
I heard the sounds of them dragging Nina down the hallway towards where she told me the gym was. Once the hallway was quiet again, I tried the door of the classroom. It was unlocked, so I went inside to see what the heck was going on in there.
There was no electricity in the building, which was no surprise, but that meant the only light came from outside. This was alright, of course, considering it was bright outside. There were four rows of the undead, strung up in the way I had noticed before. I clapped my hands when I entered to see if they could still move, but, other than a wandering eye or two, they didn't react.
Getting brave, I went up to one of them and slapped them. No reaction. I looked at the IV they were connected to. It contained some kind of red liquid. It looked like... blood.
I felt my stomach turn as I saw that there were also needles extracting the brown gunk that was the undead's blood. There were containers along the wall this blood was going to. So, whatever their intentions, they were feeding fresh human blood into the undead while extracting the undead's blood. I felt like I was going to get sick.
[[I picked up a chair and smashed the window out so I could run home.]]
[[I gathered myself together and went back into the hallway to try and rescue Nina.]]The sound of glass breaking was very loud. I winced as I realized the mistake I had made. Deciding to roll with it, I wiped the glass away, cutting my hands several times. Then, I hopped outside and began running towards the fence.
The shot rang out a milisecond before the bullet tore through my shoulder. I fell to the ground, my face taking the most of my fall. I knew that I had probably broken my nose, but it was nothing compared to the burning pain in my shoulder.
I heard running footsteps approaching.
"Don't let her die! Doc could use her!" One voice cried.
I was losing blood, fast. I felt myself slipping in and out of consciousness. Then there were hands on my feet, dragging me. I wanted to cry out, but I could not. I didn't have the energy.
Then, everything went [[dark. ->Point of Contact]] There was no one in the hallway, so I jogged in the direction that Nina told me the gym would be. I found the right hallway that lead off the one I was currently on, and I saw that there were two men down at the end.
[[I approached them directly, attempting to gain their trust.]]
[[I crossed the hallway and ran into a science classroom.]]"Hey!" I said to get their attention. They turned to me, clearly slightly suspicious. "Doc sent me to tell you he needs you in the... cafeteria," I said slowly, trying to sound convincing.
"Who are you?" One of them said, the suspicion clear in his voice.
"Oh, uh, I recently joined the crew," I said awkwardly. "I knew Doc in the Before, so he brought me under his wing."
"What's your name?" The other asked.
"G--Gail," I replied.
They stared at me a moment, and I was scared I hadn't convinced them. But then, one of them nodded, and they left. I took a sigh of relief when they were out of view.
In the door to the gym, I saw there was no one in there other than the women tied down to the tables. It was just as disturbing as Nina had described it. I blinked through the nausea and began to release the women, pointing them in the right direction for escape. When I had released about half the women, including Nina and her sister, who had quickly volunteered to show the others the way out, I heard a sharp, masculine voice behind me screech, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY WORK?"
Whipping around, I saw it was an old, wiry man who had on a doctor's coat.
"Your //work//?" I asked. "Your work is torturing women? You sick psychopath."
I could see the anger boiling over inside of him. His face grew redder and redder. "I'm trying to //save// them, don't you see?!"
"No, I don't," I replied sharply.
He shook his head. "Haven't you ever wondered what would end all of this?" He gestured around, referring to the apocalypse. "//Peace.//" He said. "So, that's what I'm attempting to do. Create peace."
"By torturing and murdering women?" I exclaimed, slowly reaching for my knife.
"No, no, no." He took a step towards me. "I'm //saving// them. Saving them both. The undead and the living. By making a hybrid between the two. I only work with women because their blood is the purist, and the best for this process."
I frowned as the pure horror of the situation became apparent. "You are one sick fuck," I shouted, pointing my knife at him.
"You don't understand--"
I didn't let him say another word, and I charged him. I stabbed him with my knife, directly in the chest. He fell on his back, but I didn't stay long enough to see what happened.
I quickly released the rest of the women, and once sure that all the living had been let free, I took off down the hallway. Once I was almost to the end, though, I met three guards.
[[I ran into the science classroom from before.]]
[[I turned around and ran back to the gym.]]It seemed to have been converted into a storage room. Looking around for anything useful, I was only finding batches of brown liquid in glass containers. I knew what it was now, and I felt sick to my stomach.
That's when I found a set of matches. I didn't know if they would be useful, so I went ahead and tucked them away in my pocket.
Pulling out my knife, I decided it was time to head to the gym. This time, the hallway was empty. The gym was to the left.
In the door to the gym, I saw there was no one in there other than the women tied down to the tables. It was just as disturbing as Nina had described it. I blinked through the nausea and began to release the women, pointing them in the right direction for escape. When I had released about half the women, including Nina and her sister, who had quickly volunteered to show the others the way out, I heard a sharp, masculine voice behind me screech, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY WORK?"
Whipping around, I saw it was an old, wiry man who had on a doctor's coat.
"Your //work//?" I asked. "Your work is torturing women? You sick psychopath."
I could see the anger boiling over inside of him. His face grew redder and redder. "I'm trying to //save// them, don't you see?!"
"No, I don't," I replied sharply.
He shook his head. "Haven't you ever wondered what would end all of this?" He gestured around, referring to the apocalypse. "//Peace.//" He said. "So, that's what I'm attempting to do. Create peace."
"By torturing and murdering women?" I exclaimed, slowly reaching for my knife.
"No, no, no." He took a step towards me. "I'm //saving// them. Saving them both. The undead and the living. By making a hybrid between the two. I only work with women because their blood is the purist, and the best for this process."
I frowned as the pure horror of the situation became apparent. "You are one sick fuck," I shouted, pointing my knife at him.
"You don't understand--"
I didn't let him say another word, and I charged him. I stabbed him with my knife, directly in the chest. He fell on his back, but I didn't stay long enough to see what happened.
I quickly released the rest of the women, and once sure that all the living had been let free, I took off down the hallway. Once I was almost to the end, though, I met three guards.
[[I ran into the science classroom from before.]]
[[I turned around and ran back to the gym.]]I slammed the door shut behind me and looked around for an exit, but there wasn't one. The windows were above a steep drop due to an incline behind the school.
Then, I remembered the matches. Running over the closest bunson burner, I began to fill the room with gas. It stunk. I knew that I would die this way, but I had no out and the guards would be in here any second. Once I felt secure there was enough gas, I lit one of the matches. All it took was one spark, and [[boom. ->Point of Contact]] 'Doc's' undead corpse was waiting for me. He was more agile than I expected, tackling me to the ground. I hardly had time to react before he was taking a bite out of me. I felt his sickness entering my veins, and black filled my vision. And then, [[we were one. ->Point of Contact]]