We climb the ladder and reach the top of the building. Its higher than most of the others and allows us to see far and wide. In the centre of the space lies a crumpled burnt helicopter. Crashed into the roof it seems.
"What happened here" I ask
"Looks like an evacuation point"
"A what?"
"Where the military tried to evacuate people from the city. Safer to land on a roof and have people come up to you than to land on the ground and potentially get swarmed"
"So why did this one crash?"
"Could be anything. Maybe someone who was infected got on then turned mid take off"
"Do you think there's more people or infected in the building?"
Ashley walks to a door and opens it
"The stairs are gone. Military must have cut their losses and blew them up to keep them inside"
"So does that mean there could still be infected insi-
"This helicopter is so cool!" Holly cuts me off
"Stay away from it Holly its not safe" I respond. I feel a tightness in my chest and a dryness in my mouth as I begin coughing. I quickly get light headed as I stumble before Ashley grabs a hold of my shoulders and lowers me to the ground.
"Dave are you ok?"
"Never better" Cough cough I taste blood in my mouth but swallow it to not scare Holly or Ashley.
Ashley stands up. "Well the suns setting. We should set up camp and move at the crack of dawn"
I check my watch "That leaves me with just under 40 hours. Alright then"
"Why do you keep talking about how much time you have? Are you going to leave?"
I hadn't noticed that Holly was right next to me.
"No I uh? Its just- Ashley cuts in
"Come over here Holly. How many of these buildings do you think there are?"
"I duno. 100?"
"I think it could be 200"
"Really?"
"Maybe. Why don't you count them?"
They walk away leaving me alone sitting on the ground. Should I tell her? Or Is it better for her to just think I left? Fuck this stupid mistake just one open door I didn't check I rub my bitten hand.
3 days ago
I drive along the dirt path. Rain pitter patters against my windshield. I hold my phone in one hand.
"Listen dad I'm trying to get through to you to see if you and momma are alright. Did you get evacuated by the military? If you didn't I'm thinking we can hunker down at your place until things blow over. Connor and Monica got evacuated on the last truck but there was no room for me. Heh. Can you believe it!?! Haha.... So please call me back when you get this"
A few minutes go by and I pull up to their house. All the lights are on. I pop open my glove box and grab my .38 snub. I load 6 bullets and put the rest back in the glove box. I exhale
"Please lord don't do this. Don't do this to me"
I get out of the car and walk to the door. The cold rain sends shivers through my whole body. I reach the front door and pull the handle. The warmth and familiarity of the house calms me down a little. I look down the long hallway waiting for someone to appear. But no one does. I open my mouth to call for my mom and dad. But stop myself. I begin walking with my gun in both hands. As I begin to turn the corner I see a woman crouched down. Its my mom. What's she doing and what's that sound?
"m..momma?"
Her head jerks up as she turns around. Her face and chest. Coated with blood. I can see what she was doing. Her cat Trixy lies on the floor where she was just feasting on him. His head crushed. And his guts on the carpet.
"What? How? Momma I"
She stands up and faces me.
"Please. Momma I came as fast as I could"
My mom screeches before shambling towards me. Her arms extended. I squeeze the trigger and feel the kick of the gun before she falls to the ground with a thud.
I put my hand over my mouth as tears begin to flow down my face.
"I cant. It it it cant.. No"
I look further down the the house and see the bedroom door. I can see that the light is on under the door. I begin to slowly to it. My heavy feet sinking into the carpet Then notice the bathroom door to my side. The light is off and the door is cracked a little. I continue walking to the bedroom door. As I reach and turn the knob I hear a loud bang followed by grunting. I spin around and see my dad. His face is gray and covered in blood. He just came from the bathroom. I try to aim my gun at him but before I can he grabs my wrist with one hand. And my throat with the other. He pushes me onto the bedroom and slams me against the wall. He bangs my hand against a book shelf which causes me to drop my gun. We struggle before he pulls me off of the wall and pushes me to the ground. I put my hand against his neck to hold him back but he grabs my wrist again. And sinks his teeth into my hand.
"AHGHHH!!!" Pain jolts through my entire body as my free hand feels around the floor and finds one of the fallen books. I grab hold of it and drive it into the side of my his face. He roles off of me and onto his side facing away from me. I quickly crawl over to him and wrap my arm around his neck before rolling onto my back. And choking him. He begins to groan and flail his arms and legs as I hold onto him as tight as I can. Squeezing tighter and tighter. He begins wheezing as I feel his resistance grow weaker. I growl through my teeth before squeezing one last time. His arms fall to his side. I roll him off of me and get up. I begin to punch the wall repeatedly.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"
I look down at my left hand and see the teeth marks.
"No. No no no no no FUCK!....Shit" I look down at my watch-
"4 days" I set a digital timer for 4 days time. I need to move
I quickly walk back through the house. Stopping in the living room I see my dads shotgun mounted above the fireplace. I grab it before walking back out into the rain. I get into my truck. Looking at the house one last time before starting the engine.
ns 172.69.58.118da2