Virus: The Infected

Chapter 3

We— mainly, I didn't die because of a decision my body made in a nanosecond, it could just be a muscle jerk from the panic and fear from the loud sound the disgusting creature generated when it went for me, the rack next to me which was filled with all kinds of men undergarments is now trampling it, giving me enough time for a quick break to catch my breath and regain my composure. Tyler who ran forward to the door before is now jogging back to me with a shocked expression.

“What? You thought I was gonna go out just like that? Think again” I sassed to ease the mood, flashing him a smirk but he probably wouldn't be able to see it from the dark.

“I couldn't do it”

“We've discussed this.'' A year ago when we decided that living near the burnt Hollywood is not ideal anymore, we made a pact before hitting the road to begin our journey across America. It was something I've thought of for months soon after the Adam Scott incident back in the hospital and more that happened while we were living there. I proposed– If we were in danger we'd save each other If only we could, however, if the situation went sideways or was unsalvageable, one of us should run and never look back as the other one dies because a body is better than two. It wasn't easy to get Tyler to come to terms with it but he saw my point and nodded. Today was that day and Tyler hesitated, as expected.

“Well, we did. But you didn't die, here's some good news for you—we're surrounded and you've dropped your precious bow Katniss.” I noticed my back being less heavy seconds ago. This is not good.

Being surrounded with the only weapon I had lying somewhere in the dark is making this situation more dire as if we aren't dying on top of it all. Searching for it is as good as digging for a penny dropped into the Mariana Trench. Tyler's knives from his collection are not going to be helpful, especially not in a place where there is little to no light. Unsurprisingly, I heard a similar screech, we both began trotting to the middle part of the mall where it turned even darker despite the half-transparent roof high above blurrily exhibiting the view of the sky. Maybe, It was just too cloudy to let any sunlight seep in. There was another loud screech from my right, a moving sound, I could feel it rapidly approaching while the other one was so close to Tyler's side. They could probably see in the dark.

I quickly grabbed Tyler's hand to mutter something I've been wanting to say for a while now, the words “Thank you”. They came out rushed as the dead jumped for me, both hands on my arms, mouth reaching for my face. I guess this is it. This is where it ends. Three years of never-ending fight to survive, twenty years of life over, just like that.

Before it could successfully bite me, Tyler leaped with a newfound strength to stab the infected by the head just for him to miss and hit the neck, it wasn't bad. He went to pull out the knife, making the dead bend its neck to reach Tyler's hands with its teeth. That's good. It couldn't keep its head straight to bite me, the knife wound loosened its neck, and that made it lose the hard grip it had on my forearm. I ripped my backpack off and launched it at the one going for Tyler's elbow. That move allowed the one still weakly hanging onto me to nearly taste my neck, so I tried pushing it away. It wasn't planning on letting go without a battle. Tyler hurriedly snapped its neck severing the connection to its head making the skull drop on the floor with the mouth still clicking. I stepped on it making it crunch the same way chewing on ice cubes would sound but the battle wasn't over yet. Panicked, Tyler stared back at me as more screeches rang out. There came one, two, and three, and more including the slow ones following from behind.

“We made a mistake by coming here” No s**t, Sherlock.

“We were gonna die anyway” The lack of food was killing us, this is just quicker. It'll be over soon.

With a sudden burst of energy, the one I sent to the floor with my badpack rose to shriek loudly spraying blood all over me then flew like a paper plane trying to strike me with its rotting tooth. Unsuccessfully. This time its head was blown into pieces in a mere second. I jerked back and fell to the floor in surprise, my ears going deaf from the high-pitched whine ringing around the confined space. Five more shots rang out and every one of them was down in a matter of seconds. Lastly, another shot barely missed Tyler and hit one on the floor that was attempting to get up.

Tyler and I, frozen in place, looked at each other, the question “What in the hell just happened?” reverberating in our brains because we were supposed to be dead. We were going to be bitten and shredded into pieces beyond recognition. We didn't.

“Are you guys okay?” Came a voice far away with heavy footsteps closing in on us, shattering the prison of ice we were trapped in. I breathed out heavily, grabbed my bag, and scrambled to get off the floor. The soft fingers took hold of my hand but could barely move me, Tyler twitched as if his power switch had just been turned on and leaped to help me stand up.

“I'm Clarissa by the way” I nodded, knowing if I opened my mouth I'd fail to form a proper sentence. She had long jet-black hair pulled into a high ponytail, that's what I could make out in that light.

“Are they okay? Were they bitten?” This one definitely belongs to an older woman.

Clarissa, who’d been dragging me towards the stairway near the front exit abruptly stopped to turn her flashlight on and light it on my face, letting the light travel down to my shirt. “Just blood.” She noted then looked back at me “Don't swallow, wipe everything from your forehead to your eyes. The sweat can make it travel into your eyes. Trust me you don't want that.” Oh, right. She sounded like she had been in that situation before.

Three silhouettes of actual living people stood in front of us followed by hurried footsteps descending from the second floor. That's where they set the firearms. These are the people who saved us. I should fall on the ground they walk on, kissing their feet, feeling grateful to be alive, thankful to be saved by a group of strangers. I didn't feel any of that, a part of me felt like we were given the ticket to paradise but denied the entry.

The older woman, Dahlia, mother of Clarissa, Lukas (the shooter), and younger-looking kid, Marissa, offered us a sunny smile mashed with honey-laced words especially when she told me that she admired the courage I had to attempt to save Tyler completely ignoring a zombie hanging on me. Apparently, my selflessness touched her. Honestly, at that moment I didn't even know what was going on, I was under the influence of adrenaline which was now starting to fade. (I'm trembling, visibly)

“We need to search them” voiced out her husband, Tucker making his wife stop raving about the action I pulled to save myself and Tyler.

“Don't be ridiculous. I already searched her. She made close contact but she wasn't bitten. Just blood vomit.” Yeah, covering my whole face. Realizing that Dahlia quickly pulled something out of the pocket of her loose jeans and handed it to me. A handkerchief. I used it to wipe my face, she grabbed it from my hand and then used a bottle from her bag to wet the piece of clothing. With one wipe my face felt like it was burning. Sanitizer. I hissed in pain glaring at her.

“I'm sorry. I know It burns and is probably damaging to the soft skin of your face but would you rather wash it off with a bottle of bleach?” The lady makes a good point. I shook my head throwing the fabric to the ground when I was sure my face was clean. There was a knock on the glass outside. Tyler looked at me, alarmed. Panic started rising in me again. Neither of us is in a condition to fight any of them, we need rest and food. Another fight isn't on our bucket list.

“There's another exit,” Tyler mumbled while staring at the entrance the Tucker's family came from which is now filled with the dead pressing on the glass door. Confirming the way to the exit Tucker began moving, dragging his things, and we followed closely behind.

“More of them are coming. We need to hurry” Said Lucas rushing to us, unfortunately, I was already limping any faster I'd fall. I stopped to catch a breath hoping I could push myself to catch up with them if I could control my heavy breathing, everyone else stopped moving to wait for me.

“Are you okay?” Asked Dahlia softly, I looked down the floor smiling, she couldn't possibly see me since the spot I was standing in was darker than where she was but the worry in her voice was somehow comforting enough to bring a smile out of me.

“You need somebody carrying ya?” I nodded off whispering no, taking another breath I steadied myself fixed the straps of my bag, and continued walking.

“They're a liability. Shoot them” A smaller voice came for no reason, Tyler raised his eyebrows looking at Tucker who gave his smaller one a look. Before he could say anything Clarissa jumped in “Marissa you think we can just go around shooting everyone for no reason? Thank god I made Dad not give you a gun lesson.” She sighed “Dad, they fought so hard earlier, you saw that. I know that more of them are coming in and this place is too open and unsafe but give them a few seconds then we'll go. With them. We're not only helping them to get out, we're gonna let them come with us.”

“We are?” Asked Tucker, baffled by the news from his daughter, then looked at his wife with some pride. Proud of the daughter they raised.

“Yes. We have plenty of space for them. Come on, brat.” She grabbed her sister, rushing the smaller one while dragging their heavy weapon bag using both hands to join their brother who had the rifle ready in his hand, leaving other members of their family and us speechless and staring at each other in confusion from this turn of events.

“We don't wanna intrude. Something to eat and we'll be on our way” I said quickly.

“Well, that won't be a problem. If no one expecting y'all, it's your lucky day. Follow us” Eventually, said the man after a few seconds of silence.