~Noelle~
I waved to a sleepy Micah, shutting the door from the outside and throwing a large barrel over it. The key slid into my back pocket and I pulled my jacket tighter. Is it going to snow? Why is the weather suddenly so cold?
The sun burned hot in the sky, and yet my skin felt the chills the wind brought with them. I left my motorcycle resting in front of the house, it was for emergencies only. Fuel isn't easy to get anymore, I can't waste the little I have.
The Baton Boys took everything from here during their last raid, I'd been lucky enough to get some food that lasted us a month.
And medicine was even harder to find, most were expired. I'll have to walk further than the regular deserted mall in any hopes of finding something to keep Micah alive.
And to keep myself alive too. I've lost the few pounds in my body that accounted for being healthy. That isn't good. Eating small bites of food every day is not ideal, I just don't have a choice in the matter. It's either eat little, and lose your healthy fat, or die by running out of food early. The answer is tough, but it's one I've made. I'll gain those pounds back, I need only to find a good score.
An animal or mall, and I'll be good.
I pursed my lips, blowing out a breath.
It's been fifty years since the infection spread. Fifty fucking years. The Cerberus genes have successfully turned the once beautiful planet called earth into a wasteland. Everything has changed. Even nature has taken some changes. For example, I didn't know that before the infection, it didn't snow in Texas, but now it does. Sixteen times a year.
The infection messed up the human DNA. Some were lucky enough become what they call alphas, the high peak of the Cerberus genes as my father put it. The ones that came with the greatest rank and power, of course people abused it. It's why I will never join a pack, even if they were accepting of humans.
Alphas like the leader of the Baton Boys, are cruel and vile people. Joining their pack means you have to be ready to do some despicable things, or have them done to you.
I would rather face an army of brainless without a weapon before I join a wretched pack like that. I can't say the alphas are the only assholes around, nope, everyone here is a jerk. In an apocalyptic world like this, you either fend for yourself or you die. I learned that the hard way.
Fifteen years ago I lost my only family, the only people that cared for me. I adjusted very quickly on my own, learning how to fight and kill through my instincts. Though by quickly, I mean after getting so many injuries, and going on a forced hunger strike for three months because I couldn't find any food that wasn't disgusting. Experience truly is the best teacher.
I couldn't trust any one, and I avoided everyone. You can't tell who might be out to get you. And trust me, there are a lot of people out to get you. When they can't find food, they choose to eat people.
I don't mean the infected, I mean the 2% like myself who aren't cursed with that dreadful virus. I saw it happen while trying to find a place to sleep when I was twelve. This woman had been beaten by two other women who looked identical to her, and she was prepped. Cooked, and eaten. It was a messed up thing to see. I think she was their sister and they still ate her. People have gone mad.
They're crossing the gap that separates us from the monsters in those fairytale books, all for the sake of surviving. And you know what, I don't blame any of them.
You gotta do what you gotta do.
One year of being on my own, showed me the real truth of what's been happening outside. Having to fight sixty people for food, if you can't fight them off you'll starve. Life is simple, to survive, you must be willing to play dirty and screw others over. Thankfully, I've never had to screw anyone over, but I have had to kick and nearly shoot some motherfuckers away.
My life or theirs, and I chose mine. I will continue to choose mine.
My boots crunched on the gravely ground, the road is empty as always. Just the way I like it. If there's a person in sight, I would know immediately. I have lived here long enough to know all the places to hide.
Brainless are rarely ever here, they go where they can feed with a good population of people and animals. And a bungalow in a deserted town doesn't have a lot of people.
After six years of living here, and I have only seen six none infected people. And I can confirm, they are no longer breathing.
I saw them all die. With only me left, as far as I'm aware, brainless aren't attracted to this area.
I spotted the regular mall I 'shopped' at. I had searched everywhere the last time after the Baton Boys raided. They would have taken me too if I hadn't found a safe spot to hide. Fuckers.
From the large open gap in the building, I can see the same thing I saw last time, empty racks with only expired canned food. Cancer in a box, just waiting for the desperate to take them. I am desperate, but what is the point of surviving if your eat an expired meal? It's best to die of starvation that what ever pops out of those cans.
Tightening the strap of my bag, I continued walking. I might have to break into someone's house to search for food, but the chances of me finding any are slim. And the chances of them not being expired and crawling with maggots, are about zero to none.
I sighed in despair, my fingers shoved into my hair. Pushing some of the brown curls back.
A flush of wind flowed past me, blowing my hair to the side and making my skin crawl from the cold. I'm pale in skin tone, any form of cold would show on my skin by turning it red. My cheeks are probably a pink shade right now. I can't afford to fall sick, there's barely any medicine for Micah. I don't think there'd be any for humans. If there were medicine for people, I wouldn't know what to take.
I sped up in my walk, trying to avoid spending any more time out here than I have too. I came towards the end of the town, with a large green sign saying 'goodbye and thank you for visiting nevermore' in bold black letters. What a strange name to give to a town.
From a distance I could see the outline of another mall, I haven't been this far before. I squinted my eyes to get a better look, then cheered internally. Yes! It is a mall. Smaller than the one in the town, but it's my hope for food. It's only a few miles away from the town, I can make it if I run.
I sprinted down the straight road, hoping to get to the mall before the sun decides to set. It's noon, I have a bit of time. Enough time to raid the place, scatter for food and medicine. Hopefully generator batteries, or a water purifier.
A girl can dream of finding such luxuries in one mall, can't she?
Unwrapping my shotgun, I cocked it and pulled out the safety. I haven't charted this part, who knows what might be awaiting mu arrival? I just hope I can find dog food as well. And some painkillers suitable for animals. I jogged there, my eyes darted to every tree and corner. Checking for movement of some kind.
It's scary not knowing when something can spring out, and attack you.
"Hey there little lady~" a male voice sang out making my spine straiten. I immediately stopped, refusing to continue. When I didn't see anyone, it dawned on me that whoever that man is, he isn't talking to me.
Wonderful, he's someone else's problem. I ran the rest of the way towards the building, stopping by the wall to peek at the entrance doors. My heart sped up, beating faster than ever. I know that jacket, I know those men.
Baton Boys. Shit, have they raided this place too? What the fuck is their problem? I'm sure they have more than enough food in their useless barbarian style pack, so why in the fuck are they still stealing more?
This is what I meant. Assholes. Their alpha is an asshole too. A jerk. I would normally turn and leave but I need the food. I have to kill them.
I shouldn't be wasting my bullets on uncivilized bastards like-
"My dad will hunt you down for hurting my nanny." A tiny voice shouted back to them. I slammed my eyes shut, and sent a silent prayer to whoever was up there. Please don't tell me they're cornering a kid. I pushed my head out again, just a bit, spotting a small, dark skinned girl with an adorable afro.
She was backed into a corner by the entrance way. She's the height level from their foot to waist, too young to be out here alone. Younger than I was.
These men need angels to save their rotting soul. I pulled my head back, pressing my weight against the rough cement of the building. My knees quaked as I crouched. I grabbed the small fanny pack resting on my hip, and pulled six shot gun shells to add to the ones already in the barrel.
"Oh really?" The man mocked. I nearly snorted out loud. Which would have been bad, it would have alerted them of my presence. But seriously, who taunts a fucking child? "Your daddy's gonna be upset because I killed your pearly little helper. Oh boys, ain't she precious?"
The other men standing behind him laughed, the sound made my ears bleed. It was far too loud, don't they know they can attract a brainless with loud noises? Idiots. These men are idiots.
All of em. In fact, anyone in that pack by choice is a moron.
I counted five men, just as I suspected. They never came with more than that. The Baton Boys are all zetas. I know this because they broadcasted it four years ago for people to know. Their alpha was adamant on everyone knowing the logo of his pack, and the name. To strike fear into the non-infected, and for us to recognize them if they ever ran into them. Talk about egotistical, selfish, wicked, worthless, excuse of a person.
I'm not sure how their alpha got to a satellite or whatever people use to send broadcasts to the world's radios, but he somehow got his hands on one. Maybe there was a sale on satellites for the newly demented, I said dryly in my head.
The Baton Boys are connected to the Reaper pack. The pack with the most assholes, as far as the world knows. Also the cruelest, most disgusting pack ever.
Back to the issue at hand. According to doctor Jeffery, the man who told everyone how to identify what they are when infected, zetas have no marks. Nothing to indicate that they were ever bitten to begin with.
Their eyes say it all.
The red is how I figured these men where zetas when they first showed up. That and the jacket. They wear their pack logo with pride.
My eyes swirled in a circle. Maybe killing them isn't such a bad thing anymore. I'm more than willing to sacrifice some of my bullets if it means reducing the number if assholes in their pack.
My lungs opened as I sucked in a huge amount of air. I should just run away and come back in three hours when they're probably gone. Why save a little girl when I can't take care of her? It's just me and Micah, I refuse to handle anybody else. Even as I said this to myself, I was rounding the corner slowly. One agile step at a time.
I reached into my fanny pack again and pulled out the greatest weapon I had. My fingers gripped it tightly, I aimed and tossed it towards their car before returning back to my hiding spot.
It won't be long before one of them decides to check where that came from. I caught three shadows from the corner of my eye, heading towards the jeep. With my gun pointed in the direction of the metal ball, I clicked the trigger steadying myself as the bullet flew out of the tip. The recoil almost sent me back.
I watched with delight as the silver tip hit the ball, triggering it to explode. Groans of pain filled the air, I stepped out of my hiding spot again, this time revealing myself to the surviving men. Only two are alive.
I cocked the gun once, removing the used shell.
They stared at their friends melting skin with horror, before they could notice me, I acted fast. Raising my weapon again. Letting the loud bang from the bullet numb my ears.
The guy standing next to him freaked out when his friend's head bursts and he dropped to the floor. I pointed the gun at him next.
He snarled, flashing a grotesque set of yellow teeth. Apparently dental hygiene is not a part of his lifestyle.
"They'll just heal and wake up, and then you're fucking dead." He growled at me, a venomous look crossing in his red eyes.
I gave him a shit eating grin. I didn't bother explaining that my bullets are made of pure silver, or that I got that bomb from a dead military vet who was prepared to take down an army. And that people can't survive being melted. As long as it affects your skin, you're dead. But who am I to educate a fool? Common sense is not a thing for barbarians.
I'm still not sure of how that military dude died, that's not my business anyways. He owned the bungalow I live in, I'm grateful to him. His death paid off.
The last Baton boy looked ready to transform or run, I wasn't sure but I aimed at tree behind him. Widening my eyes to mimic fear and shock. His head whipped around to stare at it, wondering what I was aiming for, only for him to scream when the bullet pierced his chest through his back. He probably shouldn't have taken the bait, because the second he looked away, the shotgun turned.
I panted through my nose, the adrenaline wore off and I was free to breathe again. Then freak out like a maniac. Their bodies would attract brainless anytime soon, and I haven't done a scan of the mall yet.
Damnit! Once again, the Baton boys have ruined my day. God fucking-
"Whoa." I flinched, my bones nearly jumping out of my skin. I completely forgot she was still here. The little girl took careful steps towards me, her eyes remained on the dead bodies for a moment. Should a child be seeing this? I'm sure melting eye balls and blood gushing over the cemented pavement falls under the rated R category.
I bent my upper half, peering over at her. The edges of her dress is lathered with blood, and bits of flesh. And there are rips in some parts, I hope they had no intention of touching this child. I really have to hold that hope, that there was still some humanity left in their blackened hearts before I killed them.
"Hey there little one. When's your dad gonna get here?" I asked. I would wait with her until he arrived. I can't leave her here all by herself, and I certainly can't take her back with me. Who knows who her father is?
He might try to cook me. He could be a creep.
The only option is to wait for him to arrive, then scram.
She giggled, skipping until she was at my hip level. "Don't worry. I'll go to him. We camped not too far from here."
Confusion fills me. There isn't anything for miles, I'm sure, and she doesn't look older than seven. Maybe six?
"Umm, it's kinda dangerous to go out by yourself. There are way worse things out there than The Baton Boys." I know, shocking.
She nodded, humming slightly. She was staring at me weirdly, it made me feel queasy on the inside. Have kids always been this creepy? I haven't actually seen a child in person. Mostly adults, or dead people. And I don't communicate with them so I don't know how to react to this type of stuff.
What do I say? How do I respond to her looks? Should I ask where her dead nanny's body is? Would that be a good conversation to have with a kid?
"You would make a great mom, do you know that? You're strong, and a great fighter. And you saved me."
Eh- mom? Okay, I think she hit her head somewhere. She's sprouting nonsense. I am no mother material. "Listen kid, I'm not interested in becoming a mother anytime ever- OW!" The gun slipped from my fingers, clanking to the floor, as pain laced through me. I turned to glare at the little girl who had a big smile on her face, and my blood in her mouth.
My eyes lowered to her exposed arm, two large claw like marks were there. Stretching visibly through the open silt of her sleeve.
Oh no. She turned away from me and sprinted off, disappearing out of my line of sight within minutes.
No no no no. This can't be happening. Oh god no. Why-
I-- Oh my god!
Each inhale I took made me wheeze, my lungs constricted with agony. It hurts.
I stared with fresh tears pricking my eyes, at the wound in my arm. "What if I cut off the limb? Will it still spread?" I asked out loud, hoping someone would provide me with the answers. Silence is all I got in return.
For years, I was careful. I avoided people, I avoided getting bitten only for my softness to get me here.
I shouldn't have helped. Fuck, if I don't transform quickly then I know I'm not a brainless. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. This is just like what happened to mom.
She was careful for years, and one day… one friggin day, it all went to shit.
My breath seized in my throat as a thought poked at my brain. The thought was far worse than anything imaginable.
"Please, whoever's up there, let me get anything but a Luna. A brainless is just fine, I'll join my parents. But please, just anything that isn't luna."
I sobbed. That would make things worse.
And they can't get any more worse, can they?