My eyes pierced through the mist rolling through the city, any signs of movement caught my eye, most, were ignored without a second glance.
I was currently on the second floor of a small apartment complex, looking down into the street and into the surrounding buildings. A quick glance at my map showed I still had a fairly long way to go to get into the center of what I dubbed "The Zone".
Its not often you find yourself in a situation that resembles the usual battle royal, though unlike those games we all used to play
This is the real thing.
Another glance at my map shows the zone closing in, quickly standing up and grabbing my things, I sling my sniper rifle over my shoulder, pulling out a small KRISS Vector in one hand, I hop out of the already broken window and climb down.
Once on the ground I pull out my map, a square device that looks like a tablet, though a bit smaller, holding it in my left hand, my right holding my Vector, and run down the street and towards what looks to be a bridge on the map.
I actually had decent luck throughout this whole mess, not only from finding good guns, but also finding this map in an abandoned military vehicle.
Not only that, but I had yet to really come across any other people, though that may have to do more with me fleeing any time I thought someone was close by, or when I heard gunshots.
Though I knew that tactic was not going to be of help any longer, not with how small the zone was getting.
Running through the street the bridge comes into view, however an explosion followed by heavy gunfire sound from right at the bridge, noticing a side street I run down it hoping there is another way to cross the river close by.
As the the alley opens out into dock full of tables and chairs, curiosity of what used to be several high end restaurants with outside dinning. Barely glancing at the bridge long enough to spot someone with an AR shooting at someone who's on the bridge, I turn right, running at full speed.
A quick glance at my map tells me there is no bridge close enough to cross before the zone reaches me.
Suddenly I spot a bus not to far ahead, that looks to have been driven into the river, being barely close enough to jump to.
Thanking the Goddess of luck, and asking for more, I sprint towards the bus while slinging my Vector over my shoulder and putting my map into my back pocket I run towards the edge of the cement patio, jumping up and leaping off the railing I barely landing it onto the bus in a roll as a buzz spreads from my back pocket.
Keeping my run, I pullout my Vector and my map, which I notice is where the buzzing was coming from, checking it, my heart rate immediately spikes as I notice the zone is already right behind me, and a glance over my shoulder sends shivers down my spine as a magenta colored gas, nearly twice as tall as the tallest of the skyscrapers in the city, it whooshes past me with a sharp zap, not unlike getting shocked by static electricity, only, this, rather a quick shock, will kill you.
Watching the zone race forwards I am unable to slow down my heart rate, as adrenaline continuously pours through my veins at high speed.
'I NEED to get a car NOW'
There is no way I can catch up without one.
Reaching the end of the bus and jumping off onto the other side of the river, I run upstream looking for an alleyway I can enter before I reach the bridge.
*Boom!*
A large explosion sounds from the bridge causing hot air to flood the area.
Looking at the bridge collapsing, I decide to take the main road rather then an alleyway. With the bridge gone I won't have to worry about watching my back nearly as much. Glancing around I see nothing of note, and run down the main street, glancing at my map tells me I'll just need to follow this road to get back out of the "Zone".
Looking around I spot a motorcycle shop and head towards it, sitting on a green bullet bike, I luckily start it on my first hot wire attempt.
Just as I'm about to drive off, I cough into my arm, only to notice I coughed up blood, quickly taking out a heath STIM, I empty it into my arm, with only 6 left I will hopefully have enough to last. Revving up the engine, I take off down main street drive between the cars that are left around.
As I race through the streets I glance at my map every minute, seeing the "Zone" slow to a crawl I put my map away and let go of the accelerator, pulling out my Vector.
As I approach the large courtyard that the "Zone" has been slowed down by, I notice at least three other people trying to sneak in it.
Once my motorcycle slows down enough, I jump off it, landing a hundred meters away from the closest person, moving over to the sidewalk where there is a lot more cover in the form of trashcans and trees, I make my way closer to him stopping about 50 yards away and wait.
After a minute I decide to ditch my previous tactic and look down my sights, lining them up with his chest, breath out, and fire.
*Click*
Fuck, of course it jams, quickly pulling out the magazine and pulling the charging handle, letting the jammed round fall to the ground, as I put the magazine back in and reload it, the sound of a grenade explosion sounds from the middle of the courtyard ending the temporary peace.
*Boom!*
*Bang bang bang!*
The sound of gunshots fill the air I quickly shoot my original target, killing him instantly, before leaping into the open, landing in a roll.
Moving just in time as my previous spot got lit up with bullets from someone who had sneaked up behind me.
I end my roll on one knee and pulling the trigger killing the guy who all most killed me, before switching to the other side and killing another man who was running towards me.
Glancing around, the air is filled with silence, not comfortable with assuming the battle is over I run back to cover, behind a tree that's built into the sidewalk.
After a few minutes of quite, I peak around the tree, and after not spotting any movement I walk out into the open, my whole body tense and ready to move at the slightest sign of danger, after still not hearing or seeing anything, I move over to the dead bodies, taking anything I could use, which ends up not being a lot, that last guy had run out of ammo, and the others had both different guns than me, as well as less ammo for said guns, though I did find a few health syringes.
Taking one of the health syringes, I plunge it into my chest, close to my heart, before dropping its empty vile on the ground.
As I feel my health recovering I pull out my map and see that the zone slowed as it hit the buildings surrounding the courtyard, making the courtyard clearly the last stand.
Having decided on a plan, I run directly into the courtyard turning left immediately, and running alongside the building and into an alleyway that went out into the "Zone". Looking at the building at the beginning of the alley I quickly find a window (That luckily is broken) and climb into the building.
Finding the stairs I run up to the forth floor and go to the corner that has windows viewing both the alley and the courtyard, pulling out my rifle, I sit and wait.
It only takes a little over 10 minuets for the zone to make its way through the entrances and filling up the courtyard, another 10 minuets after that and even all the buildings are filled up and around this time I hear it.
*gaahhh*
*Graahhhh*
*Raaahhhh!!*
Looking into the courtyard, its was not empty anymore, as dozens and dozens of zombies were coming in, filling up the courtyard, I winced as I knew I would not have enough ammo to deal with even half of them.
My best bet was probably going to be.....
*Bang!*
With that, my train of thought was gone, and the air was once again filled with gunshots, even a few grenades every now and then, looking at the other building surrounding the courtyard, I could see flashes from the muzzle fire, as well as the shapes of zombies attacking.
It seemed just being inside was not enough to keep me safe from the zombies, I needed to end this soon, and get out of here.
Suddenly a *Bang* much closer then the others rang out, followed by the sound of glass shattering.
Falling to the ground, I switched to my Vector, and turned towards the sound, the windows on my right had been broken, a shadow moved, I rolled behind a pillar as shots fired at me from the building on my right.
Peaking around the pillar I could just make out the person firing at me, quickly lining up my sights, my finger went to pull the trigger, only to stop, the man had, stopped firing at me, and gone into cover, probably to reload.
He was most likely just hopping to get a lucky shot on me by spraying randomly through the windows, his mistake, just like going for cover to reload.
Aiming at where he went for cover I waited with batted breath for him to pop out and start firing again.
A few seconds passed...
Then a few minutes.....
Maybe is is smarter then I gave him credit for.
A shiver runs up my spine.
If hes good enough, he may try to flank me
Or what if....
Doubts keep running through my head, but I keep my position and don't move, this is one of those times, I wished I had a teammate to watch my back, however I have no one, everyone I know has already died, whether killed by other survives, dying to the "Zone", or being eaten by zombies, I was the only one left of my original group.
I see a movement from behind the pillar, a gun attached to a shoulder moves to peak out, I fire, holding my barrel down to stop what little recoil the muzzle brake is unable to stop.
As I start firing the rest of the man comes out from behind the pillar, just in time to be shot down by my spray.
Swinging my Vector over my back, I grab my rifle and prepare to move, I hear glass shattering below me, my fight had attracted the zombies.
By now, all is silent besides the groan of zombies and glass shattering, it looks like I'm the only one left alive.
Suddenly the "Zone" starts coming into the courtyard, having finally gotten through, soon enough the buildings will fill, I need to get out of here.
Running the the window facing the courtyard, I smash my rifle against it shattering the glass, before throwing my rifle across my back with my Vector, once again feeling luck that I managed to get the gun straps for them.
Going out the window, I glance down, to see both all the zombies heading towards me, as well as the "Zone" having already filled up the courtyard to an entire floor, leaving only two floors between me and the gas or what ever the "Zone" is.
Looking behind me, I see the "Zone" approaching, the zombies must have broken some glass on the other side, while coming in, allowing it to flood the building faster.
Climbing out of the window, I grab the window frame and start my climb up the building, once again feeling lucky as the building is a Victorian style brick townhouse, meaning there is no lack of holds.
Within a minute I reached the top of the building, and looked out across the cities rooftops, feeling at peace, there was something about a cities rooftop that just made you feel free, at least until you see the "Zone" swarming out around it, moving with the wind.
Looking around I could not find any place to go, even looking at my map, I was still stuck, it was simply going to take longer for me to die.
In the distance I heard the whooshing of wind and found I recognized it, looking of into the distance I saw a helicopter! I had a chance!
Reaching into a side pouch of my backpack, I pulled out what I had thought was useless until now, a flare gun.
Shooting it into the air, I saw the helicopter take notice and start moving in my direction, I could get out of here, looking around I saw the "Zone" was about to reach the rooftops, I might have enough time.
I quickly pulled out all of my health STIMs hopping they would last me until the helicopter reached me.
Time seems to move twice as slow as looking at a clock, I can feel every beat of my heart as my Adrenalin shots back and forth in my body, as I watch the "Zone" slowly crawl its way up the roof, getting closer and closer, soon enough it reaches my feet, and spills over the roof to the pother side, just to meet of with the rest and begin approaching me on that side as well.
After what feels like an hour, the "Zone" has filled out the entire city ans is now moving higher going up my legs to my waist and soon I am buried in it, my health, which had been slowly chipping away as only my feet were exposed, now starts to drain at 3 times the speed.
I can feel my body burning from the inside out, as my body does its best to try and defend itself against the poisonous gas.
Taking the first of my 6 health STIMs I stab it into my chest, right at my heart rather then in my arm, hoping that if my heart can get it and spread it out fast it will last longer then normal.
Time passes and soon over an hour has passed, having to use a health STIM every 10 minuets I was completely out, for I had just used the last. Looking behind me I saw the helicopter so close, but so far.
The sound of the helicopter was louder then ever, as me health started being chipped away, faster then ever, I start coughing out blood when something suddenly whacks me in the head, looking up, I see the helicopter, and, most importantly, a ladder.
The second I see the ladder I jump and grab it, climbing as quickly as I can, I just barely make it out of the "Zone" in time.
With my health teetering on the edge of death, I climb my way up, coughing as I go, until by the time I reach the helicopter, my vision has started to darken, and just as I am about to fall I am pulled inside, by someone, who then cusses, and quickly stabs something in my chest.
I blink for a second, I recognize the feeling, how could I not? I had felt this six other times in the past hour.
Feeling my body start to restore it self, I have just enough time to whisper a thank you, before sleep takes over, and my vision falls black, my mind soon filled with dreams of the world before it all ended.