WALKING CORPSES
Aiden could no longer think as he hid behind that vehicle, breathing ruggedly and swallowing hard. The commotion did little to reduce and it was almost like it worsened every minute.
He peeped from the rear end of the car and saw a few of them just roaming about, snarling and growling while people still ran about, screaming.
"Damn! God, I miss my weapon right now."
"Been wanting to ask if you dont have a flicking pistol. I've seen shit like this in video games and movies and everytime you come across an army guy, your chances of surviving," he paused to breathe first. "Is quite high. At this point, I feel like we are both going to die."
"Shhh." He didn't need someone to dampen his little hope of coming out of this alive. "I think...I think I know what to do."
"What is it?" Carl asked, his voice barely audible from all the noise.
"These things are drawn to noise or say sound. Whatever is the loudest. This is why you see them scampering around." He further studied them bumping into one another as if trying to find where the possible loudest noise, the car alarm, is coming from. "We have to find something louder than all these to draw them away."
Carl straightened, his face crumpled in confusion. "How?"
"I'll stay and hit this car so the alarm can go off as well as scream. The sound coupled together should be enough."
"And me?"
"While I draw them over here, you go find out if the door to that store is opened. If yes, I'll join you." Aiden finished.
"If no?"
"Why do you always think of the negative?" Has he always been like this or is he just affected by the video games and movies?
"I'm just being careful."
Now he has to come up with another solution if that one doesn't work. Back in the military, they simply followed a plan through. Every other option is to fight whatever it is they are going after or against.
"Fine. If it isn't opened, find another place that is opened. Be fast about it and you'll be good."
"What are the odds?"
But Aiden was done talking. They needed to leave there as fast as possible. Carl stood up hesitatingly, eyes darting around. As soon as he ran to the other side to get to the store, the beasts snarled and followed suit. Aiden froze in shock. Even though his footsteps was a tad bit audible, they noticed him and even went as far as going after him.
Carl stumbled and fell, yelling out in pain. This propelled the beasts towards him. Aiden immediately screamed.
"Carl! Stand up and get to the store, I'll distract them." It worked. They focused on Aiden and started coming for him. To further provoke them, he banged the car repeatedly and stood on the roof, jumping on it. The banging, his yelling and the car alarm wailing attracted them and in seconds, they flocked the car.
It seemed like a bad idea however. He was stuck in the middle as they crowded the car, shaking it vigorously to get to him. Aiden shook but held on to the car firmly.
They increased in number and seeing them troop in only made his mouth drop open. He couldn't tell where they came from but they seemed to be in hundreds. They lurched towards the car, all falling against one another and bumping into the vehicle. He knew it was over. He had sacrificed himself to get Carl to safety. He shut his eyes in defeat.
"Get that, you motherfuckers!" A shot rang across the street.
The beasts snarled but won't budge. Aiden looked up and saw Carl in front of the store holding a pistol in hand. If he got that in the store, then their chances of surviving just skyrocketed.
Slowly, the beasts gave way and he saw a slight opening between then. He quickly jumped down and ran as though his life depended on his legs. His focus was the store.
"Hurry up, Aiden. I'll cover for you."
But something made him pause. A large number of beasts were coming from the other side, almost reaching the door.
"Carl, behind you." He kept running while Carl shot at the beasts behind. He sucked at getting a good shot, so it barely kept them away. Aiden was a few steps away from the door.
His legs caught something and he stumbled too. He was thrown forward and onto the streets as he rolled, groaning in pain.
"Aiden!" He could sense Carl's indecision in his voice as he called.
The beasts were approaching already and he had no choice. He must give in. Looking at Carl, his new found friend in the insane world, he watched the zombies crowd around him. The rotten smell, the gut wrenching odoir, the gory sight and the burning heat emanating from their horde jammed closer. The last he saw of Carl was him closing the door to the store.
"Ah!" He inhaled sharply as he sat up.
Remembering what he was doing last, Aiden quickly rose, checking around for the beasts. A sharp pain cut through his arm, chest and the back of his neck. He quickly checked and saw bitemarks. They bit him but this wasn't the kind of bites he expected or that he'd still be alive.
What the hell happened? Other people he'd seen get bitten would immediately stand and join the horde of beasts. Here he was, breathing fine and well. The streets were clear too.
And Carl?
He quickly made for the store and entered but a shot rang. He fell and went unconscious again.
********************
The sun was slowly setting by the time Leane would reach the end of Delsin Avenue. Not a sign of the beasts, a kid or Iris' sister. Iris said her name was Shelly but if she dared shout, she might be attracting those walking corpses.
Houses were deserted. The streets that used to be covered in rain or snow were now paved with blood flowing down like a stream. This made her heart stop. Walking past a restaurant that used to be so abuzz with life, she heard voices coming from a TV. Leane walked in, careful not to run into any of them.
She scanned the entire restaurant and after she was sure it was empty made to look at the TV.
A blonde presenter was in the middle of a buzzing city reporting about Evergreen.
"...unfortunately, we can't tell why this is happening but we suspect it all originated from a psychiatric hospital patient. Following the news of several mentally unstable patients escaping the town's hospital, we are afraid the insanity ravaging Evergreen comes from a virus that they carry about..."
Leane found the remote just on the counter and she immediately grabbed it, increasing the volume of the TV a bit.
"...avoid getting bit by any infected person. To know who has been infected, check for bitemarks, extremely high temperature, dark eyes and cracked lips. Some of them who are critically infected have nosebleeds. If you see anyone with either of these symptoms, ensure you report to the nearest authorities..."
"What is the government saying about all of these?"
She changed the station until she saw a satisfactory one. A video clip of a place being invaded. She was so invested in the TV she increased the volume to the highest.
"Is that...Is that the government house?" The reporter was having a hard time recording in the place as shots went about.
The camera however caught some men in military uniform rushing into the building. She hoped. The reporter hoped and every sane person as they entered. But their hopes were dashed as by the time the uniformed men came out, they were walking corpses.
Swallowing hard and sobbing in frustration, Leane moved backwards but paused as she heard a small wince.
She turned her head and saw the exact description Iris gave her. Dark hair, violet eyes and small body.
"Shelly?"
But Shelly pointed towards the windows. The walking corpses were hitting the long windows trying to get in. The TV had attracted them.
"Fuck!"