One Chance

It wasn't everyday that I woke up to the snarling of creatures intent on making me their next meal. Sighing, I brushed my short chestnut hair behind my ears, only for them to spring out stubbornly. The creaking of springs echoed through the cavernous room as I pushed myself off the mattress. Groans of endless hunger crawled through the building's fortified walls, reminding me of the world I'd been flung into. The innocent lives turned into a hideous nightmare.

Gritting my teeth, I checked myself before my thoughts could wander to regrets.

Tousled, golden hair appeared in the doorway. I bounded towards Brandon, dodging the weapons and rubble scattered across the dirty, grey floor. When I came close, I threw my arms around him. His chest rumbled with laughter as he pulled me closer. Although I was more trained, my frame seemed feeble next to him, but for once, the size difference wasn't viewed as a threat.

"Ready to go, Liz?" His voice was light, abnormal in this dreary, ruined world. I nodded and armed up with practised ease, before striding to the steel door. My dark gaze found Brandon's piercing blue ones.

"It's time." Although I carefully kept my voice emotionless, there was a tinge of excitement and apprehension. I turned the heavy bolts and let it swing open before stepping out.

Squinting into the sunlight, I jogged over to the SUV parked on the pavement. Supplies and weapons were already stored in it, so we set off straight away. I fixed my eyes firmly on the horizon without a backward glance.

A silence stretched out between us, punctured only by Brandon's fingers tapping a cheerful beat against the wheel. We were both afraid to lend voice to the doubts swirling inside us. It would only make it all the more real. The possibility of escape...and failure.

"What if the shelter doesn't exist?" The question tumbled out inadvertently. Brandon glanced at me, surprised, before turning back to the road.

"It does, Liz. They'll help us defeat the mutants." Brandon's eyes lit up at the thought.

My eyes drifted downwards. "I hope so. It's still so surreal, everything that's happened. The entire world...ruined by one mistake."

Brandon stiffened. "Don't mention it. To think humans could be so greedy that they'd gamble with nature. Look how that turned out, all because of the experiment." He paused. "But hey, they achieved their goal. They managed to change a human being. They just didn't specify exactly what." I laughed weakly at his twisted humour and turned to the window.

I glimpsed the bloodshot eyes and blackened, salivating jaws a second before it happened.

The next moment was a blur of screeching metal, throaty snarls and...blood. So much blood.

When my eyelids fluttered open, I found myself sprawled in the dirt, a few metres from the vehicle. My ears rang with the screams rising around me. Sand scratched at my throat and mingled with the metallic tang of blood. My vision danced between objects, unable to focus.

"Eliza, look out!" Brandon's shout cut through the haze. I lifted my head in time to see sharp teeth slashing at me. Pulling out a gun, I rolled out of the way, landing with it already aimed. Bullets whizzed through the air and buried deep into their targets. Brandon appeared by my side and sliced cleanly through the spine of a mutant about to sink its teeth into my arm. I flashed a grateful smile and reloaded, before shooting three mutants in their forehead.

"Back to the car!" I raised my voice to be heard above the clamour. From the corner of my eye, I could clearly see Brandon's movements being burdened by fatigue. I tried to quicken my pace, praying that he would hold out until we were safe. There were only five more steps... Four... Three... Nearly there...

That's when it happened. Brandon's arms dropped almost imperceptibly, but that was all it took. The mutant lunged forward at the same time I raised my gun. But it was too late. The moment I released the trigger, the sound of teeth sinking into flesh was all I could hear. I charged towards Brandon, firing repeatedly until the creature was lying flat on the ground, and struggled to haul his muscled bulk into the backseat of the SUV. Inside, I slammed the doors shut and turned to Brandon. My slender fingers dug through the emergency kit stashed under the seats, and withdrew a small vial of antidote while mutants clawed greedily at the bulletproof windows outside. I hesitated.

"Do it," Brandon mumbled lethargically, the toxin already seeping into his blood.

Tears trailed down my cheeks. "If you take the antidote, there's a 90% chance of fatality." Shaking my head furiously, I fumbled for another option. "T-the shelter could have a cure. I could take you there and-"

"Liz!" Brandon interjected. "You can't...can't make it while fighting me." His eyelids drooped downwards before he forced them open. "Won't let...you...risk it."

I shook my head before giving up, knowing he spoke the truth. I took a deep breath and plunged the needle into his neck. After five minutes which seemed like hours, I checked his pulse, afraid of the result. My breath hitched.

Brandon looked at me. "What is it, Liz?"

"You...You'll live!" I laughed, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Brandon, you made it!"

Brandon's face broke into a wide grin. Laughter started bubbling out of both of us until it filled the car, drowning out the groans and snarls from outside.

"We can do this, Liz. We'll wipe out the mutants with the shelter's help." He mumbled and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

I nodded, a smile on my lips.