Deathlands

Chapter 1

"Hello? Hello, can anyone hear me?" I asked, holding the radio close to my ear. "Does this fucking thing work?" I groan and shake my head, shoving it back into my bag beside the crackers and beer. I tugged out my knife and zipped up the ratty bag before slipping it onto my back. "Well...I'll try again later, I need to find a place to sleep." I say, glancing up towards the sky. It was honestly a long shot that anyone was even on the radio. I hadn't encountered anyone in these 3 months since the sickness started.

I shuddered at the thought of that day and moved on quickly, hood over my head and knife clutched tightly in  my hand. I always had my knife with me, considering it was the only damn thing Ive been able to find besides a few pipes and wrenches. But the knife had been my best bet, quick and easy slices.

I stopped as I heard a scraping and gurgling from down the street. I quickly ducked behind a car and held my breath, waiting for a screech or a scream. After several seconds I poked my head out to get a look at what was ahead of me.

There were several humanoids. But I wouldn't call them humans exactly. They used to be...but not anymore. They shuffled around, bumping into each other and into building and cars. 10 of them. Far more than I care to try and fight. Their skin ripped in spots, all grey and purple. They had been dead, or attacked. So much like a damn zombie apocalypse. But it wasn't a fucking movie, this is real. Very, very real.

I sighed, looking around for another way to go before deciding that the best way is up. I looked at the building I was beside and smiled. I moved around back and chuckled. This was a convenience story i used to visit with my friend Scott when we went skateboarding. We went to the roof to enjoy our snacks, and there was door into the back room of the store up there. I grabbed the ladder that hung there on the wall and started pulling myself up.

I got up easily but almost tripped back down when I saw what had happened up here. The clerk that often worked here, Jamie, he was up here. Me and Scott had gotten him to let up buy smokes and beer before, he was a good friend. Now? Hes splayed on the roof, stomach ripped open and head cracked against the ground.

It was horrifying, but not the ugliest thing I've seen. I walked over slowly and crouched beside him, sighing softly. "I'm so sorry Jamie." I set a hand on his shoulder for a moment before noticing the pistol beside him, a revolver and a hand full of bullets that i guess he hadn't gotten the chance to load before...it happened.

I picked it up and the bullets before slipping a few into the gun. I had only handled a gun a couple times. My mom bought one and had me learn how to use it in case someone broke into the house. I slipped the spare bullets into my bag and the gun into my pocket. I said a quick goodbye and opened the door into the back room of the store.

I huffed and poked my head into the store, glancing around quickly before walking out of the back room. I set my bag down on the counter as I hear a clatter on the other side of the store. I pulled the gun quickly from my pocket, pointing it toward the sound. I moved closer, keeping my footsteps as quiet as I could.

I made it around to the area of the sound, gun loaded and pointed at the corner. I took a slow, deep breath before jumping around the corner, gun pointed down the aisle. Nothing. I slowly lowered the gun before I hear a shout and something collided with the back of my head. The last thing I remember before slipping into darkness was a distorted voice shout, "Oh god I'm sorry!"