Both our heads shoots up and we see Remember, the second he tore off the roof of the car. He tosses it aside, his eyes looking down to me, then to the other boy.
"Remember!" I gasped. But before I could continue any further, I had to cover my face as dust and such pours off around the edges of the car top. I hear a snarl, one that Remember would make, and before you know it, another panel of the car is ripped off. I fall butt flat onto the leather seat again from the impact, as Remember tackles the other boy. He shoves him up against the other passenger door, and was strong enough to push the entire door panel off along with them.
The door breaks off, and they are sent sprawling down onto the soft muddy grounds. The boy wipes some dust off his face and tries to get up, but Remember beats him to it. A shadow hovers over him, and before he can react Remember tackles him again. He flashes his barred blood dried teeth, ready to bite.
And the last thing I see is Remember, launching his jaw upon the unfortunate boy. A few loud crunches, and gurgling sounds were the last noises I heard from them. A small streak of blood drips over, onto the side where the boy has his knife pocket, but that was it. He doesn't move. The fight was over.
My chest tightens, feeling condemned for the boy's misunderstanding. He was only trying to protect me. All that was left now was Remembers body, still hunched over the soldier.
It was all over for him... or not?
I glanced in closer, noticing how Remember was as well not moving. Low growling noises was coming from him. Once I approached the two, did I soon discover why.
The boy is alive.
There was no blood shed from the boy, but from Remember himself. In Remembers mouth, held a blade as long as a foot. it's sharp side is placed almost horizontally, pressing in between the space of his top and lower rows of teeth and slowly slicing into his lips. Any deeper, and it could've sliced his jaw right off.
As for the uniformed boy, his left hand is still gripped tightly on the handle of his melee weapon. He is taking quick breaths. Sweat is rolling down the side of his face, as well as that bitter look on his face. His arm is shaking still struggling to maintain his defense position.
There was the intense moment between the two. However, Remember then clenches the blade tightly within his teeth, and starts pulling back..
Immediately the boy releases the knife, and falls back completely. Remember in the other hand, also falls back from the released impact. But he is back on his feet again, hunched over in frustration. He spits out the knife along with some blood, and advances to the human boy again.
"Stop." I whimpered, shaken by the fight in front of me.
A reminisce of memories came back to me of the last encounters we had; fighting, blood, death. It was all coming back to me-it was all so familiar.
The familiar horrors I've seen in my past-and now.
"Stop it...." I tried to protest. They ignore me, only to continue.
Someone was going to die.
Some point during the fight, the boy lands right in the middle of an opening on the cold, dry pavement. A tower of 4 or 5 cars is stacked high before him - and standing on a red convertible, found on the bottom of the tower is Remember. One hand is pressed against a window, in the center of the tower. The most fragile and steady part of the hill of vehicles. He looks down at the boy, from where he is and back to the horde of cars. And before you know it, he pushes the towers down.
At last, a scream escapes my throat. "STOP IT!"
The cars makes hollow scraping sounds as it begins to tilt. The soldier realizes this before I did, and alarmingly turns his head to where the noise was. Before him, a group of vehicles fall off one another, and goes tumbling towards him.
"Watch out!" I yelled, and dash towards him.
He had nearly 5 seconds to get the heck out of there. Just when a car is about 1 meter from him in the air, he does a forward roll, followed up with a left barrel roll as well for the next 2 falling vehicles that lands. Loud crashes, windows shattering and metals being bent can be heard from the tumbling vehicles.
I was still sprinting to the boy in full speed, when suddenly an object catches onto my foot. It's some rear view mirror or something. But unfortunately, I failed to notice this on time, and lose balance completely landing into the pavement. It scrapes my knees and elbow.
I cringe and clenched my fists from the impact. My right leg was burning. I barely had any time to move quickly now.
"Look out!" I hear from ahead. But it was too late. I feel a large shadow hover over me, and shot my head up just in time to see a grey Toyota leaning over me. In a second, I feel a huge crash on my head, see the world spin into a blur. Everything around me goes from blur to black. Pain was the last thing I could feel. And it was back to the numbing ambiance of a comatose.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Something glows from the distance. A crackling noise is the first thing I hear.
As my eyes came to focus, I realized that the glow was from a small fire. Meters from where I was facing, was a warm fireplace, its smoke dancing into the dry air.
The sky was an evening dark blue, stars already twinkling above me.
I tensed, rubbing dry crisps from my eyes. How long had I been unconscious? More importantly, where am I, and what happened?
Turning to my left, I then spot someone sitting, no more than feet or so away from me. A boy wearing a terrain camouflage uniform along with a cap and dark sport shades, which hid his eyes. Wait a minute. Didn't I see him earlier before? During the accident when Remember--
I quickly sat up, looking around in worry. Where was he?
Soon, the boy catches my awakening, and gives a warm smile.
"Glad you're finally awake." He says, "I was sort of worried if you were extremely injured or not. Are you okay?"
I was hesitant, indecisive of whether I should answer or not. He could be another traitor after all, just like Mr. Hughes. However, he also might not be.
I began to open my mouth, but that's when I released some uncontrollable coughs. Unexpectedly, I find my throat extremely arid, and letting the night air in only makes it worse.
The soldier sees this, and promptly pulls out a canteen from his small haversack.
"Here," He offers, flipping the lid open. "Drink this."
Slowly, I take the bottle from him, my eyes moving from his presence one bit. I wanted to thank him, but my throat was too raspy to even verbally acknowledge him. I take a huge gulp of water, before returning it to him.
I wiped the bottom of my lips with my arm. "
Th
-Thank you."
"No prob." He assured. He then takes a look into the canteen, before taking a sip as well.
I now gaze around frantically "Where's -"
"That zombie boy?" He finishes. "Over there." His head nods to a shadowy figure, which was sitting farthest from the light. Moving closer, I then see it to be Remember, sitting alone in the corner as still and silent as always.
"Oh." I sighed in relief. Thank god.
"Your 'zombie friend' is okay." He said, speaking to me but fixing Remember with a contemptuous glare. "Though I find that hard to fathom."
I couldn't help but examine him as well, and realized that he too, had minor bruises and dirt stains, scrapping both his skin and uniform.
"A-are you okay too?" I asked quietly.
He hesitates, "Yeah."
At that moment silence filled the air, along with the campfire, as I looked directly at him. Oddly enough, now that we've made a deeper contact; I find that he didn't look as suspicious or sinister (like Mr. Hughes) at all. His dark hazel eyes showed august honesty. Still, I shouldn't be too sure.
"Here," A small blue box is suddenly appears before my eyes. "Eat this." The boy requested. "You probably didn't have much to eat."
I quickly recognize the object to be a box of crackers. Slowly I accept it. "Thank you."
My fingers grasp the lid of the box, and I lift it up. Inside, revealed only a few soda crackers.
Matt scowled. "Sorry, it isn't much I know."
"N-No, it's great." I say, hugging the container tightly on my lap. Having not eaten much for the past few days, I'd be willing to accept this as a 5 star meal.
I take out a cracker, and begin snacking on them.
He nodded, though his eyes are still fixed on my fidgety behavior. "Something wrong?"
"
Ahh
..." I quickly shook. "Nothing, I-I just wanted to know your name. My name's Rima
Orlume
."
"That's nice." He chuckled. "My name's Matt, Matt Reason. I'm a staff sergeant working in the military group FREZ."
One word catches my attention. "F-FREZ?"
"Yea," He (Matt) explains, "To make it concise, it's just a small organization, that's focused of collecting lost survivors, and finding a cure for the strange, disease spreading throughout the USA--which we happen to be living in."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is there a head leader of the organization?"
"Yes, of course. He's no other then Mr.
Orlume
. Why?" He then paused, upon realizing the answer he conjured up himself. "Hold on, if your name's Rima
Orlume
, then..."
I smiled sadly. "I'm his niece. You're probably wondering why and how I got here, huh. It's sort of hard to explain, but right now I'm trying to find FREZ. I need to find him."
I then gaze down to my dirt-stained knees. "I-I'm just really lost now. I want to find him."
"Unfortunately, it won't be easy." Matt replied, biting his lower lip. "FREZ is still all the way across the border of Utah. We're still in Nevada, but it's only a few miles or so. Where did you come from?"
"Not where I came from." I say quietly, "Who am I escaping from?"
"Escaping?" He repeated.
I nodded. "Before all of this, I was living in Professor Grant's outpost. But, then I had to leave."
I look back to him to see the austere look in his eyes.
"Professor Grant huh," He mutters, "And why did you leave?"
My teeth clenched tightly, unsure if I should construe any further. Whether I should trust him or not was.
"Because he tricked me; I trusted him, yet I was betrayed by him, to the point that I had to escape."
"Because he wants you, doesn't he." Matt uttered. "He's been using you as part of his experiments, is that it?"
My eyes snapped back to him, in shock. "H-How do you know that?"
Was he lying to me? Is he really part of FREZ, or worse; another one of Grant's fellow men?
He takes my question into account. Even Matt looked disturbed just as me. "Because," His eye brows furrowed, "That's one of the reasons why I'm here."
My expression drops. "H-huh?"
"I was sent here on a mission: to track down this so-called Grant's main territory to eavesdrop on their info, and secrets about the research."
"I know what Grant's people does. I've heard rumors going around, that Grant used other survivors-people, despite age, sex or gender as part of their experiment in finding a cure. And it's just plain, terrible. Heck, are there even words to describe how inhumane that is?"
I shuddered, but in agreement.
"But hey, if that's what it takes for them to get ahead of FREZ, then..."
A shiver runs down my spine. "F-FREZ doesn't do that...do they?"
Matt gives a perplexed look. "No way, why would we! That's just inhumane!"
I gave a sigh of relief. Good. At least what I'm searching for wasn't going to be another hell.
"Wait," I recalled, "So your here to spy on Grant's studies?"
"Yea." He nods, "So I'm what you would call, a spy I guess..."
"A spy..." I recited. "D-did you come here alone?"
"Yea." He sighed. Noticing the worried look on my face, he then assured, "But it wasn't so hard, I guess. I am still alive, after all."
"Unfortunately, you came a little too late..." I muttered.
Now it was Matt's turn to gawk. "Huh? Why not?"
"Because," I look down, feeling sorry. "Almost a week ago, Grant's organization had to pack up and evacuate the area. It was about to become overrun, by them."
It takes him no more than a minute or two to understand what 'them' meant. "Those zombies huh?"
I nodded.
No reply. Then a small chuckle is his first response, before saying "Dammit. Guess that was expected to happen, huh?"
"No matter where you run, where you hide; they'll come, and conquer us, simply by their numbers."
"I-I guess." I could only reply in a small voice. The thought of zombies began racing through my mind. We were travelling through an infected region of the USA, having to not know the number of zombies that could be lurking out there in any corner. Crashing into Matt is different. But, if I accidentally bumped into another zombie, then what would happen?
At that moment, the same memories if my bloody past returns; Mom and dad lying there, their bloody corpses being devoured by those...monsters. The way mom looked at me, her eyes filled with terror. That nostalgic memory still haunted me till now.
I sniffed, blinking to hold back tears.
"Rima..?" Matt says, waving his hand in front of my eyes.
I soon came to focus. "Huh?"
"Are you alright?" He asks, apprehensively, "You're trembling, Rima, and you looked somewhat spaced a while ago. Were you thinking about something?"
I then gaze down, to realized how stiff I'd become. My nails had left marks in my palms for clenching my hands too tightly.
Quickly I shifted to a more proper sitting position, with both knees extending on opposite sides. "I-It's nothing."
He stares intensely at me for a moment, then back to the campfire.
"You were probably thinking about those creatures huh." I hear him imply, as he controlled the flames.
"E-eh?"
"It's okay." He sighed. "I bet everyone's been anxious, scared and wondering who those monsters are. Who are they? Why there are so many of them? Where did they come from? And besides," He throws another branch into the fire, "Those infected beings are no longer of our kind. They're already dead, and lost from their original form of being human."
He then gives a bitterly look towards Remembers direction. "All of them."
I too, glanced at Remember. "But..."
"I'm just saying what I've learned, since this whole prophecy started." He affirms, "Right now, you're still at the stage of learning and growing as well"
A small annoyance begins crawling beneath my skin. "I'm not a child," I muttered, "Not anymore, at least. I may be 12, but I've learned a lot..."
A small reminder of what happened to Mr. Hughes makes me add, "Too much."
At first, there was no response. Then, he implies, "Unfortunately, you're going to learn more."
I cringed at that thought. "I know." I sniffed, feeling tears form in my eyes. Why did I have to learn so much--lose so much? Why was this happening to me? Why did it have to be me, being the one to inherit the last immune blood of my family? This wasn't fair.
Life was never fair, Rima. Remember that.
"It's okay to be scared." Matt replied softly. He then shuffles to sit beside me. "Besides, we're all living in hell now, aren't we? The zombies have arisen, and are eating other people, or just making them become zombies as well. Soon, humanity could crumble beneath the virus."
"On the other hand, just remember Rima: Always be brave, and stand up instead of falling."
Just hearing that, I recall a flashback to me: Professor Amy said that as well. The last time I saw her, helping me escape the hands of Professor Grant. She hands me a letter of request, and with that, the words that influenced me: "....No matter what, always be brave, young Rima."
Wiping my tears, I then looked up confidently. "I know."
I will be brave. I've already lost so much, too much. No more holding back, no more fear. I'm trying to get to FREZ alive, and heck I will make it--even if it kills me.
I wiped my eyes, hoping that Matt didn't think I was such a crybaby. Surprisingly, he offers me a handkerchief, as kindly as always.
"Thank you."
"No worries, it's going to be okay." He assured. "Besides, I think it's really cool that you made it this far."
We continued on, eating and chatting for a while. And soon, I began to know more and more about Matt.
"WAH?" My jaw drops. "Y-you're 16?!"
"
Shh
," Matt hushed. "Don't talk to loud!"
Though eventually, he laughs aloud as well, not at the fact that he was 16, but at my reaction. "Yea, I am. I know that the minimum age to append a military and use warfare weapons is 18."
"But hey," He then begins tracing mindless shapes onto the sandy floor. "With this apocalypse happening, heck even a 10 year old should be trained to use a pistol. What other choice do we have?"
"Not much, I guess."
"Yeah," He bleakly replied. "This goes for all of America."
"America?" I asked with a gulp. "W-What do you mean?"
He tosses the stick into the fireplace before continuing. "After hearing what has happened here, all other countries have banned all American citizens from immigrating to their country. Heck, even Americans that were living in the country long before the disease started are now kicked out of the other countries."
A shiver runs down my spine. "How terrible...."
"It is." He growled, throwing the next branch harshly into the flames. "And it's all because of this stupid virus! Seriously what are we in, the
friggen
walking dead?!"
I jumped, unexpected of him to have such a booming voice. "M-Matt..."
Suddenly, he flashes an angry look beyond me. I was confused at first, though something told me he wasn't looking at me. I felt a presence draw near behind me, and I turn around.
Remember's
face is the first thing I see, inches away from mine's. I yelped, falling back in an instant (again).
"R-Remember!" I exclaim.
As for Remember, his expression stays the same-as empty and devoid as always. A few seconds pass, before he speaks.
"H-How are you feeling?" He asks very slowly, as if reciting them from a dialogue.
Matt eyes narrow, in suspicion. I discovered it as the same words Matt had said before.
At that moment, I couldn't help but giggle a bit. "I'm ok Remember, r-really."
His eyes then shift to the unmoving soldier. "Why did you do that?"
Matt looked perplexed. "Do what...?"
"You...yelled at her." Remember retorts, eyes glowing red. Though he showed no expression, I could feel the anger, bubbling within him.
"R-Remember," I tried to step in. But Matt only moves forward, giving him the 'bring it on' look.
"You scared Rima." Remember whispers, in a hollow voice.
"I didn't hurt or offend her or anything. " Matt comebacks, "Besides, I was just expressing my own feelings to the situation we have at hands; something that you'd never have, you heartless cold beast."
That did it. A wave of terror ran through my as I noticed Remembers hand clenched so tightly, blood was dripping. Remember snarled, taking a step towards Matt's direction. As he did, I noticed Matt's left hand ready to summon a spare knife.
My heart raced. My stomach flipped. There was no way a fight is going to start. Not here, not now.
Rushing forward, I quickly stepped in between them, arms stretched open.
"Fighting won't solve anything." I pointed out, angrily. "If you two are going to fight, might as well be firing bullets in the air to alert the infected where we are."
Soon after, there is a long nerve racking silence. Matt and Remember no longer advances against each other like savage predators, but instead exchange disturbed looks.
Matt then exhales, and with that his hand reverts. "I guess you're right."
Remember looks at me, vexed. 'Why can't I kill him?' he must've wanted to say, aloud. However, I only shake my head.
I then wheel back to Matt. "You were saying?"
"Hmm?"
My mind struggles to recall, "You said something, about the 'walking' or something..."
"Oh." He simply shrugged. "Just talking bout the walking dead. It used to be popular around the time my grandparents were teenagers. You know that show?"
"N-No," I admitted. "But I think I've heard of it. It's a zombie T.V show, right?"
"Yeah," He says, "And believe it or not, we're living in it. Heck, even worse. We're not only facing just zombies. There's different types of them too."
I shifted uncomfortably. "T-types?"
He gestured a 'yes'. "If you didn't know, there are 6 levels in the R-syndrome."
R-syndrome...? That one word left me immersed. "R-syndrome?"
"That's what the virus is called." He explains, "In the R-syndrome, the ranks go by the letters: Z, O, and M, B, I and E."
"Ok." I listened carefully. Remember too, showed interest and listens in on it as well. Now the only sounds apart from the crackling campfire flames, is Matt, as he continue to unravel secrets of the virus.
"I'll try to explain it as concise as I can. First off, we start with the level E's. They're...."
Soon, I find his voice trailing off already, as he was unable to continue.
I blinked. "Matt? W-Who are the E's...?"
His lips tighten, in refusal to answer. Just by seeing his bothered look, I knew something was up. Unable to cope with his silence, I asked once more, "Who are the E's?"
Finally, he responds. His head tilts my way alimentally, as he says hoarsely, "Everyone."
"Everyone." He says, without hesitation.
At that moment, the box of crackers falls out of my hands. It lands on the floor with a stifled thump.
The flames continue to crackle and burst, as I stare in his eyes, still confounded by his response.
"E-Everyone...?" I reform.
He nods, now regaining his sanity.
As for me, it was my turn to be speechless. So many questions are poured into my mind, filling it up to its top, with nothing but confusion and disquiet. All which I didn't know how to ask. All I can ask was, "How?"
"I can't really say," He chuckles sadly. "I'm no scientist, and this is all based on what I've heard. So far, what I know is that being infected by a bite or scratch isn't what gets us infected. Those incidents are pretty much like a 1 way express to succumbing into the R-syndrome, spread faster. Truth is, we've all been infected, initially from the start. Or at least, once the virus started."
"Believe it or not-when we die, we become one of them."
My eyes widen, both in pure terror and shock. I absentmindedly mouth out the last phrase;
...we become one of them.
"Whether you're an infant, or an old senior nearing his/her death; we're all infected, by the R-syndrome."
Matt stiffens. "It's no wonder they're populating so fast. Already more than a billion people have exceeded over this stage-"
I almost flipped. "A BILLION?!"
That was 1/7th of the world's total human population who's been fully
zombified
?!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, don't jump in too fast!" Matt alerts, "Their all then separated an organized into the next 5 stages."
"After the E's are the 'I' ranks. These too, aren't zombies yet. However," His eyes furrowed. "They're the ones at the process of evolving into a zombie."
He then pulls a face. "I-I'd rather not analyze how it's supposed to be like, its symptoms going through the 'I' level. All the pain, the agony...."
"
Ohh
..." I falter. Thoughts and images of it then attempt to enter my mind, but I push it away. "I see. What's next?"
"The 'B' ranks." He promptly replies, also willing to move on from the 'I' description. "B' ranks are the ones who've now fully develop into rotten animating corpses. These are the slow not-so-threatening ones, commonly seen walking around, like the 'walkers' you'd see on the walking dead."
"Except," He notes "There're no teenagers in this category whatsoever."
"T-Teenagers?" I asked. "You mean..."
"Those between ages 13 to 19," Matt answered. "They're simply placed in the higher stage, the 'M' ranks."
"M ranks...?' I repeated.
"I know, it sounds strange." He admits, "Not even I myself can explain really."
He then glances at Remember. "Apparently, you can see it yourself."
I didn't dare look at Remembers reaction when Matt said that. As much as I wanted to avoid Remember as being a reference to Matt's description, he was right. Remember definitely didn't look like and adult, nor a child. He seemed to perfectly fit in the said age group.
"M' ranks are the disfigured humanoids, zombies with animalistic qualities. Like those darkened eyes, with dilated pupils turning into a bloody red. They're hands grow abnormally large, with massive clawed fingers, that are razor sharp. And you know the rest."
I was sent deep into thought, taking his analysis into account. "I think we encountered a 'M' rank before."
"Really?" Matt looked somewhat amazed. "And did you notice anything coincidental about it?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Now that I think about it, you're right; they do only range between ages 13 to 19."
"The one we saw, it looked somewhat older then Remember." I admitted." T-there was another traveler, just like us, but he was killed by an 'M' rank."
Flashbacks of the monster return to my head--and along with that the unfortunate Mr. Hughes, being eaten alive by the zombie.
"The next rank?" Remember asks impatiently, anxious of what the next rank is.
Matt frowns, but continues. "The next rank is 'O'."
Matt then rests his chin upon the roof of his hand as he states, "From what I've remembered, they're supposedly 50 times stronger than the 'M' rank. Plus, they're smarter and are the real challenge to Military forces. On the other hand, they've rarely been spotted or seen. Heck, we don't even know if this rank even exists! But, one thing for sure; there's probably less than 100 of them within the 1 billion of infected lurking out at who-knows-where."
"To be honest," Matt's eyes flashed at a moments glance to Remember. "I think that's what your friend Remember is."
Remember huffs blandly. "Maybe I am."
I give him a worried glance. 'Don't say that, Remember' I wanted to tell him, but it was too late. I've already missed the chance to do so.
Matt then returns to look at me, a dreadful look in his eyes. "After that rank, the last one is left unknown."
We both looked at Matt, unconvinced.
"Unknown?" I had to ask.
He bits his lips nervously, as he states, "Not FREZ or even Grant hasn't got a clue about them."
His hands clenched. "So far, what I've learned about those five zombies, which are estimated to be 100% stronger than the 'O' zombies. Z..."
He feels threatened just by continuing.
Finding the strength, he pushes on to say, "Nobody knows who, what or even where 'Z' came from, nor where 'it' could be hiding. For all we know, it's the most highest and dangerous threat to humanity there ever was. Heck, it's the sole reason how this incurable virus started. Unfortunately, I haven't really gotten into 'Z's background story or description, but one thing's for sure: it's this makes both the apocalypse and our journey even more threatened, so we better watch our backs."
After Matt's last statement, the entire journey had become more baleful.
"Nobody knows who, what or even where 'Z' came from, nor where 'it' could be hiding. For all we know, it's the most highest and dangerous threat to humanity there ever was. Heck, it's the sole reason how this incurable virus started. Unfortunately, I haven't really gotten into 'Z's background story or description, but one thing's for sure: it makes both the apocalypse and our journey even more threatening, so we better watch our backs."
Those words refused to exit my mind. Even to the next morning, as Matt draws out a map upon a clear foor, explaning where to go, directing where our travel routes are, and roads that we'd use to help: I had a difficult time concentrating.
Now apart from this burden reminder, was plannig our routes to getting to our destination.
"And once we find highway 93 Noth of Wells, which is close to an airport we're well on our way. Got it?"
I quickly nodded. "Y-Yes, understood."
But at that moment, Matt then gives me a bothered look. "Rima, were you even listening?"
"I-" I tried to speak, but had nothing. I now had an apologetic look on my face. "I'm sorry."
Matt only gives a low huff. Unexpectedly, he then takes a step towards me, raising the violet water bottle he now had in his hand. He then gives my head a light whack.
"Ow!" I yepled, both hands now covering my forehead. "Why'd you-"
"Pay attention now, will you?" Matt teased. "Or I'll do that again."
"Hmph!" I stuck my tongue out at him. "Bully!"
"Oh, so that's what you're going to call me from now on?" He laughed.
"Maybe I will!" I said back, cheerfully. And before you know it, we were running around childishly, as he was once again attempting to bonk me once more with his canteen.
Even if it meant getting extremely off-track, I didn't care less. It's been so long since, I've actually played like this. Be happy, joke around with one another.
However, just when Matt had his jug of water held up high above my head once more, I let out a small squeal and closed my eyes awaiting for the cold plastic to flick my forehead once more. But instead, all that was felt, was a sudden harsh wind of movement, as if some one had dashed in between us. Opening my eyes, I now see Remember standing in the middle: his hand grasping the bottle, which Matt still held.
His eyes flashed a look of annoyance. "Don't. Hurt. Her."
That made Matt begin to grow agitated as well.
And, that's when I knew I had to step in (once again). "Remember, it's okay. We were just playing around-"
"The map." Matt simply says. Soon, all eyes looked down at Remember's feet, and spotted the wrinkled map still under his feet.
Even Remember started to look a bit embarassed. Letting go of Matt's canteen, he immediately steps off of the now crumpled paper, biting his lips nervously.
Matt in the other hand, returns him a glare. Taking a step forward, he picks up the map and flaps it a few times to smoothing it out. "Okay, back to our route."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
And a few minutes later we were off, walking in a now planned route-me and Matt walking behind Remember, as he dashes on ahead. Even as we continued to move, my mind wouldn't move on from what happened, jsut awhile ago-of Remember and Matt's dissapproval for each other. Why...
Why did it have to be this way, for each other. Why couldn' they just get along? This left me just as frustrated as they were having to be together-for me.
"Rima?" A voice suddenly disrupts my thoughts.
"Y-Yes!" I squealed with a jumped.
Matt laughs. "Hold your horses Rima, there's nothing to worry about. Try putting your head back into our surroundings. Look where we are."
Completely forgetting about my sight, I then looked up to see where we were. Both me and Matt were had approached a small town, with small buildings and stores/shops lined on both sides of the road. Yet, most of them were just a tuft of blackened, roofless walls now. Farther ahead, were the big streets, littered with many abandoned vehicles. Dusts of smoke rose from a few of them.
"W-where are we?"
Matt grabs a mini GPS out of his pocket and whacks it a few times. Its screen flashes on and off, making a few static noises. But in the end, it falls completely dead.
"Damn, their batteries are dead." Matt curses. "But it's obvious that we've just made it to Wells. We should be somewhere around halfway from where FREZ's is now, since this is exactly the same route I took when travelling to Grant's outpost."
"Oh," I sighed. We still had a long way to go.
"Okay, I think we should start looting the stores now."
I blinked. "Loot?"
He nodded. "Yes, aka steal. My little helper GPS here is outta batteries, and we needa stock up on more food, water, clothing etc."
Now that he mentioned it, we were running low on supplies. A bag of jerky and water sure wasn't much of a meal anyways. Plus, I should find myself a comb, and new underwear....
Eventually I too, had agreed "Alright. W-where should we look?"
Right then and there, Matt nodded towards the shops. "Let's try searching in those stores. Remember, you stay here to keep watch incase of any ambush of infected arrives, while me and Rima go loot in those stores."
But Remember only stays silent, staring him out with distrust. Of course, he wouldn't dare leave Matt with me, alone.
"Please, Remember?" I had to ask as well.
Remember's eyes now seemed to move from me to Matts, then back. Though he still had a doubtful look, at last he answered, "Fine." And with that, turns away from us, walking off to who-knows-where.
As for both of us, we start heading into the ruins of humans death and destruction, dodging through the cars. Some even had a few zombies trapped within, their seatbelt holding them back. They didn't even bother trying to unfasten it, let alone try to open the door. Their banging, and ghastly moans are muted by the cars windows, which were sealed up tightly.
I give a breath of relief. It was a good thing the infected lost common sense. But, that advantage doesn't outweighs the fact that there were more of them, and only 2 of us.
Matt the stops. I do as well. He motions with his fingers, pointing at an abandoned Shoppers. I nod I reply, and we continue on.
Matt is in the lead, cautiously looking around, with a hunter knife in his hand. As we approached the door, he requests I keep a lookout, while he tries to pry the door open.
As I look around, I notice e was struggling a bit, in trying to open the doors. It was glass of course, but smashing it might alert all ghouls around us that there was a 2 in 1 buffet here.
That's when I spot something else; not to far away, is a broken car--it's whole front lifted open, with a long metal frame sticking out. Hopefully it was a crow bar. Giving one last glance around, I then make a mad dash to the vehicle, eyes sill glued o the prize. Once I was up close, I've found what I was looking for. I reach in and carefully draw out the crow bar. I then proceed to return to Matt, who was now standing at the front of the store, with a frown on his face. But, it is instantly flipped once he spots what I held in my hands. I hand him the tool, and let him resume to his work.
Once he finds good leverage, he puts his back into it, and starts pulling.
All of a sudden, that's when I see a figure appear behind the glass barrier. It was the face of an african-american, dressed in an employers out fit. Half its left eye is torn out, dry blood and puss oozing out. It staggers towards us--towards Matt, who is still tugging, oblivious of the ghoul.
"M-Matt-" I try to warn, but there was no need. It then hurls itself at the door, which makes a thud. Matt immediately is sent back, and looks up to see it as well.
The zombie walks right into the door, bumping into the door latch from the inside several times. Obviously it was a weak B ranked zombie. Slowly, the door came open, as it tries to ease itself out to us. With its was poked out, this easily gives the opportunity for a head shot.
My fists clenched. Only one simple strike through one of its eye sockets, and it'll be a fully dead corpse...even I'd be able to make the shot. Could I...?
"Here," Matt says, handing me the crowbar. "I'll let you kill this one, as practice. Have you ever killed a zombie before?"
I shook. Then taking a step forward, I begin to raise my weapon.
The zombie continues to struggle between the gap. The more it moves, the more intimidating I find to killing it. What if I missed? What if the weapon gets jammed within its skull if I stabbed to hard? On the other hand, striking it lightly won't kill it either. What should I do-
Suddenly, the zombie manages to pry through the hinges. Before I could react, it lunges at me.
I released a hoarse squeal, but is fortunately knocked back by Matt, who dives his weapon deep into its eye sockets, killing it instantly. The monster is pushed back, and it collapses.
Matt swiftly wipes some of the blood of the blade of his weapon on the wall. Once he's done, he grabs the door open, and holds it like a gentleman.
"After you." He smiles.
But I don't return the smile. Because of me, I could've screamed, and alerted other lurkers. I might've been killed, eaten alive--or Matt could've been endangered himself, if he reacted any sooner. How could I've been so stupid?
"Hey, don't worry about it," Matt assured. "Everyone's like that on their first try. I've even failed a couple of times! Hell, almost let those zombies eat my ass for dinner!"
At that moment, I couldn't help but laugh. Thing is, even though we've only just met, I had a feeling Matt was someone who'd be the one to being my hopes up, the one I'd trust, despite the circumstances. Any circumstances.
"There's probably more inside." Matt warned. "So make sure you keep an eye out. I've got your back."
"Also, take as many foods, dental and body products as you can. This may be a one in a million chance we'd ever be able to restock again."
"Ok," I replied. He places a trash an to keep the door from closing, and together we headed inside.
Matt and I were constantly scanning the aisles for ghouls. As we reach the food aisle, I knock in as many candy bars as I can into my knapsack. Matt does the same, for the bottled drinks. Then we were onto the dental Products. only 2 toothbrushes, a small box of dental floss and 5 boxes of toothpaste remains. The hygiene section was even worse. Only a torn up package of soap (containing only 2 still well preserved bars) is left in the rubbles of thrashed up products. Unfortunately, there wasn't many thing to loot in here. Probably since everyone did that last minute crazy shopping thing here, before the destruction started. Before the zombies had awaken.
As we now headed back out, before we do I notice I the women's accessories section; a comb, and some book left in the wrong aisle. Quickly I grab them both on our way out.
But the moment we pass through the first exit, an alarm is automatically set. We were screwed.
"Shit!" Matt roared, still speaking in a low voice. "All lights are out, and even their fridges are down! How the hell is the alarm still working?!"
However, we had no time to find a reason. In the distant, we hear faint cries of indecipherable words. In the corner of my eyes, I see a horde of figures slowly drawing towards us, and instantly knew we'd gained some unwanted attention. They've heard us. The dead was coming.
Without a moment to waste, we turn and decide to head out the back door (if the store even had one). However, once we find the back door, He first grabs the doorknob. Rattles it madly. Locked.
"Holy F*k!" Matt cried, now hurling his own weight against the door, repeatedly. Still it doesn't open. I start to hear an unnoticeable sound; some rattling sounds, coming from behind the door. It sounded like-
"The door's chained on the other side," I say aloud. Matt turns to me, with horrified eyes.
Without explanation, he raises his pistol, as if pointed at me, and shoots.
For a second there, I'd thought he shot me, but no. Instead, the bullet whizzed by, striking into something behind me. I hear a thus behind me, and wheel around to see a corpse, the back of its head showing a clean blow from a bullet.
Still staring in awe, Thats when I feel a sweaty hand grab mines.
"This way!" Matt leads the way, guiding us through the stocks to another door. Several zombies had already crawled inside, the rest sill thrashing on the clear glass walls.
Their hungry, vile faces are the last thing I see, before passing through an unlocked coal door.