You can ask anyone that was there and they will relive the story in a completely different way. It was probably the worst three days of any of our lives and that's not easy to say after the hell hole of a week we've been put through.
But it's my turn to tell the story and I don't care what anyone says, I'm going to be completely honest and real as to how the events unfolded.
"Put pressure on his wound!" Mel yelled at me. I looked at her in shock and then down at Eric who was bleeding profusely all over me. I couldn't stop shaking and immediately realized that I was seeing someone die in my arms. Not again, not again I thought...this couldn't have been happening to me. He had been shot by a stray bullet. It was most likely from one of the soldiers who was firing indiscriminately is all directions when the zombie horde showed up.
"DO IT NOW LAUREN!!!" Mel said as she got up, drew out her knives and headed out into the fray. I took my sweater off and pressed down on Eric's stomach, at the point he had been shot. His face was pale and his eyes were beginning to roll back as he coughed up a trace amount of blood.
"Fuck...not again." He said trying to sound strong. I couldn't do anything but shake and press down hard. He groaned in pain. I pressed too hard.
People were darting past me, guns and weapons at the ready. Some others were to the right, helping another wounded person...I couldn't tell who it was through the swirling dust clouds.
"Where did they come from!" I wondered. Out of no where a wave of zombies had appeared where the soldiers were moments before. They masked themselves in the smoke and debris and began to attack immediately soon after. A lot of the soldiers were instantly killed but of those that remained, they charged through the horde with the two tanks at their disposal. Our group wasn't as lucky. We were surrounded by zombies on all sides and a huge ring of fire that trapped us in our own gladiator arena...only one group would survive. It was them or us.
"Jiko, watch your back!" I heard JC yelling as he shot zombie after zombie that were approaching with a quickness. Elizabeth had managed to trap herself in with us and even after Owen gunned down a few zombies that were after her, her stoic face gave no indication of appreciation. She looked twisted, like that evil clown from the movie "It". I can't imagine what was going through her mind, only that she remained emotionless with every spray of her bullets.
Eric coughed again. This time more blood accompanied it. I tried to cry, it felt like what was expected, but I couldn't. I tried to press harder but whatever I did only caused him more pain.
"Lauren duck!" I heard Mel say. I lowered my head as a knife whizzed past me by mere inches. I heard a dull thud and turned around to see a zombie fall down on its side. It had leaned over ready to bite me. Its limp body fell on me and I felt its blood drip all over my back. I squeamishly rolled the zombie off of me.
I looked to the other group of us to the right and realized, after hearing a little girl's crying, that it was Jenny who was wounded. Caroline and Lauren N. were with her trying to stop her bleeding and calm Adelaide down.
"Let me go." I looked down. Eric was still coughing.
"What?" I asked.
"Let me go...I've already escaped death once...let me go."
"No, I won't. I won't let you die." I cried.
"It's not your choice...it's mine. Let me go. I want to go out this way."
"Eric, please let me help you."
He smiled for a second. "You know, this is the first time you've ever wanted to help me Lauren. Now I really want to go out this way." He coughed more blood. He was right. I had always been a bit hard on him at work. He just never knew that he was actually one of my favorites...kind of like a little brother to me, an annoying one, but a little brother none the less.
"If you ever run across David again...take care of him okay?" He asked me. I nodded through my tears. He closed his eyes, coughed one more time and his breathing ceased. I cried out his name once but had to shake it off and realize that my other friends were still fighting. I put my sweater over him and got up to where Sarah was, killing zombies left and right. I was a bit afraid to approach her actually...
***
Ashleigh
I needed to get myself out of these binds. My fingers just barely reached the knot but it was just enough to start working on it. What a lame knot…it’s obvious that David never went to boy scouts or if he did, he probably never got his knot tying badge. I, on the other hand, was one of the best girl scouts in my troop. Not only did I sell the most cookies but I ran rings around other people when it came to badges.
I felt so humiliated. They tied me up and pushed me into a wagon that were usually used to drag small children behind their parents biking. If I could just undo a few of these knots, I’d be able to free myself and escape. They wouldn’t dare try and kill me. I just needed to kill them first. Who was this new Ashleigh? I wasn’t sure I liked her.
“Mom, I think I’m sick.” I remember I used to say whenever I didn’t want to go to school.
“Come here and let me feel your temperature.” She would press the back of her hand on my forehead. “You’re right…” She would pretend. “You’re heating up! I think we’ll need to go to the doctor but for now, you go rest and I’ll bring your breakfast.” She said with a smile. I would go back to my bed thinking I had won. Minutes later, as I got myself comfortable under my comforter, my mom would walk back into my room. “We’re going to need to give you a shot today.”
I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to get ready. This worked every time.
What happened to that Ashleigh? A silly needle scared me and only after a week I was willing to stab someone I knew to death. I was willing to spill blood and to do anything that I needed to do to make sure I survived. A part of me wanted to preserve those memories, as awful as they were, of my mom threatening me with needles. It is way better than the reality I am living right now. I’m not even sure my parents made it to the safe zone and after seeing Friendship Heights and what’s been going on, I’m not even sure the safe zone still exists.
“We’re almost to the metro stop!” David said as he and Vankelia rode faster. I could see the flames engulfing the horizon and the smell of smoke and dead bodies filling my nose. As we got closer, the flames grew larger. A ring of fire surrounded most of the area around the metro and even through the blaze, we could hear gun fire, screaming and people fighting.
“What’s going on?” Vankelia asked as we looked at the fire.
“I don’t know, but let’s go around and see if there is an opening to this place.” David said.
“Let me go!” I protested. “If it gets dangerous, I need to be able to fight.”
“Or save yourself?” David said looking at me. “No way. I know you’re not telling the whole truth about this survival plan of yours. Until you’re willing to take Vankelia and me to this place, there is no way I’m letting you go.”
“And risk me getting killed? Then you’ll definitely have no chance to get an in on this survival plan.” I said.
“Maybe we should let her go?” Vankelia asked. I nodded my head furiously to show my agreement.
“And risk her kill us first? I’d rather risk her life later than risk our lives now.” David said, pulling a large knife out of his bag. “Maybe…” He said playing with his knife. “Maybe if we cut off her hands, she won’t be able to attack us.”
“Are you crazy!?” I screamed.
Vankelia’s eyes grew wide. “I’d be all for it.” She was already all for killing me, why not torture me instead?
David shook his head. “I was just kidding V, calm down.” He said. She clearly showed disappointment and got off her bike to take a better look at the wall of fire in front of us. Suddenly we heard a large scream from the other side that caused her to jump back.
“What was that?” She asked.
“I don’t know, but let’s go and find that opening.”
They rode off. I had one knot left to untie.
I felt so humiliated. They tied me up and pushed me into a wagon that were usually used to drag small children behind their parents biking. If I could just undo a few of these knots, I’d be able to free myself and escape. They wouldn’t dare try and kill me. I just needed to kill them first. Who was this new Ashleigh? I wasn’t sure I liked her.
“Mom, I think I’m sick.” I remember I used to say whenever I didn’t want to go to school.
“Come here and let me feel your temperature.” She would press the back of her hand on my forehead. “You’re right…” She would pretend. “You’re heating up! I think we’ll need to go to the doctor but for now, you go rest and I’ll bring your breakfast.” She said with a smile. I would go back to my bed thinking I had won. Minutes later, as I got myself comfortable under my comforter, my mom would walk back into my room. “We’re going to need to give you a shot today.”
I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to get ready. This worked every time.
What happened to that Ashleigh? A silly needle scared me and only after a week I was willing to stab someone I knew to death. I was willing to spill blood and to do anything that I needed to do to make sure I survived. A part of me wanted to preserve those memories, as awful as they were, of my mom threatening me with needles. It is way better than the reality I am living right now. I’m not even sure my parents made it to the safe zone and after seeing Friendship Heights and what’s been going on, I’m not even sure the safe zone still exists.
“We’re almost to the metro stop!” David said as he and Vankelia rode faster. I could see the flames engulfing the horizon and the smell of smoke and dead bodies filling my nose. As we got closer, the flames grew larger. A ring of fire surrounded most of the area around the metro and even through the blaze, we could hear gun fire, screaming and people fighting.
“What’s going on?” Vankelia asked as we looked at the fire.
“I don’t know, but let’s go around and see if there is an opening to this place.” David said.
“Let me go!” I protested. “If it gets dangerous, I need to be able to fight.”
“Or save yourself?” David said looking at me. “No way. I know you’re not telling the whole truth about this survival plan of yours. Until you’re willing to take Vankelia and me to this place, there is no way I’m letting you go.”
“And risk me getting killed? Then you’ll definitely have no chance to get an in on this survival plan.” I said.
“Maybe we should let her go?” Vankelia asked. I nodded my head furiously to show my agreement.
“And risk her kill us first? I’d rather risk her life later than risk our lives now.” David said, pulling a large knife out of his bag. “Maybe…” He said playing with his knife. “Maybe if we cut off her hands, she won’t be able to attack us.”
“Are you crazy!?” I screamed.
Vankelia’s eyes grew wide. “I’d be all for it.” She was already all for killing me, why not torture me instead?
David shook his head. “I was just kidding V, calm down.” He said. She clearly showed disappointment and got off her bike to take a better look at the wall of fire in front of us. Suddenly we heard a large scream from the other side that caused her to jump back.
“What was that?” She asked.
“I don’t know, but let’s go and find that opening.”
They rode off. I had one knot left to untie.
***
Sarah
Yo, let me tell you, they were coming at us like Kkangpae through the thick smoke. It was never ending and those bastards kept coming after us. Good fortune on our side, the soldiers that were unlucky enough to get stuck in the flames with us were the first ones to be mauled by the hungry things.
We saw the way out. There was one section of the blaze that looked like it was dying and about to open up a passage for us to escape. We just needed to secure it and keep the zombies at bay until it opened. I wanted to shoot those jiggas and bust a few caps but I knew I needed to conserve my bullets. I wrapped my machine gun around me and pulled out my sick machete. Its black carbon fiber body and razor sharp edges caused for a deadly pairing.
“Sarah, let’s go!” Owen said to me pulling out his own dinky machete. I laughed but rushed in with him.
“FUCK YOU!” I said slicing off a zombie’s head. It looked like my ex boyfriend. It made it that much more gratifying.
Lauren H. was behind me getting up after putting her blood soaked shirt over Eric’s face. I knew we had lost him at that point.
“What can I do?” She asked me. I gave her a look.
“Really, you don’t see anything you can do right now?” I replied back. I tossed her a handgun. “Go fucking kill those things!” She looked a bit frightened by me as she ran off trying to take the safety off of her handgun. If I hadn't seen her later that day, I would have bet that she would have died right then and there. Who can't take a safety off of a gun? Seriously.
I noticed Elizabeth shooting zombies with the most blank look on her face. I stopped and observed her. She didn't seem human any more. It looked like the face of a serial killer, no remorse, no feelings at all.
"Yo Elizabeth." I called out to her. She didn't answer back. "Elizabeth." I called again. She still didn't look at me. "Rude..." I muttered under my breath and continued killing the zombies in front. Out of the corner of my eye, I realized she wasn't going after any of the other zombies any more. Elizabeth was only shooting down zombies that were in her way of getting to someone...one person in particular.
"JC!!!!!!!" I yelled out and rushed to get to him.
Yo, let me tell you, they were coming at us like Kkangpae through the thick smoke. It was never ending and those bastards kept coming after us. Good fortune on our side, the soldiers that were unlucky enough to get stuck in the flames with us were the first ones to be mauled by the hungry things.
We saw the way out. There was one section of the blaze that looked like it was dying and about to open up a passage for us to escape. We just needed to secure it and keep the zombies at bay until it opened. I wanted to shoot those jiggas and bust a few caps but I knew I needed to conserve my bullets. I wrapped my machine gun around me and pulled out my sick machete. Its black carbon fiber body and razor sharp edges caused for a deadly pairing.
“Sarah, let’s go!” Owen said to me pulling out his own dinky machete. I laughed but rushed in with him.
“FUCK YOU!” I said slicing off a zombie’s head. It looked like my ex boyfriend. It made it that much more gratifying.
Lauren H. was behind me getting up after putting her blood soaked shirt over Eric’s face. I knew we had lost him at that point.
“What can I do?” She asked me. I gave her a look.
“Really, you don’t see anything you can do right now?” I replied back. I tossed her a handgun. “Go fucking kill those things!” She looked a bit frightened by me as she ran off trying to take the safety off of her handgun. If I hadn't seen her later that day, I would have bet that she would have died right then and there. Who can't take a safety off of a gun? Seriously.
I noticed Elizabeth shooting zombies with the most blank look on her face. I stopped and observed her. She didn't seem human any more. It looked like the face of a serial killer, no remorse, no feelings at all.
"Yo Elizabeth." I called out to her. She didn't answer back. "Elizabeth." I called again. She still didn't look at me. "Rude..." I muttered under my breath and continued killing the zombies in front. Out of the corner of my eye, I realized she wasn't going after any of the other zombies any more. Elizabeth was only shooting down zombies that were in her way of getting to someone...one person in particular.
"JC!!!!!!!" I yelled out and rushed to get to him.
***
JC
Call me a dreamer, call me a risk taker, call me whatever you want, but don't ever call me a follower. I've always been a leader and that's how I still view myself today. Even after the outbreak, I knew I could lead us...to what, wasn't always clear, but I new it had to have survival and safety somewhere in there.
That final night in Friendship Heights was the brink of me wondering if I was meant to be a leader. That horde of zombies that came through the fire...I couldn't do anything. Everyone splintered off in different directions and no matter how hard I tried to wrangle everyone, it was impossible to bring them all back in. No one listened. I felt like my calls were falling on deaf ears.
I slaughtered a few zombies with my Smith & Wesson handgun and as I was reloading a new magazine I heard Sarah scream my name from behind. I immediately turned around and pointed the gun at what I thought would be a zombie. Elizabeth's beady eyes were far more scary than any zombie's.
"It's just you." I said lowering my gun. But Sarah was still running towards me. I immediately knew why. Elizabeth raised a gun at me and put it straight into my forehead. I didn't have time to think, I immediately grabbed her hand and twisted it back allowing for the gun to drop. She kicked me in the stomach and as I flew back, she lunged at me causing both of us to fall down.
Elizabeth was now sitting on top of me, her hands around my neck as I tried to pry them from my hands. "What are you doing!" I tried to say saving my breath.
"It's time for you to go." She said lifting up her hand to strike me but Sarah shot it, blowing up her hand immediately, causing her to scream in high heaven. Elizabeth fell over me allowing me to get up. I looked up at Sarah who was putting her holster away as she pinned Elizabeth down this time.
"No one kills another human, GOT IT?" Sarah said as Elizabeth looked back, the first time in days with fear in her eyes. Elizabeth nodded her head and Sarah gave her hand to help her up. Elizabeth quickly grabbed it and twisted it behind Sarah, locking her up in a bind.
Sarah smirked. "What are you doing to do? Beat me up with your bloody stub? You can't hold me and attack me at the same time."
"I can take us both to the zombies." Elizabeth said as she started pushing Sarah towards the on coming horde. I pulled my gun out and pointed it straight at Elizabeth. She only smiled back.
"I thought no one kills another human." She said to me. My hands shook...Sarah had total desperation in her eyes.
Mel and Christa had run past us to try and kill as many of the zombies that were approaching. It only gave me a few extra seconds.
"You can't win." Elizabeth said. She got closer to the horde. Christa and Mel stepped aside unsure of what to do. One more step and there would have been no time to help Sarah.
BANG. All three women screamed. Elizabeth fell backwards, a hole sent right through her head.
"We don't kill other humans..." I began "But somewhere along the road, you lost your humanity..."
Call me a dreamer, call me a risk taker, call me whatever you want, but don't ever call me a follower. I've always been a leader and that's how I still view myself today. Even after the outbreak, I knew I could lead us...to what, wasn't always clear, but I new it had to have survival and safety somewhere in there.
That final night in Friendship Heights was the brink of me wondering if I was meant to be a leader. That horde of zombies that came through the fire...I couldn't do anything. Everyone splintered off in different directions and no matter how hard I tried to wrangle everyone, it was impossible to bring them all back in. No one listened. I felt like my calls were falling on deaf ears.
I slaughtered a few zombies with my Smith & Wesson handgun and as I was reloading a new magazine I heard Sarah scream my name from behind. I immediately turned around and pointed the gun at what I thought would be a zombie. Elizabeth's beady eyes were far more scary than any zombie's.
"It's just you." I said lowering my gun. But Sarah was still running towards me. I immediately knew why. Elizabeth raised a gun at me and put it straight into my forehead. I didn't have time to think, I immediately grabbed her hand and twisted it back allowing for the gun to drop. She kicked me in the stomach and as I flew back, she lunged at me causing both of us to fall down.
Elizabeth was now sitting on top of me, her hands around my neck as I tried to pry them from my hands. "What are you doing!" I tried to say saving my breath.
"It's time for you to go." She said lifting up her hand to strike me but Sarah shot it, blowing up her hand immediately, causing her to scream in high heaven. Elizabeth fell over me allowing me to get up. I looked up at Sarah who was putting her holster away as she pinned Elizabeth down this time.
"No one kills another human, GOT IT?" Sarah said as Elizabeth looked back, the first time in days with fear in her eyes. Elizabeth nodded her head and Sarah gave her hand to help her up. Elizabeth quickly grabbed it and twisted it behind Sarah, locking her up in a bind.
Sarah smirked. "What are you doing to do? Beat me up with your bloody stub? You can't hold me and attack me at the same time."
"I can take us both to the zombies." Elizabeth said as she started pushing Sarah towards the on coming horde. I pulled my gun out and pointed it straight at Elizabeth. She only smiled back.
"I thought no one kills another human." She said to me. My hands shook...Sarah had total desperation in her eyes.
Mel and Christa had run past us to try and kill as many of the zombies that were approaching. It only gave me a few extra seconds.
"You can't win." Elizabeth said. She got closer to the horde. Christa and Mel stepped aside unsure of what to do. One more step and there would have been no time to help Sarah.
BANG. All three women screamed. Elizabeth fell backwards, a hole sent right through her head.
"We don't kill other humans..." I began "But somewhere along the road, you lost your humanity..."
***
Ashleigh
"This way!" David yelled. He found an area of the ring of fire that we could go into.
"Why are we going in there!" I yelled, trying to buy some time to get the last knot untied. The little bastard didn't do half bad with the last knot. Plus it seemed really dumb for us to even go in there. I had a feeling we would just be walking into trouble and weren't we trying to survive.
"Huh..." I heard Vankelia say walking behind me. I craned my neck so I could see her. She was staring down my wrists where the knots were. "Trying to escape, I see." She squatted next to me and whispered in my ear. "If it wasn't for David who was keeping you alive, I would have cut you myself."
I looked up at her with doe eyes.
"You heard me." She said. "You don't try and attack us and think I can forgive you. And now you're trying to escape." She took the rope I had untied and retied them, tighter this time.
"Fuck you." I couldn't help myself.
"You're going to help us." Vankelia demanded.
"What if I don't?" I asked. She pulled a small switch blade out of her jeans and placed it on my throat.
"I can just kill you now and toss your body into the fire. David isn't here to save you. Now, what do you say?"
I didn't say anything. I couldn't.
David came back to us. "What's holding you guys up?" He asked. I had no choice.
"Fine." I finally said.
"Huh?" He looked at me then Vankelia.
"Fine. I'll help you guys survive." I said. Vankelia smiled. David still looked dumb founded.
"Well...okay!" He said.
"Let's get out of here first...and untie me!" I demanded. David began to move towards me with his knife to untie the ropes but Vankelia stopped him.
"I think she needs a little more time to think. Back to your bike, I'm taking over this operation now." She said. She took duct tape out of her bag and taped my mouth shut as I screamed. What was I getting myself into... I thought as they rode away from the fire with me dragging behind.
"This way!" David yelled. He found an area of the ring of fire that we could go into.
"Why are we going in there!" I yelled, trying to buy some time to get the last knot untied. The little bastard didn't do half bad with the last knot. Plus it seemed really dumb for us to even go in there. I had a feeling we would just be walking into trouble and weren't we trying to survive.
"Huh..." I heard Vankelia say walking behind me. I craned my neck so I could see her. She was staring down my wrists where the knots were. "Trying to escape, I see." She squatted next to me and whispered in my ear. "If it wasn't for David who was keeping you alive, I would have cut you myself."
I looked up at her with doe eyes.
"You heard me." She said. "You don't try and attack us and think I can forgive you. And now you're trying to escape." She took the rope I had untied and retied them, tighter this time.
"Fuck you." I couldn't help myself.
"You're going to help us." Vankelia demanded.
"What if I don't?" I asked. She pulled a small switch blade out of her jeans and placed it on my throat.
"I can just kill you now and toss your body into the fire. David isn't here to save you. Now, what do you say?"
I didn't say anything. I couldn't.
David came back to us. "What's holding you guys up?" He asked. I had no choice.
"Fine." I finally said.
"Huh?" He looked at me then Vankelia.
"Fine. I'll help you guys survive." I said. Vankelia smiled. David still looked dumb founded.
"Well...okay!" He said.
"Let's get out of here first...and untie me!" I demanded. David began to move towards me with his knife to untie the ropes but Vankelia stopped him.
"I think she needs a little more time to think. Back to your bike, I'm taking over this operation now." She said. She took duct tape out of her bag and taped my mouth shut as I screamed. What was I getting myself into... I thought as they rode away from the fire with me dragging behind.
***
Lauren H.
As quick as it started, it finished in a blur. The fires began to die out and the zombies started thinning out. This was Jiko's favorite time. He ran through them like a knife through warm butter. Everyone was exhausted and after separating the dead bodies of the soldiers and zombies it was a blessing to think only Eric, Jenny and Elizabeth had died through the ordeal.
I saw Adelaide in the corner crying by Lauren N. I knew what I had to do. I walked over to her and got on my knees to be eye level with her. "Adelaide..." I said softly. She cried and wrapped her arms around my neck and held tightly. I held her tightly as well.
I'm sure I had lost my parents at this point, never having closure with my mom. This little girl just lost her mom and now we're both orphans together. I knew, in my heart, since I first met this small child...it was now my role to fill the position as her guardian. I knew it was my job to protect her, in a way, to be her mother...
The guys had found the spark plugs to the cars and Owen and Jiko were already putting them back into our vehicles as I walked with Adelaide hand in hand. This little girl was going to change and it was my job to make sure it wasn't to become cold to the world.
As quick as it started, it finished in a blur. The fires began to die out and the zombies started thinning out. This was Jiko's favorite time. He ran through them like a knife through warm butter. Everyone was exhausted and after separating the dead bodies of the soldiers and zombies it was a blessing to think only Eric, Jenny and Elizabeth had died through the ordeal.
I saw Adelaide in the corner crying by Lauren N. I knew what I had to do. I walked over to her and got on my knees to be eye level with her. "Adelaide..." I said softly. She cried and wrapped her arms around my neck and held tightly. I held her tightly as well.
I'm sure I had lost my parents at this point, never having closure with my mom. This little girl just lost her mom and now we're both orphans together. I knew, in my heart, since I first met this small child...it was now my role to fill the position as her guardian. I knew it was my job to protect her, in a way, to be her mother...
The guys had found the spark plugs to the cars and Owen and Jiko were already putting them back into our vehicles as I walked with Adelaide hand in hand. This little girl was going to change and it was my job to make sure it wasn't to become cold to the world.
***
JC
We all looked back at the scene as the flames died down. We got into the two cars and went down the road towards Bethesda again.
As I drove the first car, I was sure there would be a lot of zombies roaming the streets, but it was relatively quiet. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Caroline.
“Maybe we can go back to our cars and siphon the gas from them?” She asked. I agreed. Jiko had found long PVC tubing in the back of the car that we could use to siphon gas out of one car and into another. All you had to do was stick the tubing into the gas tank of the car and suck out the air in the tube. This would cause enough pressure – think vacuum – that would cause the gas in the car to flow into the tube and out into a container.
We reached the street our shop was on and turned into the 4 story garage. We all got out and gathered around before we separated.
“Okay, fifteen minutes at most. Just siphon the gas out and come back.”
“Come with me JC?” Caroline asked me.
“Where to?” I asked.
“Back to the store, I left my keys there. I really want to grab my purse too, if it’s still there.”
“You should bring a weapon with you just in case.” I said.
“I don’t need to. That’s why I’m asking you to come with me.” She smiled.
We crossed the empty street to where the store was. The front windows were shattered from the first initial night and the bodies of our friends that were killed had disappeared by the time we walked in. They were either eaten completely or, God forbid, reanimated and became zombies themselves.
Plenty of blood still stained the floors and as I was taking a better look at the store Caroline ran ahead of me to the lockers in the back. “Be careful!” I said as I stepped over broken glass carefully.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to find my purse.” She said.
The board where we put up that day’s menu was still hanging, intact. All the different options stared back at me, albeit they were covered in an inch of dust, but none the less gave me a sense of what we had before the outbreak.
“JC, can you come back here?” I heard Caroline ask. I said yes back and walked slowly back to the office just to take it all in. We had survived so much but we still weren’t safe.
“What is it?”I asked. She was facing away from me. The back door was still wide open.
“I’m so sorry.” Caroline said. She turned around with a gun pointing right at me. My eyes grew wide and the last thing I saw was a bullet leaving a gun.
BANG.
We all looked back at the scene as the flames died down. We got into the two cars and went down the road towards Bethesda again.
As I drove the first car, I was sure there would be a lot of zombies roaming the streets, but it was relatively quiet. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Caroline.
“Maybe we can go back to our cars and siphon the gas from them?” She asked. I agreed. Jiko had found long PVC tubing in the back of the car that we could use to siphon gas out of one car and into another. All you had to do was stick the tubing into the gas tank of the car and suck out the air in the tube. This would cause enough pressure – think vacuum – that would cause the gas in the car to flow into the tube and out into a container.
We reached the street our shop was on and turned into the 4 story garage. We all got out and gathered around before we separated.
“Okay, fifteen minutes at most. Just siphon the gas out and come back.”
“Come with me JC?” Caroline asked me.
“Where to?” I asked.
“Back to the store, I left my keys there. I really want to grab my purse too, if it’s still there.”
“You should bring a weapon with you just in case.” I said.
“I don’t need to. That’s why I’m asking you to come with me.” She smiled.
We crossed the empty street to where the store was. The front windows were shattered from the first initial night and the bodies of our friends that were killed had disappeared by the time we walked in. They were either eaten completely or, God forbid, reanimated and became zombies themselves.
Plenty of blood still stained the floors and as I was taking a better look at the store Caroline ran ahead of me to the lockers in the back. “Be careful!” I said as I stepped over broken glass carefully.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to find my purse.” She said.
The board where we put up that day’s menu was still hanging, intact. All the different options stared back at me, albeit they were covered in an inch of dust, but none the less gave me a sense of what we had before the outbreak.
“JC, can you come back here?” I heard Caroline ask. I said yes back and walked slowly back to the office just to take it all in. We had survived so much but we still weren’t safe.
“What is it?”I asked. She was facing away from me. The back door was still wide open.
“I’m so sorry.” Caroline said. She turned around with a gun pointing right at me. My eyes grew wide and the last thing I saw was a bullet leaving a gun.
BANG.
***
Major cities around the country have already fallen to the mass outbreak that was first reported in the...zpppp...zpppp...metro area. If you are a survivor looking for a shelter, please head to….zpppp…zppppp….
“What the fuck!” I said hitting the radio that I had brought with me when I escaped the city. It’s been over two weeks now and if you asked me to relive that experience again by telling you my story, I’m not sure I could get through it without crying. I sat back in my car defeated and tossed the radio to the back.
“Don’t worry about it.” My companion told me. “I think we’re making good headway. At least we’re out of the city.”
I looked at him with furrowed brows. I just couldn’t imagine how he was keeping such a positive attitude about the situation. I’m already a slightly neurotic individual…adding the end of the world does not help that at all. He could tell I had worry in my eyes.
“Kaley, don’t worry…we’ll get out of here.” He smiled. I tried to force a smile back. The small awkward silence was quickly broken by the snoring of our third companion in the back seat. We both laughed.
“50 miles away!” He pointed out. “We’re almost back to DC. I'm sure we'll find safety there!”
END OF SEASON 1.
“What the fuck!” I said hitting the radio that I had brought with me when I escaped the city. It’s been over two weeks now and if you asked me to relive that experience again by telling you my story, I’m not sure I could get through it without crying. I sat back in my car defeated and tossed the radio to the back.
“Don’t worry about it.” My companion told me. “I think we’re making good headway. At least we’re out of the city.”
I looked at him with furrowed brows. I just couldn’t imagine how he was keeping such a positive attitude about the situation. I’m already a slightly neurotic individual…adding the end of the world does not help that at all. He could tell I had worry in my eyes.
“Kaley, don’t worry…we’ll get out of here.” He smiled. I tried to force a smile back. The small awkward silence was quickly broken by the snoring of our third companion in the back seat. We both laughed.
“50 miles away!” He pointed out. “We’re almost back to DC. I'm sure we'll find safety there!”
END OF SEASON 1.
