Word Count: 2,316
Version: 1.1
The Desperate Struggle: Chapter 1
by Indale © Daniel Patten
I stumbled across the brick-layered street, losing my footing on a rotting corpse left for dead. I regained what little balance I could by pushing against a shop window and throwing myself into the empty market square. I could no longer see any sign of movement, no wandering corpses vomiting that black liquid everywhere, no disgruntled moaning as I left that all behind, managing to outrun them as I arrived in the middle of the town centre.
Buildings towered over me, shop windows were smashed to pieces, merchandise scattered everywhere. A Starbucks coffee shop still had its water running as the strong smell of coffee poured across the counters, along the lamented floor and into the street. A nearby McDonalds remained deserted; I paused for a moment debuting whether I could salvage any food remaining but decided better upon it. I clenched my satchel close to my side and my grip on my baseball bat tightened. Fresh blood was still dripping from its battered surface, speaking of which, so was my jeans and t-shirt.
I’ve had to expand my territory to locate food and water, I raided the nearest grocery store but found very little if nothing, so my decision was to come into the town centre, an extremely dangerous decision if not just foolish. The trip would have normally have taken ten minutes, but hoping to avoid the denser areas and sneaking past the Infected that paid me no mind unless provoked, an hour slowly passed.
There was a growl in the distance, it hummed menacingly from high above which caused me to panic, I had heard that cry before; a Survivor was fleeing from a Horde near my Safe House three days ago, before I had time to assist in any way. I heard that growl, then a horrific scream as the Survivor was engulfed by a blur that pounced atop him, clawing violently to his abdomen, it wasn’t long after when the Horde finally caught up to him, enveloping him within a mass of screaming cries and pounding limps. I pitied him as I listened to him die just a few feet from me.
But now, the growl grew louder. My eyes scanned the building tops, looking for anything that appeared out of place, the setting sunlight strained my eyes as I looked past the grey mason for any movement. I whirled on the spot, hearing a shriek unlike anything I’d heard before, and then I saw it. Crouching silently on the base of the nearby Waterstones store, a human-figure yet posed like a predator, dressed within a dark blue hoodie which masked its face. All I could make out was a pair of red eyes, ready for the kill. The moment my gaze fell upon it, it attacked.
It launched itself an extraordinary height as alarmingly it came and came closer towards me, I bolted from the spot, hearing both a yelping and thudding sound as the creature landed on the very space where I had been. I whirled my head as I ran, looking at this small frame of a person, its face was still hidden away as the hood did not falter, and as it turned to recover from its landing, it growled again, getting on all fours as it started to crawl after me, preparing itself for another pounce. I tried my best to outrun the creature as I heard it shriek loudly, releasing itself from its powerful leap and pursing me.
I managed to get a clear ten feet before the wind was knocked from my lungs, my baseball bat rolled away from me as I landed onto the floor, shocked as the creature pinned me down to the ground, roaring loudly as it caught its prey. I tried to pull myself free or lift the beast off from me but it proved stronger, and more determined to end me then I did to continue.
I screamed loudly as I felt the first claw try to shed the fabric of my t-shirt from my back, I rocked from side to side as the monster pinned me down harder, striking again with its other claw, drawing blood for the first time. I screamed again and again as it dug deep two more times. I felt the blood begin to warm the cold skin as it trickled down my back. It was then I thought I was going to die, gored and shredded by this Infected creature without a chance of survival. Or so I thought.
I heard the first shot, loud and booming as a round pierced the Hunter’s chest; it recoiled for a moment, seemingly unfazed by the assault, which was until another round propelled straight through its dark hood and splashing a puddle of blood across the back of my neck and down my face. I felt its strength leave it as I finally managed to pull myself free from it, discarding the monster aside in a lifeless bulk on the floor. I struggled to my feet, grasping the lacerations on my back, blood continued to slowly leak from them as I collected my bat and scanned the environment for the entity that saved me.
I saw nothing on the street level, just empty shops, unattended fires and destroyed merchandise scattered everywhere.
“You! Down there!” The voice echoed, seemingly from a long distance. The tone itself seemed metallic rather than fluid as conversation normally went. It was only until I realised that the person yelling was doing so through a megaphone that I noticed the flailing figures high upon the five storey car park just a few yards down the centre.
“If you want to live mate, get your ass up here now!” Shouted a distant figure as he waved his arms around, signalling me to hurry. I whirled in surprise wondering what the urgency was for, until I heard it; the howl of the Horde. They smelt fresh blood and seeked it at all cost; my blood. I turned towards the direction I came, where I had managed to outrun or hide away from the Infected within the streets, now all turned towards me from a distance, bolting as fast as they could together in a mass of undead bodies, all ready to devour me.
I began to run, or rather limp as fast as I could towards the car park as I heard covering fire from ahead of me, three different series of sounds of gunfire ranged overhead and almost seemed to whiz past my head into the vast approaching targets.
My sides ached, I grunted with each step as I limped bit by bit into the car park. I slammed my body weight into the access door, flying inside and then paralleling myself back to seal the passage back, just before the pounding fists slammed against the metal.
“Mate! We blocked the third and fourth stairway so they couldn’t get up! Get to the third floor and head to the other side of the car park, the elevator with the red paint on is where you want to go. Good luck!” Came a booming voice from overtop. I saw the faint silhouette of a face looking down from the stairway yet no time to response as the door began to give way and ravenous arms tore away at the wooden support.
“Oh yes! Watch out for the W…” The voice trailed off however as the Infected screamed wildly as I bolted towards the first flight of stairs. I stormed passed the first floor passageway, and then the second floor. I soon discovered what the voice meant by blocked passageways as the third floor passageway upwards was bared by random junk and obstacles such as shopping trolleys and bins that sealed the entire corridor from that side.
“Fuck!” I muttered, whirling from the barricade and stepping into the third floor car park level. A sudden cold breeze welcomed me as I stepped into the open yard; I saw nothing at first, just parked cars and gray concrete pillars and walls. I then heard the horrifying sound of a crash, which drove me forward when I realised that they had broken through.
“Run run run run!” I muttered as I started to bolt across the car park, I was only slightly familiar with the area but this car park was a maze, and the last thing I wanted to do was get lost in a maze during a Zombie Invasion.
I ran up the first ramp that I could, heading to the opposite side of the dreary complex towards the elevators. My mind raced a hundred miles an hour, I could hear the Horde now pouring up the staircase from behind me and even some had managed to arrive at the third floor with me, hissing and grunting as they chased after me from a distance.
I gasped suddenly, feeling a stitch course through my entire body. My back still hurt from the slash wounds as well which didn’t help as I pushed past a parked car towards the distant doorway and elevators beyond. It was only as I got a couple of feet closer towards the door did I notice the sobbing between my gasps and heavy breathing. I slammed into the door and pushed it open with my weight, standing in a small room with two elevator doors on one side and a blocked passageway which must have been another staircase on the right.
However my eyes turned towards a solitary figure that paced softly backwards and forwards in the centre of the room, a plain woman, who cradled her face with her hands and only worn a pair of white bra and underwear. She sobbed to herself, her back turned towards me as she walked aimlessly round and round in a circle. My eyes suddenly fixated upon the eight inch long claws that extended from her fingertips and I panicked. Her throat croaked as I almost turned towards the door which I had just came through when suddenly an Infected Zombie leapt from its corner and tried to push itself inside. I panicked again, kicking hard as the Zombie fell backwards and without thinking, I slammed the door shut, sealing myself in with the plain woman.
The pounding began to increase as I was sure that the horde was now upon me, the door frame buckled under the weight of multiple zombies and I knew that I only had a limited time left.
My heartbeat raced as I held my back against the wall and slowly tried to avoid approaching the woman, she began to trail to her left, giving me the space I needed to slip passed and approached the elevator buttons. I slammed my fist onto the red-paint covered buttons and waited patiently as the numbers began to descend.
The doorframe braced, a piece
of the doorway collapsed as arms began to claw at the air from within the room.
“Comeoncomeoncomeon…” I whispered as my eyes darted between the failing door, the stumbling woman and the elevator doorway which remained shut.
Suddenly, my attention turned towards the woman, her feet now guided her towards me and as she slowly approached a soft groan escaped her mouth. My lungs burned from running, my legs felt weak and my back still bleed from the assault from the Hunter but now I saw fear in my eyes as the Witch slowly began to clench her hands together, removing them from her face and outwards into a more threatening manner. Her groaning got heavier as she hissed between her teeth at my presence.
Suddenly, the doors to the elevator opened, even as the Witch drew closer I bolted for the passageway, stepping into the brightly lit elevator and then slamming my fingers painfully against the pad, praying for anywhere but there.
The door suddenly gave way; I heard the sounds of rushing bodies pour into the room as I continued to slam my finger against the ‘Close’ button, my stare however was locked at the Witch who was slowly approaching with each step, until suddenly a hideous scream escaped her mouth as her arms stretched outwards and her clawed fingers stuck out like horrifying needles. And it was then that I knew that she was going to kill me.
“SHIT!” I yelled as I watched the Witch start to hurtle towards me, along with a body of Zombies that had chased me from the beginning, persistent hunters. I braced myself for an attack by lifting my baseball bat in front of my head, ready to defend what little I had left.
However, as I opened my eyes, I saw the doors to the elevator beginning to close, and the Witch attempted to slash at my face through the closing gap. Just before they sealed, she flinched away, screaming in rage as I imagined her shredding the metal doors open to try and get me, yet I knew she would fail and that I knew that I would be safe now. At least I thought so.
The elevator began to slowly ascend; I breathed deeply, my heart racing still as I sat down with my back against the wall, resting my head against the arm banister for support.
Eventually the doors opened by their selves and I was welcomed by the sight of three silhouettes, two male and one female. They were all armed with guns of different calibres and looked down at me with observing stares. I felt too exhausted to neither introduce myself nor acknowledge a response, I just sat there, staring the survivors in the face until I almost seemed to pass out.
“He’s wounded, let’s get him some First Aid” Came a woman’s voice, I saw the blur of her approach me just before I passed out, thankful for tender hands to brush my skin instead of the cold embrace of death.
