Survival

Is it Clear?

We quickly shove our weapons in their holsters while we run for our lives. The creature chases after us, and it is FAST! We turn the corner and run to the same service station I found Dean. Everyone runs inside before me. As I dash in, I slam and lock the door behind me and sit down. We here the horrible monster pounding on the door. My heart is in my throat and I feel sick to my stomach. We wait until the pounding and screeching has stopped and we continue to wait for what feels like hours before Dan speaks up:

“It smells like ass in here!”

We all start giggling a bit. The mood has eased. I flip on my flashlight and shine it around the room. The room is a nasty little one. Puddles of stagnant water all over the floor. The old sink that used to be white is now moldy and dripping water. Dead bugs lay belly up on the cold, wet tile. In the upper left corner resides a large, cottony white spider's nest.

I glide the light over my companions' faces. Phil looks nervous and stunned. Dan lays lightly against him, his eyes shut. Bing looks worried, but he tries not to let it show. Tom holds Jenny in an embrace, as if to protect her from the fear. Jamie sits with his head in his hands. He seems stressed. Charlie sits next to me. He just stares at his feet. Dean is staring at Bethan, tears streaming down his face. I turn the light onto her and see her crying too. I find that weird. Bethan almost never cries!

“Bethan? What's wrong?”

“It-it got me...”

“What?! Come here. Lemme see.”

She crawls over to me and stops with her back facing me. I see a tear in her shirt. Thankfully, there are only scratches. I gently wipe the oozing blood from the open wounds.

“Don't worry. You'll be fine!” I tell her comfortingly, “They're only scratches. No bites. Hey Jamie, toss me the ointment!”

He throws me the ointment and I rub some on the cuts. She winces at the contact.

“I'm sorry,” I say, “but this will keep it from getting infected.” I take some bandages out of my bag and unwrap them. I stick them to her wounds and offer her my jacket. She takes it willingly and puts it on. Zipping it up, she looks at me: 

“Thanks...Do you think it's safe to go out there now?”

I look around anxiously. Everyone is staring at me now, waiting for an answer. “Uh...I honestly couldn't tell you. I mean, if I open that door and that thing is still there, we're fucked!”

“Yea, but if we stay in here, we're gonna die anyway, so what's the harm? We've got a fifty-fifty chance here!” Tom replies. I nod. He has a point.

“Alright, Ridgewell. You have a good point, but let's be democratic here and vote. Who thinks I should take a look out there to see if it's sa-” The whole group raises their hands, “Well okay then! Looks like I'm gonna check...”

Slowly and cautiously, I open the door. I poke my head out and glance around. I see nothing. I rise to my feet and turn to everyone, “It's safe.”