Into The Darkness

Chapter Eleven

We parked by the front office so we could have a quick look around before we drove to the lunchroom. It was a tight fit to get back there so we didn't want to get parked and have to leave the truck because the rotter's snuck up on us.

"Remember, if we get split up, run for the park and whoever has the truck will pick you up." I said getting out of the truck. We explored around a few of the buildings closest to the cafeteria. Just to be sure that there were no hoards of the rotter's hiding. It was clear until we walked around the library, all over in the square of grass was piles of burnt bodies. They looked to be burnt a while ago, since there wasn't any smoke. But just the sight of it made my eyes water and I'm trying my best not to gag. As we passed by a large pile I noticed one of the bodies move, it must have been a rotter and the fire didn't kill it...

"Just don't look." Richard said softly, pulling me away towards the lunch room.

The door to the cafeteria was shut, but the glass window was broken so I just reached inside to unlock it. I looked over at Alex when I opened the door, he still had that nervous look on his face. I squeezed his hand to reassure him, "We will clear it and I'll go get the truck. Everything is going to be fine."

Immediately I noticed the whole blown in the roof, I'm not sure what happened here. But I really hope that the food is still here. Thanks to the hole in the roof, we could see through the whole cafeteria so no rotter's were going to sneak up on us. I decided to go to the kitchen while Alex and Richard cleared the stage at the front of the lunchroom. Too bad for me, the kitchen was very dark, so I pulled out my flashlight. The dark is much scarier at the end of the world, not knowing what is hiding in the shadows.

The kitchen wasn't in too much of a mess, so that is a little promising. Next to the freezer door is the pantry, I kicked it open and shined my light inside to see shelves filled with boxes.

"Thank goodness." I breathed, then Richard called from behind me.

"You good?"

"Yes, all clear, and there's food. I'll go grab the truck." I passed Richard and left the kitchen to see Alex was standing on the ramp to the stage. "Alex?" I called out to him, but he didn't answer. So I walked a little closer and realized he was looking at a small rotter.

"Alex, kill it." I called out to him, but he still didn't move. The small rotter staggered towards Alex, but he still wouldn't move. So I ran as fast as I could towards them, and as I got there the rotter was lunging at Alex, who was still frozen. I kicked the rotter hard enough to knock it down then I shoved my knife through its skull.

"Alex, what in the hell was that?" I snapped, but he didn't answer. "Hello? That thing was going to kill you!"

"It reminded me of Ollie, okay?" he shouted in my face. I instantly felt bad for being so aggressive, it just scared me is all.

I took a deep breath and kissed his cheek, "I'm sorry for yelling, just please be more careful."

I made sure the stage was clear, then I made my way back down the ramp. I didn't notice until now all of the suitcases strewn about the lunchroom. I guess this was probably a refugee center or something before it got bad. I waved to the guys as they started bringing out food, "I'll go get the truck."

I avoided the piles of burned bodies as I jogged towards the truck. In the courtyard next to our truck, I noticed a single rotter. It's just staggering along, so I decided to put it down, I don't want it to sneak up on us. I jogged up towards it and swung my knife hard down into the top of it's head. It fell to the ground with a thud and then I spotted another come out from behind the shop building. I walked up and put that one down as well. After it hit the ground I went to go back to the truck, but then I heard the noise. I crept towards the back of the building to peek around it. What I saw made my skin crawl, a hoard. Just like the one that chased us off of Richards farm.