Dead or Alive

26: An End To This Suffering

There was a strange feeling in the air as the group approached the high walls. Too strange to really describe. It was similar to a feeling of relief, but not exactly that, they still felt on edge and skeptical.

The moon provided enough light in the sky to turn off their flashlights, not like they were really much help to begin with. Almost no clouds were in the sky, allowing the moons illumination to cast strange shadows from the cars.

They got closer, the light getting brighter from behind the wall. A low hum was learn from the electricity running, a sound unfamiliar to all of their ears.

There was a larger wreck of cars, then a clear walkway to the gate. The group was about halfway through the various crashed vehicles when gunshots were fired from beyond the wall.

Immediately everyone took shelter behind a car, some being pushed in order to insure their safety. Adrenaline ran through all of their veins when the shots didn't stop. Whoever was shooting had sharp aim, glass shattering all around the boys even after they took off in various directions. The younger boys clutched the back of their necks and curled into a safety position while the older boys knelt anxiously, ducking whenever a bullet got too close.

"Friendly!" Ravn shouted at the top of his lungs in desperation. "We are friendly!"

The shots seized.

"We're looking for shelter!" Ravn continued to shout, hesitantly standing with his hands held up in surrender. "Please! We mean no harm!"

A loud alarm buzzed in the open air, and metal squeaking at high frequencies followed. Most of the boys instinctively covered their ears, and Ravn tried to not put his hands down despite the pain. He didn't want to give these people another reason to shoot.

The gate was open.

Many soldiers with flashlights and assault rifles began running out, almost in unison.

This was real. These are real people, real healthy people.

There was still a sense of hesitancy though.

Ravn urged the others to stand up, and put his arms back down to his side. He still didn't move from his spot.

Many lights were turned on, blinding the survivors. The soldiers cast their lights over each boy, evidently landing on the twins. Guns were pointed in their direction instantly.

"Two infected." One of the soldiers stated, finger on the trigger of their gun.

"Stop!" Leedo ran from his spot and stood in front of the twins to shield them. "They're not infected!"

"Don't play games with me, there are obvious bite marks on their skin." The soldier didn't move their gun, eyes glaring into Leedo's soul. "Move. So I can put them out of their misery."

"We're immune!" Xion shouted, pulling at his shirt to reveal all of his bite marks. "I got bit the first week the virus was spreading. I've never shown signs of turning, nor has my brother."

"Zombies turn within minutes." Ravn made his way to Leedo's side to defend the twins. "There's not a single zombie on this road, so no way for them to get bitten. They'd of turned by now if they weren't immune."

The soldier didn't seem to be buying any of what's being said. No one else knew how else to convince these people of the truth.

"Mister, I don't know what else I need to prove." Xion leveled his tone out, but his sass was evident. "You saw all my scars and I feel fine."

Still the soldiers didn't move.

"Do tests on me!" Dongmyeong shouted, moving out from behind his brother, he sounded scared yet at the same time confident. "I'm not sure of what use it could be, but take my blood. It could make a cure for all I know. If it'll get you to help us, then please do that."