Running in Hell

Chapter 10 - Return

Written by tikobiko333

Nathan's P.O.V

        The cool air slithered through the blades of grass, chilling our bare feet. The grass under me was wet with dew; the moon illuminating over the small plateau we nestled in. The face of my grandfather was thick with wrinkles from the large amount of stress he had endured throughout the apocolypse. His eyes were stern, gazing over the city ahead of us, looking for signs of life. No one is there, kept flashing through my mind. We are the only ones left. 
       
        His hands were seated behind him, propping his frail body up, while his, now ripped flannel, covered the rest of his torso. The jeans he wore were faded as well, small holes sprouting up along each leg, and his withered boots protected most of his toes. His body was much different - but he was still my grandfather.

"Nathan," there was a tense silence before he continued, "How are you?"

His question shocked me. "You're alive. . ."

He nodded and smiled grimly. "Yes I am," a small chuckle released as he replied.

I continued to stare at the city in front of us before I turned to look at him. "You're alive."

        His arm stretched out and held me in an embrace. His lips said nothing, letting our bond fill the silence. We sat like this for several seconds before he continued to talk. "You know, your grandma always told me not to get too settled." he scratched his neck, "and I never knew why she would say that."

The small sounds of nature and night filled the eerie silence again. 

"My group and I were separated a few nights ago," he took a sip of his water that sat next to him, "I figured they would go to the city, so I began to walk through the hills, and now. . ."

My silence soon ended when I made an unnatural sort of squawk, a shiver flowing through my body. "The house, our life . . ." a tear began to slide down my cool face.

"We have a new life now,"

I waited for him to continue, but that was all he said. I was shocked to feel a warm feeling rush on my hand.

"Beue," I smiled gently and placed him in my lap. He began to lick my arm, causing a short laugh to emerge from my mouth.

My grandfather smiled, patting Beue's head. 

"I found him after I escaped," I glanced at Beue, "It was just us for a day or so before I found this group."

There was more silence. As we sat, I was surprised to hear my grandfather begin to cry.

"Nathan, I. . ." he began to sob, his words short and strained.

My eyes widened as he showed me his arm. On it was a blue and black bruise, smeared with dried maroon blood. Bits of bone showed through his torn skin.

A bite.

I gasped, rushing to his side. "Grandpa!" I began to search frantically around me.

"Nathan . . ." he coughed, spitting out small drops of blood and mucus, "I love. . ." he heaved several heavy breaths, "you!"

"No!" I began to scream, wrapping his wound with what little resources I could find. "No! Please!" I began sobbing, screaming as though loosing what little love I had. My screams turned into screeches - I was going ballistic. My grandfather coughed more, smiling through them. "I was bit," he coughed several times again, "On my way here," he wheezed, "Walkers . . . are coming."

With his last words something happened. My grandfather wasn't my grandfather anymore. His eyes were a dull green, no emotions shown through them. His arms began to slump slightly onto the ground. His tears and smile soon disappeared, turning into one lifeless being. This wasn't death though. He still seemed . . .alive. It wasn't a good feeling though.

I made another sound with my mouth, one that I thought could never exist, still in shock.

However, before I could even comprehend what was happening, something else happened.

Walkers.

Everywhere.

Arms, legs, moans and groans from every moving thing around me. Dozens of walkers entered the field, crawling towards me. My grandfather rose too, as if triggered by the other walkers. Alarmed, I did one thing I could: run.

I ran fast, passing the scorched birch trees and low shrubbery, leaping over small cracks in the earth.  I ran as though nothing was happening, my body was in a severe stage of shock. My limbs moved without thought, my eyes were out of my control. Somehow, I managed to sprint near our camp.

My mouth somehow willed me to yell 'walkers', alerting my fellow group members. Stumbling over firewood that was thrown on the grass, I slowly lost conscious. Falling, swirling down into darkness, the emotions boiling throughout my numb body. Someone saw my frail state and began pulling me back farther into camp, however I could not move. My body was still, mind frozen, only one thing flashing through my mind.

My grandfather turned. 

He changed in front of me, the man I cared for with all of my heart. My life surrounded with his presence, every memory revolved around him. Some how I began to spin, swirling and swirling through the uncharted plains of conscious. Somehow I was saved. Somehow I didn't die. Somehow my grandfather was bit. But one thing was still true:

Somehow the day went on.

Hello! Hope you enjoyed! Just wanted to apologize if this took awhile to upload, but ya!