The Long Road Home

Chapter One

The door before her was a solid security door made of what she was sure was steel plates. The doctors had it installed after some kids tried breaking into the clinic a few years ago. Dr. Sing used to brat that nothing short of a tank could get through that door without the key. Even then, he was sure the wall would break before the door.

This plan would work. It had to or she would die in this damn clinic. After taking a deep breath and letting it out, she took a step forward. Putting her ear to the cold metal and listening for any sound or movement, she was relieved to hear was nothing but silence. A few minutes ago, when she looked down from the room upstairs, the alley behind the medical clinic had been empty. However, if one of those monsters slipped in to the five foot wide alleyway between the clinic and dry cleaners next door, she would be in deep crap when the door opened.

Looking over the door again, she took another deep breath. It was a good door. A solid door and it was the only thing standing between her and a horrible death. Reaching for the heavy duty deadbolt lock, she turned it and waited. There was no screaming or pounding and that was a good thing. Pushing the door out just a crack, she peeked out toward the street.

The noon sun shined into the empty alleyway lighting up the vandalized walls and trash covered asphalt. Near the dumpster by the dry cleaners door, she could make out dark stains. That was all that remained of some poor soul. Two days ago, his screams had awoken her in the dead of night. He had probably left his safe place trying to do what she needed to do now. Find supplies, or even better, other survivors of the chaos. The man's mistake however was he had gone out at night.

Watching the monsters for the last month, had been terrifying, but educational. The first week they were everywhere, killing everything that moved or made noise, sometimes even each other.

Then one day, she looked out and the streets were empty. Thinking this outbreak, or whatever was happening was over, she had almost run for the doors. Pure fear was the only thing keeping her inside and off the streets. Others did not have that problem. She had watched as four people came from the apartment building across the street. At first they had been cautious. Then they started to speak and I had heard their voices past the safety glass of the clinic's windows.

The monsters swarmed out of the darkened storefront next to the apartment. The four did not stand a chance against the mob. She had left the window unable to watch the poor people beaten to death. When the streets grew quiet again, she looked out just in time to see the bodies dragged into the storefront. It was obvious then to her that the monsters did not like the light and hid during the day.

Using slow careful movements, and watching where she placed her feet, she slipped out of the backdoor. As she closed it, she tried to make as little noise as possible. After using her key to lock the door, she moved with careful steps to the end of the alleyway. Each step took a major effort and it did not help that her fear had made her legs shaky and weak. Every step she took, she expected to be swarmed, which made her break out into a cold sweat.

The street was empty except for abandoned cars and litter that had probably been blown around from Lakeside Washington's famous windstorms. The rain over the last week had washed most of the blood down the drains. A few of the cars that had not been torn apart by the monsters, had the inside spattered with gore she did not stop to try and identify. Somewhere in the distance was a barking dog and she wondered why the monsters were not screaming and chasing it down.

Headed down East Street toward Marten's Outdoor and Sporting Goods store, there was still no movement from the store fronts or the few apartment buildings. It was a big risk going to the big store, but the clinic's little coffee bar was almost empty. If she did not do something soon, she would starve to death. A sporting goods shop was not ideal, but it was the closest store that would have everything she would need.