Running in Hell

Chapter 11 - Unbalanced

Written by Death (AKA CharlieDog10115)

Emily's P.O.V.

"Walkers!" Nathan yelled, running toward our direction. A minute ago, he was sitting by the edge of the plateau talking with his grandfather, the next he had a terrorized look on his face as if running for his life (which, of course, he was). 

"Where?" Mike asked roughly, pulling out a thirteen inch switchblade from his jeans pocket. It had a rusty stain color from handle to blade. 

"Back there, m-my grandpa..." Nathan's voice faltered as he spoke. He was trembling.

Mike glared in the distance where Nathan was just at, and sure enough there were human-like figures. Only they weren't human. My brother gave a low growl, turning to everyone else.

"What do we do?" I heard Jessica whimper innocently, "they'll kill us! Hold me, Adam, I'm scared."

Adam pulled her into a comforting hug. "Don't worry, they won't get us. We'll pound their heads before they reach you."

"This is why we needed a car!" Serina complained, giving Tanner an intimidating glance. He cowered away, as if to say "I didn't mean to!"

The walkers were now a dozen yards away. Every moment we spend arguing is a moment wasted. We shouldn't quarrel like this, I thought as the moans of the inhumane creatures grew louder.

"Quick, Serina, Tanner, Jadin, Jessica, and Emily, stay in a close group! Avoid the walkers at all costs and, if needed, kill them without any noise! It attracts the stupid beasts!" Mike commanded.

Serina led me away to a secluded area with the rest of the grouping. Everyone had a weapon; Serina a small pocket knife, Tanner a baseball bat, Jadin a long switchblade, and Jessica a kitchen knife. Everyone had a weapon except me. This is stupid, I thought, I should be armed, too. 

From the distance I heard Mike giving out orders. "Nathan, Adam, Tyler, Alex, and Luxa! Stay with me to fight off the walkers! Don't abandon your post!" he yelled. If he keeps yelling he'll attract more of those damn things. As Mike was prepared to attack, he noticed Brandon standing by the edge of the group, waiting for a position.

"You there!" my brother called out to him, "go with Jadin and help protect the weaker ones!" I could tell he meant me as in the weaker one since he had given me a brief glance. I mentally flipped him off. That little- 

"They're here!" Adam warned us, steadying his machete in his trembling hand. 

Soon enough, we were surrounded by walkers. I stood by Serina, Ella, Tanner, Jadin, Jessica, Brandon, and Tyler, who were all trying their best to avoid walkers. I stood in the back, unable to do anything. Ridiculous, I thought, I should be helping them. I jerked back as Tyler nearly whacked me with his baseball bat. He crushed into a walker's skull that was within a foot away from me. Blood splattered onto my faded black jacket. I cringed in disgust at the smell of the substance. Looking through the chaos I could see Mike skewering a walker through the head, Adam decapitating another, and Tyler and Alex and Luxa trying their best to do the same as well. However, Nathan was standing there, trying to stay away from any fighting. Poor guy, he just lost his grandfather. My dumb brother shouldn't have let him fight. 

Suddenly, a walker was behind him, and Nathan fell to the ground. As I was about to scream for him, I was knocked down by a sudden strong force. Everything became a blur. I hazily saw Serina calling for help, however Jadin tried to quiet her down. He had a small smirk on his face. On top of me was a walker. I should've paid attention. It chomped at my face, trying to devour me. No one seemed to notice me about to die.

"N-no, n-not today," I grunted, managing to push the walker off of me. I looked around the ground, searching for anything I could use as a weapon. Sticks and stones can break your bones, the famous saying popped up in my mind randomly. Sticks and stones.... stones... a stone. I gripped the pointy stone in my hand from the ground, swiftly turning around. The walker's face was only a few inches away from mine. I quickly smashed the rock down upon its head, creating a crunching sound from its now-broken skull. The creature collapsed to the ground, motionless. My hand was smeared in blood, smelling of rotten flesh. 

"I killed it," I said slowly, quiet enough for no one to hear but me in the mayhem. "I killed a walker."

What was this happy feeling inside of me? I was happy to kill something? It was a monster, though, not human. Nothing to feel guilty for. I felt proud. Looking behind me, there were no more walkers. They were all killed. Rotting bodies scattered across the field.  We were safe again. No, we can't be truly safe forever. Mike gazed at me. He gazed at the blooded stone I clutched in my hand. His face remained emotionless, though his eyes had disappointment in them. I wondered why? Did I let him down? I felt a sudden sensation of anger in me. I sprinted over by Serina. She stared at Nathan, who gaped at a body on the ground. She slowly walked towards him. Nathan's hazel- or were they green?- eyes were filled with tears.

"I didn't mean to kill him," he cried, "I didn't want to kill him..."

I realized it was his grandfather he had murdered, yet it wasn't. It was something else. It was a monster, a creature not meant to be here. But he was human. He was living like us. I thought deeply to myself, Why am I so proud of being a killer?