You Are The Wilderness

Chapter 5 - What Lies Ahead

Kiara's POV

Well CDC was a fail, and I mean major, epic fail. We were camped in a warehouse at the outskirts of Atlanta not far away from the highway exit, getting ready to sleep, small fire lighting up the space. No one talked much, everybody was still freaked out from what had transpired at the research facility. I still couldn't believe Jenner would just lock us in and try to barbecue us like that.

The escape from CDC was all blur but when I saw the building being consumed by a massive cloud of fire and I realized we lost yet another one of our group, I felt like kicking and screaming. There was no time for that though. A huge explosion like that would attract Walkers from miles around and we needed to get as far away from there as possible. We waited for Dale and Andrea to get into the RV, engine already going and Rick at ready. I sat next to him and turned around to check on Andrea. I saw the death glare she was bestowing upon Dale and I didn't blame her but then again I was sure she'd come around and find her will to live. I didn't know her all that well but I felt she was a fighter.

I was lying beside the small fire in room, hugging Carl who was currently huddled against me and sleeping sweetly in spite of everything that was happening around us and my mind wandered to the night at the research facility and the nightmare I woke up from, screaming and crying, no doubt scarring the shit out of Rick.

I was out hunting that day. We were out of food again and Colin wanted to go, but I shut him down. He'd been keeping night watch for fourth day in a row now and was completely exhausted. We were camped just outside Charlotte with a group of people we stumbled about a week ago - the two couples Charlie and Sara, and Blake and Holly, who were nice and were mostly keeping to themselves. And then there was Phillip, who seemed charming but there was something about him that felt kinda off. He was friendly and helpful but the look in his eyes made my skin crawl every time I caught his gaze. There was something sinister about him but I convinced myself I was just being paranoid.

I was sneaking through the woods looking through the scope of a rifle Blake lent me trying to find a deer or something to bring back to camp. It was getting darker with every minute, sun setting on the horizon giving me last couple moments of daylight. I sighed, frustrated, slung the rifle back over my shoulder and turned around to head back to the camp empty handed.

I heard leaves rustle and looked in the direction it came from half expecting a lone Walker or a wild animal. I reached for the riffle only to have it snatched from my hands and felt its butt collide with my head. I saw stars, the pain blinding me momentarily and I slumped towards the ground. I felt someone grab me and pin me against the nearest tree pressing their body against me and twisting my right arm behind my back trapping me effectively.

âSurprise sweetheart,â I recognized the voice as Phillip's but before I could react I felt the agonizing pain from a blade being thrust into the left side of my back right under my ribs. I screamed and tried to wriggle myself from his death grip not understanding what the hell was happening. I thrust my head backwards hitting the bastard's nose making him loose his grip on me. I turned around and shoved him. He didn't wait to give me enough time to recollect my wits and lunged towards me. He managed to pin me against the damned tree again with his left hand and tried to finish me off with the knife in his right. The adrenaline kicked in and I pushed with every ounce of strength I had with both my hands against his right one. I kneed him into crotch making him fall down on his knees. I took out my knife from its sheath on my belt and shoved it into his throat. He collapsed to the ground making gurgling noises, stunned expression plastered on his face. I didn't take any chances and took out the knife from his throat and stabbed him again sobbing hysterically and then again and again. I stood up looking for the rifle but couldn't find it in the darkened forest.