OUTCASTS • Eddie Munson

"For Your Modesty"

"Uh, do you guys think these bats have, like, rabies?" Robin asked, prodding the creature on the floor.

"What?" Steve asked, not even considering that possibility.

Eddie retracted his arms from around Ellie and brushed himself down in case any blood had splattered on him when he skewered the bat.

"Too late, I bet you're already riddled with rabies." Ellie joked.

"Don't." Eddie told her, giving her a genuinely concerned look.

"It's just that rabies are, like, my number one greatest fear." Robin said, "And I think we should probably get you to a doctor really soon, because once symptoms set in, it's too late. You're already dead."

Steve's face was overwhelmed with both confusion and fear as he processed Robin's words. His skin stung where his flesh had been torn away.

The howling sound started again, and as they looked up to the sky, the group witnessed multiple bats flying down towards them.

"Not again." Ellie said, as they gathered together.

The bats landed around the portal, hissing and chittering at them.

"All right. There's not that many." Steve said. "We can take 'em. Right?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the echoes of more incoming creatures sounded, a whole swarm of them headed straight towards the group.

"You were saying?" Robin asked.

"Spoke too soon." Ellie said, gripping onto Eddie's hand as they stood, waiting for their demise.

"The woods. Come on!" Nancy shouted urgently, signalling the rest of the group to follow her.

"Great, more running." Robin sneered.

It felt like they couldn't run quick enough. Each step they took had to be calculated so as not to hit the vines that littered the floor.

Ellie was reminded of the last time this happened, although here there would be no magic portal appearing in the sky. And instead of AC/DC spurring her on, it was the sound of rabid bats approaching.

"Where are we going?" Eddie shouted as they reached the tree line.

The cover the trees provided wasn't half as effective as when they were full of leaves. The dead branches hung over them, leering at the group as they tried to keep to a fast pace.

"Skull Rock!" Nancy shouted from the front of the group.

Steve was struggling, his movements slow and uncoordinated.

"Come on!" Ellie shouted at him, slowing her pace and grabbing his arm, pulling it over her shoulders. Her arm wrapped around his waist as they tried to keep up with the rest of the group.

"Thank you." Steve spoke, the air from his lungs coming out forcefully as he continued to pull himself forward.

"There!" Robin shouted, pointing towards the group of rocks that stuck out even more now it wasn't being shrouded by foliage.

Seeing the destination spurred them all on, even Steve managed to gather a bit more energy, his limping becoming a little less obvious.

As soon as they were covered by the rocks, Ellie helped Steve to the ground as best she could, his weight becoming a bit too much as he got near the floor. She dropped him with a bit more force than she was intending.

As soon as she broke contact with Steve, Eddie pulled her back against the stone wall, and pressed his lips against hers.

Ignoring the situation they were in entirely, Ellie smiled. "Were you getting jealous?" She whispered to him as he pulled away and pushed himself against the wall, in an aid to stay hidden.