Wither With Me

CHAPTER 19 - NEST

"You people seem quite used to this..." said William. "We'd never mess around with nests like this..."

"They are usually packed with resources. Surviving is a gamble, but sometimes you need to take the risk. Still... This one is way too recent. I think we should have waited a couple more days before heading inside. Marcus has been restless ever since the outbreak..." replied the man leading the group.

"Um... Shouldn't we be quiet...?" asked Claire, her eyes zooming from side to side, as if expecting a shambler to jump at them from the shadows.

"It's pointless. As long as they are in the dark, they can sense our presence at all times, even if they are weakened. Their senses are weird, don't think about it too much." the man threw her a quick look as he spoke.

Claire nodded and kept walking behind the group. She didn't feel safe staying at the back. She kept throwing constant glances at the dark hallway behind her. The swaying beams of light from the flashlights bounced back in irregular patterns, making it look like creepy shapes were slithering after them at every turn. Of course, there was no such thing, but she was stressed enough to believe it.

There was something different about that place. Claire had already seen a couple of unsettling places before, but none of them had been as bad as those tunnels. Thinking back, the memories from her old skyscraper shelter gave her nothing but frustration and depression. William's apartments were disturbingly quiet and full of a strange sense of loss, like something was amiss. The sewers were scary and smelled like shit. Every location had its own twisted identity. But that subway... that was a new one for her. It smelled like death. Fresh death.

As they walked deeper into the hallways, they had to find their way around all sorts of stuff laying on the ground. Garbage, boxes filled with various items, clothes... All of them strewn all over the place. And it was no wonder why. The pools and stains of blood, not completely dry yet, were left as a testament of the panic that probably took hold of the place once the outbreak started; and of its deadly consequences.

Claire covered her mouth and nose with her hand. The smell of blood felt nauseating.

Deep within her mind, she had the impression of staring at the consequences of her own actions. All things considered, she hadn't expected Lilian's bite to actually spread the disease. But in all honesty, she should have. After all, even if she was resistant, she was still infected, and therefore was a carrier, yet another disease vector. However, all that death was caused by a single infected, and she had a chance of stopping him, a chance she missed. What if...?

'Come on, Claire... Stop it... You can't be carrying the guilt for every single thing that happens... This is just stupid, and you know it... Focus...'

She gave herself a couple of subtle slaps on the cheeks, shooing her intrusive thoughts away. She didn't need any more sources of guilt on her shoulders. She had enough of those already.

The sound of a dull, heavy impact brought her attention back to her surroundings. Another pair of shamblers, attempting to wave their arms as they fell down.

"Our supplies are in a small staff-only area ahead. Keep your eyes open."

******

Owen shuddered. They had raided shambler-populated buildings before, they knew how to handle them. And they knew how risky it was. They had enough close calls already, enough losses. They had learned to stay alert and aware of their own surroundings at all times.

The subway didn't feel safe. The shamblers were still able to move. Weak, pained movements, but enough to make his brain throw danger signals. Their eyes, usually dull and devoid of life, gradually lighted up in a sickly blue hue as their bodies were knocked over.