THE DAY THE WORLD FELL

Chapter 11

Josiah and Elana

Josiah

Josiah ran about the room and grab things he would need to make it on the streets. His goal was to safely make his way down a few blocks to get to his girlfriend. Elana was all alone this time of day and wouldn't even be aware of what was happening. 

He called her cellphone and listened to the ringing. She picked up on the third ring and sounded sleepy, "Hey babe? Why are you calling now? We have to work tonight." She yawned through the phone.

"I know but I need you to listen to me. Get up and get dressed. Pack a bag. Essentials only. Couple pairs of clothes, your sneakers and some food. Can you do that?"

"Yeah, but why? What's going on? Your tone is scaring me. Babe, is everything okay?"

"Elana, turn on the news. Any of them. Trust me, please. Just do as I say and stay inside. I'll be there as soon as I can. Try to get ahold your parents. They need to meet us. I love you."

"Okay," she was silent for a moment, "I love you too."

Josiah unlocked his bike and took off down the street. He sped past the neighbors, ignoring their pleasantries. 

Elana

"Gosh I'm so sleepy, this had better be worth it. I have to work tonight and throw Josiah a party afterword's. Not to mention cooking dinner for my folks before I leave." Elana pushed her hair from her face and sat up from her bed. She turned the television on and started getting ready while she listened to the reporters hammer on about some virus. Was this what he was freaking about. She couldn't help but wonder. Her thoughts drifted off and didn't notice when her neighbor stumbled out into the hall. She jumped into the shower and didn't shut her bedroom window.

The man next door, hearing her singing couldn't help but stumble towards the racket. He climbed in through her open bedroom window and crawled to the bed. He used it to help him stand and then limped over to the bathroom door. He scratched at the door and she, assuming it was the cat, ignored it.

The man left the door and roamed the rest of the apartment. He found the cat and grabbed it up by the fur.

Josiah

He sped past the last stop light and turned the corner. He could now see the apartment building his girlfriend lived in and began to cycle faster. His thoughts racing just as fast as his feet. He needed to make it there and back, preferably before his mother got to the house. 

He threw his bike down in the dirt beside the bike rack, having no time to lock it up. He began climbing the stairs to her apartment which was on the fifth floor.

When he reached her door, he could hear footsteps inside, and some low growling. Her cat. It had this harsh, guttural sound when it felt danger. Josiah thrust open her front door, thanking God that it was unlocked. 

There it was, a man crouched beside the cat tower, attempting to grab the cat by any means. Josiah rushed in and looked around him. He had his pocket knife in his pocket, but he wasn't confident in using that. He moved into the kitchen while the creature was distracted by his potential furry meal. 

He pulled open a few drawers and located a kitchen knife. It was the massive onion cutting knife. Josiah moved into the living room and slowly crept behind the thing, looming over the cats home. He raised his knife high and quickly brought it down. The knife broke on contact. The zombie stood up and turned to face Josiah. It moaned and lunged after Josiah, quickly closing the small distance between the two. They crashed to the floor with the creature on top and Josiah struggling to get free. 

Elana

She heard a loud crash come from the living room and quickly responded. She jumped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel and ran out there to see what was going on. 

She turned the corner and could see just beyond the sofa, that Josiah and her next door neighbor were on the floor wrestling. Her neighbor was trying to chomp down on Josiah's neck. She ran to them and pulled the neighbor off of her boyfriend. 

"Stop it!" she yelled without realizing what was going on. The neighbor grabbed ahold of her and had the strength of what Elana thought was of ten men. He yanked her backwards so fast, causing her fight or flight response to kick in. Thankfully, her response was quick enough. She pushed the man backwards with all her might and ran behind Josiah once his grip was lost. 

"He is not your neighbor babe. He's dead." Josiah stretched his arm out to shield his now trembling girlfriend. "Gotta hit the brain somehow. Tried the kitchen knife like in the movies but it didn't work. Just broke into pieces. Any ideas?" Josiah got ready to move, the neighbor climbed back up onto his feet and growled at them. 

"No, maybe if you kick him hard enough. Wait what is going on?" her voice cracked from the panic. "Is that a zombie?" She shivered at the thought. "That's ridiculous."

"Don't be one of those people Elle." He used her nickname to show his seriousness. He never called her Elle or Elana unless it was serious business. "Of course it's a zombie. Look at it!"

The zombie began moving towards them and she could now get a good look. She realized his skin was a awful gray and he put out a terrible odor. She also realized his skin was freezing when she pulled him off of Josiah.

The zombie was too close for comfort now. Josiah pushed Elana back towards her room. Once they were inside, he slammed the door shut and locked it. He also barricaded it with her tall dresser. 

"You should be quick." He motioned to her closet and she realized she had been sopping wet in her towel this entire time.

"Oh God! Okay." She was still trembling, but she obeyed. She pulled on some cool street clothes, her running shoes and pulled some spare clothes into her bag. "How do we get out now? Should we call someone? The police?" She finished zipping up her bag. 

"The lines are all busy now, I'm sure. Your window. It's open. Why?" he looked at her with his brows pinched. "He probably climbed in through here and walked right past your bathroom." He combed his hair back with his fingers, looking around the room. 

"I opened it last night for some air. The AC is broken. I shut the bathroom door when I got in there this morning." She pulled her damp hair back into a ponytail and walked over to the window. She poked her head out to peer around the hall just outside. No one was around as far as she could see. "We can leave out this way I suppose. Don't see anyone or anything out here." She was no longer shaking. She had calmed down and could now think a little straighter. 

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. I brought my bike. Is the key for your lock in here? We can get yours off the rack and ride back to my house." Josiah walked to her nightstand and picked up the framed photo of them. He took the photograph and stashed it as well as the picture of her family in his bag. He thought she would need them at some point. 

"Yeah, I have them on my belt loop already. I want to write a note and stick it on my front door for my parents though. So hang on." She jotted down some info about the zombie neighbor and warned them to not enter the home. She also told them that she was safe with Josiah and that they were heading back to Josiah's house to stay safe. She signed her name and grabbed a tape roll. "Alright, lets go." She climbed through the window first and was putting the note up when he climbed out too.