FEMBOY IN A BOX

дванадцять

I followed the big masked man, through the park...
- You know about this place? - I asked.
- No. It seems like either Ukranians or Russian had turned this block into a weapon storage or something...
- Maybe Russians...
- Hum... Maybe... - He walked towards the fence opening. - Don't be shocked... But there are many corpses on the street... On the sidewalks... Inside the cars... Better try not to look at them.
But I immidiatly did... Near the fence there were corpses of unmasked military. The ones that were doing surveillance to this place were still here afterall, dead.
- Yeah, I think you're right. Russians. These fallen guys were russian. - He opened the jeep's door and checked it's inside for some seconds... Then came out. - No key. I can't figure out how to turn it on. I'm not a mechanic. I'm an Ukrainian medical military. I've got some shooting skills tho... - He was thinking while talking. - Came here on my own will. It was worthy already. So much. - Looked down at me. - As it will probably be worthy to search for the jeep's key on the military corpses I shot down.
I felt a short tremble under my feet. I think it wasn't the first one... Subtle trembles...
- Did you felt it!?
- Huh!?
Again... Again...
We happened to looked to the end of the road... Stared for a couple of seconds trying to figure what was coming. Something began to appear... An odd silhouette through the morning rare fog. Something weird shaped, big...
- What's that!? - I asked.
- Danger. Forgot the keys... - The big beast seemed to be turning our direction... - We must run! - He turned his back on the thing. Follow me! He began running, rythmicly, not too fast. I followed.
An immense loud "siren" behind us! It was the beast! It was making those scary "siren" sounds!
- It's an elephant, from Kharkiv zoo! It mutated and still is, I believe... It has gone mad, attacking everything alive! Just like all the other surviving animals. - He explained while making a turn on the edge of the fence.
- Shouldn't I be wearing a mask too!?
- No. - He began to speak louder, to be heard behind the mask while exhaling with the fastest running breath. - Don't think so... You survived... Still alive. - He shortcuted the sidewalk by cutting left towards "Otakara Yarosha St" between two small "buildings" or whatever were they...
The "sidewalks" where like smaller roads for people, with grass and trees between them and the "main street", the one for vehicles. We kept running while passing by what it seemed to be a Gym. I didn't know if it was my heart trembling or the ground... Maybe the beast was approaching!
- You don't have a jeep!? - I was getting tired.
- I've been exploring on foot, but we're actually heading back towards my jeep! It's not a military one tho. It's still quite a bit up ahead... - He turned around with agility and lift his gun aiming at "somewhere behind me". - It's approaching! - And another "siren" sounded by elephant's tomb made us shiver. He took a shot and scared me! - This won't work and will get him even more angry... - He looked around at the cars parked in front of the gym. - There! Get into the red car! - There was someone inside. - Quick! - He ran towards it and me also, aiming for the right back seat. He ran towards the driver sit, opened the door and pulled the dead person out. - Shit... - He cursed for some corpse related reason, but got inside after throwing his backpack to the front right sit.
I did it too, entered the car. I looked through the window and saw the oddly beast approaching! Trees were falling in front of it like if they were fake, made of thin paper! My eyes opened trying to zoom the scene and I felt like in some seconds probably my vision wouldn't be wide enough to see all of that huge monster at once! I heard the vehicle engine starting... Yes, the ground was shaking! I felt being pushed forward and hit with my face against the front sit as the car went backwards through the middle of the street! In the next second I was pulled back to my sit, hard! I put on the seatbelt immidiatly!
*BAM!*
- AHHH!!! - Oh I screamed! I screamed loud! As I feel myself falling downwards for a second with a strong hit the car received! Glass cracked behind me! The car's rooftop folded towards me! Cranky metallic squeak beneath!
- HOLD ON!!! - Shouted the mask guy as the car began to gain speed, quickly! He kept speeding following the road into "Balakirjeva St". - We're losing it! - He passed through a large crossroad at high speed! - Oh! That was the main road! - Checked the rear mirror. - I barely can see with this freaking mask on! - We were in some street with identical buildings at our left. He hit the breaks and turned right into a descending narrow road. He drove by some trees and stopped in a car parking area, shutting down the car. - Silence won't lure him...
...So, in silence we remained for a while...
I could hear his heavy breathing behind the mask. I was scared too... "How come such a monster exist!?"
- It almost got us! - He exhaled, like if he was reading my mind.
- What's your name? - I decided to ask...
- ...Volodymyr. - He made a pause. - Are you really a boy, Chris!?
"Why that question all of the sudden!?"
- I know I'm a boy! I was always a boy and still am!
- Ah! Don't get mad! It's just quite interesting...
- What is!?
- A boy, surviving the bio-bomb... So far, we have only registered one female survivor that had a rare case of "LAM". Well, "LAM" is even more rare on males... Specially rare in young ones... But I suppose we'll never know in your case...
- "LAM"!? What are you talking about!? Are you feeling alright?
- Eh... I am! Don't worry. I'll explain it..