Infection - Part I

Chapter 5.

Tim and Valerie continued their steady walks through the woods, with them taking a break every few minutes for Tim to recover some of his strength.

"We're nearly there," Valerie told him, swallowing the bump that grew in her throat. She didn't know where they were, that itself was unsettling. "Are you bleeding a lot, Tim?".

"I'm fine, I'm fine..." he responded. "Come on, let's keep going," he forced himself back up from the tree trunk he rested on.

They walked past more trees and bushes until they reached another opening. Looking to her left, Valerie saw the trees only grow thicker, to her right, however, there seemed to be a trail that cut through the trees.

"Tim, look..." she began. "It looks like a trail...".

"We should go there..." Tim responded. With that, he looked Valerie's way before adding, "We've got no other option left.".

And so, with a nod, Valerie led the way, often looking back and checking up on Tim. With him nodding that he was okay, Valerie looked forward as they cautiously walked further down the trail.

Tire marks patterned the mud beneath their feet, they didn't look fresh. Rustles of leaves were heard again around them as a few birds flew out of the trees.

Not wanting further confrontation, Valerie and Tim hurried their way through, however, it wasn't long before they reached a dead end. A wall of bushes and trees.

But then a sound was heard seconds later, a sound like no other. The rushing of the cars.

Valerie felt her heart in her throat. "Did you hear that??" she asked, seeing the expression on Tim's face as though he was about to comment on the same thing.

"We're close! Let's keep moving.".

And with that, Tim and Valerie ventured back into the trees. 

Within a few meters and scratches of branches, Valerie's stomach dropped ever so slightly as she saw what was ahead of her. The yellow trail. A wave of relief washed over her. 

"Let's get the fuck out of here. Come on..." Valerie spoke as she took hold of Tim.

They walked for a few more minutes before the trees ahead disappeared and their eyes were greeted by the car park. 4 cars, all parked.

And only one of them was to leave.

"Where are we going?" Tim asked as he sat in the passenger seat of one of the cars.

"The hospital, I need them to get that wound to stop bleeding," Valerie replied, managing to get the car to start up. "Buckle up, Tim," she added, clasping her seatbelt in place. And with that, she pulled out of the parking lot and made her way toward the hospital in Artull.

"Stay with me..." she spoke up when noticing his head resting back.

"I am... I'm just... I'm just laying my head back.".

"Don't fall asleep, Tim... We're nearly there," Valerie added.

As they entered the town, it took them another 5 minutes to get to the hospital. However, by then, Tim was unresponsive.

"Tim?... Tim?? Tim, wake up!". Valerie then ran inside the hospital before getting help.

With some of the nurses rushing to the car and getting Tim out and onto a stretcher, Valerie got to see the once beige, leather seat all covered in blood. On that ride alone, Tim lost a lot of blood. 

Closing the door of the police cruiser, Valerie rushed after the stretcher into the hospital. However, after a certain point inside, she was stopped by one of the nurses. "Sorry, Miss. We cannot have you advance any further. It's only authorised personnel after this point.".