The Unchained Death

CHAPTER 8

Captain's POV:

I held her on her wrist as I plunged us deep into the lake. I could barely see anything as I tried to calm myself under the lake. Despite being with this infuriatingly charming woman, my brain is preoccupied hoping that the zombies won't be able to see us under the water.

According to my estimation, we could stay under the water for eight minutes. If we get lucky, nine minutes tops and hopefully by then the zombies—

She tugged her hand, trying to escape my hold. My arms instinctively wrapped around her, keeping her secure. My eyes lock with her despite the haze of darkened murky water. I would have gasped at the spectacle only if I was on land. Her eyes were wide as she held her throat.

No. No.

It's barely a minute.

I looked at her in worry as she held her throat. She looks at me and points up. I know she wants me to let go. I know she's running out of air. But I also know we are dead meat if we surface up. I was caught in a dilemma when I noticed her slamming her fist against me, fighting to escape my arms. She trashes in my hold wanting to free herself.

I make up my mind to surface up the lake. I kick my legs as I try to push both of us up. I look back at her to see her stop resisting me as she goes limp in my arms, her head falling against my shoulder.

My heart stops.

Then I kick my legs quicker to get us up to the surface. We break out of the surface, as I swim towards the edge of the lake. She is limp in my arms. I hold her with all my strength to keep her above the surface. I backpedal with her body resting on my chest as I reach the edge. I ignore the screech of the zombie nearing us. Nearing me.

I lay her gently on the ground and pat her cheek. My eyes scan her drenched form as worry sets in me. I place my hand on her pulse to check if she's...I sigh in relief feeling the pulse.

"Miss Brown! Miss, wake up. This is not a good time to sleep. Come on" I pat her damp cheek. Her head rolls to the side, her lips slightly parted. I look back to see the zombies rounding the lake, rushing towards us like starved animals. My gaze hardens as I press my hand to her chest, providing chest compression.

"Wake up already!" I hiss, hoping she throws up the water. I look back once again to see them 20 metres away.

"Come on! Damn it! Wake up!!"

Fifteen meters.

"Please wake up!" I give her CPR but she barely twitches.

Ten meters.

"Clara! Breathe!"

Five meters.

"No. No. No."

Two meters.

And we are doomed.

Clara's POV:

I cough up the water in my lungs. I sputter as I turn to my side to catch my breath. My half-lidded eyes see the back of the captain. He fights with the zombies that surround him.

My chest burns while my eyelids feel like lead. Before succumbing to exhaustion, I see a zombie pounce on the captain, its arm around the captain's neck in a vice grip. And then, all I see is darkness.

When I wake up again hearing mummers. I frown in my sleep as I twitch my hand to grab hold of something. And I felt something crunch in my fist. The texture feels like dry leaves. I don't hear the murmurs anymore. It's either I am losing my hearing sense or the one who was murmuring decided to stop.

Just when I was about to open my eyes, I felt a warm hand on my cheek. Impulsively, my hand moves.

WHACK!