Haven Heights

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Shock

Nia scrambled away from the door when it beeped shut. The man kept banging and scraping against the door, growling and snarling like an animal.

Her body trembled violently, her heart painfully hammering against her chest like it wanted to escape.

She scooted far away from the door as possible, like the metal barrier would somehow cave in at any moment from his punches.

But she felt momentarily relief that it didn't. She was safe. No one would be able to grab her from her locked unit.

Nevertheless she kept her eyes on the door and shrunk into herself, circled her arms around her knees and took in deep breathes. But the tension in her muscles did not deflate. The crazy man's sounds were only getting more aggressive, angry that he couldn't get to his prey.

She put her hands to her ears to muffle the sounds, closing her eyes and pretended that none of the events that took place happened.

Just like she did when she was a child. Hiding under the bed when her uncle got drunk and aggressive.

Nia was pretty sure she was starting to panic. Her throat felt restricted, her breathing erratic and shallow. But she sat immobile as a statue, not daring to move.

The banging on the door upruptly stopped.

Before a woman's petrified scream shattered the silence. The crazy man let out a menacing growl. Patting of feet, yells faded down the hallway.

A muffled sob escaped her throat and she rest her forehead on her knees.

Sharp gunshots pierced through the air somewhere in the building. The repetitive high-pitched wail of the fire alarm blared. More muffled sounds of distress and chaos. And growls and screeches from the crazies increased by numbers.

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Hours passed. She was feeling numb, pretty sure from shock. Her mind spiraled trying to process whatever is happening outside right now. Why people were attacking and hurting eachother.

At some point sirens started to blare, it sounded like the police or ambulance. It didn't matter. Any authority figure would do. Help was finally coming. 

Her limbs hurt, craving mobility. Nia slowly rose from the floor, joints cracking and crying in relief as she sauntered towards the open balcony.

The sun had dulled and sat lower in the sky, showing the time that passed since morning.

Nia stepped out on to the small space, catching the view from outside. Her jaw slacked as she gaped at the scenery before her in the gated apartment complex community.

Police cars and ambulance trucks laid vacant, with the sirens still wailing in distress. The road's grey colored surfaces were smudged in crimson and littered with trash from overturned garbage-cans and abandoned belongings. Black smoke clouded from building A, some people trapped on their balconies, trying to inhale fresh air. The crazies dominated the streets, bolting with jerky movements after stray runners.

A man in navy blue overalls was perched on a ladder , struggling to hold on to one of the balcony railings as a horde of crazies clawed on his foot. He tried to kick them off but none of his blows were affective.

His grip slipped and he went crashing down into the horde of eager hands. He wailed in pain as multiple set of teeth bit into his flesh. His cries attracted more unwanted attention and no more than seconds later he was overrun.

Nia slapped a hand over her mouth, stomach churning in nausea.

She ran into the bathroom and heaved out her morning breakfast. Sobs racked through her, and she ran a trembling hand through her hair.

Nia didn't know how much time passed as she was just sat there beside the toilet bowl crying.

Her throat burned, eyes swolen and red from tears. She rose and staggered towards the sink, turned up the faucet and let the cold water splash over her face, scooped some in the palm of her hand to quenche her dry and burning throat.

She glanced up at the mirror and she looked just as bad as she felt. Her gaze trailed over the dry blood staining parts of her clothes and skin, especially her feet for when she slipped in the elevator.

She held back another cry and the memory.

What the fuck was happening?