End of the Suburbs

Chpt 5: In the Woods

I have to make sure to keep my eyes open scanning the area.
Not just for signs of Donnie or the scavengers.
I'm making sure to stay alert in case of an ambush.
As I just saw, the Skulkers are out here.
I have to be more careful than the others.
I decide to take a back road.
Its a few blocks over and runs parallel to the designated route.
Just in case the Skulkers got one of our maps.
They're more dangerous than the infected.
Yea the infected are fast and strong.
They're also dumb, primitive, have a weakness to water.
Skulkers might not be as strong but they're just as savage and even more dangerous.
Speeding off road with Casper on the front of the dirt bike.
His ears start to twitch.
All of a sudden he starts to squirm.
The squirming turns to panic.
I start to slow down but I lost my balance before I can come to a complete stop.
The bike slides and we both fall off.
We end up on the ground covered in dirt and leaves.
Casper hops up and shakes himself clean.
I get up and go over to him.
He's freaking out.
He's growling and I can't tell which direction.
It's like we're surrounded.
I pick up the dirt bike and signal Casper to run ahead.
If they're infected he can't risk fighting them and getting infected too.
*caw caw*
The bird sound comes from above the tree line.
First one then the caw starts to multiply, overlapping each other until it becomes one singular clattering of noise headed in my direction.
I grab the dirt.
I weigh the odds of out running them.
It's not good.
The first couple appear in sight.
Their wingspans are wide.
Their feathers, matted and ruffled.
Its a wonder they can fly.
By now it's too late.
I have to fight or die.
I pull out my sword and one of my pistols.
The first bird swoops.
My water pistol is high powered.
I don't let it come close enough to touch me before I spray a shot.
The bird is hit and lets out a screech in pain.
A couple birds swoop.
I fire two blast at them.
Their reaction is the same as the first.
The three that are hit start to fly away but fall to the ground.
They scream as if their flesh is melting.
It almost sounds human.
The rest of the horde is closing in.
I hurry and hop onto the dirtbike.
I start it first try.
I don't hesitate before peeling out.
I kick up just enough dust to create a smokescreen causing the birds bump into one another.
Speeding through the woods over uneven terrain, I can't slow down.
The birds are close behind.
I need to figure out a way to lose them.
I see a clearing nearby.
It's too short to turn now.
I drive past and circle back.
I don't waste time.
As soon as I reach the opening I hit the brakes and jump off.
The dirt bike slides across the leaves.
Without hesitation I raise my blade and swing.
In one motion I cut one of the birds in half.
Another comes.
I go for the head, leaving it's lifeless body falling from the sky.
All together there are about 30 birds.
I can't keep this up.
A pair dive for me at the same time.
I jump and dive out of the way.
I reach into my waistline and pull out both pistols.
I start firing into the swarm.
They start to drop like flies.
All that don't fall end up flying away screeching horrible screams.
I managed to survive but now I have a new problem.
The pistols are empty.
The rive I passed is too far back to go now. I look up at the sun.
There's about 3 hours of daylight left.
Going back means running the risk of encountering the birds again.
I take my chances and move forward.
I'll see the same river eventually if I keep going southwest.
I check the map.
There's houses nearby.
I need a place to sleep the night.
I call to Casper.
He comes running from the distance.
He made sure to stay close.
I grab the dirt bike and ride.
Eventually I get out of the woods and back onto the main road.
I'm not far from the houses and it's just in time for the sun to start to set.
The town is the most normal thing I've seen so far on the outside.
There's no fires or wreckage.
Everything looks like a normal neighborhood until you look closer.
Lawns with overgrown grass.
Windows dark with dirt and dust.
Doors left open as if the residents never planned on coming back.
It's all so quiet.
Desolate.
It give feeling of being abandoned.
I walk through and find a house.
Two story. Multiple exits.
The roof is easily accessible.
I part the dirt bike out front and me and Casper head inside.
The roof is uneven so I let Casper sleep inside.
I climb onto the roof and pause for a moment to take in the sunset.
I remember one thing Duffy told me during training; "learned to treasure peace and quiet. It's rare in the outside."
I didn't know how true it was until now.
My blinking slowly becomes less and less frequent until finally I'm asleep.
Dream
I'm standing in the middle of a clearing.
I'm holding my sword.
It's not a sword. It's a baseball bat.
There sound of voices is coming from all around me.
I hear the sound of lightning in the distance.
*cra-crack*
Suddenly I look down at my feet.
I'm waste deep in water.
*cra-crack*
I have to get out of the water.
If lightning strikes I'll be electrocuted.
I start to take steps.
*BOOM*
Suddenly the sound of thunder shakes me.
My body starts to tremble in fear.
I look up and there's no rain.
Not even a cloud.
I start to move again then,
*BOOM*
The sound of thunder like an explosion.
*cra- crack*
Lightning again.
The sound of thunder immediately follows.
*BOOM*
*cra- crack*
Again.
*BOOM*
*cra- crack*
Still no clouds in the sky. No rain.
The voices are suddenly stricken silent.
I hear one final
*cra- crack*
Then nothing.
I run towards the end of the clearing but before I reach it my eyes open.
I'm awake.
Reality