Error 43

Crisis & Contractions

Nov. 22nd, 2043- 6:30 AM.

"Look for the light" was a phrase that Ellie Miller despised, they were nothing but empty words said by a group of power hungry monsters to assuage the guilt brought on by the numerous atrocities they had caused over the years once the Cordyceps infection took over.

The hatred for that same phrase only grew now that she and a contracting Cedar were literally looking for the light of a cabin nestled somewhere in the Grand Teton Park.

"Can you keep walking?". Ellie asked, taking out two Runners as she doubled back and saw Cedar leaning up against a tree trunk.

"Y - Yeah". Cedar mumbled, gritting his teeth against the searing pain in his abdomen.

"Well then fucking walk!". Ellie demanded in a much harsher tone than she intended it to be.

Holding back a retort, Cedar just nodded and managed to get his trembling legs moving despite the searing pain that was crawling up his spine and wrapping itself around his swollen belly.

"You're doing great, I think we're getting close". Ellie said in a low, calm voice, trying to tune out the screams and snarls of the herd of Runners and Clickers that had been chasing her and Cedar for over an hour and a half.

"You've been saying that for the past thirty minutes". Cedar groaned, catching himself as he nearly tripped over a tree root he had failed to see in the dense fog that was settled over the woodlands .

"We have to keep going alright? We'll be there soon, I promise". Ellie replied gently, a satisfied smile forming on her lips as she saw the cabin on the other side of the Snake River.

"They're getting closer". Came Cedar's out of breath reply, his hand coming up to cradle the swollen mass that was his stomach.

Ellie nodded, carefully guiding Cedar to the edge of the river as she shot at a pair of Clickers some feet away. "The water isn't that deep, do you think you can wade through it to the other side?".

"I don't think I have much of a choice here El". Cedar groaned as another contraction ripped through him.

Ellie frowned at her friend's attitude but didn't dare snark back. If witnessing JJ's birth taught her anything, It was to never argue with someone that was currently in labor.

Thankfully the duo managed to get across the icy river with relative ease, with the steadily flowing water keeping the herd of infected on the other side.

"How do you wanna do this?". Ellie asked, pushing a rickety chair underneath the door knob once she and Cedar were safely barricaded in the old cabin.

"Upstairs". Cedar said through gritted teeth as he limped over to the old staircase.

"Ced, I don't know if these stairs can hold our weight". Ellie replied with a nervous look at the splintered staircase.

"Only one way to find out". Cedar replied, hoping his baby would not be born right on the staircase as another contraction ripped through him.

"C'mon, we're almost there". Ellie said, racing up ahead of Cedar and grabbing his hand to help him the rest of the way up.

Once he was inside the first bedroom on the right side of the hallway, the first thing Cedar noticed was the fact that the bedroom had no bed to speak of.

So, as Ellie got to work on barring the door with yet another chair and the vanity set, Cedar eased himself onto the wooden floor and shimmied his sweats and underwear off before planting his feet firmly into the floor.

"El, I hate to interrupt your DIY door blocking project but I could use a little help over here". Cedar called out as he felt the pressure in his abdomen build up again.