"THE PLAGUE "

Escape

Justin-

When I wake up the room is tinted in a bluish-grey. My mouth is salty and has a foggy feel to it. I strain to open my eyes as I start to reajust to my surroundings.

I rub my eyes and yawn with a stretch. Everyone else is still asleep in places threw out the living room. Mike, Katie, and Lizzie are huddled in a little bundle in their corner. Russ is knocked out on the couch in front of me.

I yawn again, this time glancing over my shoulder to see Atlas laying beside me, also out cold.

She exhales deeply as if she hasn't sleepted in a long time.

I almost forget why things are so quiet, then something passes the window casting a showdown on the blinds that ceep us hidden. Many more fallow in a line behind it and a cold chill runs down my spine.

Creepers.

I sigh in relief as they continue to walk on.

Suddenly a crash/bumping sound breaks the silence. I jolt up and look down the hallway toward the noise. There is then something like scratching and clawing against wood, and then a thud!

Atlas sits up with a confused and sleepy look.

"Justin?...." She says rubbing her eyes. I hold my figure to my lips and point to the hallway.

Thud!

Her eyes widen, all sleepiness washing away. I get up slowly and walk towards the sounds. Atlas fallows close behind with her hatchet at hand.

I creep closer to the laundry room, with her right on my heals. When we enter the doorway there is broken glass all over the floor. One of the creeper's from out side is leaning halfway threw the now broken window on the screen door. It claws at it trying to get in.

I reach my hand behind my back and Atlas gives me the hatchet.

"We should've barricaded the doors," she says as I near closer.

"We'll have to after this, without making to much noise," I reply. Atlas nods as I plunge the hatchet into its head. The creeper snarls, but it's body quickly goes limp.

I use the head of the hatchet to push it outside.

Atlas sighs in relief behind me. I turn around and smile, which she returns.

Her expression then suddenly changes, to horror.

"Justin, look out!"

I turn around, but before I can react the door slings open, knocking me to the floor.

A creeper fallows behind. Atlas screams as it falls on top of me, snarling and bitting.

I hold the hatchet handle to its throat to block the bites, but the monster begins to over power me.

"Atlas, do something!" I yell desperately. I here her scramble around then she holds up Mike's gun.

For a moment I think she's going to shoot, but instead I see the barrel of the rifle smash into the creeper's head. It is knocked to the side, slamming into the dryer.

I sit up and look at Atlas, who appears mortified. Before I can say thank you, more of them start coming to the door. All drawn by the noise.

I quickly scramble to my feet and grab Atlas's arm. We run out of the laundry room, slamming the door behind us.

The others are awake now, with Mike already half way down the hall.

"What happened?" He says frantically.