Infectious

9~The Town

- Charlotte

Present Day

"Hey, stick close by. Tell me if you see anything." Brent explained. I gave him a short nod and walked farther down the street.

This town better have supplies. For the past few weeks we've been living off scraps and anything we could scavenge from a car or two. Finally Brent offered that we actually look through houses.

The thought disgusted me at first.

People lived there. We were pretty much stealing from their graves. Families hung out in these rotting homes. Children used to play in the yards. Now the grass is a jungle and weeds corrupted the once pristine gardens. This whole town feels like some insane apocalypse movie.

A year ago I'd laugh if someone said the world was ending. No, there was still so much to do. I would have called them crazy and forgotten about the whole thing in a matter of minutes.

The smell hit me as soon as I walked into the first house. I stopped in my tracks and put a hand over my nose.

My eyes stung from the foul stench and I squinted around the room. I turned a corner and walked into the kitchen.

The clutter of food on the table sent butterflies to my stomach. Rolls were sitting on a glass plate. Light green mold spotted the outside. A hunk of meat in the center of the table was rotting in on itself. I looked away quickly.

The kitchen might have looked pretty if it weren't for the molding food. I pulled open a cupboard and looked around. It was almost completely emptied out besides a few stray boxes and cans. I shut it carefully and opened the cabinet across from it.

Some clear glasses were thrown around, but it was what sat on the bottom shelf that caught my eye. A short silver knife sat on the dark wood. I picked it up and felt the stubby handle.

A second later it dropped from my grasp. I took a quick step back as I looked at the warm blood now staining my hand. That wasn't my blood. The knife has been used... very recently.

We weren't alone.

I burst from the house and looked around the street. Brent wasn't outside. He must be searching the houses. I rushed to the nearest house and looked inside.

"Brent!" I hissed into the empty room. If he was here, he didn't answer. I started to leave when I heard a floorboard creak from down the hall.

I sucked in a breath and held my knife out carefully. The wooden floor made quiet groans as I walked down the hall.

I looked into the next room and came in after seeing no one. I turned around and made my way to the doorway.

A cold hand grabbed at my leg and I shrieked. I threw my leg back and hit someone's chest hard. I whirled around and my heart jumped as I saw a zombie behind me.

The grey skinned creature was snarling at me from the floor. I swung my knife into its head immediately and backed away as it collapsed down. My heart was pounding like a drum in my chest. No matter how many times I kill one of the creatures, I still feel this terror inside. My stomach drops to the ground and is replaced by a feeling of emptiness.

I hate it.

I pulled my knife out of its head with difficulty and grimaced at the thick blood coating the blade. I kicked the body slightly to make sure it wasn't getting back up and quickly away from it. I breathed in the clearer air outside and let out a shaky sigh of relief.

A loud scream sent my world tumbling down. A breath got caught in my throat and my feet started moving. I started into a sprint and followed the noise.