The Infection

Two

My heart leaped into my throat. I gasped and stumbled back, staring at the bloody face. I didn't know what to do. I was frozen.

The man stepped away from the door, and for a moment I thought he would leave, but instead, he charged directly toward it. The wood shook from the force. This guy was trying to knock the door down. Why? What would he do when he got inside?

I broke away from my trance and whipped my head around, searching for something—anything—to help me. The book in my hands wouldn't do anything except for a paper cut. My eyes flashed across everything in the room, searching. I almost resulted to using the single chair by the bed until my attention fell upon the cabinets standing in the corner. I went to it, tucking the book under my chin before opening a cabinet door. Boxes sat on the edge, overfilled with metal tools. I reached up and lifted one. My strength was still returning rather slow, but I ignored the shaking of my arms as I brought the box against my chest. The gleam of metal winked at me from the moonlight, and I immediately discovered what was inside. Surgery instruments.

Another bang shook the door. I jumped, causing the box to slip from my arms and crash onto the floor. The razor-sharp tools scattered as I bent to pick one up. My hand frantically reached for a scalpel, mistakenly grabbing the sharp blade instead of the handle. The edge sliced into my palm like butter. I gasped and snatched my hand back as blood seeped from the fresh wound.

The sound of splintering wood made my head snap up. The door was giving in to the harsh poundings. Whoever was outside this room was determined to get in, and he was close to succeeding. My breath was frantic as I returned for the scalpel. I grasped the handle this time with my good hand and let the book fall to the floor.

I slowly stood and turned as the door finally gave way, sending chunks of wood flying in. My attacker staggered in, heaving for breath. I could feel my arms and legs shake with fear as I gazed at the man standing before me. His face was in gashes, dried blood caked within. The eyes that stared back were glazed orbs of blue, almost as if he were blind, but I knew he could see me. His clothes, or what were little of them, clung to pale flesh that held the same gashes on his face. His skin was sickly, stretched tightly over bones. The sight of him made my stomach clench; this man was ill, very ill.

The man abruptly screamed. In almost an instant, he was sprinting toward me, baring teeth that held chunks of bloody flesh. In a desperate haste, I leaped away from his arms that swung at my face. Bringing my weapon up with a shaky hand, I slashed at his extended arm. The scalpel effortlessly sunk into his bicep, spraying crimson. The man let out another raging scream and swung at me with his other arm. I ducked, blindly stabbing at him with the blade again. I felt my small weapon hit, but the victory fell short when a solid blow smacked against my head. My world spun as my body became weightless, collasping onto the floor. The surgery instruments bit into my back, but I barely felt them. My entire concern was on the man that was suddenly on top of me, snapping his teeth toward my face. My scalpel had slipped from my grasp during the fall, leaving me defenseless. I reached up and pushed at his chest, crying out with struggle. He was strong, very strong.

"Please," I begged. My throat was dry, making the word come out in a brittle tone. The sound of my voice seemed to anger my attacker even more. His eyes were blazing with fury; he truly wanted to kill me.

My arms began to shake. They caved in just a little, but it was more than enough for him. He lunged in, gnawing at the small space between us. Was he trying to bite me?

I could feel my heart drumming against my ribs. Sheer panic rose as I struggled to keep the rabid man at bay. My strength was running low, but with a desperate attempt, I shoved at his chest. He tumbled over to my left with a snarl. Without wasting a moment of time, I frantically reached for another scalpel on the floor and leaped onto him. My knees landed on his arms, keeping them trapped beneath me. His head snapped around, eager to reach any part of me with his teeth.