The Rift

Chapter Sixteen: Invasion

I run.

I just run.
I don't look back toward the herd of walkers breaching the walls.

I nearly slip in a rain puddle but I quickly regain my balance. I approach the street which my house is on as Lauren and the others sprint towards the armory way down Main Street. I see Lisbeth standing under the porch with Thomas beside her. Thomas has on a green jacket with the hood up despite not being out in the rain. Lisbeth wears a gray colored sweater with black pants, her dark brown hair hanging down.
"What's going on?", Lisbeth asks as she follows me into the house.
I catch my breath and tell her, "The south gate...they got through. Take Thomas upstairs and stay up there with him. Can I trust you to do that?"

Lisbeth stares at me, then nods.
"Do you have something to defend yourself with?", I then ask her.

"No", she answers. I reach behind my back and hand her my silver pistol. Lisbeth takes it from my grasp and puts in her back pocket.
I kneel down and put a hand on Thomas's shoulder, telling him, "I need you to go upstairs with Lisbeth, okay Thomas? And whatever you do, do not look out the window."
Thomas frantically nods. Lisbeth then takes his hand and leads him into her bedroom upstairs.

I quickly walk upstairs into mine and Grace's bedroom.

I need a new weapon. Or two.

I open the bottom drawer of my dresser and take out a black pistol, stuffing it between my jacket and pants.
I hear a shrill scream from outside the house. I look out the window and see the edge of the walker swarm feast on an innocent older woman.

She must have been trying to get somewhere before the walkers got too close.

I painfully look away from the window and walk over to the bedroom closet. I slide it open and then I see it.
Sitting against the wall in the corner is the shiny machete with the brown handle, still stained with blood, but useable.

I pick it up and look over the stains, reminding me of the atrocities this weapon has done.

I take a deep breath and walk out of the bedroom, but not before grabbing a walkie talkie from the bedside table, where the Polaroid photo taken by Grace from yesterday lies.

I click on the device while hopping down the stairs with the machete in my other hand and speak into it, "This is David, is there anyone there?"

Static.

Suddenly a voice over the radio answers, "David?! This is Emma, what's happening?!"
"The walkers got through, they're all over", I say into the the walkie as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

"Shit", Emma says, "I'm at the infirmary with Russ and Jackson. I have a gun with me, but it's definitely not gonna help with killing dozens of walking corpses."
I reply, "Just sit tight for now. Don't go near the windows. I'm gonna head to the cafeteria and then we'll think of something."
I approach the front door and prepare to step outside.
"And David?"
"Yeah?"

"If I don't make it, tell Eli that I really do love him, and that he is the sweetest guy I've ever known."

"Of course", I answer, "I'll make sure he knows."

I put the walkie in my front pocket, and ready myself for the outside. I yank open the door and slam it shut once I'm out on the porch, drawing some attention from a few of the several dozens of walkers on the street. The rain continues to fall from the sky, forming countless puddles on the concrete.
My body is fueled with rage, and I take a deep breath and pull out the hawk necklace from inside my jacket.