Run

Moving Day

We run through the streets of LA. A city that used to be congested with smog and traffic is now empty and quiet and lifeless.

It really does seem now that Reece and I are the only people still living here, thats why are mission is to go to the beach. As we saw Them leaving this morning it looked like They were going East, so we must move West towards the Pacific. The closest beach to us is the Santa Monica pier, but still thats about 15 miles.

Walking I think we can get there by tomarrow night, hopefully.

We walk as fast as we can, granted Reece is still hurt. I wish we could hop in a car, but it would be too loud; They would find us.

"We have to go on the back roads, it'll take longer, but if They come back it'll be less chance of Them finding us." Reece says, trying to start a conversation.

"Ya..." I cough out. This was the first time I have talked in a week, my voice sounded dry and raspy like I smoked two packs a day.

"Reece?"

"Whats up?" he replied.

"Aren't you scared?"

He sighs, "I think everyone living is scared... But me... Nah, what have I got to live for now anyways..."

"What do you mean? I would give anything to have your life..."

He looks over at me confused like he doesn't understand why I would ever say that.

"Well you know, the friends..." I reply.

He inhales deeply, "it's not as great as it looks Quinn."

It's quiet again.

Minutes later of walking in silence Reece starts up again, "Come this way, there's a 7-11 up on the next street over! We can use a bathroom for once!"

Oh thank God, I have "went" in a cup too many times for one lifetime.

I sprint leaving Reece behind, I feel kind of bad but sorry, I really had to pee. He limps behind me going as fast as he can.

I rush into the bathroom and it feels like heaven, literally. As I wash my hands I hear rustling outside in the store.

"Reece? Is that you?" I called. No answer. "Reece?!" I say again, but instead of an answer I hear someone scream, a mans voice followed by sevral gunshots.

I immediately rush out of the bathroom and find a man lying dead on the floor. Reece walks in from outside and whispers, "Quinn! Get the Hell down, NOW!"

I follow orders and duck below an isle way right next to the dead guy. Since he is still dead he must have been human... Sad. His hair is grey with a brown tint and his face is very round and a bit chubby.

I here propellers and seconds later I see a sky blue drone fly overhead. It stops above us and I see one of Them jump out of the sky drone to the ground.

I crawl around to behind the counter where Reece is hiding to get away from the body. One of Them runs into the store and stops to stand still, he smells the air and instantly hurrys over to the body. He grotescly picks him up and takes out a knife where he lays it on his neck.

Reece places his hand over my mouth to hush me since he knows what's going to happen next.

He runs the knife across his neck barely pressing and blood slowly dribbles out. He takes his mouth to it and licked the neck clean. He now looks as if he is getting ready to cut more, but then goes all Freddy Cougar on us by slaying his head and slicing it clean off. He dropps the body to the floor and devours the head.

His eyes flash black like a shark and his skin starts to boil. His hair goes from blonde to the grey-brown color of the dead man. He grows out about five sizes, shredding his clothes and revealing the big hairy beer belly of the dead man.

Did He just shape-shift into the dead man?

He then picks up the rest of the body and his eyes go black once more as he changes back to his fit previous form. He runs out carrying the body and waves at the sky. The drone soon comes flying down and picks them up and flies away.

We sit for a few minutes to ensure that They are really gone, then we get up and head off again.

"Well shit!" Reece starts, "That was intense!"

"Yeah, what even happend back there?" I ask.

"No idea, I was outside when that man raced in and started screaming 'ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?' so I ran out of the store to get away from that maniac when bullets were shot out of nowhere. Next thing I know he was dead on the floor and They came..."

"Wow, good thing he died then. He sounds crazy."

"Not crazy, just scared..."

~

It's almost night fall. The sun sets over the abandoned sky scrapers, it would be beautiful if it was normal. Now it's just a sad reminder, a symbol even of how the sun is setting on all things normal.

"You know that guy screaming at me was probably what signalled Them." Reece states.

"Yeah, but now we know they have drones. Reece, They arn't just zombies or something... They're smart, They have a plan."

"I agree, I think surviving this is gonna be a lot more difficult than we thought..."

"I know, there's almost no point in even trying..." I say sadly.

"No!" he whisper-shouts, "you are not giving up on life. If anyone is gonna survive here it's you. I won't let Them take you too."

I shrug blowing it off like he didn't mean it, "did you see Him turn into the dead guy though?"

"Yeah, I think they can shift into whatever they eat." he says like this is old news to him.

We approach an apartment building as Reece continues, "Anyways that doesn't even concern us because we will not run into Them again, as long as we are smart."

"Smart?" I say, "we both got strait 'Cs' last semester."

"I know right! That was our world record!" we both laugh at this because sadly it's true.

We hear a rustle in the bushes outside of the apartments. Reece looks over at me and waves his arm towards the building. We go inside an let ourselves into an open room.

"What do you think was in that bush?" I whisper.

"I don't know, but better safe than sorry..."

We lock the door and explore around the room.

I look out the window to see the sun finally set over the last sky scraper when there is a knock at the door.

Reece quickly turns to me and places a finger over his mouth.

I follow directions and stay quiet.

I hear the knock again followed by a voice sounding high and sweet saying, "Hello, Reece is that you I saw come in here?"

My brothers eyes get wide as he limps towards the door to open it, but I scoot over towards the pink backpack instead.

He slowly unlocks it and the door begins to creak open.