Viral Survival (A Youtuber Apocalypse Story) ✔

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

     My ears were ringing not just from the sudden pressure change, but because Aurora was screaming bloody murder in our ears. It wasn't just her fault though, seeing as I was definitely helping. I watch as the zombies, who are leaning near the edge watching us plummet, become smaller and smaller, going farther and farther away. Finally, my vision is covered in ripples, and water surrounds me. Luckily, Sean had jumped far enough away from the mountain that we fell into the river below. I swim up, and as soon as I reach the surface I whip around, looking for the others. Not long after, Aurora breaks the water's surface about a meter away, sputtering, and Sean pops up a few feet away from me moments later. Slowly, we swim over to the riverbank and sit down. Out of the corner of my eye I see my sock, which I had taken off to inspect my ankle when I first injured it, drift down the river.

     'Goodbye, dear sock. You were loyal.' I hear scuffling beside me, and look over to see Sean stand up and fruitlessly dust himself off, trying to get rid of the sand. "What now?" I ask.

     "Well," he begins, "While this was fun and all, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here."

     Aurora sat up and sat with her legs crossed. "Why? We just jumped off a cliff, and you leave immediately?"

     He sighed. "I don't really want to, but I need to. I need to go find Mark and my other friends. I have to know that they're okay."

     I laughed. "You're in Canada! Not America!"

     "Well, I know which way to go now, and can start heading for L.A to try and find them. I wish you both the best of luck, and maybe one day we'll meet again. Preferably not as zombies. Hugs all around!" He came over and hugged us, and suddenly jumped back into the river, swimming south with the current.

     We watched Sean swim downriver. However, once he was out of sight, we could hear a faint voice, a battle cry. "Like a boss!"

     Aurora and I started to laugh uncontrollably. "That...." she wheezed, "Was the best.... exit someone could ever... make!" We continued to laugh until a breeze rolled in, chilling us.

     "Right. We were pulled into a river. A very wet river." I bit my lip as another chill swept over me. There was no hope of changing into any dry clothes, seeing that our backpacks were completely soaked through as well. After a quick swim to the other side of the wide river, we continued in the direction of Aurora's town. I was still down by one sock.

     Around nightfall, we climbed into a large and sturdy tree, making sure to break any low branches while we climbed up to make sure that no zombies could use to get up to us. using the other branches around us, we laid out our clothes and supplies to dry overnight. As for us, we were laying on the two largest branches, side by side. After a few hours of restlessness, I felt Aurora poke me. "What?"

     "I've been thinking about today. The farmhouse, the road, Sean, the river, your ankle..." I listened to the weary note to her voice. She was a light sleeper to begin with, but with all the running and so few comfortable sleeping places plus the fact that she had no idea what happened to her family? I began wondering if she'd even slept at all since this whole thing started.

     "I'm sure my ankle will be fine."

     She sighed. "You're speculating. We have no idea if you'll be alright. I don't know how to help you with this one, and I sure as heck don't want to have to leave you behind."

      I propped my head up on my elbow. "So what do you suggest we do? Hijack a car and drive?"

     "No. There would be the issue of actually knowing how to drive, and I'm pretty sure that neither of us know how to break into a car. I was thinking more of motorbikes." Right, driving. Even though we both had our 'L's, Aurora hadn't had much of a chance to practice, and I was too nervous to drive anywhere outside of town. She looked at me, one eyebrow raised, waiting for confirmation.