Blu Blood

Chapter 6

Chapter 6
163 days after infection

The building I stand under trumps over everything else on the street. A mini market stood on the corner, but it looks pitiful compared to the monster in front of me.

I don't usually feel fear, not for me anyway. It's always fear of Garret getting hurt and leaving me alone to rot on this hellhole of a planet. One thing I know is that he doesn't deserve this fate. He deserves a time where his only worry was being afraid of going to school and meeting new children his age. When was the last time he's spoken to another child? Months.

But now, I stand here shaking in my boots. I've never been alone on a run. So many things could go wrong. What if I never make it out of here and Garret is left alone? Those things could be hiding in there, lurking in the dark.

I could be leading myself into a death trap with no one to back me up.

Get in. Get out.

I take a deep breath, hold my loaded crossbow into my hands and kick the door open. The air is filled with an eery essence. I can feel my limbs stiffening as the terror fights to take over.

The outside sunlight, what is left of it, does nothing to aid in my sight. A light flickers in the back, casting a shadow along the back wall.

I need to find a flashlight.

My foot steps on a small, flat object. The surface cracks slightly. I bend down to examine it. It's a cellphone.

My finger presses on the power button, knowing full well that it won't turn on. Much to my astonishment, the screen flashes brightly, blinding me for a millisecond. The wallpaper is a picture of a boy, maybe three years older than me, with gelled hair, vibrant blue eyes and a dazzling smile. He has a surfer tan, which makes his pure white teeth stand out. He has a little girl in his arms. Her blonde pigtails hold her golden curls high by her temples. They're secured with those rubber bands with those colored balls at the end. My heart aches because she reminds me of Garret.

I can't believe that this cellphone used to be what I think is the boy's. They were alive at one time, and now no one will remember their existence. I will.

I force my eyes from his cheerful gaze to the battery life. There's sixteen percent.

This will have to be my flashlight until I find something more suitable. I keep the brightness of the phone at midpoint to conserve battery, but the light from the screen does little to help me. The fact that I have to hold my crossbow one handedly is a dangerous risk.

Glass breaks under the weight of my boots and I cringe, crossbow at the ready. I hate being so paranoid all the time. I just wish there will be a time when I'll feel safe and normal.

When I find a flashlight, I refuse to leave the cell phone. Having it makes me go back to the days where you would find me on the phone almost every second of the day. I used to hate being addicted to that stupid little box, but now I find comfort in it.

Not to mention that the boy in the picture makes my heart flutter.

It takes me the whole time to get everything I need. I decided to change into a black and white flannel, button up shirt and some thermal leggings. I decided to change my boots because my old ones love to give me blisters on the back of my heel. And just to pamper myself, I shoved some of the shoe foam slips into them for extra padding.

By the time I am done, I drag the seven bags behind me. When I go in for the eighth, I here an empty can fall to the flood. My blood freezes and it's like my limbs refuse to cooperate. In this bag, I just shoved some books, coloring pages, paint, a sketchpad and other wants I think Garret and I would enjoy. I also grabbed a phone charger that would fit the phone I found so I could charge it when it dies.

Why would I keep something so useless? I'm not sure.

A horn honking brings me out of my thoughts. Bear arrives in his car, just on time.

"Let's get to safety, yeah?"

Back from the dead. I'm sorry for taking so long to post another chapter and that it's so short, but everything has started to look up and I just needed to post anything.

Thank you for sticking with me so far. It's been an inspiration. :)