The Dead

HAYDEN.1

I'm scared. I look around, trying to figure out where I am, to no avail. I am lost, completely, utterly lost. I've been wandering around for at least a week now and still yet to find my way back to my camp. Which means I'm as good as dead. I sigh heavily and wish I had brought more supplies than just the 2 canteens of water and package of nuts I had taken along with a quick recharge patch. I shift the bag on my back and can't help but notice how light it is. I definitely should have brought more. I didn't even think to bring a weapon. I curse my lack of foresight and continue to walk, hoping to find a familiar place.

I don't come across any of said places but I do find a long highway and I decide to investigate. There may be a working car or, even though the thought unnerves me, a dead body from which I can scavenge, as I am in need of supplies.

I pass many broken down cars, many of them rusted and beyond repair, but a few that could be salvaged if I had the tools and gas, both of which were hard to obtain, more so the gas. Eventually I get to a part of the highway that is surrounded by woods on both sides. I stop walking. I know forests and wooded areas are bad news because they are almost always infested with Dead, flesh-eating beasts that will kill you with-in seconds. However, forests could be your best asset, considering you had the right supplies, because it provides food, shelter, water, and many more things. The thought of water draws my mind to my canteens, both almost empty by now. I am torn between risking my life to prolong it, or playing it safe and risk dehydration. I decide to go back the way I came and hopefully run into Virgil, my friend and fellow survivor. I would have chosen the woods, if I had the proper supplies and once again I curse myself.

I am just about to head back when violent beeping sounds in my ear. I jump, the loud noise scaring me. A warning flashes on the left side of my vision, the beeping still sounding in my ears.

'WARNING: HOSTILE CREATURES DETECTED'

I swallow in fear. I'm just about to bolt when I hear it. Growls. I turn around quickly and come face to face with a hideous beast. More like it circle us, making escape impossible. The Dead have found me.

The Dead are heinous, ugly creatures. They look similar to a wolf in the face and have large, hairless bodies. They aren't very intelligent, mostly relaying on instinct but they are fast and strong and hard to kill. I'm not quite sure as how they came to be, whether a virus or a failed experiment, but they multiplied quickly and soon the whole world was in ruins. The Dead now rule the world.

I'm terrified, I know I have reached my end. I look around, desperately trying to find an escape. One of the circling Dead walks closer to me, leaving a small gap in the formation. There, there is my escape, but it will most likely cost me. I can feel something stir in me and now I can't give up, it's in my programming to survive. So I run. I run as fast as I can towards the gap, adrenaline already coursing through me. I just make it past the group of Dead when pain rips through me body, sparks flying from my shoulder. I falter for a moment but don't stop running. I race into the treeline, closely followed by Dead. I try and shake them but only manage to slow them down. I turn around and can't see them anymore but I know they are still there. They are great trackers, they won't stop chasing me until one of us are dead. I prefer it be them, but I remind my self I have no weapon. My death may be the end of the chase after-all.

The wound on my shoulder runs deep but I hardly worry about it. I worry about my supplies. When the Dead's sharp claws raked my shoulder, they took my bag of supplies with them. I am now running for my life with only the shirt on my back and my smarts. The odds are not in my favor.

I run for days, my body only slightly tired. My throat is dry and I know if I don't find water soon I may not make it. It's by a stroke of luck that I find the pond, more of a puddle really but it's enough. I came across it while trying to evade the Dead for the umpteenth time. I found a small cave thickly surrounded by trees. The Dead would have a hard time finding it and a harder time getting to it but they would eventually but it was good for a little rest. In the back of the cave was a minuscule pond but it was clean water. I almost whooped with joy, barely containing myself. I lap up the water as a dog would, slightly ashamed by my lack of etiquette, but my thirst was so strong, I needed it as soon as possible. Once I calmed down I began drinking the water with my hand, cupping them to hold the water then bringing them to my mouth to drink. This continued by a while, taking short breaks to regain my breath. I massaged my legs and took short naps. I even sigh pitifully at my tattered shirt. I have nothing to carry water in so I drink as much as possible at the moment, then prepare to leave. That was almost a week ago.

The cave had been my only stroke of luck as of yet, and I start to feel my escape was for not. My body will shut down soon without water, though I had happened upon some berries so at least I wouldn't starve to death. I want to give up, just stop trying and let the Dead find me but I can't, I won't let myself. So I keep going. And that's when my luck changes for the better. or so I thought.

I stumble upon an old cabin, the wood weakened but still sturdy. I quicken my pace, limping slightly because my legs are so tired, the muscles worn out. I practically slam the door shut behind me in my hast and lean down to inspect the handle. The door has a rickety lock, rusted in some areas, but it still works. I turn the lock and fall in a heap to the floor, my legs giving out. The cabin is the safest thing I have run into in the chase but it, like all the other places, will only last so long. Eventually they will break down the door, but I'll be ready to flea before that happens. I'm about to shut down when I come to a horrible realization. Now that I've gone into the cabin, they will surround the outside of it, effectively cornering me. I have no where to run. My once safe house has now become my deathtrap.

I search the house for weapons and supplies. I find one water bottle, half full, among a pile of empty ones and some food. I sip the water, willing myself to ration it and nibble on the food. I didn't find any weapons, unless a sewing needle counts. The sewing needle gives me an idea though and after I find some thread I stitch my wound, which barely hurts, seeing as the nerve ending in and near the shoulder have been all but destroyed. With the leftover thread I'm also able to fix my shirt, which provides with a small comfort.

That night in the cabin I huddle in a corner where the floor isn't rotted and cry. No tears produce in my eyes though I go through the motions. It helps me calm the emotional hurricane in my head. I calm down hours later, finally coming to terms with my inevitable death. My luck has run out. Though I'm not religious, I pray to anyone who will listen. I pray for the safety of Virgil, who to my knowledge is wandering alone just as lost as I am. I also pray that maybe, just maybe this isn't the end for me. I pray for someone to save me.

My prays are answered the next morning in the form of the door to the cabin busting open.