Still breathing | Original story

Chapter Seventeen: Curtains Closed

Word count: 2248

I rushed downstairs with everything I needed and saw an infected had already managed to push it's filthy hand through the front door.
"Ready?" I asked the group and they nodded. I looked at Caleb who was as pale as a ghost, I knelt down in front of him.
"Listen if you're ever scared just squeeze my hand and I'll sort it out okay?" He nodded his head and squeezed my hand to test it out just as the glass at the door gave way.
"Move! Move! Move!" Tyler yelled as infected piled into the room. I gripped Caleb's hand tightly and pulled him with me, he managed to keep up surprisingly. We went to the door at the end of the hallway that led to the kitchen, I let go of his hand and tried to barricade the door as best as I could. The table tried to grip to the floor as I pulled it to cover the door. The wooden legs creaked and made an awful noise that lit up the kitchen with sound, but I was certain every infected in town was already in the house so it didn't matter how noisy I was.
Just as it was in place the door seemed to begin to bend out of shape as the horde pressed into it.
"Out the back," Tyler ordered as I pressed myself against the door, leaning over the table, feeling the weight weaken my arms. Pain tingled up my spine and a splintering crack sounded from the door.
Once the group were out the back I rushed out after them as an infected hands pushed through the kitchen door. We all made it outside to discover more infected were in the streets, making their way over to the only gate exit. Some were wearing blazers, just like the infected at the school... the gate I closed must've opened.

The garden was small and cramped. There was a brick wall that was raised up high, next to that a large gate that was padlocked shut. Over the increasing volume of moans, I couldn't concentrate enough to predict what could be beyond the wall but it had to be better than what was on our side.
The wall was too high to climb over but I still attempted it. I ran at top speed and jumped, my knees flexing and releasing but it wasn't enough. I landed painfully on the floor and a puff of breath escaped my lips as pain flared in my butt and travelled down my legs. The only way up was to help each other and time was running out fast.
I weighed out the options and bent down next to the fence. I put my hands together to make a platform; like I've seen people do in many movies.
"Em, go up." She looked at me quizzically and then at the wall. "I'll boost you."
She nodded and jogged over to me. Her muddy boots made a squelching noise as it connected with my hand and I felt the moisture seep through. Her foot slipped on my hand and I felt the pattern of her boot force its imprint into my skin. With a lot of effort, I pushed my hand upward and she gripped the top of the wall. Once at the top, she disappeared
"There's a bin here-" She said and I heard a sound of rubber squeaking against plastic before her head appeared at the top again. "Its too heavy to throw over," she apologised. "Maybe more people could move it?" She suggested.
An idea struck me as I realised that if Tyler was over there then together they could send the bin down and we could all escape. I checked behind me and saw the back door being battered against by the horde and the first infected was almost through the gate.
"Tyler, you're up," I said quickly and I repeated the process again. Tyler was much heavier but Em helped by pulling Tyler up and over the wall from the other side. Once he was over they both disappeared.
"Okay throw the bin over," I called but I couldn't hear anything but footsteps moving against grass and the constant hissing noise behind me.
"Ty, what are you doing!?" I heard Em ask desperately. I gulped, fearing the worst.
"What's happening!?" I yelled, not really wanting an answer because I knew it wouldn't be a good one.
Shortly after I felt Caleb squeeze my hand. I turned to see the gate off its hinges and a few infected were now in the yard, stumbling their way towards us.
"We're leaving! Good luck, Remi," I heard Tyler's cold voice tell me from behind the wall.
"TY!" Em yelled, knowing she couldn't help us alone.
I felt hot tears pour down my face as hopelessness gripped me tightly and refused to let go. I kicked at the fencing, it was solid. I kept kicking and screaming, trying to push the bricks out, trying to break the solid wood, or maybe trying to get them to change their mind. I went limp against it and my tears soaked into the concrete.
"At least take Caleb," I cried, knowing that he couldn't reach the top no matter how hard I tried to lift him. No one replied but I swore I heard a 'sorry' being whispered by a female voice - I couldn't really hear properly over the approaching horde but I like to think that's what I heard.
I heard a loud crack behind me and spun around hastily. The door finally opened and about twenty infected fell out from behind it. They stumbled over the array of garden furniture on the small porch which I had previously not noticed.