Alison Deadlands | Wattys 2016

☢ THREE

Zombies Hate Fast Food (Get it?)

It was too late, he bit my arm. I stared at him in shock; I was probably so shocked, I couldn't feel the pain, but I immediately got up and bashed the side of his head with my elbow just so he could fall. Stepping back, I cradled my arm, ready to go searching for Thomas. But that was when it was almost dark, and the first sign of Mase's explosives had gone off.

I had to get out of there, with or without him, or both of us were dead.

I raced out of the cornfields, with my heart in my hands; I knew how devastating it would be for all the others.

They trusted me; it would make no difference if I died now.

On second thought, maybe it would. Whether Lily still cared for me or not, whether the other two would turn their backs on me, as long as I ended my life protecting one of them, it was fine with me.

Anyway, the crawlers were coming any second now, and I started to run.

By the time I got out, I searched around for any sign of my team mates, and I didn't want to attract any attention. So it was best for me not to call out to them.

But luck got the best of me when I heard a voice behind me, "Alison?"

I turned to see my sister, and a pang of guilt washed over me. I expected her to ask where Thomas was, and cry her heart out about it. But instead she just ran to me, "Are you okay?" She asked.

I was surprised at that, but the thought of Thomas stuck in the cornfields still invaded my mind.

I pulled down my sleeve over the bite mark, but didn't notice Reiha staring intently at me, "Yeah, totally," I said, but almost immediately, I sputtered out the truth. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I lost him! He's gone!"

I had no choice; the question would come sooner or later.

I couldn't even face Lily as I only heard her deep breathing. "It's okay, Alison. I care about you more than anyone, it's okay." She repeated steadily.

I wanted to smile and cry of happiness; instead I just knelt and bow my head in front of her.

I could tell Reiha was watching, and the one time she told me one the way to the plains about something, was important right now.

"I always thought he would go first," she had said about Thomas, and it came true.

I hadn't noticed I gripped onto my sleeve and when my sister was about to touch it, I turned around. She knew how I felt, so she was the one to speak.

"Let's go wait for the others," She said. It may not seem like it, but Lily had the same gift inherited as me. It was keeping her feelings locked in.

She knew how to be sweet at times, but also to be cold and inexpressive.

I didn't say anything as I stood and trailed behind my younger sister.

When we sat on the log nearby, I realized I didn't talk to Reiha yet. While my sister was writing in her journal about something, probably a short story, Reiha scooted over to you.

"What's up?" She asked, "Where's Mase?" I immediately responded. She just shook her head, "He should be here any minute now."

"Surprisingly, nobody has a watch," I stated. "Yeah," She said.

It was complete silence until she started to talk, "You never told me about your past," He said.

I sighed, "I never told anyone, not even myself."

He stared at me for a moment, and Lily looked at me worriedly. I just shook my head, saying it was fine.

Reiha was confused; until her mouth formed an 'O' and she held a hand up. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to get into your personal life-"

"It's fine," I mumble. She took it as a sign that I was about to tell her.

"I had amnesia, at the age of seven,"

She stared wide eyed, "Oh..."

That's when we heard loud footsteps and all of us stood up aware; it was only Mase, with a horrified look on his face.

"We run, now." He commanded.

Then, all four of us broke into a sprint.

_

It had felt like hours we'd been running, although I bet it was only minutes. I wanted to stop and ask Mase what happened, but I decided it was for the best to leave him be until I and the rest were safe.

Apparently, we were now in the woods, a place we've never really been hunted down by undead before. This was weird, knowing that in all horror movies, the woods were the worst place to go.

Lily took my hand all of a sudden, "Alison, do you know why humans dislike the dark?" She asked.

I peered down at her, and stopped at my running pace to a much slower one. "Tell me," I said lightly.

"It's simple. The things that people like us see in the daylight, we can't be so sure of at night. The darkness is overwhelming; you wouldn't know there was something next to you, even for the longest time."

The way she said it sent shivers down my spine, and as I looked around, it was night.

"Alright Lily, that's enough," I deadpanned.

But Reiha and Mase were just there, they probably stopped since you stopped running.

"Mase, where are we going now?" You ask, trying to erase what your sister said.

The things that people like us see in the daylight, we can't be so sure of at night.

"Ma-,"

He turned around, and his eyes met yours. His skin was like an alien and his bones were extremely visible. But apparently, he was different.

His eyes were glowing almost luminous gold.

"Oh, not again," I muttered. It was an undead, not my friend.

I thought you could easily run and go find the others but unexpectedly, the zombie came crawling at me full speed.

Lily screamed as my last words were the things I knew about the creature.

"Crawler..."

_

I shot up; my stomach feeling like a needle so small just stabbed me there. My head was throbbing and my heart rate was too fast I almost couldn't breathe. There was sweat beading down the sides of my face, until I realized I was safe in a small broken down cottage-like area, the walls were painted brick-like. Not to modern, not to old. Mase was sitting next to me with a look on his face I couldn't tell if he was mad, sad, or surprised.

Either way, his voice was cold as ever. Then I remembered, we stopped at a cottage before we slept. I probably dreamed of the whole part when Lily talked about humans and dark stuff.

"A nightmare, I guess." He said, and I nodded.

Mase took your right arm and stared at it for a second, I was about to ask why until I realized it was the arm that was bitten.

But it was too late; he immediately pulled up my sleeve as I saw a deep mark on it with green surrounding the core.

"I'm sorry, you're bitten." He said blankly. I just stared at him, mouth agape, until he continued again. "Luckily, that must've already happened to you before."