The Chase

The Chase Ch. 22

Ginger's P.O.V

An urgent knock came at the door and I was jolted awake. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and yawned.

“Come in,” I groaned.

                Donovan stepped in but stayed at the door, eyeing Thad beside me.

“We have to go,” he explained.

“Do I have time for a shower?”

“Not really…”

“Ok. Be right down.”

                He nodded and shut the door behind him. A little way down the hall I heard another door open and close. I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair, still not fully awake. Thad had been asleep but was awake as soon as I sat up. Taking my time, I went over to the closet and picked my usual jeans and crewneck tee.

“Don’t look,” I called over my shoulder to Thad.

“You know I’m going to look anyways. Just leave the room.”

                I sighed and shuffled out the door and to the bathroom. I mechanically changed and brushed my teeth. Donovan was waiting by the front door by the time I was done. Thad flashed down the stairs and grasped my hand.

“He isn’t coming, is he?” asked Donovan.

“He is,” I yawned, checking the number of bullets in my Glock.

Donovan held back a dramatic sigh and marched ahead of us. “Let’s leave.”

                Thad suggested we go to the wholesale store that used to sell things in bulk, including guns and ammunition.

“That’s really far,” Donovan complained.

“Do you guys walk everywhere? Don’t you have a car?”

“No.”

“Wait here,” said Thad.

                Before I could question where he was going, he ran off.

“I should go wake up Emma in case we need a sniper,” I said, turning back towards the house.

“It’s almost sunrise. We won’t need her.”

“If you say so,” I said.

                A car came careening around the corner and screeched to a noisy halt in front of us. I jumped back, afraid it’d run me over. The window rolled down and Thad smiled from inside.

“Get in,” he called.

“He’s going to kill us,” Donovan remarked as he cautiously climbed into the car.

“You can drive right?” I asked.

“Of course I can drive,” said Thad with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Seatbelts!” He plowed the gas pedal into the ground and I flew back against the seat. Thad barely slowed down when he came to a curve in the road. I saw my life flash before my eyes briefly. “I can hear your pulse again,” he remarked.

“Yeah that’s because I think I’m going to die any minute. Slow down!”

                Thad slowed to a healthy forty-five. I sighed in relief and was finally able to buckle my seatbelt. I ignored the tremulous shaking of my hands. We arrived at the store and Thad parked across three parking spaces.

“Of course I can drive,” said Donovan doing a terrible impression of Thad. “My ass.”

                He practically jumped out of the car. I too was grateful to be on still ground. Donovan and I ran ahead into the store while Thad scouted the area for any possible dangers. The store resembled New Orleans after hurricane Katrina: devastated and ruined. We were still able to find some nonperishable food items, soda, and (thankfully) toilet paper!

“I’ll go load up on ammo,” I said to Donovan.

                He nodded and I headed to the back where they keep the guns locked up behind glass cases. Somehow the glass had survived the onslaught of vampires. Grabbing a hammer from the tool section, I sent it flying into the glass and shielded my eyes as shards flew in my direction. I felt a sharp pain in my arm but ignored it. I kicked the glass away and started loading my bag with bullets and a few extra guns. Emma needs a new silencer, I thought.

                A hiss erupted from behind me.

“Jesus Thad, it’s just blood. Get over it,” I said, referring to my bleeding arm.

“Thad?”

                Unless Thad magically became a woman, that isn’t him, I thought. I whipped around and pointed my gun in the direction of the voice. A female with dark hair smacked the gun out of my hand and grabbed me by the throat.

“I don’t know who Thad is but he must be one lucky guy,” she said, sniffing the blood on my arm.

“Donovan!” I screamed. “I have a situation!”