Drabbles and Containment by A Forum User

Containment Part 5

~Sang~

We were all solemn and silent, the only sound being the bumps and jolts of the dirt road.

North had driven us off-road about an hour and a half ago, and we had all been mulling over what had happened.

This thing, apocalypse, Armageddon, judgment day , whatever you want to call it, was real.

I had seen two men dead, the first corpses I had ever seen, within the space of an hour. One shot, the other...basically ripped apart.

When I lifted my hand to my cheek, it came back wet with tears I hadn't noticed, and didn't have the energy to continue the crying, no matter how much I wanted to let it all out. I just wanted to slide under a blanket and wait until this all blew over. Surely it had to?

Adrenalin and fear refused to give into much needed sleep, so I stared out of the window.

The road had no streetlights, and the only illumination on our surroundings came from the pool of light that the headlights gave off. Trees lined the sides, casting thin, alarmingly human-like shaped on the road. Light scuffles and snapping branches were the only sounds. Wildlife.

I hoped.

North made a sharp turn right, and muttered a curse under his breath.

Like we predicted, the road to the airport was completely blocked up. The white, glittering lights of it were drowning in the red ones of taillights. It was the same as the highway before; a sea of shouting and impatience.

"Fuck. Mr. B, what do we do?"

Mr. Blackbourne pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Park on the hard shoulder. We'll get out and walk."

Gabriel gave him a disbelieving look.

"You want us to get out and fucking walk? What if someone who's sick comes?"

He looked back at Gabe.

"Have you got a better idea, Mr. Coleman?"

I gave him a surprised look. He'd never been so snappy. But who was I to judge? I was close to having a mental breakdown.

"Fuck it then," Gabriel muttered.

"Should I text the others to park too?" Luke asked, I guessed to try and diffuse the mounting tension. We didn't need to argue.

Mr. Blackbourne nodded curtly and North pulled up, parking the truck. A quick glance behind told me that Kota and the others were doing the same.

We all got out, Gabriel standing defensively beside me as if something was about to jump out of the shrubbery and attack us. Luke reached inside his jacket and produced a flashlight.

Kota parked his sedan and hopped out, Dr. Green, Silas, Nathan and Victor with him.

They all ran over to us immediately. Kota gripped my hand for a moment, and I wasn't sure whether it was for my reassurance or his. Dr. Green gave me a glance that told me we'd speak later. Silas gave me a gentle smile. Nathan gripped my shoulders, searching my face.

"Are you okay, Peanut?"

"I'm fine, Nathan." I held my arms out, "I'm not hurt."

He pressed his hand against my face, the thumb smoothing over my cheek.

"How are you really? How are you dealing with all this?"

My eyes stung at the kindness and I turned my head away from him.

"Now's not the time for psychological talk. Let's just get to the airport, we can talk about it there."

"Fine," he mumbled, sounding slightly dejected.

I felt like I should have been warmer, but I was barely holding back the emotions now. Talk to someone, and there'd be a tidal wave. That was not what we needed.

My hands felt empty, no matter how much I clenched them or occupied them with fidgeting.

I felt slightly awkward but I forced myself to speak up.

"Could, um, could I have a weapon or something to protect myself with?" I asked hesitantly. Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Green paused their discussion and glanced over at me.

Before anyone could protest, Luke placed a knife in my hands. It was long and thick, with a slightly curved tip. The handle was snug.

"You don't know how to shoot, right?" Luke confirmed.

"No."

"Then have that, you're right, you need something to defend yourself with. A gun would be better, but for now that'll do. Go for the throat if you can, if not straight into the stomach and up, like this," he positioned the knife correctly in my hands and did an example of the stabbing motion.

I nodded and stared at the blade for a moment. It looked vicious, lethal. If it came down to it, I would have to kill someone with this thing. Could I do it?

I guess I'd have to find out.