What's left

Caden's P.O.V

I felt the heat escape the barrel of the glock pistol. The recoil left my hand shaking, as if I wasn't already. My body felt numb, hesitating to move as the corpse crumbled to the ground. I gazed at the blood spattered leaves that lay softly around me. My cold breath became vaguely visible in the autumn air.

Oh no, that's big trouble later.

How could I help it? I was only defending myself from this man eating corpse! It came out of nowhere and made not a sound until it was in my face, cornering me in my private hideout. I have no idea how it got in my secret shed, my lock must be busted. I hope Hunter or Zakk didn't find it and break in while scavenging.

I didn't even want to look at the dead lurker, I could never get used to killing them. Not to mention the smell of them could be sensed a bajillion miles away. I cover my nose and exit my hidey place. I gotta hurry home.

I started walking through the scattered white oaks and piles of leaves, with Brad's pistol in my secret pocket in my faded blue backpack.

I just realized it's the third anniversary since the apocalypse started. That when I started writing in my journal.

I started jogging at the sight of another lurker, it's growls haunted my ears leading me to tread faster. My worn out Nikes started kicking leaves up as I ran. I instantly regretted attracting more with my careless gunshot. I've done this more than once so I knew I was in for it this time. Terynce was gonna kill me, or Brad, whoever got to me first.

I began sprinting at the sound of another lurker. It was probably three in the afternoon, Brad would be on watch. I was only a minute away from the college, our home.

The sight of the high, wired fences gave me a spark of hope. I could hear Nico barking in my direction, and my vision made out a figure standing next to him. As I neared, I could see it was Brad with his arms crossed, his rifle slung over his back with a strap. The gate was already opened, he knew I was out here. He had been on the guard tower that stands tall just on the inside of the gates, it was so easy to spot me.

I try just walking past him and inside through the opening but, of course, he blocked my path. He was so much bigger than me that it was like trying to get past a brick wall. He held out his hand, gesturing me to give him the gun I had. He knew I had stolen it.

I didn't argue; just unzipped my backpacks pouch, placing it in his hand.

"Get inside, Caden, now. I'll deal with you right after I deal with the problem you caused." He ordered. I knew I was going to get grounded...again. I slouched my shoulders, put my head downward, and head up to the main college entrance doors. I look back behind me before going in. Brad's voice booms, "Hey, guys! We got a problem at the main gate! Lurkers, about a dozen."

He was talking to the mains. That's everyone besides me, Ashley, Zoey, and Tatum pretty much. They're the more important people in our group. The ones that do most of the physical work. Lily, my brother Zakk, Terynce, Sierra, Hunter, Bricen, Cody & Brody, and Brad are who this category consists of.

I watch as they all casually scramble towards where Brad stood. They gather then head out, out of my sight. They don't use their guns, it'll just attract more. All loud noises attract them. They're most likely using their knives or their guns with homemade silencers.

I sigh. I know I shouldn't keep going out there and if I do, stop shooting off my gun. It's just hard though, I don't really fit in with them here and it's nice to get away sometimes. That's why I have my secret shed out in the woods.

They're just much older and I have no experience with these things. Sure, I can shoot but I don't know when. I'm not much help here besides cleaning, that's what gives them a wide variety of things to make fun of me for. I especially hated hearing Terynce bash me for writing in my "diary".

Inside, I throw my backpack beside the door, still breathing heavily from running. I close the door behind me and head upstairs out of the lounging room to look for Tatum. He was the only one I could really talk to since he was around my age.

I check our dorm finding him lying on the top bunk with earphones in. He yanks them out at the sight of me. "Hey, what's up?"

"Nothin'." I kick off my shoes and sit under him on the bottom back. I'm going to get grounded most likely," I said plopping myself face first onto my bottom bunk.

"You run off aga-" Tatum was interrupted by screaming downstairs.

It only really caught my attention when I heard my name and the desperation of the calls. "Caden! Get the First Aid, hurry up!" I'm not sure who's voice it was, it was shaky and cracked too much to know.

It didn't matter to me though, I knew something was wrong. As I ran back down the stairs, I just prayed no one was bit. It would be all my fault.

Rushing into the lounge room, I nearly dove towards the back wall where the first aid pack hung. I snatch it and sprint out the front double doors. Instantly, I see everyone huddled around someone laying on the ground near the garden. The gate was closed already.

As I get closer to the crowd, I hear the screams. They were agonized and drawn out. Zakk snatched the pack out of my hand just as Ashley, Tatum, and Zoey came sprinting from the building I just came from.

I push passed Lily to get a better look. Brody was lying there in the grass on his back, deep colored blood spurting from his pinkie finger. It was half way gone, bitten clear off.

I watch in horror, my stomach churning as Zakk knelt beside him. He was definitely bit. Terynce and Brad hold Brody down as Zakk takes a lighter from his pocket.

"Why are you using that?" Zakk's girlfriend, Lily asked as she held her hand against her stomach.

"I need to cauterize the wound to stop the bleeding after we cut it off. Burn the end of his pinkie to kind of melt the skin together." He explains as he works."We need to hurry though."

Cody kneels down next to his twin, Brody. He pulls out his pocket knife from his belt loop and looks up at Zakk. "I should do it." He insists.

Zakk just looks at him and nods slightly. I remain quiet just like the rest of them. The only noises heard are Brody's screams of agony and the loud breathing of the group members.

We watch in anticipation as Cody holds down his brother's arm. His breathing slows and he focuses hard on his task. He sprawls Brody's fingers apart before putting the knife against his skin just above his knuckle. He was going to lose his whole finger.

Cody looks to Brody in sympathy but Brody just demands in a raspy voice, "Do it."

I'll never forget his scream.