Deceased

Chapter Eight

The teeth never come. As quickly as the growl started, it ended with a squelching noise and a thump as it hit the ground inches from me. I open my eyes to see Savannah, her blade oozing with thick, dark blood.

"I didn't really peg you for the type to just lay down and give up." She shrugs, bending down to wipe her blade off on the biters ragged clothing.

Alex and Amanda come through the trees. "Oh, good you guys are okay! We need to leave now though. They'll come looking soon," Amanda tells us.

I stand, wincing as I put weight onto my right arm to get up, forgetting momentarily about my injury. I wince, sucking air through my teeth loudly. All eyes snap towards me without hesitation.

"What's wrong?" Amanda asks me, cautiously, her hand moving towards the knife on her own belt.

"Nothing, I'm fine. Just a minor injury. I can handle it," I reply.

"No," Savannah says. "We aren't going anywhere until you show us this 'minor injury' of yours."

"Did you see it bite her?" Amanda questions Savannah urgently.

"No... But it could've. When I got here it was about to sink it's teeth right into her throa-"

"I haven't been bitten," I hiss. "I'd have sooner taken my own life than wait to turn into one of those things."

"Prove it," Savannah demands.

In my anger, I rip the shirt sleeve open, exposing the wound, which looks nothing like a bite. My shirt, having already been torn open at the barn, and now had the sleeve ripped, is almost nothing but rags. I tear the few inches that were okay into nothing but shreds. Wearing only my tank top now, I carry the thin cloth in my clenched fist, some blood slowly trickling down my arm.

"Can we go now?" I snap at them all, not even caring how insane I must look.

They all nod and we walk at a brisk pace. The forest calms me some as I take deep breaths. A gentle wind rustles through the leaves of the trees, making me shiver, although the temperature is rising as the sun does. The quiet crunching of leaves is calming, although I keep a close eye out for who it might attract.

Alex's footsteps are the loudest, which makes me wonder how such a tiny girl could create so much noise. She walks next to me after awhile, stepping in time with me. When she offers the granola bars, I can't help but give her a small smile as I accept them.

"Thank you," I tell her, quietly.

Amanda glances over at me. "Hey, we're sorry about what happened back there. But, I'm sure you of all people know what it's like when somebody gets bitten and tries covering it up."

I nod. "Everybody thinks they'll be the one exception to the disease. Denial. It's how humans cope," I reply.

"Yeah. Would you like me to take a look at your wound? They shot you didn't they? I had worried for a second when I heard the noise, but you kept going so I thought they had missed."

"I'll be fine. It only skimmed me."

"Still, we should make sure it doesn't get infected," Savannah cuts in. "There aren't  exactly any hospitals around anymore."

"I said I'm fine," I nearly yell.

Everybody goes quiet again. We continue to walk throughout the trees, heading in one direction. Away. Away from that murderous group. My arm continues to sting but gradually I become used to it.

We all stop for a break to eat and rest. When we do, I remember the cloth of my shirt still clenched in between my fingers. I tear off some strips and then attempt to wrap my arm with them one-handedly.

"I could help you," Amanda says quietly.

I pause, then decide I've already been enough of the Wicked Witch of the West for one day, plus I really do need help. "Okay, you can help."

She comes over, bandaging up my arm with my makeshift band aid. It hurts a lot when the fabric touches it, but most of it is already beginning the process of scabbing, so it shouldn't be too painful to take off later.

"We'll need to find some peroxide or rubbing alcohol to make sure it doesn't get infected. We'll need new stuff to wrap the wound with too."

"I know. We'll look on our way. Thanks."

"No problem"

"Is everybody about ready to go?" Savannah asks us as she picks up her book bag.

"No," I tell her. "Actually, I was kind of wondering where exactly it is that we're all going to."

Savannah and Amanda look at each other, while Alex stands close to me.
"We're not sure," they finally say. "We just wanted to get out of the group. We never really though about where it is we were going afterwards.. We didn't really think we'd get this far," they admit.

"Where were you guys heading," Savannah asks me.

"There's a place," I shrug. "It's supposed to be some safe haven. A good community that's protected. We we're headed towards there."

"You've never been there, though?" Amanda asks.

"No. I heard about it through a... A friend of mine. He didn't make it."
Everybody is quiet and they both go to say they're sorry but I cut them off.

"Anyways, we should probably find somewhere safe and get out of these woods. I'll need a map, too." I state, hoping that I can pick out where he had said it would be. I had barely glanced at the map when he had pointed it out one day, as I was completely disinterested in going. I only knew the general direction but now that we were thrown off the path, I have no clue.

"Well we should all be on our way then. Savannah and I know our way decently around these parts, so we should be out of these woods in no later than a couple hours."

"Yeah, let's keep going. I don't want to think about what could catch up to us if we stop," Savannah adds.

"Ugh I just wanna get where we're going so I can eat and sleep all day without all this dumb stuff," Alex grumbles.

"Me too," us three older girls say at the same time, my lips lifting a little bit into a smile.

Well there you have it, Chapter Eight! I just graduated from high school a couple days ago, just in time for Christmas, so I'll be able to write a lot more now. (Although it's not like anybody actually reads my story). Feel free to comment or message me, follow me, like the chapters, and whatever else. Thanks for reading!