Gory Glory // l.t au

5 - Leila

Leila

I killed the engine just as we were about to enter the city. It was safer on foot – quieter. We jumped out, before I walked round to the back seat and pulled out my belt of grenades, placing them over my torso. I strapped my trusted rifle onto my back and placed a knife in the boot of one foot, and my Derringer in the other. I grabbed two duffel bags and handed one to Louis.

“Wow,” he breathed, accepting the bag, “You're prepared”.

I smiled. “Better safe than sorry. Here,” I reached into my bag and pulled out a simple pistol, handing it to him. He thanked me and stuffed it into the waistband of his boxers, not bothering to cover the handle sticking out with his shirt. It's not like he needed to hide it.

“So what's the plan?” he asked curiously.

“We go into the abandoned shops and find whatever the hell we can. Anything that could come to use, grab it. I expect to leave with a load of supplies. The more we get now, the later we'll need to come back”.

“Okay, let's go”.

We headed down the dusty, cracked road, entering the dead city crumbling before us.

I strode towards a particular shop I knew was good for supplies, whilst Louis trailed cautiously behind. So far, I had only seen a few Breathers far off in the distance, stumbling black silhouettes. We entered the shop through a smashed display window, making sure not to step on the shards of glass.

“Okay, I'll go this way, and you go down there,” I motioned with my gun. He nodded, following my instructions.

I made my way down an aisle, stuffing anything useful I could find into it. Food, materials, tools – the lot. Soon enough, most of the bag was filled. I backed round the corner, eyeing the aisle I'd just went down to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

I suddenly felt a pair of glacial arms grab hold of my shoulders and pull me down to the floor. I toppled over onto my ass in a daze. A Breather towered over me, looking down on me. Even though they weren't capable of displaying emotion, I was certain I saw it grinning a sickly, sinister grin. Before I had time to reach down and grab my knife from my boot, it pounced on top of me and pinned my arms down with it's icy, deteriorating hands. It's rotted jaw leaned down to make contact with my neck.

“Get off me, you bastard,” I growled through clenched teeth, attempting to pull my arms free from it's grip. It wouldn't let go. So I shot my head up and smacked my forehead into it's nose. I heard a crack and hoped I'd inflicted some damage to it.

It responded with a snarl and made a move for my neck again. It was only millimetres away and I felt its old, crooked teeth press against my bare skin.

So this is how I'm gonna die then, huh?

Hmm...could've been better I guess.

To my surprise, I heard a loud bang, and with a final animal-like shriek, the Breather's weight collapsed on top of me. Blood oozed out of the bullet wound on it's forehead and onto my cheek. I shoved it off and stood up, turning around to see a wide – eyed Louis standing there. His arms were still extended and his gun was still clasped firmly in his hands. I noticed his whole body was trembling. His aqua eyes were dancing with fright as he just stood there, motionless. I attempted to wipe the blood off of my cheek, but it just smeared further across my face.

I exhaled slowly, “God, I could do with a smoke”. I saw Louis' bottom lip wobble and I approached him slowly. He looked like a frightened puppy. “Stripes?” I asked.