The Downward Spiral Book 1

Ch.12 Ride or Die

Oh God...my little brother... damn it, this really was all my fault...

For now, I needed a way to stop Ray's bleeding. I thought about shredding a piece of my clothes to use, but mine was practically shredded from being grabbed on and probably infected anyway.

Fuck just what could I use?

Suddenly Ray let out a terrified squeak.

"What?!" I cried out. "What is it now Ra-!"

No.

No way.

There were at least fifteen more of those monstrosities wandering around outside the parking lot. The guy I had dumped out of his chair earlier was no longer where I left him. He was out here somewhere, roaming about.

"Oh God...What do we do now?" Ray panicked and started hyperventilating, stirring an asthma attack. His breathing was out of control, wasting the small amount of air left.

No! This was not the time Ray! I screamed in my head.

Gripping his unharmed wrist tightly, I motioned for him to cover his mouth. He was inhaling in and out through his nose rapidly while we waited to calm him down. I couldn't help but to look at his hand again. He wrapped his beanie around it to cover it up but the blood had already soaked through the material. It wasn't enough, but it seemed to control the bleeding for now.

When I glanced around our surroundings, I saw three staggering near my truck. One of them was just staring at the ground in front of my bumper, wearing close to nothing but a barely tied up green gown. Two others were limping by both the driver and passenger doors.

Just our luck.

I looked to Ray who was steadying his breathing and he glanced at me worriedly. "So what now?" He asked quietly. "I think I really need to find help soon."

"I know that Ray, I know, just give me a minute. I'm trying to think of a way to get those things away from the truck so we can get the hell out of here."

He turned his gaze towards them and I could see the gears ticking inside his head as he tried to think of something too.

"How about if we found a way to distract them somehow? Maybe if one of us goes out and causes a distraction behind the truck. It might draw them away from it."

I blinked. "Oh, you mean like bait them?"

He nodded. "And then the other can sneak to the driver door, get inside and start it up."

That could work but...

Who would be the one to sneak over and start up the truck?

I could do it but that would leave Ray with leading those freaks away by himself and I wasn't about to jeopardize his life again for that.

Not after him already losing his...

I closed my eyes and let out a breath. O.K. that would leave me to go and distract these sick freaks while Ray goes to start the truck.

However, as far as I knew I don't think Ray has ever driven a car before in his life, let alone know how to turn the engine on. Actually, now that I think about it, over the four years we've been on our own, I haven't heard him talk about his friends driving and I haven't taught him to drive this whole time. I mean, the kid is almost sixteen already.

Thinking back on it now, it was stupid of me to constantly bark at him to never touch my baby "Lanora".

"Alright, I think I should be the one to distract them and you can go and start the truck. But, I hate to ask but do you even know how to put the keys into the ignition or where it is...or what it is?"