Dead Days

Chapter 4

It wasn't long before I started to see the effects of what Dale was talking about. Before I even made it back into the city I seen it.

      Cars were piled up on the opposite side of the highway. People were fighting each other to get out of the city. Windshields were broken. Blood was shed. Lives were lost.

     I seen a few of the 'undead', if that's even what they can be considered. As I started to come into the city I began to realize that this isn't just some simple sickness.

     Stores had been raided. Cars nothing but burnt remains. The streets were littered with blood stains, dead bodies.

     Some whole, and some... not. So much death and dismay almost makes me happy that Lauren isn't here to see it.

     As I continue to drive down the highway the world just dives further into chaos. The streets now lit with fires from cars and a few buildings. Ash and smoke beginning to rise. As I make my way down the winding street the radio crackles to live.

     "Jack, you copy?" Asked the chief.

    "Copy"

     "Thank God, I made it into the city, Dale was right."

     "I know, chief. I'm driving through it right now. It looks like the end of the goddamn world."

      "Thats what this is, Jack. I made it home and the first thing I did was turn on the news. All the major cities went down. They had reports of the dead coming back to life. The president has asked everyone to stay inside."

     "Dead coming back to life? What the fuck, like zombies?"

     "I don't know. I think it may be a good idea for us to get out of the city, though."
    
     "Where are you, chief?"
    
      "I'm at my house still, I locked the doors and turned the lights off. They attracts 'them'." He paused.

      "Speaking of them, one of those fuckers scratched me. I was trying to save this girl from an overturned car. I distracted two of the them but a third one came out of nowhere and scratched me from my elbow down to my wrist."
    
      My heart drops. Not another one, not another friend.
    
     "Are you okay, chief?"
    
      "Yeah, I'm good. It just bled like a mother fucker."
    
      "I have to stop by my house first, then I'll be on the way, over and out."
    
     "I step on it. Chief is the only person left important to me that hasn't died. A pack of the undead run through the streets. Their rabid shrieking crescendos as I pass them. They try to run after me but it proves pointless.
    
     I pull into my driveway and put the car in park. I leave the engine running just in case I need to get out here quick.

     I unlock the door to my house and run in. I go to my closet and grab the duffle bag from the shelf on top. I throw clothes into it, not caring to fold them.

      I go to the bathroom and throw my toothbrush and toothpaste in it. I snap my head back and forth making sure I got everything. My eyes stop on the picture of Lauren. I stand there and stare for what seems like hours. Fighting myself to leave the picture.

      I take the picture out of the mirrors frame and kiss her. One last time. I slide the picture back into the frame and walk out of the bathroom.

     I zip the duffle bag, and walk out of my room. I enter the living room and go to the coffee table. I open the drawer on it and grab my 45. ACP. I grab the holster and slide it into it and clip it to my belt.

     I grab the box of ammo, throw it in the side flap of the duffle bag, I also pick up the tactical knife that Dale bought me for my year anniversary of being at the precinct.

     I begin the slow walk to my door. Memories of buying this house with Lauren begin to flood my mind.

     I pass the floor mat that she begged to have put in the hallway leading to the living room. I thought it was so stupid, but she loved it so I bought it for her.