Don't Let Me Go

Flee

"Javla fitta helvete!" Felix screams, holding an infected back with on hand, and trying to smash the old man's head with a shovel with the other, "No, no, no, no, no, no!"

Nate stabs a broken fence post through the infected man's head, splattering Felix with the dark, almost black, crimson blood. Felix jumps away as the body falls to the ground. He grins beneath his mask, "Thanks, man."

Nate rolls his eyes, turning quickly and smashing the fence post into an infected woman's face as she tries to grab him, "Can't you shut up for two seconds? All that screaming called them to us!"

Mark, Bob, and Wade stand off a few feet away, each using random planks of wood or gardening tools to defend themselves. The street is littered with corpses, and the infected. Once the street is littered with corpses, the friends regroup, all breathing heavily. Mark runs a hand through his hair, "Come on, the store's only a few more blocks away."

He jogs to the nearest alley and they follow after him. The alleyway is covered in blood, trash, and half-eaten bodies. Mark makes sure not to look at the rotting corpses' faces, he doesn't want to recognize any of the deceased. They all stand there, catching their breath, trying to come up with some kind of plan. Mark refused to take the car, afraid of the noise bringing more of the infected to Mark's neighborhood. As strange as it is, his neighborhood seems the less affected, and he hopes it'll stay that way.

The last thing he wants is to trap his friends in the house, unable to leave because the infected have surrounded them. What worries Mark the most about their expedition is the fact that they haven't come across that many infected people. That little fight they just had was their first encounter since leaving Mark's house. Los Angeles is a big place, how many infected people are roaming around, and just how dangerous are they? Mark goes to the opposite end of the alley and peers around the corner. He groans softly, the next street over, which leads directly to the store, is littered with the infected citizens.

He shakes his head, whispering, "There's no way we can get through all of them, especially not if we're trying to carry groceries."

He groans softly and turns back to his friends. His eyes widen and then everything is suddenly moving in slow motion. Mark pushes through his friends, shouting Bob's name. Bob looks at him, looking confused, and then his face twists from confusion into fear, and then pain as an infected man sinks his teeth into Bob's throat. The instant Mark shoves his friends aside to get to Bob, they all turn to where Mark is going, their eyes widen as they see their friend being attacked. Being the closest, Wade turns and smashes his splintered wood pole into the infected man's face, effectively knocking the infected back off of Bob.

Bob stumbles sideways, leaning against the wall, holding both hands over the bleeding wound on his throat. A moment later, he falls to the ground. Wade smashes his pole into the infected's face repeatedly as Mark kneels by Bob, eyes wide. Felix stands by, his eyes wide, but he doesn't say a word. Nate, on the other hand, watches the opposite end of the alley where Mark had been a moment before. He's shaking and gripping his broken fence post tightly, "Guys.. We need to go! All those infected are coming our way!"

"Wade, help me get Bob up!" Mark orders, trying to pull Bob back to his feet. Wade kills the infected that had attacked Bob, then turns and runs over to help Mark. Bob is bleeding out, gurgling, drowning on his own blood. He coughs, blood splatters on Mark, but Mark doesn't seem to notice as he continues trying to pull Bob up. Even with Wade's help, it seems impossible, Felix still stands there, watching with wide eyes. Nate runs back over, "We have to go! Now!"

Bob's skin pales almost instantly, the blood flow from his open wound won't stop, despite his hands, and Mark's over the wound. The blood just continues to seep through. Mark and Wade continue to try and pull Bob up, still, it seems impossible. Wade moves and grabs Bob under the arms, trying to drag his dying friend now. Mark watches helplessly as Bob's veins turn black, protruding in seconds as the infection spreads through his bloodstream. Bob wheezes, his body starts seizing, making it even harder for his friends to try and move him.

Mark cries, "Just hang on, you'll be okay!"

"We have to go!" Nate screams, smashing his post into the nearest infected that rounds the corner, coming into the alley. Wade moves so he's beside Bob now, and he reaches over him, grabbing his left arm, "He's having a seizure, turn him on his side!"

Mark moves to help and Bob goes limp. Wade and Mark freeze, both staring at their friend in utter despair. Nate screams at them again, fighting off more of the infected as he's pushed back towards his friends as more and more of the infected fill the alleyway. Felix shakes his head, slowly walking backwards. He suddenly quickly turns and takes off out of the alley. Bob suddenly jolts back to life and sinks his teeth into Wade's arm. Mark jumps back in surprise as Wade screams.

Wade then rips himself away from his friend, cradling his injured arm, a huge chunk missing from Bob's bite. Blood runs down his arm and Wade shakes his head, sobbing as Bob crawls towards him. Nate and Mark run past him and Mark grabs Wade as they do, pulling him along with them. Mark looks around for Felix as they flee back towards his home, but there's no sign of him. Mark swallows his fear, leading the two friends still with him back to his house. He looks back and his heart sinks. They're being chased by a hoard of the infected, and Bob's among them, reaching out for them, accusing them. We couldn't save you.