AM13 Outbreak Shorts

Crackdown - Eight

Love, did I really say love?

I can't quite get my head around what made me tell Katie that I'm in love with her. Maybe I really am, perhaps that feeling's been creeping up on me for a while now and it just got hold of me in that moment. Or maybe it's the stress of this apocalyptic mess, maybe that's what got to me. Either way, it's out there now and I have no idea how she feels about me. That's terrifying.

"So, what is all this about?" Enrico asks me while cocking his gun in front of him. "Remind me."

I sigh audibly, wishing I didn't have to go through this again, but I can't not tell Enrico, he's the only one who's willing to come along on this crazy ass mission. I'm grateful to him for that.

"I think we need to get to the hospital, to check there isn't anyone left behind. Plus, supplies." I gulp, hating the fact that I'm lying and not explaining Katie's request. "Medical supplies are necessary at a time like this. Antibiotics will stop infection from spreading like wildfire."

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that." He shivers violently. "I'll just be glad when it's done."

Fear bouncing off the pair of us, shimmying between us like a bond and we make our way towards the hospital. Our feet move in unison, making me flinch every time one of us stomps just a little too hard. Nosie seems to attract them, and neither of us want to face one of those beasts.

"We shouldn't be too long now," I say quietly, trying to keep both our spirits high. "The hospital is around here, right. It's been so long, and the world looks really different now, doesn't it?"

The town that I've grown so used to during my time living here looks like a wasteland. Dust and dirt flicks up the roads, and in a short time it's already looking very abandoned. Maybe litter has always scattered about the place and paint's always been peeling off the walls...I just didn't notice it because there were people everywhere. I know the blood and grime hasn't always been there though, or the bodies. That's an extremely unwelcome change I could do without.

Will it ever get better? Is this life ever going to improve?

I need it to, I don't want to think that this is our future, but maybe it is. I don't know. Maybe we're really done with humanity as it once was and now this will be our survival forever.

"Yeah, it's just around the corner." Is it me, or does Enrico sound truly anxious? "I hope it's not as bad as they say. I really don't want to wander head first into a shit show."

"No, nor do I." I shake my head fervently. "We won't go in if it's like that. We'll just leave."

I shouldn't have dragged my friend into this, especially when I already suspect this will end up a bust. It wasn't fair of me to even ask him when Katie is the main reason behind it. I part my lips, ready to confess the truth, just to ease my conscience a little bit, but somehow the words don't come out my mouth. The get stuck firmly in my throat, like there's a golf ball in the way.

"Holy hell!" Enrico stops dead where he is and he points. "Look at that."

My heart sinks as I follow his eyeline. The sight before me is dreadful. The hospital is surrounded by them, the intense stench of death is unbearable, I even gag because it's so powerful. Even in a world where I'm used to it, it's bad. This place is worse than anywhere I've seen yet, it's even worse than the specialist medical facility. Whoever Katie was hoping I'd find is long gone.

"So, we go, right?" I ask Enrico, while taking a tentative step forwards. "We need to go back."

My mind races, I try desperately to think of a way to make this worthwhile. I know I have the information I came for, but I still feel like this dangerous journey has all been for nothing. Maybe we could stop off at a supermarket or something, try to find one that hasn't been looted yet. Taking food back to the station will make me feel better about myself...

"Argh!"

Enrico screams, and it's a sound so loud it pierces violently through my brain. I spin at the speed of light to tell him to can it before we attract all those millions of beasts over to us. I'm sure as hell not expecting to see him in the arms of one.

"Enrico, what are you doing?" I yell. "Get away from it."

He fires off shots, but they're random and in the air. I don't understand, why isn't he just killing the thing? It makes no sense, he's the best shot I know.

I feel compelled to do the job for him, so I lift my gun and take aim, but it's hard to fire when he's battling with it and there's too much money. I'm so scared I'll hit Enrico rather than the infected.

"Push him away!" I scream. "Enrico, shove him off you. Let me kill it."

My heart thunders in my ears, my fingers tremble with nerves. I don't usually get shook up when I have to do something like this, but I guess it isn't usually this stressful and I don't always have my friend on the other end of the shot. I need to do it though, somehow.

I try to squeeze the trigger, to force myself to do it, but the memory of the teenage boy flickers through my mind at the last second, making me blink rapidly. My past mistake floods me, making me ill, I almost vomit.

"Argh!"

This time as Enrico screams and my vision clears I see a sight the freezes me completely. Even my bones succumb to the chill.

The zombified idiot has a chunk of Enrico's neck in his mouth and he's tugging it violently, ripping it from his body.

Enrico is going to die...