The Infection

Chapter 3~Olivia May

I heard large, heavy footsteps crunch in the leaves behind me. I rolled my eyes at the pure clumsiness of whoever was following me and waited for him to try to attack. He came closer and threw a punch, aiming for my head. I turned around and ducked, grabbed his hand, twisted it, and heard a snap; the guy doubled over, clutching his arm tightly. He cried out in pain as my foot connected with his head. I watched him ungracefully collapse to the ground and adrenaline coursed through me, pounding in my ears.

A blond haired guy about a head taller than me came out from behind a tree. "Get over here, quick," he shouted to what I assumed must be the rest of his group.

"You need backup?" I asked with a smirk.

"Well, where I come from it's not okay to hit a girl." He lifted his hands up, to defend himself. "They've never learned that, though," he added, and he gestured to the limp body on the ground.

"Where I come from, the girl always wins," I said, smiling.

"Not anymore." He returned the smile with a wicked grin.

He came near me and threw a sloppy punch to my stomach, which I dodged and laughed. I threw my fist to to his face, but hit his shoulder when he tried to move. I swung at him again, but he took my wrists and twisted it. I yelped in pain.

"Bastard," I mumbled as I drove my foot into his shin. He screamed, more in anger than pain, and let go.

About six more people of the same muscular build as the Blondie emerged from behind the bushes. They surrounded me from all sides. I noticed there was only one girl in the whole bunch. Her eyes sparkled, dashed with tears. I wondered why; she didn't seem weak or vulnerable. She and the other guys came closer.

I gulped, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I can't take them all, I thought. But I can try.

I darted to the nearest guy and kneed him in the balls. When he doubled over, I elbowed him in the jaw which made him lose his balance long enough for me to take his arm and twist it around his back. I slammed him against the closest tree and he fell down the stump. Another guy came behind me and knocked me to the ground. I scrambled clumsily to my feet, disoriented. I barely had time to blink before Blondie came into view, took his gun, and hit me over the head.

Everything went black.

+++

There was a ringing in my ears. I sat up quickly and took in my surroundings. There were people of all types packed in the dark, dingy room. I could barely make out faint footsteps above me over the sound of a crying infant in the corner. A basement, I realized.

The room had a dim light and smelled of mold and a lingering scent of blood. I heard a faint whimpering in the corner and saw a little boy crying.

I walked over to the boy in the corner, many pairs of curious eyes following my every move. The little boy had matted brown hair and dirt and ashes all over his face, arms, and legs. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. They looked so sad and hopeless. How could a kid so young have no hope? The wild, broken faces of my brothers flashed into my mind and cold swept through me.

"Hello, I'm Olivia," I said as I sat next to him. He looked up with an expression of pure terror mingled with desperate curiosity.

"Are-Are you from upstairs?" he stammered, pointing a finger at the ceiling. "H-a-have you seen my mom?"

"I'm so sorry, I haven't," I said with a shudder. What kind of person could keep a child in this place? "I'm not from upstairs. Do you know... do you know who's up there?"