Claws in the Dark | ✔

XXII

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They broke through the back door of the house and sprinted in, making sure to shut it behind them, just to keep the monster at bay...for now, anyway. It was horrific, what happened. Watching Bill get hauled away, hearing his screams - it was all so much.

Miles crouched behind a table, his chest heaving as he tried to even out his breaths. Gina sat on the floor and sighed, wiping away tears that flowed from her eyes. They'd lost yet another person that could have survived this horrendous epidemic and there was nothing they could do about it.

"We have to keep moving," Miles said. "If we stay here too long they'll come for us too."

"Where will we go, Miles?" Gina softly cried. "Bill is dead. Most of the town is infested with those creatures. How are we going to even make it back to the kids?"

"Gina, calm down," he said. She was beginning to panic and if she freaked out now, then there was no guarantee that she would make it out of this either. He took her hands in his. "We'll find a way to get to them. I'm sure they're fine. Rebecca will take care of her little brother, so you don't have to worry."

Gina took a deep breath to calm herself. "Okay. So, what do we do now?"

He slipped his hands out of hers and stood, then helped her up. "Well, first we need some weapons. I'm almost out of bullets," he said, holding up his gun. "And right now, you're defenceless."

"No, I'm not," she protested. "I know karate, remember."

"Yeah, and I'm sure a karate chop would kill a beast that's at least six feet taller than you," Miles sarcastically mumbled.

Gina rolled her eyes. "Well, if we get mugged, at least I can fight." Miles smiled and kissed her cheek.

There was tumbling coming from upstairs and Miles looked up at the ceiling. Either there was a survivor in the house or a Clawden was searching for food.

"Grab everything sharp that you can find, and try to keep as quiet as possible," he told her. She nodded and they both searched the downstairs for anything useful that had a sharp and pointed tip. They evaded the house as soon as they were finished.

Miles and his wife crept through the front gate and onto the desolate street. The trees that lined the backyards of many houses blew fiercely with the howling wind. The cold bit at both of their skins at Gina shuddered. Miles placed his jacket over her shoulder to keep her warm, and they continued their trek.

It was until they came to an intersection that they halted. What they saw had them both petrified. Corpses were strewn about everywhere. Detached limbs and persons' innards covered the ground so much that it was difficult for them to see where they were stepping. Blood decorated the scene, giving it that extra gory pop.