lost in the dark

chapter 3: Catalina, L.A

We walked a few miles, and we were losing daylight.
We need a set of wheels, i said.
Yeah but where and how?, Denny asked.
I can hotwire, i said proudly.
Thank fucking god for that, Scott said a little louder than i hoped.
Shhhhht! You moron, Denny said.
Sorry, scott blurted out.
Look over there, an abandoned SUV stood on the side of the road.
Let me check it out first, i said.
I raised my gun and circl'd around the SUV. Nothing, but inside maybe?
I open the door and the stench of leather and airfreshner hits my nostrils. Its ok, i yelled.
I grab my knife and pull open the board undernezth the stearing wheel.
I cut 2 wires and connect them until the engine roared to life.
I drive!, Scott franticly yelled as he pulled me out of the driverseat.
I spin and raise thr palm of my hand and end up with knocking him out cold. Restrain him, Denny said.
He's just stressed, i hope you are ot giving us pipe dreams, Denny added.
I have a sedative in my backpack, if he freaks out again give him a shot, i said. It's not a lie, my brother is with my parents on the island.
It's safe.
I hope so, she said.
Jullie was sleeping as i drove towards L.A.
Its was fueled up thanks tocthe canisters of fuel that stood in the trunk.
We teached an overpass with the surrounding city's.
L.A 248 Miles.
We already did 120 miles so we still got a long road ahead.
We stopped at another overpass because the sun was bright and it was too hot.
I looked up at the overpass and saw 3 boddies hanging from ropes.
One of them was still moving... infected.
I let out a loud sigh.. and climbed back into the SUV.
Scott was waking up and thank god back to normal.
We were almost there.
In just under 48 hours we'll reach L.A.
I was tired from driving from boston to almost L.A.
I woke up Scott and tried to catch some sleep in the back.
When i woke up we were parked on the beach.
We are on a beach?
I brushed away some blue locks of hair hanging in my face.
Little Jullie woke me up.
We need a boat,she said.
Denny and Scott were asleep too.
It was still morning.
I opened the door and put my feet out first.
The fresh ocean breeze filled my lungs and the sun shone on my face.
It looked like nothing ever happened.
I looked at the city in the background and saw smoke erupting from most of the buildings, skyscrapers and houses.
Those fires must have taken alot of infected with them.
I grabbed my bag and took my pack of siggs. I take a matchbook and lit one.
I bring it to my siggaret.
I inhale and then blow out the smoke.
Not so many left.., i said to myself.
12 left, i made a sad noise.
Denny woke up and woke Scott up too. We need a boat or a raft and head straight for the island, i said full of energy.
I saw a few boats but none useable.
My heart started to race as i saw a hand popping up from underneath the sand.
We need to find a boat, NOW!
My heart was already racing but it raced a thousand times harder and faster.
I didn't want to become a meal for the undead and neither will i let Denny, Scott or Jullie be dinner.
I saw a small boat floating near the shore.
I ran towards it and jumped in as i called for the rest.
More hands popped up from the wet sand.
The stench of decaying skin,blood and death rose up from the sand.
Scott was the last to jump in and another hand popped up grabbing him by his ankle. The undead freak pulled as hard as its rotten body could. And it pulled its half eaten body out of the sand.
Just as it was ready to sink its teeth into Scott's ankle i nailed it right betweel its milky white eyes, causing decaying blood to splash everywhere.
I paddled as fast as i could to get away from the shore.
After an hour, maybe two, three?
We made it to an island, but i don't think this is part of Catalina.
Then i saw Catalina its a just a few miles,i said.
I was full of energy and hope.
Im gonna see my parents, brother and my grandma.
Too bad grandpa died a month ago when this was all happening.
A tear rolled over my face and Scote wiped it off.
Our eyes conecting a little longer than i was confertable with.
We paddeled a few minutes more and got on the shore of Catalina.
We were twenty three miles away from the Los Angeles shore.
We walked trought the island until we reached a concrete wall and iron gates.
Guns were quickly targeted on us.
IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!, a militairy guy yelled.
I'm Haily and this are Denny, Scott and Jullie
My brother is here with my parents and grandma,i said.
What's your brother's name?, the guy asked.
Chris, Chris Peterson.
Okay come on in.
Chris came running to me and pulled me into a long hug.
I tought i would never see you again, he said as a tear slipped down his cheeck.
I prommised didn't i?, i said while crying and laughing at the same time. Lets see mom and dad and grandma, i said.
His face turned from happy to angry and sad. Whats up?, I asked frightened. It's grandma... she is sick.
Denny, Scott and Jullie followed Chris as i did too.
As we got inside my mom and dad started crying and hugged me tight.
They started asking questions and i brushed them all off.
Where is grandma?, i asked.
Silence flooded the room.
TELL ME!, i yelled.
Mom showed me to Nana's room.
She was pale and burning up from a fever.
Haily is here, my mom said.
Haily is dead, she is gone, those things got her a month ago, Nana mumbled.
I walked inside and looked her in tje eyes.
HAILY!?
Yes its me.
Thank god, thank god.
I prayed for you everyday my child.
I asked god to bring you here, she said.
She started to look better every seccond.
Now i feel better, she said.
Then she fell down on the bed with her eyes closed...
NANA!!