The Bite

Chapter 1

"Keep running!" I scream as I sprint with Connor through the murky woods. I don't know how close they are, but I'm too petrified to glance back. Instead, I keep my eyes focused on what's in front of me so I don't fall over. I can hear my heavy breathing as well as Connor's. My chest is pumping in and out as I try to keep my pace. I can't risk slowing down now.

I don't want to lose my consistent speed, but my body is beginning to overpower my mind. With each step I take I'm starting to feel a burning sensation. If I keep running, I'm going to collapse. "Wait," I say as I halt and lean by a tree, "I need to... catch my breath." I glance around and thankfully don't see or hear anything around us. For now.

Connor follows and stops next to me as he rests his hands over his head. I notice that he's breathing deeply, but not panting like me (expected from someone who did cross country and swimming for years). "Okay," he breaths. He takes a moment to catch some air. "But Val, where are we going? We are just running around without the slightest idea of where we are."

I breath out a sigh. This reality check brings a chill to my body. We ran out without a plan. We just wanted to get out of that situation, but now we are in another one. "I don't know," I admit. I step closer to Connor and lean my head against his warm chest. My arms go under his so that they hug his shoulders for comfort.

He secures me by wrapping his arms tight around my neck. "It's okay. We'll figure this out. We'll can get through this." He pulls back and cups my cheeks with the palms of his hands. "Just stay strong, okay?"

I answer him by nodding my head and encircling his wrist within my hand. I wish there was enough light so I could see his eyes. All I can see are the reflections bouncing off his cheeks, forehead, and the tip of his nose. Connor touches his soft lips to my forehead, and he embraces me in his arms again. I don't want to leave his searing presence. After what we experienced back at the theater, I don't ever want to be alone. Whatever we saw wasn't normal. It was traumatizing. Connor makes me feel safe. His arms make me feel secure. His smell reminds me of our happy moments. His body heat soothes me.

We are in a calm moment until Connor suddenly yells, "AH!" He is pulled from my grip and he hits the floor. It's hard to see what exactly is going on, but then I notice that there is more than one silhouette. I hear a horrible moan that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I realize that the other figure is one of those things we saw back in town.

A zombie.

Through this dark atmosphere I watch Connor and the entity tangle around each other. The figure keeps on moaning, and I can hear the struggling noises coming from Connor.

That's when i break from my frozen state. I wait for the right moment, watch closely, then bash my foot into its skull. The sound of bones breaking and flesh being torn echoes in my ears as I see the body flinch backwards. Its arms withdraws from Connor's shoulders and Connor is freed.

As soon as it crashes to the floor, the creature starts to get back up. I reach into my pants and pull out a small pocket knife. The blade pops out, and I jam it into the peek of its head. Luckily, with enough force, the blade pierces through. I let go, and once again, the body falls limp to the ground. This time, it does not attempt to rise.

I'm motionless for a few seconds trying to comprehend what just happened. Then the cries of Connor catches my attention. I turn around to see him on the ground, holding his left shoulder. "Oh my God!" I shriek as I crouch down by his side. The dim light from the moon is enough for me to see a stain on the spot where his hand is. I reach for my back pocket and take out my phone. I turn on the flashlight built into it and shine it on Connor. "Let me see," I calmly instruct.

I try to remove Connor's hand from his shoulder, but he refuses. "No. Don't look," he argues as he cringes. I know he is trying to keep me from worrying, but his stubbornness is not helping right now.