Endless Night

A Rager in the Dark

     Alec began making his way silently across the park. What he hadn't noticed before was the group of ragers behind and on top of the slide. Anna flung her hand onto Alec's shoulder, gently pulling him back. He looked down to see his foot hovering over a dog chew toy, obviously one that squeaked. He turned around to Anna, "Thanks" he whispered, and she nodded with a satisfied smile, pointing to the two ragers who were beginning to stand up.

"Annoying little demons," Alec said under his breath, eyeing down the eyeless, rotting children.

"Mommy's little angels," Anna said, holding her hands up to her chest. Alec smiled. He'd forgotten what company felt like, especially when she was so much like him. Suddenly, Anna's eyes went wide, her mouth slowly opened as she drew one hand to her mouth, and the other to point behind Alec. Alarmed he spun around, and was face to face with one of the ragers. It's decaying mouth spewing horrid breath in his face, eyeless sockets set dead on his. It opened it's mouth to show a row of razor teeth. Alec gasped, adrenaline taking over, he grabbed Anna's wrist, and pushed the small rotting child out of his way as he pulled her into a sprint. He felt as if he were defying gravity, that is, until the rager screamed, followed by 2 more, 4 more, 10 more...

"Don't turn around!" He warned Anna.

"Too late!" Anna screamed back, holding her hat down with her free hand.

"Then I guess it's no harm to ask how many are chasing us?"

"5, maybe 8. It's hard to tell."

Alec turned the corner hard, making Anna stumble forward.

"Oh Dear God!" Alec whispered, nearly stopping his run. Anna turned and screamed. A mountain of corpses. Ragers old victims in their bitter end, at least they aren't too messy.

     Alec looked back for a spilt second to see the ragers closer than he though. He pulled on Anna's arm and ran around the pile. Not to say the sight around wasn't any better. The street was littered with bodies. Alec almost threw up. Anna nearly fainted. Alec tightened his grip and sped forward, feeling Anna stumble again. He pulled his arm up raising her to her feet as he bolted over a corpse.

"Hey, Anna!"

"I'm still alive if that's what you're asking. But you can be gentler you know!" Alec loosened his grip slightly.

"No, but thanks for the update," Alec said, "But how many are there now?"

Anna looked back, surprised to see that their previous pursuers were gone.

"Their gone!" Anna yelled back cheerfully. Alec removed his hand from Anna's wrist. She inspected it thoughtfully, then shook it a few times.

"You all right?" Alec said, noticing her wrist for the first time. "I'm sorry, I-I had to..."

"It's fine." Anna said sincerely, "and I know you did, thank you."

"Wait" Alec jerked his hand forward, "Your hand."

Anna pulled her sleeve down, putting her hand behind her back. "W-What about it..." she said shyly.

Alec pulled her hand towards him, inspecting her hand in awe and fear.

"It's not what it looks like!" Anna screamed. "You don't understand!"

"I understand," Said Alec, "just fine. That's why you were out here alone. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just leave you alone here." He released his grip letting her pull her hand back. The red timer on the palm of her hand slowly ticking.

"Because I'm pretty?" Anna smirked. Alec began to turn away.

"Wait!" Anna yelled, gripping on to Alec wrist tightly. He turned around slightly, casting her a sideways glance.