Battle of Ash

Chapter 3

"This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper."
T.S. Eliot

20xx.02.16 15:11
She flew over the railing, looking behind her just long enough to make sure he was following. She wanted to stop and help him but there was no time. No time. They had gotten faster, more agile.

Again.

"Hurry!" Ash shouted, listening to the shrieks following her, following him.

The moaning and screaming of the ravenous horde didn't help her nerves any as they raced through the city; hopping fences, between narrow alleys, over garbage piles.

"Where are we even going?" Colton gasped, starting to falter.

Ash's eyes danced over the scenery as her feet flew, arms pumped in time, bag banged against her back in an off-putting rhythm she was accustomed to by now.

Ahead was a short wall, leading to a rooftop. An easy escape; their goal. They had to make it.

"Up the wall!" She yelled, "Up the wall!"

Her lungs were burning. Her back pack weighed heavier than ever on her shoulders, the mask around her mouth and nose was hot and wet with perspiration and her breath. Her legs were fire, her whole body felt swollen and dehydrated but she had to survive.

She had to.

-Edited To-

They were getting closer; she could hear them scrambling and shuffling and flat out running behind her and Colton. She forced her legs faster as the wall approached, bunched her body down and leapt. Her upper half cleared the obstacle though her knee and hip would be bruised for sure. A quick glance around the roof told her the coast was clear for now, but she knew better than to count on that for very long.

"Hurry!" Ashley screamed through her mask, watching as they gained ground with Colton, "Hurry!" She shouted her instincts fought against her stillness.

Flee! They screeched.

But she couldn't leave him. He couldn't die. He couldn't die. She made a promise. He was all she had. He couldn't die.

Ash watched his body beginning to burn out and grimaced as he stumbled, fumbling one foot over the other, using his hands to keep himself moving forward, "Run faster they're right behind you!"

She winced as his back pack tumbled over his shoulders, bringing more weight onto his hands. He lost so much ground.

Despite orders she pulled out her 9mm and took aim, hitting three smack in the middle of the head. She knew it was a risky move; noise drew in the freshest of the bunch. Ash looked around as she pocketed her gun. Her breath was frantic, everything in her racing and running. Still nothing around her. Colton came closer. He was almost there. Ash lowered her arm, her hand stretched out and waiting for him to leap.

"Jump!" She screeched her voice nearly hoarse, "Jump..."

He lurched into motion, coiling his body into the single motion and bounded forward. Colton's chest slammed into the wall, she heard his breath whoosh out of him from the impact. She dug her arms under his shoulder and pulled him up just as one of the infected grabbed his leg. Frantically he started kicking; desperate to be free. Ash could see his mouth moving beneath his mask.

"Ashley!" His voice was quiet, his breath still gone, "Don't let go, Ash."

She pulled harder and with a sudden release he flew up the wall and landed on top of her.