Battle of Ash

Chapter 18

"Every thought is a battle, every breath is a war.
And I don't think I'm winning anymore."
Anonymous

2017.05.30 01:50
Dillon kept a wary eye on the small enemy group as he ushered his own people through the outskirts of foliage just beyond the dome, just out of Kyla's sight. As he crept and the others struggled to stay hidden and keep up behind him, an idea sprang to mind. He shuffled back to Carlos, only somewhat surprised when he saw Socks curling around the teen's ankles.

"I have an idea. Stay here, I'll be right back." He turned to take off then stopped abruptly, "But first, give me to keys to one of the rigs."

Warily Carlos acquiesced, "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry about it." Dillon responded, "I'll be back soon. Keep everyone safe till then. The infected are starting to exit the dome."

He was off, sprinting as fast as he could with the keys jangling in his grip; ignoring the sounds of renewed battle at his right and the feeling of disapproval behind him. If he could manage this, if he could do this, he could save them all. He just had to get to the vehicles first.

2017.05.30 13:53
Ash felt the ground turn slick with spilled blood. Kyla had just slit the throat of an infected, using her boot to crush its head in. Ash felt revulsion shudder through her before she sent a leg back, hooking Kyla behind the knee. The woman went down, dragging Ash to the ground with her. Between the feeling of momentary terror at being pinned under her enemy and the disgust as the brain mass of the infected squished onto her clothes, Ash was momentarily immobile. Until Kyla hit her with a quick backhand.

Ash felt a renewed anger surge in her chest as she wrenched her hands free, grappling Kyla off the top of her and into the dirt. In that moment a couple infected staggered closer. Ash struggled back, freeing herself from the iron-tight grip of Kyla while the woman's focus was elsewhere. A vehicle roared to life in the background. Ash watched for a moment as two of the infected fell upon Kyla. Guilt stabbed at Ash for a moment before she spun on her heel, racing away from the screams as two very different enemies struggled in the dirt behind her. Reaching for her knife she freed it from her hip in one smooth movement and leapt into the sputtering truck.

"Get out of this vehicle," she growled, pressing the blade forward and into the neck of the driver without looking, "or so help me I'll slit your throat and leave you for the infect-"

"Jesus, Ash!" Dillon gasped, "I'm not the bad guy here."

"D-dillon?!" She sat back, disbelief on her face. "Oh Dillon! I'm so sorry it's just that with-"

There was a thud on the window causing her to jump. Somehow Kyla had survived her encounter and was attempting to break the passenger's window.

"Drive!" Ash screeched even as Dillon peeled away, dirt and grass flying as they sped towards the shrubbery in the near distance.

"I left them there." Dillon explained, "I thought if I could get to a vehicle before they could- Kyla's group I mean- we would survive. We'd be okay." He hit the brakes as they pulled up, his grip on the steering wheel going slack as it registered that Carlos and the rest had left. "Apparently I was wrong."

"Wait, what?" Ash jumped out of the vehicle despite the wandering infected.

"Ash! Ash wait don't-!" The door slammed behind her. "Don't do that." He finished, muttering to himself. "But does she listen? No." He unbuckled, opening his door. "She never listens." He kicked it open again as it started swinging shut. "Most bull-headed, aggravating-"

Ash was still and silent, looking around. Dillon followed suit, looking up occasionally to keep tabs on the infected around them. She flicked her head back over her shoulder, nervous and anxious. Kyla was busy fighting off the infected that were spitting and scrambling to get to her. One of the infected had spit, melting the hood of the sputtering vehicle behind her. Oils leaked everywhere, the sparking of the battery started a slow, foul smelling fire.