Infected

Chapter 3 ~. Hide, Seek, and Scream

I grabbed my essentials, along with Hoagie's leash and blanket; I don't want him getting abandoned home sick.

Hoagie seemed confused by my rushing and running, because I was usually pretty calm and laid back when I'm at home. Except when Hoagie makes a mess in the house, in that case, I really don't wanna clean it up, but I also don't want to live in a poop infested house, so I have no option but to clean it up... Life of an abandoned teen!

I got Hoagie leashed up, and put my shoes and clothes in an old back pack I got for my birthday from Ella's mom. I went to the basement door in the back of the house to see if it was closed or not.

Of course it's not. Why would luck be on my side?

"I am done here." I said, kind of getting teary-eyed from the thought of leaving and defending myself in this new crisis. Even though this house was pretty crappy and falling apart, it did it's job of keeping Hoagie and me sheltered through the worst of it.

It was kinda like a parent in that way, protecting me and standing strong to keep me safe.

"I love ya, old house. Thanks for everything." I said walking out of the home with out one last glance. I could hear the foundation shifting like it normally does. I think it was giving me my farewells and wishing me good luck.

Hoagie was whining when we walked out the door, and trying to pull me back inside the house. He must be as attached to this house as I am, but we all have to move on one day.

I walked out to the street, only to be met by my impending doom. Everywhere I looked was the scattered remains of my neighbors.

"Oh my god! They're moving around!" I whisper-yelled to Hoagie. He seemed about as nervous and frightened as I was. This wasn't like the school where I at least had the protection of the car, I was out here in a plaid button up shirt and a pair of skinny jeans.

"This is not the kind of clothes I should be wearing!" I exclaimed, starting myself into a run since the deceased have taken quite the interest in me.

In that moment, I tripped over literally nothing and went flying and scraping onto the chip seal the city put down for the roads. I used my arm for a landing pad and it was torn up pretty bad, but not enough that I should be concerned. Stuff like this happens way too often, so I have grown an immunity to infection from the ground or excessive bleeding. My whole arm has been scarred so bad that the skin is super tough there.

I picked myself up and I could already tell Hoagie was tired from running and being dragged down by me as I fell, but I was not giving up. Picking Hoagie up, I continued to run down the street to Stephen's house.

When I got there, I saw the car with no one in it. 'They probably just all went inside to see if his family was there.'

I put Hoagie in the car and kept the window cracked a bit, even though it wasn't hot out at all, surprisingly. I made sure he had no chance of escape, or something trying to make him lunch.

When I walked up to his house more, I could see the door was wide open. The hungry neighbors were sneaking up on me as I walked up, but didn't pay any attention to the Boston Terrier in the purple scream machine. 'At least they don't care about Hoagie, that's one less thing I have to worry about.'

I ventured further into the house, shutting the door behind me and jumping every time the cannibals banged up against the door.

'Sorry neighbors, were out of sugar.' I smirked to myself, sadly knowing that I couldn't share that epic joke with anyone else.

After walking around the house, I started to realize that this place looked completely torn up as if it was broken in, or completely deserted.

'Are they even still here?' I wondered and stumbled through the building quickly, trying to find them.