ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ

Parting Gift

[Y/N P.O.V]

The tunnels were dim, water puddling on the floor, the smell of rotting flesh drifting in the air. Flashlight dancing about, we scanned over the place, red and black goo dripping down the walls. Taking a right, Thomas was close by, both our eyes peeled for cranks. Smoothly, he laced his fingers with mine, a reminder that we were in this together. Endless turns were made, eventually leading us to a junction, several passageways lay in front of us.

"Where do we go now?", he asked, sighing heavily.

"I don't know", I replied, shining my torch down each corridor, "you were the runner".

He scoffed, "that doesn't make me an expert navigator".

I rolled my eyes, straying away from Thomas, the vine-like branches that crawled across the concrete caught my attention. Slightly startled, past the gone cranks were tied up within them, bodies mutated in horrifying ways. Their mouths were open in a permanent scream like they were trying to fight against something... or someone. Continuing to stare, pressure landed on my shoulder, my first defence to judo flip the attacker over. 

"Do not sneak up on me in a place like this, Thomas", I scolded the boy.

"Sorry, sorry", he scrambled up, wiping his jacket, "I think I found the way out".

"Good, these tunnels are seriously creeping me out", I shuddered, showing him the unusual sight.

Stepping deeper into the hall, several more dead bodies were trapped under the vines, skin shrivelled and faces grey.

"What is this?", Thomas asked, keeping close behind me.

"I don't know", I replied, shivers rolling down my spine.

Squeaks echoed from down an opening, my torch whipping to it, sighing in relief when it was only a rat. Following after it, a withered hand clutched it, my mouth dropping in horror. Used for lunch, the rodent was bitten by the creature, being tossed aside like a rag doll. Moaning loud, bones crackled and popped, the monstrosities rising from their cages. Fear shot through me, eyes wide as my feet snapped to action, the animalistic wails chasing after us.

Sprinting fast, we went down one of the sections, daylight peaking at the end. Momentarily looking back, sunlight danced on my skin, Thomas gasping loudly. Rock crumbling, the boy flew his arm out to stop me, my body nearly tipping over the edge. The tunnels had led us to a multistory building, dilapidated and falling apart. Veins shocked with adrenaline, the rubble had created a type of ladder, our only way to escape the cranks.

"This way!", I shouted, tugging on Thomas to hurry, "come on!".

Palms instantly getting cut from the stone, I climbed fast, avoiding any falling objects. Screams of anger followed, my biceps burning as I continued. From above, concrete cracked, the contents on top of it dropping.

"Look out!", I yelled, a metal refrigerator tumbling past Thomas and taking a creature with it, obliterating a glass panel. 

Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself over a railing, muscles aching.  A winding staircase was before us, creaking as we travelled upwards, the creatures close behind. Popping up out of nowhere, a shrivelled crank grabbed onto Thomas, snarling and snapping. Jumping up, I gripped onto a pole, swinging my leg into its dry face, sending it crashing down. Breathing hard, the boy nodded in appreciation, wide-eyed at my manoeuvre. Landing swiftly on my feet, I gave him a smirk, him raising his brows. Wasting no time, the howls reminded me that we were running for or lives as I continued to scramble, my feet twisting on the staircase. 

Latching onto a piece of metal, it cracked under my pressure, sending me sliding backwards through a door. Arms flailing about, I desperately tried to find something to hold onto, my bow scraping across the stone. Sharply hitting a window, pain erupted on my forehead, blood marking the fall. Gasping out, I opened my eyes, lungs constricting. Beneath me lay a deathly drop, sand littered with jagged rocks, the only thing between me and that... was a cracked window.

"Y/N?!", Thomas screamed, "Y/N, are you okay?!". 

I tilted my head back to see his panicked expression at the door and with a shaky breath I replied, "dumbass, do I look-!". 

"Alright, alright, I'm coming down!", he spoke, "don't move!". 

Skin burning, my ears bussed with dread as I slowly pressed my hand down on the glass. Whining, it crunched a small crack dancing through it. 

"Woah. Woah, Y/N, don't move!", Thomas ordered, the sound of his jacket scraping coming from above. 

Not listening, I pushed myself to my feet, spiderwebs appearing in the glass. Hanging off a broken structure, Thomas stretched his arm out, veins popping from his skin at the force. Splaying my fingers, I tried to reach for him, a snarl echoing the room. Throwing itself at me, a crank flew down, an unsettling snap sounding. Rotten flesh wrestled with me, the remaining teeth it had grazed my skin, the stench making me gag.

"No!", Thomas yelled with tears of fear in his eyes. 

"I can't reach!", I grunted, kicking the creature off of me and instantly getting to my feet. 

Pouncing back, I was once again fighting with the zombified human. 

"Give me your bow!", he ordered, straining his hand out.

"What?", I struggled out.

"Just trust me!".

Thrusting the crank of me, I ripped my bow from my back, chucking it to Thomas.  With ease, he caught it, extending his arm again. Raising the bow above his head, he pointed it towards the glass.

"Jump!", he exclaimed.

Running over to him, I grabbed onto his hand tightly, a single tear rolling down my cheek as the glass shattered. Howling, the creature left a parting gift, pain erupting in my calf. Shaking the crank off, goosebumps travelled on my skin at the sound of it hitting the ground. Looking up, Thomas had a small smile on his face, relief flooding him. Legs swinging in the air, I shook my head slightly, taking a deep breath. 

"Are you gonna stare at me all day or pull me up?", I remarked, earning a slight chuckle from the boy as he helped me to my feet.