Running for Their Lives

City of the Dead

The first thing I notice when I walk out of the house is silence. Definitely not what I was expecting. You could hear a pin drop on the ground, it was so quiet. All of us stand and look for just a moment, then we're walking fast-pace to the truck.

"Chandler, you're sitting in the backseat with the bags. Damon, Liza, you guys are in the front. Everyone hurry," he says unlocking the truck, then tossing the duffel bags into the backseat.

I stay quiet and do as he says. When I get into the car, I stare out the window until the rest of them get in. As I look out the window I see someone walking, alone, at the end of the street.

"Ronnie, someone's over there. They may need help," says Liza.

My dad looks over. "Not our problem," he says, going back to getting things situated.

"Ron. What if that were you? Or me? Wouldn't you want someone to help at a time like this?" says Liza.

He stops what he's doing and stares at her. In a firm voice he says, "Not our problem, Liza."

She waits a minute then turns around and starts walking down the street, waving her arms in the air. "Hey!," she yells. "We have an extra seat in our truck! You need a ride?!" she shouts.

I watch as the person notices her. He starts walking down the street to us. Great. A stranger is going to ride with us...

"It's a little crowded, but there's room for one more!" she shouts again.

The man starts to walk faster, almost running, but it's as if he's hurt or something. But as he gets closer, it hits me.

"Liza..." I say only loud enough for her to hear me. She doesn't turn around. "Liza!" I shout. She turns back to me and I shout, "Get into the car! NOW!" And then she realizes it. She looks back at the man, and then starts to run back to the car. My dad and Damon finally realize it too...

"Get in!" Damon shouts, as the man gets closer.

She gets to the car, opens the door, and right as the starts to get in, it happens.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!" I hear Liza let out the loudest scream I've ever heard in my life.

My dad gets out of the car and runs over to the other side. Liza's still screaming, and I can see the man, blood all over his face, flesh in his teeth, ripping open Liza's leg to the very bone, and I scream. My dad reaches into the bed of the truck and takes out an axe. He goes over to the man, and without any hesitation, hacks away at  the man.

I look away and cover my ears, trying to drown out her screams. Damon gets out of the car and goes over to Liza, holding her in his arms.

"Oh my God...I..I don't know what to do...Ronnie what are we suppose to do?!" he says trying not to cry.

Liza can't even speak, or scream now, no matter how much she's trying to.

My dad stays quiet for a moment, then picks her up and puts her into the car. "Get in." he says.

While I try not to throw up, Damon tries to find a way to comfort Liza and my dad stays extremely focused on driving as we pull out of the driveway.

This goes on for what couldn't even have been 10 minutes when I hear Liza coughing. She keeps coughing and then I hear Damon shout. I look into the mirror at her and she's coughing up blood. I gasp and my stomach starts turning.

"Ronnie, I don't know if she can make it all the way to a hospital," he says in a shaky voice.

My dad hits the breaks and hurries to Liza's side of the car.