The Touch of Infection

Chapter 2: Enjoy the world again

Opening the book she questioned what it would be this night, another damsel in distress? Maybe a siren would lure a sailor to the deeps of the sea, maybe it's a vampire in the night, perhaps werewolves even. She didn't particularly care as long as the book drew her in. Beginning to read in the light of the night, the moon shining just enough so she could have her read. Her eyes slowly dozing off and starting to fall asleep. Forgetting to put the book away until the sound of it hitting a zombie woke her up.

She slammed her fist against the tree looking down at the zombie it hit. The damn thing getting back up to scratch the tree she was in. However when the branches above her snapped she really got freaked.

Looking up she could have sworn she saw four eyes looking down at her. But by the time she blinked they weren't there anymore. She looked around her, "It's dark I'm just imagining things." She comforted herself before another sound of a branch snapping came to her ears, "No... no..." she kept thinking.

Shaking her head she took another look around, there was nothing there! Was she finally losing it? Was that it?

That thing, alien or whatever couldn't have followed her, it ate already and let her go. Did he have a thing over being seen and came to finish the job he didn't start or something? No, maybe it was squirrel or a bird perhaps. Maybe even her imagination, everything was surely fine.

But she continued hearing the same sounds over and over again, something was up here with her. No matter where she looked she could never find the damn thing... until the branch she was on shook violently.

Looking up she found him staring back at her. Those menacing four eyes as his arms held onto the branches around him. His tail wrapped around the branch she was on like he'd snap it and throw her down to the zombies. Standing up he slowly inched towards her.

One of his hands moving towards her slowly until landing on her cheek. Rubbing it gently just like she'd done to him hours prior. Staring into her eyes until a growl from bellow erupted in the silence.

It's like the things were yelling at them to come down, they wanted to have them for dinner and not in a good way. He stood back and jumped from branch to branch looking down at the zombies before leaving her.

A part of her kinda expected him to be some night in shining armor, coming to save her from the beasts. But he wasn't, he'd eat her up if he wanted to no doubt about it. And just as he had appeared he left, already out of sight and nowhere to be spotted soon.

The night, however, was cruel to her, leaving her sore all over and barely having slept a few hours. By the time the sun was up, all zombies had given up chase on her, leaving to bother someone else. All seemingly quiet except for a few early birds chirping around. What a pretty sound they made...

Making her way down and inspecting the area before she set foot on the ground. What was once her book laying as a cluster of pieces on the ground? Leaving it there she began walking, today she'd find something to eat, or at the very least some water.

The heat was getting to her, feeling drained and exhausted from her walk, and worse, the hunger made it unbearable. Walking still another hour before finding a nice stream of water. Filling her bottle up to the top, it was better than nothing. Drinking until she was satisfied, trying to numb the hunger for a while. Everything around her so quiet but she couldn't see to enjoy it. Her eyes were feeling heavy and she could barely focus on things.

A zombie running up behind her without her noticing. Luckily it bit into her backpack when it launched at her. Digging its teeth into the thing, she didn't have a weapon so the first thing she did was push the thing off her. Scrambling away and grabbing a big enough rock, getting the zombie on the floor and smashing its head in. Hitting it over and over again until it stopped moving.

She felt her arms numb from how many times she hit him, standing up starting and inspecting her immediate area. All empty, good nothing else to worry about. Grabbing her backpack she saw the holes the damn thing left, nothing was damaged at least.

But eventually, she'd have to get a new backpack, it was only a matter of time before the hole ripped it all apart. Placing it back on her shoulder she continued walking. Looking at her now blood-stained hands, Smudging it against her clothes in an attempt to get them clean.

Her eyes back ahead of her she noticed a large group of bushed, having berries hang off them. Yes! She thought running towards it, examining the berries color, the plant, and a few other varying factors. Determining them edible she started eating. Sure they didn't provide a whole lot of calories but it was the only thing she had.

Stuffing her face until she couldn't have another one, remember that she was carrying a small bag with her. She'd take as many as she could fit in it, and hope there were enough berries for her to take. She could even stay around the area a while, there wasn't much zombie activity, didn't look like there where people nearby and as long as her night guest didn't come back it was perfect. There might even be a house nearby, where she could potentially stay.

A smile gracing her lips as she finished getting berries and put it in her bag. Finally, some peace and quiet where she could actually enjoy the world around her again.