"James!" Emily managed to shriek before the crippled man, if you could even call him that, yanked James roughly from her side. The cripple sank his teeth and hands into James' bicep. James' fists were beating against the man's pale flesh, and Emily swore it was tinged a green color. A high pitched noise was taking up her hearing; someone was screaming.
The cripple and James stumbled into the window of the movie theatre, and Emily watched in horror as James grabbed a fistful of the cripple's thin slimy hair. He smacked the cripple's head against the window, cracking the glass and smearing blood along the surface. Only then did Emily realize that she was the one screaming. What she was saying, she couldn't tell you. Just a garbled screech of grief and horror. Emotions without words.
James let the cripple fall to the floor. There was something deeply wrong with the cripple's head, but Emily could barely see. The lights had gone out and her vision was blurred black. She couldn't move. James yanked on her arm, hard. Emily looked at him, and his blue eyes were filled with a wild terror. He was pushing open the door. Emily followed him out without thinking, her ears felt plugged. She stumbled across the pavement, staggering past the traffic and running after James. Emily could only just keep track of him through wide eyes. She was still screaming. So was James. The moon was bright in their tortured eyes.
Other crippled people were appearing, ripping open cars and people alike. Emily saw a flash of red there, illuminated by streetlights, green skin here, nothing real. Nothing concrete. Because that's what this must be; it must be a dream. She must be asleep at home now. Must be. Must be. The thought beating in time with her footsteps. Must be.
Slamming. Falling. The concrete. It was biting into her palms. Emily was on her hands and knees.
Emily looked up and saw another boy about a foot away, laying on the ground. His eyes were wide open, but they weren't scared.
Someone grabbed her arm and she screamed, trying to shake it off because it was here, the sickly green creature was here for her.
"Emily!" James was yelling at her to get up. Emily, mind numb, obliged to James' orders and they ran away from the Cineplex, away from the massacre.
The two of them ran past the Home Depot and over towards Wall Mart. People streamed around behind them, getting into cars and speeding away. Too numb to feel, Emily started to wonder about their other friends. Where were they? Did they make it out? Emily didn't want to think about it but she couldn't stop.
James wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they ducked into the store. A lot of the customers and staff had left amongst the chaos and the Mart looked eerily deserted. The two of them looked quickly around for cripples, but none were in sight.
James pulled Emily down behind one of the displays farther into the store and they huddled together, James' breath hard and hot against Emily's neck.
"What about the others?" Emily finally voiced her worries.
James was silent for a second, before shifting around and pulling out his phone. He turned it on, and Emily almost laughed, seeing such an everyday looking object in this paranormal new world.
"I have Sam's number," James' voice shook slightly as his fingers trembled over the screen. The phone's light washed over his face and cut harsh angles into his skin. The Wall Mart's lights had flickered off.
Emily listened to the dial tone, the only other sound came from their hard breathing.
They waited.
No answer.
James swore and yanked the phone away from his ear. Emily leaned her head on his shoulder and tried to stop trembling. Her shirt was soaked, but she didn't have the energy to see why.
"Trying Rory next," James whispered. They listened to the dial tone together. No one was breathing this time.
The phone rang.
And rang.
And-
"Hello?"
Despite everything, Emily smiled and let out a huge breath. James sighed loudly. His face broke open and emotions bubbled up in his eyes.
"Thank god. Rory are you all right?"
"We're okay. No one's hurt I don't think. I'm with Salar and Brendan. Who's with you?"
"Emily. Me and Emily," Emily's heart soared as she listened to the two boys talking. They were okay. They were okay.
Rory paused. "You haven't seen Helena?"
James' smile froze on his lips. "No. We haven't seen anyone."
"She left, I thought she was looking for you guys."
Emily stood up straight. "Sam."
"Where's Sam?" James pressed his phone against his cheek, as if that would bring him closer to Rory.
"I don't know," he sounded less sure of himself. "I'm with Salar and Brendan. That's it."
"Helena may be with Sam." Emily pressed hopefully. That's right; she must be. She must have gone to look for Sam. Emily fumbled for her phone and searched her contacts, looking for Helena's name. Emily couldn't breathe as she listened to the dial tone. Her heart was shoved in her throat.
"Emily," a faint gasp.
"Helena!" She breathed a sob. "Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm okay," her voice was very faint. "Where are you guys? Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine, we're all fine," Emily busted out. "Are you with Sam?"
"No," Helena paused. "Where are you guys?"
"Come to Wall Mart. Quick."
"Okay," Emily could barely hear her this time. The line went dead.
Emily stared into the distance for a long time after that, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time.
"Emily," James whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Look."
Emily shook herself out of her daze. James twisted around and showed Emily the back of his arm. Or what should have been the back of his arm.
Even in the darkness of Wall Mart, Emily could see the damage. Both their chirts were soaked with his blood. Skin dangled in pieces and deep gashes were cut into the flesh. Emily could see the gnarled slimy meat inside his arm and she forced herself to look away.
"The zombie got me," James said weakly.
