The Touch of Infection

Chapter 16: Blue markings

Last night didn't go with any type of problem. Sure she looked around trying to see if for some reason he was back, but nothing. Just zombies and an animal or two... those became a rare sight. Sure some animals still lived normally but bigger animals where also getting eaten by zombies.

Getting down from the tree she continued her walk, all she could hear was the chirping of birds. Enjoying the fact that there were no zombies nearby, being able to walk calmly and carefree. Her eyes looking up at the sky, staring to see if anything flew by... who knows maybe an airplane would go by. Continuing her walk down the woods she kept her eyes looking around and listening clearly.

While she walked her way to nowhere he was stuck taking samples and studying things that he already expected. Calling the commander and starting off by, "The samples came off the same! Nothing different, can't you see this is all just not working! There is no cure, there is no hope to save this world! We fucked it up!"

"Watch your tone Marnik! We talked this barely a day ago, you're not the only one studying this! There's already a prototype cure! While you've been doing who the hell knows what, one of us found a potential cure-"

Marnik cut them off in anger, "Cure my ass! This infection WE spread is only evolving! Get the animals exposed and they die, at some point, they will also have the effects humans had! And will get up! How long till the plants spread the infection? How long till the planet dies!"

"The world is not dying!" Their commander began, "If everything dies then we just repopulate! All specimens this planet had, and still have been in our labs. The dogs go extinct we bring them back, the humans do we scream in great fullness! This is the process we've had to adapt to, the price we've had to pay in order to make this world better."

Marnik tapped his fingers against the counter, "Well what about the climate problems the place has!?"

"No humans! No problems! Now I expect to hear from you tomorrow... watch your tone."  Hanging up on Marnik after that.

He practically growled as blue markings appeared across his body, he was pissed and the markings make him look even more dangerous. He wanted to be face to face with the commanders and give them a piece of his mind! Walking outside he screamed as loud as he could, sounding more like a growl. Pulling at his hair, and slamming his frustration against the tree.

Going quiet as he thought about where she could be. If she was alright... if she was waiting for him. Taking a deep breath before going back to his vehicle, leaning against it for a moment, and looking in the woods. What if she managed to find her way here? Would he have the heart to make her leave?

Leaving her to spend two nights all on her own... sleeping who knows where surrounded by zombies, or maybe even other humans. What if she didn't want him to come back if she found humans?

He could feel his heartache at the thought of it... she wouldn't do that he tried easing his worries. Going back inside to continue the futile research. And while he worked on things he already knew she ran towards a town.

It was desolated apparently, no zombies and no humans... empty. She wondered how that could be considering all the zombies she fought to get here. It was late, she'd been traveling this way all day... it had been an only night since Marnik left.

So why did she feel like it had been weeks? Spotting a good house to stay in she managed to get the door open. Blocking the door she began looking through the house. The bottom floor was clear, now she was only missing the second floor.

Walking up carefully with a knife in her hand she was ready to kill anything or anyone in sight. She looked over every room only had one left, when entering she found a bedroom and a horrible stench coming from the closet.

Having her knife ready at hand she opened the door. Finding a zombie sprawled on the floor, but at least it was already dead. Closing the door she began looking through the house. Blocking the front door. Hoping to find something useful, the kitchen was sadly emptied clean. The bathroom had shit quite literally everywhere so she wouldn't even bother.

Looking through each room she finally found something. A simple old pair of socks, grabbing them and putting them in her bag she continued looking around. Bloodstained clothes here and there, dusty bedsheets, tattered books, and overall everything that once could have been useful.

Finding nothing else she could use she went upstairs. Only finding more old bedsheets and furniture, deciding to pick the best spot to spend the night. Finding that the best room for an emergency exit was the one with the corpse. The stench was terrible but it was better than having the house broken into and having no way out.

Grabbing two chairs from another room she blocked the door to the room and the door to the closet. She just couldn't help it. That thing in there only made her uncomfortable. Looking at the bed in the room she sat on it, hearing the terrible noise it let out she got up. No sleeping on that tonight, she sat on a corner by the window. Having a good view outside, the empty streets.

Finding it hard to fall asleep she read all the magazines in the house, getting bored and trying her hardest to sleep. Using her bag as a very hard pillow she managed to catch some shut-eye. Waking up to the sound of an alarm, loud enough she was sure it was heard for kilometers.

Beeping ten times before going quiet, her eyes looking out the window the streets still empty... that wouldn't be the case in only minutes. She knew what loud sounds like that could bring and it wasn't pretty... and this time she's alone.

Beginning to panic she would have left, but where to go? That sound would attract zombies down any route she took. She was stuck in the house... her best bet was waiting till all the zombies that got attracted passed, and leave before that sound came again. Would it sound again? And why was there such a loud alarm?

The only way to answer that question was to go check for herself... but that meant going in the direction of zombies. 'No thank you' she thought to cower in her little corner again. Being spooked by banging. But where, were there zombies so nearby? Her eyes landing on the closet doors, seeing them shake... that zombie... it was alive?

She didn't want to open that door, but seeing it crack gave her no choice. That thing would be out, and if it didn't it would attract zombies into the house. Her legs shaking as she stood up. She'd face zombies before, smashed their head it, but it off even.

Holding her breath she took the door out of the door stepping back with it in hand. The thing coming out growling at her, landing its dead eyes on her. It really was back alive... well not exactly alive. But she could see a clear hole through its head... so why was it walking around. Smashing the chair on his before she had the chance to hesitate, hitting it until there wasn't a head anymore. The room now splattered in blood... her hand and feet all covered in blood.

Going back to her corner, trying to rock herself to sleep. Now hearing the growls of the zombies running outside. She wanted to leave... she didn't want to hear them... she didn't want to be alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Authors Note ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Started a ko-fi, I'll be posting stories (before I post them anywhere else) and art there, most the art is about my character's but you can also see the drawings on my Instagram! Anyways thanks for reading!