Lost Ordinance

In the Snare

"Shit. No." Haze scrambled around as he searched for any sign of a struggle.

There was blood everywhere but there weren't even zombies inside the small bar. We checked every nook and cranny to no avail.

"We have to check all these places." I concluded hawkishly, "I'm not leaving until I find out what happened to them. She set the fireworks off here. They have to be nearby."

Next was the hardware store. The two of us scurried around the place, knocking down every zombie in our path. There was no sign of the others. We couldn't even get inside of the grocery store — it was filled with the undead.

"Pet store?" I questioned curiously.

"Why would they go there?"

"Maybe they had to."

I put my face up to the front window of the pet store. No sign of zombies or people. The door was unlocked and we practically walked in. The stench of death filled my nostrils as we strolled through the once lively store.

"Can't help but to feel bad for these animals," Haze called out as he examined the cages. "They didn't have a chance."

"Drop the guns, assholes."

That voice was familiar. I turned around and met Courtney's soft yet aggressive gaze. Her face turned to shock as she realized who I was.

"Jake? Oh my God, you're alive!"

"What happened?" I ran over to her, grabbing her and squeezing her tight before pulling away to stare into her eyes. "Are you guys alright?"

Her gaze fell before she struggled to bring it back up to meet mine.

"Nista, she uh — she had an accident. Went out to set off the fireworks and didn't come back. When we found her, her stomach had a huge gash in it. Anna doesn't think it's a bite — she thinks it's an injury from another human."

Haze immediately rushed to Nista who lay unconscious on the cafeteria table.

"Where's my sister?" Courtney eyeballed me, speaking with anger toned in her voice. "Jake, where the hell is she?"

"The shelter's leader, Tabitha, she kept Christie so I'd come back with the rest of the group." I spoke softly, "Christie is okay, alright? I couldn't find you guys so she's still there. The leader wants living people — she wouldn't hurt your sister."

At least I hoped.

"You better hope to God that they don't." Courtney hissed, "we have to get Nista better quick so we can go back and get my sister. If I have to go in shooting, I will."

I approached Anna who sat nearby tending to Nista's wounds.

"Is she okay?"

Anna turned to me with a somber expression on her slender face. "I don't know. The wound is pretty bad. She was awake briefly but we couldn't get any information out of her."

I stared down at the wound. It had to have been created by a large, sharp blade. The blood was still exiting the wound in spots and the infection was turning the edges of the gash to an irritated orange color.

"We can't let her die, Anna."

I glanced at Haze. Without her, he'd be crushed.

"The infection is already coming on. I've never seen this before — it hasn't been that long since we found her. I just — I gotta wonder if the blade that sliced her wasn't tainted."