MUTATION: ZOMBIES AMONG US

Chapter 20: The desire to save a friend

     My walkie-talkie buzzed to life once more, and when i pressed the button to listen to the sender, the tormenting voice came with a cracking noise," My my, Joe. Looks like you've lost a friend".
     " Bastard!", I exclaimed while holding the walkie-talkie tightly and closely to my mouth," I swear to God that I'll kill you if anything bad happens to him!".
     " Relax Joe. There's still time. You better hurry unless you don't wanna see his death", it replied with a taunting tone.
     " Where is he?", I asked coldly.
     " In a warehouse belonging to a cosmetic company. The map and the location is in the drawer next to the bed. I suggest you come prepared, because I would love to see how the final chapter plays out".
     I hesitated for a moment and then asked," What's the title?".
     I heard laughter from the other end, then a dead silence, which later followed with a cold voice," Unable to save a friend?".
     The line went dead. I dropped the walkie-talkie on the floor and smashed it to bits with my right foot. I left the room and picked up the shotgun and the assault rifle. I only had a reload for each, so I found a baseball bat and took it with me. With everything in check, I stepped out of the house and hurried to save my friend.

***

     The warehouse looked worse than the house I had left. The place bloomed with evil and the warning of unfriendly beings inside. It was run downed and haggard, with part of the windows broken and algae growing on the walls. The place was dirty and gave off a horrid smell. Even with all these, I knew there was no turning back. I stepped into the building, held my rifle and searched the perimeter. At the centre of the building was a large hole, with nothing but darkness at the base. I stared at the unknown for sometime, until a speaker hang on the wall sparked to life and aired my tormentor's voice
     " Face your fears if you are a man Joe", taunted the voice," Save him if you can. Delays will only hasten his death".
     I held the gun tightly with anger and without thinking twice, I jumped into the darkness below. I felt my boots splashing against water as I landed. It was pitched back, with no single ray of light. I wished I had carried a flash light at least, to make myself less vulnerable. Now I was in a worst state than before.
     A blue bulb ahead of me suddenly lighted up a path and gave me light. More lights turned on sequentially, brightening up the path. I took precautionary steps and walked through the long path. A brighter light was beginning to form at the end of the path.
     " This chapter will determine your sanity Joe. I would advise you brace yourself for whatever happens to your friend", said the voice as it echoed through the path.
     " I'll kill you. I swear to God I'll kill you if even a hair is lost", I replied with a cold voice.
     " Don't worry Joe. Fate will make us meet soon, but I wonder what it says concerning your friend".
     " I'll save Blue, then find you and end this once and for all".
     " Such determination, I see. But first look at the playground, and then the state of your beloved friend".
     I reached the end of the tunnel, and I was surprised to see some kind of wide military hurdles track field below. Obstacles were placed to block the runner's path, so much so that the obstacles were run downed trucks, cars and home appliances. It stretched for five hundred metres, and the finishing line was covered in fog, although I could make out two trucks backing each other with a wide space inbetween. I looked to my left and saw a telescope close by. I stood behind it and used it to see what was inbetween the trucks. To my horror, as the fog cleared, Blue was in the middle, with both hands and feet each tied to the ends of the truck. His face was brutalised and he looked like someone suffering at the hands of death. I stepped back and gripped my heart, tears flowing down from my eyes.
     " Let the games begin", said the voice with a soft grin.
     Blue's screamed echoed throughout the area as the trucks roared into life, pulling his body in opposite directions. I tightened my fist, yelled and jumped down into the field to save my friend. As I had expected, while I ran, I was ambushed by zombies as they popped up from nowhere and attacked me. I gunned them down with the assault rifle but failed to reload as a hand erupted from below and grabbed onto my right leg. I fell chest first to the ground and looked back to see a zombie grinning at me with delight. I kicked it's head, brought out my pistol and achieved a headshot from it. I couldn't get back my rifle as more zombies moved towards me in a frenzy. I ran as fast as I could, with Blue's screams echoing louder and louder.
     I heard a savage howl, and looked up to see a maneater diving in for my throat. I took out the baseball bat and smashed the zombie on the head. It crashed against a car and fell on the floor. Before it could stand, a bullet from my pistol silenced it for good. Another one, however, caught me by surprise and pounced on me. I used the bat to prevent it's fangs from coming any closer to my face. When I heard Blue's next scream, I got enraged and hit it's head with the end of the bat. I got back to my feet and repeatedly smashed it's skull until blood flowed. Tired but unwilling to give up, I pressed forward but got speared by a Militan zombie. The creature knifed me on the right side of my stomach with a Jack knife on it's right hand. I screamed in response to the pain, then kicked it's stomach with my right knee and punched it backwards. I brought out my shotgun, opened fire and it stayed dead.
     I decided not to remove the knife, because it would worsen the bleeding. I pressed forward and shot my way through, until I had no rounds left and my mind became dizzy from the loss of blood. I dropped the gun and laid beside a burnt vehicle. I removed the knife, torn out a piece of clothing from my shirt, and stopped the bleeding. Blue was still screaming, and I knew I had to save him no matter what. I got back to my feet once more, took a few steps, and broke into a run. I ran as if my life depended on it. I forgot the pain, forgot the injury, forgot even myself. My mind was centred on one thing, powering my body to achieve it even if it cost my own life. I'll do whatever it takes, to see to it that I can guarantee Blue's safety.