Days are Gone (Under Massive Editing - Republishing Chapters)

Chapter 15 - In memory of...

"Shit, I think I'm lost."

It was already afternoon when I found the main road, and to be honest, I have no idea where I am or which way Trosta is.

I've never been to this part of Washington State before.

"Ah crap, I'm done."

I sat on the road and stared at the blue sky. I could see a few birds flying around, free to go wherever they pleased.

Wings... I once wished for a pair of those from Santa when I was a kid.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.

I reached for my knife, but it was too late. Something was already pressed against the back of my head.

You’ve got to be kidding me...

"Put that thing down, and don’t even think about looking back," a man’s voice said.

I dropped my knife and slowly stood up.

"Hands!" he instructed, and I raised both of mine in the air.

I should wait until he gets close, then I can snap his neck or something.

"Good, now turn around—no unnecessary movements."

I followed his instructions and was about to launch a kick, but what I saw made me freeze in place.

An animal mask. A deer.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he asked, lowering his gun slightly.

Is he from Trosta? I recognized the wooden deer mask—someone I’d seen before.

"I know you don’t trust me, but there’s an infected walking toward you," I said, which made him look away.

Seriously? What an idiot.

I quickly grabbed the gun, but his grip was too tight.

I saw him reach for his pocket, so I yanked him toward me and shoved him to the ground.

"Let go of the gun and no one gets hurt!" I said, but he wasn’t cooperating.

Fine...

With my thumb, I pressed hard on the middle of his wrist bone. As expected, he winced in pain and lost his grip, dropping the gun instantly.

"You prick!" he yelled.

He tried to stand up, but failed miserably after I kicked him in the stomach. I grabbed the gun from the ground and pointed it at him.

"Looks like the tables have turned," I smirked.

For some reason, he lifted his deer mask.

I didn’t recognize him at first—brown skin and somewhat familiar curly hair.

But based on his voice, I was sure he was the guy wearing the deer mask before—Steve’s mentee, Eric.