by Cluke, D. L.
“Becca, move!”
Becca sprang up, yanking with all of her strength. For a split second, Anna thought the door was stuck, watching in horror as the infected moved closer. She jiggled the handle, pulling up hard. Anna watched as it finally gave way and rolled open. She heard the creature’s screams as they turned as one and focused on their next meal.
Becca sprinted back to the truck. Sliding on the sand and oil covering the floor, she grabbed onto the door handle as her feet slipped out from underneath. She scrambled to her feet, yanking herself around the door and throwing herself into the cab.
Anna started the truck the moment the door slammed shut. Her relief was short lived. The truck rumbled and started, drawing the full attention of the horde. Infected slammed off the truck, their hands smearing Josh’s blood across the windows as they tried to find a way in.
She shifted the truck into gear, ready to drive them out of this place. A single infected stepped into the fading light in front of the garage door. They both gasped. Remi barked from the back seat.
It was Josh.
Chapter Twenty-three
Josh, or the infected that used to be Josh, cocked his head at them. His white eyes seemed to lock onto her. Why wasn’t he charging like the rest of them? A loud thud by her ear pushed the thought from her mind. Anna slammed her foot down on the accelerator, the tires spinning on the oily concrete.
Anna saw red. Anger consumed her as Josh stood immobile, blocking their path out of there. She would make sure that he could never find her again. She would run him over, break his body until he stayed down for good this time. If that didn’t work, he could spend the rest of his days as a crawling zombie for all she cared.
He deserved it. All of it. A lifetime of mindless suffering for what he did to Brandon. For what he did to me.
The truck lurched forward, hurtling out of the garage and straight towards Josh. He stood perfectly still, milky orbs not blinking. Anna’s sweaty palms gripped the steering wheel as the truck closed the short distance between them, bracing herself for the thump as he was mowed down. Nothing happened. She couldn’t believe her eyes. At the last second, Josh had jumped out of the way.
In all the footage she had watched, she had never seen one of the infected behave like this. They were mindless monsters who charged at any noise with no regard for their own safety. Dread ran down her spine. Anna decided the best option was to put as much distance between them as she could.
She weaved the truck around the buildings, following the maintenance road that ran alongside the large field. Josh hadn’t told them what the plan was after they reached the truck. Not seeing any of the infected around them, she slowed and put the truck in park once she reach the intersection at the end of the field. She and Becca would have to figure out their own plan. She would have to do it without Josh.
“What now?” Becca asked, looking in each direction.
To the right lay the city they once loved, burning. Pillars of smoke reached to the sky. Fires raged uncontrollably. Where had the fire come from? When had it started? She hadn’t smelled anything while they were busy running for their lives. She guessed it didn’t matter. A few more days and there would be nothing left except a burned out carcass. There was no one left to call. No one left to put out the fires. No one left to save them. They would have to make their own way to her family’s farm. Turning her back on the city, she eased into drive and steered the truck towards the interstate.
“We head to the farm, no matter how long it takes us.” Anna prayed there would still be a farm to go to. All they had to do was get there.
They still had a hundred and ten miles to go until they reached Fairstone. One hundred plus miles stood between them and the safety of the farm. She would take every hard-earned mile if it meant she was finally free of Josh. Free of his abuse and threats.
She let herself cry a single tear for Brandon, placing him in a special place in her heart forever.
“For Brandon,” she whispered, grabbing Becca’s hand.
“F-for Brandon,” Becca cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.
They headed home.
Chapter Twenty-four
The infected that was once Josh sniffed the air. His mind was consumed by the desire to feed. His meal had gotten away, but that wouldn’t stop him. He watched the truck as it sped away through the field and onto the main road. He watched until he could no longer see it. Listened until he could no longer hear it.
A mountain range in the distance pulled to him. Tilting his head, he remembered where the girl was headed. His desire to feed was unmatched, except by a strange need for revenge. Unlike the pathetic creatures around him, he had a purpose. His decaying mind filled with thoughts of the woman that got away, the woman that had betrayed him and turned him into this. The woman whose flesh would taste the sweetest.
He let out a low moan. The infected mingling around the field shuffled over, lining up behind him. They were ready to follow him and Josh knew exactly where he would lead them. He let out one final moan before he started the long march north, a moan that sounded strangely human.
“Anna.”
THE END
Chapter Twenty-five
Author Notes
Thank you for taking the time to read Escape: White Death Book 1. Can’t wait for the Kindle release of Homeward, the second book in the series? Check it out on Kindle Vella where it is being released on a chapter by chapter basis. There are multiple releases each week.
Please considering leaving a review if you enjoyed this story. I love hearing your feedback!
Until the next scare, my dear reader. Don’t forget to leave the light on.
D.L. Cluke