Giving up on the living room, Emily went back to the kitchen to search again. She was beginning to think that Chloe was just sending her on a wild goose chase. As her distrust began to set in, she heard a rustling and a low groan coming from the living room.
She looked around the kitchen and went to hide in the pantry. As she peered through the slats, she saw the infected man for the first time.
One hand had been completely mangled. His left bicep had been chewed away exposing the white humerus beneath. As he stepped closer to Emily, she could hear his rattling breath as he let out a low snarling moan, that sent shivers down her spine.
As he grew closer still, she could hear his brittle bones creak as he turned his rotting head to the side. He could hear Emily’s staggered breathing. He followed the sounds closer to where she hid.
Unable to fight the urge to run any longer, Emily threw herself out of the cupboard she had used for refuge and dived out of the room. A chilling howl came from behind her as she bolted down the stairs and out of the apartment block.
Chapter 9
“Wait!” Chloe yelled from the apartment block. Both Chris and Boris were frantically loading up the bus. Boris was launching bags into the bus.
“She couldn’t have gotten too far.” Chris said anxiously, “I’m sure it won’t take us too long to find her.”
“Wait!” Chloe shrieked again as she neared the bus.
“No Chloe, just shut up and get in the bus.” Chris shouted back.
“Shut up Chris, just listen to me.” She snapped.
“I’m done listening to you. Just get on the bus or go back to the flat. I don’t care which one.” Chris was beginning to lose his temper.
“No you don’t understand.”
Chris had had enough. “No Chloe I don’t need to understand, get your arse on that bus right now.”
“Will you both STOP raising your voices.” Boris shouted.
It was at that moment the three of them realised the trouble they had caused. The infected had creeped out into the street. Crowds of the undead had them surrounded.
Chris squinted as he looked at these strange creatures. Limbs stuck out in all directions, their bloodshot eyes bore into each one of them as the infected began to pick up the pace. It was as if they were in competition with each other. They were all so eager to devour their next meal. I guess even the undead don’t like to share. Boris smirked.
Chris turned his head as out from the bushes, came more of the infected. These ones seemed different from the rest. They came out at full speed and ran towards the three survivors.
“We need to go.” Boris started.
All three darted for the safety of the bus. Boris threw himself into the driver’s booth and hurriedly started the engine. Chris pushed with all his might to keep the doors closed.
“Chloe get upstairs.” Chris screamed. Chloe didn’t need much persuading. She started at her brother for a second or two then turned and bolted for the stairs.
The infected had them surrounded. They slammed their infection riddled bodies into the side of the bus. The speeders had now reached the doors, they were like a pack of rabid dogs, blood covered their teeth and gums. A red foam, a mixture of blood and saliva poured from their mouths as they smeared it onto the glass.
“Let’s go!” Chris called to Boris once he had the engine started.
Without further ado, Boris threw the bus forwards, ploughing through the speeders who had begun to block the path ahead.
Blood covered the once clear windscreen blocking the view of the road. Boris flicked on the wipers. Water sprayed up diluting the thick congealed blood as the wiper blades smeared the blood to the edge of the glass.
Meanwhile, the slow movers they had left behind just outside of the apartment averted their gaze from the bus as a something new peaked their interest.
***
Emily was surrounded. Moans came from all directions, at first, they were from behind, and then to the right of her. Before she knew it, she was surrounded. Re-animated corpses swarmed all around her. She dodged as best she could as groping hands fought to grab onto her.
Emily could see the bus in the distance, she tried to flag it down, but the undead were relentless. She dodged and weaved away from the gnashing, black viscous filled jaws of the horde. She was beginning to give up hope. She began to tire as she fought her way through the crowd, pushing and shoving her way through the array of rotting flesh.
Just as she had begun to accept her fate in this new cruel world, she spotted her opening. The herd had thinned out to the right of her. With one last push, she threw herself into the opening, with a little too much force. She hit the concrete floor with such vigour that she scraped the skin from her elbow clean off.
Emily gritted her teeth in pain. She pushed herself off the floor and ran. Searing pain erupted from her arm with each move she made as she ran closer to the bus.
As Emily neared she spotted Chloe watching her from the back of the upper level. She waved her arms shouting for them to stop. Chloe simply smirked at her and waved as she turned her back to Emily. What a Bitch! Emily thought. The anger that began to coarse through her veins pushed her to carry on.
Boris sipped from his new flask as he reluctantly drove these strangers. He hadn’t realised how much he had grown to care for Emily, in such a short space of time. He would much rather be with her right now, than with some loser and his ungrateful teenage, twatfaced sister.
The sound of her voice alone made him want to punch her. He never thought he would be able to hit a woman, until he met her. No, I must ditch these morons. Boris told himself.
He checked his mirrors, looking for somewhere to throw them out, when he spotted Emily running towards them. Relief flooded over him as a smile filled his face. He slammed on the brakes and as the bus jolted he heard a thud from upstairs. He chuckled to himself. “What’s going on?” Chris came alongside him. His eyes were pink and he looked utterly defeated. The weight of a human life hung on his shoulders.
“She made it!” Boris exclaimed, bashing the door release button with his fist. A few moments later, Emily hopped aboard. She was gasping for air as blood trickled down her arm.
Chris threw his arms around her, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Emily blushed as she came over all woozy, she needed to sit down. “Are you okay?” Chris asked, “What happened?”
“I fell.” Emily gasped, “It’s fine, I’m not infected.” She said between breaths. Boris started the engine, after throwing a first aid box towards Chris.
“This is going to sting a little, but we need to get the dirt out.” Chris said apologetically, opening an antibacterial wipe.
Emily’s eyes watered as sharp shooting pains, like being hit with a handful of needles, attacked her arm.
Chris cleared all the blood and wrapped a square cushion gauze on her wound, held in place with a bandage.
“Thanks” Emily smiled weakly, looking into his eyes for all of a split second.
***
The bus tore down Quay Street along the A34. The bus managed to ram it’s through the majority of the road blocks, and Boris made as much use of the bus lanes and pavements as he could.
They were almost out of the centre as the bus sped down Upper Brook Street, when finally, the bus gave up and rolled to a stop.
“What’s happening?” Emily called out to Boris.
“Well, it’s either the fuel, or the engine.” Boris replied. “Either way, it looks like we need to find ourselves alternative means of transportation.”
“Great, just great.” Emily sighed. After her ordeal, she just wanted to get to her uncle.
They walked along the main road leading out of the city, scanning the roads and driveways for a suitable vehicle.
Chloe gave Emily a wide birth as she stayed to the back of the group, dragging her feet along the pavement. Chloe couldn’t stand Emily or Boris. They were intruders, Emily especially. She scowled as the felt the anger
pulsate through her whole body. She had played a dangerous game in trying to get rid of Emily and she had lost. But as far as she was concerned, the games were not over yet.
Book 1
The Beginning of the End
Out Now
Book 2
The Path of Destruction
Out Now
E-Virus: Emily's Journey Page 4