by A. M Martin
I raise my bow and pull back the string. I smile at the pull and heat in my arm from the strength of the bow string. I time my breathing with the beat of my heart. Block out everything other than the hound.
I bite my tongue. I don't have a clean shot. Not with all the thick branches and bushes. It moved to the far left. More behind the thick trunk of the oak tree.
I know what you're thinking. That I'm trying to give Tony and Vanessa a fighting chance. You're wrong. I'm not. It's me or them and I'd rather it be them. But they're way too close. As soon as the hound moves on to them it will smell us. I can't have that. I won’t have that. I won’t die because of their foolishness.
As I release a calm breath, I release the arrow.
“GO!”
I'm dropping to the next branch as a pain filled howl fills the air. I allow a small smile. I hit it somewhere. Now I'm moving down. Down. Swinging from branch to branch like a monkey. Tara is right behind me. All the pretense of being quiet goes out the window as miss perky screams and Tony hollers. They're moving in our direction. I think maybe I should go ahead and kill them. They're nothing but trouble.
I drop to the ground, holding in my yelp as a jarring pain rockets up my feet and legs. A second later Tara falls to the ground beside me. I jerk her up and we're running again. Tony and Vanessa are several feet away from us, following.
I run and run. Panting and gasping. Still I run when a stitch goes through my side. I need to get away, far away. I know I didn't kill it. Injured it yeah, but killed it no. I really just pissed it the hell off.
I keep running. Pushing myself, I can no longer feel my legs as I fly over the forest floor. Over and under branches. Up and down hills. Still I run, knowing I can't keep this up forever.
The hounds are harder than shit to kill. An arrow through the eye. A knife through the eye. It seems to be the only way. Cora and I pondered it over and over. The only thing we came up with is that their bones are super strong or they are like some kind of zombie. Only hitting the brain will kill them, but their skull bones are too thick to do any damage. That’s why you need to aim for the eye.
I've been running for hours when I finally came to a stop as I burst out through the trees on a hill overlooking a city. I gasp for air, stumbling backwards into the cover of the trees. Cities are bad. It's always bad. They also offer things I need. But still really really bad.
I plant myself at the base of a tree. Panting and gasping for air. My chest is tight. Constricting. My sides are on fire.
It was another ten minutes before Tara comes stumbling through looking half dead. I forgot all about her. A pang of guilt comes and goes. It’s me or them.
She collapses down beside me, laying on her back. Her face, blood red and panting for air like me.
I look out through the trees, seeing houses and stores in the distance. As soon as I can move, we'll climb the trees again and I'll wait and watch for any signs of life in the city. For a light. A noise. The smell of a campfire. Anything and everything. I need to go down there if I'm going to survive out here. What I took from the compound was not enough. I gave us time. We have a day, maybe two, before the hound follows. It'll take care of its wound first. It would be so much easier if they were stupid.
18
Being up in the tree gives me a better view of this town we just stumbled across. I can't see much yet with the sun just rising. We camped out in the trees again. What I do see is a huge building right below me. I think it's a Wal-Mart, seeing a Wal-Mart truck in the back.
To the left is another tan stone building. Maybe two or three floors. I have no clue what that is. Further down from that is a bright blue warehouse.
There are so many unknowns.
“Do you think they made it?” A hoarse whisper comes from below me.
“Maybe Tara,” I mumble looking back towards the right.
An Auto Zone, some type of Drug store and a Chinese food place at the end of the might be a Wal-Mart parking lot and out to the left side across the double lined road is a tractor supply. My heart sputters at that. There are so many things I could use in there. In many of these buildings, that is if there is anything left to be used.
“I hope they did,” she says quietly.
Eh, I don't care. That might make me a bad human being but I don’t care.
I dig around in my pack for some dried-out meat and start gnawing on it. Salty flavor explodes in my mouth as I chew and swallow while still watching the town.
◆◆◆
I stayed up as long as I could last night. Half the night, maybe before my body finally shuts down on me needing sleep. But I watched and waited for any sign of anything. This town seems like a ghost town or whoever is still here is very good at hiding or is hiding deeper in the town. Either way, they're not close to these buildings. I think.
A gulp of warm water washes the meat down.
Where are you hiding?
I scan the town with narrowed eyes.
It's now or never.
“Tara start to climb down.” I say.
The bark bites into my already sore palms as I swing from branch to branch after Tara. The morning dew dusts my body from the leaves moving on the branches. I land with a thud on the ground. A slight jarring pain has me grinding my teeth.
My body has turned soft like how I was when everything started. Where a half of a mile had a stick in my side and my breathing was raspy.
I promised myself I would never be that soft person again and now here I am back in the same state only a little skinnier than before.
“Are we going down there?” Tara mumbles wide eyed on the town below us.
“Yep,” comes from my cracked lips.
I stop walking at the top of the slope, looking down the hill. It's a straight up climb with bushy weeds.
A sigh bursts from my lips as I plop down on my boney ass.
“What are you doing?” Tara giggles.
I frown back. “More than likely I'm gonna end up on my ass. Why not just start out that way?”
She looks at me then at the hill and sits down.
It's slow going at first with a sharp rock or two grinding against my palms, thighs, and ass. All too soon I pick up speed and go skidding down the rough hill.
My breath freezes in my lungs. I push with my heels trying to slow my descent. It's not working.
My butt slide soon turns into a tumble.
I wince at every scrape and bump as I roll head over heels down the hill. Faster and faster. A scream tries to free itself from my chest.
Oomp.
I land hard. The air coming from my lungs in a great burst.
“That was rough,” Tara chuckles, sliding down beside me.
I push up on my hands and knees with narrowed eyes, gasping for air.
“How come you didn't roll like I did?”
She giggles again, giving a small bow. “I'm that good.”
I snort and climb to my feet, jerk my bag back on my shoulder and walk across the dusty field.
I glance at the windows. Man, there are plenty of places people could be looking at us.
“What is this place?” I mumble to myself.
“A doctor's office,” Tara says kicking a rock across the sidewalk.
I twist around and look at her. “How do you know?”
She gets this distance look in her eyes. “I used to live in one town over.”
A doctor's office? Huh. Plenty of things in there.
I start up the faded blue steps.
“There's nothing left." Tara’s hollowed-out voice has me turning around and walking slowly back down the steps.
Tara has her arms wrapped around herself, a vacant look in her eyes.
“How do you know this Tara?” I ask softly, not wanting to spook her.
“It’s when it first started. It was just me and my mom.”
Her voice cracks and my heart squeezes at her words.
“We met up with this group who took over the clinic,” she nods
towards the building. “They were not nice people.” She shrugs and starts walking towards Wal-Mart.
I follow behind. I'm itching to ask questions. So many questions? Like where is her mom and what happened here to suck the normal sparkle out of her brown eyes.
I bite my tongue. Everyone has their own demons. Me most of all.
19
I pause five feet from the loading dock and the door next to it. My heart thunders in my chest. The steel door leading into the back of Walmart is wide open. A gaping mouth ready to swallow me whole.
Why would the door be open? Is there someone in there or is it worse, is it one of them? Or a whole pack of them?
I shuffle forward with a tense body and squint into the darkness. The light from the sun only reaches the interior of the building a couple of feet in front of me, getting narrower the further it cuts into the darkness.
I see the dirty tile floor and what could possibly be a box. But nothing else. I don't know what I was expecting to see with what little light leaking into the open doorway from the sun, but I feel somewhat put out by what I can spot. Which doesn't make sense. Not seeing any blood, which is what I thought I would observe, should make me feel better about entering the building, but it doesn't. It causes a sick feeling deep in my soul, something just doesn't seem right. It doesn’t add up. There is always blood. Everywhere you go there’s blood on something.
I take two more cautious steps forward and squat down, my fingertips touching the dirty ground for balance. I tilt my head left and right trying to pick out anything in the dark. I even sniff the air for something foul smelling.
"Are we going in?"
My body jolts at the sound of Tara's voice. I forgot she was standing right behind me.
I straighten up until I'm standing and swallow my fear. I shift from foot to foot and bite the inside of my cheek. The coppery tang of my blood fills my mouth.
I hate the dark on an average day. But this. Inside a massive building with total blackness has me second guessing myself about going inside. Is it really worth it? The risk. The unknown.
I need to go in, but that doesn't mean I have to like it one bit or even want to for that matter. But out here, your needs trump your wants any day of the week.
"Yeah, we’re going in," I mumble to Tara.
I look behind me at the small girl and see fear shine into her brown eyes. I open my mouth to say something, but I snap it shut. There's nothing I can say. Sure, it might make her feel better, but it would be weak promises at best.
I take a deep breath and reach behind me for the metal baseball bat in-between my back and the book bag I wear. I’m glad I kept hold of it when we ran last night because a bow won’t do me any good in the dark.
I pull it free and grip the handle with sweaty hands and take the first step into the darkness.
My lungs squeeze tight as my gaze narrows into the black room. My mouth goes dry as I dare not move. I flick my eyes around the space looking for the neon eyes of the others. Looking for a sign that I’m going to have to battle for my life.
The air in my lungs expels slowly as I slide my right foot forward across the dirty floor and deeper into the dark room.
“Hey.”
I jump and the metal bat slams into the floor, a harsh sound resonating out into the dark. My teeth grind as I look at Tara, “If they didn’t know we’re here they do now.”
“Sorry.” She mumbles looking around the dark room.
Sorry. Sorry! This girl is going to get us gutted.
I dig the small flashlight out of the pocket of my jeans and flick it on.
“Storage room,” Tara says walking past me, following the aisle with shelves on either side of us.
I shake my head, pick up the bat and trail in her wake.
“You think there’s anything in the boxes we could use?” Tara asks, looking at the top shelf.
I point the flashlight, that I grab from the side pocket of my pack at the white tag on the metal shelf.
TOYS
“No Tara.”
I move past Tara following the path to the rubber doors. I stop, staring at the two thin grey pieces of rubber. I bit my lip and move forward. My heart starts pounding too fast and sweat slowly dripping down my spine.
I thought the other room was dark, but it has nothing on this. I can only see a couple of feet in front of me with the beam from the flashlight, after that nothing but pitch black. My heart thunders in my chest.
“Tara,” I whisper, “We need the camping section first.”
I watch her out of the corner of my eye, not wanting to take all of my attention off of the darkness. Looking for that glow of eyes.
Her head turns right and left; she bites her nails.
“What is it?” I mumble.
“It’s on the other side of the store.”
My heart bottoms out. Great. Freaking Great.
“Okay, we need to hit the food, clothes, shoes, medicine, I could use some bleach too, and arts, oh and toothpaste and such.”
Her eyes enlarge at the areas I need to look through. I chew my lip hoping we could hit those places fast and get out.
“I don’t like the dark.”
Scoffing I say, “Who does? Which one is the closest Tara?”
“Bleach.” She mumbles turning right.
I follow behind her, my light showing blood and who knows what else on the white floors as we walk straight. A little bit of tightness in my shoulders goes away with the blood. Call me crazy, but I’d rather see some than none at all. My eyes flick in every direction. My ears straining to hear something other than my pounding heart.
“Here.”
I look at Tara and see her tiny finger pointing. I follow the direction of her finger; my lips curl up in disgust. Why do people always have to make a mess? Fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and who knows what else is spilled upon the floor, containers smashed in.
I step lightly on the floor noticing footprints in the blue liquid. Is it dry? I bend down and touch it lightly with my fingertips, half afraid of doing so. What if it’s wet? Then what am I to do? It’s dry.
“Come on,” I mumble over my shoulder looking at the shelves and the floor.
I sigh looking at everything but bleach. I needed that damn bleach.
“Will this work?”
I look at Tara holding a small bottle of Clorox bleach, .32 ounces. A smile pulls at my lips. “It’s perfect.”
I snag the bottle and twist my fingers indicating Tara to turn around. I put the small bottle in her bag.
“Now where?” I ask Tara when she’s facing me again. “What?” I ask.
She has this weird look on her face.
“I’ve never seen you smile before.”
I don’t say anything as the smile falls from my face and we just stare at each other. The last time I smiled was when Cora was lying on that dirty couch. When she was bleeding to death. When she made me make her a promise, I didn’t want to make or keep.
I shrug, looking at my dirty shoes.
“The shoes should be a few aisles over.” Tara mumbles.
We head towards the shoe’s, our feet making soft sticking sounds on the nasty floor. I rub my nose and bite my lip. I'm trying to hold in the tears. I never knew how much everything out here would remind me of Cora. Of what we went through only for her to end up dying in this forsaken world.
We had plans for the future. I had plans for the future, and because of our ignorant government, no one has a future now. It’s only bleeding and surviving.
20
I stand at the beginning of the shoe aisle with my hands on my hips. There is nothing here. It’s been completely wiped out.
I look at my own shoes and scoff. These won’t last much longer.
“Maybe we can try Tractor Supply,” Tara says, looking at the empty aisle.
“I wouldn’t.”
I turn around, the bat was already gripped in my hands, my flashlight drops to the ground and the light went out. I clen
ch my teeth.
My eyes flick around in the shadows looking for the deep voice of a man.
Tara backpedals behind me, and I step forward.
“Who’s there!?”
“Aron.”
I jerk to the right but see nothing but blackness. Wal-Mart has no damn windows. It’s a total black out in here, where you can’t even see your own body.
“What do you want?” I snarl, my hands clenching the bat tighter. It’s over my right shoulder, ready for the home run, I’m getting ready to knock out on this man's head.
“Nothing.”
My hollow laugh rings out in the dark. “Nothing? Everyone wants something.”
“Not me.” His voice is deep and seems to echo out everywhere and nowhere.
I turn back to the left. He keeps moving, and he’s pissing me off. Not wanting something. Ya right. Everyone wants something including me.
I reach into the back of my jeans pocket, finding the glow stick I stuck there. I snap it on the side of my leg and toss it. The eerie green glow lights up a pair of dirty black boots. My eyes roam higher on a pair of dark jeans and a long sleeve grey thermal. A smirk covers Aron's face, with messy black hair hanging down to his ears.
“Why shouldn't we go there?” Tara asks, and I roll my eyes.
“They’re there.” He answers, crossing his arms, his muscles bulging, catching my attention.
Theirs? Who’s there? Humans or the others.
“Who?” Tara asks.
“One of the gangs.” He shrugs his broad shoulders.
I just stare at him. He’s huge and in good shape. What if he's a part of this gang or something worse?
“Go Away.”
Sober eyes meet mine, “Why? Do you own this?” He asks, his arms waving out to our surroundings.
“No.” I snort, taking a step forward. There’s no way I can beat him head on.
“Let me help.”
Hell no.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I do.”
I grunt again.
He needs to go the hell away.
“We need to find boots,” Tara says.