Veronica’s arms started to ache with her efforts. Taking a break, she leaned back against the pole and looked up at the darkening sky. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then started to gag.
“Oh no, nonono!” Veronica hissed.
Slowly she inched her head from side to side to see where the infected were coming from. One she could deal with. Unfortunately, the potent smell suggests more.
From her current position, she couldn’t see anything. Veronica didn’t want to be blindsided so she started to move her feet, slowly inching around until she was facing the grassy expanse of the park again.
Her heart pummeled to her stomach. One, two, three, four, five…… They came staggering out from between the houses. Tears filled her eyes when she spotted a little girl with brown curls clutching her mother's hand. She assumed it was her mother's hand, there was no body attached to it.
Veronica estimated she had fifteen minutes before the first one saw her. If the infected woman kept her pace, it would be on her ten minutes after that.
“Twenty-five minutes to figure out a plan. Alright, I can do that.” Veronica doubled her efforts, keeping her eyes on the approaching tide of infected. She was working hard, alternating between stretching the tape and rubbing the gun against the bindings when the sound of barking filled the air.
“That, was not, a dog,” Veronica panted.
Veronica froze. She didn’t know how to interpret this new sound. Staring at the horde, she watched as they shifted, drawn to the noise. Relief started to pull her heart out of her stomach when she saw them shamble toward the north. Nevermind that it was the direction that she needed to go in, she was glad that the immediate danger was past.
Taking a minute, Veronica closed her eyes and thanked who ever was looking out for her. She stood very still, listening to the hum of the light as it turned on above her. Feeling better, she opened her eyes and looked directly into the face of an infected.
“NO!” was all Veronica got out before the man grabbed hold of her shirt
Veronica did the only thing that she could think of, she headbutt the smelly creature. Knocking it back just enough to get her leg up to kick it in the stomach.
Veronica didn’t think of the possibility that there would be no stomach. So when her foot sunk into the squishy flesh of intestine, she lost her balance as her foot was sucked in to the body.
The infected man grabbed on her her leg, bending down it, stretched its mouth wide and tried to bite through her jeans.
Veronica screamed as its teeth tore into the denim, pinching her skin as he tore the fabric away.
On instinct, Veronica shoved her knee into the groin, using the body to hold her weight but there was no reaction. She watched in horror as it jerked forward, intent on removing more than just cloth. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her foot again, placing it against its chest then shoved the infected man back as hard as she could. Veronica released her foot, slamming back into the light pole.
The infected man wasn’t fazed by the gaping hole left by her foot. Reaching out with clawed finger, he advanced on her again.
Veronica may not be able to run away but she could run around. Quickly, she moved her feet to spin around the pole, taking the meatiest part of herself out of sight.
Unfortunately, her arms were still stuck behind her back. Veronica felt the icy touch through her cotton sleeve. Again, she shuffled her feet, pulling her arm out of its grasp.
“I can do this all night buddy! I’m not making this easy for you!” Veronica growled.
Veronica hopped and dodged the infected man until they were a dance in the spotlight of the street light. Finally, her stamina receded and exhaustion to started to creep in. Breathing hard, Veronica tried to dodge the hands again and lost her footing. Falling to her knees, she was helpless when the infected man fell to his knees and bit into the back of her arm.
The pain reverbiated down her arm and up to her neck. Crying out, she ripped her arm away from the infecteds mouth. Pulling her last ounce of strength, she stood up and twisted around the pole again. The man didn’t follow her around this time. He had turned into the opposite direction and met her on the other side of the pole.
Closing her eyes, she waited for the impact of teeth to tear at her again.
Veronica felt a puff of wind pass her face but nothing more.
Opening her eyes, she watched as the infected man crumbled to the ground, an arrow through his skull.
Veronica whispered a thank you. She was so tired. Too tired to slip to the ground for a much needed rest. A few moments later, she heard the pounding of feet before she saw the small group of people heading in her direction. She listened to the steady beat of feet on the ground, then heard the even breathing of people used to running as they got closer.
Feeling relief, Veronica bowed her head, she whispered, “I won’t die alone.”
Yelling out, Veronica warned, “Don’t get too close! I’ve been bitten!”
“Veronica?! Is that you?” Cindy came running into Veronica’s line of sight, along with two men she didn’t know.
“What's happened to you? Where’s Cody and everyone else?” Cindy didn’t heed Veronica’s warning about being bitten. She pulled out a hunting knife and sliced through the tape holding her arms together.
Veronica held on to the gun the whole time she was being stalked around the light pole. Now, she gripped it tight as she tried to untangle the arms that wrapped around her, “We ran into some trouble and got separated.” Veronica started to back away. “You guys should keep going, they couldn’t be that far ahead.”
“We got a text message,” One of the men said, “We’re supposed to be meeting them in Eau Claire. Is that right?”
Veronica placed a hand over the blood that was flowing from her arm. She was surprised that it didn’t hurt worse. “Yes, an old man help us on the road, then risked his life to save us. He asked us to find his son and take him with us to my dad’s.” Veronica started to tear up. “I don’t know how much time I have.” Veronica sat on the ground, holding the gun that Ian dropped in her hands.
Cindy crouched down and took a look at the wound that Veronica was trying to cover, “It doesn’t look that bad. We can clean it up.” Cindy reached into her pack and pulled out a small medical pack, hands slightly shaking.
One of the men reached a hand out to Cindy, “Should we find a place to stay or keep going?”
Veronica just stared ahead, “Bites infect, there’s no hope for me.” Looking at Cindy, she asked, “Will you tell Bethann that I love her and tell Cody that I’m sorry.” Veronica hefted the gun and opened the chamber.
“Figures, no bullets.” Veronica laughed, “Not so stupid after all.”
Infection Series (Book 1): Preservation Page 17