"Well... If it helps..." Chloe shrugs her tiny shoulders before getting back to work on Marcus. We've already explained our situations to one another. The different things we've been through tonight are unimaginable. "Hey, Maya" Chloe stands back from Marcus while beckoning for Maya to take her place. Sitting in the armchair by the window is Linda... We know she's alive, her pulse is still intact, for now.
"On it" Maya leaves Cody to aid Marcus. Chloe rushes to assist Alice who comforts the fading Linda.
Marcus raises his eyebrows in a daze, his hand lazily moving to his thigh where Maya grabs some cloth and prepares to tighten it around his leg. I watch him uselessly as the man I have come to respect and love like a brother lets out a small gasp as Maya sets the cloth, stopping the blood flow and containing his wound. Shame we can't remove the bullet without a proper doctor or surgeon here...
How long can he last with a bullet of lead inside him?
Maybe his clock is already ticking, very much like Linda. The thought of this scares me the most. All the suffering, pain and death is becoming tolerable, something I wish I'd never come to admit. With so few of us left, we make it worthwhile by being there for one another. Retaining our humanity, or else we go hollow. An empty, dead shell like Cody, either that or be left to rot among the monsters of the outside world. Either one is an untimely demise. A fate I'd rather not live. Death is more welcoming than bringing pain to those around me. I promise I'll protect who I can. But this life has been unforgiving today. Marcus tries to speak while the near death, ghostly Linda sniffles as Chloe tends to her wound. With every minute that passes, I become more and more certain that Linda will not make it. She hasn't moved from the spot Cody stabbed and choked her on. A part of me feels sorry for her, wanting to-
I can't believe I am thinking this. A part of me wants to put her out of her misery before she faces a more painful, insufferable fate.
"They are the reason there are no creatures. There weren't any more creatures for them. They target us. It's smart; it can talk, imitate and lead. But it is not to be bartered with. They are most likely all dead... Even worse is all this time, they've been watching us. They'd kept themselves hidden while using us as lab rats to learn about humans. They probably know us all better than we do ourselves" At Marcus's words. My heart sinks a little bit deeper for every person who has died out there tonight. Officer Miller, Davis and Wilson and my dear friend Ben...
Even the invincible Patrick is nowhere to be found.
"That fucker, William, he did this to me. I swear if I see him again, I will kill him!" Marcus's voice raises, to which Maya gently taps his wounded leg to get him to shut up. He seethes in pain, curses her, and then goes quiet. Understanding they don't want to attract the outside world any more than they already have tonight. Death could be looming in any corner. Maya sighs, leaving Marcus's side. She's done what she can. Looking a little bit livelier now, Marcus relaxes into the sofa, closing his eyes and releasing all the pent-up stress he feels. A bit of relaxation wouldn't hurt anyone right now. Maya comes to my side, shoots a quick smile at me before stealing the blue cap off my head. She places it on her own before slyly dropping into my lap. "Wha-" Is all I can squeak out from her blunt move. What kinda game is she trying to play at a time like this?!
"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!"
Maya hops off me in an instant. The moment that never began is cut off by the frantic, panicked, and scared yells of the unconquerable Patrick. Those who are able, jump up. Following the voice and the gunshots that follow, Maya and Chloe are already out the door. Alice stays by Marcus who can barely get up. "No, you can't!" Alice supports him back down onto the sofa. Marcus protests, but gives up, knowing there is nothing he can do now.
"I'll be back in a minute" Without looking at them, I am already out the door, through the reception and out onto the porch. Bloodied and wounded, Patrick limps our way. His clothes are torn, his armour ruined, his face a mess. That couldn't be Patrick? To be fair, if anyone was to survive the monsters, it would be him, wouldn't it? He collapses onto his knees and begins panting intensely. A mix of blood and sweat stain the floor around him. His shotgun hanging loosely from his right hand while I can see his left hand is missing two fingers; index and middle. On his last legs, Patrick gives me a depressed look, his face of stone and indifference is replaced with the misfortune of not having been killed tonight. Now he'll have to endure the wounds he has. That's if he survives them. "They're all dead..." Patrick drops his head to the floor in disgrace. I go silent, turning my gaze down as well. While Maya and Chloe rush him inside, I find myself looking at the darkness beyond the ranger station. I suppose now, it doesn't matter if anyone else survived, it's too late. I am just glad Patrick and Marcus made it back in time.
Trailing up the steps, through the front door and past the empty reception, I enter the lounge where Patrick is already at Linda's side. Maya and Chloe do what they can while Patrick holds the dying Linda in his arms. Everything is a silent panic. No words are spoken as initiative is used.
One last time, my heart sinks the lowest it can get as Patrick's final smile appears. A rare sight admittedly. Linda smiles back, albeit faintly. Running her weak, skinny hand up to his torn up face where I think past the mesh of flesh and gore, is a missing eye? Patrick ignores the pain as she places her bony hand against him. I can see her whisper something. Is it their last heartfelt words to one another?
Whatever it is, I can't look. I turn away completely, the corner of my eyes betraying me.
"Why is Cody handcuffed in the corner?" Patrick inquires disconcertedly. Before anyone can answer this question, we hear a call from outside, a familiar, friendly voice that makes my heart jump. I feel my adrenaline spike as I follow the voice. Because it is Ben! I am the first one to go to the main entrance. Marcus shouts something behind me, but I am too far to hear him! Not too long after him, everyone else calls out to me. They mean nothing to me right now. I have to see him. I need to make sure he is okay-
Mimicking his voice, the assumed pack leader Marcus spoke of, on his hind legs and standing taller than anything I have ever seen-
Grins evilly, because in his hand-
Is Ben's head...
With one swing, the pack leader's aim is perfect and precise as my old friend's head lands in front of me. His eyes roll, his tongue lolls and he is right at my feet. He's a bit mashed up, his brain spilling out in one place like a spilt milkshake. I'd say it's disgusting, but I am so used to this kind of sight. I'd be lying if I said this is new. While the sight is the same, the feelings it gives me aren't.
I feel, angry.
I want revenge.
I want to kill the pack leader myself.
Looking up, I see the pack leader is gone without a trace. While I can't see it, or them, I can hear everything-
I barely make it to the reception before a window gets smashed, glass soars across the room, cutting into whoever is closest, being mostly Cody and Patrick. Linda gets the worst of it. I am agape and frozen as a long, mutated arm reaches in, more like a tentacle. It wraps its arm around her neck softly, but tightly enough that it can drag her. She makes no movement. Not even a gasp. I see her fragile body swing and kick, flailing madly to fight off the attacker. Nonetheless, the monster effortlessly drags her, taking her through the window where she is never to be seen again. A crowd of red forms outside, covering all exits, an army of monsters all growling hungrily, ready for more. Patrick rips the glass from his hand, grabs his shotgun and with one final burst of energy, he stampedes his way through the horde in pursuit of the person he stays alive for. She was always his motivation. Linda was the one who kept him alive. Without her, there's no him. I can only suspect Patrick would falter and crumble just like Cody did. Once a brave courageous man, now nothing more than a lifeless empty shell with a passion for revenge. Pulling the trigger several times with a war cry, he continues his onslaught. Blasting the monsters to shreds before barrelling through the window after the woman he loves. But all
too soon, he is covered as well. The only hope I have is that even now I hear his shotgun go off.
Another window smashes, and another monster leaps through right behind where Marcus is and in the process knocks him and Alice like a bowling ball. While Alice smashes into the coffee table, Marcus is sent tumbling across the ground. The rabid monster snarls, spit and saliva drips from its mouth while focusing on Marcus. Racing on top of him while biting at his face, Marcus is left with a face of slobber in his fight for life. Maya is already dragging the tearful, limp Alice away while I am taking my machete in one hand and adorning my pistol in another. Marcus struggles, using all the strength he can summon to keep the black rotten teeth from sinking into his flesh.
No thinking is required on my part as I just go for it. Driving the machete downwards, I make a pleasant hole in the monster's neck; it jumps up, bringing me with it-
Gritting my teeth, I am left pinned against the sofa with a monster that cries out in pain. It tries howling for help from the other monsters who have trouble getting through the window as Maya shoots them again, and again, and again. With the outside monsters suppressed. I take the chance while Chloe drags Marcus back. Bringing my pistol to its stupid, grimy wailing head, I empty the entire cartridge of bullets into its mushy skull. It goes slack, allowing me to kick it away to Cody's feet. So, that's one monster down, how many more?
"MOVE IT!"
On instinct, I roll, which was extremely lucky for me as one bulky looking monster had torn apart several of his buddies to get a piece of me. Maya's screaming kept me alive.
"WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Chloe yells above the madness. While Maya holds off one window, Marcus slumps against the wall and takes shots at another. I, on the other hand, am left bolting forward to escape the fury of hands that reach out for me. My machete and pistol are long gone now. Hopping over the sofa, I barrel behind it and look up at Maya whose face lights up in fear when she pulls the trigger and no more bullets shoot out.
"Fuck" She mutters before throwing her rifle like a javelin at the crowd of black and red. "LET'S GO!" She bends down; taking my hand and dragging me up and forward towards the only exit we have now. Chloe and Marcus are already hobbling down the hallway. Both of them delving deeper into the ranger station to escape.
Freezing up halfway down the hallway is Alice who shrieks, "CLOSE THE DOOR!"
I nod, turn and slam the door closed behind me, locking it and praying inwardly that it holds up long enough for us to escape.
Then, some dust falls from the ceiling. Followed by a few tiles and-
Marcus shouts, Chloe screams, and the roof above us, half-way down the hallway, collapses. A big, burly, fat mother fucking monster swings its chubby, five chinned faces back and forth between us with a bubbly smile like it's a kid picking between two toys. Its overhanging fat getting it caught in the narrow corridor as the ceiling caves in more and more. Monsters keep trying to squeeze past it, creating more of a barrier, than a solution.
All too quickly, everything becomes a blur and I don't know what is happening.
"We're cut off! Maya shouts, darting her head around, searching for an answer. A way out-
Anything!
"Follow me!" We follow without question, human instinct driving us to survive. No thinking, no feelings, just the need to live on. We don't know. We don't care. We want to live. Alice is up on the kitchen counter, near the open window we never closed. She points towards it, implying we'd have to climb through it.
"The same way you broke in..." I whisper. Smart girl, Alice is thinking on her feet here. Luckily enough, it looks like it is large enough for me to fit through...
Alice goes through first effortlessly due to her size. Maya is next, with more of a struggle. Lastly is me, and I find myself heaving through, even hiding a small grin as I get stuck slightly. Once I pull myself through, we move along the unused, forgotten side of the ranger station. The monsters too occupied with Marcus and Chloe who are probably still in there.
I stop.
I stare.
I-
Maya grabs me, pulling me down and whispering, "It's too late"
I understand. This is it.
I want to go back.
Maybe they will be okay-
Patrick's shotgun sounds again in the distance, I am surprised he is still alive, we all are. The monsters all perk up, rushing towards the shotgun as a roar fills the air. The loudest, most efficacious noise I've ever heard. Is Patrick fighting the pack leader? Regardless, he is most likely dead now as every last monster rushes in his direction. Following the commanding roar of their leader, the monsters come running.
"We can't go back," Maya says quickly. I agree, trailing after her. I'm sorry Marcus. We follow Alice who guides us along the roof, down the side of the building and onto a little staircase she built herself to get up. I wasn't even aware this was here. I'll congratulate her later.
Once we are in the clear, we stop laying low and make a wild dash for the nearest car we see. We never really used cars to get around much. Everything was within close enough vicinity, plus Patrick never wanted us to attract unwanted attention. Right now we need an escape and the first car Maya chooses is the car we take. The car is unlocked and dusty.
Alice gets into the back. I get into the passenger seat while Maya takes the driving seat. We slam the doors shut, and keep a lookout while Maya gets to work on hot-wiring the bastard car as best she can. She has it working in under a minute and the engine springs to life. I waste no time in telling her through a look of hatred for myself that we are actually about to leave Marcus and Chloe, "South, we go south"
Chapter 40 - Redemption
Marcus
Every step I take only adds to the pain in my thigh.
Every step I take weighs me down that little bit more.
Every step I take leads me closer to giving up.
Chloe puts all her power into supporting me; even hoisting me up onto her back at one point. I adore her determination, which is motivated by keeping me alive now. We started off as enemies, and now we are good friends. It's strange how things change. Especially in the short amount of time we've had.
Ah, I'm falling. It was bound to happen soon enough. My leg gives out and causes me to go dead weight on Chloe. I get about half-way to the ground before Chloe lifts me back up. She grunts, forced to drag me to a nearby tree.
"S-sorry, I need a breather-" she gasps out, struggling with her words. Sitting me down, I am left slumped by the roots. I watch her closely. Her face is hot and sweat pours from her forehead. No, I can't let this carry-on. I won't be a burden any longer.
"Leave me," I say plainly. Chloe looks at me in disbelief. "You can't be serious," She says back, not fully believing me. It's no joke. Not a prank. Nothing like what Ed might pull. This is serious. I know I am dying. The blood is already starting to seep from my leg again. No one here can get the bullet out. Funnily enough, Linda or Patrick might have been able...
They are both dead now.
"I'm serious. I'm only weighing you down" I push on, persistent to get her to leave me behind. Nevertheless, the slightly recovered Chloe hobbles over to me and kneels down. She looks me dead in the eye and brushes her messy hair behind her ear. "No means no Marcus"
Placing her arms under my armpits, Chloe gets into position to lift me back up. "Sorry if this hurts" She warns, and suddenly I am hoisted up until I am standing against the tree. I use my good leg to keep me balanced. "Chloe, please" I insist. I don't want to have to start begging. "Shut it," Chloe says with a tiny smile. Shaking my head, I sigh, knowing there is no way she is going to give into this.
A gun clocks and we both turn to face the rat himself. Untouched and looking as good as new, is the coward; William. His hand is steadier than I remember; the gun is on point with Chloe's head. Someone's nerves have tightened. Either that or his balls finally dropped. Regardless, William stands there. Biting his lip and narrowing his eyebrows at Chloe.
The Carnage Trilogy (Book 1): The Carnage [Unbending, Unyielding, Unforgiving] Page 32