Smack! He whacked the woman once more, drawing her attention away from Amanda, and again back to him. The woman snarled exposing her teeth while thick saliva dripped from the corners of her mouth.
Scrambling over the top of the wooden railing, Amanda made it to safety. She quickly flung open the door to her storage room and looked for the heaviest thing she could find. Her eyes zeroed in on the large plastic bin full of old bills and tax returns in files. Grunting, she hoisted the large bin onto the railing.
“Hey!” she yelled, looking down at the woman. “Yeah! You! Up here!” Drawn to her voice, the infected woman’s head snapped to the side in an unnatural way. “Look! Up here!” The woman looked up. A set of golden eyes zeroed in on Amanda. The woman growled while crouching as if getting ready to leap.
“Don’t even think about it, lady,” Amanda warned as she pushed the large bin over the side of the balcony. To her amazement and relief, the infected woman didn’t have the sense to move out of the way. The heavy bin crashed on top of the woman’s face, snapping her neck with a loud crunching sound. The orange lid popped off the bin, and papers scattered across the concrete.
Bill raced to the neighbor’s patio wall and peered over the side. “She’s not moving.” He then looked up at Amanda with concern in his crystal blue eyes. Amanda could tell he was worried about her. “You okay?”
Amanda pressed her hand to her racing heart. She could feel it pounding through her ribcage. She nodded while trying to catch her breath. “Yeah, I’m okay. I knew I kept all those stupid files for a reason. I’d always thought my taxes would be the death of me... didn’t realize they’d save my life.” She then remembered the sliding glass door. Closing her eyes, she prayed to her angels, and yanked on the handle. Her angels had been working overtime. It slid open.
***
“Damn it!” Mike swore, smacking the steering wheel. He came to a screeching halt, and then threw the SUV into reverse, tires squealing. He couldn’t find a way around the blocked freeway. They were only a few miles from Ellie’s condo. They’d come to several standstills during the trip, but Mike had always found a way around the collisions. Ellie has been surprised at how far they’d been able to go. Mike had stuck to backstreets most of the way. It was a longer trip, but they were able to bypass the freeways until now. They were at a point where the freeway had been needed and now they couldn’t find a way off of it. Mike had turned around several times.
He was now driving down the freeway in the opposite direction. It made Ellie feel uncomfortable even though there wasn’t anyone on the road. More than anything, it just felt foreign. “Right there,” Ellie said excitedly, pointing at the exit on the opposite side of the freeway. “I live off Mission!” The only issue was getting to the exit. There was a barrier blocking them from crossing the lanes. The only way off the freeway was to go up the on ramp, however, there was a Big Rig lying on its side, blocking the ramp.
Frustrated, Mike smacked the steering wheel again.
“It’s okay,” Ellie said. “Let’s try Highway76. I live in between the 76 and Mission. We’re almost there.”
Mike frowned. “I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
Ellie glanced at the console. For the first time, she noticed the little red light warning them that the gas tank was on empty.
“We’re only a few miles away.”
“We don’t have a few miles,” Mike said. “The light’s been on for a while.”
“Oh.” Ellie nervously gnawed on her lower lip. The SUV slowed and came to a stop about a quarter mile from the 76 exit, or in their case, since they were driving the wrong direction, the 76 on ramp.
Mike flung open the driver’s side door and got out. Ellie wasn’t sure what the plan was now. Surely, they weren’t going to leave the SUV and all of their supplies on the freeway. She opened her door and joined Mike at the back of the SUV. He opened the back hatch and pulled out an empty gas can and a hose.
“You’re gonna siphon gas?”
“That’s the plan.”
Mike pulled out his pocket knife and hacked at the hose, shortening it.
“Have you ever done it before?”
“Once.”
“You really come prepared,” she stated, watching him gather what he needed. Again, she wondered where she would be right now if she were alone. Probably dead.
“Years of training for an emergency, I guess.” Mike shut the back hatch, walked to the cement center divider and hopped over. There were two abandoned cars on the other side of the road. Ellie followed him, scrambling to get over the divider. Mike had hopped over it so easily, making her realize just how out of shape she actually was.
Pulling out his pocket knife, Mike pried open the gas tank door of a silver Camry. The windows had dark tint.
“What if someone is inside?” she asked, trying to see through the glass.
“They’ll let us know.”
Ellie wandered to the front of the car where the tint was a lighter shade. The front seats were empty. She then tugged at the door. Locked. The owners probably planned to come back for it.
Ellie glanced at the other car, a red Mercedes. She didn’t realize just how much further away it was until she started walking in that direction. It was several car lengths down the road. A part of her was a little worried about wandering too far from Mike’s side after what had happened at the gas station, however, the freeway was abnormally quiet. No one was about. She shielded her eyes against the sun, eyeing her target. Curiosity had gotten the better of her and she wanted to see what was inside. Besides, she’d feel awful if there was a person in there needing her help.
Walking up to the car, she glanced in the back windshield. The tinted windows were too dark to see in. Ellie walked along the side of the car and gasped. The front end was completely dented in. Whomever or whatever the Mercedes had crashed into was no longer around. There was glass from the headlights on the ground and the front bumper was mangled. The front windshield had been shattered creating an intricate spider web effect. What if there was someone injured inside the car? She couldn’t tell.
Ellie tried to peer in the driver’s side window, but couldn’t see in. She wrestled with the idea of trying to open the door, but couldn’t seem to gather up the courage to do it. What if an infected person was inside? She then tried peering into the backseat. It was still too dark to see anything. Talking herself out of opening the doors, Ellie decided to wait for Mike. She’d feel more comfortable having him by her side. As soon as she began to walk back to the silver Camry, she heard it. She stopped walking and listened. She heard it again. Scraping. It was coming from inside the car. Ellie’s pulse quickened. Someone was in the car. She turned back around and stopped by the driver’s side back window. “Hello?” she called and peered in the glass. “Do you need help?” There was no answer. Ellie tapped on the glass. “Hello?” There was more scraping. It became more fervent. She took a few steps back. It could be an infected person. It could also be a child.
“Ellie?” she heard Mike call to her. “You okay?”
“Yeah!” she called back. She placed her hand on the door handle, heart drumming in her ears. The scraping stopped. She couldn’t make up her mind. Should she try the handle? What if a child needed her help? What if the child was infected like the little girl she’d seen in Vegas?
“Ellie!” Mike called her again. “You ready?”
Ellie let go of the handle. Mike was heading towards the center divider, gas can and hose in hand.
“I think someone is trapped inside!” she called to him.
Mike stopped walking and set the gas can down next to the divider. “Wait for me!”
Ellie did as he said. Mike sprinted towards her.
“The backseat,” she said, “someone’s inside.” The scraping continued.
“Stand back,” he instructed.
Ellie did as he said without argument.
Mike lifted the handle. The door was unlocked. He opened it just a crack
. He peeked inside and then flung it open. A little gray and black dog with long straggly fur, hopped out of the car, and ran into the street looking confused. Mike took a better look inside the car while Ellie tried to calm the dog.
Kneeling down, she held her hand out to him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Come here, sweetie. Come here… I’m not going to hurt you.”
The dog watched her, obviously frightened. He kept a safe distance, hind legs trembling. His tail slowly wagged from side to side.
Ellie stayed in a crouching position with her hand held out to him. “It’s okay, honey.” She made a couple of kissing sounds that she always did with her own dog. “Poor baby, being trapped in a car.”
Mike scooted out of the backseat and closed the door, startling the dog.
“It’s okay,” Ellie cooed. Nervous, the dog took off running down the street. “Oh no!” She jumped to her feet.
“Let him go,” Mike said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“I can’t just let him go,” she said. “The poor little guy. Why would the owner leave him locked in a car? That’s horrible!”
Mike sighed. “She’s dead.”
Ellie eyed the car. “Oh…”
“We should get going.”
“I can’t just leave him.” Ellie watched the dog. His pace slowed down and he was sniffing the ground, lost.
Mike sighed, again. “Okay. Let’s go get him.”
“Walk,” Ellie said. “If you look aggressive, he’s going to run.”
“Are you sure it’s a dog? Looks more like a rat.”
“I’m sure,” Ellie snapped.
The dog looked back at them and continued forward.
“I think this might be a lost cause,” Mike said.
Ellie stopped walking. “Why don’t you put gas in the SUV? I’ll see if I can get him. If it’s just me, he might not be as scared.”
Looking up and down the freeway, Mike thought it over. He didn’t like the idea of Ellie being on her own, but everything seemed quiet enough. He nodded his agreement. “If you don’t catch him by the time I’m done, we’ll have to leave him behind.”
Ellie gave him a sour look. Mike couldn’t help but smile. The evil look she threw at him didn’t fit her personality. But he had to admit that he liked her determination and her big heart, caring about this animal’s well-being.
“I’ll get him,” she said, and took off after the dog. Mike didn’t doubt her.
Picking up the gas can and hose from where he left them, he hopped over the center divider, heading for the SUV.
Ellie followed the dog. She tried to keep her footsteps quiet and nonthreatening. He kept stopping to sniff around, then would look over his shoulder at her, and begin walking again.
“It’s okay, sweetie…” Ellie noticed the little dog was heading for the 76 off ramp. Her condo was just over a mile down the road. If only they could get the SUV over the center divider. From here, she’d easily be able to walk home. Being so close, it was tempting. She’d feel a hundred times safer, in the comfort of her own home. She thought of her dog, Max, and prayed that he was okay. She prayed that her neighbors were okay. As much as she wanted to go home, she was just as afraid at what she’d find there. She wondered how many of her neighbors were still alive. Were they hiding in their homes? Or would she find them all dead or infected?
Ellie started walking down the off ramp wondering if Mike was right. Maybe going after the dog was a lost cause. Maybe she was being just plain stupid thinking she could help the little guy. Ellie glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the SUV. Being this far away from Mike was beginning to worry her. But she couldn’t go back now. Not without the dog. She had to at least try.
Ellie had an idea and stopped walking. She began to smack the tops of her thighs in a playful manner while calling the dog. Max always became excited when she did that and wanted to play. Maybe this dog would be the same. “Come here, sweetie! Come on… here little guy…” She smacked her legs again. “You’re such a cute doggy.”
The dog looked at her for a second, and then broke into a full blown run down the off-ramp.
“You’ve got to me kidding me,” she breathed, then took off after him. She stopped running when she noticed a pile up of cars, up ahead, blocking the ramp’s exit. One car had gone off the side of the road, and three others were crashed into each other. The dog had stopped running and was staring at the cars.
Ellie crept up closer to the dog. He was sniffing at a back tire of a white Honda. He walked over to the back door and stood on his hind legs. While he was distracted, Ellie moved a bit faster, hoping to snatch him. The dog sat down and perked up his ears, staring at the car.
Taking this opportunity, Ellie ran up behind him and clutched him in her hands. “Gotcha!” she said, and pressed him to her chest. She tried to calm him by petting his head with her other hand. “It’s okay, sweetie.” Then she stopped moving. She heard what had distracted the dog. Moaning. A man’s voice.
The dog squirmed trying to break free of Ellie’s grasp. She held him tight to her chest until he settled down. The deep moaning started up again. It was coming from inside the car. Ellie walked up to the driver’s side door. A man was in the driver’s seat, blood was all over his face and splattered on the window. She tugged at the door handle. To her surprise, it opened.
“Are you okay?” she asked, knowing full well the man was far from okay.
He moaned again, not turning his head to look at her. The side of his face was painted red with blood from a head wound. Ellie peered into the car, but didn’t see any passengers. The dog squirmed again. Ellie tightened her grip. “I’m going to get you help. Okay? I’ll be right back.” When she turned to leave, the man snatched hold of her shirt and growled.
Ellie screamed. She could feel his fingers tighten in the material. The dog leapt from her arms and took off running.
Without thinking, Ellie smacked at the arm and pulled away. Luckily, the man’s fingers lost their grip on her shirt. He growled the familiar guttural growl of the infected. Yellow eyes gleamed through a swollen, bloody face. His arms flailed wildly as he tried to get at her. His seatbelt kept him restrained. Ellie was just out of reach. Quickly, she scanned the area around her. The little dog was long gone.
Having heard her screams, Mike was running up the off ramp in her direction. “Ellie!”
Ellie ran towards him, hoping the infected man couldn’t break free of the seatbelt. She could see the SUV on the other side of the divider. “He’s infected!”
Mike took her into his arms. “You okay?”
Ellie nodded.
He didn’t ask about the dog. “Let’s get you home.”
Not even ten minutes later, Ellie was looking at her condominiums. As luck would have it, the 76 on ramp, which became their off ramp was unobstructed. There were a few cars blocking the intersection before Canyon Drive, but they were easily able to maneuver around them, bypassing the accident.
Mike followed Ellie’s directions. “I have a garage,” she said. “Oh, wait. The remote is in my car. I also have a parking space.”
“Doubtful it matters where you park anymore.”
“Oh, yeah,” Ellie said. “We should still park in my space. We don’t know…” She couldn’t get herself to finish her thought out loud. We don’t know how many people were still alive.
Mike parked where instructed. Ellie hopped out of the SUV, excited to be home. She walked hurriedly through the complex. Mike followed her, noticing a body sprawled out on the balcony of a unit across from the building Ellie was heading to. He didn’t say anything to her about it. He didn’t want to make her more anxious than she already was. He wanted her to have this moment of happiness of returning home. Ellie climbed steps to a second floor. She stopped outside a door and tried the knob. Locked.
“I don’t have my keys,” she said, turning around. “My neighbors, the one’s checking in on Max, have my spare.”
A dog started barking excitedly on the
other side of Ellie’s door. Her eyes grew wide. “Oh my God! It’s Max! Hi Max!” she called to him through the door. Mike could hear him jumping up and down, claws raking the other side of the door.
Ellie knocked on her neighbor’s front door. No answer. She rang the doorbell and waited. Still no answer. She tried the doorknob. Locked. Cupping her hands, she peered in through the window next to the door. The blinds were open. The place appeared vacant.
“No one’s there. I can’t believe they’d just leave Max.”
Mike was studying the window next to Ellie’s front door. She watched as he pulled a pocket knife from his pocket and easily pried open the window. “You know,” he said. “You really should put locks on your windows.”
“I hope Francesca and Chloe are alright.” Ellie eyed her neighbor’s door.
Max barked at the window. “Probably a good idea if you go in first,” Mike said, not wanting to get bit.
Ellie laughed. “He’s a little dog with a big bark who’s afraid of his own shadow.” Ellie reached in and pulled the cords, lifting the blinds before crawling through the window. She was greeted by loud barks and squeals of excitement. She unlocked the front door, letting Mike inside. “Watch your step,” she instructed. Her condo smelt pretty ripe. Max had obviously been locked inside for quite a while, confirming the fact that something horrible had happened to her neighbors. There were several piles on the tile floor near the front door where he’d relieved himself. Ellie opened the sliding glass door of her balcony to air out her condo. She was immediately greeted with a gust of fresh ocean breeze. Her condo was only a mile from the beach. The temperature was in the low seventies. It felt heavenly after being stuck in the desert. Ellie was thinking of how fortunate she was to have made it home when she noticed the body of an elderly man, sprawled out on the balcony across from her.
Max raced around the condo, thrilled to have her home. He then ran out the door, relieved himself, and then raced back up the stairs and into the condo. Ellie noticed that a large bag of dog food, that she’d bought before she’d left for Vegas, was torn open in the middle of the kitchen. Kibble was scattered all over the floor. Max had shredded open the bag himself.
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