I Am a Stray Part 7

Before I post this part I wanted to thank you all for your patience. I have been really busy with school and this book is much more time consuming than all of my other writing. On a book related matter I need to work on my description of the weather more. I will more than likely being going over this and part 6 at some point soon and editing them to include a more whole description of the setting. With all that said I hope you enjoy this part and feedback is again encouraged!

“Alright Ethan, listen to me. I am going to draw them away and you are going to run around the left side of the bus.” I said in a rush. Why did I just say that? Why am I offering to risk my life for him? I thought, confused by my own words. “But what about you? What are you going to do? I can’t just leave you here!” He shouted at me gesturing wildly with the knife in his hand. “Look, I can lead them further to the right and then crawl under the bus to the other side, but you have to go, now!” I yelled back at him. He was looking at me now, as serious as I’d ever seen him. “Don’t die, kid.” He said, starting to run toward the opposite side of the bus.

Shit. That is a lot of zom- risen. It’s like there’s no end to them! I thought, panicky as the distance between me and them diminished rapidly. “Well, I best do something or we are both going to die on this bridge.” I muttered, jumping on top of a nearby car. “Hey! Assholes! Come get me! Come try a bite of me, you scumbags!” I screamed while banging the crowbar on the side of the car making as much noise as I could. There we go, come after me. I thought, pleased with myself as the risen who were chasing after Ethan turned and start coming towards me. Time to start my escape now!

            I hopped off the car and gave a quick glance towards the bus. “There is no way I am getting past them on the right side.” I muttered as I saw that the risen had just swarmed the entire right side of the bus. Start running, Dante. Start running. I thought, encouraging myself to start moving my feet. I’m going to have to do a loop around in order to give myself enough time to crawl under that bus. Relax your mind Dante, remember what the old man told you. When you’re in a crisis you need to remain calm, and keep focused on the task ahead of you. I remembered picturing the old man’s face as he lectured me.

His black hair sprinkled with more white than he cared to admit. His beard that covered most of his face and made him look like he was trying hard to grow a mountain man beard but couldn’t. The lines that showed under the corner of his eyes as he would speak. And that irritated look he always had when he was telling me something he thought was so obvious. Most of all I remembered the way his skin would fall off when he opened his jaw wide to bite me. Wait, what? “Oh shit” I yelled as my thoughts were interrupted by the risen I was about to run into. “I don’t want to die here!” I screamed throwing myself to the left to avoid running into its grasp. Dammit I thought as I tripped. Crap crap crap, he’s gonna eat me. It fell to the ground and was crawling toward me. “NO! I WON’T LET YOU GET ME TOO!” I roared jumping to my feet and swinging the crowbar towards its head.

The crowbar is stuck I can’t get it out! “I CAN’T GET IT OUT!” I screamed trying to yank the crowbar out of what used to be the things head.  Relax! Breathe! You killed it! You aren’t in the clear yet, Dante. I thought bringing myself back to reality. I could hear the other zombies now. Crap they caught up while I was dealing with this thing. I realized looking up only to see the massive crowd of risen I was kiting around lumbering towards me. I’m only 15 yards from the bus now. But there’s still too many of them on the right side for me to avoid. I am going to have to crawl under that bus. I thought taking off towards the bus leaving the crowbar behind. Why am I even doing this? Why am I risking my life for someone I just met? I could have always taken the supplies off his dead body. I don’t owe him anything. He doesn’t care about you! So why should you care about him? “Because he does care.” I muttered angrily as I jumped over a corpse that was long dead. For some reason I think he actually cares about me. It doesn’t make any sense we just met. Why do I care? Whatever focus you made it to the bus. “Peace zombies!” I laughed, crawling under the bus.

I can’t believe I made it! I somehow made it through all those Risen. “Ethan are you there?” I called out as I crawled out from the under the other side of the bus. Where the hell is he? I thought looking around for him. This side of the bridge is just as covered in the debris as the other half. Where could he be? I wondered looking around, and then I saw him about a hundred yards away by what looked like an old pickup truck. Why is he jumping up and down and flailing his arms at me? “DANTE RUN” He screamed pointing towards the top bus. What the hell? I thought looking around at the top bus only to see what looked like the same wolf beast from the subway. “I never should have broken that mirror.” I muttered starting to run.

I’m going to die. There is no way I can reach Ethan before that thing catches me. And even if I did then what we both die?  I can hear it getting closer. Just don’t look back Ethan will have an idea. He won’t let you die.

“Dante I am going to throw my knife at that thing.” He called out at me. “You’re going to what?!” That was not the kind of plan I had in mind. I thought nervously “Just keep running kid! You’re almost here!” He screamed as he threw his knife what seemed like inches from my head. “What the fuck, Ethan?” I panted out, but then I heard a whimper behind me and the pattering of feet stopped. “Why the hell did you do that?” I screamed at him pissed. “I just saved your life. Why are you complaining?” He screamed at back me. “Because you just threw a freaking knife at me!”I yelled as I caught up to him.

“Stop complaining just get in the truck kid I have an idea.” He told me as I caught my breath. “What are you going to do with this old thing? You certainly don’t have the keys.” I yelled at him. “I don’t need them. This side of the bridge is on a downward incline.” He said looking at me with a mischievous smile.

I Am A Stray Pt 6

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

“Dante! Over here!” Ethan whispered urgently to me as I emerged from under the cars. Why is he so damn loud? I thought with panic.  I can see him straight ahead of me crouched down behind a rusted old police car. But beyond the car I can see infected everywhere, and while they aren’t packed wall to wall I can’t fathom how we were going to pass them all unnoticed. “There’s no way we are sneaking past all of those infected, Ethan!” I whispered as I crawled up next to him.

“Relax” He said with a smile. “We’re going to be fine. Did you see all the places to hide while you looked or were you so caught up by all The Risen that you didn’t notice?” He laughed quietly at me. Damn it he’s right I didn’t notice anything but the zom- or “Risen” as he calls them. I begrudgingly thought. “Shut up. Let me look again.” I snapped back placing the crowbar on the ground as I turned to look. Alright let’s see what exactly there is to hide behind. Asides from the scattered cars there were sandbag barricades. “Must be remnants from when we were herding the infected here.” I muttered quietly to myself. “What was that?” Ethan asked me confused. “Nothing, I’m still looking.” I said as I continued to peer out.

There was a number of dead bodies on the bridge as well. This bridge wasn’t cordoned off with infected without its fair share of casualties. Anyways I need to keep looking. I thought refocusing myself. There really isn’t as much cover as he would make it seem. The nearest car to hide behind was at least 50 yards away. And I can’t even see the other half of the bridge what with there being a giant bus broken down in the middle of the bridge obstructing my view. There’s no way we are making it across. I finally concluded. “Alright Dante, you got your look? Good. You saw that truck about 50 yards away right? Excellent, lets go” He grabbed my arm quickly peeking around the car before yanking me forward. “Shit, the crowbar!” I thought grabbing it at the last second.

The risen were everywhere on our left just roaming around aimlessly with their heads down. “They’re gonna see us, Ethan!” I said as loudly as I dared. “Breathe kid, and just keep going moving forward.” He said as he let go of my arm. Just a few more feet to cover. I reassured myself. “See look, no problem.” He smiled at me as he crouched down behind the truck. “How can you be so calm about this? Don’t they freak you out?” I asked as my composure started to crack. The noises they make are so unnatural. When they are just roaming around like that with nothing to chase they make these unnatural wheezy moan sounds. It sounds just like when the old ma-. “Dante.” He said as he shook my shoulder interrupting my thoughts. “C’mon kid focus. We still have a lot of bridge to cover.” He said calmly. He’s observant I’ll give him that. I thought before asking. “How far to our next cover?”

“There’s a big pile of bodies 140 yards away, but it’s not as clear a path this time.” He paused as he looked at me intensely. “I’m fine, just tell me what’s ahead of us. I don’t want to spend all day on this bridge!” I snapped a bit too harshly. But he put on a little smile before continuing “The Risen on the left side of the bridge are all mulling around with their heads down, but we have some on the right that I fear are going to notice us running by. Are you going to be able to handle yourself if you are noticed?” He was as serious as I’d ever seen as he waited for my response. “I haven’t survived this long without being able to take care of myself.” I reassured him. “Good. Then if you’re ready, let’s go!” And with a quick glance around the corner of the car again he was off. “You can do this Dante. Just empty your mind.” I whispered as I gripped the crowbar tightly in both hands.

Damn he’s fast! I thought enviously. He’s already a fourth of the way to the pile of bodies! A quick glance to his right showed an infected noticed him. “Ethan Look o-” I started shouting but he dispatched the infected with a quick jab of his knife without breaking his stride. “Alright my turn.” I muttered starting to run after him. Thankfully I’ve always been a quick runner. I’ll be alright as long as I keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. Just keep going and you’ll be fine. Good, he’s almost there! I thought as I looked up and saw him a few yards from the pile of corpses. A quick glance to my left showed me no infected close by. Looks like a clear path ahead of me – oh shit. I stopped dead in my tracks. An infected had walked right into my path about 20 yards away, and it is looking right at me. I was still at least 60 yards away from cover. There is no way to go around that guy without attracting more of their attention. I thought, trying to analyze the situation as quickly as possible.

The thing was growling now – loudly. That throaty animal like growl that they make when they see their prey. Its clothes are tattered and ripped, and it’s skin had that sickly pale grey tone that all the infected eventually got. And patches of its skin had fallen off which was normal given that they all were essentially rotting. It was huge, I can’t reach its head with even with this crowbar. Fuck focus Dante! That thing is coming right at you! I was starting to panic as the infected was quickly closing the gap between us. “Damn it! I don’t want to do this!” I shouted running at it. Just when it was about to be too late I pulled back with the crowbar and smashed the thing in the legs as hard as I could, and down it went. I could see Ethan beckoning me frantically up ahead, and so I took off towards him without looking back.

“Good job, kid! But we don’t have time to waste now. That Risen just alerted a number of others back there and they all saw you running over here so we have to move! It’s about 60 yards that bus! Let’s go!” He shouted pulling me after him. How did I let myself get so scared! I thought angrily. “Oh shit.” Ethan said coming to halt. “What? Why are we stopping?” I asked far more loudly than I intended. He didn’t say anything he just pointed at the bus which we were about 10 yards from now. I looked at where he was pointing. “Oh that’s so not good.” I whispered real quietly as a large group of infected started pouring around the right side of the vehicle.

-Feedback welcome!-

I Am A Stray Pt 5

Part 1, 2, 3, and 4

“Time to get up kid!” I could hear Ethan telling me. I can’t believe he woke up before me. I thought, frustrated. “I have a name you know.” I said irritably as I opened my eyes. “What time is it?” I asked as I stood and stretched. “The sun just came up about a half hour ago. It’s still early but I thought we would want to get moving before it got much later.” He looked at me smile still on his face but his eyes were filled with the unspoken question. “What do you mean ‘we’?” I replied, fully awake now. I don’t think I can take him even if he is still bruised from yesterday.  “There is no we here. We agreed to split the supplies today and go our separate ways.” I looked at him fully prepared to bolt. He was smiling and looking at me, then he glanced at the floor and looked back up at me, still smiling.

“Look Dante you’re a tough kid clearly. You have to be to survive out here, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay on your own forever.  I think it would be best if we travel together, it’d be good for both of us.” He was looking at me seriously now, his smile was still there but it was much smaller than normal.  “No, that was not the deal. I don’t know you and I don’t trust you. Why would I trust you?” I was starting to get angry now, and I looked at him furiously. “Listen I know that wasn’t the deal, and I know you don’t know me but I’m starting to hate being left alone with my own thoughts. Even if I am great company.” He started smiling again before continuing. “It’s dangerous out here by yourself, and I could use a partner who is capable of handling themselves.” He looked at me seriously again with the unspoken question left unsaid. “So what, you’re just going to hold the supplies forever then?” I replied sarcastically.

I Am a Stray Pt 4

Parts 1 & 2 & 3

The noise was reminiscent of a fire alarm going off. “Time to leave!” I thought, but before I took a step, the man I followed was thrown through the doorway to the living room area. I barely spared him a glance before starting to sprint towards the kitchen. “Look out kid!” the man on the ground screamed out at me. “What are you tal-” I couldn’t finish my thought as I was sent flying across the room next to the bed closest to the kitchen. “I see you brought an accomplice you little shit!” The man wasn’t roaring anymore, but I hardly heard him in the first place. “That really hurt.” Was all I could manage to think. I was struggling back to my feet when the room started shaking. Looking up I saw the huge man coming towards me.

“He is by far the biggest man I have ever seen” I thought as the stars finally cleared from my eyes, giving me a good look at him. He was easily 6’8”, maybe taller, and at least 350 pounds. A beard that made him look like a mountaineer covered his face, and I couldn’t see the top of his bald head. He wore a ripped denim jacket, his arms and legs looked like they could pass as tree trunks. “His ancestors were probably freaking giants”

I Am a Stray (Part 3)

Parts 1 & 2

“What a terrible night.” I mumbled rubbing my eyes. “I really need to get my situation under control today.” I thought. I couldn’t keep going with a consistent lack of supplies and a no place to stay.

The sunlight was creeping in from the cracks in the window that the mattress wasn’t covering. “I should try and get a better grasp of my surroundings now that the sun is out in full force.” I muttered making my way over to the window. My feet crunched on the broken glass from the mirror as I heaved the mattress over a couple inches to get a better view out of the window. I covered my eyes with my arms for a minute as they adjusted to light until I could finally get a clear look at what I was working with.

There was a fissure running down parts of the street as the road split down the middle, and the street was littered with rusted cars, long abandoned by their owners. Telephone poles, street lights, and trees were either lining the street or resting inside of buildings. There’d been no vehicles traveling down these roads for a length of time, so vegetation was starting to grow on the road and up the sides of the buildings. Debris from the broken structures dotted the street from the skyscrapers from which they fell. Hardly any buildings had any windows left as the looters smashed and grabbed everything they could find of any use after the event.

I Am a Stray cont’d

Part 1

“Oh shit!” I screamed as I started sprinting towards the pile of bodies. I could hear whatever that thing was getting closer to me with its unnatural grunting getting louder and louder.  I made it to the foot of the pile and launched myself on it desperately pulling myself towards the top. “These bodies are stacked so damn tight, I can barely find a foothold.” I thought just as the creature hit the bottom of the pile.

I looked down as the pile shook and I finally got a good look at the creature. It was what looked like a dog, but a dog that’s diet consisted of nothing but steroids. It was monstrous, with patches of its fur missing.  As it looked up at me with its huge fangs bared it looked like it was missing an eye as well. “Shit shit shit, WHAT ARE YOU?” I screamed at it.  In response it took a leap upwards and tried to latch onto my leg.  I pulled my leg just out of the way and got a better look at it as it missed and started to fall back down. It had a huge hunchback lined with muscles and patches of fur. The hind legs were long and powerful, and the face was something out of a nightmare with its one eye glowing a haunting yellow.

It hit the ground with another roar and bent down to launch itself up again. “I need to get out of here now!” I screamed in my head while snapping myself out of my trance so that I could move again.  I could feel the rush of air as the beast missed my legs as I climbed.  Looking up I still had maybe another 3 feet until I reached the top. “I can make it, I can do thi….” My thoughts were interrupted as the pile started shaking violently. “Oh what is it now!” I complained looking down. The creature was throwing itself at the pile trying to knock me down. “You’re smart too? That’s entirely unfair!” I screamed renewing my climb with a gusto born from desperation.

I Am a Stray

This is going to be an ongoing story that I’m writing periodically.
It is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and it will start off in a city that is a city of my own
imagination where the main character is a 12 year old boy.

“The subway is a great place to lose people”, I thought happily to myself. “But its not a great place to spend the night.” I said to myself as I started walking a bit more quickly. I needed to get back above ground and into somewhere hidden before the sun goes down. It’s hard to move quickly when I don’t know the area. “I sure picked a shitty time of day to start exploring other parts of the city.” I muttered bitterly to myself. But its not like I had much choice that gang was moving into my hideout, and I doubt they would have looked too kindly on what they would have only saw as an unwelcome rat. “Bunch of assholes.” I declared in my head. Alright there’s a map of the subway up ahead. As I moved forward I couldn’t help but notice how run down this place was.

It’s only been three years and parts of the ceiling are collapsing. There’s what looks like weeds growing up in the cracked tiling on the floor, vines are growing up the broken columns that used to hold the weight of this place. “This place is a fucking disaster.” I thought as I reached the map. Honestly though, the subway really was the perfect place to get away from people who were after you.  Even if I didn’t know this particular section of the subway, I knew how to get around in it.