Note: I remade this story because the original is poorly written. I'm only keeping the original up for now because I look at the chapters as I rewrite them. Once I'm done rewriting them they will be deleted, thank you. Also, if you could review please, :3 I like reviews and so does Ellis. I am rewriting this for you 3
Left 4 Dead
Chapter 1
The screen of the large flat screen tv flickered against the dim walls of the apartment. All was silent except for a local news report. Alarming images were shown to the public but only on a channel that adults were allowed access to. The news reporters seeming panicked as the overhead view of two cities were shown, all of their residents had gone completely insane, attacking, and devouring each other.
"It seems like the entire state of Pennsylvania has been overrun by, dear God, zombies!" A fairly young woman, clutching her necklace spoke, her voice quivering. The necklace had a cross on it from what was seen in the last of the news reports she anchored for.
"Not just there, but I hear in New Orleans too. I pray that any survivors will-" The screen went blank as it powered down. Elle stared at the blank screen, her eyebrows furrowed. Sitting down on the bed she focused her gaze at the floor. Zombies? No, zombies were supposed to be fictitious creatures, made up only for a movie franchise or some horror video game. There wasn't a possible way for it to exist. There wasn't a way in hell it could be real. But they had proof. Proof of the living dead. Proof of the infected individuals. Her heart pounded harshly in her chest.
"Zombies?" Next to her, the phone rang. She jumped, the sudden alarm causing her stomach to leap up into her throat. Clasping a hand over her chest she willed it to go back down as she sighed a breath of relief. Grabbing the phone she pressed it to her ear and croaked. "Hello?" She waited for a reply, the phone crackling a bit. Her heart started racing all over again as she wrapping her fingers around the towel she had clad herself in. "Hello?" She tried again, this time her voice a quivering whisper.
"Hey baby, how are you?" A males voice came through, finally the crackling stopped. She sighed again and smiled at the sound of his warm voice.
"I'm…" She thought about it, looking up at the off TV. "Good, and you?" She pushed herself to her feet, her head still focused on the news. She drifted towards the full body mirror in the corner of the room.
"I'm fine. You doing anything later on tonight?" She stopped and stared at her reflection. She let his question drift off. She stared at herself. Instead of her apartment she saw behind her, she saw a ruined city, dead bodies and of course, the undead bodies behind her. She imagined, what it would be like being stranded in a place like that. Being a survivor in the midst of a catastrophe that would have required you to kill people. But the news anchors had specifically stated that those two areas were closed off. There would be no way for people to get in, and no way for the infection to get out. "Elle." She jumped again, his voice sounding louder in her ear than it had before. She closed her eyes rubbing her forehead.
"Yes?" He was silent. A slight growling noise could be heard in the background, then a clicking. She stared off ahead of her, her heart stopping dead in its tracks. "Jason?" She whimpered. It was silent for a split second before a clicking noise could be heard then a deep sigh.
"Sorry, dropped my phone." She sighed as well, only sounding relieved. "You sure you're ok?" Dropping her towel she clicked her teeth a bit, her eyes adverted from the mirror and back on the TV.
"Have you heard about the news they released today? About New Orleans and Pennsylvania?" He grunted a bit. Usually when he did that it was a sign he didn't know what she was talking about. He did that often when she brought up the good times they had in high school and he didn't remember. He didn't remember much outside of making out and her denying him sex.
"No, I didn't hear. What happened?" He didn't really sound like he cared which irritated her. More often then she would have liked he held that kind of tone with her too.
"Well," She started off matter-of-factly. "apparently our government has been keeping a secret. Apparently an infectious outbreak hit those areas." He gasped. Now he was interested.
"Oh God, what kind of disease? Are they working on a vaccine for it? Is it air born?" Bending down she picked up her towel and started to dry herself off with it.
"Everyone turned into zombies." She replied. He went silent again. This time she didn't hear any clicking, or thudding, so good chance he didn't drop it. In the background she could hear the growling again and her heart starting to pound.
"Zombies…really Elle? Zombies?" He started laughing. Her heart fluttered now, embarrassment mixing with the panic that was there before.
"Jason I'm not joking, stop laughing!" She cried out, the pace of her heart making the words tight in her throat as she nearly lunged at her reflection in the mirror, her fists clenched. "It's on the damn news!" She felt her eyes water. He always did this. The things that scared her half to death, he laughed at. It was torture for her.
"Fine Elle, fine I'll watch the news before I get off the plane, alright?" He chuckled. She sniffled and squeaked as a reply, wiping at her eyes. "Are you still coming to pick me up?" he added, trying to change the subject before she could break down in tears. Stopping she stared at herself in the mirror, her face mirroring how she felt. Doomed.
"Oh baby, I forgot. I'll be there, I promise." She forgot a lot of things and that made him upset. Groaning he cussed lightly under his breath as if he were trying to keep her from hearing how angry he really was.
It's going to get you killed one of these days. He'd told her over and over again. Sometimes he got so mad at her that he made her cry. One time, he even hit her. She didn't appreciate it, but after a good 20 minutes of coaxing her out of the bathroom he managed to talk her into seeing it the way he did. She'd forgotten to pick him up from work and he got angry because he had to walk a block in the rain. She could see why he got angry like that. His keys and apartment card ended up soaked. He had to use the keys while the landlord made a new card for them. "Fine, I'll see you in two hours." He hung up.
Turning the phone off she placed it on the kitchen table and headed for the bathroom. She didn't want to leave the apartment now after the whole zombie announcement, but she knew she couldn't force Jason to find his own ride home when she had promised she'd be there to pick him up. That would only get him even more angry, and being stuck in a small apartment with a man who wouldn't be afraid –or stop at- hitting you wouldn't be a good thing. Don't fan the fire. She often told herself.
Slipping into a thick strapped dress with a miniskirt, she towel dried her hair and ran a straightener through it, straightening it to that it was paper straight. She brushed her bangs off on the sides, tucking them out of the way and pinning them back with barrettes'. Taking a deep breath she slipped on some dressy shoes and strapped them around her ankles. Grabbing her cellphone she searched the dress over and sighed. She had no pockets. Grabbing her car keys and debit card she tucked her cellphone and card into her bra, making sure the area around the ribs were tight enough so as not to let her possessions fall. Heading for the door she stepped out and locked it behind her, stashing the house key in her bra as well. Heading down to the car park she located her Chevy and climbed in. Starting it she pulled out and slowly headed for the airport, her eyes skimming over the crowds of happy people. Children, dog owners, happy families enjoying their weekend.
Just as she pulled into the parking lot, she felt that doomed feeling like she'd forgotten something. Seeing the crowds of people, she finally understood what it was. She'd forgotten her gun.
