Chapter One: Head start.
"Go! Go! Go!"
Keane crouched against the door, as he shot at the rushing horde. Rachael leaped into the room, along with Jenny.
"MOVE!" he yelled, running into the room.
Jake took a few last shots before Keane shut the door swiftly. He pushed against it determinedly, as he slowly fit the lock. Relieved breaths echoed through the walls.
"We made it!" said Rachael, a teenage blonde wearing a blood stained tank top and shorts.
"Barely."
Keane, an elderly mysterious man, dusted his green jacket and pants, as he leaned against the grimy wall. His breathes softened as he peered out the small gated window upon the shut door. Infected growled and hissed as they forced their pale, un-humanly arms through the small gaps, until the point of bleeding.
"What the hell keeps those things going?!" said Sid, interrupting Keane's thoughts.
"Kid, as long as they move, it doesn't matter. Shoot em', and that's that. Now grab your sister and get some rest, we'll take shifts till' dawn."
The seventeen year old adjusted his Yankees cap, glared at Keane and led Rachael to the small picnic mat, hoping they'd last the night. Jake, a middle aged bouncer, folded his arms across his black, leather jacket and stared at Keane curiously, while he began to approach him.
"So who've you lost?" he asked rudely.
"What makes you think I've lost someone?"
"Your attitude. You have no hope, for the…well them." he said looking back at the door.
"That's because there is none."
Jenny stood up abruptly. The twenty-something year old woman dusted her white uniform and paced sturdily towards Keane. She glared into his cheerless eyes.
"You do not know that."
She turned back and slapped the wall. Above her hand read:
This will all blow over. Eventually. In the mean time, do your best and head out to the streets. Fight your way through. –Dr Geoffrey
Jake leaned back and faced Keane proudly.
Keane looked at them both helplessly.
"What does that prove? What matters is what's happening now, and now the only thing on their mind is to kill us. We'll take shifts, and do what it says: fight our way through."
Jake watched the lone fire flicker in the middle of the room. He glared at his sleeping companions. Rachael lay curled up with her brother to her back, and Jenny rested relaxed, yet seemingly half awake. In the corner, Keane sat with his legs loosely brought to his chest and his hands weakly at his side, one of which was holding a folded knife.
Slowly, the sunlight pierced through the small window, almost blinding Jake.
"UP!"
Rachael glared at him wearily. "Another day of waking up to…this," said Jenny sarcastically.
Sid dusted off his cargo pants and began to rub his drowsy eye. Suddenly the room fell silent. Everyone watched at Keane hesitantly.
"I'm going to…arm up," said Sid.
"I'll help," followed Jenny.
Jake looked down at Rachael.
"Don't look at me, I'm only fourteen… be a man!" she said joining the other two
Jake sighed and gradually crept towards Keane. He gently began to nudge him.
"Wakey, wakey," he said childishly.
Suddenly a faint sling echoed from Keane's hand, his knife threateningly bared. Jake jumped back.
"Never again," Keane said sturdily.
Jake gave a nervous nod and soon began to follow. Sid gripped the door handle with an unsteady hand.
"We ready?"
Jake cocked his gun in reply. Faintly, the door squeaked as it opened. Keane rested a finger to his lip, and gestured the group. Slowly they scampered across the quiet, empty streets. Jake looked at Keane confusedly.
"Oh, don't you worry," he whispered, "They're round."
A growl echoed from afar as Sid clenched his rifle. Rachael scanned the area around her; she couldn't help but wonder what it was like to be like them, to attack every lively thing, even loved ones.
Escaping from her thoughts, Rachael turned to find her brother, lying completely helpless, pinned by what they had grown to know as a 'Hunter'. Her heart melted. Deathly hands clawed at Sid's fresh skin, causing Rachael to completely blank. She tried desperately to scream, but her voice could barely make a sound. She fell to the ground. Tears swelled from her eyes as she eyed the still rifle lying on the ground beside her. Sprays of bullets flew around Sid, then just silence. Sitting up, Sid stared at his teary sister sympathetically.
"Wow," he said with a hopeful smile.
Rachael laughed nervously over her tears. Keane emerged from the corner of a large crate. He looked at the motionless hunter's body, and stared at Rachael's hand, resting upon the rifle.
"You're learning sweetie. Now let's get a move on!"
Sid swapped the pistol with Rachael, and fetched his rifle as he caught up with the group. Leaning on a random car, he began to check his body for injuries, until a piercing alarm broke the silence.
"Nice," said Jake above the horde's snarls.
"Will this ever end!?" screamed Jenny frustratingly.
Keane aimed for the rushing crowd.
"If you fight through it, maybe."
My first chapter, feel free to review and leave some suggestions, second chapter is well on it's way!
