Bitten
The pain was far more intense then she had ever imagined. It came in waves each one more intense and longer lasting then the previous. With a heavy sigh she stares at the pistol in her hand and places it under her chin. 'Is this how it ends?' she thinks quietly to herself.
"Did I survive so much to have it end like this?" she mutters. As her finger starts to rest on the trigger, a scream tears her from her reflection. With an agonizing cry of pain she forces herself up and out into the harsh daylight.
A few feet away her friends, the three other survivors who she has spent every moment of the last five days fighting along side are once again trying to fight off the attacking hoard of the infected. The woman pulls the pistol from beneath her chin and points it toward one of the oncoming infected who has found its way into her friend's blind spot. With a single shot the beast is dropped.
"I...I thought….thank you." Her friend says as they continue fighting.
The woman's complexion is becoming more sickly pale with each passing second. She fires off several more rounds. The eruption of noise from the gunfire overwhelms any screams and curses from the survivors. And then suddenly it's over. Another wave conquered, another obstacle overcome. Three will see another day; one only has minutes left.
The woman falls to her knees and looks at the pistol, knowing that it would provide relief from the infection that is rapidly destroying her body. "No…I won't end it like that….not….not like that."
Knowing that the end is near the tears begin to come. She feels all alone, in her final moment. Suddenly two small arms wrap around her. She looks up to see her friend; a young teenage girl that five days ago she didn't even know existed. It's funny how turmoil can bond people. She has only known the girl for five days and yet she is closer to her then anyone.
"Just hold on a little longer….keep fighting it…I'm with you."
The words are such comfort and for a moment renewed strength puts up a last valiant fight against the infection. Then with an understanding sigh, the woman closes her eyes resting her weight in her friend's arms.
"I'm…just going to rest for a bit." She coughs. Her friend simply acknowledges with a tight hug. No goodbyes are said, they've all said too many in the last few days. No there is only the moment. And then with a small laugh the woman looks up at her friend.
"Don't let me bite you ok."
Her friend laughs, "Don't worry…I won't." The woman falls unconscious.
A single shot rings out across the ravaged city. Three survivors continue on leaving one of theirs behind.