Day Two.
Today I left the city. It was dead quiet, and in no time I reached the outskirts and filled my quiver with crossbow bolts. Before I left I had formed some sort of plan. From the map, I discovered I was in a region called South Zagoria, and that it was in a place called Chernarus, I haven't got a clue whether I am spelling these right as this Eastern European language is totally foreign. I still don't know what country I am in, apart from that it is on the Green Sea, so it could be Russia or one of the more western former Soviet countries.
My plan, for it could take a long time, is to find the military. There must be a quarantine zone, or at least some resistance holding out against the zombies. I believe the helicopter was evidence of this. If they are welcoming, then it could increase my chances of survival tenfold. By the power of deduction I figured I was leaving the largest town in the region behind, Chernogorsk. I am now following the coastline east to find the next town, Elektrozavodosk. And in the worst case scenario of not finding any sign of life, then I will go to the next most developed town or military installation.
The weather looked like it was going to stay dry, there were few clouds in the sky, and the temperature was slowly being cranked up the longer I walked. My canteen was empty, my throat was burning and the barns and farms did not yield any supplies, so I entered the forest for shade. And whether by luck or divine intervention, I found a reservoir.
Sunset.
The area was clear of creeps for now, so I have set up my tent, collected as much water as I can and built a campfire. Night has arrived. But I have not got much sleep, I couldn't close my eyes without the fear of one of them watching me from afar like some predator. The breeze shook the trees, and the wind itself was like the distant groan of an infected man. So I sat there, staring into the black.
Day Three
I walked for what must have been an hour. My watch has stopped; I'm surprised it survived the deep ocean water as I was washed up from the Green Sea. This is my third day today in this barren wasteland. I passed a lighthouse; I passed solitary homes standing tall on the coastline, and with infected who must be its former owners. I put them down. Running out of bolts now, as well as food and clean water. My legs were aching, my head pounding from the lack of sleep but my hands gripped firmly on my weapon.
The coastal road run south around a hill, and as I turned the cornered I saw the next town in the distance among the morning fog. Elektroz... Elektrova... Fuck it; I'll just call it Elektro, easier to remember. I quickened my pace, having your goal in sight is a good motivation. Especially when you have nothing else to distract yourself with. I was on the fringes of the town when a small pack of creeps, much like wolves, ambushed me. They were pretty fast, and I had to jump into a nearby barn for safety. I collapsed under the strain on my legs, killed one oncoming creep with a bolt to the head, and grabbed the pistol from my belt. Not enough time to reload my crossbow, one day something like that will be the death of me.
This was the first time I had properly used the pistol, I missed the first two shots, but the last four infected were dispatched in quick succession with last of the bullets. Before I knew they were dead, I just keep pressing the trigger, the only thing sound being the click click click of the hammer of the gun. I stared at the pistol, trying to work out how to reload it when another zombie came through the doorway. I distinctly remember the fear I had as I lay there helpless. I started pushing myself away from him until I hit the wall. His face, contorted in hunger and rage. Dried blood surrounded his lips and his ghostly eyes fixed on me. A few feet away from was a rifle, I clumsily leapt for it, holding it in my hands praying it was loaded. I turned to aim at the zombie. Bang, it collapsed, but I hadn't pulled the trigger. That's when I noticed the man in the doorway.
"I did shout at you, but I don't think you heard. Some of those zombies chasing you heard me though. You can thank me later. The names John." I was in another world; my mind had gone blank as I kept my gaze on the dead zombie. Then I stared at him, a raggedy looking man whose appearance would have been considered like that of a tramp before the outbreak. Maybe that's what I looked like? I hadn't looked in a mirror for weeks.
We rested in the barn for awhile; I told him how I got here. I asked him about the military and whether there were any safe zones. He told me the military collapsed pretty quickly, and that survivors, if there were any, were scattered. He mentioned about a camp to the north, but he couldn't confirm its existence as he hadn't been there yet. He came to Elektro to meet up with his friend, his name was Frank or something and I am told he had a working truck. He told me there were still plenty of supplies in the larger towns, as they were closely guarded by its resident hordes, they were too dangerous to grab for the lone scavenger. John intended to get those supplies.
So we paired up, 'at least that way I double my chance of survival' I remember thinking. I kept the rifle in my hand; it looked like it was the property of the barns owner. Reminded me of those guns you see in the old Western movies. Shells were scattered around the barn, plenty of ammunition to dispatch a mob, including the vast amount of misses I am bound to have. John was just as experienced with guns as me, I couldn't quite place his accent, but he wasn't British, and his surname hinted at that as well. He showed me how to reload my weapons, and gave me a can of food to keep my strength up.
That strength came in handy when we entered the town centre; the buildings took a heavy beating, either from military efforts to prevent the spread of the infection or even rioting. We kept our voices to a whisper as we walked through the corridors of a school. I couldn't help but think of the children that were here, and whether they survived. Thankfully I had yet to see an infected child, but John did not care to elaborate his experiences with the infected, I didn't dare imagine what was like. He mentioned he had lost his family, and asked me about mine. I hadn't thought too long about it, I left it at the back of my mind. I had yet to see evidence that they survived, I miss them terribly, but I don't want them to be one these monsters shambling through the empty streets. Dead or alive, I hoped they weren't one of them. If there was any chance I am going to see them again, it will be at the safe zone, where I hope to wait for them to walk through the entrance. John said I can tag along with him, I liked the idea. I don't know when I will see another survivor.
Me and John filled our bags full of supplies, there was a fire station in the town. John explained the military used the building as a headquarters in the early days until it was overrun. He said there were still guns left in the building, but I never got to find out.
Another horde came, what seemed like double of that I saw on my first night, they charged towards. The bloodcurdling screams echoing throughout the concrete jungle. Like a startled deer, I ran for my life, I stole a glance over my shoulder, John was running the over way! There was no way of turning back, I did not know my way around the town and I couldn't risk getting trapped in a corner. I passed the school again, yet more creeps were disturbed and alerted to my presence by the sound of distant gunshots behind me. I did not think about John, I just kept running. The hospital was in front of me, it's front windows smashed, not safe enough from the horde behind me, it's doors to the wards inside locked and barricaded. So I headed for the ladder on the side of the building, and with rifle in hand I climbed awkwardly up to the roof. One lone man followed me up, the ladder proving too challenging for his limited brain capacity. I reach the top, chucked my backpack on the ground and raised my rifle, pointing at the ladder. An arm rose from over the wall and then a head poked out. I pulled the trigger, the head disappeared followed by thump as the corpse landed on the floor.
I had a peek over the edge a while ago, the creeps are still there, albeit calm and quiet. I cannot get down, not until they have left. From up here I can see all of Elektro, the sun is setting. I prayed for John's safety, and my own sanity.