Disclaimer- I do not own left 4 dead valve does.
Well now with that out of the way onto the story
After the whole safe room debacle I managed to find a nearby fast food restaurant. So I grabbed whatever was edible and held up in the managers office for the day. Damn other survivors locking me out like that I mean other people have to survive too and lets face it that safe room would have been a lot more comfortable than my current hideout.
I mean I think I seriously just saw a rat the size of a dog in the right corner of the room. Thought about killing it and getting some extra food to go along with whatever this crap was fries I think and a few cold burgers.
They were still edible but hardly tasty at all, then again you can't be too picky I mean every day the food supply is getting smaller. Yep pretty soon I'll be hunting rats to eat. They aren't all that bad really but they are small, well except for the monster I just saw.
Strangely enough there weren't any infected around this place and I managed to grab a few slim hours of sleep after I ate. It was strange I felt so jumpy, jittery, alive whatever you want to call it. I just couldn't sleep for too long after about half-hour intervals I would just bolt upright too energetic to get back to sleep for about another hour.
Despite the lack of sleep I felt more awake and alert the next night than I ever have in my entire life. It was great so much energy I felt like I could go for five days straight. Whatever the reason I didn't much care at the moment it just meant I would get to my destination sooner wherever that was.
Gotta find some people who know what their doing either that or a radio. As luck would have it as I was walking along I managed to set off a car alarm. One word for that "Shit,"
In mere moments I was running for my life away from a horde of infected and I don't have the weapons or ammo to kill them all without being ripped to pieces. So there I was sprinting for my life, strange that I wasn't tired my muscles weren't screaming out in agony even after ten whole minutes of full on sprinting.
Ah well better not question it lest I want to face the consequences. After a while I decided to take a right into an alleyway, unfortunately it was a dead end. However as luck would have it there was a fire escape which wasn't unreachable. As I managed to climb up the fire escape the horde entered the alley and rushed for the ladder still extended down to the ground.
I pulled it up as fast as I could and the bastards were left swiping at the air and screaming unintelligible obscenities at me as I climbed to the top. Halfway there my legs started to hurt real bad like excruciating pain radiating from the very bone. I froze halfway up the pain too much it felt like someone was ripping chunks of my muscle away and then throwing lemon juice in the wound.
Then I started to hear my bones creaking? As if they were moving around twisting like a kid playing with putty twisting and molding it into something new. Except the putty was my bones and muscles and now the same pain was crawling to all of my bones and muscles.
I heard it all happening the pops and cracks and I felt the muscles shifting. I didn't dare to look though, I kept my eyes shut through it all not wanting to face the truth. After the last pop faded into oblivion I opened my eyes the pain was so great the I had almost fell into the angry horde below.
Apparently because of the pain I had moved involuntarily toward the edge and almost fell over. Good thing I didn't because I don't think the crowd below would sympathize with me.
"Not today jackasses," I scream at the gibberish swearing crowd. With that out of the way I began to climb again toward the roof top. When I finally reached the top I looked around on the roof a table, ammo, guns, and a radio. Hey wait a minute a radio that means I might be able to contact someone to tell me where to go to possibly be picked up.
I walked over to the table and it was then that I heard the voice.
"Hello if anyone is out there and can hear this go to Mercy hospital for evacuation and contact me there," said the voice. It just kept repeating after that but at least I now knew my heading, I was going for mercy hospital.
Now to check how much commotion I had really stirred up. I headed for the edge of the roof and let me tell you I have the worst possible luck. There were hundred's of the infected in the street below, not a good start at all.
"I guess I'll just have to wait for them to thin out," I mumbled. It had worked before despite their one mindedness the infected lost interest in you fairly quick if you were out of sight.
It should be clear in a couple of hours maybe a day at the most just as long as no more trouble was stirred up in the mean time. But damn if I was to say that I wanted to be sitting around for that long. At least I found plenty of ammo which I filled up whatever space I had on my person with.
Then I was left to pace about on the rooftop for about three hours while the infected slowly went away. Halfway into the four hours I heard voices in an alleyway not to far away about four people I think.
The noise they were making was drawing away the infected below, goddamn amateurs. Then the ruckus started up the infected began to scream and babble madly as they ran toward these other survivors.
At this point I was looking over the edge at the action below to catch my first look at these others. I was right four of them three men one girl hopelessly outnumbered by the insane mobs swarming around them. Then as all seemed set in stone a great bellowing roar shook through the air and I caught a glimpse of the immense wall of muscle that was charging through the crowd.
Knocking aside all that stood in it's way as if they were rag dolls and finally throwing a car at the survivors. Lucky for them it missed taking a large chunk of the horde with it as well as the fence behind it. This created an opening for the survivors which they took straight down the alleyway I went and right to the fire escape.
The black man and the old guy struggled to reach the ladder I had pulled up but they eventually got it. That's when the jolly green giant came crashing down the alley straight at the biker who stood defiantly as he emptied his shotgun into it. When it caught up it threw him into the wall and was about to crush him when they old guy started shooting from the right.
It swung it's bulk at him but the old man ducked under it and the massive beast slammed through the wall where the guy had just been. The girl and black man were already up on the fire escape when the biker and old man joined them.
The girl was providing covering fire as they climbed up after her and ahead of her. By this time the incredible hulk had freed itself and started to climb after them practically ripping the fire escape off the wall as it ascended after them.
The three guys reached the top of the building not noticing me as they looked down urging the girl who's name I now knew as Zoey to climb faster as the beast gained on her. Eventually the fire escape actually was ripped from the wall just as Zoey reached the top she screamed out the bikers name "Francis," as she jumped hoping to be caught before she fell with the giant into the black abyss below.
Francis gladly obliged to her plea seeing as he caught her by her wrist. The other three men then helped to pull her up all the while not noticing me behind them. In hindsight standing behind a group of frightened strangers with guns wasn't such a good idea as I shortly found out.
"Whoa," I said as they finally got settled. As if by reflex the biker whipped around and shot me with a pistol he had in his belt. Shot me right in the shoulder luckily I think the bullet missed my artery.
I recoiled in pain as my mind registered what had happened and saw a look of confusion on all four of their face's. I managed to get out one sentence before I collapsed and was pulled into the black abyss of my mind.
"You know that really hurt," I said and then all was black.
I woke up awhile later to mumbling voices apparently I was still among the living. I was aware of what was going on barely, people, I wasn't on the roof anymore, and food cooking on a stove.
I wonder if whoever shot/saved me had any canned peaches, peaches would really hit the spot. Besides I figured they owed me especially after they shot me. Speaking of which the bandage that was over the wound was making it itch like hell. I wonder if they even pulled out the bullet?
Judging by the felling of something scraping against one of my shoulder blade that was a negative. Finally I opened my eyes and looked around to see them huddled around some freshly cooked food.
I sat up and took off the crudely placed bandage to see the wound. I found the hole and started to poke and prod around until I finally found where it was. They left my pack by me which I quietly searched through for the pair of tweezers I had.
Not exactly sterile but then again neither is the bullet lodged in me. From the felling it didn't nick anything vital so I carefully slipped the tweezers in to retrieve it.
When I found it I pulled it out slowly, lucky for me I didn't fell any pain. Good thing too because I've done this before to myself and guys twice as big as me and every time they hissed or screamed.
Maybe I was still in shock or maybe the infection was getting closer to it's ultimate goal. Who knows but I got the bullet out and placed it in my pocket with the others as a little souvenir. After that I put the tweezers back and got out a bottle of peroxide that I looted from a pharmacy a few days ago.
I poured it on to kill any bacteria then I took out my own set medical equipment. Heavy duty hospital gauze which I kept pressed to the wound with the bandages. It was gonna itch but it was better than the wound getting infected by something else than what was already in me.
The others hadn't noticed or they ignored me as I set myself straight. My jacket and shirt had been taken off and were placed beside me. I put them back on quietly as the others continued to eat and chat among themselves. Hell they even left me my hat at least they weren't thieves.
They were considerate I'll give them that, after all they didn't take any of my gear not even the shotgun or it's shells, I also had my hatchet still held in my belt. I crept over and sat among the small group who stared at me as I did so with either relief or wariness in their eyes.
I pointed at Francis the one who shot me.
"You owe me a can of peaches," I said matter-of-factly. He just stared at me in disbelief and I saw a smile spread on his face.
"Don't laugh I'm serious, after all if I remember right you were the one who shot me," I said indicating the now properly dressed wound. Then the girl spoke up as if offended.
"But we saved your life," she said pointing at the bandage.
"Yeah about that, the dressing you guys put on was hardly even halfway decent, and you didn't even pull out the bullet, this I did myself," I said pointing back to the dressing.
The girl frowned in defeat. Then Francis spoke up again with an angry edge to his voice.
"Yeah well what make you the expert pal," he said accusingly.
"I used to be a medic in the army," I said with a certain smugness.
"Then again you guys did drag me along with you so I guess I should thank you for that, the names Bob by the way," I said extending my hand.
The old man grabbed it and gave a strong shake as he spoke.
"Nice to meet ya Bob, the names Bill, that's Francis, over there's Louis and then there's Zoey," He said pointing to each person as he went. I gave them all a once over I guess I could have come across worse people.
"Sorry about, well you know," said Francis. I smiled and nodded it off telling him that it didn't matter much and that I wasn't dead so no problem at all. He seemed relieved and then it all started the questions that everyone of them seemed to have, Zoey was first.
"So you said you were a medic before the outbreak," she asked. I nodded and then I went into my whole life story about my past jobs and such.
"I was for about ten years in the army, then I went on to do various odd jobs drifting from place to place until this happened," I said telling the short version of the story.
"So where are my peaches," I said seriously. I mean I was really hungry that guy shot me and I really want some peaches. Francis turned to his backpack to rummage around through it until he produced the thing of my desire.
He handed it over and I took it gratefully. It didn't take long for it to be gone all the delicious morsels devoured in less than two minutes and then it was time to talk.
"So Bob you gonna stick around, I mean we could really use a proper medic, not that I'm complaining about our current condition," said Bill. I took a moment to consider the question. Do I really want to travel with these people, is it in my best interest. My answer popped into my head after taking in all of the variables.
"Sure, I see no reason why I couldn't stick around," I said. They seemed uplifted by my decided choice, but then I remembered when I first saw these people drawing infected to themselves like moths to a flame. I would have to teach them a thing or two about stealth.
Bill was apparently a Vietnam vet but if he was spec ops he didn't act it. That led to the likely conclusion that he was a grunt which meant he had no idea about subtlety.
As a matter of fact these people were a walking armory they had enough weapons and ammo to take on half the city. Of course that made me even more afraid of traveling with them. They unlike myself were expecting a fight practically looking for a reason to shoot something.
At the very least Francis definitely was that was obvious by his trigger happy response to me the night before. At least that was one thing myself and these people had in common, they like myself seemed to travel at night.
That at least put our chances of being undetected up. Alright so I had a plan now, travel with these guys until we reached the hospital and either my salvation or death depending on the infections gestation period.
"Peachy, we all know each other now, so when do we get going," I asked. The group looked at me quizzically as if I grew a third arm (which was a strong possibility what with some of the other infected I've seen).
"We still gotta eat, and besides do you really want to go right now with the way your shoulder is," said Louis.
"Sorry go right ahead and eat but don't worry about this I've had worse and besides we should get to Mercy hospital as soon as possible," I said.
"How do you know we were going to Mercy hospital?" asked Zoey.
"Well I was on the roof with the radio before you guys, so I did hear the transmission and I was going to head there before well this," I said gesturing around. She seemed to shrink back a bit her suspicion satisfied for the moment.
For the next half-hour or so they sat around eating their pot-luck meal while I waited for the trip to start. They didn't ask anymore questions, I guess you don't have to anymore not the way everything is.
I didn't doubt that they were still wary of me. After all I was a little wary of them we didn't know each other and they like me probably hadn't seen many other people still sane.
Well they were better company than Ted and they gave me a nice big can of peaches so they couldn't be all that bad. Bill despite his friendly demeanor was the most cautious of them all. He probably thought I didn't catch those split-second glances in my direction but I did.
I've known guys like him, hell I've held their hands and told them it was all gonna be alright while their guts were literally hanging out. He was a soldier he had the clothes, look, and personality.
He was probably the reason that this group was still alive. They seemed to look up at him as the leader which meant I had to as well. At least he seemed somewhat competent if a little loud for my tastes.
Just because you have an armory at your disposal doesn't mean you should use it. If they kept up like they did the night before then I was going to be holding their hands as their guts were hanging out and they were bleeding internally.
Put that all together and I would probably be dieing with them. Or maybe killing them if I went nuts first who knew. Who knew if we would even make it to that hospital to my hopeful if unlikely salvation.
So many unknowns it isn't even funny. If only these zombies were slow like in the original movies, But no they have to be super fast freaks. God must really hate humanity to do that.
After my little alone time within my own head they were ready to head on out. Hopefully with a little less zeal than before, but I was very doubtful of that especially with the trigger happy behemoth Francis on point.
Ten feet out the door and he shot at something the deafening boom of that pump-action going off right in front of me. Everyone cringed except for him then Bill spoke up in a hushed voice.
"Francis what the hell was that for," he whispered harshly.
"Thought I saw something down there," he said pointing down the stairs.
"Well next time just say so instead of giving away our position," I pitched in.
Francis nodded then grumbled to himself as he continued toward the stairs that led down into the subway. Bill took point himself so that a repeat wouldn't happen again. I was sent to the rear.
Hatchet in one hand and shotgun in the other I looked around into all of the dark little corners and saw mostly nothing. Occasionally a dead body or some sleeping bags but nothing dangerous. Despite my earlier assumptions this group wasn't that bad they knew how to keep quiet for the most part.
Francis occasionally cursed as he stepped in something unpleasant. Bill would admonish him to keep it down, Louis was fairly stoic if a little jumpy at some of the sounds that came from the darkness.
Zoey was just plain quiet maybe a joke once in while to lighten up the mood but nothing more even as we moved thorough the darkness. Eventually the stairs led to the subway tunnels out of use since the infection.
The trains seemed frozen in time as they just sat at the station unmoving. As always there were bodies beaten, mutilated, and some with sheets over them. Impromptu funerals if I had to guess after all there's no time to bury a friend or loved one anymore.
Bill spoke up as we heard the screams and babbling. He was barking orders like the good soldier he was telling the group where to look and shoot. They came from the train pouring out breaking through the windows even as glass lodged itself in them and cut them.
They paid it no mind just as long as they reached us. We opened up on them, or rather the group did I was saving my shots after all I only had two. The hail of gun fire blasted the infected back as if they were smashing into a wall.
Chests got torn open by Francis's shotgun as the M-4 Bill was carrying nearly amputated their limbs. Louis and Zoey both riddled their targets with neat little holes from both his Uzi and her pistols.
Streaks of crimson painted the walls of the train and the floor alike. The infected were ripped to pieces quite literally in no time flat. By the end of it everything seemed normal except for the dead bodies that were now piled up everywhere.
It was then as the rest of the group was facing forward that I heard the growl then felt the impact of another tackling me to the ground. The infected straddled me as he began taking swipes at me with some wicked looking claws. I managed to smash it in the face with the blunt end of my hatchet.
That stunned it long enough for Louis to push the thing off of me knocking it back against the wall. My shotgun by some miracle was still in my hand. I pointed it in the infected general direction and pulled the trigger. The area that would be its stomach was blown away but it was still standing and trying to get at me.
Ignoring the pain in my wrist I shot again and caught its kneecap blowing that into oblivion as well. I watched as did the others awestruck as it still tried to crawl toward me. It was about two feet from me and gaining with inhuman speed when I chopped into its neck.
Finally it's mind caught up with its body and it fell limp as its blood and guts were flowing out. I pulled my hatchet from its neck as I was helped up by Louis whom was still eyeing the now still corpse of the hooded infected.
"Did you see how it jumped just like the one from the night before that attacked you Louis," exclaimed Zoey. Louis nodded as he poked the corpse with the barrel of his Uzi.
"I'm more worried about how it could have still been alive after two shots and still be that fast," said Bill from the back of the group. Francis spoke up from his place next to Bill to clarify the situation.
"Goddamn hunters can't figure em just like the rest of these damn vampires,"
"Hunters?" I questioned.
"Its what we call this type of infected. One just like it attacked Louis right before we um met you," stated Zoey matter-of-factly.
I remained silent as I studied my latest kill and she was right this one was different. It was strange to think that a virus could turn a regular person into something like this or like the giant I saw these people fighting before.
Suddenly and I have no idea why a wave of nausea hit me and I threw up as I collapsed to the floor. Louis backed away and the rest of the group gave me a wide berth not wanting to be hit by the chunks of peach cascading from my bowls.
"Didn't figure you for the squeamish type," said Bill from somewhere behind me. I heard him but it was like I had my hands over my ears and all I was thinking at that moment was "Not good not good at all". It was just repeating itself in my head.
First thing they teach you in army was to trust your instincts and mine were screaming that something was wrong. Before I could ponder on the matter anymore I was again being helped to my feet by both Bill and Francis whom had braved the possibility of being covered in puke.
"Can you walk, are you alright?" asked Bill as he and Francis steadied me. I nodded and gave a rather dramatized salute to the old War-dog. He chuckled and that was that it was over as soon as it came and we were walking again.
"Hey Francis you got anymore peaches I need replacements for the ones on the ground back there," I said. Francis just laughed a little as we continued on our journey through the tunnels.
As we soldiered on the damn bite was acting up again. I was scratching at it nearly ripping off the bandages to relieve it to no avail. My motions went unnoticed however as the others were too preoccupied with what was in front of our group.
Unlike myself they couldn't see in the dark so every black corner was as ominous to them as the pits of hell. Nothing but dead bodies in those dark places though, most of them had sheets over them like some kind of makeshift burial. We weaved in and out of train cars and tunnels and soon enough we were at the end of this leg of our journey.
Not far outside of the final train car was a door that led to a hall and beyond that a big dark empty room with no soul in existence. The others turned on their flash lights illuminating the darkness so that they could see. All the way I was at the rear watching behind us and occasionally taking a peak at Zoey's behind, after all I am still a guy.
Ogling aside though it was fairly uneventful if not a little creepy at least until we came to a gate.
"That's gonna be a problem," said Bill.
Everyone nodded a solemn agreement while taking in the structure which seemed to be open by some sort of leaver that would undoubtedly create some kind of noise upon being pulled and that meant a lot of infected coming for the dinner bell.
Bill seemed to look around as I was and our eyes fell upon the gas tanks and Molotov cocktails sitting on the table by the door we came in not to mention the fierce looking turret. Bill was quick to issue orders as were the other's who followed them without question.
"Louis your on bomb duty get those Molotov's and throw them when I tell you, Francis your on the turret, Zoey me you and Bob will cover them, alright people let's go," he said. We all went about our appointed tasks as quickly as possible and before long we were in our positions.
Bill motioned for me to pull the lever that opened the door with hand signals. I walked up to the lever and unceremoniously pulled down taking in the blaring motors that started up to open the gate. I quickly made it back to my spot beside Francis so that I could protect him from any infected that got past the flames or the hail of bullets.
Everyone tensed up all of us knowing what was to come. Soon enough the mad babbling and screams reached our ear above the roar of the motors. I watched as human shapes launched themselves through the thick windows and down onto the ground 15 feet below with no regard for themselves.
Some broke their legs bone protruding from the skin, many however landed clumsily. It wasn't long until they sprinted straight at us like humanoid homing missiles it was then that Francis opened up cutting a bloody swath throught the infected ranks with a hail of lead.
I conserved my ammo only shooting when and infected got too close or somehow around the wall of lead. In the corner of my eye I could see Louis slightly shaking holding the Molotov's in his hands. Likewise my ears were assaulted by profanities and senseless yelling from my other comrades as well as the screams and gibberish of the infected.
Just as the infected seemed about ready to overwhelm us Bill shouted.
"Louis throw them now!"
Louis did so eagerly and with amazing precision. The flaming rags of the bottles went in a fiery arc and landed in front of an oncoming wave of infected. Even with the flames the infected still ran become engulfed in the searing heat. Flaming bodies ran at us for a few feet before they finally succumbed to death and dropped in heaps of burning bodies.
The rancid smell of burning human tissue permeated through the air. The infected waves ceased and we waited for the flames to die down before we went to the now open gate. In the end their were only charred bodies of whatever infected that had come.
Our group walked toward the open gate as relief flooded our senses. Everyone was a little too calm but I suppose we could afford to be for the moment. Up the stairs and around the catwalk we traveled to a small room in which was a practical armament.
"Sweet," said Francis as we entered the room.
"Alright five minute rest to restock up on ammo and meds then we're out of here," barked Bill. Zoey let out a sigh of relief and sat down in a nearby chair while casually picking up pistol clips strewn on the table of ammo. Bill likewise followed her lead and took a seat himself.
I however wasn't tired in the least so I decided to see what Francis and Louis were gawking over. I arrived to the sight of three guns a hunting rifle with scope, an M-4, and an automatic shotgun. Before they could say anything my hand shot out to grab the hunting rifle.
"This one is mine," I stated as I pulled it out of the cabinet. Luckily Francis and Louis didn't seem to care about it and didn't put up and resistance to me having it.
Instead Francis traded in his pump-action for the auto and Louis traded his uzi for the M-4. After all was said and done Zoey took Louis's abandoned uzi for herself. We all managed to snag a decent med kit for ourselves and plenty of ammo for our weapons.
I slung my new rifle over my shoulder still preferring to use my shotgun while in such tight quarters as the building we were in. After a moment and a groan from Bill at having to get back on his feet we were off yet again.
The halls were dark but all was illuminated to my eyes. I was yet again at the back of the group as we went down the winding halls all seem fine until something snagged my leg. I looked down to see a snake-like appendage wrapping around my leg getting a firm grip.
"Ah shit," I said as my legs were pulled out from under me and I was dragged back down the hallway from where we came. It was very fast and before I knew it I was at the door of a room branching off from the hall. Reflex kicked in as I grabbed the doorframe abruptly halting the progress of my assailent.
I heard yells as the other figured out what happened and started to run to my aid. I saw Francis first as he came up to me and grabbed my arm thus ensuring that I stay where I was.
"Something around my leg," I managed to get out as Bill caught up. Louis quickly stormed into the room and within a few moment gun shots erupted. The sharp cracks of gunfire stopped as soon as they began and the tight appendage around my leg went limp and I was easily able to get to my feet.
Louis came walking out of the room reloading as he walked with a smirk on his face. The moment was quickly cut short by a rather loud crash punctuated by the monstrous roar on the tank.
"Shit, shit, shit," said Louis in a harsh whisper.
"Everyone be quiet and get into the room, maybe it will pass if it doesn't see us," said Bill. No one paused we all did as we were told and quickly went into the room Louis had just come out of. I was last in so I shut the door and stood in front of it listening as the tank entered the hall with thunderous foot steps.
We all went dead quiet as it wandered around outside the door. I didn't want to mess with it and neither did the others apparently so I waited in front of the door listening for when it would be safe to move on and the tank passed.
I looked back at the others to see Francis in classic attack mode, Bill cool as a cucumber, Louis fidgeting ready for anything, and Zoey with a determined look on her face. Though the room was dark no lights on I could see them clear as day.
The heavy steps finally stopped and I could hear the ragged breathing of the tank as it stopped right in front of the door. I went stiff when I heard a sneeze come from behind me. As I turned to see Francis leaning into his elbow I mentally cursed my luck.
As if on cue the tank roared and the door was smashed open and I was staring right at the jolly giant. I was like a deer in headlights and I heard the screams of warning and panic as I saw the tank raise its massive arm as if in slow motion. Unfortunately time sped up in an instant and the arm lashed out at me thus propelling me through the air.
I watched as I flew past the others seeing shocked looks on their faces. It was brief however as I finally smashed through the window at the other end of the room and dropped two stories to the tarmac below. It was like falling through snowflakes except the snowflakes were glass and could cut you.
My back hit the ground hard but I felt no pain and I continued to just lay there looking at the window I was knocked through. I started to see the muzzle flashes and heard the sharp cracks of the weapons. It was surreal and seemed to be dulled down from the harsh reality that it was.
It didn't take a second thought they were dead there was no way they could kill that thing before it got them not when they were that close. I got to my feet and looked around ignoring the gunfire and screams no infected insight. Maybe they were afraid of the tank too.
I knew the general direction of where I was going so I started running away from the quickly diminishing sounds of battle. After about ten minutes of full-on sprinting the sounds were no more and all was quiet yet again. I didn't fell too guilty after all they could have made it. It was a slim chance sure but at least it made me fell better.
Anyway it all comes down to my survival anyway right? I shook my head abandoning the thoughts and concentrated on where I was. At least nothing felt out of place nothing broken or even sore, hell I wasn't even out of breath. However that would mean I'm becoming more like them which of course was not good.
Despite that fact I moved on to the important things my gear for example. Even after that fall my hunting rifle was miraculously still in fine condition and my shotgun was still in it's holster. I lost the med pack however and the bottle of booze had broken in my bag thus drenching my food.
After cleaning the bag of the shattered glass I was back to finding out where I was. Apparently I was on some kind of main road seeing as there were many car crashes scattered about all around.
If I remember right mercy hospital was only a few blocks from here. Too bad that there was a literal army of infected directly ahead of me. Lucky for me that they didn't notice me so if I was quiet I could slip right by them and into one of the apartment buildings right across from me.
With slow calm movements I carefully picked my way across the street to the doors leading into a very expensive looking complex. I eased open the door and once I was in I locked it behind me. I readied my hatchet to silently dispatch any infected that might be lurking in the building.
None were in sight at the moment so I went about searching for an elevator to take me up to the roof. A few short minutes of looking around and I found the elevator still in working order thank god. I got on board and punched the highest floor it would take me to.
A little claustrophobia took hold as the doors shut and then for no apparent reason so I started to nervously scratch that damn bite. As I was scratching as the motion of the elevator made my stomach a little uneasy.
Then I noticed that something was off so I looked down at the bite my hand still impulsively scratching it. At first everything looked in order until I noticed my missing fingernail as could be seen from the slight amount of blood coming from where it was once embedded.
I stopped scratching instantly my breath caught in my throat as I brought my right hand into my view and stared at the finger almost as if it was naked. It was then that I noticed the tingling of the other fingers so I decided to give it a test. I reached forward with my left hand and gripped the finger adjacent to the naked one I didn't even have to try at all the nail just seemed to come right out.
I was shocked and yet strangely amused maybe I was finally starting to lose my mind but I started to casually pull each and every fingernail out. By the end of it I was in hysterics maybe because of the infection or because I was just finally having that nervous breakdown that eluded me in the beginning of the infection.
So to try and stop myself from losing it even more than I already had I started smashing my head against the wall laughing all through the process. Even as my forehead split open and I felt my the hot crimson lifeblood start to pore out of me like an unholy fountain. After about the twentieth time I stopped and stood still the hysteria abated and lost in silence.
I bent down and picked up my hatchet which I had dropped in the process. As I did so I again took in a chilling sight my hand or hands to be correct seemed to have a good two and a half inches of what seemed like sharpened bone sticking out of the tips of my fingers. It looked like I had claws like that one infected that jumped me.
"Great I'm not only going to go insane I'm gonna look like a freak," I said grimly. As I spoke out loud something yet again felt off my teeth felt sharper.
"No, no I'm just being paranoid," I said and kept repeating even as I cut open my tongue on what used to be my rather flat front teeth. I tried to trick myself that it wasn't real even as I felt the sharpened tips of each non molar with my changed finger careful not to cut up my mouth with the sharp claws that sprouted out just moments ago.
When I finally concluded that my fears were becoming a reality the elevator doors opened with a ding. I was caught off guard by the infected man on the other side as he lunged at me while my hand was still felling around in my mouth. I dropped my hatchet as he tackled me into the back wall and slammed his fist into my gut.
It wasn't long until it became a brawl me striking out of instinct with balled up fists. I soon abandoned that tactic as I noticed that my claws were digging deeply into the palm of my hand. So I opened up my hand and swiped at the infected man who was now on top and pummeling me. It caught him in the jaw and with a disgusting crunch and sick rending of flesh his jaw literally went fly off.
The infected man stopped stupefied by the loss of his lower jaw and he stared at me and I could see something human in those milky white eyes for about a second. I took advantage of the slight pause and thrust my right hand claws first straight into his neck. Another crunch and sound of ripping flesh followed by arterial blood spray and within moments he went limp.
The tips of my claws had gone all the way through his neck and were sticking out of the back poking through the skin at the back of his neck. It took minimal effort to pull my hand back out and it was punctuated by fresh blood spraying out of the gaping wound I had inflicted with my bare hands. I stared down at my bloody hands and the crumpled and bloody body of the infected man.
It felt cathartic to kill with my bare hands almost as if it was as nature intended the adrenaline rush from that was better than anything I had felt before. Despite these feelings though one thought was repeating itself through my mind.
"What am I becoming," I said voicing my thoughts. It all lasted for about five minutes and I was snapped back to my senses by the gurgling death rattle of the soon to be completely dead infected man that I had more or less butchered. I picked myself up not bothering to clean the blood off my hands and I picked up my hatchet.
I walked into an empty hallway its original occupant now heading down to the first floor in a bloody heap. Again surrounded by silence and my own thoughts and for the first time I missed the others and their company. I've never been a people person but for the first time my mind registered just how alone I was in this world.
Even if our time was brief I still connected to the survivors even if only a little. I regretted leaving them behind like that I mean I could have gone back and tried to help instead I ran to save my own skin. It wouldn't matter now though in my current condition even if I met them again I would probably be shot.
That was assuming that I was even myself if I ever do meet them again. Hell I had claws and sharp teeth now and only god knows how I look. I don't think I could bear to see myself in a mirror so I didn't go searching for one. Unfortunately god has a sick sense of humor and I did see my reflection in and out of place mirror as I rounded a corner on my way to the stares.
I was a mess dried blood caked my jacket my face looked ragged and savage and my hands still bloody with claws clearly there to anyone who took a glance. My lips peeled back in disgust but that just made things worse as I saw my sharp almost animal-like teeth bloody of course courtesy of my still bleeding tongue and of course my eyes were still that inhuman amber.
I didn't want to stare at that face those eyes so I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and hid my face. I moved on down the hall to the left and through the door to the stairs. The roof wasn't that far up so my ascent took a considerably short amount of time. I exited the inside onto the roof and went to the edge to get a birds eye view on things.
I looked down upon the streets seeing hundreds of infected too many to have any hope of sneaking by which meant I had to come up with a plan B. After all I didn't want to stay here for the rest of the night and through tomorrow I need to get as close to any possible cure quickly. The building I was close to another building maybe ten feet apart at the most so I guess I'll just have to jump.
If I can get to the other buildings roof maybe I can find an alternate route to the hospital. So I put my hatchet in my pack and made sure my gear was secure then I proceeded to psych myself up to get the adrenaline flowing. I started at the other side of the roof I was on so I could get a running start.
I took off running as fast as I could as the ledge approached I readied myself to make the leap. My right foot reached the ledge and I pushed off the ledge and sailed through the air farther than a person should be able to. I was twenty feet above the roof of the other building so I braced myself for landing. About ten feet off the ground it seemed like I was on autopilot as instinct took over and I landed with the grace of a cat both feet planted on the roof.
I looked around to see that I had almost jumped right over the roof I was on landing about three feet from the ledge. I looked back stupefied the distance I jumped was over thirty-five feet insanely farther than I should be able to jump.
"It's getting worse," I said in a soft whisper not quite believing my own voice. I shook my head of the thought and went about the task at hand finding a the safest route possible to mercy. The sight of the streets still packed with infected didn't bode well for any progress I might be able to make on the ground.
I was just about ready to call it a night when the reality of the situation registered in my head. I jumped almost forty feet before so why couldn't I do it again the roofs were fairly close together so I might be able to leap frog my way to the hospital. I did a test jumping straight up into the air jumping about twenty feet straight up.
I was so shocked that I thought I was going to land flat on my ass but the new inhuman instincts took hold and guided my body to land just as graceful as I had before. After I got past the initial shock I focused on my objective so I walked up to the edge and crouched digging the balls of my feet into the ground and keeping myself from falling forward with my hands.
I pushed off the ground and went sailing straight through the air again just as far if not farther than last time and I stuck the landing on the roof of yet another building.
"Whoa," I whispered again disbelieving of the feat that I just accomplished with minimal effort. I looked back to see that I jumped about forty feet this time around landing on my feet right on the edge of the building I resided on now. I teetered on the edge for about ten seconds to find that my balance was phenomenal. At least all these freaky abilities gave me a major edge in a fight, now if only the price for them wasn't insanity then I just might consider keeping the infection in my blood.
However even if the infection hasn't taken effect as of yet I didn't want to press my luck to find out how long I could last. Not with my sanity at risk especially if there's some chance however small that there is a cure. I looked at my next obstacle the building across from the one I was on was taller than it which meant I had to jump straight up.
I studied the side of the building carefully to see some piping sticking from the side of it perfect for a foothold. I crouched and jumped straight up and landed without slipping on the round pipe. Again I jumped and reached the ledge grabbing it with both my hands and pulling myself up effortlessly.
As I got to my feet I noticed how strong I had really gotten I had just pulled my own body weight plus about thirty pounds of gear up over the ledge with my arms alone and nothing hurt. My muscles didn't burn they didn't even tingle there was no feeling of pain anywhere.
It was unnatural and wrong but it felt so right the thrill of it all. Whether that was the infection thinking for me or not I had no idea but I knew that I liked it the feeling of the air speeding past me the feeling of being weightless even if only for a sparse amount of seconds.
To think that I used to be afraid of heights too. I didn't know what to think about myself anymore everything about me was changing as the infection progressed. I had to get to that chopper to safety as fast as possible.
With those thoughts out of my head I looked around to get my bearings and surprise, surprise I saw said helicopter flying overhead to a nearby roof and land.
"But wait mercy is still a few blocks away," I said to myself.
"Well I guess I shouldn't question it when it was so close. The roof it landed on was across the street but I would just barely able to make the jump. Hopefully the pilot would see me while I was doing it otherwise I'd be shot without question. So I waited and watched getting some gloves out of my pack to cover up my hands and the claws that now sprouted from them.
The pilot got out of the chopper pistol in hand and walked around to the side that wasn't facing me to check something. I quickly took the opportunity to make the jump and sailed silently through the air landing on the edge of my mark without a sound. The pilot didn't even notice I looked around to see a door leading to the roof.
That was good it meant that I could easily lie about how I got up here I carefully walked around the chopper to him careful to keep my distance. Without warning he whipped around and pointed his pistol at me. I put my hands up and stopped in my tracks.
"Don't shoot!" I exclaimed in a rather panicked tone. He slowly lowered his pistol and examined me head to toe no doubt skeptical because of my appearance.
"You infected?" he questioned. I shook my head no thus blatantly lying to him. Good thing the bandage on my arm was concealed by my jackets sleeve and my gloves hid my hands from sight. Lucky my face was also concealed by the hood otherwise he probably wouldn't have believed me.
"How you get up here and more importantly how did you know I was here?" he questioned.
"I was sleeping in the building and I heard the helicopter land, I came up the stairs to check out the roof," I said lying through my teeth. He seemed to believe my story and put his pistol away nodding to me as a response.
"Your lucky you found me, I'm just stopping here to check the bird before I head off to pick up some people from mercy hospital," he said.
"There are other survivors?" I questioned.
"Yeah they contacted me recently from the roof of the hospital I'm due to pick them up in about five minutes once they contact me," he said.
I approached him to have him put his hand out to shake my own. I was about two feet away from him and took it in a strong shake staring down at it the entire time. It went on for a little to long and I was starting to get nervous because it was like I couldn't control myself.
Something at the back of my mind was pushing and it was starting to come through.
"Hey buddy can I have my arm back⦠Aghh WHAT THE FUCK," he screamed as I bit into his arm. I ripped a chunk of flesh from his arm as I pulled away. I snapped out of my trance as I saw his face register the truth of the situation.
I spit the bloody chunk out of my mouth with a look of horror on my face and his. Him from the fact that he was now infected and me because I had just ruined my one shot at the cure. The shock was gone from his face as he reached for his pistol.
I bolted and leaped of the roof onto the building next to us as he started to fire at me screaming profanities as he saw firsthand what I really was. The gunfire abated as I got over the ledge of the higher building and he lost sight of him. After a minute or two of listening to him curse as he finished his inspection ever vigilant should I make a reappearance.
I heard the rotors of the chopper start up and soon it rose up ten feet above my level facing away from me and toward mercy. I don't know why I jumped I told myself it was because I was desperate and wanted the cure but I can't shake the feeling it was because I liked how his flesh tasted. Despite the reason I hit my mark and grabbed onto one of his landing skids my weight didn't seem to make a difference thankfully.
I pulled myself up hanging onto the door of the chopper and standing on the skid crouching low hoping he wouldn't notice. Lucky for me he didn't seem to instead he just kept focused on his task at hand getting whoever made it to mercy out of here. I could hear him above the rotors cursing his luck and me.
It wasn't the first time I was called a monster but this time I really was so it really made an impact. After about five minutes mercy came into view and I was in for a rather big surprise.
Ok I'm gonna end it here seems like and good spot not really a cliffhanger if you ask me. Hope you enjoyed next chapter will come out soon till then viva la vida.
