A/N: Thanks so much to The-Lady-Isis, skitterish, Jovianokamigirl, Nightwatcher'sunknowngirl, Flightgirl, and Churnok for actually reviewing on the last chapter. So this new update is dedicated to all of you. Thanks so much for the feedback! :)
Chapter Six: A Surprising Houseguest
My heart slammed painfully against the inside of my ribs, and my breath came out laboring and panicky. This was what I had always feared would happen, my worst nightmare. The infected zombies were inside the house, and it wasn't likely that I could beat all of them. They would tear me to shreds with their claws first, and it was unlikely that I would be able to heal very well from that, even with my powers.
How could I have been so stupid? I'd known what would happen if I ever left the house unsecured at night for a whole year now. And now, just because I'd had a broken nose and a few measly injuries, I'd forgotten to lock up behind myself. This was the kind of mistake that could cause me to lose my life, the thing I'd been guarding so preciously for all this time. And now Jake, my new dog, was also involved. If I died, so would he.
I couldn't let that happen.
I leapt to my feet, clutching the gun tightly in both hands. I stared down at my knuckles, which I absently noticed were very white, and took a deep breath. I could do this. Never mind that there were probably hundreds of savage creatures that were lusting to tear me to shreds lurking out in the garage. I wasn't about to let them all kill me, and that was that. Now I just had to convince the infected of this, which would probably not be the easiest thing in the world.
The door leading in from the garage rattled ominously, and I backed closer to where Jake huddled behind the couch. I bit down so hard on my bottom lip that I actually tasted blood. Hopefully this wouldn't end up being my dramatic last stand. I wanted to survive tonight, if it was at all possible. I glanced frantically over my shoulder, checking the entrance to the stairs, which was located directly behind me. If I had to, I could always make a break for it to the top floor. It might be possible to barricade myself in one of the bedrooms.
A sound like crashing thunder erupted, and Jake let out a bloodcurdling yelp of fear, struggles to dig through the floor suddenly increasing even more. I whipped my head back around to face the coming threat, and saw three creatures standing in the doorway across from me. Their pasty white chests were heaving up and down, and blue veins stood out prominently from their nearly transparent skin. The orbs glistening from their faces were cruel and cold, showing no emotion whatsoever. The one in the lead snarled, the sound echoing through the horrifying silence, then lunged forward to meet me.
A choking sound managed to tear itself from my throat, and I stumbled backwards so that I was pressed firmly against the wall. Everything seemed to be in slow motion, so I assumed that what was left of my speed had kicked in. I cocked off the safety, preparing to fire, then narrowed my eyes in on the targets. I quickly inhaled, as I'd been taught when I was younger by my Uncle Barry, then raised the rifle so that it was pointed at the first creature that was looming up in my vision. I tightened my finger on the trigger, then squeezed it hard. A bullet exploded from the end of the gun, the recoil forcefully shoving the gun back up against me.
I watched with a detached feeling as the bullet slammed into the infected, then everything seemed to speed back up. It jerked in pain, howling, then dropped motionlessly to the rug. Blood started leaking from the hole I had put through its chest, which caused a grim sort of satisfaction to blossom inside me. There was one less zombie monster in the world, thanks to me.
I couldn't dwell on this for very long, as the other two were right behind the first one. I quickly pulled the trigger twice more, downing both of them. One of the bullets went all the way through, slamming into the wall behind the creature as it fell.
It wasn't as like I was already safe, though. A whole sea of ugly creatures was swarming through the door leading from the garage, headed right for me. It seemed like every single one in the entire city was here, ready to get a piece of me. And Jake. I swallowed back the bile at this horrible thought, then started firing again. I kept my shots calm and steady, though my hands kept shaking wildly. I knew that if I wasted any of my bullets, this wouldn't end well.
Though I already had my doubts about exactly how this was going to end. The odds weren't really swinging in my favor.
My eyes darted around wildly as I fired again, and the butt of the gun slammed into my forearm once more. Two of the infected had stopped to gnaw hungrily at one of the downed corpses, having smelled the scent of blood that was heavy on the air. I watched them claw mindlessly at each other, fighting over the bloody scraps. Why, I didn't really know. There was plenty for them, layering the floor of the room.
A sharp movement from the corner of my eye suddenly registered with me, and I turned towards it. An infected was aiming for the other end of the couch, trying to get to Jake. A white-hot rage exploded inside of me. No one was touching my dog! I aimed again, and shot the bullet right through the side of the zombie's skull. It dropped like a stone, life instantly draining from its unmoving body. Jake whined helplessly, and I could see him shaking and shuddering with fear.
Yet another of the creatures, hungry growls shaking its pasty body, threw itself carelessly at me. Its sharp claws were extended, waiting to rip through my flesh and tear it to ribbons. My finger pulled backwards, and a bullet shoved its way through the thing's chest. My aim was actually pretty well, despite my shaking hands. The shakes were starting to get even worse, as more and more of the creatures poured into the house. They were endless.
And they were completely destroying the inside of the house, the house that had belonged to my aunt and uncle. I almost couldn't stand it. Pain stabbed through my chest as I thought of loosing this place, the last memory that I had left of the family that I had lost.
I pulled back on the trigger for what felt like the hundredth time, and was horrified when nothing at all happened. I tried again, but no bullets exploded their way from the barrel of the rifle. I tried one more time for good measure, but still nothing. The gun was apparently out of bullets. "Damn it!" I cursed violently, despair coming alive inside me as I realized that my lifeline, the one thing keeping me alive, was completely used up. And I didn't exactly have time to refill the thing, seeing how I was in the middle of the battle for my life. I had to get upstairs. It was my only chance at managing to survive the night.
Swinging the useless weapon like a baseball bat, it crashed into the side of a looming infected's head. It fell like a downed tree, blood spurting from the deep wound. "Jake!" I shouted loudly, moving to make for the stairs. I swung the rifle again, crashing it into another zombie. The dog didn't move from his hunched position behind the couch, and I cursed again. He was obviously too scared to come out, and he didn't exactly know to come when called yet, as I had just called him Jake aloud once before.
A creature reached out and clawed at my ankle, slicing through the skin, and I cried out in pain. The cry turning into a growl of rage, I swung the makeshift bat into its head, taking it and the one behind it down. I dodged another monster, heading towards the couch.
"Jake!" I reached into the small space, aiming to pick him up and carry him to safety. He growled, brown eyes terrified, and snapped viciously at my hand. I yelped, jerking both hands back, then felt another pair of sharp teeth sink into my arm. Whirling around, I kicked out at the creature as hard as I could. It fell over with a roar, snarling.
Not bothering to call my dog again, I wrapped both arms around him and jerked him roughly out from the hiding place. I didn't waste time on being careful with him, staggering with his weight. He bit down on my bare arms savagely, struggling and clawing as he tried to get free. "Trust me, buddy, I'm doing this for your own good," I grunted, out of breath. I jumped towards the staircase, trying to ignore the pain as my dog attacked me, movements full of pure terror.
I dropped Jake on the fourth step, and he scrambled up the carpeted steps, shaking like a helpless leaf caught in the wind. I started after him, watching as he vanished into the bedroom at the top of the stairs, then a weight landed painfully in the center of my back. I went down hard, losing my balance, already feeling something sharp stabbing at me and tearing my shirt even more. I went rolling down the stairs like a log, kicking as I tried to loose my passenger.
The zombie lost its grip and stopped at one of the steps, unmoving, while I fell the rest of the way down. I landed at the bottom of the staircase, whole body screaming in agony, and found myself unable to move for a few seconds. I was thankful that the living room was carpeted, or I would have had a heck of a lot of a more painful landing.
A creature grasped at one leg, and I kicked out with the said appendage wildly. Rolling with the movement, I tossed the infected away from me and staggered to my feet. I swayed dizzily, nearly dropping back to my knees, and saw the same infected coming back at me. Grabbing at my rifle again with numb fingers, I stuck out with all the strength that I possessed. The thing went down with a croak, blood soaking the carpet beneath it.
As I turned to run back up the stairs, my eyes went past the hordes of monsters and landed on the small table beside the doorway of the kitchen. Several pictures and knickknacks that had belonged to Aunt Iris were placed decoratively there, and somehow hadn't been shattered yet. My gaze zeroed in on the middle photo, surrounded by an expensive golden frame. It was of my aunt and uncle and I, taken when I had been about nine. I had been looking particularly annoyed at the moment, having been caught by surprise at my birthday party. I had never liked having my picture taken. Resting beside it was an unframed photo, taken of Linda when we had first begun dating. It was the only one that I actually had of her.
Swallowing hard, I turned and raced towards the table. I couldn't just leave either of those pictures there to be destroyed by these things. They both meant so much to me, especially the only visual memory that I had left of Linda. I had to get them, even if it meant the death of me. I could only hope that this wouldn't be the case.
Swinging the rifle like a machete, I made my way as fast as I could towards the small table. The sea of infected closed in around me, blocking the only way back towards the staircase. I inhaled deeply, my lungs feeling like they were closing up, and dodged a reaching pair of claws. Reaching my destination, I grabbed frantically at both photos. I bit down on one side of Linda's photo, holding it firmly between my teeth. I used my free hand to clutch at the frame of Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris' picture.
My eyes widened as I whirled back around to face the sea of infected. There were at least a hundred of them crowded into the small living room, and all of them seemed to have my impending doom on their minds. At least none of them seemed to be interested in going up the stairs after Jake; they would probably take care of that after I died.
The closest of the infected, a fairly large guy, tossed his body over mine. The rifle was torn from my grasp, becoming lost in the oncoming crowd. I choked, trying to gasp in air around Linda's picture, and held onto the framed photo with both hands. Deciding that I really had no other choice, I crushed it down onto the thing's head. Glass shattered loudly, and it dropped like a stone, turning into a deadweight that pinned my legs to the ground.
I reached out desperately with one hand, and threaded my fingers through the carpet. Groaning with the pain radiating through the arm, I pulled myself out from the creature, barely missing getting my head bitten off by another infected. I staggered into a standing position, jumping to one side with just a touch of speed. I fumbled for the rifle, feeling better just holding it.
I shot a wild glance towards the stairs, but there were at least twenty of them between me and my ultimate destination. Inhaling deeply, I tried to make my voice come out strong, despite the photo blocking most of the sound. "Who's ready to get some?" Almost all of them reacted to my voice, except for the ones hungrily attacking their fallen buddies. They froze, staring at me with savage and cold looks, then surged forward as one.
Me and my big mouth. Brandishing the empty rifle like a club, I waited for them all to come to me. I swung it as hard as I could, throwing it against the seemingly unstoppable force coming against me. My arm moved just a little too fast, a blur of color to even my own eyes, and a joyless smirk twisted my lips. At least some of my powers came back when I needed them. Let's see how they like a taste of the Fastest Man Alive, I thought grimly, then carelessly jumped forward into the swarm. I didn't really care if I died or not at this point. What did I have to live for?
I couldn't keep track of how many of the things I knocked over, drawing blood when I whacked the rifle sharply against their bald heads. More cruel satisfaction was forming inside me as I watched them fall by my own hands. The faces of Shayera, John, Bats, Supes, J'onn, and Diana flashed past my eyes, along with Linda and everyone else that I had ever known. Everyone that these horrible things had taken from me. I was getting my revenge, and I was loving every moment of it.
Yet another infected jumped at me, pale skin glistening in the light from the ceiling fan. I started to attack this one like I had all the others, then froze in horror. I stumbled backwards, stomach twisting and lurching. I tasted bile in the back of my throat, and my head was very suddenly spinning. Uncle Barry stared back at me with an animalistic look on his changed face, showing his yellowed fangs as he eyed me for a moment.
Memories exploded through my head. Uncle Barry taking me to softball games. Buying me presents for my birthday. Teaching me about my new powers. Watching the news with me when Kid Flash was shown. Acting so proud of me, always.
My back brushed up against another infected, and a startled gasp tore itself from my throat, causing me to nearly drop Linda's picture. I shook my head, trying to clear the cloudy daze that had ruthlessly attacked it. I was also suddenly very aware of the aches and pains throughout my body, and the blood trickling profusely from a wound above my left eyebrow.
I had to get out of here. I couldn't kill my own uncle, even if he wasn't really the same man that he had been. I just couldn't. Not with all the memories I still had of him, not after all he had done for me throughout my life.
I turned and shoved my way towards the stairs, ignoring the claws and teeth piercing my skin as I brushed past the infected. They were even wilder than when they had first got there, tasting the scent of my spilled blood on the air. I threw myself onto the first step, then stumbled upwards, taking them two at a time. A clammy hand brushed against my back, but I whirled and slammed it away with the rifle.
Finally reaching the top of the steps, heart pounding and feeling like it had taken an eternity to reach my destination, I tossed my body at the doorway where Jake had disappeared into earlier. Letting the photos and gun slip from my fingers towards the ground, I spun to face the doorway again. My eyes widened as I took in the sheer number of creatures racing up the stairs towards me. There were so many of them. How could a mere door keep them all out? This was hopeless.
Determined to try anyway, I reached for the door and slammed it closed. Fumbling with one sweaty hand, I turned the lock with a loud click. Pressing my back up against the door, I stared frantically around the small and dark room. Seeking gaze landing on the bed, I left my post and jumped towards it. I fought to ignore the bloodcurdling sounds of the infected clawing at the other side of the door, wrapping both hands around the footboard of the bed.
Using all of the strength actually left in my weakened body, I tugged the bed forward. As I did this, I saw Jake huddled motionlessly against the dresser, eyes pressed closed. Muscles straining, I gritted my teeth tightly together and lugged the bed up against the door. I shoved it until it was pressed tightly against it, barricading it securely. Now I would be safe during the night, unless some of them managed to get through the wood. Then both Jake and I would be doomed.
I took several deep and cleansing breaths, concentrating only on the feeling of my lungs inflating then deflating. I was safe. It was going to be okay. I would live to see the next day, then I could take care of killing the rest of the monsters inhabitating my home. Something to look forward to.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the horror of the past few minutes, seeing it imprinted against the backs of my eyelids. And there would be even more left for in the morning, reserved for the other things downstairs. I slid down the end of the bed, feeling tears pricking the backs of my eyelids. A single tear escaped, trickling down my face.
Why was I cursed to this horrible existence, the only man left alive in a race of bloodthirsty killers? Was it my destiny to kill those that had once been as human as myself, to hear their dying screams and shrieks every time I tried to sleep? Would I one day die, only to be torn to shred by the infected instead of buried?
Broken sobs shook my shoulder, and a choking sound bubbled up from my throat. I couldn't even really feel the pain coursing through me anymore. I was just so tired, tired of all this grotesque horror that plagued me every single day…
Something rustled loudly in the corner, the sound of something brushing against another object, and my heart stopped. Jake was against the dresser, and I knew that he wouldn't have moved again so soon. We weren't alone in here. Something else was in here with us. Another infected, ready to lunge and tear my throat out.
I involuntarily stopped breathing, unable to keep it up. Quivering with fear, I reached out slowly with one hand, fumbling silently for the rifle that I had abandoned. If I was going down, I was going down fighting. My numb fingers closed around the cool butt of the rifle, its touch reassuring.
Inhaling once more, possibly the last time I would ever take a breath, I forced my eyes open and stumbled to my feet. Crushing my lips together, I forced the rifle to point towards the threat. My hands shook so hard that I could barely keep it steady. I squinted, trying to see through the murky darkness.
The shadowy figure standing calmly across from me stepped closer, movements exaggeratedly slow. "Easy now," came the strangely familiar voice, the figure holding up both hands like he was trying to calm me down. "Not that a bullet could actually kill me, mind you, but getting shot is a horrible nuisance." The figure's face suddenly became clear to my eyes, revealing a black beard and dark eyes.
My mouth gaped open as I took him in, ears burning with the sound of another human voice besides my own. The rifle slipped from my limp fingers. Surely I was dreaming. This couldn't be possible. "Vandal Savage?" I blurted out in shock, legs feeling like they might give out.
"I believe that it was my name the last time I checked," the immortal stated, acting as though legions of monsters weren't currently attacking the door of the room we were hiding inside. "But I'm not exactly acquainted with you. Am I correct in assuming that you're Flash, Wally West? The files I checked seemed certain, but perhaps I have the wrong address."
I shook my head numbly. Of all the people to be alive, why did it have to be him?
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