Suffering is all everything is now. Just pure, dark suffering.
He laid on his side on the ground. His head pounding and skin slowly paling, as he could feel his own blood draining from him to stain the cold earth.
Fuck everything hurts...
Francis could hear them coming in the distance. The infected, screaming and still in pursuit of them.
It never ends.
The biker cracked his eyes open. Groaning softly to see Beth on his right desperately fumbling through her bag for any medical supplies and spluttering to herself.
"You're gonna be ok Francis. You're going to be fine j-just hang on..."
Francis' exhausted eyes fluttered half-shut for a moment before lifting them and settled his weak gaze to his left, where Kayla was. Her eyes were full of tears, as she stared in disbelief at the large, devastating wounds all across his chest and stomach. Revealing intestines, muscles and parts of his rib cage.
With the rest of the team ahead, they weren't sure how much further, a Hunter-a big one-had seen and tried to attack the two young sisters. Exploding from the shadows of the trees causing them to scatter. With both out of ammo now, it advanced on the pair. One swipe from this thing would easily kill them.
Francis went to shoot at it again. But his gun clicked, signifying he was out of bullets too.
Despite the pain in his leg, he had thrown it down; he charged with the machete in hand now and shoulder barged the special away from the girls. It screeched and a fight between them erupted.
It was strong, but Francis was not going to let it hurt them. He sliced into the thing multiple times with it trying to tackle and slash him open, cutting through its arms and stabbing its chest; it dodged whenever it could. Mostly when he tried striking the Hunter's head or neck.
Francis drove the machete in the special's arm. It grabbed ahold of the handle, hissing inches from him. He tried pulling away whilst it clawed his neck, leaving marks across the side. He couldn't see or hear what the girls were doing. Probably trying to find a way to get it away from him. It was so close and loud that it was all he was focused on.
Their attacker thrashed away, yanking the machete out violently and chucked it far across the land before jumping at him. He had nothing else other than bare hand to hand combat now; Francis was able to land powerful blows. He went to grab the thing however it bit his wrist. The large man recoiled and swung with his other. Until it happened.
The special pounced a third time, successfully pinning and started to gore him. He tried to keep the swipes back and the girls raced over to assist him, but he screamed to stay away.
The Hunter eventually tore through his clothes and stomach wickedly, slicing his flesh open with ease before working on ripping his chest apart.
Francis bellowed in unbearable pain. He could hear Beth screaming too until Kayla ran towards them again. The Hunter saw her coming, and rabidly went to swipe at her but Francis had caught its wrist.
"Your target's me fucker!" He spat.
The Hunter snarled with its full attention on him again and continued its assault. Kayla hollered, trying to shove and kick it off him repeatedly, but it was as if it wasn't fazed at all. Beth also ran shouting for the others and looked around for them. Where the hell was everyone?
In the heat of adrenaline she couldn't think clearly right then. Suddenly, Kayla remembered, and grabbed one of her knives. She quickly rose and drove it deeply into the Hunter a number of times, causing it to squeal when a gunshot rang through the air. Narrowly missing the monster.
Francis watched as the infected and his sister both looked to see where it came from. Another shot, followed by Zoey's voice. The bullet caught its shoulder making it scream and leap off, nearly knocking Kayla off her feet as it vanished back into the woods.
And this is where he laid.
Kayla trailed her gaze off the heavily deep wounds, allowing their eyes to meet. As the group ran for them from wherever they came in one direction, with the horde drawing closer from the other. Beth pulled him a little on his back and placed a hand towel she retrieved over the injuries in a pathetic attempt to stop the bleeding.
"Please hang on!"
Francis wheezed. "You're in...denial hun...you...know I'm finished. I ain't gonna make it..."
"Yes you will!"
Kayla went to speak, but Francis stopped her. "...Gotta get going you two..."
"We're not leaving you!"
Tears cascaded down the older sister's face, neck and chest as more blurred her vision when Beth yelled this.
She went to grab something else from the bag when Francis weakly tugged on her sleeve, earning her attention. Her face also drenched with tears.
He shook his head wearily. "...Ya have to now. Lo...look at me," his voice was distant and tired, as Kayla held his other hand. "I'm not pulling through this. How can I?"
Beth looked at the wounds again, the towel now entirely soaked in blood. There was no way anyone could live from this, or to successfully stitch the injuries up.
She let out another silent sob. Francis reached up with strained effort and tried to wipe the tears from her cheeks, until agony he didn't know was possible screamed through his shredded body.
"Ngh!...Augh!...Hah...God this fuckin' hurts..." Francis hissed through gritted red teeth, his eyes squeezed shut as he slightly turned back on his side. His wheezes faded into a weak and dark wet cough as he did so.
Silent moments passed until Kayla quietly spoke up.
"Francis, I-I..." she wept, voice cracking, before he weakly squeezed her hand. He wheezed softly, his glazed over eyes half-lidded again. "I love you both so much...yo...came so far fr...wh..."
His breathing started to slow as he talked. Beth looked over his body in horror as tears streamed down her face again. They didn't notice the rest of the group stood around them. Preparing for the horde and watching the three in sorrow some feet away.
"Guys!...We have t-we have to go!..." Ian cried in fear and sadness "they're coming!"
He watched as both looked at Ian, over to where the charging infected which were now in sight were; then slowly, Kayla placed her head and arms on his shoulder, weeping uncontrollably. Using what little strength he had left, Francis tiredly placed his arms on her back and rubbed it gently.
"Go on," he whispered. She lifted herself to look at him again as Beth withered in wracking cries. "Kick this apocalypse's ass for me..."
Kayla shook her head, and he smiled at her defiance. "I-I-I caaaaan't!..." The last word dragged out as another sob escaped her, gripping his hand tighter.
"Yeah you can. You've showed me. We had a good run...you're gonna make it..."
"Fra-n...cis..."
The biker inhaled a shaking breath. "...It's ok..." he quietly comforted.
He could now hear bullets firing and Louis' and Keirstan's voices desperately screaming to hurry, with two other figures joining the girls' sides. Amber and Jordan quickly collected their bag, knife and empty firearms, then helped them to their feet. Resulting them to cry even harder. If that was possible. Francis' hand slipped out of his sister's and dropped to his side as both looked down at him, tears welling up in Amber's eyes now.
Francis took another deep raspy breath. "...Take care of 'em..."
Jordan stared into his eyes for some solemn seconds, and silently nodded.
They began to hurry away from the dying man, until Kayla pushed away, ran back to him and dropped to her knees by Francis again. Amber cried out her name and followed, to pull her back up, but she immediately struggled against her.
"No! Let me go!...Francis!..." She wailed, voice cracking again in heartbreaking anguish. Her vision blurred over once more, as she weakly reached an arm out for him.
"Kayla! I'm so sorry! We can't!"
He felt a burning in his eyes hearing and seeing them this way. 'I'm gonna miss you kiddos too.'
Jordan held Beth against him while Amber was able to drag her fighting sister back to the fleeing, crying group. Some shot a last tearful look at him. Including Bill. He stared at him then turned away, squeezing his wet eyes shut in remorse.
Francis watched them grow smaller the further they ran. Their figures becoming fuzzy, his face calm but sad. "...Bye...guys..."
He closed his eyes again. The infected ran pass him like he wasn't even there. Soon afterwards, he heard the vicious, yet soft growl from a Hunter over the horde. Most likely the same one. Then he felt its sharp clawed hand resting on his shoulder. The talons kneading his skin.
…
All had faded before him. It was quiet. Nothing but black. It was peaceful.
But then...he could hear...something.
Something unclear.
Next he felt a poking sensation. It caught him from the void he felt himself falling in, and whatever he was hearing was suddenly clearer. His body twitched and his eyes moved before he unlidded them, A figure was within his blurry slit of vision now. It shifted as if eager for him to respond better.
"-Nk he's waking up..."
Francis clenched his eyes shut again, lip twitching, then slowly opened them once more. Beth was hovering over him and her face brightened from a worrisome, grim expression seeing he was awake. A gaping smile crossed her features, from the other side Kayla sat in a chair reacting the same way. "You're awake! Thank God!"
"Finally!"
"Shut up Kayla! You're ok, holy shit…"
Speechless, he looked at them stunned. Mumbling a noise he went to sit up, noting he was resting in a bed in an old withered room. The walls and ceiling were cement, which were stained with age. And his shotgun rested next to him. He stopped, resting on his elbows and flinched from sharp pain and deep aches throughout; then Kayla moved to push him back down by his shoulders as he could hear Zoey's voice call to them outside the space. "He's up?"
Kayla answered with a 'no you're hearing things', now sitting on the bed while Beth reached for her water bottle from the floor and screwed it open. "Easy. Here, drink this." She handed it to him, but Francis declined, shaking his head and pushing it away. Beth took his hand and pressed the metal container against his palm, he silently blinked but didn't refuse a second time. He swished it around, it was full. Wait full? As he recalled, they didn't have much water left. No questions asked he gulped it down, the cool liquid soothing his raw throat. "Louis made a fire, we boiled snow and ice. If you're wondering. Also your face is fine." She added when he massaged his cheek worryingly.
He handed it back nodding, then cringed again and looked down at himself. Francis lifted his ragged shirt, finding bandages and ripped clothing across his abdomen and chest. He also found a makeshift splint and cast tightly covering most of his leg when he pulled worn comforters away. He carefully sat up as Zoey, with her arms crossed then appeared in a doorway followed by Louis, Bill and Jordan. Their faces also lightening seeing he was awake. He stared back stupefied.
"Hey dude, how you feeling?" Louis asked warmly.
"Probably still pretty damn sore." Bill guessed. They stepped inside as they spoke while Francis remained silent for a little longer. Finally, he quietly answered. "...I'm-m...achy." He looked at a dusty window. Snow dressed the frame outside.
"We're in a shelter." Zoey said as if she read his mind while Jordan wandered over to Beth. Guilt was etched in his features. The other three's voices wafted from where they came. "Do you want anything, like water or a little something to eat?" Zoey offered, resting her hands on the bed frame as Bill leaned against the window. Francis shook his head, trying to ignore the slight dizziness he felt. "I've had some water but thanks…" he trailed off and gazed at his sisters, then noticed Kayla wearing something important.
"You've got my vest?" He curiously murmured.
"Oh no." Beth sighed seeing her face fall. "Uh-uh. No," Kayla held an index finger up. "We got swamped, you got hurt. The others went ahead so the two of us stayed with you because you were too slow," she began excitedly, and pointed her finger at him with a lazy expression. He listened, squinting an eye at that but remained silent. "Since you dislocated your leg. We were out in the open and this Hunter on steroids came barreling out of the forest after us. Then you got quick and were on it. After that!..." She suddenly spaced out. "What happened next?..." She eyed the ceiling thoughtfully.
"You-"
She held her hand out. "Jordan! No one asked you!...Oh yes! We were trying to get it away from you, but were afraid to use our melees 'cause you were fightin' so damn violently we could've hit you instead. We were thrown away from several tries of pulling or pushing it back." She reenacted some actions while speaking. "It nearly went ape shit on you when finally, it knocks you the hell out." Kayla slapped her hands together to emphasize the last word.
She started to settle, thinking of what she saw. "It either hit your head right, or when it took you down you bumped it. I'm not sure. Everything was happening too fast. We started hacking it up, attempting to fight it away. But it just wouldn't stop. Soon the others came back when we were able to get it off you at last. I distracted and Beth killed it. After we were shouting your name but you weren't responsive. So Louis and Bill half-carried, half-dragged you out of there. We could also hear the Tank had returned. But we were able to avoid it till we found this place and fixed you up. Then I took your vest." She adjusted the sleeveless jacket which was far too big on her and glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"Praise the LORD the vest wasn't ruined. Wait no, there's a tear here. 'N here…" she pointed at multiple spots.
Francis watched calmly. "Not like you've robbed me of them billions of times before or anything." He reminded.
"What are you going off about?" Keirstan also walked in with Amber and Ian; assembling everyone in the room. "Just telling him what happened." Bill replied. "You were out for a few hours or so. As said, your leg was dislocated; popping it back in place was a pain in the ass. It'll probably take a day or two at most for you to walk comfortably again. That Hunter clawed you up good but they're not too severe thankfully."
"Two days?" Francis repulsed, his body tensing, "we need to go, or we'll miss the evac."
"You are injured and you won't get far with how your leg is right now."
"I'll drag it for all I care we can't stay here!"
Louis stepped forward holding his hands up with some of the team reacting in silence to themselves. Although Zoey, Bill, Louis and the siblings weren't surprised he'd react this way. "The army's gonna be there for another few days or so. According to their schedule; as the map says it's not going to take us long to reach them. You really need to rest. Not only will it put stress on you but on all of us if you don't."
He sneered, "'another few days or so.' They could leave sooner, think 'bout that?"
"Come on."
"Well?" He held his own hands out to the sides riled, "they've left us once before. And we watched them go. They were gone when the kids tried to get outta here. Hell they probably left already! Those fucking assholes!"
"Enough." Beth pushed his arm down and he looked at her. Louis rubbed his face and eyes, Keirstan and Ian snuck out of the room uncomfortably. "Enough. We'll get there. We will ok? You're tough I know but even you have your limits. Arguing isn't going to settle anything. You need to relax."
"You can't not be worried."
"I am. Believe me I am. But I don't want to stress over it either. Just take your mind off it for now, give yourself a day or a day-half and see how you are then. Alright?" Beth gazed at a scowling Bill, who returned the look. Then stiffly nodded. Francis grimaced and turned away before his face scrunched up and he laid back down. "Fuckin' Hunters…"
"See?"
Bill walked across the room, soon they all were leaving to escape the heated atmosphere. Though Jordan and Amber stayed put gazing down at the floor. "I'm sorry," he mumbled shamefully, causing the four to look at him. "I thought...you were still behind us."
"I thought they were too." Amber said.
Jordan went on. "We didn't...I didn't…"
"It's fine." Beth soothed. "Things happen. There was a lot going on."
Amber shifted uneasily remembering how psychotic the attack was. How they all were. It was something she would never get used to, and they were going to get worst.
Jordan inhaled. "I'm...gonna leave you guys alone." He announced weakly. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm sorry…" he muttered again, glancing at Francis. They watched him leave. "If you need anything, just holler." Amber stated. She too departed the room. The three were silent for a long time.
"That was close." Kayla finally broke the quiet. Francis turned to look at her, seeing exactly how stressed the incident made her. How it made both of them. The mixed emotions of fraught and angst deeply set in their bodies and faces. He didn't know how to respond, so he tried with the first thing that came to mind.
"...Was it really?"
It was ridiculous to ask. It even sounded ridiculous, and the question made him feel idiotic. They could tell Francis regretted this immediately, and wished he could take it back. Of course it was close. The fucking thing was right on him. That Hunter would have gutted him alive like it had in his dream…
A dream that felt so real to him. The pain. The anguish. The tears and sorrow. All of it felt so damn physically real, he was sure it was actually happening. Until he woke up. Now he will have scars to remind him in reality it nearly came true.
"Yeah." She replied breathlessly, not returning the gaze. Kayla's body language expressed disquiet, fidgeting where she was. "I know they stop once something's dead. And you looked dead. But that one kept attacking you..."
He was now tracing his vision around on the patterns of the comforters. Beth rested her chin in her palm just as quiet; as Keirstan called to Louis in the other area for something. Soon footfall was stomping across the floor.
"Did...anyone see what's making that weird screaming?" Was his next question.
Beth hummed while their sister hesitantly shook her head in reply. "I thought I saw something darting between the trees. But it could've been anything. It was tall, so it may have been a Smoker." Beth recalled.
"Huh. Was there anything weird about it?"
"Not that I could make out. Like we said there was a lot going on and all I saw it was tall and it kept its distance."
He nodded silently. "Thank you for helping me." He said, taking the water bottle from Beth again.
Kayla blew between her lips and looked at the doorway. "No, you were doing so well on your fucked up leg it was amazing."
Francis rubbed his eye and brought the bottle to his lips, watching her the whole time. "Oh shut up."
"I ain't lying!" She assured sarcastically, placing one hand against her chest. "We made that all up I promise." A snicker escaped her as Beth shook her head and thinned her mouth. "Also, those gloves of yours were gettin' nasty."
He stared at Kayla suspiciously, "what did you do with them?"
"Threw 'em in the fire."
"Why?!" Everyone heard him holler. "How am I suppose to keep my freaking hands warm?"
"Boy," Beth started. "One, they were fingerless. I doubt they were doing a good job. Two. We have an extra pair. They were nasty and old. 'Course we were gonna get rid of them."
Amber sighed at the ruckus, setting her can of beans down and getting up from her spot by the fire. "I'm going to check if they want anything to eat." She wandered towards where they were. "Don't get jumped!" Keirstan exclaimed after her.
"I'll try my best." She looked inside about to ask if they were hungry, and stopped when she saw Francis trying to grab his vest back repeatedly. Kayla stood by smugly holding it just out of his reach. "You want this back?"
He tightened his lips and sighed through his nose before looking her up and down. "Goddamn it you little shit!"
She threw it over her shoulders again as Beth laughed. "Karma's a bitch when ya have a little version of yourself."
"Help me Beth!"
"I ain't helping your broken ass." She flipped her hair as he turned to her incredulously, "my ass isn't broken."
"It will be when I'm!" She pointed at herself with intimidating eyes. "Through with you!" She then pointed at him.
Amber placed a fist by her mouth chortling hard with Ian calling out a confused question from behind her. "Ambee! Would you like to torment with us?" Beth invited when seeing her friend.
"No," Francis pointed at her. "I can hardly handle these two."
Amber raised her hands in defense, "I understand you sanity issues."
"Oh I'm Francis Rivers," Kayla mimicked his voice and actions. "I'm indestructible and hates everything that moves or..." she raced away when Francis hobbled out of the bed, discomfort showing in his face from the condition of his leg. It hit the floor and he hopped after her. "Get over here!"
"The hell's going on?" Zoey walked over in wonder, holding a lantern she found for light.
She peered in to investigate, finding him wobbling after the two with booming steps but couldn't keep up. He eventually lost his balance and flailed his arms trying to grab on anything but fell over, passing them all and slamming hard on his back with a mighty pained yell.
"That was graceful." Amber crossed her arms. Zoey covered her own mouth, flinching at his agony as if she could feel it too.
They stared down at him. Kayla suddenly looked bored as Beth pointed over his face. "Get your broken ass back in bed! Who said you could prance around like a princess?"
"That didn't sound very princess-like!" Louis stated with a grin. Jordan closed his eyes and laughed lightly through his nose. It helped lighten his mood a little.
"Well it was so there!" Beth yelled back, as Francis fake-sobbed where he laid and stared at the ceiling. "Why me God, why do you hate me so much?"
Bill snorted softly at the noise. He turned back to the window he was smoking a cigarette out of, looking into the woods with a suspicion in his eyes. Something else was out there. They heard it, and it was close. He swore he saw it on their way here; stalking them through the trees, watching them carry the unconscious biker inside to care for him. Whatever it is, it was probably looking at him right now. Under the cover of the forest and growing darkness. The daunt of not knowing what it is chilled him more than the cold did.