CHAPTER 4

I was absolutely terrified. I put my dining room table and an armchair in front of my door, and drew my curtains tightly shut. I kept my television on CNN all day, every day, watching what was happening to the world outside. I had tried to contact everyone I knew in Savannah. I had no family here anymore, only friends. But every single call I tried gave no answer. I was alone, petrified, and had no one to talk to. I had not left my house in three days. I was afraid to see what awaited me if I did.

I would occaisionally peek through my window to see what was out there. All I saw were stumbling, dirty, green-bile-covered remains of what were once human beings. I could not believe my eyes. The news reports kept getting worse. There were so many infection cases. I was starting to wonder if I could have gotten infected by just being around Patches, that slime falling from his lips and onto the ground near me.

"The infection is spread through bites," Colin's voice rang out in my head. So, with a sigh of relief, I knew I was safe. I hadn't been bitten.

Colin! I need to get into contact with him! I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of him sooner. I jumped up and ran into the kitchen and grabbed my handbag. I dug through it momentarily before coming across the crumpled cardboard with his name on it. I nervously pulled out my cell phone and began dialing the number.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

Dear God, please answer your phone!

Ring...

Ring...

Please for the love of God ans -

"Hello? Who is this?" He sounded angry and irritated. Not scared like I knew I would sound.

"Colin? Hi.. this.. this is Sarah.. we met at the restaurant last week. I didn't know who else to call. No one is answering their phones. Are you seeing what's happ-"

"Where are you?" He barked.

"I'm at home."

"Give me your address. I'm coming over. I've got two guns and a quarter tank of gas. That's enough to get us to the evacuation center they are holding at the mall. This entire city is fucked. We need to get out."

This was all happening so fast. It took me a moment before I could respond.

"96 Piegeon Street. Do you know your way around? Its about two miles from the restaurant I work.. uh, worked at."

"I'm on my way. Stay inside!" Click.

I set my phone down and went into my room. I grabbed a first aid kit I always kept under my bed and I changed out of my pajamas into some shorts. The sweltering Savannah heat would not bode me well unless i was dressed appropriately. I threw on a tank top and tennis shoes and nervously waited for Colin to arrive. I peeked out of the window every few seconds, until finally he sped into the parking lot of my apartment complex. I moved the table and armchair from in front of the door, and ran out onto my balcony.

"Colin!" I shouted. "I'm up here!"

He noticed me and ran up the stairs to my apartment.

I let him in and slammed the door behind him. "I've got some food I bought the other day.. should I bring it?"

"No," he snapped. "There's no time. Here," he shoved an assault rifle in my hands. He had an automatic shotgun in his. I had never shot a gun in my life. I was scared just holding it.

"Where did you get these?" I asked nervously.

"Nevermind that. We need to get out of here. Do you have everything you need?" He asked as he pulled the curtain back, checking on what was happening outside.

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

"Alright, I'm gonna open this door. When I do, haul ass to my car. Don't worry about anything you might see. If anything comes after you-" I shuddered at the way he said anything instead of anyone. "- I'll cover your back. All you have to do is run. Got it?"

I nodded shakily. He opened the door. My feet were blurs underneath me as I ran as hard as I could to his car. I heard gunshots fire off behind me which made me run faster. I got to his car and hurried inside, setting my rifle at my feet. He quickly entered the car behind me.

In my panicked state, it had just occured to me that his sister wasn't with him anymore.

"Where's Malissa?" I asked as he started the car.

"I don't know," he responded quietly, backing out out of the parking even faster than he had pulled in. "I haven't seen her in days. I tried to go looking for her.. but it was pointless. She knows my number. She'll call." He said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself of that, rather than to inform me.

We drove along my road until we got to main street. About 5 miles or so ahead was the mall, but we wouldn't be getting there anytime soon. Main street was crowded with abandoned cars and trucks, most upright, but some were flipped over.

"SHIT!" He screamed, pounding his fists one hard, solid time against the steering wheel, causing his car horn to go off. In his frustration, he slammed his fists down on the horn a few more times. "We can't drive through this mess!"

I heard a loud, yet low grumbling noise. It sounded like the noise Patches made. But multiplied. By the hundreds.

"SHIT!" Colin screamed once again, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing the bodies from which the noise was coming from. "My damned horn must have attracted them. Get your gun, stay in the car, roll down your window, and shoot."

"But I've never shot a gun before! I'm going to kill someone!"

"That's the point. Aim, and pull the trigger. Just do it. NOW! Here they come!"