Monster

Cliffhanger again. Always with the Tanks, eh? And it's a shorter chapter.

Lana: Right then. Tell them.

Nick: Why couldn't Ro do this?

Lana: She was laughing too much.

Nick: Laughing? What? Why?

Lana: Because I said frankenfurter.

Nick: Idiot.

Lana: *glares* Say it already!

Nick: Fine... Actually, no. I can't be bothered. See ya. *walks off*

Lana: Coach better do this! *furious* I don't own the Left 4 Dead franchise! Dammit!

Nineteen

I staggered back, away from the Tank. It seemed to be struggling to get down the mud-slick hill.

"Now's our chance!" I yelled to the others. "We have to help Nick and Ellis. I'll take Ellis! Coach and Zoey, you take Nick, Louis helps Francis!" They nodded. "Theo-" I stopped myself as my gaze rested on the mangled corpse, unrecognizable as a person any longer. I tore my eyes away and began running.

"Where do we go?" Zoey caught up to me. "It's going to catch us!"

"You shoot it, while running, Louis too, and the others just run," I replied breathlessly. "Come on! Into the woods!" We formed a tight line, Ellis' head lolling at my shoulder, his legs over my elbow. I stumbled over roots and knots of grass, and we kept slipping on the wet grass, but we continued even so. I reached the other side of the small forest, the others trailing behind. I paused and looked back. I barely saw anything before Zoey came cannoning into my side; thrown by the Tank's fist. Her mouth was open in a silent scream. I staggered to my feet, and she followed suit, clutching her side. I picked up her discarded pistol and fired multiple shots into the Tank's face. I saw Zoey start dragging Ellis away from the corner of my eye.

"I need help!" Coach called, and I glanced over. He was carrying Nick, and the conman's head was lolling like Ellis', blood in thin streams from his mouth and nose. His front was drenched with blood, and I could see the blood spreading on Coach's arms and front. He looked at me desperately.

"Right," I began. "I'll fire, Louis, keep helping Francis-"

"I'm okay," the biker cut in, the cut on his neck washed clean by the torrential downpour. "I can help."

"Alright, then." I looked over to Zoey. "Zoey and I fire, Louis helps Coach and Francis carries Ellis." The others nodded and went to their places, then we continued. I ran behind the group, firing madly behind me, reloading with shaking, rain-wet hands. The Tank began gaining on us.

"Faster!" I ordered the group.

"We can't run any faster!" Zoey yelled to me, her hair hanging lankly over her face. I shook my head.

"We have to-" I felt my foot slip out from underneath me, and I crashed to the floor, my hands sinking into the waterlogged soil. I felt dirty water splash my face. I crawled forwards, and grabbed my pistol, turning just in time to see the Tank running at me. I fired blindly, the rainwater in rivulets down my face, and I curled up small so it couldn't smash my ribs. After a second of nothing, I opened my eyes. The Tank was directly in front of me. I screamed, but I saw the absence of rage in its eyes, and as I watched it fell to its knees, then landed on top of me. Its huge body almost crushed me, and I pushed upwards to stop it. Then the pressure was released, and I looked up to see Francis looking down at me.

"I hate the rain." He sat down next to me, and I collapsed onto my back, laughing weakly.

"Me too."

-Monster-Monster-Monster-Monster-

I opened my eyes to a blue sky. Fluffy clouds drifted across the clear expanse, and for a second my aches and pains disappeared.

"Nick's dying." Zoey's voice cut into my reminiscing. I sat up stiffly, feeling the dried mud on my clothes cracking.

"He already was." I stood and brushed myself down. "What changed?" Zoey pointed. I looked around, and saw Nick on his back on the grass, his face contorted with pain although he was unconscious. Sweat poured down his face and neck. Coach and Louis sat near him, engaged in awkward conversation. Francis was asleep beside me. Ellis was on his back, his eyes following a colorful butterfly fluttering around his head. I went to Nick's side.

"There's nothing we can do," Coach admitted quietly. "He's going to die, Ro. It's best we put him out of his misery now." I shook my head defiantly.

"There must be something we can do!" I protested.

"Ro..." Coach looked at me sadly.

"No - there has to be something. Anything!" I looked for medicine. I found none.

"He's gone, Ro," Coach said. I turned to reply, then I saw Nick lying unmoving on the ground. His chest was still.

"Nick?" I fell to my knees beside him, and pressed my ear to his bloodied chest. There was nothing - no pulse, no rise or fall of breath. Nothing.