Living With Survival
Chapter 4- day 10-15
The Forgotten Patient
The street outside the church was empty, Mike ran to the car first checking if the infected were any where to be seen, there wasn't. Jon and Liv followed soon after. Jons mind focused upon the brother he was leaving behind, why did he choose to stay with these people rather than leave with his family, or at least what was left of it. Liv had no choice but to follow, she had found someone to cling to in this horror; Jon was the rock she needed. The car revved into life, Mike took one last look at the church, should he have dragged his brother with him, but he knew that in his heart that Tim had made a choice, one that he could not understand but he would have to live with.
"Where's this place then Liv" Jon wanted to get out of the city as soon as possible. Liv's idea to head for a small but protected shop around a mile from the city was about the best bet. It had several advantages which seemed ideal to the three. First the defensive capabilities of the building, according to Liv there were no windows on the bottom floor, and only one entrance which could be barricaded easily; there was a single window on the second floor. The fact it was no bigger than any normal house was also an advantage they could take hold of, with only one door to barricade, if the infected ever hit the shop with excessive numbers they would have only one entry point, and hopefully this would be so heavily braced, they would move on. The second benefit was the fact it was not within the city, there were far less reason for the infected to be prowling a un populated area. The fact the small building was also a shop is perhaps the most important aspect for their residence there. A stock room full of tinned and packaged goods, not to mention the bottled water and pop. Liv also knew the area well, so the plan to hold up in this temporary haven was about as good a plan as any. Better then staying in a church full of doomed hopeless survivors, waiting for thirst, hunger or the infected to take them.
"Just follow my directions; I'll try to take us the most direct route". Mike looked worried at this statement. "The city will be bloated with cars and bodies, the most direct route might be the most dangerous". Jon pondered this for a second, finally realizing there really was nothing much he could say. They were going to have to take their chances.
The city was strange, there was movement everywhere, yet silence filled the streets. The flicker of nearby flames, people looking out from their windows as we drove by, the odd group of infected in the distance (easily out maneuvered by Mikes driving). The journey was going pretty smoothly until the worst happened. The group had made it to the hospital, but a huge horde of infected that were searching ahead of them could not be driven through or around. "Bolox, drive back the way we came Mike" Jons frantic tone spread to Liv. "We can't reverse here; by the time we've turned they'll be upon us". Mike revved the car, he had a plan. "Fuck this, hold on". He drove towards the hospital back entrance. "tell me you're not driving into the hospital" Liv peered back at the hundreds of infected that were pursuing the car with an unholy speed. Seconds before the car smashed into the entrance of the now abandoned hospital, Jons scream filled the air "This is a shitty idea. You know why, because it's OBVIOUSLY a shitty idea". The car pummeled through the reception area.
Mike was the first to leap from the car; Jon followed pulling Liv by the arm. They had at least 30 seconds before the infected flooded the hospital. "Ok, plan is we hide somewhere in here until they pass on". The three darted for the stairs, checking every door on the way. "they are all locked" Liv looked terrified; Jon quickly noticed this and grabbed her by the hand. The infected were now in the building; hopefully the car would be left un touched so that they could get back out of the hospital in it when the infected had left. Mike smashed into a hospital bed in the hall, knocking him and it over. "Get up Mike", he did not have to be told twice. Clutching his side he sprang to his feet and was swiftly running down the corridor again. They had nearly given up hope until Jon came to the final door of the corridor, the door opened. "In here, quickly". The three piled into the room, with seconds to spare. The infected just seconds later reached the corridor they had just been on.
The key to the room was in the door; Mike locked it quietly as to not make even the slightest sound. Liv was breathing heavily; Jon tightened his grip on her hand. The three watched the door as the infected smashed about in the hallway just a few feet from where they were now crouched out of site. The monsters seemed to take no notice of the rooms, a few loud bangs at the door and they had moved on to the next floor. The chaos outside lasted around an hour, and with that the horde had moved on from the apparently abandoned hospital.
It seemed unbelievable that the three had been staring anxiously at the door for over an hour, waiting for it to swing open leaving them at the mercy of the monstrous beings outside. Jon turned to face the room they had entered. Facing its centerpiece, he gasped, the other two faced around and witnessed what they had failed to see for the past hour, a man tucked neatly into his bed, am almost empty drip attached to his arm. He was asleep.
"Who the hell is that" Liv stepped back from the man out of fear. There was no fear however in Jon's eyes. "He must be in a coma, all that noise outside would wake up anyone". Mike approached the bed. He picked up a small notepad attached to the bedside. "His name is Jim". Liv and Jon peered upon the seemingly lifeless man. There were several other liquid bags intended for the man's drip. "Liv attach another one of those to him, I think that's what has been keeping him alive so far, until he was abandoned here". Liv did what she was told, Mike had become and older brother to her now, and he would protect them both with his life.
The three stayed in the room with the man for the following four days. Rummaging through the café for food and smashing into the vending machines for drink. The man they had found remained in his deep sleep. The infected could still be heard outside in the distance of the building. Every day the noise growing more silent. Upon the fifteenth day of infection it was Liv's words that shook them from their temporary haven. "This place isn't safe enough to wait this out; we have to make for the shop, which was our first plan". With this the three left the hospital, Jon attached a fresh bag to the man. "I hope he will be ok". Jon and Liv left the quiet room. Mike locked the door as he left, as he turned to leave the man in his solitude, he slowly re faced the room they had just left. He crouched and slid the keys under the door. "I hope he will be ok to"…..