Chapter 7 Moving forward
Humphrey bashed into the door futily attempting to break through the hardened wood. Clawing at the door he yelled, "Hang in there Kate! Can you escape through any of the windows?" He heard her muffled reply as she yelled back, "N-no there all boarded up and I can't reach them very easily!"
Kate's eyes darted around frantically as she began to hyperventilate hearing strange sounds in the impregnable darkness. The hissing of a voice and sound of feet moving just outside of her vision. Realizing the door was completely jammed Kate ran tear stricken towards the corner more than ever wanting to forget everything that had happened. Staring into the darkness with wide red rimmed eyes she watched the shadows that all seemed to move towards her.
"H-hello!?" She nervously called. No answer, she continued to hear Humphrey slamming against the door attempting to bring it down. Crawling through the various aisles and stands Kate whimpered keeping her tail between her legs trying to hold out until help could arrive.
Hearing the scraping of claws directly behind her Kate squirmed forward clawing at the wooden floor. Kate desperately scanned the darkness behind her looking for whatever dangers lie within. A glint of light caused her to whirl to the right searching for the cause and seeing a claw flash and disappear only a few meters away.
Her heartbeat louder than the splintering of wood in the background Kate lashed outwards eyes closed trying to ward off death. Her paw momentarily connected with something spongy and wet. Her claws slashed through the weak substance drawing a roar from her attacker. Kate scrambled back and felt a searing pain ravage her chest as darkness clouded her sight.
Humphrey hearing the struggle gritted his teeth and smashed his body against the door over and over feeling the wood cut into his skin and bones. Jarring his teeth and pushing wave after wave of red hot molten pain through his system. Finally after his body had gone numb the door creaked forward hinges clattering to the floor and with a resonating bang the door hit the earth streaming light into the room.
Humphrey limped inside his mind and body a mess. Searching desperately he saw a dark form on the ground. Rushing to it he stepped back in horror staring at the mutilated corpse. The monster had one straight slash across its neck. Kate had gotten in a lucky shot.
Trembling in fear Humphrey turned the corner of the counter and collapsed silently on Kate. She had a small slash across her chest and was bleeding slightly. Hugging her close to him Humphrey sobbed into her mane and whispered, "I'm so sorry this is all my fault!"
He felt a paw wrap around his waist as she opened an eye and croaked, "I'm fine Humphrey, I'm fine." Smiling weakly she looked at the wound and said, "Its just a scratch after all." Crying in relief he threw his arms around her and said, "I'm never letting you out of my sight again!" With a wry smile Kate raised an eyebrow and asked, "Never?" Humphrey chuckled and lightly kissed the tip of her nose and replied, "Never."
Some time later that night Garth and Lilly returned exhausted pushing through the entrance to the gas station. Kate and Humphrey both recovering from the ordeal had taken the bedroom to themselves and where asleep on the bed within minutes. Garth peaked into the room and whispered to Lilly, "Huh they seem tired." Lilly poked her head in giggling at the sight of the two wolves happily asleep together in the darkness. "Yea we'd best not wake them." She said with a girlish grin.
Garth frowned and teasingly said, "Pity, I wanted the bed for us." Lilly rolled her eyes and announced, "Well we get the floor." Garth shook his head and muttered, "I was afraid of that." Lilly mockingly looked at him and said, "Oh no poor Garth, he has to sleep in the nice dark abandoned gas station with the love of his life."
Garth nodded smiling and said, "Terrifying." Lilly rolled her eyes covering a smile and curled up in the corner and asked, "Well are you coming to sleep or not?" Garth chuckled and replied, "Yea I'm coming." Lilly let out a breath and said, "I'll protect you from the big bad monsters." Garth slunk over to her and said, "I feel better already."
Humphrey awoke with a wide yawn and nuzzled Kate whispering, "Think its time to get up?" Kate said nothing still asleep breathing softly. Humphrey raised an eyebrow and said, "Well I'll go find some breakfast then." Crawling off the bed Humphrey pushed through the slightly ajar door to the bedroom and saw Lilly and Garth both conversing just outside the gas station.
Trotting outside Humphrey smiled and said, "Morning I guess." Garth looked over and surprised said, "Your covered in blood?" Humphrey looked at the dried blood on his fur and explained, "Last night I had to bust a door down. I'll explain later." Garth gave a confused look and Lilly instantly asked, "Is Kate alright?"
Humphrey nodded and replied, "She's fine, just sleeping. She had a rough night." Garth snickered and said, "I'd bet." Humphrey glared at him and said, "We did not!" Shaking his head he explained, "She got stuck in the gift shop with the gas stations mutated owner. Luckily she killed it first."
Garth made a surprised face and said, "These things are everywhere aren't they?" Humphrey nodded dully and muttered, "It's a new world, natural selection is taking over." Garth grimly nodded but said nothing.
Lilly wishing to change the foreboding mood perked up and said, "I think we should get moving, maybe if we move on we'll find something to eat." Humphrey feeling the rumbling in his stomach perked up as well and said, "I hope so! I'm starving."
Lilly pointed with her paw and replied, "If we just follow the road maybe we'll find somewhere that wasn't hit with the blast? There's bound to be food sometime if we just keep moving." Humphrey seemed to consider her words and slowly said, "But we risk running into more of those… Things."
Lilly plainly pointed out, "Well if we stay here we starve." Humphrey sighed in defeat and told her, "Alright, I'll wake up Kate and we can get going." Lilly smiled and got up brightly saying, "I'll come with you."
Humphrey turned and trotted back into the dark building with her walking through the living area and pushed open the door whispering, "Kate get up, we're leaving." Kate didn't reply and as Humphrey approached her she groaned in pain. Humphrey now worried rushed to her side and gently turned her over and stared in shock at the wound in her chest.
The once small cut was now bleeding freely and looked swollen. Lilly quickly came over and muttered, "Oh my god, the cuts been infected." Humphrey's heart lept into his throat as he squeaked, "She's going to turn into one of those, those THINGS?"
Lilly inspected the wound and shook her head explaining, "Most likely not but she has a fever and needs some food and somewhere to rest safely." Humphrey breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Alright I'll carry her, if we get moving then we can find somewhere to treat her." Lilly nodded and murmured, "We need to hurry, if we let her stay like this then she could die of infection." Humphrey quickly pulled Kate onto his back securing her saying, "Lets go."
Chapter overview Thanks for reading and sorry again for the wait but I've been pretty busy here.