Chapter 2 - Black Horizon

You could see the dust hovering above the gravel road when the sunset started. My eyes were itchy and dry. I could see the tiny black horizon of my eyelids quivering above. I noticed a ringing in my ears. I could hear Kate screaming my name, which I knew was in my imagination, but my hands started a little shake anyway. I knew I was going to faint; I had had the same feeling when I saw my parents dying, hearing their screams that turned into horrific moans as the zombies clamped their jaws down further.

I sped up when I saw a chained town gate come into view. I could barely walk, but I certainly sprinted towards this.

I took out the shotgun from the waist band of my tight low-rise jeans, and held it out in-front of me, walking backwards and in circles.

I expected there to be more of a zombie buzz after the massive attack and the dozens of gunshots that rang out just the other day, but the town was clean.

A lonely trail of broken footprints, as if a single old man had come into town himself, was fresh in the mud. I heard somebody whistle an old classic tune, was it Johnny Cash or Bruce Spring- whatever, I couldn't remember. It was coming from the local bar, but I'd had enough of that deadly liquor, so I chose to ignore it.

Walking into what looked like a tourist information center, or maybe a library, I could feel my knees giving out. I grabbed a foldable map and shoved it into my back pocket, making a note to read it later. I don't think I'd ever given up on something in all my life, but it was time for a rest now. Inside my head I'm hearing their screams, the men grunting and yelling, envisioning cold water and drops of rain, but it's too much to concentrate on. I want to sleep and sleep and sleep, but I'm hearing Kate crying for me to come get her. Suddenly I realize that I never saw her die. I had seen the murder of all my friends, but not Kate. She could be out there. Being kept in a tent; being abused or made a slave.

I quickly ran and put my back against the wall under the window, holding my gun near my chest. There were noises a bit more real coming from outside; a car door shut, a tall well-cut man walked past. There was talking between him and a younger man. I looked through the wood planks to catch them quickly ducking into the bar. I could barely hear them talking. I was right about the old man.

It was a while before another car drove into the town. Another two men got out and walked up to the bar. There was a gun shot. Another.

Things calmed down. Whoever was left in the bar were being very quiet.

Soon enough another car drove up. Actually a big white truck. A menacing truck that I recognized, and those same cold men were staring out the window with the same destructive eyes.

"Shit"

I realized they weren't in fact coming for me when they started to shoot and yell to people in the bar. Gun shots; maybe 5. A thud and a scream.

"Leave em behind! We have to go! Go!"

I recognized the same well-cut man, but carrying a skinny teenager covered in blood. The other young man (was he Asian?) Was running behind them with an old man. They hurried into the car, followed by about half a dozen walkers.

When the walkers gave up chasing them down the gravel road, they came back towards the stores in town; towards me.

I cut myself, leaving some of my blood behind to distract the walkers, and spread it over the doorway. I ran through the back door and down the road, chasing their car.

I wasn't sure why I was chasing them. Maybe it was the familiar look of needing to get back to a loved one they had in their eyes. Or was it because they looked replenished, full of water and life, and skinny, fragile me, only had bones and a brain left.

I ran after them for about half an hour, the car always in view because the highway was completely straight.

The car made a slight turn just as the sunset was turning into a dark purple and scarlet. The final stage before night. 20 minutes from now the bright horizon that I see, will be completely black, and I might be dead.