Chapter 4: Take Flight
The night seemed to last for an eternity. Maybe the sun didn't rise on this hellish place. Their westward march continued and they were nearing the edge of the city. Many abandoned cars now littered the streets, all these people had the same idea as the five; to get out of the city.
They approached the border and looked out towards the blackness. It was all field and meadow from here. The road which they were on continued into the dark but that was all that continued of the city. Horton knew he could not continue on with them. He was a danger to anyone around him. As long as this virus sought control over him, he was a threat. As the captain thought of how to break it to his men, the ground beneath them began rumbling. It was a light intrusion at first, but it was growing stronger.
"What is that?" Asked Reynolds. The answer came quickly as the ground was now in full upheaval.
"Earthquake!" Shouted the captain. As the earth tossed and bucked violently, it caused the many car alarms to sound. One hundred or more car alarms sounding at once, it must have stretched for miles.
At length, the shaking ceased but the alarms droned on. The five now faced a new threat as the dreadful shriek of thousands of infected filled the air.
"You four need to go now." Said Horton with a calm urgency, gazing towards the open country with an odd serenity as if eminent danger were not lurking in the darkness. His four comrades respected their captain deeply and made no attempt to protest his decision. They realized that he would not be accompanying them further and words failed them. All they could muster was a salute to the unwaning bravery and unselfishness of the man that stood before them; yet, for all the nobility that he exhibited now, the four had no idea how much Horton had sacrificed, now laying down his very life, for the sake of others. His demeanor remained noble to this end, he did not for one instant give the illusion of lost hope. Horton just looked at them and although they could not see his face, they knew his expression of acknowledgment.
The four reluctantly left their captain and ventured out of the city with haste. Horton calmly turned to face the army of infected that was now converging on his position. He removed the silencer from his rifle and, slipping it into one of his vest pockets, prepared to meet the horde.
The multitude of infected came sprinting out of the darkness towards Horton, who proceeded to open fire upon them. With a dazzling display of marksmanship and dexterity, the captain killed many of them without wasting a single round and changed the empty magazines with astonishing speed. Horton did not fear death, it would release him from waring against the virus that resided inside him but that didn't mean he would go down easy.
The wall of assailants drew close; Horton fought valiantly against them but an entire city waged war with one man, even the mighty Horton could not hold the line. The infected pushed forward like a wave surging forth and crashing upon the rocks. Horton was overrun. They left his body there lifeless. Peace was upon him however, his body remained undefiled by the virus, he would not become a walking corpse as so many others had.
I know this chapters a bit short, the story is coming to a close soon. Hope you enjoy it.