It bit me!
“Shit! You freaking bastard!” I screamed, kicking its face backward. Its head snapped and then it jumped on top of me. It was ripping at my mask, trying to tear it off. I gripped my gun and swung with all my might, whacking it across the head. It stopped, and glared through horrifying, evil eyes. Growling, it snapped its rotted teeth at me.
I quickly raised Hellfire to the side of its face, and pulled the trigger.
Shit! She was empty.
Just as it raised its hand to hit me…Bam! A gunshot.
The creature froze, and a trail of blood trickled down its forehead. I pushed its chest, sending its lifeless body backward.
“Abi! Are you okay?” Uncle Frank yelled, shining his light into my eyes.
“Yes, but Finn needs your help!” I yelled, pointing up the stairwell.
He ran past me and shined his bright light up the stairs, blinding two Arvies coming down toward Finn. Finn fired off a round, and then another, and I watched both of them drop. Thank God. Finn was okay. He was holding his own.
All I could think about was the throbbing pain in my leg. I was bitten, and the greatest fear gripped every part of me. My life suddenly flashed before my eyes. Finn, my parents, the rest of the members of our hive, our family.
There was no way I would allow myself to turn into one of those things, and risk their safety. I’d take myself out before that happened. I reached for the flashlight, and held my breath before shining it on my leg.
Holy hell! A wave of relief washed over me, and tears of happiness welled in my eyes. Someone upstairs must be looking out for me. The bite didn’t break through the suit or my skin. I was safe for now. That was too freaking close. Way too close. I’d been careless and wouldn’t let it happen again.
“Abi, go back to your father. I’ll finish this with Finn,” Uncle Frank yelled down.
“No, I’m fine. I’m coming,” I said, jumping up with a new vigor. I was still alive, and that mere fact shot adrenaline through my veins.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
I hurried up the stairs and caught up to them, while reloading Hellfire. This time I put an extended clip in. Just in case. Uncle Frank’s flashlight was like a huge spotlight, so we could see way ahead of us. So far, it was all clear. The nine Arvies we took out must have been it.
We went twenty flights up when we finally reached the last door, and it was locked.
“Finn. The lock,” Uncle Frank said stepping back. Finn lifted his shotgun and shot a huge hole through the door, and then kicked it open. The sky was darker than before, making the moon and stars shine brighter.
We ran to the edge of the rooftop so we could see the surrounding area. I knew, if there were Arvies in this building, there had to be more.
Then we heard it again, the painful screams of terror we heard earlier, but this time we could pin point where it was coming from. A few blocks ahead, an estimated fifty or so, Arvies huddled in the middle of the street.
“Get down,” Uncle Frank said, quickly motioning for us to duck. We dropped below the ledge and then carefully peered over. Uncle Frank pulled out his night vision binoculars. He focused them in the direction of the Arvies, and a few minutes later he put them down and exhaled loudly.
“Shit.”
“What?” I asked.
He shook his head. It must have been bad. I’d never seen Uncle Frank come unglued.
“Can I see?” He paused, and then reluctantly handed me the binoculars. I tried to focus, but this stupid mask over my eyes made it very difficult. After a minute, I finally managed to find a way to work them, and focused into the middle of the mayhem.
It looked like there were a few Arvies fighting with each other, and then I gasped. Were my eyes deceiving me? I refocused the binoculars on one particular Arvy, who was eating…an arm.
Oh my God! It was actually gnawing on a severed arm, tearing the flesh from the bone, and consuming it. The others gathered in the middle, fighting over what looked like a lifeless body. As I focused more, it was one of their own.
“Cannibals. They’re freaking cannibals,” I breathed. A tidal wave of panic crashed through me.
“Can I see?” Finn asked. I handed him the binoculars and leaned my back against the wall. This macabre world we entered was hitting us with everything it had.
“Holy shit!” Finn whispered. “No kidding. They are seriously tearing apart and eating themselves.”
Uncle Frank and I nodded in agreement.
“Damn. That would suck to be eaten,” Finn whispered.
Uncle Frank turned and gave him a look.
Finn shrugged. “Just stating the truth.”
Whatever that ARV-3 virus did, it made them devoid of emotion. Yes, it kept them alive, to deal and adapt within the radioactive world. But in the process, it mutated them into disgusting, vile, cannibalistic creatures.
Uncle Frank took the binoculars back and did a quick scan of the rest of the surrounding areas, and then pulled his walkie out of his pocket.
“Stephen,” he spoke into the box.
“Yes?”
“Approximately fifty Arvies have blocked the north street, two blocks up. We need to double back and go clear around. The east streets appear to be clear.”
“Okay. And, Abi?” My dad asked.
“She’s safe. We’ll be down in a minute.”
“Do the Arvies know we’re here?”
“No. They’re occupied at the moment. Having dinner,” Uncle Frank answered rolling his eyes. “You and Hatch head back to the group. Tell them to get ready to move. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay. Keep my daughter safe.”
“I will,” he said before he tucked the walkie back into his pocket. “Okay, let’s move.”
We ran down the stairwell and then back out to the coffee shop to meet the others. Uncle Frank briefed everyone about the situation and put the whole group on full alert.
I didn’t tell anyone about the Arvy bite because I didn’t think it necessary. Besides, if they found out, my mom would totally freak, and tell my dad. I wouldn’t be allowed to leave their sight ever again. So, I kept my close encounter secret.
Chapter 8
The night sky was growing darker and darker. I could feel the cold air on my ears, as they were the only things not completely covered. I wished we could shed the masks and chemical suits, but I knew there would be a time and place for that.
Traveling through the dead, darkened streets of the city had all of us on pins and needles. Every little sound made us jump, and it felt like evil was lurking, watching and waiting for the chance to kill us.
Lily hugged her mother tightly, and Charlie stayed within a footstep of his dad.
We were all on highest alert.
I was worried about my grandmother, but as I glanced over to her, she looked just fine. She had her gun ready, and her eyes were focused and stern. She could shoot just as good as the rest of them, and would have no problem taking out anything that threatened her or her family.
The growling and screaming sounds of the Arvies we saw earlier were becoming more and more distant. We all kept moving, walking for what seemed like hours, until we thought we were far enough from danger.
“We need to find shelter,” my father said, halting everyone.
“Oh thank God,” my grandmother sighed with relief. “My poor gun has finger marks embedded in it.” She handed her gun to my grandfather and began stretching and rubbing her fingers. She put smiles on those around her.
The men quickly scanned the area, and found a safe and sturdy place for us to stay. They went in first to make sure the area was clear, and then motioned for the rest of us to enter. We all went in and locked the door behind us.
The place was trashed, but as we entered I knew exactly where we were. It was an old library. There were books scattered all over the floor, and some still on the shelves, covered in dust. I’d never seen so many books in my life. We had a small library in the hive, but
this was the real deal. It was a lifetimes worth of reading material.
I glanced over to Charlie and he was already bending over, picking a book up off the floor, and dusting it off. He was like a kid in a candy store. His face lit up, and the largest smile grew on his face as he dusted off one particular book.
“What is it, Charlie?” I asked.
“Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling,” he breathed with a wide grin.
“Wow, that’s cool,” I said.
“You have no idea,” he said wistfully, carefully fingering through the pages.
“Charlie, we can’t take anything from the city. It is much too close to the radiation zone, and most likely contaminated,” his dad said, patting him on the shoulder.
“I know,” Charlie said sadly. “It was just cool to hold it.” He carefully placed the book onto one of the shelves.
We’d watched the movies in the hive, but we didn’t have the books.
I smiled and quickly made my way to the back, making sure the windows and doors were locked and secure.
This was going to be a long night. Our very first night on the topside and we’d already been attacked, and had killed multiple Arvies.
After everyone settled, we all formed a circle in the middle of the room. It was quiet, and I knew we were all exhausted. I hadn’t slept in almost 48 hours. Within the silence, my mind roamed. I wondered what it must have been like for the Arvies before they changed.
They must have been terrified knowing they were going to be subjected to lethal doses of radiation. I couldn’t begin to imagine the fear and terror felt by those who had children. It must have been the most horrifying, helpless feeling ever.
Yes, the ARV-3 kept them alive, but was it really worth it? If they were given another chance, would have chosen the vaccine or would they have chosen death? That was the question.
They were akin to zombies, except the Arvies hadn’t died. They still had a heartbeat, and blood flowing through their veins. They were still very much alive.
The men took turns keeping watch. But as I glanced around the circle, every single eye was open, listening to the sounds of the scary world just outside. We had four walls and a ceiling which protected us.
When the sun started to rise in the sky, we all made our way to the windows to witness it. I don’t even remember a sunrise. As the light in the heavens slowly grew brighter and brighter, it seemed to bring hope to the group, and even put smiles on most of our faces.
“Wow. Isn’t it amazing?” Finn whispered, his wide eyes reflecting the glorious colors. Orange, pink, and violet clouds streaked the sky.
“It’s perfect,” I answered. “Don’t look directly at the sun or your eyes will get damaged.” He smiled and turned to me, coming close. “Your face. It’s one big bright light.”
I laughed and pushed him away. “I told you not to stare at it.”
He laughed and then blinked his eyes hard a few times. He then turned to me with a straight face. “Hey Abi, can I ask you a serious question?” he whispered.
“Sure,” I swallowed. My insides twisted with his closeness.
“If I ever get bitten by one of those things, I want you to be the one to shoot me.”
“Are you serious? I’m not gonna shoot you, Finn.”
“I thought you liked me,” he said sadly.
“I do like you, and that’s the problem. So, if you ever get bitten, I’ll let Uncle Frank shoot you.”
“Well, I’d shoot you if you were bitten,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
“Don’t you dare,” I huffed.
“Why not?” he asked shrugging his shoulders.
“Because I’ve seen you miss a few shots at close range. I’d like a clean shot. One shot. And, I’d like to die with all my limbs intact.”
He sighed, chuckled, and then shook his head.
“Hey, I was shooting in the dark. But, fine. If we get bitten, Frank will take us out if we turn.”
“Deal,” I said, holding out my hand. He grabbed it and we shook. “Now, we have to make sure Uncle Frank is okay with that.” His large hand was still holding onto mine, even though we weren’t shaking anymore. “And hey, maybe they’ll come up with an anti-virus before we ever get bitten. Then neither of us will have to die,” I winked.
“Now that would be awesome,” he said, turning back to look at the sun, but not letting go of my hand. We had touched, wrestled, and held hands many times before, but it was never like this. I hadn’t noticed how fragile my hand felt in his, or how I could almost feel a live current passing between us. My heart skipped a beat.
After a brief time of being in the moment, he continued. “Because…I’d like to live a bit on the topside. And maybe – eventually - have a family.”
I felt his eyes on me, but when I looked at him from the corner of my eye, he had changed his focus back to the window. He didn’t look back at me again, but I swear I saw the corners of his mouth turn up.
Before I could process what just happened, my father called everyone together for another meeting, and the moment with Finn had passed.
“Although we haven’t had much sleep, I think we should get moving. I know I said it’s easier to travel by night, but everything we thought we may know, has changed. We need to get out of this city and head towards the mountains, traveling northeast, as quickly as possible.”
We all agreed and promptly began to pack our things. Everyone was just as desperate as the next to get out of the hell hole.
Uncle Frank and my dad headed outside to scan the area before the rest of us exited. It was daylight, so we needed to be extra careful. Ten minutes later, they returned, leading us out quickly and quietly. The sun was beautiful, but was sweltering and torturous to those of us traveling under its watchful eye. Especially since we hadn’t felt its fiery kiss, or looked upon its blinding glory, for over a decade.
The chemical suit didn’t help matters. It made me feel like I was being slow roasted.
The ground was covered with dust and ash, and each step sent brownish-black clouds swirling up around us. This was one time I was glad we had the masks on. Who knows what we would be breathing.
A few hours into our trek, I started to feel faint. My face and lungs felt like they were on fire, and going to burst. The heat was getting to me and I was becoming concerned for my grandparents. I glanced over to my grandmother, and noticed she was hunched over, and lagging behind. But my grandfather was right at her side, holding her up. Even my mother’s face looked red and flustered. It was beginning to get to all of us.
“Dad,” I said softly. He paused and turned back, but before I could say anything, horrifying growls echoed all around us. The same growls which kept us up throughout the night. Behind us, about ten Arvies were following us.
Mrs. Hatch screamed and started to run in the opposite direction. She suddenly halted and began screaming again. They were surrounding us, on all sides.
In the daylight they were even more horrifying. I noticed they stayed in the shadows of the buildings.
“Remember what I taught you!” Uncle Frank yelled.
We all formed a tight circle, facing outward, that way we wouldn’t shoot each other, and every direction was covered. My grandmother, Lily, and Charlie were sent into the middle and weren’t allowed to chamber a round unless the circle was breached.
I quickly chambered my first round, and heard everyone else do the same.
“Safety’s off,” Uncle Frank yelled. “Don’t be afraid to shoot. Remember they will kill you if you don’t kill them first.”
“Abi, please be careful,” my mom whispered. She was standing next to me, terrified. Her hand was shaking, making the gun unsteady.
“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one I’m worried about. If you run out of ammo, just get behind me. I’ll cover you.”
My dad came and stood next to me, grabbed my mother’s hand, and whispered into her ear.
“I love you, Stephen,” she sobbed.
My heart br
oke listening to her cry.
“No matter what happens, I love you both with all my heart,” my father whispered.
“I love you too, dad,” I replied, not taking my eyes off the approaching terrors.
“You got this, sweetheart,” he nodded.
“You know I do,” I said with a smile, but still my insides were terrified.
“That’s my girl,” he said.
I turned to Finn, who was at my other side. He smiled and gave me a nod, and I smiled and nodded back. This was the safest and best place for me to be. Between the two men I trusted…and loved.
As the Arvies drew closer, it almost seemed as if they were communicating with each other, except they weren’t talking. There was one in the front who seemed to be making weird head gestures and grunting. The others seemed to be responding and moving accordingly.
Weird. They had created their own language.
“Dad?” I asked, not taking my eyes off of them.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Are you watching? It looks like they’re communicating,” I said.
“It looks that way,” he said with confusion in his voice. So he did see it. Knowing that they could communicate with each other was even more unnerving. It was like they were speaking in another language, planning our execution.
“Get ready,” Uncle Frank yelled. “When I give the word, fire. Aim for the head or the heart. Remember, they will not hesitate to kill you.”
Everyone aimed their weapons, and the Arvies suddenly froze. None took a step closer, but they looked confused. They started to hiss and growl, and then some started to scream and run away.
“What the hell?” I blurted.
“Maybe they don’t want to get shot,” my grandfather said.
“No, I don’t think that’s it,” Uncle Frank answered. I quickly glanced at my dad, and he shrugged his shoulders. “Do you hear that?” Uncle Frank said loudly.
I strained to hear whatever it was he was talking about, but couldn’t hear anything over the damn Arvies screams. There were only two left. The one who looked like their leader stood in front of us. His white eyes glaring like daggers. We stood there, like statues, armed and ready.