Quarantine Zone
After the Extinction Virus was discovered , the world changed forever.
The two figures glanced around cautiously, and then ventured out into the open. The space between safety zones wasn't that vast, but the open was always extremely dangerous regardless. The man on the right immediately began scanning his 9 o'clock thoroughly, watching for the slightest hint of movement. When they finally ducked under the next barricade, both sighed in relief...for a moment, at least.
"Something's wrong," said Gary.
"We made it this far," Tom replied.
Gary shook his head, and glanced back out into the gulch they'd just crossed. "Why haven't we seen a single creature since we got south of the border then?"
Tom shrugged. "Careful movement?"
The sun beat hot overhead, and only a few wisps of white served as clouds in the empty sky. It was getting towards evening, which meant they needed to start thinking about shelter.
Gary said, "No, we've been more than careful; we've been lucky. By now we should've encountered at least a few of the littler ones..."
Tom set his machine-gun aside, and pulled out a canteen. Even though Gary was sweating too, he frowned at his friend's sudden action.
"This is no time to be thinking about thirst. Keep your weapon at the ready!"
Tom ignored him, but grabbed up his gun as soon as he was done. The two started down the trench, keeping low at a crouch. The underbrush, or what little of it there was provided cover, while the large mounds of earth provided protection. Once this had probably been a rancher's canal, but now it had been eroded so severely that it was impossible for water to flow through anymore. The erosion, however, worked in their favor. During the day it provided well sheltered passage across the land southward. It was at night that it became treacherous.
The creatures were much more active then.
Two miles later Gary raised his hand, and the two crept up to the high ground. From there they could see a large warehouse a good three hundred yards off. It was situated along a four-lane road, which meant it was just north of the city. They were getting very close.
"We can't go any farther today," said Gary. "It's just getting too dark."
Tom looked out across the empty wheat field. "Probably locked up, though."
"No doubt the front entrance is bolted down, but you think you could pick one of the back doors?" said Gary.
Tom flicked open and then closed his pocket knife. "Easy."
Gary raised his machine-gun and scanned the open space. The field was almost guaranteed to be empty, but it was the neighboring fields and the forest he was worried about. If any of the creatures were out there, then they'd move quickly once the two started running. The little bastards could move fast, too. In moments they could be flanked on all sides and not even know it.
However, there was an even more immediate problem.
"Can you see anything around the building?" said Tom.
Gary shook his head. "Can't see a damn thing, but that doesn't mean they're not there."
Tom checked to see if his clip was full, and satisfied, tossed the weapon back against his shoulder. "Then we better be ready."
The two waited another ten seconds looking for any visible movement, and then leapt to their feet. Wheat rushed past them, and aside from their quick breathing, there was no other sound. Gary quickly glanced back at their 6 o'clock, and saw they were still all clear.
The space between them and the building didn't seem to diminish, but suddenly the two found themselves running up the metal staircase around back to a side-door.
Tom flicked out his knife, and set to work on the lock. Gary raised his machine-gun, and scanned the field again from their new perspective.
Nothing. There was absolutely nothing.
Now he was beginning to get anxious. We should've seen something by now. Where the hell...?
"We're in."
The knob creaked under Tom's grip, and he rushed in. Gary gave one last glance outside, and then forced door closed.
They were standing on a metal platform about one-story up. Before them the room stretched out to an extent before being divided by a large wall of concrete. There were several large bay-doors, suggesting cargo rooms beyond. This one was filled with rows of two-story high shelves stock with various boxed supplies. The platform ran the length of the room, and intersected with some of the shelves.
"We'll stick to the high ground," Gary muttered.
The two wandered towards the middle, finding a hollow in the stacked boxes with plenty of room for both. Because it was also secluded, it meant there was likely a chance of them being seen. Gary didn't know if the creatures relied on scent at all, but he was betting they didn't. So far sound and sight appeared to be their only extra-sensory.
Tom set his pack down as a pillow, and rolled to one side.
"Think they'll find us in here?"
Gary honestly didn't know how to answer.
The sleep hadn't been restful. There were noises in the beyond of the warehouse that distracted the mind; none of it sounded animal, though. What was really bad were the dreams. Everyone knew the stories, and hell, everyone had seen the horror. The creatures were relentless, only ceasing their pursuit of hunger after being thoroughly wasted by hot Lead. Their numbers were staggering, and they just kept coming. Running was futile; fighting back deadly.
As Gary checked his ammo, he had to sigh. It was crazy coming down here; it was an honest miracle they hadn't run into trouble yet. But how long would even that hold up?
The answer came almost immediately.
"What was that?" His grip tightened around his weapon.
Tom listened, but it didn't take long. There was definitely something in the room over. Actually, it sounded like a battle was going on. Boxes were being smashed, metal shelves being knocked over, and things being smashed every two seconds.
"What the...hell?"
The two strode across the grate, stopping at a large air duct in the wall. It came off easy, and five feet later, Gary could see into the next room.
Hell had been an understatement
.
Stumble!