《Better Days》
Prologue
Prologue
¡°It had to be around April when the clocks stopped¡ A few months before that I was in Afghanistan in the United States Marines as a k9 handler. The virus had struck in Mexico and began to spread rapidly. Police¡ Military¡ Nothing could stop it. We were pulled back to the states to ¡°Maintain border control¡±... haha¡ What a fucking lie that was. I watched the families of people just wanting to be safe. I watched the Infected come for them. A lot of Marines and soldiers broke and couldn¡¯t just watch them die anymore, so they went out to try and help¡ But¡ They were punished like nothing i¡¯d ever seen before. They were just abandoned by their own country¡ The damn place they called home!... The citizens grew more wild as well as the marines left for dead¡ Then¡ About two weeks into this so called ¡°border control¡±, They had set bombs on the wall and blew huge holes in America¡¯s last defense from the spread of the virus¡ It was anarchy. There were once so many of us there to guard the wall, and within hours, everyone I once knew were gone or missing. People began to abandon their positions in attempt to escape, And as far as I know¡ No one made it¡ No one but me. Within days America had fallen¡ Within weeks, the world. The planet I once knew was now dark, It was silent. I took a hum-vee and escaped with my K9, a black female german shepherd named Alpha. It¡¯s just us now¡ It¡¯s just us.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
1. Us
Better days
- Us
¡°The date¡¯s june 2, 2012. The virus broke out about a month ago. Things are quiet now. I¡¯m now in Colorado, just trying to survive. I decided I¡¯d start a journal through these shitty times for a reason i¡¯m not too sure I know. Maybe i¡¯m just trying to keep myself sane. I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve already encountered infected people. I had to kill most of em. I killed those people. But i don¡¯t feel bad about it at all. I feel like in a way I set them free from a constant nightmare they¡¯re living in. maybe I jus-¡±
The rumbling of a heavy engine could be heard rolling down a street in the mountains. The sounds of rock music boomed from the speakers. A german shepherd hung its head out the window letting the wind massage its fur covered face. The vehicle moving at over 80 miles an hour provided a good breeze for just that. The driver, a young man with short slicked back hair and tattooed arms. He¡¯d reach his right hand over and scratch the dog¡¯s back keeping his left on the steering wheel to keep control.
¡°Hey Alpha, you hungry girl?¡± He¡¯d ask knowing the dog couldn¡¯t understand nor hear him. Suddenly, with his attention on Alpha and off the road, the humvee ran straight into an infected man, smashing clean through him with a loud thud. ¡°Oh shit!¡± He panicked quickly gripping the wheel with both hands. Blood covered the driver side, blinding him. He stuck his head out the window to try and see where he was going, when he hit another infected man. The body flew over to the left side of the vehicle, as he whipped his head back into the hummer. ¡°Jesus!¡± He yelled, still panicking. He then hit another infected, then another. The tires, then crushing a corpse slid through the blood and organs causing the hummer to turn and slide off the side of the road. He got a tight hold onto the wheel and held on for dear life as they slid to a rough stop in some brush.
He looked out the window seeing at least twenty infected coming at them from the street. ¡°Shit!¡± He yelled grabbing a pistol from under the steering wheel. He took quick aim and shot a few of the closest ones down. He then rolled up his window as he grabbed a rifle from the passenger seat. Infected began to bang on the window, with little effect for they were bullet proof. ¡°Alpha, go!¡± He commanded. The dog then jumped out the window. He grabbed a small assault pack from the back seat and rushed out the passenger side door, as the infected made their way around the hummer from either side.
Step after step he ran while trying to put the backpack on with one hand and holding the rifle with the other. Once he got the backpack on he gripped his rifle tight with both hands tight and got a good rhythm with his steps and breathing, Alpha still at his side. He looked back behind him to see if any infected were still coming for him. Then, before he could stop himself he tripped and fell rolling down a hill on the mountain. He grunted as he rolled down smacking into the ground until he came to a quick stop hitting a tree and knocking him unconscious. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Everything was black. Just pure darkness. Then he heard a familiar feminine voice coming from the darkness ¡°Nathan,¡¯ The voice called, ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner, come inside.¡± ¡°M...Mom?¡± His voice quietly replied. He found himself standing alone in a front yard he remembered from his childhood. He¡¯d turn around to see a beautiful young woman he could recognize as his mother. Then just as he went to approach her, the sound of a familiar bark struck his ears. It was the sound of dog¡¯s bark from behind him. He turned around again to see Alpha standing there aggressively barking at an infected man approaching them. ¡°No!¡± He yelled springing into action.
He suddenly burst into consciousness, jumping from the floor to see Alpha barking at two infected walking towards her. He ran and launched into the air, and crashing into the first man with the devastating force of his knee. The man flew back and smashed into a tree before hitting the floor. Nathan then turned to the other and out his hands up to fight. When it got within range He pushed a powerful kick forward knocking the infected man back. He then grabbed a knife from a sheath on hit vest and stabbed him in the head. Nathan then turned and finished the other by piercing its skull with the same knife.
He looked around to make sure it was clear. Only just then he noticed it was night. ¡°Damn, how long was I out for.¡± He stated to himself. His eyes searched the floor for his rifle. He then spotted it just a few feet from where he landed, then a few more feet away was his pack. He walked over with a limp, noticing blood coming from his right leg. ¡°What the hell?¡± He said to himself. He checked to see that he had cut himself pretty good when he fell. ¡°Jesus.¡±
Nathan struggled over to his backpack and plopped down onto the floor. He began searching through the pack, before pulling out a bandage wrap. He took the knife and cut through the bloody pants to reveal the laceration. ¡°God damn it.¡± He complained. He then carefully wrapped it really tight. Alpha sat next to him looking at the injury in silence. He finished and got up to his feet. Once he¡¯d found the direction of the road he began to walk towards it. ¡°Thank god those weren¡¯t runners.¡± He told himself out loud. Alpha walked beside him as they drew closer to the crash sight.
He couldn¡¯t see any infected, they must of wandered off. He paced out from the darkness of the trees with his rifle shouldered. He clicked his mouth twice and Alpha got in between his legs looking up at him. He began to check the area around the car, with Alpha under him watching for commands. Once he checked fully around the vehicle, he went to check if the hummer would work. ¡°Hold.¡± He commanded. Alpha layed down and watched him for orders. Nathan opened the driver side door and attempted to turn on the engine with no success. He limped to the front and lifted the hood to see a bunch of organs and guts stuck inside the engine. ¡°Damn it!¡± He snapped shutting the hood aggressively.
¡°Looks like we¡¯re walking A.¡± Nathan stated looking at Alpha. He quickly went through the hummer grabbing two pistols and holsters he¡¯d stored inside it. He then struggled as he changed his pants into more standard green digital camo bottoms. The cut slightly bothered him as he proceeded to walk down the road in the same direction he was initially driving. He took a map from his backpack and looked at it as he paced the road. ¡°Colorado springs.¡± He read. He then reached his left arm back and tapped just under his butt on his thigh. Alpha still sitting in place responded by bursting into a sudden sprint back to the position in between his legs. ¡°We¡¯re going to the springs.¡±
2. Them
Better Days
- Them
¡°The date¡¯s june 3, 2019. I¡¯ve killed more infected than I can remember by now. All I can think about is survival. I¡¯m running low on food and supplies, but now that i¡¯m getting into the city area of Colorado springs, I think I can find some shelter and resupply. Now that i¡¯m on my feet I should probably try to find another vehicle, then I can get situated and create a goal for myself. If anyone find this¡¡±
Nathan and Alpha struggled, pacing along the road. The morning sun was now rising, lighting up the trees along either side of the road. The city was still a good 20 miles down the road, and there were no buildings in sight. The two of them were growing in hunger, and they had nothing to eat. Nathan decided to try and hunt something.
They turned off the right side of the road and walked into the trees. He kept his eye out for squirrels or anything. He''d glance down at the ground. The occasional breeze of wind pushed the pine needles over the dirt. Alpha paced ahead sniffing around and searching for suspicious activity. Nathan slowed to a stop and closed his eyes. He felt the wind and listened to the pure silence. A sound that was once a rarity.
Suddenly the sound was broken by the crashing sound of a gunshot slicing his ear.
His eyes shot open and he dropped to the floor. He was unsure if the shots were directed at him. ¡°It could be a bandit¡± he thought. ¡°then again there was no bullet collision with any trees around him.
Alpha wasn''t within Nathan''s sight. He''d whistle really quick. Quiet enough to not draw attention but loud enough to alert Alpha. Alpha ran to him and laid prone beside him. There was faint yelling then more gunshots. This assured Nathan that they weren''t the target for those shots.
He got up and began to quickly pace towards the gunfire. Alpha stood close ready for orders.
They came to a slow walk as they came up to a chain link fence. About 50 meters away was a house like building and the source of the screaming and gunfire. He dropped his backpack and searched through it. He grabbed a pair of wire cutters and began to slice through the chain link ince ge was almost through a large grey wolf leapt onto the fence at him growling and biting. ¡° Oh shit!¡± he panicked falling to his back.
He pressed his feet up against the fence barely keeping it closed. ¡°Woh Woh!¡± he yelled kicking the fence to keep it closed. Alpha barked rapidly at the wolf. Nathan''s rifle lay but 3 feet away on the floor. He stretched his arm out to try and grab it. ¡°Aaahh¡± he struggled as his fingers rubbed the stock of the rifle. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
He scooted a tiny bit and slightly dragged it towards him. He finally got his hand on the pistol grip when his right foot slipped. The wolf pushed the fence out on him and he ripped the rifle from the dirt.
The wolf dove onto him and he quickly pushed his rifle up and into its mouth. The wolf clinched its teeth it¡¯s teeth onto the hand guard of his rifle and growled fiercely. Alpha bit the wolf''s neck and the wolf snapped at her pushing her back. Nathan saw his chance and he quickly smashed the rifle butt stick into the wolfs face then kicked both legs throwing it over him.
Nathan jumped to his feet with his rifle and Alpha stood in between his legs. The Wolf turned and snarled at them. ¡°Kekoa!¡± a woman yelled. Nathan turned to see a woman running over to them. ¡°Calm down Kekoa¡± she commanded as the wolf slowly stopped snarling. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked holding a rifle. ¡°My name is Nathan, we heard gunfire and screaming so we came ti check it out.¡± he quickly explained. ¡°And you?¡± he said. ¡°Im Cathryn. That¡¯s Kekoa.¡± She said.
The wolf walked to her and stood by her. ¡°You have a wolf!?¡± Nathan exclaimed. ¡°No, i do not own his as he does not own me, we are a pack. I''m the alpha. Welcome to the Colorado Wolf sanctuary. Now hurry there¡¯s infected at the front. ¡°Alpha¡± Nathan stated as they moved in through the fence. When they got to the front there were two others fighting off the infected with a machete and an axe.
Nathan quickly took aim. With a few quick squeezes he let three rounds fly landing into the chest and head of an infected man. ¡°One down!¡± he called out. More infected began to close in. ¡°We need to leave!¡± Nathan yelled. ¡°No we can¡¯t leave the wolves!¡± Cathryn replied as she fired at the infected. ¡°Chester hurry seal the gate!¡± Cathryn called out. Chester, the man with the axe ran for the gate to block the infected. ¡°Cover him the other woman with the machete yelled. Nathan took aim and released rounds into the crowd of infected storming in. One after another dropped but not fast enough.
Chester got to the gate and grabbed it to try and swing it closed. Suddenly an infected grabbed him and bit his arm. ¡°Aaahh!¡± he screamed in pain, as another grabbed him. He held the gate and backed up hard into the crowd. They pulled him as he held onto the gate, holding it shut. Nathan fired more round taking the last few that were inside out before the woman with the machete ran and locked the gate. ¡°Everyone inside!¡± Cathryn yelled.
Fifty six minutes had passed. Chester¡¯s screams had fell silent after about three. But everyone could still hear them. Nathan had known what this was like. He¡¯d watched people get torn apart one after another at the border. He was less affected. The others sat in complete awe. They didn¡¯t know what to think or do with themselves having witnessed such horror. A few hours passed and night fell over the house. Nathan had started a fire in the fireplace the house had. There he sat all night. He felt as if he¡¯d owed them something even though Chester¡¯s death had nothing to do with him. He just sat in calefaction with Alpha laying at his feet. He just sat.