《Zero Cell》


 Chapter 1

    Alex stared through the small window in his apartment, watching the reddish sun rays bend over the hills. Dusk would soon come within the hour; he scoffed and looked away. Eric was late.


    Of course, he would be, even when he knew it was important for Alex to leave on time. He rumbled his throat as he rubbed his temples. Alex had two hours ahead of him, and driving through the night was not part of the plan. He quickly checked his phone, hoping for a text from that brute, but nothing, at least not from him. His friend Zoey, however, spammed him with messages asking when he¡¯d leave. She was due to get married soon and asked to meet up for preparations.


    Jerk, Alex thought as he stared at his phone¡¯s clock. The bright light flashed his dark green eyes and glowed against his short chestnut brown hair. Watching the hands tick away, he rolled his eyes; the police station was only two minutes away. Where could Eric be?


    Though he loved autumn, Alex hated that nighttime came quickly. It was only half past four on the first of November, barely evening, yet around this time, it would start to look like midnight. He had planned to leave earlier, as he would stay until the day of, but of course, Eric just had to see him off.


    To make matters worse, Zoey was strict with punctuality. She didn¡¯t care if you were tired the following day; she had things that needed to get done. Tomorrow would be rough. His shoulders tensed as he realized that it was about a two-hour drive down south from his small hometown of Grand Terrace. He¡¯d likely get little sleep once he got there, too. Banks City was massive, full of things to do, though he only fancied going out a little. It was also one of the wealthier cities in California with some of the best restaurants for night relaxation, so of course Zoey Taylor had to move there with her future hubby.


    Alex preferred the small, quiet town, especially since Eric was a cop. The fewer people, the better. It had been six years since he and Eric moved in together. Ever since high school, friends ¡¯til the end. Alex narrowed his gaze at nothing in particular as he paced from the kitchen to the living room. He couldn¡¯t help but think about that man. Was it really so hard to be on time? Alex sighed. His friend was always like that. Forgetful of important dates and times. Thank God you pay the bills, we¡¯d never be able to live anywhere if he was in charge.


    Since this morning, he had been ready to go. He packed lightly, bringing only his backpack to hold his clothes and a charcoal waist pack for everything else. The backpack was nice; it split into two compartments, with the left side pouch slightly larger. It also attached to his belt and didn¡¯t get in the way. Zoey would be proud that he matched his clothes.


    He always kept his outfits simple, wearing a black quarter-zip sweater and slim dark jeans. The cool black fabric was made of fine cotton and nylon; it was stretchy but nicely clung to his small, skinny body. He also prepared for the freezing by wearing a light gray undershirt. That girl is obsessed with fashion. Alex smiled, shaking his head.


    Despite his best efforts to look good, she¡¯d probably strip him down and change him for her own aesthetic. She hated monochrome colors¡ªtoo dull. His stomach churned at the thought. He hated it when she¡¯d try and fix his pale skin to look more ¡°empowering,¡± as she¡¯d put it. However, it only made him feel foolish. I could bring it up to Eric; he would quickly shut that down.


    Alex shook his head against his thoughts. Eric would only escalate the situation and always get what he wanted, no matter who he hurt. On the surface, Eric was a friendly and easy-going guy, but Alex knew him better than most. He chuckled slightly. That¡¯s why you¡¯re waiting in the first place; all because he just had to say goodbye and would through a fit if he didn¡¯t get to.


    A light click echoed throughout the small three-bedroom apartment, prompting Alex to turn his head left toward the front door. As it opened ajar, Alex thinned his lips. The bigger, bulky man in his police uniform finally entered. Eric let out a lofty sigh as he shut the door and began to unlace his black boots. He then ran his fingers through his short brown crew cut before trailing them down his fair-skinned neck.


    Eric then finally pushed his squared glasses up as he began to unstrap his black bullet-resistant vest. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ hell¡ªtraffic was a nightmare. Hi, Ali.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± Alex said coldly.


    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Eric sighed again as he unbuttoned his black collared shirt, revealing his white undershirt. He then finally moved toward Alex for a hug. ¡°Missed you.¡±


    ¡°That so?¡± Alex snarked. A thick stench of sweat and musk drove into Alex¡¯s nose as his head reached Eric¡¯s right shoulder. He cringed as it intensified from Eric adjusting his large biceps. After a couple of seconds, the two finally let go.


    ¡°You need a shower,¡± said Alex, stepping back and squeezing his nose.


    ¡°Long day¡ª¡± Eric stretched his arms as he wandered over to the kitchen, ¡°¡ªyou make food?¡±


    ¡°Beef broccoli.¡± Alex softened his tone as he watched the man take out a fork. ¡°There¡¯s a bowl for you in the microwave.¡± He was happy to see the man home and safe.


    ¡°Nice, nice.¡± Eric pulled out the warm meal, plopped it onto the counter, and ate.


    Alex rechecked his watch. It had only been twenty minutes. ¡°So why are you late? Especially since you¡¯re the one who wanted me to wait.¡±


    ¡°That Thompson kid¡­¡± Eric said in between devouring his meal. ¡°He had more questions about that one case in Riverlands.¡±


    That case, Alex thought. It was an investigation of some sort¡ªone of the locals, from what Eric briefly mentioned a few days ago, went on a rampage and ate his wife¡¯s face. Alex had heard something like that on the news recently, too. Apparently, sources said that multiple people came down with some illness that caused mass aggression. But even so, he kept his skepticism about it. Eric never mentioned any of that, so it was likely untrue.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°And you still gave him the whole spiel?¡± Alex folded his arms and leaned on one hip.


    ¡°He¡¯s a good kid¡ªwants to make a difference.¡± Eric fixed his foggy glasses.


    ¡°Yeah, I knew a knucklehead like that once too.¡± Alex walked over, snatched his backpack, and put it on.


    Eric chuckled as he chewed. ¡°I¡¯ve changed.¡±


    Alex rolled his eyes, grinning, as he backed up. ¡°Right. Now you¡¯re a grown-up knucklehead.¡±


    ¡°Hey, at least I¡¯m not Finny; dude¡¯s still doing stupid shit, and he¡¯s gonna be a dad soon!¡±


    Alex shrugged, hiding his grin. Eric knew damn well that wasn¡¯t true¡ªhe was also still immature, even at twenty-six. But out of all thirteen of their friends, he preferred to be around Eric. Finny was nice¡ªpractically that cool uncle who¡¯d sneak you booze, but that was about it. ¡°Speaking of Finny and Katie, are you gonna go up to the cabin with them?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t wanna be their third wheel,¡± stated Eric.


    Alex chuckled. ¡°Fourth. Ray is going up there, too.¡±


    ¡°Great. I¡¯d get hours of him talking about how he¡¯s gonna move to New York soon¡­ Already got a studio and a job and a new life waiting.¡± Eric averted his eyes, this time toward his meal instead. ¡°I¡¯d rather just stay at home, alone as usual¡­¡±


    That was strange, Alex thought. That man was always excited whenever his friends did anything. Did they get into a fight? Alex wondered. As he stared quietly, he noticed an unusual gloom lingering in the air, thick enough to cut. Eric turned back to his meal, seemingly uninterested in conversing.


    ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯m taking the bike. I¡¯ll get there faster on the Kawasaki than the SUV,¡± stated Alex. He reached over toward the key holders and took the correct one. When Alex turned around, he found Eric staring at him again, no longer eating. The man then stood up and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Wait, hold on, I¡¯ll get my gear.¡± Eric then rushed to his room.


    ¡°I figured I could just leave without them,¡± Alex hollered.


    Eric returned with not only the gear, but a deep scowl painted on his face. He then lifted his jet-black helmet and army green riding jacket. ¡°Yeah? No. I don¡¯t want a phone call tonight about someone having to scrape you off the asphalt.¡± He stood there, arms crossed, watching Alex reluctantly put his phone on the counter and then put on the oversized jacket.


    It was uncomfortable with all the layers. On top of that, Alex had to flip the cuffs as they were too long. He was already short at five-five, and wearing this thing only added to his smaller stature. Eric, of course, smirked. I feel so stupid, Alex thought as his face started to burn.


    ¡°You better stay safe,¡± Eric ordered. His brown eyes stared intensely. However, his deep, husky voice caused Alex¡¯s heartbeat to thump quicker.


    He looked up at his friend, then nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Eric breathed through his nose, seemingly doubtful of those words. But he gave in and let Alex go. ¡°Don¡¯t speed or lane split, okay? The slower, the better.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°There. You look good.¡±


    Alex¡¯s eyes fell to the jacket. The sleeves went well past his hands. He annoyingly rolled them, though they resisted. ¡°I feel stupid.¡±


    Eric guffawed at that statement. ¡°Better than dying. How long are you staying?¡±


    ¡°Until Monday night.¡±


    Eric stepped back, scratching his neck, and looked away. ¡°¡­Was hoping you¡¯d come home sooner.¡±


    ¡°Sooner?¡± Alex chuckled, easing the tension if there was any. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Zoey in months¡ªwe have a lot to catch up on.¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­¡± The man fixed his falling glasses and sniffled. His eyes were now puffy, his face hard; he looked like he¡¯d been holding back a geyser. ¡°You barely see me, too.¡± He turned around and started to walk.


    ¡°Eric, I live with you,¡± stated Alex.


    ¡°Hardly!¡± Eric whipped around, his voice now strained. ¡°You¡¯re only here to sleep. How long has it been since we¡¯ve done something together? I want my friend back.¡±


    ¡°I kinda need to work¡ª¡± Alex flung his arms up halfway, ¡°¡ªto, you know, survive.¡±


    ¡°Ali, there are several nights where you don¡¯t get home until midnight. Just what¡¯s in that office that¡¯s more important than your friend!?¡± Tears slowly ran down Eric¡¯s reddened face.


    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous,¡± Alex scoffed, ¡°acting like you haven¡¯t done the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Oh please, I¡¯m not always working in the station¡ªI do go out there, you know.¡±


    Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.


    Alex rolled his eyes as he glanced over to the counter. It had to be Zoey bugging him. She was likely already drunk and ready to gloat about how amazing Matt was for getting her a large diamond for her engagement ring. Alex turned his attention back to Eric, letting the phone go to voice mail. ¡°You were saying?¡±


    Eric let out a deep sigh and wiped his face. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You shouldn¡¯t keep her waiting¡­¡±


    Alex shook his head and reached for his phone. He already had a plethora of messages from that angsty woman asking where he was. ¡°What is up with you?¡± he asked while responding to a few texts.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just tired,¡± Eric whispered.


    Alex lowered his phone and then cocked his head. ¡°Do you wanna spend time with me?¡±


    ¡°What does it matter¡ªthere¡¯s always something going on in your life¡ªwe never have time.¡± Eric turned around, folding his muscular arms.


    The thought of ditching Zoey crossed Alex¡¯s mind. Though, he¡¯d get a rash of shit from her if he did, especially for the guy she despised. She never told him why she hated Eric, likely a childhood feud; they were neighbors growing up. But sometimes Alex wondered if it was because Eric took him away. Alex shook his head. Eric needs to cool down; we¡¯d likely only fight more.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you know it. And if you really need me¡ªI¡¯m a call away¡­¡±


    Eric didn¡¯t turn around as the two said their goodbyes, leaving Alex to shut the door and walk to his bike alone. He¡¯d have to deal with that man later, but for now, he should make haste; time was ticking.

 Chapter 2

    The growing night was silent as Alex sped down the highway. Twilight had scattered across the sky, leaving nothing but early-rising glimmering stars. The rough protruding hills, with tall and dense forests, surrounded him; they glowed faintly as the sun¡¯s rays faded. He glanced up, spotting more and more bright dots coming into view. It was a dazzling sight, and his dark green eyes needed something new to stare at. An hour on the road was getting to be dull.


    Thank God the road¡¯s empty, Alex thought.


    A road without traffic was a blessing, especially since Alex liked to speed when riding. But despite that, it was odd. The two-fifteen was notably a crowded highway; most people would¡¯ve been off work by now. He sighed as his stomach grumbled a bit. Alex silently cursed, knowing he should¡¯ve stopped and rested at that old diner. Though he did eat beforehand, riding the motorcycle always caused hunger. Maybe it was due to the bike¡¯s rumbling or the frosty air against his face.


    I¡¯ll stop by a convenience store and buy something. When¡¯s the next exit?


    Alex slowed his speed to a reasonable sixty-five. The frosty wind flicked his short hair, kneading it in many directions. He took a deep breath, sucking in the fresh scent of damp dead grass that wafted through the wind. However, that inhalation also caused him to open his mouth and yawn. He shook his head, trying to stay awake, but his strained eyes could barely last. He then tugged at his handle, speeding a bit more as he passed a bright green ramp sign that said Riverlands, one mile.


    That place.


    He hadn¡¯t considered it, but going through that city would easily cut his time by thirty minutes. He¡¯d ride it to the coast and reach Banks City in no time. Zoey would be happy if I¡¯d arrived earlier than expected. And I could get some sleep.


    Alex slowed his speed even further. It¡¯d already taken him an hour to get here, even without traffic. But those reports in the media about aggressive people also sparked in his mind. If they were true, there could be problems.


    What am I thinking? I don¡¯t even have to step off my bike, he reminded himself. Besides, it was nighttime¡ªhe could run through the stoplights if he had to. Not to mention, Eric¡¯s a deputy¡ªI can easily get out of any trouble. Alex grinned, shifted into high gear, and sped toward Riverlands.


    Eventually, the small town¡¯s lights came into view over the canopy of dense forests. It was a majestic sight; the glistening skyline blended with the stars spectacularly, appearing as a colorful painting for his eyes to see. Alex wished he could dance among them. But he soon returned his focus to the road. The vibrations from the roaring motorcycle rumbled through Alex¡¯s body. He loved going fast, feeling the adrenaline as gusts of wind brushed past his skinny body and frosted up his exposed neck. But, as he drove off of the exit ramp and down onto Short Street, he noticed something unusual.


    It was utterly empty, void of any night dwellers. Aside from the few cars parked on the side of the road, there were no people. What the hell¡¯s up with this place? First the freeway, now here? Alex groaned. But something else unnerved him, causing his body to shake. A disgusting smell wafted in the air. It was rancid, like an animal that had died and cooked in the sun.


    What the hell? Alex gagged. It was overwhelming for his senses; he had to pull over. Warm bile slowly rose in his throat as saliva flooded his mouth. He quickly swallowed it back down. Eric would be more than pissed if his expensive helmet became a vomit bag. Alex slowed his roll and drove into the closest building on the right. Without warning, he pulled off his helmet, breathing deeply. Though the smell still lingered, it wasn¡¯t as bad.


    His stomach muscles ached, legs wobbling, as he suppressed the desire to vomit. He blinked slowly; his eyelids felt full of lead. The night barely arrived, but he was already tired. Trying not to puke while acclimating to the rancid odor was challenging. It¡¯s like college all over again when you have that awful hangover. He didn¡¯t want to think about how embarrassing it was to get wasted and then spend the following day by the toilet while Eric rubbed his back. It was worse when they laughed¡­


    Darkness came quicker than he¡¯d realized. Alex could barely see other buildings further down the road. It was strange that not even the street lamps were on. However, at least the outside lights of the building were on. Alex sighed as he shut off the engine. I¡¯ll take a break inside and get this horrible taste out of my mouth.


    Alex slowly hopped off, leaving his helmet and street jacket on the seat, and meandered to the curb. The building looked to be an apartment complex. It was a single, long building, though with the pitch-black night, it was difficult to see the edges on either side. It didn¡¯t help that double glass doors showed an inside darker than pitch black.


    He narrowed his eyes as he cautiously stepped up onto the sidewalk. But then, he stopped when the lights flickered overhead. He clenched his jaw as goosebumps formed on the back of his neck. Alex wasn¡¯t scared. Nonetheless, he didn¡¯t deny that this place was creepy.


    No people outside or cars? Someone had to be playing a trick, right? Alex then rolled up his sleeves, hooking them onto his elbows, before tightening the straps of his small dark backpack. Finally, Alex shoved his keys into the waist pack¡¯s smaller compartment. This is nothing.


    He gulped down warm saliva as he made his way to the entrance. Whoever was screwing with him will have another thing coming. Suddenly, the echoing of his shoes turned into a thick, squelching noise. Alex stopped dead in his tracks. His heartbeat sped up drastically, fearing the worst. He slowly lowered his head, heartbeat thumping loudly in his ears, and found that he had stepped into a dark, sticky liquid. It splattered in a large puddle on the pavement.


    What the hell¡­? Alex gulped. Is this blood? He couldn¡¯t tell anymore if this was some prank or if someone really was messing with him. He looked closer; small bits of a chunky substance and more splotches trailed through the doors. A heavy feeling suddenly washed over him, like he shouldn¡¯t be there. Maybe the rumors were true. The wind blew slightly, causing several trees to stir around. Alex stayed focused on what he was staring at, ignoring the gentle whispers of the leaves.


    What if this is real? Alex thought.


    With the blood trailing inside, someone could be hurt and likely need help. Even though Alex¡¯s gut screamed at him to leave, he had to be sure. If this was all a joke, I can laugh my ass off speeding the fuck out of here. But what if it wasn¡¯t? Alex gulped again. He knew to call for help in emergencies, but this would be the first. Finally reaching the glass doors, Alex wrapped his small left hand against the icy cold handle. His breath appeared as a cloud of white smoke and brushed up against the glass, causing it to fog.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Caw! Ca-caw!


    Alex jumped to the sound of a crow¡¯s calling and flapping wings. Before readjusting, the crow was long gone. Stupid bird. That was the worst time to do that.


    Alex pulled out his small golden flip lighter inside the dark main lobby. He thumbed over the imprint of a stallion on the front. Then he finally flicked on its bright orange light. It was hypnotizing as the little flame danced in the air and gave off a beautiful glow around the vicinity. I¡¯m glad I brought you with me.


    Alex then stuck his arm out and approached the front desk. With the guiding light, his other hand pressed upon the wooden counter. On the other side of the desk, Alex could vaguely make out a dark silhouette lying on the floor. He then rubbed his eyes, trying to fully adjust to the orange glowing light. But even as he looked around, there wasn¡¯t anyone there. What¡¯s going on?


    Just then, a light scuffling came from behind. Alex turned slightly and spotted another shadowy figure against the wall, dry heaving.


    ¡°Are you okay!?¡± Alex rushed over to him. The man¡¯s wheezing throat let out a light groan. The man was older, with dark hair and tan skin, and he looked to have cataracts in his eyes. His wheezing continued, and Alex finally saw why he was having trouble breathing. His abdomen had a dark stain, but his hand covered most of it. There was also a clear indication of blood oozing out through his fingers. Alex jumped to his feet and headed for the door. ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll get some ban¡ª!¡±


    A tall figure slammed against the glass door, causing Alex to shriek. He didn¡¯t look normal; his skin was a sickly gray, and his eyes were of that similar white. On top of that, his disheveled clothes were stained in dark red blood. The lunatic snapped his mouth open and closed as he slid his matching bloody hands on the glass downward.


    Alex backed up, his legs shaking. He shook his head at the crazy man when suddenly, a deep, raspy groan came from his left. It was that other man, shuffling slowly up to his feet. Alex stared back, mouth agape as the injured man limped toward him, groaning slightly. It looked as though the wound didn¡¯t faze him.


    ¡°Hey, wait a minute,¡± Alex whispered. But the stranger didn¡¯t respond, only moving within arm¡¯s length as the other started slamming against the glass doors. Alex flinched as it began to crack, sending bits of glass flying.


    Then, without warning, the man opened his mouth and lunged at Alex. Thankfully, his small frame let him slip to the left, and the lunatic fell onto the floor. Adrenaline flushed through his system; it was time to leave.


    I thought that guy was hurt. Was he gonna bite me?


    The stranger then started to drag himself toward Alex while producing a raspy wail. His dirty-looking fingernails scraped against the carpeted floor as he inched closer. Alex backed away cautiously, maintaining the distance. He then flicked off his lighter and shoved it back into his pocket. Alex didn¡¯t dare take his eyes off the crawling thing as he did. An awful gurgle came from the man¡¯s throat, groaning some more as if he were starving.


    Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­


    A cacophony of heavy sounds came from the entrance. More of those crazy people were grouped up outside. The outside lamp illuminated about four of them; they stood crammed against each other as they slowly slammed against the glass some more.


    Alex¡¯s heart rate rose rapidly as another one of those crazy people launched up and over the front desk; stained hands reached out and tried to grab him, but they missed just shy of an inch. The glass doors finally gave way, shattering shards everywhere as those people shuffled in. They were all similarly disheveled and had dark stains on their clothes and faces. Alex then gasped at the sight of their exposed flesh; bite marks were everywhere. His eyes widened, and his legs started to tremble.


    What¡¯s up with these people? Why are they after me?


    Alex hastily turned his head back and spotted a door and an open hallway on the right. With one final glance around, he sprinted toward the hall. Their cries of insanity caused his head to ache; he didn¡¯t realize he¡¯d been hyperventilating as a result.


    I need to get away!


    Taking the right turn down the hall, Alex nearly toppled over as he abruptly stopped. Down on the floor, he spotted one of them, with long, shaggy hair ruffling around as they were hunched over something, digging at it aggressively. The obstreperous growls mixed with saliva created a distorted reverberation in the air. Dark liquid splattered everywhere and even drenched into the attacker¡¯s tattered clothes.


    No. No way.


    Alex slowly backed away, his legs trembling with dread. Then, the crazy person stopped and arched its head up. Finally, it turned to face him. Its mouth, bloodied and full of freshly ripped flesh, caused Alex¡¯s stomach to churn. His throat was dry, but he couldn¡¯t swallow saliva to fix it. Without warning, the crazy person finally dropped the flesh and rose from its sitting.


    Alex shook his head as more hungry moans came from the room prior. He then rushed back to that other door. In a quick motion, he grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. However, it was stuck fast. No, you can¡¯t be serious! Alex then slammed his shoulder against the door, but it still refused to budge.


    Come on! He pleaded. The warmth of those strange people tickled the nap of his neck. He was more than uncomfortable as their guttural groans and gross breath caused his body to cringe. But Alex kept ignoring the discomfort and slammed into the door. Then, he instantly jerked back; two of those people had latched onto his backpack. They tugged hard, making it impossible for Alex to break free. The struggle was more than enough stalling for the others to encircle the poor young man. Some of them snapped their jaws at him.


    ¡°Fine!¡± Alex shouted, slipping his arms out of the straps. ¡°Take it!¡±


    As the ones holding on stumbled, Alex barged into the door again, finally breaking the lock and stumbling in. Without a second thought, he quickly slammed the door shut. He had to block the entrance and fast! Thankfully, a tall metal locker was against the wall. Alex rushed over and pulled with all his strength. He gritted his teeth as the locker scraped against the tile. Small veins in his neck popped out as his face reddened.


    Please, please!


    The locker finally blocked the door, keeping out those people. Alex swayed for a second before collapsing onto the ground. He sighed. I didn¡¯t lose my wallet; it¡¯s okay.


    A slight chill ran up his spine as darkness surrounded him. His skin formed tight little bumps and perked up the light hairs on his arms. The ghastly moans from those people¡ªthose things echoed through the door. Alex quivered his lips and curled his legs close to his body. He wanted to cry, but no tears would come out. What is wrong with this place!? Screw this, I¡¯m going home.


    He shut his eyes and put his head on his knees. ¡°This has to be a dream. But when will I finally wake up? That guy¡ªhe was eating it¡ªlike a zombie...¡±


    I have to get out of here¡ªout of this city¡­


    The banging and the unnatural cries finally ceased. Alex lifted his head and glanced around the room. It was tiny, rectangular, and had a door at the far end of the right wall. But no monsters, thankfully. Alex rubbed his eyes, letting them fully adjust to the darkness. Then, he carefully stretched his legs out and stood up. As he did, he pulled out his phone, immediately dialing Eric¡¯s number when¡ª


    ¡°What the...?¡± Alex¡¯s eyes widened. The service was dead. He silently cursed to himself. No service meant no help; how wonderful. ¡°Guess the rumors were true. This place has gone insane.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Alex needed to get back to his bike. However, with those things roaming outside, it might be difficult with only his bare hands. Despite being wounded, or rather undead, it seemed like they had impressive strength still; it¡¯d probably be impossible to break free. Alex rubbed his sore shoulders. If I didn¡¯t sacrifice my backpack, I would¡¯ve been¡­


    He shuddered, thinking about it. He¡¯d need some sort of protection; those people were clearly trying to harm him. A wooden broom rested against the wall, but he retracted his hand from picking it up.


    ¡°I doubt that would work. If they latch on, I¡¯m done for.¡±


    Alex cupped his elbows as he walked to the right-side door. The adjacent room was thinner and longer. On the left wall, by the opening, had metal shelves packed with various assortments. Alex then moved past that, where a small desk of tan wood struck his attention. His gaze fell on a small, folded note and a holstered handgun that rested gently on top of the desk. He raised both his brows and took a deep breath. The gun looked real; it looked deadly. He took a step back, body swaying. He wasn¡¯t terrified of firearms. After all, Eric owned plenty of them. But that didn¡¯t stop his heart from racing at the sight of them. He cursed under his breath at Eric; the man should¡¯ve taught him how to use one.


    ¡°He¡¯s the best marksman in the state; how ironic.¡± Alex sighed. ¡°You¡¯re on your own in a town full of crazy people. And you have no choice but to use that to survive. What a night.¡±


    But before he did anything, Alex first took hold of the note. The sand-colored paper was rough in texture and worn down, but Alex paid no mind as he unfolded it and began to read.


    November first, morning.


    I¡¯m all alone. Caitlin ran an¡¯ left me stranded. I¡¯m not infected an¡¯ I know I can still take the freeway to escape. But it¡¯s a long shot. Those things¡¯re out there. Dammit! If anyone reads this, get outta town! This place is infested with zombies!


    The rest was blank.


    Are those people really zombies? Alex wondered. If they are, then I have no choice. I have to use this.


    He placed the paper back down and finally grabbed the holstered gun. The holster was soft, with a belt clip-on and straps to attach to the thigh. He took a quick breath, clipped the two support straps to his thigh, and finally secured the main line to his belt.


    So this is it¡ªthe real deal. Alex pulled the gun from its attached holster. It was a two-toned handgun; the silver barrel had a black frame underneath. It was sleek in design but had sturdy-looking grips. It wasn¡¯t as heavy as he thought it would be, and he wondered if Eric¡¯s was the same.


    I don¡¯t know how many bullets this thing carries, but a gun¡¯s a gun, he thought confidently. Etched into the side of the barrel was the phrase Glock 48. His index finger naturally found its way toward the trigger. His thumb rubbed against the trim line that separated the slide and the frame as he inspected it further.


    Eric¡¯s gun had a safety button somewhere, but I don¡¯t see anything similar. And where¡¯s that flicky thing in the back? Alex raised his brow, confused. How do I even use this gun¡­? Do I pull the trigger? Eric, you ass. He sighed and lowered his head. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll learn as I go. Hopefully, I¡¯ll have time to figure this out.¡±


    Alex slowly entered the next room and exited a long hallway toward the right. But Alex couldn¡¯t venture further. He quickly pinched his nose and gasped. A putrid smell had permeated his nose and mouth. Mixed with the dry scent of mold and probably rotten meat, Alex couldn¡¯t help but gag.


    Ugh, what is that?


    His head pulsated a bit from the intense, wavy mixture of aroma. Down on the floor, leaning up against the wall, was the corpse of an older, heavier man nestled against the corner. A large, fatal-looking bite was seared into his neck. His shirt was ragged and bloodied; it was impossible to tell its original color. His dark hair covered his lowered face; even so, Alex could see bits of his sunken-in grayish skin. He gulped at the gruesome sight.


    That¡¯s a real dead body, he thought. A slight shiver ran up his spine, causing him to tense his shoulders. I hope I don¡¯t end up like you.


    Alex slowly looked up and saw a glowing green exit sign pointed behind him. He smirked and turned back. As he did, his face suddenly dropped when he saw a large metal crate blocking the exit door.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± He groaned out loud. Of course, something¡¯s blocking my way.


    Alex shook his head as he walked over. He then positioned himself against the crate. He tried with all the strength he could muster to push the thing. Holding his breath until his face turned pink, Alex switched from using his arms to anchoring his body against it. But nothing worked. The slippery, smooth tile didn¡¯t help either, causing his gray shoes to slide and give way. Finally, he gave up, panting heavily. His thin arms barely made it budge.


    Darn it. I need to find another way. Alex turned about and lurched forward, eventually coming up to a T-intersection.


    Two ways, he thought. Going along the main path was the better option. The side path likely wouldn¡¯t lead back to the lobby, and he needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. Hopefully, those crazy people were gone, too.


    A safe bet. Once he finally reached the corner at the end of the hall, he pressed his back against the wall¡¯s edge, keeping his gun close. A faint, blurry static tickled the shell of his right ear, and with a couple of breaths, Alex whipped around the corner, flicking his weapon out. The leading hall had another dead body resting in the middle of the floor. Behind it was several amounts of luggage blocking him from going through. The body looked like a male police officer wearing a typical blue and black uniform. Though he lay in a thick pool of dark blood, Alex only spotted a few bite marks on his exposed neck. The officer also looked young, as he had a fresh face, short, unkempt hair, and hollow eyes, likely a rookie¡¯s first day on the force.


    Alex then looked over and spotted something even more interesting. There was a little brass key clutched by the officer¡¯s hand. I wonder what that unlocks. He took a step closer as the static crackle increased. A small radio on the officer¡¯s belt started to voice a message, though it wavered a bit, likely due to the signal.


    ¡°Requesting... backup... south side....¡±


    Alex felt a little lump forming in his throat. I wonder how bad they have it.


    ¡°Infected with a... stay alert... bullets... slow....¡±


    The radio finally shut off with a burst of static, allowing silence to fill the air and leave him with his thoughts. I doubt it¡¯ll be easy getting out of the city. I might need to wait until dawn.


    Alex carefully knelt down and snatched the radio. It was very light and looked like it still worked. He clipped it to his own belt. Finally, he reached over and snagged the little key as an ominous feeling suddenly washed over him. His heart raced drastically; its thumps grew louder and louder in his ears and throughout his body. Alex quickly stood up and backed away. Maybe this key unlocks a different exit.


    Rushing around the corner, going back to the T-intersection, Alex came to a quick halt. His eyes widened, his body stiffened, and his legs felt like lead. Looking forward, a tall, shadowy figure stood swaying in the middle of the hall. It moaned slightly and took a few steps toward him.


    What the? Did it really just get back up? Alex¡¯s breathing slowly became erratic. His hand squeezed his Glock handgun until his fingers turned bright red. Within a short moment, that dead guy had covered now a few feet; he was too close for comfort. Alex raised his Glock 48 and aimed it at its chest. But he didn¡¯t shoot. His finger stiffened over the trigger as his arms started to shake.


    Shoot! His brain screamed internally.


    The horrid groans from it got louder and louder, overtaking the pulsating noise in Alex¡¯s ears. His breathing became uneven as he struggled to fire. The zombie was too close now. Shambling up to him, it was way larger than Alex had thought. Its battered gray skin had several bite marks on the arms and neck. Half of its jaw was broken, and the right side of its face had flesh wholly removed. However, its decrepit white eyes were focused on a singular target.


    It lunged without warning, its greedy, rotten fingers curling around Alex¡¯s smaller shoulders. All he could do now was try and push it back. He tried as best he could but was losing ground fast. Alex shut both eyes and clenched his teeth while struggling to stop this monster from biting his throat. The zombie-like man hungrily bemoaned and rapaciously snapped its jaw at the young man; its blood-stained teeth and foul breath burned Alex¡¯s nostrils.


    I can¡¯t¡ªhold it off!


    Alex¡¯s eyes widened as the zombie lunged in for a bite to his neck when suddenly, a gunshot went off. The aggressor¡¯s strength quickly faded as both collapsed to the floor. Blood splattered as the zombie¡¯s head smacked the ground; tiny bits of flesh sprung out across the floor. The body lay there motionless, how a dead man should be.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Alex pressed his hand against his chest, feeling his heart pounding. His ears and neck burned a bright red as he caught his breath. But he was alive, thanks to someone standing directly across from him. His dark green eyes soon trailed up to meet his savior¡¯s.


    A man had stood before him with light brown eyes and similar-toned crew-cut hair. The front of his hair was neatly gelled up, forming little spikes. Looking closer at his face, the man had a more structured face that showed off young, crescent laugh lines and a chiseled jawline. His nose bridge looked solid and long, with his nostrils being balanced. A small dark shadow molded nicely around his jaw. Alex then skimmed both ears and noticed small, shiny black studs in the lobes. The stranger lowered his gun, allowing Alex to see some impressive biceps and a broad chest. Though they weren¡¯t larger than Eric¡¯s, this guy still looked like he could handle his own.


    He wore a tight, gray button-down shirt. It was most likely a uniform, as the name Miller¡¯s Autoworks was embroidered on the left breast pocket. The hem of his button-down was semi-tucked into his belted black jeans.


    When he stepped closer, Alex could see that this man towered over him; he had to be six feet at least, probably a few inches taller than what Alex surmised. He hadn¡¯t known many men who were that tall¡ªEric was only six inches taller than Alex at five-eleven. This dude could break me if he wanted to. Easily. Alex gulped, his face flushed pink.


    ¡°You okay?¡± he whispered to Alex. His deep voice was dry sounding, almost exhausted.


    Alex took a much-needed breath. Then he said calmly, ¡°Yeah¡­ I think so.¡±


    ¡°Good. Fucking hell, I didn¡¯t expect another survivor here.¡±


    Despite the corpse bleeding out onto the floor, Alex¡¯s stomach remained still. Alex¡¯s eyes trailed to the rotten corpse. Surprisingly, his stomach remained still as he watched it twitch; dark blood oozed out of the bullet hole. Then, out of the corner of his eye, the stranger walked over to it, and he flinched. The man then kicked it slightly with his work boot. ¡°Dammit, Micky, you shoulda left when I told ya to.¡±


    ¡°Neighbor?¡± Alex asked.


    The stranger turned his head and looked down. ¡°Yeah, he lived in three-B.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Alex curled his legs in. He probably shouldn¡¯t have pried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I got ¡¯em. It shouldn¡¯t get up for a while,¡± the man confirmed, changing the subject.


    ¡°Thanks, by the way,¡± Alex whispered back shyly. His voice, much higher, caused a churning sensation in his stomach.


    ¡°No problem. I kinda like being an action man.¡± The man smirked. ¡°Call me Keaton.¡± He raised out a hand.


    Alex nodded and took it. His scrawny body was easily lifted to his feet. Just the roughness of Keaton¡¯s thicker hand and strength caused Alex¡¯s face to flush red. They were similar to Eric¡¯s, though Keaton¡¯s hands clearly worked on some machinery; Eric, on the other hand, focused more on firearms. His face stayed red as he stuttered to say his own name.


    ¡°Hey, I gotta ask....¡± Keaton suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Alex cleared his throat.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you shoot ¡¯em? You know they aren¡¯t people, right?¡±


    ¡°I-I know. It¡¯s just¡­¡± Alex was at a loss. He didn¡¯t really know this man, yet somehow felt as though explaining his whole life story would justify everything.


    I¡¯ll keep it simple, he reasoned in his mind. He should know.


    ¡°I uh,¡± Alex continued, ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to use it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Keaton cocked a brow and tilted his head slightly to the right.


    Alex couldn¡¯t bear the stare; his face tinged red instantly. He backed up, raising his shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s not even mine¡ªI-I found it. I¡¯ve also never really had an interest in them¡­¡±


    A small chuckle escaped from Keaton¡¯s mouth, prompting Alex¡¯s face to redden even more.


    Oh great, now he¡¯s laughing at me.


    ¡°Alex, it¡¯s aight. Let me teach you real quick.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    Keaton waved his hand off. ¡°Of course. Especially when I¡¯ll need you to return the favor, but first, lemme see your gun.¡± He got closer and gripped the handgun slide, persuading Alex to let go. ¡°Glock 48¡­ single stack, it seems, and it¡¯s lighter than an 18 model.¡±


    ¡°That a good thing?¡± Alex asked.


    Keaton shrugged. ¡°Depends. Well, I guess for you, it¡¯d be okay.¡±


    Then, the man aimed Alex¡¯s gun away and pulled the slide back before pressing a small button on the left side with his thumb. The magazine ejected onto his open hand, and Keaton then checked it quickly. Satisfaction filled his wide smile, and he refilled it and then put the slide back in place. Finally, Keaton handed it back to Alex.


    ¡°Your gun carries ten rounds. But there¡¯s only nine bullets left,¡± he explained.


    Alex nodded. Whoever had this gun before already used one. I hope it was on one of those zombies. He tried not to picture the worst.


    ¡°I know some of the cops around here use Glocks. We can look for more mags if we find one of their cars.¡± Keaton said, taking a few steps away.


    ¡°Sounds like a good plan,¡± Alex nodded to his newfound friend. ¡°Oh, wait, what about your gun?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Keaton raised his gun upward and showed its left side. His thick hands wrapped around its grip nicely. The weapon itself appeared evened out in his hand. ¡°My boss¡¯s weapon, a standard USP.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between ours?¡±


    ¡°Nothing that¡¯d really concern you. So long as you hit your target, all guns work the same.¡±


    Alex paused, placing a finger on his chin; not a moment later, another question popped into his mind. He spoke, ¡°How many bullets can it carry?¡±


    Keaton released the magazine quickly. He then showed Alex its spine, which had fifteen little holes. Most of them had a golden shine; however, only five at the base were blacked out. ¡°It¡¯s not a lot,¡± he started. ¡°But fifteen should be more than enough¡ªI won¡¯t miss.¡±


    Alex was impressed by Keaton¡¯s confidence, but he knew this man was serious. Given that he was alive, he had no reason to doubt either. And the accuracy, too; it was cool to see another guy aim with such precision. Oh, Eric, you might have a run for your money.


    Then, a horrendous snarl bounced off the walls. Alex gasped, glancing from side to side. He didn¡¯t know where it came from, but it sounded close.


    ¡°Well shit, I was gonna let you practice on the dead one, but I guess experience is best with one that still moves!¡± Keaton flicked his head slightly, signaling Alex to face the side hall.


    Another zombie stumbled through the hall toward the two. It was a male with shaggy blonde hair and white eyes. The zombie had on a simple sky-blue t-shirt and dark pants. Bite marks across its gray flesh were seen, particularly on its exposed arms and right underneath its jawline. Though taller than Alex, it could barely lift its upper torso as it moved with a limp gait. A horrendous bloody piece of metal rammed into its right thigh. It didn¡¯t even care that it was wounded. Its milky white eyes were set on the pale young man before it.


    ¡°W-Wait! I can¡¯t hit a moving one yet!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be okay. I¡¯m right here.¡±


    Alex swallowed, nodded, then pointed his gun.


    ¡°Use the gun¡¯s sights to determine the distance and aim for the chest; enough bullets should bring it down.¡± Keaton stood tall, legs shoulder width apart, with arms folded. ¡°And grip the gun tightly; otherwise, you¡¯ll limp wrist it.¡±


    Alex did as he was told, tightening his grip as he looked down the sights until all three white dots lined up. ¡°Why not the head?¡±


    ¡°You might use more bullets trying to hit a small moving target¡ªnah, it¡¯s safer just to hit the torso,¡± Keaton explained. ¡°Also, take your time between shots, and only squeeze the trigger once you¡¯re ready to fire.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Alex teased his handgun¡¯s trigger by slightly pushing the latch back.


    ¡°If you¡¯re ready, fire.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know why, but listening to Keaton¡¯s calm voice cleared his head. Alex had no trouble and focused on the limping target. Even with the callous growls hitting his ears, Alex didn¡¯t go astray; he blinked as he inhaled. Then, he finally squeezed the trigger, letting out a loud gunshot.


    The bullet burst through the left side of the zombie¡¯s chest, but that didn¡¯t stop the monster. Alex slid his foot back, gasping slightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± whispered Keaton.


    Alex nodded, not taking his eyes off the target. Then, he fired his gun again and again. After three rounds, the zombie finally collapsed into an oozing pool of dark blood.


    ¡°I got it.¡± Alex lowered his Glock 48 and glanced up at his friend.


    ¡°Nice job.¡± Keaton smiled widely and stuck his thumbs up. ¡°I think you can take on just about anything.¡±


    Alex¡¯s face reddened, prompting him to glance away. His body jittered excitedly. He wanted to shoot it again¡ªto hit another target. Keaton then took his thick, heavy hand and patted Alex¡¯s back. He gave a curt nod before pulling his hand away. At that moment, Alex wondered why Eric refused to teach him. He almost wished that man did, to at least experience this together.


    When I get out of here, I¡¯ll show you. I¡¯ll be just as good as you, Alex thought.


    ¡°Ready to get out of here?¡± Keaton then asked.


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a shelter about a few blocks away¡ªI¡¯ve been trying to navigate around all this shit, but with Freeman Street being the only way, it¡¯s not been easy. Everything is fucking blocked off with wreckage or police barricades. Hell, even some fires have made alleys inaccessible. ¡°Why must everyone panic in a damn crisis¡­?¡± Keaton shook his head and looked away briefly.


    ¡°Is that why you¡¯re here then?¡± Alex questioned.


    He raised a brow before letting out a soft chuckle. ¡°Nah, going back home was just on the way to.¡± He then elaborated further. ¡°I mainly wanted to come back and grab some of my legal documents¡ªimportant shit, ya know; can¡¯t escape the city without ¡¯em. But just crossing the street from work took a bitch and a half too. Fuck.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°You live around here? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen your face before.¡±


    Alex shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m from a town up north.¡±


    ¡°Lucky you.¡±


    ¡°I doubt that,¡± Alex muttered as he glanced around.


    Keaton laughed, his voice rich with vigor. ¡°C¡¯mon, let¡¯s get out of here. With all the noise you¡¯ve made, I¡¯m sure more zombies will come.¡±


    Alex blinked, slightly annoyed. But the grin on Keaton¡¯s face told him to loosen up. Once they were ready, the duo finally headed back toward the blocked exit door.