posted on Jul, 11 2010 @ 11:11 PM
Cap was on the ridge above the small town that was his second home. He could see the infected roaming about the streets below. Some were fighting
with each other, others were feeding on dead bodies. As he watched, more infected joined those already in the street. Cap swore, wondering if the
whole damn town had caught this plague.
They had received only 1 radio communication since leaving Seattle. A warning from another vessel. “Do not go ashore!” The vessel had not answered
their request for more information. Since then, nothing. It wasn't from lack of trying, there just wasn't anybody on the radio. It was obvious to
him now, that whatever was happening was not confined to the major cities and was spreading fast.
“Plan B” Cap thought, pushing himself up from the large boulder he was laying on and sliding off the backside, careful not to draw attention to
himself. He wasn't prepared to shoot everyone in town, though there were a few he wouldn't mind shooting, should he have the opportunity.
POP. POP. POP.
Shots!
Sticking to the cover of the trees, he followed the ridge-line toward the north end of town. He stopped just above the town's small jail and knelt
behind a rock. Peering through his rifle scope, he could see two people on the roof. Both were sitting near the edge, focused on the ground below, one
was armed. Cap counted 17 infected thrashing and beating against the wall of the building, trying to get inside.
POP. POP. POP.
Cap saw 3 infected hit the ground, dead. “Head shots” he noted, as he considered his options. Scanning the area around the jail, it appeared
empty. The infected were gathered at the front of the building, it seemed they somehow knew those two were on the roof.
Taking aim, he squeezed off 3 shots of his own and more infected hit the ground. “11 left” Cap mumbled.
Hearing Cap's shots, the guy on the roof jumped to his feet, waiving his arms to draw his attention. Cap looked closer and could see him more
clearly now “Damn” he said, “Ben?” He knew this guy. A friend of his son. He could also see that Ben was indicating they were low on ammo. Cap
swore and took aim again.
POP. POP. POP.
“3 more down” Cap thought, but the shooting was drawing attention. More infected were coming and a small group was sprinting in his direction, the
front-runners already at the bottom of the ridge, below him. Cap jumped to his feet and pointing with his rifle, indicated to Ben where he was going.
He wasn't sure if Ben could see him, but he didn't wait around. Cap turned and ran the other direction.
From the roof, Ben could see the infected scrambling up the ridge wall. He could barely make Cap out, but thought he saw him indicate direction. Then
Cap disappeared. He peered over the roof and noticed most of them were gone. It seemed the mass of them were now aiming for Cap.
“Time to go!” he said, grabbing the girl by the arm and running for the door.
“What? No!” she yelled, trying to pull away. “I'm not going down there!”
“Yes, you are!” Ben said, holding her arm tighter. “We can't stay here!”
Opening the rooftop door, they started down the stairs. Reaching the main floor without incident, Ben moved quietly to the barred window. Standing to
the side, he peered out. Nothing. He turned the bolt lock and winced as it retracted, making a small noise. He stepped outside, pulling her behind
him.
Cap had run about 200 yards at full sprint. He was now having difficulty breathing and was starting to think Emma was right, he should stop smoking.
He didn't have to look behind him to know they were there, he could hear their screaming and growling. He focused on the rock ahead,
his marker. He was almost there...
Ben spotted the old CJ-7 in the street and they made a run for it. Reaching the driver's side, he noted the keys in the ignition. “Get in!” he
yelled, lifting and nearly throwing her in. She scrambled to the back seat as Ben jumped in after. Screams to the right. More infected were making a
run at them.
Ben fired the engine and hit the gas. The CJ lurched and stalled. “F......!” he yelled, hitting the steering wheel. Trying again, he gunned it,
just as the first few infected reached them. In the mirror, he could see them grabbing for her. She was kicking and screaming trying to knock
two of them off her and off the the Jeep. Ben swerved towards a telephone pole, scraping the entire length of the Jeep and knocking them
off. In the mirror, he watched them bounce on the street.
“You okay?” he yelled to her, “you hurt?”
“Fine” she mumbled, tears streaming down her face, “I'm fine.”
Cap reached the rock marking the way off the ridge. Without slowing, he leaped over the rock and skidded down the trail, losing his footing halfway,
landing hard on his butt and sliding the rest of the way to the bottom, knocking the wind out of himself.
Gasping and wheezing, he rolled to his hands and knees, trying to catch a breath. Behind him, they were screaming and grunting and already
halfway down the trail. “Fast!” he thought. Cursing, he scrambled to his feet and ran for the street.
Ben was flying down the street, swerving to avoid deserted cars. Infected were invading the area, coming at them from all sides. “Bad, this is
bad” he thought. He was looking in his mirror and barely had time to react when Cap stepped out in front of them.
Screeeeeeech!
Ben reflexively stomped on the brakes uttering something unintelligible, in his surprise.
"Beach!" Cap grunted, jumping into the passenger side. “Go, go, go!"
Ben hit the gas and the Jeep screamed down the street, headed for the beach access road.
Neither of them were paying attention to the girl in the back. That would turn out to be a mistake...
[edit on 12-7-2010 by LadySkadi]