Chapter 2

   "Get up Richard!" Gary yelled, shaking me vigorously from my sleep. I could hear hurried footsteps everywhere and there was panic in his voice. It's midnight and I could clearly see the horror in his eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked trying to get a pick of what's happening around me. A gunshot rang from below almost immediately. 

"Shit" I cursed and jumped out of bed grabbing my machete that has been resting idly on the wall.

"There are infected everywhere" he said while rubbing something off his forehead. I guess it's sweat. More shots was fired and I could hear Wayne yelling at Gary to wake me up on time.

I hurriedly put my things in my bag and grabbed three magazines for my Beretta and tucked it in my belt. 

Gary led the way and together we ran down the flight of stairs and I immediately spot what caused the commotion. Some of the infected had managed to break in through the back exit and are trying to make a feast of the people in the building. Joe and the others had tried to seal the exit, just then we heard a loud bang from the main entrance.

"Grab the furnitures and seal the door with it" I ordered and everyone started grabbing what they could find, chairs, tables etc. They kept pushing at the door and the weight on the door Increased due to the alarming rate at which they increased. It's obvious the hinges are going to fall off any time from now.

"Shit!" I cursed making Joe look me straight in the eye. I know what he's gonna say next. He was armed with an axe which I fell in love with immediately. Smiles

"What's it?" He asked holding the hilt of his axe tightly like his life depends on it. 

"It's not gonna hold them for long" I said pointing at the hinges.

"Gotta get out of here" Gary said grabbing Nick and headed towards the kitchen .

"We gotta go through the kitchen's window" he added.

We all hurried to the kitchen and in no time Gary tore down the plank Joe used in sealing  it during the day. Wayne was the first to go out through the window. He took out the few Infected he saw with his knife. He helped Nick out and one after the other we got out with Wayne helping us land perfectly outside the building.

Joe got out last and we all agreed to go out to the vehicle they brought 

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Joe asked not sure of the decision we made.

Wayne and i move stealthily towards the front of the building signaling to the rest to stay behind. I have my melee weapon with me, wayne also has his bat ready to swing at the slightest threat.

By this time, the infected has tore down the door to the entrance and are pouring in. There are a few still outside the building and I can count five already they're walking aimlessly around the front door.

I heard Nick scream and turned back to see what happened. An infected stuck out its head out of the window and tried to jump out, but Joe was fast enough to cut it's head off with his axe. 

"I really love that axe" I thought. I know the rest will be heading to the kitchen now and we need to get out of here.

As if Wayne was reading my mind, he made a run towards where we came through yesterday and I followed suit. With the rest catching up behind us.

The infected we saw earlier on staggered after us throwing thier hands at us as they come.

In no time we got to the spot where i saw them yesterday and Joe together with Wayne went to a Minivan parked by the side of the road and I guess that's our get away Vehicle. Joe opened the bonnet trying to fix it with Wayne behind the wheels starting it at Joe's instructions.

Gary went inside the vehicle and soon returned with two Ar-15 assault rifles. He tossed one to me with an extra loaded magazine which I caught expertly and examined. Nancy and Nick were told to get into the vehicle while we shoot the Infected coming after us in other to buy enough time for Joe and Wayne to fix the vehicle.

Gary and i took a few steps towards the horde and started shooting rounds after rounds at the infected. They kept coming in their numbers and I begin to wonder where the hell they're all coming from. 

I was surprised to see Nancy has joined us in the shooting when I heard a shot beside me. What the heck! I thought.

"You should be in the damn van" I said trying to make myself heard and also keeping an eye on the horde.

"I can handle myself mister" she replied with a smirk.

I looked at Gary who acted like he's not listening to us but I can see the dry smile at the corner of his mouth. 

"Fine" I said and reloaded my rifle. I watched Nancy shooting her Glock with the corner of my eyes and I was amazed at the way she picks her targets with precise precision.

"I'm out" Gary yelled and I realized we're doomed. This vehicle better work or we're gonna be breakfast to this hungry horde, I thought.

It's almost daybreak now and we can see things clearly now. I looked at my watch and realized it's 5:58am.

Gary brought out the revolver tucked to his side and resumed shooting. This time the horde are now close and I saw the need for an immediate escape.

"Fall back" I yelled while retreating and shooting at the same time. Thank God for the military I thought.

Nancy raced back to the van while Gary and I kept taking calculated steps back. It's crazy, but I'm scared right now. Scared this might be the end. If the van refuse to work, then we're all doomed. 

"What the hell's going on?" I yelled at Joe who was busy tightening something in the bonnet with shaky hands.

"Give me a sec" he replied with his voice quivering. Gary shot his last bullet and looked at me for a clue. That was when I knew we're damned. Nancy replaced him by shooting from the vehicle's window while Gary grabbed Wayne's bat and raised it at shoulder level ready to strike when the need rises.

I ran out of bullets and changed to my Beretta immediately. Sweats have started forming on my forehead and I felt really scared 'cause the infected seems to increase in number with every shot.

 

They got close this time around and I have to draw my machete and started hacking with adrenaline rushing in my system. Gary was doing justice with Wayne's bat too.

My machete stuck in an infected's head making it difficult to pull out. Another grabbed my shoulder from behind. I turned twisting it's hand carefully so I won't have any scratches and then threw it in an abandoned vehicle nearby.

An infected throw itself at me and I fell with it on me. Half of it's face has been bitten off and it really stinks. I hold it off with my hands as it continue gnashing it teeth together dropping some sticky substance on my face.

I turned my head away from it's face because it stinks badly and I guess it has been dead for a week or two. I felt like I would throw up.

I felt something tug at my boot and tried to take a look. Another infected was there trying to chew on my boot. "Shit" I cursed.

I kicked it with my other leg, but the stubborn thing won't bulge. I kept kicking it and also holding the one on top of me at the same time. I don't wanna be zombie meal, not now.

I felt someone yank the infected on my boot away and then something heavy hitting the other one from off me. It was Joe, he finished off the infected with the wrench he was holding and then stretched his hands to help me up. That was when I realize that the vehicle is now working.

I took Joe's hand, got up and saw the infected that has my machete stuck to his head dead on the floor. I put a foot on it's head and got my my machete out. The infected are still coming. This time Wayne was shooting from the vehicle with Nancy. I saw Gary staggering to the van and i silently prayed he's okay.

One of the infected draw Joe by the collar of his shirt but I cut the hand off with my machete. We increased our pace as the horde gave us a hot pursuit. 

Wayne already has the van ready to move when we got there. I got into the vehicle first. Joe was about to come in when an infected launched itself at him. He stumbled to the ground but was fast enough to get up. I left the door open so that it would be easy for him to come in.

He got into the vehicle, but before he could close the door, an infected grabbed his hand and sank it's teeth deep into it. Joe screamed in horror. He grabbed a screwdriver on the seat and stabbed the infected's eyes continuously with it. Joe kicked it out and closed the door.

Wayne put the van in motion and sped down the highway. I saw the horror in Joe's eyes even though he managed to smile at Nick who was now crying.

I blamed myself for putting Joe in harm's way, he wouldn't have been bitten if he didn't come back to save me. I watched as the horde kept coming after the car until they got out of view.

Joe coughed out blood and I know immediately that he won't make it. He's burning up and sweating profusely. His breath are coming heavily but he still managed to smile like everything is cool.

The rest of the journey was in silence. Nick kept staring at Joe with tears in his eyes while Nancy was staring out the window trying to hide her tears from Nick. Gary and Wayne never said a word, the latter just fixed his gaze on the road and concentrate on his driving.

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#TBC