The Escape

I woke up to the shrieks and howls of the Pales, they were close. Possibly near the entrance to the highway to the city. I held my breath as they got closer. Then an ear deafening shriek was heard outside of the tank. I put my hands over my ears and gasped. They must have followed the scent of the blood from my wound! They were in a frenzy right outside screaming, shrieking and howling. I could hear claws scraping the tank, leaving gashes in the armor. I couldn’t tell what time it was but it must have been midnight.

I assumed that the adult Pales had gone for a hunt, found nothing and resided elsewhere from their nest. That was the only explanation as they were not present when I killed the pups. Now they were in a frenzy having found their pups slaughtered. This went on for hours leaving me exhausted by morning. I decided I would spend the day in the tank sleeping tomorrow, as I would be too tired to get far enough away.

By Morning they left and I pulled my can opener out of my bag and a can of peaches. I ate the peaches from the can. Treated my wound with disinfectant and gauze and went back to sleep. I awoke to more screeching, shrieks and howling. This lasted an hour and they did not come near my tank, so I slept more.

I awoke and listened. No shrieks, no howling. I pulled my torch out of my pocket and looked around. There is an assault rifle and some spent shells with magazines on the tank floor. I ignore the rifle, it’s too big and clunky to take with me. I look around more and spot some MREs, luck is on my side. I grab them and insert them into my bag. I look at the thermal blanket and cry inside. I wouldn’t be able to take it because it's too big for my bag. I have limited space for my inventory.

I know if I take the thermal blanket I wouldn’t have enough room for supplies. Then I open the hatch and the sunlight beams through and shines on my face. Looking around I noticed the gashes in the armor that I could hear being made last night as the sun was reflecting off the dusty tank. As I exited the tank I bought a water bottle out and took a sip and made my way back towards the city, hoping to find more supplies.        

It took me an entire hour to reach Costco where I looted supplies. I walked past it faster this time, I wasn’t going to risk another run-in with the pack of Pales. Especially the adult Pales who were the pup’s kin. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Couldn't walk slower than a march’s pace. I had to move fast. In the distance I could hear vehicles which I didn’t hear yesterday. This meant there were still people in this city. I had to be careful, I’m hesitant to meet new people as the apocalypse has changed everyone into cold blooded killers and stricken with the instinct to survive.

My cuts on my right hand stings as I walk the deserted streets, I’ll have to be careful it doesn't get infected, I thought to myself. I came across a corner store, a gas station. “This is as good as any,” I said to myself, there is enough sunlight inside to not need my flashlight. I walk in look and around, it’s pretty barren but there are some supplies. I find some potato chips, I quickly shove them in my bag, then wander over to the refrigerators and find some energy drinks and expired milk as well as a bottle with some ginger ale.

I take these too, minus the milk. I still wasn’t done with my scavenging just yet. I had good enough luck so far in this desolate, barren city I might as well hit another store that I see across the street. Hurrying myself across the road I enter the second store. It’s a bust, completely empty. I shake my head, exit the store and keep moving. It’s about noon at this point the sun is directly above me and I'm just getting started procuring resources. My bag is about half full with enough room for more items. It's a military grade bag that I “found” and if need be I can fill my trench coat pockets. I get walking again, soon enough in about an hour I come across a grocery store again. A chill running down my spine, I shiver remembering the Costco and how that was an unpleasant experience. I came close to dying there.

I got my torch out and shined it brightly around the few aisles near the entrance. There were bones scattered around so I froze and listened silently for breathing. There was nothing I could hear right now. Must have been an old den, I thought, I stepped around the bones carefully and entered the grocery store. First thing I noticed was the smell, the smell of rotting meat. I gagged covering my mouth and I moved further inside, the closer I got to the aisles the stronger it became. I noticed this store still had a lot of items on the shelves which made me more cautious. I pulled my sidearm with my right hand and my dagger with my left hand holding the torch in my mouth.

Adult Pale were more dangerous than pup Pales. Turning the corner of the aisle I was shaky, what I saw made sense as I quickly turned. There were at least 10-15 dead Pales all torn up and strewn around! Some aisles had been knocked over midway and flattened. This must have been a Pale against Pale conflict. Pales start to decompose very quickly within a matter of 5-10 hours nobody knows why but within a matter of 3 days they are just bones. This must have been what the adult Pales were up to when I killed the pups. I figure they must have fed on the dead Pales and rested here after the fight. I put my weapons away and took the torch from my mouth and put it in my hand again.

Looking around I noticed some cans, Chicken noodle, vegetable soup, and minestrone soup. I gathered about seven and stashed them in my bag. Feeling good about the haul I can leave the city. Hastily I made my retreat out of the store and ventured towards the highway as it would go through the streets and get me out. I follow the streets from the way I came through back to the highway, it’s not long till I leave the city and are back on the road. Feeling a little more at ease I have a happier attitude and get a few miles before dark starts to come. I am far enough from the city to not worry about the creatures behind me. I see a farmhouse and decide to spend the night there.

I walk over to the farmhouse, it looks deserted and some windows are cracked or shattered. The whole place was in shambles, weeds and overgrowth was everywhere on the outside. I tried the door handle, it was unlocked. I open the door and step inside, a musky smell hits my nostrils, a kind of smell I am used to. Inside was a living room with furniture scattered about and a tv, a dining room with a table and four chairs and a kitchen with a stove, a counter, cupboards and a refrigerator. 

A bathroom was also on the first floor. I relieved myself in the bathroom and find some unused untouched toilet paper and stashed four rolls in my bag. The house was two stories tall so I shut the door and headed upstairs. It’s  better to be on higher ground than the low ground where your scent could be picked up. Upstairs there were 3 rooms and a bathroom. I found a room not so musky and went inside. I was exhausted so I shut the door and got on the floor to sleep.