Infection
Prologue
It felt as if my lungs were burning
as I gasped for air. I didn’t dare stop to catch my breath I just limped
forward as fast as I could jaggedly filling my lungs with air. My throat burned
and my heart pounded hard in my chest but I could feel my body fighting.
Keep going Aria!
I
mentally scolded myself for not checking the tall grass before I entered the
shed. It was as if it was lying in wait. It waited and watched me gather
supplies from the shed and on my last walk in it rose. It rose and staggered
after me and I had been caught foolishly in my surprise and staggered
backwards. Perfectly planned. Perfectly executed. I tripped falling rolling
down the hill feeling almost relieved through my pain but looked up in time to
catch it throwing itself down the hill after me. It tripped but slowly stood and
staggered towards where I lay trying to stand. I grabbed a branch and pulled
myself up but found my leg unsteady. I glanced upwards catching a glimpse of it's staggering walk, it's sun bloated skin all I could focus on as it closed in on me.
Move!
I screamed at my legs and slowly they started as if that simple command was the switch to turn them on. Pain shot through my leg as I tried to run. I could hear how closely behind me he followed, his deathly groans sounding as he closed in on me. The only remnants of his previous self a few patches of hair covered by a baseball cap. His bloated skin and rancid smell enough to make me retch if the circumstances had been different. Now I couldn't. I was only just out of his reach. I pushed myself.
Faster.
Faster!
His
growling echoed behind me as I ran through the grass.
Breathe!
My lungs
Burned.
Come on Aria!
I couldn't scream, my limited air wouldn't allow it. It wouldn't be any use
anyway. I would just attract more. The adrenaline pumped through my veins
pushing me. I lost my footing and felt myself falling. A rush of pain flooded through me and I could feel it as my hands reached out and
I gripped a nearby branch pulling myself up quickly and struggling to stay out
of his reach. He growled and clawed at the air where I had just moments before
been. Close behind him another had been attracted by his groans and staggered
before me filling the air with collaborated growls. They had hunted me like a lion after a deer and I was the one in the headlights.
Go, Aria, Go!
My efforts were in vain, it was no use. I could
no longer take in any air. My shallow gulps would no longer fuel me. My heart
sounded in time with my quick foot steps. I ran. I tried. But it was too late.
It was over.
