Infection Sneak Peak

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.