Now and then, a ripple of excitement ran through the horde as the infected stumbled upon something living. A cat, dog, rat, or human, it didn’t matter to them. A quick yowl, bark, or a scream, and it was all over. Blood ran red in the alleyways.
The noise swelled above the crowd and washed over her. It tugged at her nerves until she wanted to huddle down and cry. It was almost as bad as the smell, and she quickly tied her bandanna around her mouth.
“Where did they all come from?” Wanda asked, pressing one trembling hand to her lips.
Tom shrugged, a helpless gesture. “I don’t know. They’re coming from the south.”
“Migrating, perhaps?” Wanda asked.
“Maybe. They were pretty scarce during the cold. It could be that they’re returning with the coming of spring.”
Wanda paled. “If that’s the case, we’re doomed. Winter was tough enough without hordes of migrating infected to deal with.”
Tom sighed. “I pity anyone caught in their path.”
“Screw them; I pity us. How do we get down from here?” Wanda asked.
“We don’t. We stay put until they move on,” Tom said, shrugging off his backpack. “Once the streets are empty, we can bail down the fire escape.”
“Whenever that might be,” Wanda said with a shudder.
“Well, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. It’s going to be a long wait,” Tom said, sitting down.
Wanda followed his advice. He was right. They weren’t going anywhere. Not until the horde continued on its way. She chewed on her lower lip as she settled onto her blanket roll. “I’ve never seen so many in one place. Not like this. Do you think we stand a chance, Tom? Does humanity?”
Tom stared at her for several seconds, his shoulders drooping. “I don’t know, Wanda. They outnumber us a hundred to one. Probably more. Unless someone, somewhere can pull off a miracle, this could be the end of humanity.”
Tom’s words sent a cold shiver down her spine, and Wanda pulled her knees up to her chest. They had an ominous ring to them, and for the first time since the apocalypse began, she felt truly helpless.
The end of humanity.
***
Jacksonville, Florida; 11:29 am
Rikke dropped to her haunches with her back pressed to the side of an abandoned car. She dragged a younger girl and boy down beside her and pressed one finger to her lips. Arely nodded, her baseball cap shadowing her eyes from the bright afternoon sun. Though only thirteen, she knew what to do, and kept silent while Rikke peered back the way they’d come. Beside her, Eli was as quiet as a mouse, his darting brown eyes the only sign of his fear.
With a despairing shake of her head, Rikke sank to the ground, “There’s too many of them. They’re everywhere. We can’t keep running.”
“What do we do?” Arely asked.
“I don’t know,” Rikke admitted, her stomach churning. This was her worst nightmare. Arely and Eli were her responsibility. She was in charge of their safety, and despite all the obstacles they’d encountered, she’d managed to keep them alive.
Eli tugged at her shirt before signaling to her in sign language. “I have an idea.”
“What is it?” Rikke signaled back, eager to hear his thoughts. Though still a child at ten years of age, Eli often noticed things she and Arely missed. She surmised his lack of hearing had sharpened his other senses. That, and the fact that he was insanely intelligent, meant he’d often saved their butts in the past.
“We hide in there,” he answered, pointing to an RV further up the road.
Rikke surveyed the vehicle with a thoughtful frown. It was parked next to the pavement, completely intact, and the windows were tinted. “Maybe. What do you think, Arely?”
Arely bobbed her head. “It’s worth a try.”
“Alright. Follow me,” Rikke said, sprinting toward the RV. She kept low to the ground and used every bit of available cover she could find. The kids stuck close to her side, neither making a sound.
She reached the vehicle and tested the door. It swung open with a slight creak, and she peered into the interior with wide eyes. Her knuckles tightened on the handle of her ax, but nothing jumped out to attack her. Still, she needed to make sure it was safe. “Arely, wait here with Eli while I check it out.”
“Okay,” Arely said. Her baseball bat rested against one shoulder, and her mouth was set in a determined line.
Rikke climbed up the steps and walked to the back, every sense on high alert, but she needn’t have worried. The inside was empty, with nobody in sight, either living or dead. The only sign of the previous owners was a glass of water on the counter and a couple of open suitcases on the bed. She guessed whoever it was had left the vehicle to hunt for supplies and never returned. Their loss, our gain.
“It’s clear. Come inside,” Rikke called in a low voice. As Eli and Arely entered the RV, she looked around. “Arely, close the door and all the curtains. We need to secure this place in a hurry.”
Through the back window, she could see the horde moving their way. They were still a fair distance off, but it wouldn’t take long for them to reach the RV. Once they did, Rikke and the kids would be trapped inside. Their only chance lay in remaining hidden. I hope this works.
Rikke turned back to the front and searched the cab for anything useful. A sun visor caught her eye, and she covered the front windshield from undead eyes. The keys were still in the ignition, and she engaged the central locking and parking brake.
Arely had closed the side door and
