Chapter Twelve Allison
Dave had warned Allison that the fire road had not been maintained for years and would be a risk to drive down. He had given her some lessons in truck repair before she left and made sure she had the tools she would need to keep the truck going. He had not exaggerated about the road condition, if it could even be called a road anymore. The outline was still visible, but some holes were so large that if Allison drove into them the truck would never get out. She carefully navigated to avoid damaging the truck. Gigantic trees had fallen on the road over the years, but thankfully Allison could drive around them with the truck’s four-wheel drive. Allison heard a sound like someone yelling. She cracked the window so she could hear it more clearly. Someone was definitely yelling. To her left through the trees she saw someone running toward her, frantically waving his arms. He was maybe in his thirties with a large pack on his back.
“Please help me! Stop, stop!” he screamed as he burst from the woods into the cleared valley. He tore through the tall grass, running full speed toward Allison, arms pumping like a track star, his face twisted in terror.
Two Infected erupted from the woods beyond the valley, their bare bodies like streaks of white lightning across the green landscape. The lead Infected veered toward the man and the other one followed. Their rail-thin bodies scurried and gained quickly on their prey. The Infecteds’ eyes focused on the man, completely ignoring Allison’s truck as it bumped along. The lead Infected reared its head back as it released a piercing screech that sent chills down Allison’s spine.
She hit the brakes and the old truck jerked in response before it came to an abrupt halt as a third Infected emerged from the woods. She threw the truck into park but left it running. Allison opened the door with an unsteady hand as the beat of her pulse filled her ears, threatening to make her deaf. Breathe, just breathe. This is not the time to lose your shit. Allison grabbed her pistol, racked a bullet into the chamber, and leapt from the truck in one fluid motion. The familiar burn pulsated in her stomach as her body’s senses jolted to attention. Sweat covered her clammy hands as she gripped her pistol tight, her hands still shaking.
“Drop your bag! They’re right behind you!” Allison screamed to the man. Allison’s body throbbed with excitement like a kid on Christmas morning. Her hair stood on end as the heat grew in her belly, pushing its way outward.
The man’s backpack was not only secured with the shoulder straps but also had strips around his torso that clipped at the chest. He fumbled with the clip, but it wouldn’t budge. The man’s face contorted with fear and frustration as he struggled with his pack while trying to maintain his speed.
Allison’s mouth watered at the fear on his face. She shook her head, pushing away the desire to make the man scream, and refocused her attention on the Infected.
The lead Infected dove and seized the backpack. They both tumbled to the ground, disappearing from view. Allison raised her pistol, aimed, and fired, hitting the second Infected. Its body jolted back as the bullet tore into its chest. It fell and vanished in the tall grass.
The lead Infected climbed onto the man. The tall grass made getting a clear shot impossible. Allison’s eyes darted between the frenzied struggle in the grass and the straggler Infected running toward the fight.
The man screamed on his back and pushed up on the Infected’s chest, trying to free himself. The Infected held the man’s chest straps, pulling itself forward, jaws snapping at the man’s face. Allison moved forward with her gun raised and fired again, but missed. Damn it!
Her heart raced as the burn engulfed her body. Every beat of her heart sent a fiery jolt through her veins. Saliva trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes locked on the back of the lead Infected. Allison’s body moved toward the ensuing battle. The world around her became a blur as she broke into a run, her eyes darted between the two remaining Infected, her prey. She raised her gun, continuing to fire as she moved forward.
Her eighth shot hit the straggler Infected right as it reached the backpack man, and let out an ear-piercing scream. She fired again hitting it right in the chest sending it crashing to the ground.
The lead Infected sunk its teeth into the man’s face. It pulled away, a chunk of bloody flesh in its mouth, blood running down its chin. The backpack man screamed in pain and beat his fists against the Infected’s head. The man’s legs kicked upward trying to dislodge the Infected from on top of him. Allison aimed at the last Infected and pulled the trigger, but it just clicked. She looked down at the open rack, no bullet. She ejected the magazine, empty. She dropped the gun and ran toward the man.
I have to help him. The Infected looked up at her, its face covered in chunks of meat and skin. She made
