Page 37 of Redemption
It’s a possibility, but not one I’m about to test out at the moment. Slowly backing away, I take my time navigating the shelves until I return to the checkout window. I lift myself onto the counter, careful to avoid jostling anything that might fall. The opening I made out of the receptionist’s window is narrow, but I inch my way through, squeezing my butt cheeks tight and sucking in my torso as best I can. It’s a tight fit for my shoulders, but a little strategic contortion does the trick.
The corridors remain silent as I creep my way down the halls, tiptoeing around invisible bombs and the irritatingly squeaky floors. It feels like it takes hours but, eventually, I make it back to the front entrance, exiting and pushing the glass sliding doors back in place before I leave.
Directly across the road stands the shopping mall. Definitely a better option than staying in the hospital. Plus, it should at least provide an alternative choice of clothing as well as some other supplies. Maybe even some food if I’m lucky.
Still amped up on adrenaline, my heart pounds through my chest as I make my way over, relief just within my grasp as I place another barrier between myself and the horde temporarily kept at bay in the pharmacy. The doors screech as I enter, causing the hair on my arms to stand straight up, but all I’m met with is silence.
Thank God.
I don’t think I could’ve handled anymore—
I turn the corner and enter the main walkway.
Holy motherfucking fuck...
Deep groans echo in the darkened halls. Bloodied bodies press against window displays, their lips pulled back to reveal their gnarling teeth, arms stretched out in front of them while I’m frozen in fear on the other side of the glass partition. Only... like the ones in the pharmacy, they’re not attracted to me. There’s no hunger or racing desire to break through the glass to get to me on the other side.
Interesting....
Grasping my knife in hand, I turn on my heel and walk through the venue, testing my theory. The mall isn’t that large, and I can see sunlight streaming in from the far end. I just need to get there. Slow and steady.
I gulp down my insecurities. One wrong move and I’m definitely dead. There are only a couple dozen stores in here, but each one is filled to the brim. Their snarls echoing in the darkened space will be a regular recurrence for my nightmares after this, I’m sure. But, despite my rising fear, I aim for the doors at the other end, inching my way towards them. A few of the Infected stop and stare as I make my way past the storefronts, but I give myself a silent round of applause when I refrain from pissing myself as their sunken eyes follow my progression. That is until a handful stagger out from the food court area.
They stumble right for me, but I remain still, unmoving as they surround me.
I need to know.
Their jittery movements fill my vision. Deep growls fill my ears. The stench, unbearable. But I stay there.
Silent. And still.
A minute passes by, and then one of them moves away, broken steps leading them in another aimless direction. Then another leaves. And another.
It works...
You can camouflage yourself.
I make a mental note, but renew my progress towards the exit. A few agonizingly slow moments later, I walk through the doors at the other end with a stuttering breath, softly closing them shut behind me.
Pressing against the cold bricks of the building, I take a moment to assess my situation... and calm the fucking heart attack I almost had.
Covered in Infected fluids, I’m invisible to them.
But, wait a minute. We wereallcovered that first day. Well, maybe not all of us. I know I was, and a few of the others.
I focus back on that day and what might have been different. How I defended myself against the Infected. How they seemed to be coming for me, but... were they actually drawn to the guys in our groupnotdripping in blood? The ones we protected in the middle that carried all the gear? Now that I think of it, they weren’t covered in entrails like the rest of us. They were clean. Untouched. Exposed. Holy shit, that must be it. Their scents overpowered ours.
Fuck, if only we’d known this earlier.
Baylor. Fitz. All those guys. We could have saved all of them.
Sliding down the wall, I take a seat on the concrete path and slam the back of my head into the brick.
Son of a fucking bitch.
Sweat drips down my forehead. I go to wipe it away but stop myself when I see my hands caked with filth, reminding me I still need to clean up, eat, and find shelter.
While I could stay in town and hope to find a building not already occupied by bloodthirsty zombies, I’ve tried my luck too many times today. It’s just too risky. With the way they’re pouring out from the base, staying here isn’t an option anymore. The city’s population is simply too much for me to handle. I need to get out of here. Head for a rural area. Fuck everything that I thought I could’ve gotten so easily. I’ll find my provisions elsewhere. Staying alive is more important.
