Tedium
Infection
I felt as if I had been running for hours, or at least 20 miles. My legs ached and my back was in pain from the hit I took. I was chased for nearly 5 minutes until I slipped under the chain link fence protecting the public from the flood channels. Sliding down the concrete slope into the stagnant water was 10 times better than having my skin peeled from my bones, how ever on the way down a large chunk of concrete sticking out of the ditch, raked across my back.
As I reached the base of the channel I fell forward, onto my hands and knees. Thinking I was safe I took my time getting to my feet. The lower right side of my back was stiff, and the wet clothes weren't helping the situation. What I did know is I was not safe sitting in the water like a duck. I also knew I wasn't going to be able to run very far. I remembered skipping school to come down here under the over pass to smoke grass with my friends. I started heading for the covered area.As I reached the top of the slope, turned around to face towards the massive ditch, looking down into it was not easy, it was pitch black. The type of pitch black that would make your stomach churn.
Returning here triggered a series of memories, none of which I was particularly fond of. Shaking my head to rid myself of the thoughts I brought my mind back to the situation at hand. I was being chased and I needed to get to safety. Who was I being chased by I asked myself repeatedly. I heard what sounded like a bear trampling through water, and in an instant I knew my cover was blown, I started searching the side of the wall for the ladder which leads out of the huge stagnant river. I started to panic when I tripped over something made of metal. The clank echoed through the passage.. The sound of something running through water seemed to pick up pace.. My heart rate climbed and I felt as if my heart was about to burst out of my chest.. Continuing to run my hands on the wall scanning for an exit, my fingers ran across what felt like a door knob.
I hesitated for only a second before slamming my shoulder into the door, it opened and slammed against the wall, as I fell through the doorway, frantically I kicked the door shut, scrambled to my feet, and placed my foot at the base of the door. The darkness didn't help I ran my hand up the door until my fingers caught a deadbolt. Seconds after securing the lock, a slam on the door was felt, what ever was chasing me wanted in this room. Further more, they were after me, for what ever reason I could not figure out. Scrambling to secure the door further I propped my feet against the wall and held the door shut. As if a chain reaction, my body was ready to shut down, my eyes started to fade, and I drifted into the most uncomfortable sleep of my entire life.
Confusion
"He's been tossing and turning for the last hour now, should we wake him?" Latisha asked frantically
"No, let him rest." Simon sat forward resting his elbows on his knees. "We don't know if he's infected."
"Then why are we still here Simon? I don't like this, we're supposed to be outside that door. Or did you forget the game plan?"
"Plan's change Tisha, we have to take him back, to the Undersquare." Sighing heavily Simon turned toward the badly damaged door.
"The Undersquare? are you crazy, thats suicidal." Latisha was beginning to pace back and forth, hands at her waist in tight white fists.
"Whats crazy is going out the door, that he just came in. You hear what was chasing him? It wasnt exactly a welcoming commity." laughed Simon
"Cap, im serious, what do we do? You know I don't do well in these situations, I need a straight line of attack. No inturruptions type of Gal." Her face was scrunched up real tight and anxious.
"Alright, go back to the tunnel and grab the radio, tell them we're coming back, let them know we have a visitor." He motioned her off
Before he could do so she was gone, obedient. He kept a tight crew.
[Flashback - July 5, 2006] Latisha had been working extra hours at PDX, oddly enough she enjoyed her job. People coming in, people going out. In her mind it was perfect, as long as they werent pulling out guns and shooting at her. This was the only job she could find after her stint with the Marines from 02-05. Her first stop was South Korea, protecting borders and building bridges with the other marines. Three months later, word made way that the United States was sending more troops to Iraq. This was big news for the 503 infantry in Korea. The 503 was well known for following orders and completing tasks.
More importantly, they were the number 1 canidate for who to send first. In 6 months they had re-established communications with South Korea and the surrounding South Korean Nations. Built and constructed 9 bridges connecting city to city. From ground level it was like every other job you could take, from above it was a different story. It was a final cry for unity from South Korea to North Korea, put on solely by the United States. Rekindling an old flame is never an easy task. But before they left the Koreas the 503 and Latisha Martinez felt they had accomplished what they were sent to do.
Checking the tires as she'd always done, she was the last one in the rig, the military issued Hummer had not seen any combat, infact neither had the 503 Infantry. She never elected to be the driver, but she was damn good at it. She was a quick thinker, and followed orders better than a well trained Austrailian Shepard. Out here she was Sgt. Martinez, the Den Mother. The 503 came to her for Orders, Directions, and Intel. They were her Cubs.[end flashback]
[resume]
[edit / corrections soon to come]Re-Up [later chapter]Since the evacuation in 2007, the entire west coast of the United states has been quarantined. In 2008 The infection had spread to the Midwest, evacuations proved futile. Many untainted refugees joined together and started the construction of an underground network of communities. Which spread through out the entire Portland Metro Area, including surrounding suburbs.
The first fallout entrance was and always will be the main entrance to "New Portland". I can still remember driving through the tunnels to catch a Basketball game at the Rose Garden. Now the tunnel was blocked off by piles of vehicles stacked on top of one another. The entrance to the tunnel was guarded by electric fencing. If you made it this far, which now days was a miracle. You would be forced to strip your clothes and prove you have not been bitten, or infected.
[EDITS / CORRECTIONS SOON]
The cause of the infection is still widely unknown.
-=-=-=-=-
"GET IN THE CAR" Latisha shouted "GET IN THE FUCKIN CAR KID!" she began to honk the horn, at the same time drawing the attention of the unwanted.
She was driving about 5 miles an hour, the boy was standing in the middle of the road looking straight up, his arms spread as if accepting a holy embrace.
Tisha stopped the car, eyes flashing back and forth, she counted 5 of them.. 1 was walking towards them on a bloody stump where his foot had been connected at one time. The other 4 were concentrated on devouring what looked to be a little girl.
With the force of a huricane she grabbed the boy, and hurried him into the passanger seat. Opening her door she knew she couldnt let the little girl be torn to peices. She reached for her holstered 45 Cal, closed her eyes and said a prayer. When she opened her eyes, the little girl stood before her, 10 feet out. Blood dripping from her chin, and squirting out of where her ear had once been attatched. Tisha began to shake her head, "ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS SWEETHEART, IM SORRY".
Putting a foot in the car window, Latisha hoisted herself on the roof of the car, kneeled down and placed a bullet square in the little girls forehead. The blast sent the girl toppling over sideways, slamming into the pack of drooling men. Placing 1 hand on the hood and propelling herself off the car, she sat back down in the car. Buckled her belt and looked to the boy, he was staring out the window, he looked as if he had not slept in days. Not to hesitate any longer, she slammed into first gear, foot on the clutch. "Put your belt on, this is going to be one hell of a ride boy." Without saying anything the boy obidiently buckled up.
Like a 20 LBS Bowling ball, the car hurled towards the men, and like 10 pins, they all bounced off the car, the boy with his hands on his faced let out a squeek, and as the last one was launched from the car, he witnessed the body crash into a solid oak tree.
"Whats your name child? Have you been bitten? SPEAK TO ME!" the boy sat motionless, the only thing to be noticed was the tears draining from his eyes.
"Are you parents infected?" The questions came pouring in one after another, but still the boy sat silently.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The Russkiy
I felt as if I had been running for hours, or at least 20 miles. My legs ached and my back was in pain from the hit I took. I was chased for nearly 5 minutes until I slipped under the chain link fence protecting the public from the flood channels. Sliding down the concrete slope into the stagnant water was 10 times better than having my skin peeled from my bones, how ever on the way down a large chunk of concrete sticking out of the ditch, raked across my back.
As I reached the base of the channel I fell forward, onto my hands and knees. Thinking I was safe I took my time getting to my feet. The lower right side of my back was stiff, and the wet clothes weren't helping the situation. What I did know is I was not safe sitting in the water like a duck. I also knew I wasn't going to be able to run very far. I remembered skipping school to come down here under the over pass to smoke grass with my friends. I started heading for the covered area.As I reached the top of the slope, turned around to face towards the massive ditch, looking down into it was not easy, it was pitch black. The type of pitch black that would make your stomach churn.
Returning here triggered a series of memories, none of which I was particularly fond of. Shaking my head to rid myself of the thoughts I brought my mind back to the situation at hand. I was being chased and I needed to get to safety. Who was I being chased by I asked myself repeatedly. I heard what sounded like a bear trampling through water, and in an instant I knew my cover was blown, I started searching the side of the wall for the ladder which leads out of the huge stagnant river. I started to panic when I tripped over something made of metal. The clank echoed through the passage.. The sound of something running through water seemed to pick up pace.. My heart rate climbed and I felt as if my heart was about to burst out of my chest.. Continuing to run my hands on the wall scanning for an exit, my fingers ran across what felt like a door knob.
I hesitated for only a second before slamming my shoulder into the door, it opened and slammed against the wall, as I fell through the doorway, frantically I kicked the door shut, scrambled to my feet, and placed my foot at the base of the door. The darkness didn't help I ran my hand up the door until my fingers caught a deadbolt. Seconds after securing the lock, a slam on the door was felt, what ever was chasing me wanted in this room. Further more, they were after me, for what ever reason I could not figure out. Scrambling to secure the door further I propped my feet against the wall and held the door shut. As if a chain reaction, my body was ready to shut down, my eyes started to fade, and I drifted into the most uncomfortable sleep of my entire life.
Confusion
"He's been tossing and turning for the last hour now, should we wake him?" Latisha asked frantically
"No, let him rest." Simon sat forward resting his elbows on his knees. "We don't know if he's infected."
"Then why are we still here Simon? I don't like this, we're supposed to be outside that door. Or did you forget the game plan?"
"Plan's change Tisha, we have to take him back, to the Undersquare." Sighing heavily Simon turned toward the badly damaged door.
"The Undersquare? are you crazy, thats suicidal." Latisha was beginning to pace back and forth, hands at her waist in tight white fists.
"Whats crazy is going out the door, that he just came in. You hear what was chasing him? It wasnt exactly a welcoming commity." laughed Simon
"Cap, im serious, what do we do? You know I don't do well in these situations, I need a straight line of attack. No inturruptions type of Gal." Her face was scrunched up real tight and anxious.
"Alright, go back to the tunnel and grab the radio, tell them we're coming back, let them know we have a visitor." He motioned her off
Before he could do so she was gone, obedient. He kept a tight crew.
[Flashback - July 5, 2006] Latisha had been working extra hours at PDX, oddly enough she enjoyed her job. People coming in, people going out. In her mind it was perfect, as long as they werent pulling out guns and shooting at her. This was the only job she could find after her stint with the Marines from 02-05. Her first stop was South Korea, protecting borders and building bridges with the other marines. Three months later, word made way that the United States was sending more troops to Iraq. This was big news for the 503 infantry in Korea. The 503 was well known for following orders and completing tasks.
More importantly, they were the number 1 canidate for who to send first. In 6 months they had re-established communications with South Korea and the surrounding South Korean Nations. Built and constructed 9 bridges connecting city to city. From ground level it was like every other job you could take, from above it was a different story. It was a final cry for unity from South Korea to North Korea, put on solely by the United States. Rekindling an old flame is never an easy task. But before they left the Koreas the 503 and Latisha Martinez felt they had accomplished what they were sent to do.
Checking the tires as she'd always done, she was the last one in the rig, the military issued Hummer had not seen any combat, infact neither had the 503 Infantry. She never elected to be the driver, but she was damn good at it. She was a quick thinker, and followed orders better than a well trained Austrailian Shepard. Out here she was Sgt. Martinez, the Den Mother. The 503 came to her for Orders, Directions, and Intel. They were her Cubs.[end flashback]
[resume]
[edit / corrections soon to come]Re-Up [later chapter]Since the evacuation in 2007, the entire west coast of the United states has been quarantined. In 2008 The infection had spread to the Midwest, evacuations proved futile. Many untainted refugees joined together and started the construction of an underground network of communities. Which spread through out the entire Portland Metro Area, including surrounding suburbs.
The first fallout entrance was and always will be the main entrance to "New Portland". I can still remember driving through the tunnels to catch a Basketball game at the Rose Garden. Now the tunnel was blocked off by piles of vehicles stacked on top of one another. The entrance to the tunnel was guarded by electric fencing. If you made it this far, which now days was a miracle. You would be forced to strip your clothes and prove you have not been bitten, or infected.
[EDITS / CORRECTIONS SOON]
The cause of the infection is still widely unknown.
-=-=-=-=-
"GET IN THE CAR" Latisha shouted "GET IN THE FUCKIN CAR KID!" she began to honk the horn, at the same time drawing the attention of the unwanted.
She was driving about 5 miles an hour, the boy was standing in the middle of the road looking straight up, his arms spread as if accepting a holy embrace.
Tisha stopped the car, eyes flashing back and forth, she counted 5 of them.. 1 was walking towards them on a bloody stump where his foot had been connected at one time. The other 4 were concentrated on devouring what looked to be a little girl.
With the force of a huricane she grabbed the boy, and hurried him into the passanger seat. Opening her door she knew she couldnt let the little girl be torn to peices. She reached for her holstered 45 Cal, closed her eyes and said a prayer. When she opened her eyes, the little girl stood before her, 10 feet out. Blood dripping from her chin, and squirting out of where her ear had once been attatched. Tisha began to shake her head, "ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS SWEETHEART, IM SORRY".
Putting a foot in the car window, Latisha hoisted herself on the roof of the car, kneeled down and placed a bullet square in the little girls forehead. The blast sent the girl toppling over sideways, slamming into the pack of drooling men. Placing 1 hand on the hood and propelling herself off the car, she sat back down in the car. Buckled her belt and looked to the boy, he was staring out the window, he looked as if he had not slept in days. Not to hesitate any longer, she slammed into first gear, foot on the clutch. "Put your belt on, this is going to be one hell of a ride boy." Without saying anything the boy obidiently buckled up.
Like a 20 LBS Bowling ball, the car hurled towards the men, and like 10 pins, they all bounced off the car, the boy with his hands on his faced let out a squeek, and as the last one was launched from the car, he witnessed the body crash into a solid oak tree.
"Whats your name child? Have you been bitten? SPEAK TO ME!" the boy sat motionless, the only thing to be noticed was the tears draining from his eyes.
"Are you parents infected?" The questions came pouring in one after another, but still the boy sat silently.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The Russkiy
Comments