Chapter 13: The World Just Got A Little Wider
The alley smelled like decay, a mixture of rotting garbage and the musty, wet scent of decay that hung in the air. Zara’s breath came in ragged gasps as she pressed a hand against her chest to calm her thudding heart.
more of those things were coming? she thought, why cant i catch a break?
She glanced at the man, who stood a few feet away, eyes trained on the place the footsteps were coming from.
"Stay behind me," he says, his voice a steely command as he raises his rifle.
But she doesn’t listen, grabbing her own weapon—a battered bat with cracks running down its length—and readying herself with a determined look. For some reason, she felt the need to prove that she could hold her onw in front of him.
They reached the corner just as the first zombie appeared. It staggered toward them, its limbs twitching erratically, but its eyes locked on Zara instantly. As expected, it was faster than the typical undead.
"You’re too slow," she muttered under her breath as she darted forward, swinging the bat in a wide arc at the nearest zombie’s head. The sickening crack was followed by the zombie’s immediate collapse, but no sooner had it hit the ground than another took its place.
"Get back!" Winter barked, raising his gun. He fired once, the bullet tearing through the creature’s skull with a sickening pop. It dropped instantly, but the air was filled with a chorus of shrieks. More zombies appeared, flooding out from the alleyways and doorways like a tidal wave of death.
Winter gritted his teeth. This woman is going to be the death of him if she keeps charging headfirst into danger.
He was already a few steps ahead. His gun was out, and with a steady hand, he aimed at the next closest zombie. One shot. Headshot. Efficient. Cold.
"Keep your distance," Winter called out, his voice cutting through the noise. "We need to move out of the open."