Chapter 24: The World Turns Red Sometimes
"There’s something ahead," Zara whispered, her voice shaking slightly.
Winter’s sharp gaze scanned the surroundings again, and he saw them—two figures lurching from behind a rusted car, their grotesque, decaying faces twisted into hunger. And then more appeared, moving out of the mist and towards them. The horde was closing in faster than Winter had anticipated.
He thought they had gone around them?!
"Get down!" Winter snapped, his voice like ice. "Stay low. Do not move unless I say."
He ducked behind the nearest car. His rifle raised, eyes trained on the advancing threat. There was a horde, ’fuck. Just our luck.’ He thought with a frown. His rifle wouldn’t cut it, and he’d just waste his bullets.
He hung his rifle over his shoulder and pulled out his machete instead. He hated getting close to the creatures, but this was the best course of action. Zara’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps as she pressed herself against the side of the car beside him, trying to stay out of sight. Winter’s attention flicked to her, noticing how she flinched when a zombie turned in their direction.
"Stay down," Winter repeated, his voice low and urgent. His breath condensed in the air, disappearing into the freezing wind. The horde shuffled closer, oblivious to them for now.
Zara kept her head down, clutching her coat to her chest, her face tense as she steeled herself. Suddenly, the creatures turned in their direction, glassy eyes fixed intently.
"Fuck, change of plans. Go find somewhere to hide," he hissed, "You can’t fight with that leg. Think of an escape route for us."
He was surprised when she didn’t argue and simply dipped out of the scene as fast as her bad leg could carry her.
The first zombie lunged almost immediately, its gnarled fingers scraping across the side of the car. Winter reacted on instinct, swinging his machete. The blade sliced through the air, cutting through the zombie’s throat. Its head toppled, rolling into the snow.