DEAD ERA- Afterworld

Chapter 4

Immediately a loud footstep echoed around the streets, leaving everyone speechless. 

“What is that?” Bali asked looking as the footsteps came closer.

“Probably not our friends,” the stranger said calmly as he looked at Bali, his hand coming down to grip the revolver he wore strapped underneath his shirt.

“Maybe those are infected,” Levi said, looking around the room with apprehension,

“Let’s hope so,” the stranger said reaching for the gun under his shirt, but Bali smacked his hand away.

“Don’t touch it,” Bali whispered fiercely.

“If they are infected,” the stranger argued, 

“Then we’re screwed, we won’t be able to protect ourselves. If they attack us, we could die”

“You can’t tell me you aren’t afraid!” Bali countered, glaring at the man.

“Of course I am,” the stranger said, looking down at his hands. “If I have learned one thing, it’s that fear gets you nothing”

Bali narrowed his eyes as he stood up from his seat, “Well it sure would give your enemies something to fight for. Why can’t you admit to having a fucking heart for once!”

“Because it is weakness Bali,”

     Then a 12 feet monster with fats all over broke the corridor roaring, revealing blind eyes with bloody canine teeth. 

“What on earth is that?” Bali asked aiming his shotgun

   The stranger grinned angrily, “I don't know, but we should get out of here now!”

   The monster ran towards them, its mouth opening and exposing its black-stained fangs. Suddenly it fell forwards, the bullets fired by both Bali and the stranger striking it in the head.

It stumbled slightly trying to regain its balance and turn round to see what attacked it, before charging forward.

“This way!” the stranger yelled, pulling Bali away from the beast, sprinting in the direction of the doors leading back outside.

Behind them, the monster slammed into the glass shattering it completely. They could hear the glass shatter as the monster continued after them.

Suddenly they heard shouts and gunshots from outside the mart. They were stopped by a group of zombies.

“Come on,” the stranger said pulling Bali into a run through the exit. Levi and the stranger continued running. The group of Zombies was right behind them.

Soon enough they were at a small convenience store, the lights were off, and the windows were smashed. However, they were greeted by more Zombies.

The Stranger and Levi ran towards the front of the store, trying to make their way to the door.

One Zombie charged forward at Bali, slashing its arm across his body. He grunted slightly but managed to take it down without any problem. Bali turned around, seeing one Zombie right behind him. Before it could pounce he shot it, killing it instantly. He turned back around and saw three Zombies right behind him.

He started sprinting towards one of the shelves, the zombies following close behind him, his gun in his hand, but he suddenly found himself tripping over a chair, crashing into the shelf with a thud. He quickly picked himself back up and ran. 

He ducked underneath another shelf, hiding, and reloaded his gun.

The first zombie leaped at him, only to find itself stuck to the ceiling. Its arms and torso hung above it, struggling to reach Bali below it, as the bullet penetrated through the roof. 

Bali quickly moved the zombie off the top shelf, then turned around and fired several rounds, hitting the second two Zombies, knocking one down as well, then ran back to the first, and shot it too.

The third Zombie tried attacking him from behind. Bali easily stepped sideways and kicked it square in the chest, flipping backward. He landed on his feet just as the Zombie started charging toward him. Bali swung around his pistol hitting the creature squarely in the jaw making him stumble back momentarily. It turned towards him and charged at him again. Bali swung around his pistol firing multiple shots in quick succession, hitting it multiple times, knocking the two dead Zombies out.

As Bali approached his third shot hit the zombie's head, and as soon as the creature fell dead he rushed past it towards the next shelf. He turned around and aimed his pistol at its chest. His finger pressed firmly against the trigger as he waited. There was silence for a moment, then he heard someone scream in pain, and he turned around spotting one of the zombies falling to its knees clutching its face, blood pouring from its gaping wound where its eye used to be.

     “Get into the truck now” the stranger appeared, throwing a grenade on the ground near him.

Bali ran forward, crouching by the rear of the truck. A few seconds later a bomb erupted destroying the truck and destroying everything within about thirty meters radius around it. Smoke filled the air and a bright light shined brightly through the smoke. The truck was silent, broken only by the crunching of broken glass beneath his shoes.

Bali peeked his head out and spotted a man lying on the floor. He immediately crawled to the man and helped lift him. He placed him carefully back in the truck and closed the sliding door behind him. A second later, another explosion sounded.

When it seemed like the worst of the explosion had passed, he climbed back over the edge and looked at the damage around them. Most of the buildings surrounding the mart were burning. The remains of cars, trucks, and other vehicles were lying abandoned on the street, while many were crushed and burnt. Pieces of wood, metal, and plastic littered the street. The smell of gasoline and burned rubber filled the air. The man, who had called himself the stranger, was lying there unconscious.

        The sun already started to set, casting its golden rays in the direction of the city; Zombies parading the city looking for it on their legs, their mouths open wide to reveal rotting teeth stained yellow by the blood covering them.

   The man walked into a park, “What happened here?” he asked looking around, immediately an image of a blonde woman calling Jake flashed through his mind. “Jake? my name is Jake”  he muttered to himself. He took a deep breath and then continued walking.

A short while later, he arrived at the entrance of a big shopping center. Cars were parked in a circle in front of it, a sign read 'Park'. Jake saw a bike laying on the floor,  it was covered in dust and rust.

Jake approached it cautiously. The wheels were missing, and the chain connecting it was long broken. Jake reached forward touching the handlebars. He could see that someone had taken the keys from the ignition, but as soon as he touched them, the engine sputtered weakly, then roared to life. He smiled, it hadn't been long since he'd last used a bike and for a moment he felt nostalgic. 

He put the key into the ignition and began riding his bike slowly. Once he was out of the parking lot he increased the acceleration, feeling the wind rush through his hair. He rode the bike for several hours until he finally got a mart which was on fire, he hauled the bike engine, getting down. He then walked to the body of the huge dinosaur laying on the floor with flames on its body. “Someone was here, there is another survivor out there?”

     Suddenly the huge zombie was awakened as it roared at Jake. Jake was slammed unto a street pole causing him to grunt loudly in pain. As the monster opened its mouth to bite him, he plugged his hand into the zombie's eyes bringing out the socket and causing its eyeballs to roll free.

Quickly, he pulled out his knife and stabbed the monster through the skull, watching as it collapsed on top of him. With that done, he climbed off the corpse and continued along the road in search.