The Age Of The Dead

Chapter 10: Undead

Iñaki dragged the father's body up the stairs His corpse was terrifyingly light for a man his age. Iñaki knows he can't leave it there, but there are other issues he has to attend to first.

Sofia now sleeps curled up next to Rambo on the couch. Iñaki tries to give her something to eat but nothing seems to be able to wake her up...which, considering the circumstances, seems best. The figure of the girl on the sofa grabs all his senses and does not dare to move for fear of waking her up. "Valentina...What would you think of Sofia?"

The little girl sneezes interrupting Iñaki's thoughts. A smile begins to form on Iñaki's face. Sofia settles down on the sofa while Rambo scratches an ear while Iñaki grabs a sponge from the bathroom to wipe Claudia's face.

Sponge in hand, Iñaki pulls a chair close to the sofa without making much noise and prepares to wipe her face. Once the task is completed, Iñaki proceeds to clean her arms and legs. Upon completion, Iñaki prepares to make a medical assessment of her condition.

Making use of semiology, Iñaki makes a physical evaluation of his little patient with the following verdict: the girl exhibits mild symptoms of starvation and dehydration.

After writing the diagnosis in a notebook, iñaki stands up and immediately goes to the kitchen and prepares a formula for Claudia that will improve her health considerably.

A few minutes later…

A sound zigzags down the stairwell, runs down the corridor and reaches Iñaki. Iñaki tilts his head in the direction of the sound..."There it is again!" Moans, numerous moans going up the stairs. "The door of the stairs is open!"

Iñaki runs to the door. The corridor lengthens under his feet. One hand, one arm, two rotten legs...A zombie enters and fixes its eyes on Iñaki.

Iñaki realizes that he left his knife in the house, so he has no weapon to face the zombie, so he proceeds to shout Rambo's name.

The zombie is about to bite him but Rambo appears at that instant, bites its arm and takes it to the ground with him.

The infected releases a bite to Rambo but he evades it and attacks his legs. His fangs sink into the rotten flesh and tear apart the revived legs. The creature turns in the eagerness to get free. Iñaki can already hear the rest of the infected approaching the door of the staircase.

Iñaki raises his foot and sets his sights on the infected man's skull. His foot descends almost to the floor and a creak echoes down the hall. A large pool of blood forms around the infected head and the creature freezes.

Iñaki runs to the door harangued by Rambo's barking and, before closing it, he watches the bloodied faces of his neighbors ascending the stairs.

An army of rotten hands knocks on the door, their fists are like hail. Iñaki takes a step back, then another, and runs to his house. The door slams.

Already in his apartment, he finds Rambo growling at the door. Sofia looks in the same direction. Her eyes travel through all areas of the house: the door, Rambo, the window...Then her eyes meet Iñaki's. She runs towards him and hugs his legs.

Iñaki raises her in his arms. The girl clings tightly to his shoulders and feels tears on his neck; The girl does not stop shaking.

Rambo barks furiously and Iñaki, with Sofia in his arms, swears he will find a way out of there.