Glancing to my right I see the collapsed IV pump laying on the floor. Looking to the left I could trace the tube with my eyes and it lead directly into a double door closet.
I creep towards the door, attempting to pear through the small crack separating the doors, hoping to catch a pre-emptive glance of any trouble that may be inside. I position myself, ready my weapon, and again feel my pulse accelerate, as my breathing becomes deep and cautious as I rip open the door.
The heavy thump of a fist struck my nose. Little black dots obstructed my vision as I fell backwards from the sheer force of the blow. I stammer to my feet, swing my bedrail in vain, as tears have all but rendered me blind. A blurry object rushes forward knocking me on my back and the bed rail slides across the floor. I barely caught a flash of white out of the corner of my eye as the blurry object stood directly above me.
“Haus???” Cox's voice trickled down into my ears and I could sense that he was frightened but still himself. Cox rushed behind me and helped me sit up. I wipe away the tears from my eyes and hold my hand up to my throbbing nose.
“ You hit like a bitch Cox.” I say sliding my finger under my nostrils to clear the slow stream of blood. My vision has become mostly clear again and I look at him directly in the face. His eyes are clear of any redness, but his pupils are dilated. “Are you infected?” I say hastily.
“ No. I have been holed up in that closet for a few days. I sneak out at night to get some food and water.”
“ How long has it been like this?”
“ I am not sure... I faded in and out of consciousness every time the drugs wore off. Then the nurse would come back in load my IV back up and it was night time again. A few days ago I woke up. I was scared to death so I ripped out the breathing tube and the feeding one. I went out into the hall and saw all of that. Then I saw someone come running at me from down the hallway. I jumped back into my room and tried to lock the door. I wasn’t fast enough and he got a hand inside. I managed to pin him against the wall using the bed and I stabbed him with a pair of scissors.”
“ What happened to the military?” I ask.
“ I don't know exactly. I heard a lot of gunshots that lasted all day and well into the night. I stayed inside the closet and pretended to be dead. Do you think we could make it back to the base?”
“ The base is gone Cox. They bombed it. The whole town is gone. You are the first person I have found that isn't infected. I came back here to find out what happened to you.” I say.
“ I am touched. You really do care, but what would you have done if you found me to be infected?”
“ I would have made it go as fast as possible...” I say.
“ Not sure if I should be comforted or appalled by that reply.”
“ We gotta get the hell out of here.” I say.
“ Right! I need some clothes. Do you think anyone could ever prove I killed someone? I already hid the body. You're not gonna tell anyone...right?”
“ Cox, I think we are well passed keeping law and order around here. Let's get out of this place without getting either of us killed. I am thinking on a plan.” I say. We exited the hospital side by side and got inside the car. There was still no movement in the streets and that was at least comforting for now.
“ Let's stop by my apartment so I can grab a few things. You were not kidding it looks even worse out here than from the hospital windows. Wow.” Cox says as he scans the littered streets. A gentle mountain breeze lofted in the air, but the smell of death was inescapable.
I turn the car off the main road and head down the worn paved road leading towards Cox's apartment. Suddenly there is loud clang of metal on the passenger side door. Looking out I see three of them closing up fast, one has thrown something at us, and Cox lets out a scream. It sounded like a 12 year old girl at a cheap horror movie and he ducked under the dash.
I
I creep towards the door, attempting to pear through the small crack separating the doors, hoping to catch a pre-emptive glance of any trouble that may be inside. I position myself, ready my weapon, and again feel my pulse accelerate, as my breathing becomes deep and cautious as I rip open the door.
The heavy thump of a fist struck my nose. Little black dots obstructed my vision as I fell backwards from the sheer force of the blow. I stammer to my feet, swing my bedrail in vain, as tears have all but rendered me blind. A blurry object rushes forward knocking me on my back and the bed rail slides across the floor. I barely caught a flash of white out of the corner of my eye as the blurry object stood directly above me.
“Haus???” Cox's voice trickled down into my ears and I could sense that he was frightened but still himself. Cox rushed behind me and helped me sit up. I wipe away the tears from my eyes and hold my hand up to my throbbing nose.
“ You hit like a bitch Cox.” I say sliding my finger under my nostrils to clear the slow stream of blood. My vision has become mostly clear again and I look at him directly in the face. His eyes are clear of any redness, but his pupils are dilated. “Are you infected?” I say hastily.
“ No. I have been holed up in that closet for a few days. I sneak out at night to get some food and water.”
“ How long has it been like this?”
“ I am not sure... I faded in and out of consciousness every time the drugs wore off. Then the nurse would come back in load my IV back up and it was night time again. A few days ago I woke up. I was scared to death so I ripped out the breathing tube and the feeding one. I went out into the hall and saw all of that. Then I saw someone come running at me from down the hallway. I jumped back into my room and tried to lock the door. I wasn’t fast enough and he got a hand inside. I managed to pin him against the wall using the bed and I stabbed him with a pair of scissors.”
“ What happened to the military?” I ask.
“ I don't know exactly. I heard a lot of gunshots that lasted all day and well into the night. I stayed inside the closet and pretended to be dead. Do you think we could make it back to the base?”
“ The base is gone Cox. They bombed it. The whole town is gone. You are the first person I have found that isn't infected. I came back here to find out what happened to you.” I say.
“ I am touched. You really do care, but what would you have done if you found me to be infected?”
“ I would have made it go as fast as possible...” I say.
“ Not sure if I should be comforted or appalled by that reply.”
“ We gotta get the hell out of here.” I say.
“ Right! I need some clothes. Do you think anyone could ever prove I killed someone? I already hid the body. You're not gonna tell anyone...right?”
“ Cox, I think we are well passed keeping law and order around here. Let's get out of this place without getting either of us killed. I am thinking on a plan.” I say. We exited the hospital side by side and got inside the car. There was still no movement in the streets and that was at least comforting for now.
“ Let's stop by my apartment so I can grab a few things. You were not kidding it looks even worse out here than from the hospital windows. Wow.” Cox says as he scans the littered streets. A gentle mountain breeze lofted in the air, but the smell of death was inescapable.
I turn the car off the main road and head down the worn paved road leading towards Cox's apartment. Suddenly there is loud clang of metal on the passenger side door. Looking out I see three of them closing up fast, one has thrown something at us, and Cox lets out a scream. It sounded like a 12 year old girl at a cheap horror movie and he ducked under the dash.
I
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