Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning Read online

  Charlie shifted uncomfortably as the air around Alex changed. Their conversation came to a halt as they reached the front door again. He stepped towards the windows and touched the broken glass of the shattered window. Looking around he surveyed the other houses with a quick glance and took notice of a common trait.

  “All the windows are blown in.” He said.

  Alex made her way inside and he followed not wanting to be left alone. Her breath hitched at the sight of the empty house. The first time she came in her emotions were out of control, not bothering to look around but now she had the chance. Everything looked the same; nothing was moved or broken well except for the shattered glass all around. It was as if someone came in and broke all the mirrors, vases, pictures and anything with glass. It was a strange sight but she tossed in the back of her mind not finding it important at the moment.

  Alex knew her sister wasn’t here not anymore but she needed to know if Chris left willingly or was forced out. She moved mindlessly to the bathroom they shared finding broken glass scattered on the sink. Resting in side a small pile of broken glass lay her sister’s necklace. Alex’s own personal chain was missing however; her sister must have taken it. She must have left her’s behind as a sign or something to let Alex know she was still alive.

  Alex let out a content sigh at the thought.

  “Are you okay?” Alex jumped at the soft tone. Her hand bracing the gun in her pocket.

  When she realized it was just Charlie she gave a quiet nod and slipped the chain into her other pocket. Exiting the bathroom without a word. Charlie didn’t know what to do he continued to follow her as she moved towards a bedroom. It was not decorated with much. A queen size bed sat in the middle of the room with a light grey and black covers. Degrees, certificates framed the walls along with a few photos underneath was simple black dresser and an expensive T.V. He took a moment to look over the photos as Alex disappeared into the walk-in closet.

  One picture was of Alex and whom he assumed was her sister, the one she must have been looking for. Alex was in a hospital bed, looking completely out of it and her sister was up close with a smile. The next one was of the two of them again sitting against a wall; a drink in each of their hands but her sister had her arm thrown around Alex. They looked a lot like the only main difference was that her sister had really short hair, small face and freckles. She also wore a stupid grin compared to Alex whom seemed to have a smirk in most of the photos. All photos seemed to be either of them two or family.

  His musing were cut off by Alex emerging from the closet holding a backpack. He raised his eyebrows noticing that she had changed clothes once again while inside. She smiled and shrugged. She now wore an olive green jacket, better fit jeans and black shirt underneath and bag on her back, looking much more comfortable then she had before.

  “I like this jacket.” Her only response.

  He laughed as she tossed the bag at him. She kept moving as he peered through the bag finding different supplies in case of emergency from flares to first aid. Energy bars and water filters, things one would not think about having but some how fit into this bag.

  “Never know what’s going to happen. Need to be prepared.” She laughed back.

  Charlie nodded in agreement as he closed up the bag and held it loosely. He took notice of the room they had entered and assumed it was Alex’s room from the way she jumped on the bed. It was smaller then the other one and more crowded.

  Books cluttered the shelves, littered any surface available and trailed along the bottom of the wall. Various plants sat idly by the shattered windows and there was a lonesome cactus on the desk. The smell of vanilla and plants filled the room. In truth he had placed her as kind of a dark person but this room contradicted that. There was so much room in this single space.

  Alex leaned across the bed, sticking her hand between the bed and the wall. Her tongue stuck out from the side of her mouth as she struggled to grasp whatever she was searching for. Finally getting a hold of it she stood up crinkling the green comforter and raised it in triphum.

  “Is that machete? Where the fuck did you get a machete?” His eyes wide at the weapon.

  Alex merely smiled brightly and twisted the weapon as if she had found a lost toy. The way she looked at it was almost like it was a teddy bear to her.

  “Someone gave it to my sister and she gave it to me. Well I kind of made her give it to me. She made this rule after I kept taking her clothes; that if she doesn’t use something for six months straight I can have it.” Twirling it one more time before slipping into her belt. “Should have made it clear that it only applied to clothes but she didn’t.”

  He shook his head in humor feeling somehow better then he had in days. He clearly he had no idea who Alex was and he was enjoying finding out. This woman he believed to be a bitch was very light spirited.

  “Let’s go. We need something to make a sign.” He made his way out of the room.

  Jumping off the bed Alex took one last look around her room. She felt sad; sad that the plants she had cared for were sure to die. Sad that all the books she had collected and loved were turn to dust and crumble away. Sad that the life she had struggled to make would be nothing but a memory.

  Charlie gave a yell for her and she swallowed down her sadness. She turned to leave but didn’t moved instead went towards her desk. Alex swiped a single book that sat by the lonesome cactus. She may have to say goodbye to many things but she would not say goodbye to this part of her.

  “Thanks for everything Hamish.” She smiled softly at the cactus tapping his pot gently. She hurriedly placed the book in her bag before exiting the house. Misery filled her but she held face as she exited the house.

  “Found a white sheet and some markers. We can make a pretty big sign out of this.” He held the items out for Alex. She grabbed the markers humming her approval. Charlie tucked the sheet underneath his arm as they made their way back to the bunker.

  “I always thought after a bomb goes off that the air was supposed to be thick or cloudy. It’s not like that at all, it feels fine.” He pointed out.

  He was right; something was wrong. There was no dust or ash or anything. Had it not been for the shattered windows nothing would be out of place, everything would look just the same.

  Perhaps they misheard? Maybe it was military vehicles that shook the Earth? Burt what about those planes? Had the imagined everything? Alex watched as Charlie lowered his bandana from his mouth and took a deep breath in.

  Nothing happened, he did nothing but breath in and out. To him the air tasted no different. Alex dropped her own feeling suffocated, glad to have it off. The air was refreshing and just the right amount of cold that it felt good. Distracted by the enjoyment of fresh air the two almost missed the sudden motion just off to their side.

  Without much thought Alex had pulled out her gun and raised it. Charlie made the same action but kept his weapon pointing down. Her stomach dropped at the sight of people moving towards them. It wasn’t a relief, something was wrong. Charlie however was excited at the thought of other people. Believing them to be just another group like theirs he began to jump up and down.

  “Hey! Over here!” He shouted.

  Alex moved quickly forcing him to settle down. She pulled him towards her as she tucked her gun away.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She admitted.

  The closer they got the more she knew something wasn’t right but that didn’t discourage him. He pulled himself free of her grasp. Looking at her as if she had lost her mind he turned back to the strangers and continued his antics.

  Her mother always told her to listen to her instincts above all and she believed that more then ever now. She stepped in front of him again this time raising her machete. Holding it tightly like a child holding their favorite teddy bear.

  Charlie only settled down when he saw the people in full clear. They looked normal except they were groaning and snapping their jaws. Their eyes were glowing blue, unh
oly blue. Alex raised her machete higher in warning but that didn’t faze these people…no, that didn’t feel right to call them that. They weren’t people they were something else. No fear or worry at the sight of the weapon only one thing shinned in their eyes. Hunger.

  “Run!” Alex said.

  The white sheet fell to the ground like a flag waving in surrender as the two bolted down the street. Their legs taking them as fast as they could but not fast enough as a few feet away were not just one or two but a whole crowd turning to face them.

  “Where the fuck did they come from? What the fuck are they?” Charlie groaned.

  “I don’t know and don’t care. Fucking go!” Alex pushed him in another direction away from those things.

  The two could hear the multiple footsteps following as they raced around the neighborhood. In an act of fear and stupidity Charlie stopped and pulled out his gun without much thought he clicked off the safety and fired causing a loud blast to echo in the quiet area.

  The bullet hit one of them in the chest and it fell to the ground but that did not discourage the others. In fact it seemed to encourage them to keep going. Charlie set off another round as he attempted to run but fear had him stumbling.

  “Stop shooting! It’s drawing their attention!” Alex smacked his arm down silencing him for now.

  Alex stopped and picked up a couple of heavy rocks. Facing the small group she tossed the rock far above their heads and past them. The loud clanking sound from whatever the rock hit distracted the group enough that some wandered away. She did it again thinning out the line.

  With only a few after them now they continued on hopping a short metal fence into the backyard of some stranger’s home. They stopped to catch their breaths and lean against the paneling of the house. Their chest raised and fell in rhythm.

  “We have to get back to the bunker. I think if we go this way were only a few houses down.” Alex rubbed her face as she looked around. Her gaze landing on Charlie and his trademark sneer.

  “Are you shitting me? We have to get out of here!” He yelled.

  “Keep your fucking voice down.” She growled. “Petey and Maggie are still down there and we are not going to just leave them.”

  “Fuck you and fuck them.” He jabbed a finger into her chest.

  He pushed past her ready to run away. Alex went to grab him and try to talk some sense into the guy before he could take off. However neither counted for the height difference between the two. Alex standing at 5’5 and Charlie at 5’11, he swung his arm intending to just knock her off but instead knocked her out. The world spun as it faded into darkness. Her head hit the soft grass that didn’t appear so soft now.

  5

  Alex eyes slipped open slowly, the blue sky coming into view. She couldn’t figure out what the hell she was doing on the ground until she tried to move. Her head pounded and her vision blurred, she forced her to lay still. She tried to remember what had happened but it just hurt too much to think. It felt like a horrible hangover as she ruffled the grass with her hands and focused on not vomiting.

  She wasn’t sure how long she was left alone but took the moment of immobilization to thank God that those things hadn’t found her. She tried to sit up again her stomach protesting as she got her self up right. Alex had been hit in the head before but this felt so much worse. Crawling towards the house the pack on her back felt like it was filled with rocks. She gripped the side pulling her self up, ignoring all the pain she felt. Leaning heavily against the house she tried to calm her mind. It wanted to panic but she couldn’t do that, not yet. She had to find her way back to the bunker and she couldn’t do that if she was having a panic attack. She focused on the thought of Charlie and how his face had been filled with panic and fear right before his adrenaline filled punch knocked her out. It angered her more then anything that he didn’t just listen.

  The sound of gunshots echoed near by. She knew exactly how was doing it to and counting the shots she knew he didn’t have many left. The noise made her push off the house still woozy on her feet; she sped off ready to fight.

  Charlie tried his hardest to kill those monsters that came after him but the gun had no effect. He shot them in the chest but they still came after him with the same hungry look in their eyes. He ran of bullets quickly no thinking to aim better or ration them and he hadn’t grabbed extra. He didn’t think he needed them. He tried to run but he didn’t know this neighborhood, he didn’t know this street and he didn’t know how many of those things were out there. This is how he ended with his back to a house, his head hitting the leveled porch as two of the monsters started to cover him. He was dead, he was sure Alex was dead and soon Petey and Maggie would be too. There was no escape and no way to fight; he was dead just like them. Accepting his fate he shut his eyes as he felt one grab his arm.

  However the grip didn’t tighten or pull or anything instead it loosened. His eyes shot open and saw that each of those things had fallen to the ground no longer with their heads attached. He looked up to see the most amazing and terrifying sight. It was Alex. She was breathing heavily, standing stiff almost shell shocked at the monsters on the ground. Her machete dripped with fresh blood, he tried to catch her eyes but they were vacant and empty. Now he was more terrified then amazed.

  “Alex” He breathed out.

  He moved forward to hug and thank her for saving his life. Instead he received a punch to the face. Blood trickled into his hands as he held his nose. He looked up offended until he saw the vacant stare had turned into enraged. Her anger was now in full control and he knew it was directed at him.

  “You son of a bitch! You left me to die!” She growled.

  Not satisfied with just one hit she backed him up against the wooden porch. His head bounced at the impact as she gripped his shirt roughly ready to beat him senseless. He cowered at her touch; her hand was stained ready from the drops off her machete and his own blood. She raised her hand ready to deliver another blow when her chance was taken from her by the sound of dragging steps behind her. She let him go and picked up her machete slashing off another’s head. More of those things were headed their way being drawn by the sound of the idiot’s gunfire.

  “Move.” Alex barked.

  All other escape routes were blocked. Forcing them to run up the steps into the house. Upon entry they were greeted by the family that lived there or what was the family that once lived there. Now the man that she called her neighbor and his youngest son moved towards them snapping their jaws. Alex sighed sadly at their twisted and snarling faces but that was all the thought she gave before she swung her machete hitting the father first and then the young man. Her stomach twisted unbearably.

  Fully intending to find the back door Alex turned to see Charlie had run up the stairs instead. She growled in frustration at the man and his idiocy. She thought about leaving him but she couldn’t do it. She didn’t know how she would explain returning to without him. Taking two steps at a time, trying to catch up with him before he could shut the door of a room he ran into.

  Barely making it through the door Charlie slammed it shut and moved any available objects he could find in front of it. Alex ran a hand down her face as she tried to think but it was becoming more difficult with the overbearing sounds. The scratching and the pounding at the door of those things trying to get in; of Charlie running around in circles and dragging objects and the cry of the window coming through the window was becoming just to much.

  ‘The wind?’ Alex thought.

  She perked up and looked around the room; there were two other doors and a nice big window. A beautiful big window. Alex rushed over, sliding the empty frame open; the glass pricked her palms as she leaned out to look around. They were on the second floor but the roofs were flat enough that they could walk on it, an uneasy walk. She scanned the area trying to get her barring of where she was. She knew this family and where their home sat on this street. The family she had just beheaded, her stomached twisted again; she clutched it in pa
in. She knew who they were…they were the Robertson’s. She shook her and trying rid her self of thoughts.

  “Charlie, get over her.” She said.

  Alex could still hear him tossing random items in front of the door. At this point she was pretty sure it was just pillows from the bed he was throwing around. She turned to look at him and stomped her foot to grab his attention.

  “Charlie.” Alex hissed.

  He looked at her hesitantly. He dropped the book on top of the mess and went to her side. Leaning against her, he looked out the window as well. She pointed outwards past some trees.

  “We can get to the bunker by hopping a few roofs. It’ll be difficult but I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble. Basically looks like we ran in a circle, look Donoghue’s house is like three jumps away.”

  Charlie stepped back shaking his head vigorously and squared his shoulders.

  “Fuck the bunker!” He roared.

  Alex narrowed her eyes and moved closer. She couldn’t believe what he was saying. She had risked her own life for him twice and he was still willing to turn his back on them. She had enough of his attitude, enough of him; he had left her to die and she would not allow him to do it them. She kept her voice low and even.

  “I am not leaving them because you’re being a scared little bitch. Do you understand me?” He opened his mouth to fight but she was not finished. “I am going back to the bunker. I am going to help our friends and if you want to go off on your own that’s fine. Let’s see how long you survive.”

  He snapped his mouth closed with a painful clink. His body ran cold at the thought of being alone out here. He didn’t want to go back to the bunker, he wanted to get the hell out of here but he couldn’t do it alone. He knew that so he nodded his head in submission.

  “Good.” She spoke a little more gently now. “Let’s get out of here before those things break down the door.” He nodded.