Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning Read online

  Alex took notice of something and stepped back to look him up and down. “Where’s your bag?”

  “I dropped it so I could run faster.” He admitted.

  Alex sighed and rolled her eyes. She doesn’t know why she was surprised but she was. She turned away and back towards the window brushing off as much glass she could. She stepped on the roof testing the slant of it. She was able to stand straight with a bit of a struggle but it seemed to be fine. She turned towards Charlie extending her hand. He reached out hesitantly but he trusted her. He had to, there were enough chances for her just to leave him behind but she didn’t. He grasped her hand tight as he raised a foot to join her on the roof

  ‘Yes, they’d make it back to the bunker safely.’ Was the last thing he thought before he was yanked back.

  “Charlie!” Alex screamed.

  She put her other hand on top of his tying to use the full weight of her body to pull him back towards her. She braced herself on the roof, using its slant to dig her feet into. She crouch down half his body hidden as he tried to scamper out with his upper half.

  Multiple hands pulled at his clothes and yanked at his body. He screamed in horror at the feeling of their hands like ice, nails breaking skin. They were tearing at his legs so he could not stand ensuring their victory.

  Not willing to give up, Alex tightened her grip in this lost battle of tug of war. Charlie reached out trying to grab more of her but he couldn’t. He trued to mimic the monsters and dug his nails into her forearm. Her screams joined his as she felt her own skin break. The sweat from their palms weakened their hold.

  “Please, don’t let go.” He begged one finally time.

  Alex wanted to promise she wouldn’t but before she even got the chance he was taken from her. She fell back on the roof holding tightly as to not fall off. She sat frozen in fear as she watched those things tear into his flesh with their hands, their teeth sinking into any available part of his body as he begged and screamed. She wanted to turn away but her eyes wouldn’t allow it. Ears stayed open as her mind cataloged every scream and plea he made towards her. Calling out her name over and over until it softened into a gurgling sound as the blood spilled from his lips.

  Her gently gasp drew the attention of what was once the mother of the family. It looked up slowly locking its glowing eyes with hers. It continued to chew a piece of fat, the end part hanging from the corner of its mouth. Releasing the fatty substance with intention of feasting on fresher meat.

  It was not until the sound of cracking glass did her mind finally start up again. Alex scrambled up as best she could. Without a second thought she jumped off the roof onto the other, the feel of fingers grasping at her ankles.

  Alex landed harshly on her side, the pack on her back made her feel heavier. More weight falling down upon her and pushing the air out of her body. Knowing bruises were sure to form she ignored all the pain and tried to pull herself up. Her fingers tips burned as she claw4ed at the roof to keep from sliding down. She turned on her back and saw the monsters grasping at the air. They looked almost offended that their food was just out of reach.

  As if their clenching hands and groans were not enough to make her heart stop, the sight behind them made her blood run cold. It was Charlie. He had made it onto the roof with them, as one of them. His body missing chunks as he snarled reaching for her. His eyes, oh god, his eyes were not glowing blue, just like them. They had changed him into one of them; he wasn’t human anymore as he watched Alex hungrily.

  Alex shuttered as she got up. She didn’t look back at the monsters, that’s exactly what they were monsters. Not her friends or neighbors, they were monsters. Minding the windows she walked across the roofs. It didn’t take long for her to get to the Donoghue’s roof. She saw the bunker just below in the yard.

  She looked through a window into one of their bedrooms. Alex thought about the Robertson’s and what they were now. She had not been that close with them but she was close with Mr. Donoghue.

  Her hand shook noticeably as she stepped inside and raised her machete, ready to fight if need be. She remembered being in this house multiple times but never like this. Never filled with terror and misery. This house used to be filled with laughter and stories about old loves, lost family and youthful times. Now all those stories would never be told again, not like before. Not over bottles of scotch or greasy Chinese food. They were just stories now.

  Without trouble Alex made it to the backyard. Relief filled her as she stared at the empty space. She wasn’t’ sure if she would have the will power to…to kill Mr. Donoghue if he had become one of them. Then again she didn’t think she had the will power to kill anything but there she stood.

  Alex moved towards the hidden door but her body had other thoughts. She stopped mid-step, spilling all the contents in her stomach. Her knees threaten to buckle but she kept on wobbling while wiping away any evidence from her face.

  Alex made her way in and she could hear voices speaking to her. Asking her what happened and where was Charlie but she didn’t answer. She couldn’t even make out who was speaking but she knew there were two people and they were speaking to her. She dropped her bag on the floor along with the machete. It clattered, the blood splashing a bit causing silence to fall.

  “Alex?” Petey whispered.

  “We have to get out of here.” Alex muttered.

  She had to focus. She…they needed to get out of there. Alex shook her head and collected her thoughts. She needed to focus; she needed to get them out of there. She didn’t know how to described what the hell she saw but she hoped they would just trust her for the most part.

  “We need to get out of here. Petey, you need to get that radio working.” She pushed passed them grabbing a blankets and tearing them up.

  “What’re you doing?” Maggie screeched.

  “We lost supplies so I need use what we have here to make a sign or signal.” Alex didn’t spare a glance.

  She raced around the bunker and found it lacking in brightly colored things. She dropped the tattered sheet to the ground it wouldn’t be enough to get attention. The house however had color things inside. She moved passed them grabbing a shovel and picking up her machete she moved to climb back up the ladder.

  A strong hand held her down forcibly turning her. Petey moved enough to avoid being smacked in the face by the shovel and caught her fear stricken eyes.

  “Alex, what happened? Where is Charlie?” He asked firmly.

  “He’s dead.” She looked Maggie. “I’m sorry.”

  Without further explanation she went back up making sure none followed her and gripping tightly at her machete just in case.

  6

  Alex hadn’t meant to find peace among the monsters. She stayed above ground longer than what was safe, long after she had made her sign. She listened to the groans and moans in the distance and pondered how many were actually out there. If her sister was among them.

  The sun began to set and she knew it was time to face her companions again. She dreaded the questions that were to come her way but she descended down the ladder anyway. When she turned to the room she was greeted with something more delightful instead. Petey smiling stupidly as he held up an open bottle of wine; she eyed it suspiciously.

  “It’s a good year.” He shrugged. “I assume so. Older is better right? This is pretty old; so good year I assume.”

  “Thanks man.” Alex muttered.

  She chuckled and reached for the bottle never needing a drink more in her life. Petey’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She looked shocked by the swift movement but was really shocked by her other hand. How it moved without consent to the machete on her side, she let her arm hang lifelessly to her side and didn’t pull away but grabbed the bottle more firmly. He raised her sleeve up and revealed the scratches, she winced quietly as the blood had dried and attached to her clothing.

  “You’re bleeding.” Petey muttered.

  Alex pulled her arm away and brought the bottle to h
er lips. She took a large gulp the wine dry and sweet. She rubbed her face and sniffed.

  “I’m fine.” She replied her tone tight.

  She plopped down and leaned her back against the wall. Taking large sips from the bottle, as if enough would erase the memories of the day’s events. Petey sat down next to her, first aid kit in hand. She didn’t fight or protest when he took the bottle away from her and set it down. Grabbing her arm he cleaned off the dried blood revealing the still very red scratches. She looked away, the scratches seemed so angry to be on her skin.

  It didn’t appear to be as bad as he originally thought it to be. She winced as the alcohol from the cleaner burned just like before. Petey uttered a small apology at her discomfort believing to only be from the medicine. He wrapped her arm after it was clean and moved on to her fingertips. He saw that some skin had been taken off the top but no blood had been shed. He wiped them off quickly making sure no other cuts were hiding.

  After he had finished he leaned back against the wall sitting closer to Alex and he took a sip of the wine before handing the bottle back. Alex wasn’t willing to lean in but the closeness did bring a great sense of comfort. He watched as she started blankly at the bottle in her hand as if it was speaking to her. Sharing secrets about what had happened. The painful expression in her eyes made him want to keep silent but he knew he had to ask.

  “What happened up there? How did Charlie die?” He questioned.

  Alex didn’t answer; she let a dark chuckle. He felt a shiver go up his spine at the sound. Snatching the bottle back he took a large swig. The story that was about to be told was not going to be a good one, he knew it. Alex took the bottle back and just like him took a large swig. It left her a bit woozy but she embraced at as it hazed her memories just a little.

  “Everything looked fine. All the glass was broken but other than that everything looked okay. Charlie identified some tracks as Humvees.” She stopped and clenched the bottle. He feared it would shatter in her vice like grip. “Did you know he was going to be the first in generations not to be a mechanic? I’m not sure what he was going to do. I should remembered though, he told me and should have remembered but I don’t.”

  She swallowed the wine until only three sips were left in the bottle. She didn’t want to remember anymore, she didn’t want to talk but the look on Petey’s face. She had to finish; she had to warn hm.

  “We got to my house. Got a couple of bags, I changed clothes and my old machete.” She looked at the blood stained blade on the floor. “I need to clean that.”

  She spoke as if it was just an ordinary task. Petey nudged her shoulder and brought her back to her tale.

  “We were headed back but then we ran into people.” She furred her brows. “No, they weren’t people. They were monsters.”

  Alex looked at Petey’s face twisted in confusion and fear. She cleared her throat and looked away; if she continued to stare she wouldn’t be able to finish. She would come up with some lie to make him feel better but she needed him to be scared.

  “They were not alive. They had these eyes; glowing blue but…I’m not sure.” She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. How could she properly explain what they were? She had no clue what they were. She looked up and stared intensely at the ladder as if she was excepting one to climb down at any moment.

  “What happened to Charlie?” He asked once again.

  Alex locked eyes with Petey; he felt a child go right through his very soul at the stone face. It was like she had completely shut down any emotion.

  “We were trapped in a house, the idiot ran upstairs. So we were going to just jump roofs to get back here.” She decided to leave out how Charlie argued with her about leaving them. How he thought only of himself in his last moments. She didn’t want to dirty his name, as he was no longer around to defend it. Her vision blurred as unshed tears collected in her eyes.

  “We were climbing out the windows and I gave him my hand to help him out but we didn’t check the room. We didn’t think to check the room.” Her voice shook. “There must have been connecting bathroom or something. They got him. I tried to pull him towards me but they were stronger.”

  She shook her head roughly the screams playing over and over in her head. She should have tried harder she should have done something. Anything! It was her fault he was dead.

  Petey grabbed her head; if she continued to shake so violently she would get sick. He forced her to look at him steading her between his hands and gaze.

  “What did they do to him?” He didn’t want to know.

  “They tore him apart. They bit him and ate him like he was thanksgiving dinner.” Alex scuffed. “They fucking ate him.”

  “Shit.” Petey muttered as he let his hands drop.

  Nodding in agreement Alex finished off the wine and glared at the bottle. Greatly offended that it was empty when she needed more.

  “I got away in enough time.”

  She didn’t acknowledge the tears but she didn’t stop a few that fell upon the bottle. She began to pick at the gauze around her arm.

  “He told me not to let go. He screamed and begged me to save him but I couldn’t.” She whispered. “I couldn’t.”

  Alex felt arms wrap around her as Petey began to gently rock her. She sunk into the warmth and comfort. Her eyes drifted towards the bunks just to the side of them. Maggie slept completely unaware of everything that was going on. He followed her gaze not releasing his hold on her and together they watched her in silence.

  “Don’t tell her. Not yet.” He whispered in fear that she might suddenly hear.

  Petey felt Alex nod against his chest as she slid to curl up even more against him comfortably. Stretching out his legs he pulled her almost into his lap. It wasn’t long after that he felt her breathing even out as she fell into a deep sleep. He held her just a bit tighter and dropped a kiss on top of her dark hair.

  He knew he should be terrified about the monsters above them; he should eel sad about Charlie and his horrible ending. Yet in that moment he found great relief that it was him and not her. Alex had survived; she had made it back to him. He didn’t care if that made him a bad person at the moment he had her safe and in his arms.

  7

  “Alex.” She heard her name whispered a couple times before a powerful force hit her hard. Alex shot up her covers pooling down onto her lap.

  “What the hell Chris?” She yelled.

  Chris stood smiling stupidly as she now hugged pillow she had just wacked her sister with. She bounced on Alex’s bed, she groaned and rolled away pulling the covers over her.

  “You weren’t waking up. I got worried.” Chris snuggled into the bed yanking a pillow from under Alex’s head. The only protest given was a groan as Chris slinked into the covers getting more and more comfortable. Alex rolled over to look at her sister. Her eyes beginning to drift close.

  “Why did you wake me up if you’re just going to sleep? Chris?” Alex growled.

  However she received no response. She nudged her sister in hopes of waking her but nothing. Alex sat up again and started to shake Chris and scream her name but still nothing.

  Alex yanked back the covers. Blood, there was so much blood; Alex screamed but no sound came out. Blood covered her hands as tried to wake her sister.

  She couldn’t hear it but she knew, knew she was screaming her sister’s name. Why couldn’t she hear her? Why wasn’t she waking?

  “Alex! Wake up!”

  Alex reached for her machete but thankfully it was nowhere near as Maggie’s face came to view. It had been a dream. Her sister’s blood was a dream. Her body shook with fear, it had been a dream; she repeated over and over in her mind as she attempted to listen to Maggie’s words.

  Eventually she had to ask her what she had said, what had her so excited.

  “Petey did it! He fixed the radio.” Maggie cheered.

  Alex jumped up almost knocking heads. She raced over to his head almost slipping with her socks; she didn’t no
tice her shoes were off. She watched as he leaned close to the radio. It was all lit up like Christmas tree and emitting static; who knew such a sound would sound so sweet.

  Petey looked at her briefly, his energy beaming with pride and she couldn’t help but feel proud as well.

  “I’ll keep the radio going. I want you to speak and hope someone answers.” He said.

  He handed over the walkie and Alex began a flow of ‘hellos’. As she spoke her words started to sound like a prayer to her. One you repeat over and over before you go to sleep, hoping to wake up in the morning. She supposed it was a prayer that she begged silently for someone to answer, it didn’t matter whom, just someone.

  They didn’t know how long they tried. Alex had slipped to the floor leaning against the chair her voice hoarse from her calls. Petey’s fingers ached from gripping the knobs harshly in excitement now it started to slack into despair.

  Alex had looked up seeing Petey had stopped fiddling with the knobs. Instead he had crossed his arms on the table and rested his head. She looked across the bunker to see Maggie had lied down on the ground where she was sleeping just moments ago.

  Alex let her head fall back against the chair and Petey’s thigh. She shut her eyes and pushed the button on the side of the walkie one last time. A quiet hello she uttered and let go.

  It was silent once again.

  “Hello?”

  Their heads shot up at the sound. The voice had been too deep to Alex’s voice. She stood up and stared at the radio intensely. Fearing it just a trick of a desperate mind. They leaned in closely waiting for the voice again.

  “Is anybody there?” A man’s voice broke through the static.

  Alex gripped the walkie and fell hard against the table as she felt her knees weaken. Petey patted her back softly encouraging her to speak. She took a deep breath in and stood up.

  “Hello.” Her voice was so unsure.

  “This is Warrant Officer Dumas, whom may I speaking with?” He introduced.