Chapter 122 - Soldier (IV)

I turned around with my eyes wide as I unconsciously muttered, "You gotta be kidding me. Fu*k." Looking at the fallen man clutching his arm as it turned dark. I looked back as the groaning of the zombies got nearer and nearer. 

I ran to the front and looked at his arm rapidly turning into a zombie's while also extending to the remaining parts of his body. 

"You were also attacked." 

He looked up while reaching out his arm, which I kicked and decided to leave him there. I couldn't do anything to make him live. I saw this same scene many times over the past few days. Once the person gets attacked, there is no turning back. Seeing him like that, I felt hate when I remembered my partner's death. 

If only this guy didn't come, then he would have lived. I should have asked him where he got the injury before jumping out of the window. I kept cursing myself as I continued to run down the street. Looking back at the fast zombies running towards me, I took the gun and shot them down. 

Reaching the end of the street, I turned and went ahead without looking back, occasionally shooting the few zombies on the street which were making their way towards me. I followed the same road we came here with the Jeep so that I can go back. 

But the reality was different as my shoulder continued to pain a lot. The hot sun was burning as I continuously ran across streets without even rehydration. Deciding it was enough after crossing a few more blocks, I quickly went into a nearby medical store. Going inside, I shot the few zombies roaming around inside. 

Going to the shelves, I took a few energy bars and a bottle of water. I felt happy that this store wasn't already looted. I also took a small box of painkillers and a shoulder sling to support my broken part. Sitting in the corner, I quickly drank some water to hydrate myself. 

I never felt so relieved to drink some water in my entire life. Feeling some of my energy come back to me, I slowly opened the energy bars with one hand and ate them like a beast. Feeling stuffed after a few more energy bars, I took the painkillers and used the shoulder sling. I took a deep breath, calming myself as my pain slowly subdued. The sling also helped keep my hand in a relatively comfortable place. 

I noticed the time was past noon and slowly stood up. If there was any hope to go back, it should be before night. The zombie activity is crazy at night and with a broken arm, it would be too hard for me to survive. 

Picking up my gun and a few more energy bars and a water bottle, I exited the store after keeping them in a small waist bag. Exiting, I quickly made my way. I continued to run when I suddenly got pushed back. I turned around and quickly reacted as I crashed into a car. Turning towards the cause, I saw the huge new kind of zombie noticed the past few days coming out of an alleyway towards me. I didn't notice it in time and now have too many injuries. 

The car glass got impounded into my body in a few areas, but that could wait as the fat monster zombie in Infront of me couldn't. It was the horrible zombie that sprouted up in parts of the city in recent days. It had a strong body, but also a slow one. Only bullets to the head can successfully kill it. As it continued to come towards me, I quickly took my gun and started to shoot right at its head. The bullets rained on it as it stopped and eventually fell. 

Exhaling in relief, I noticed another huge horde of zombies noticing me. I quickly stood up and continued to run, with blood oozing out of multiple parts of my body. I limped down the street as I slowly lost hope in living. Parts of my life flashed in front of my eyes like how many books and movies described it as. I contemplated on my single and hard life as a soldier. How I would miss having a happy family I always wanted. 

Slowly losing consciousness, I could feel my body get heavier until I heard something which made my exhausted body get rejuvenated. 

Looking ahead, I saw a jeep down the road with a few people inside. I slowly waved my hands and pushed my body to pick up the pace to reach them. I noticed the peculiar look on their faces and knew they feared me being infectious. 

I continued to wave my hands at them, and the jeep turned towards me. As the jeep came closer and closer, I continued to struggle with the pain increasing every second. I could hear the zombies coming nearer and nearer to me. The only aim and thought inside me was to reach that jeep. It was my only hope to live. 

The jeep suddenly stopped and turned to the side and a young woman waving her hand opened the door for me. Taking the risk as soon as I was near, I leaped inside the jeep with a zombie right behind me. One of them shot it as they quickly closed the doors and rode off the street. 

I felt my eyes become heavy as I couldn't even count the number of people inside the jeep. The jeep suddenly came to a stop as the driver turned towards me and asked a question which I couldn't hear as I finally lost consciousness. 

The only thought in my head was that I hoped I didn't lose too much blood, that it would be a problem for me to die. After all the struggle I went through the entire day, dying like this was not something I wanted to happen to me.