I did my best to clean the blood from my hands. Luckily, my hospital room was equipped with a tap that still had some running water.
I felt much better once cleaned. After all, I did not yet know how the virus was able to spread. I had to be as safe as possible.
Afterwards, I glanced at the zombie one last time. Its headless corpse filled me with confidence, reminding me that I did not need to be hopeless just yet.
It was finally time to leave the hospital and make my way towards the exit. The longer I waited, the higher the chance that my brother Burner would be in danger.
After drinking one last glass of water, I made my way back to the door and peeked my head around the corner. The corridor was dark, with dim lights that flickered on and off, adding to the eery atmosphere.
I held my breath and listened, trying my best to make sure that I was alone. Luckily for me, I heard no sounds coming from the floor I was on.
However... the longer I listened, the more that I felt I heard noise coming from the floor beneath me. Gentle taps, like footsteps.
Another zombie, or could it be a human?
I hoped for the latter as I quietly, but swiftly made my way down the corridor towards the staircase. I was surprised by how capable I was at remaining silent. Despite feeling stronger, my body moved like a feather.
I avoided using the elevator, afraid that the noise might draw unwanted attention. The staircase would take me straight to the bottom floor, so as long as I preserved my energy, there would be no problems.
However, as I started to make my way down, past the door that would lead to the fourth floor, I heard the sounds louder than before.
I was right... gentle thuds like footsteps.
I pressed my ear against the door, trying to hear groans.
...
"Somebody help me! Please!"
The sounds of a woman's screams echoed through the corridor. At that moment I cursed to myself. Her voice was so loud, it was sure to draw more attention.
And the woman didn't stop.
"Help!"
I cursed again and pushed open the door. I had no other choice.
Even if I did not help her, I had to find a way to silence the woman. She was putting both of us in danger.
As I stared down the corridor, I caught a glimpse of a figure entering a room through a broken door. As it did, the screams of the woman grew louder.
"Please, I don't want to die. Help!"
I dashed down the corridor rapidly, making sure to keep my eyes wide open in case another one of the beasts jumped out of the darkness. Things seemed to be safe... until I reached the room.
Inside, I found a woman lying in her hospital bed, clutching at the covers in fear. In one of her hands was a broken shard of glass, which she held so tightly, that blood began to drip from her hard.
And the reason for her screaming was slowly approaching her. The sickly male beast stalked towards her with its arms outstretched and jaws wide, hungry for human flesh.
I met eyes with the woman, and her face filled with joy and a mixture of fear. She seemed to be in her thirties, and her body was malnourished. I could see the bones through her skin.
"Help, boy. Help!"
In an instant, I dashed forward, barging into the beast with my shoulder. I crashed into it with force, sending the zombie tumbling to the side and crashing into the window.
The glass splintered but did not shatter. The zombie was stunned, but it was still a looming threat.
I couldn't waste any time.
With a charging sprint, I hurled myself at the beast once again, shoving it with my shoulder. The beast toppled over, crashing into, and through the mirror and falling to its death from the fourth floor of Queen Lucy's Hospital.
I didn't need to look out of the window to know that it had died. The squelch was enough.
Second kill.
"T-thank you... so much..."
I looked over to see the lady panting for air. She had dropped the shard of glass onto the bed and rested her head back on her pillow.
During the struggle, her covers were thrown off of her, giving me sight of the rest of her body. What I saw filled me with despair...
One of her legs... they were missing.
This lady is an amputee... she must have been stuck here since the start of the outbreak, like me.
My heart grew heavy. I had saved her life, but to what avail?
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Elisabeth..." she responded, not caring to ask for mine. "What's going on outside? What has happened to Lenton?"
I shrugged my shoulders and began to look around the room for anything useful. Anything that could make this situation less bleak. "I've been in a coma for... god knows how long. I've got no clue what's happening. Do you know where everyone went?"
Surely they haven't all died?
Elisabeth buried her hands in her face, realising that I was most likely useless. After a while, she finally responded.
"There was an evacuation out of the city. Most people must have left... the fuckers left me too. Screw them and their families, and curse the gods as well!"
Tears fell from her eyes uncontrollably.
An evacuation. Perhaps they've gathered everyone at the capital, Sun City. It's where the military and population would be strongest.
I took a glance out of the window, hoping to see some sort of change in the scenery. Perhaps a group of people running around or fighting off the zombies.
But all I could see were hordes of the undead roaming endlessly. There was no sign of human life.
Only me, and the woman behind—
Squelch
A wet sound drew me from my thoughts.
As I turned around, I saw Elisabeth lying on her back with the shard of glass now sticking out of her neck. The woman's eyes rolled back into her head as she choked on her own blood.
I rushed over to her in an instant. "Elisabeth. Elisabeth!"
Her body convulsed, and I realised then that it was over. All I could do was watch as her life was drained from her.
I held her in my arms, and despite not knowing her, a wave of uncontrollable sadness washed over me. She was the only living human I had seen since waking up, and just like that, she was dead.
Not at the hands of a zombie, but rather herself.
Perhaps it was the better way to die, than to be torn apart.
I didn't notice then, but tears fell from my face. I let go of her body and allowed her to rest in her bed.
I couldn't spend any more time there.
I couldn't spend any more time alone.
I had to leave the hospital and search for my older brother.