Chapter 1 - Memories (cont.)
"Run, Tess! Run!" Tristan screamed. I just manage to scramble away as one of once majestic buildings of New York started to fall apart. CRASH! The debris scatter around me, it made my heart skip a beat.
"The infected are terrorizing the healthy." I say, looking up.
Tristan nods, "Oh no! We have company. Look!"
I whip around to see a dozen Chill infected people lumber towards us. I feel like I am about to throw up. I thought we were safe, but no. The infected twitch and jerk with the sickness. They snarl at us. Laugh. Taunt. Kill the healthy.
"Weee j-j-just want t-to see-ee your prrrrrretty little faces," said- more like coughed- the one at the front.
He was a man about our age. Their hair was ripped out. Scars ran through their bodies like rivers. And blood was everywhere. I couldn't bare to look at any more Chilled people!
"C-come closer. We won't h-huurt you! Come closer… Closer. Closer… Closer…" All twelve were chanting, they started to walk toward us. I didn't realize that I was clenching my knife by my side with fear. I have had enough! "Tristan, I think it is a good time to RUN!" I sprinted away without waiting for an answer. I was way faster than Tristan, but he could last longer. I was heaving for breaths. The pitter-patter of their footsteps was close behind. I was so terrified, I could hear the blood pulsing through my ears. "They're gaining on us!" I ran like the wind. The two of us ran through alleys, past abounded cars, past… bodies. My heart rate was quickening. Fear! They are right behind us! More fear! I am soooo tired. Help! Fear! I froze.
"Tess! Are you okay!" Tristan asked.
"Um, yes!"
"We lost them. You did realize that? Right?"
"Uhh…"
Suddenly for no reason at all I started to cry. My knees buckled under me, I put my head in my lap. As soon as Tristan put is arm around me, I started to bawl. I sobbed, "Everything... has been horrible, Tristan… Ever since the… government released that stupid... virus!" I sniffle. "Shhhh. It's okay Tess. Everything is going to be fine." He smiles " If you survived your freshman year in High School… We can make it through a world of lunatics." He knows how to make me feel better. "Thank you." I whisper." I think to myself doughtfully, 'I am petrified. Oh… some one please help me."
"Run, Tess! Run!" Tristan screamed. I just manage to scramble away as one of once majestic buildings of New York started to fall apart. CRASH! The debris scatter around me, it made my heart skip a beat.
"The infected are terrorizing the healthy." I say, looking up.
Tristan nods, "Oh no! We have company. Look!"
I whip around to see a dozen Chill infected people lumber towards us. I feel like I am about to throw up. I thought we were safe, but no. The infected twitch and jerk with the sickness. They snarl at us. Laugh. Taunt. Kill the healthy.
"Weee j-j-just want t-to see-ee your prrrrrretty little faces," said- more like coughed- the one at the front.
He was a man about our age. Their hair was ripped out. Scars ran through their bodies like rivers. And blood was everywhere. I couldn't bare to look at any more Chilled people!
"C-come closer. We won't h-huurt you! Come closer… Closer. Closer… Closer…" All twelve were chanting, they started to walk toward us. I didn't realize that I was clenching my knife by my side with fear. I have had enough! "Tristan, I think it is a good time to RUN!" I sprinted away without waiting for an answer. I was way faster than Tristan, but he could last longer. I was heaving for breaths. The pitter-patter of their footsteps was close behind. I was so terrified, I could hear the blood pulsing through my ears. "They're gaining on us!" I ran like the wind. The two of us ran through alleys, past abounded cars, past… bodies. My heart rate was quickening. Fear! They are right behind us! More fear! I am soooo tired. Help! Fear! I froze.
"Tess! Are you okay!" Tristan asked.
"Um, yes!"
"We lost them. You did realize that? Right?"
"Uhh…"
Suddenly for no reason at all I started to cry. My knees buckled under me, I put my head in my lap. As soon as Tristan put is arm around me, I started to bawl. I sobbed, "Everything... has been horrible, Tristan… Ever since the… government released that stupid... virus!" I sniffle. "Shhhh. It's okay Tess. Everything is going to be fine." He smiles " If you survived your freshman year in High School… We can make it through a world of lunatics." He knows how to make me feel better. "Thank you." I whisper." I think to myself doughtfully, 'I am petrified. Oh… some one please help me."
"Nothing." I said. i was still breathing hard.
Tristan looked at me as if i had said the most unbelievable thing in the world. "Really?" he raised his eyebrows at me and cocked his head.
"Tristan, you are the best twin brother in the whole world. Oh… and I was just having a bad dream."
"Gosh, you've got to stop having those."
I stare at the ground, "I hate memories."
Tristan just chuckles and shakes his head. He seems much more mature than me even though I am 4 minutes older than him. I pretend not to notice.
"What's for breakfast?" Gabbi asks as she rises from her blanket. She stretches her arms out like she is yawning. "Hmmm," Gabbi has a smirk across her face.
"Uh-oh, I don't like the look of this." I say sarcastically. Even smarty-pants Tristan turns around to see this phenomenon. Gabbi makes a "Shh" symbol with her finger then she gets on her hands and knees, crawling to Nicos blanket. Nico has a habit of smiling when he sleeps- if it is a good dream, at least. Gabbi slowly rises then jumps on top of him! "The Chilled are attacking us! Grrrr!"
"Ahhhh" Nico screams like a girl. He jumps up and runs away from her. Tristan snickers, while I full-out laugh. "Hey! Gabs, Why did you wake me up like that?!" She shrugs innocently. "That's what you get for sleeping in," she says to him. I sigh, "Today… is going to be a good day."
"I couldn't have agreed more!”
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Chapter 2 - The Change of Plans
"Tess! Your breakfast won't run away from you." Nico says. Ugh, Nico and his manners!
"Whoopsy, Nico. We might as well be dining with the queen." I throw every ounce of sarcasm into my words.
"You guy do realize that this meal might be our last meal?" asks Tristan. I don't answer his question. Gabbi clears her throat, "Okay, enough chit-chat time. So, umm…. Ya. After I made breakfast I sort of drew a blueprint." I raise my eye-brows, "Drew a blueprint?"
"Hey! It's not that simple!" Gabbi clears the leaves of the forest floor away, so that the dirt is visible. She draws a rectangle with her finger, "That is New York City." She now draws an 'X', "We are here- a forest on the outskirts of the city." Now three lines coming from the rectangle, "We have all concluded that the Chilled people are starting to head into the woods in search of… food and flesh. We can all prove that with personal experience. Right?" I shiver. Memories! Gabbi draws some circles to the left, "That is the un-inhabited forest. We need do go-" Tristan interrupts, "But, isn't that where some villages have started to sprout up." Gabbi starts to look unsure, "Yes villages are there, but those are healthy seeking refuge." I get it now! "So we need to go Southwest. Head for the Carolinas?" She nods, "Exactly! And what better time to start packing than now?"
"Oh, there is no time like the present!"
"Should we take everything?"
"Yes!"
We all stand up. The lack of sleep is obvious in our groggy motions. "Did you hear that?" Nico half-whispers. "Hear what?" I ask.
"From down the hill… Sort of like a yell- no, not a yell. Hollering. Catcalls." An wary silence spreads across our camp. Almost… scary.
"I can hear it, too." I say.
Tristan and Gabbi exchange a glance. "Then we'd better start packing. Fast."
Gabbi smiles hauntingly, "Or we might have some nice Chilled friends to deal with later on."
I rush to my blanket. I grab my bag. I can barely think! The sound is getting louder! Okay… in goes my knifes, my blanket, first-aid kit, canteen, and then the rest. A twig snaps behind us. I spin around. "What was that?" my voice is quivering with fear! "Better deal with it now." says Nico, "It might be a squirrel." I am screaming in my mind, 'We have our bags packed Nico, just run… too late." An insane laughter fills the trees. It's hard to see in the light of dawn. A shadow moves behind that thick oak. "Nico don't!" We yell. Too. Late.
A ragged, torn, beaten, hungry, disgusting, sick, Chilled man steps out. "He has a knife, you guys." I say. I am so scared that i am practically laughing. "Hel-l-llllo-oooo fr-rr-r-r-r-iends." He pauses dramatically, and his head tics with insanity. "Weeeee-eee m-m-missss-ssssed you in the city." Our little group of four doesn't even have a signal for when to run away. After so, so many incidents, we just… know when to… GO!!
"Tess! Your breakfast won't run away from you." Nico says. Ugh, Nico and his manners!
"Whoopsy, Nico. We might as well be dining with the queen." I throw every ounce of sarcasm into my words.
"You guy do realize that this meal might be our last meal?" asks Tristan. I don't answer his question. Gabbi clears her throat, "Okay, enough chit-chat time. So, umm…. Ya. After I made breakfast I sort of drew a blueprint." I raise my eye-brows, "Drew a blueprint?"
"Hey! It's not that simple!" Gabbi clears the leaves of the forest floor away, so that the dirt is visible. She draws a rectangle with her finger, "That is New York City." She now draws an 'X', "We are here- a forest on the outskirts of the city." Now three lines coming from the rectangle, "We have all concluded that the Chilled people are starting to head into the woods in search of… food and flesh. We can all prove that with personal experience. Right?" I shiver. Memories! Gabbi draws some circles to the left, "That is the un-inhabited forest. We need do go-" Tristan interrupts, "But, isn't that where some villages have started to sprout up." Gabbi starts to look unsure, "Yes villages are there, but those are healthy seeking refuge." I get it now! "So we need to go Southwest. Head for the Carolinas?" She nods, "Exactly! And what better time to start packing than now?"
"Oh, there is no time like the present!"
"Should we take everything?"
"Yes!"
We all stand up. The lack of sleep is obvious in our groggy motions. "Did you hear that?" Nico half-whispers. "Hear what?" I ask.
"From down the hill… Sort of like a yell- no, not a yell. Hollering. Catcalls." An wary silence spreads across our camp. Almost… scary.
"I can hear it, too." I say.
Tristan and Gabbi exchange a glance. "Then we'd better start packing. Fast."
Gabbi smiles hauntingly, "Or we might have some nice Chilled friends to deal with later on."
I rush to my blanket. I grab my bag. I can barely think! The sound is getting louder! Okay… in goes my knifes, my blanket, first-aid kit, canteen, and then the rest. A twig snaps behind us. I spin around. "What was that?" my voice is quivering with fear! "Better deal with it now." says Nico, "It might be a squirrel." I am screaming in my mind, 'We have our bags packed Nico, just run… too late." An insane laughter fills the trees. It's hard to see in the light of dawn. A shadow moves behind that thick oak. "Nico don't!" We yell. Too. Late.
A ragged, torn, beaten, hungry, disgusting, sick, Chilled man steps out. "He has a knife, you guys." I say. I am so scared that i am practically laughing. "Hel-l-llllo-oooo fr-rr-r-r-r-iends." He pauses dramatically, and his head tics with insanity. "Weeeee-eee m-m-missss-ssssed you in the city." Our little group of four doesn't even have a signal for when to run away. After so, so many incidents, we just… know when to… GO!!
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Chapter 3 - A New Troop
I was now racing through the forest, they were trying to catch up to me. "Whooaaa-heeee! Kakaka!" The whoops and hollers from behind were getting louder. I didn't want to become one of the living dead.
Nico started to slow down, "I think we lost them back there."
"I think you're right." I said, with sort of too much sarcasm than I had intended.
I doubled over to compose myself. My vision had become a blur with exhaustion. The only noise around me was the now distant yells and chirping of birds- if there are any birds left! This part of the forest looked like a starry night sky, the forest floor was covered in sunlight dapples. It is very different compared to our previous sullen forest.
"Okay you guys," Tristan started, "So… according to my calculations we will be at the new forest in about two days.
I was confused, "What do you mean 'new forest', is there actually a fence saying 'new forest'."
Gabbi chipped in, "Actually there is supposed to be some type of fence," she paused. A look of terror spread across her face. "We have to go now. Then find a bush to hide under.
A knot spread in my stomach. The hollering group is coming closer! I slung my bag over my shoulder and started walking. Fast. Our little band of four walked silently through the dapple forest. Every time one of us stepped on a twig we all cringed.
"They. Are. Coming. Hide!" Nico whispered. He made sure to enunciate each syllable.
I got on my hands and knees- I knew the "duck and hide" drill, it's not the first time we have done it. I rolled onto my back and got under the thickest bush. Unfortunately it was prickly. The needles closed in around me, a protective cocoon. And it was sort of awkward because Nico chose the same bush and he was laying to close to me for my comfort.
"Tess…" he whispered.
"Ya."
"Give me a knife… please."
"Sure," I pulled out a hunter's knife, its blade still shone with metal that hadn't been dirtied with blood.
"Thanks."
"Now shut up!" I whispered angrily.
"Grrr-r-r-r-r-rrr. Did I sss-ssscare yooooouuuu ch-chillllldren-n-n-?" the sick man that was chasing us fell into an insane bout of laughter.
"They found us-" I slapped my hand over Nico's mouth before he could finish.
The sick man started again, "Di-did you r-r-r-eall-l-l-lllly think-k weeee-eeee would let y-yyou ge-t-t-t-t- away? My-eeee friendssss h-he-heard-d you! You! You! All of you!" More laughter, this time from more than one person. I held my breath. I looked up through the top of the bush. I could see Sick Man's knife glinting in the dapple sunlight. Crunching of leaves sounded behind our bush. Someone grabbed my ankles. I gasped, "Ahhh! Let go of me! Let go of me! You freak!" I felt a blade pushing into my leg, "Owww!"
"Let go of her, you idiot." Nico yelled.
He rolled out of the bush. And the pain from my leg escaped almost immediately. I jumped out… with my knife in hand. The second I got out a fighting frenzy broke out. "Ah" some one grabbed my arm, knocked me to the ground. Whoever did that sent two nasty kicks to my rib. The pain gave me adrenaline. I jumped up knife in my hand. The attacker- an older looking man- punched at me, I ducked just in time. Tristan ran over to me, his attacker was on the ground… dead.
"Need help?" Tristan asked. He grabbed the man and pinned him to the tree. The sickly looking man gave him a few good kicks in the groin. Tristan fell to the ground in a ball.
"Don't you dare hurt my twin brother!" I lunged at the man, he clearly wasn't expecting that. I stabbed the man in the gut, as hard as I could. I looked away. I had to kill him to survive! The man choked up blood and in the same second he grew silent.
"Tristan? Are you okay?" I asked. "Wait, are you crying?"
"Yes I am Tess, he kicked me in the pretty spot. Look out!"
I spun around just in time to duck out of the way of a crazy young girl. She had hunger in her eyes. She jumped on top of me without a second to spare. The air escaped from my lungs. She punched me five times in the face. Pain shot through me like lighting. I could taste the blood. It was my turn. I kicked as hard as I could! My attacker shrieked and flew off me. "I I I a mmmm hungry-h-h-h-hungry!" She started flailing and kicking at any part of me that she could, hit me twice. I looked down and slashed with my knife. All of a sudden she stopped fighting and ran away screaming into the forest.
"That was weird." I said to myself.
I scanned our mini war. Tristan was handling a little girl and two buff looking guys. Gabbi was having a fist fight with two girls about her age. While Nico was pinned to the ground by a fat guy. WE were never going to win. And Sick Man sat in a tree watching us.
Out of the blue, a noise I hadn't heard in years blasted near us. And Sick Man fell from his perch. Bleeding. Dying. Everyone seemed to freeze. Two more blasts rose. Nico's attacker crumbled on the ground next to him. One of the buff guys seemed to get the idea, "Run!" They all vanished into the woods.
"Who's there?" I called out. I had heard a sound on the other side.
A brunette stepped out of the woods. She was holding a gun! She blew across the tip of the barrel, as if bragging about her weapon. Then a pure white wolf- no a dog emerged from behind her.
"Please don't hurt us!" Tristan said pleadingly. He and Gabbi got on their knees as if begging. The brunette didn't look sick.
She then spoke, "The name's Eliza. You all can thank me later.”
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I was now racing through the forest, they were trying to catch up to me. "Whooaaa-heeee! Kakaka!" The whoops and hollers from behind were getting louder. I didn't want to become one of the living dead.
Nico started to slow down, "I think we lost them back there."
"I think you're right." I said, with sort of too much sarcasm than I had intended.
I doubled over to compose myself. My vision had become a blur with exhaustion. The only noise around me was the now distant yells and chirping of birds- if there are any birds left! This part of the forest looked like a starry night sky, the forest floor was covered in sunlight dapples. It is very different compared to our previous sullen forest.
"Okay you guys," Tristan started, "So… according to my calculations we will be at the new forest in about two days.
I was confused, "What do you mean 'new forest', is there actually a fence saying 'new forest'."
Gabbi chipped in, "Actually there is supposed to be some type of fence," she paused. A look of terror spread across her face. "We have to go now. Then find a bush to hide under.
A knot spread in my stomach. The hollering group is coming closer! I slung my bag over my shoulder and started walking. Fast. Our little band of four walked silently through the dapple forest. Every time one of us stepped on a twig we all cringed.
"They. Are. Coming. Hide!" Nico whispered. He made sure to enunciate each syllable.
I got on my hands and knees- I knew the "duck and hide" drill, it's not the first time we have done it. I rolled onto my back and got under the thickest bush. Unfortunately it was prickly. The needles closed in around me, a protective cocoon. And it was sort of awkward because Nico chose the same bush and he was laying to close to me for my comfort.
"Tess…" he whispered.
"Ya."
"Give me a knife… please."
"Sure," I pulled out a hunter's knife, its blade still shone with metal that hadn't been dirtied with blood.
"Thanks."
"Now shut up!" I whispered angrily.
"Grrr-r-r-r-r-rrr. Did I sss-ssscare yooooouuuu ch-chillllldren-n-n-?" the sick man that was chasing us fell into an insane bout of laughter.
"They found us-" I slapped my hand over Nico's mouth before he could finish.
The sick man started again, "Di-did you r-r-r-eall-l-l-lllly think-k weeee-eeee would let y-yyou ge-t-t-t-t- away? My-eeee friendssss h-he-heard-d you! You! You! All of you!" More laughter, this time from more than one person. I held my breath. I looked up through the top of the bush. I could see Sick Man's knife glinting in the dapple sunlight. Crunching of leaves sounded behind our bush. Someone grabbed my ankles. I gasped, "Ahhh! Let go of me! Let go of me! You freak!" I felt a blade pushing into my leg, "Owww!"
"Let go of her, you idiot." Nico yelled.
He rolled out of the bush. And the pain from my leg escaped almost immediately. I jumped out… with my knife in hand. The second I got out a fighting frenzy broke out. "Ah" some one grabbed my arm, knocked me to the ground. Whoever did that sent two nasty kicks to my rib. The pain gave me adrenaline. I jumped up knife in my hand. The attacker- an older looking man- punched at me, I ducked just in time. Tristan ran over to me, his attacker was on the ground… dead.
"Need help?" Tristan asked. He grabbed the man and pinned him to the tree. The sickly looking man gave him a few good kicks in the groin. Tristan fell to the ground in a ball.
"Don't you dare hurt my twin brother!" I lunged at the man, he clearly wasn't expecting that. I stabbed the man in the gut, as hard as I could. I looked away. I had to kill him to survive! The man choked up blood and in the same second he grew silent.
"Tristan? Are you okay?" I asked. "Wait, are you crying?"
"Yes I am Tess, he kicked me in the pretty spot. Look out!"
I spun around just in time to duck out of the way of a crazy young girl. She had hunger in her eyes. She jumped on top of me without a second to spare. The air escaped from my lungs. She punched me five times in the face. Pain shot through me like lighting. I could taste the blood. It was my turn. I kicked as hard as I could! My attacker shrieked and flew off me. "I I I a mmmm hungry-h-h-h-hungry!" She started flailing and kicking at any part of me that she could, hit me twice. I looked down and slashed with my knife. All of a sudden she stopped fighting and ran away screaming into the forest.
"That was weird." I said to myself.
I scanned our mini war. Tristan was handling a little girl and two buff looking guys. Gabbi was having a fist fight with two girls about her age. While Nico was pinned to the ground by a fat guy. WE were never going to win. And Sick Man sat in a tree watching us.
Out of the blue, a noise I hadn't heard in years blasted near us. And Sick Man fell from his perch. Bleeding. Dying. Everyone seemed to freeze. Two more blasts rose. Nico's attacker crumbled on the ground next to him. One of the buff guys seemed to get the idea, "Run!" They all vanished into the woods.
"Who's there?" I called out. I had heard a sound on the other side.
A brunette stepped out of the woods. She was holding a gun! She blew across the tip of the barrel, as if bragging about her weapon. Then a pure white wolf- no a dog emerged from behind her.
"Please don't hurt us!" Tristan said pleadingly. He and Gabbi got on their knees as if begging. The brunette didn't look sick.
She then spoke, "The name's Eliza. You all can thank me later.”
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Chapter 4 - Meet Eliza
We stare at the pretty brunette and her… dog I guess. Ever since 5 minutes ago, no one in our group of four dared to move.
Eliza- the brunette- spoke, "Uh, I'm not gonna kill you guys. Unless you want me to, just kidding." Eliza bent down and patted the wolf-dog on the head, then she glanced up at our confused eyes. "Umm… Oh yeah! You guys probably want to know my story, then you tell me yours. No fibs. No- whatever, or else. Come one"
We got up, I never lifted my gaze off of the pretty brunette. And neither did Tristan, I think he was looking a bit too much. Get it? Eliza led us in the direction we were heading, the "new forest" and then broke the silence.
"So anyway," She began. "So you guys now that my name is Eliza, I am 17 years old. Almost forgot- this is Snowball." She patted her on the head.
"Stupid name." I muttered.
Eliza spun around. And next thing I knew she had me pinned against the tree in a choke hold. "Don't you dare say that! My dead brother chose that name. The crazy loonies- the chilled peeps killed him! Understand." She released me.
In the meantime I was coughing up blood. "Are you okay?" Tristan and Gabbi rushed to my side. "Better watch your mouth around her, she has a gun. Genius!" Gabbi whisper to me. I nod an okay.
The brunette cleared her throat, "Anyway, I am from New York. So it was a typical Friday afternoon. My brother, parents, and me were walking through Brooklyn when all of a sudden those cursed virus bombs dropped. Do you guys remember them?"
"Yes."
"So then two days later the Chilled just started roaming the streets and terrorizing everyone. My parents were taken hostage, by a group of crazies on the river. So when my brother and I were just casually, well actually sprinting through the woods here. And they started fighting us…" Then Eliza cried. She is crying like a raincloud. Even for what she did to me, I pitied her. Tristan knelt down and whispered something inaudible into her ear, she nodded. I pat her back, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You are lucky you still have your brother," she said between sobs. "So then I joined up with a group in the forest and you are going to meet them."
Gabbi looked up at the slowly setting sun. It was a giant sea of orange. It made her feel, happy I guess.
"My name is Tess. I am 16 and so is my twin brother: Tristan."
Eliza studied him for a moment. Maybe it had to do with why he whispered to her? "Oh, interesting. Tristan you should stick around with us." Tristan blushed incredibly.
"My name is Gabbi, 19."
"Oh uh, I am Nico. I am 15 years old. Yeah, and I am a really fast runner!"
"Are you sure?" Gabbi laughed.
We continued trekking along the slightly wen path. Tristan stayed towards the front of the group with Eliza. I walked with Gabbi in the rear. And little Nice trudged along in the middle of the path. The scenery of this coming "new forest" was very different, it was untouched by human feet. Even though we were still a day away, it is truly beautiful here. I look at the brook that rubles over stones by our feet. All of the little squirrels by the trees! They are free from the Chill, they will never have to worry about death and betrayal. I actually envy the squirrels! Those cuddly, red creatures have not a care in the world, besides collecting enough nuts for the Winter!
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