The Third Breed

Mission

Screams faded into silence as they watch the scout get torn to pieces by the horde of infected. All they could do was wince and hold their breath as the creatures devour and mangle the remaining parts of their comrade.

None of the four men dared move nor make a sound atop the stacks of container vans, from a group of forty only they were able to stay together.

Scared and still in a state of panic they looked at each others worn out, they try to distinguish one another by the names on their worn out military fatigues and dark ski mask.

Jude was holding tightly to his katana, Darius had an additional bag with his tactical knife, Ariel the youngest has a tactical knife and bow and Lance whom had a bolo knife and a medical kit on his belt.

All four of them were sitting as steady as possible on top of the containers, they were suppose to be the reserves for their group, but because of the chaos that ensued they were unable to move on their own.

The darkness of the night sky was supposed to shroud them, but it also became the cause of their demise.

When their group arrived they were unaware of the mob of moving corpses that were hiding inside one of the run down building. The reports did not say anything about the port being inhabited by the horde.

Even though they wanted to retreat they couldn’t go back, when one of their groups tried escaping a while ago their boat sank as the zombies swarmed it.

One by one their team mates fell victim to the overwhelming number of the enemy.

“Jude, what do we do?” Ariel whispers. Crawling towards the eldest in their group.

The man glared back, gasping for air while shakily grasping his weapon. It has already been hours and dawn was closing. In a few hours the sun will come up and they would need to find another place to hide.

Though it was still early the whole place was beginning to be visible.

Lance takes a peak below once more, the ruckus has subsided, as mindless bodies were now just walking around the place. He pulls out his notebook, though dark he was able to feel the etches of the map that he made, checking again for a way out there. Basing on their location there should be a nearby exit. Crawling towards the location, he tries to pinpoint its exact place.

“What are you doing!” Jude scolds, fearing that the movements will cause noise and give out their location.

But Lance ignored it and continued his search. “There,” he points.

About a few meters away, behind a line of containers was a stone wall, barely visible from their eyes.

“How are we going to get there, with all of those things surrounding us?” Ariel scoffs

Lance looks at the sky, the winds were strong and restless, while flashes of light were appearing above.

Broken galvanized iron sheets used for roofing were already making noises, as the wind blows on it. It was gradually getting the attention of some of the zombies, making the things swarm on certain areas.

Lance studies the distance and the terrain that they were going to pass in case they made a move.

Some of the container vans were closely aligned which would allow them to easily cross, while others provided hiding space. Yet he knew that it was futile to make any sudden actions right now.

“Will just have to wait it out for now,” he states.

All three of his companion nodded in agreement.

Half an hour passed and the rain started to pour, lightning slashed the skies while the wind whistled as it blew.

The zombies became restless once more and began moving in droves, seeking the closest possible shelter.

Noticing the creatures action, Lance immediately taps the three other men, gesturing to take a look at their surrounding.

They were all bewildered at what was happening, for all they knew the monster were unable to think anymore, yet seeing as how the horde were still trying to seek shelter from the weather prove it other wise.

All four crouched, ready to move. It was now or never. The darkness was both an ally and an enemy to them, yet the noise and the weather was enough to use to their advantage.

They needed to get out of there and fast, according to the information given to them, reaching the mountains is the safest option in that location.

After making sure that all was clear they being their escape. First they crossed the two nearest container towards the gate, when they reached the last one, they checked their surrounding once more before slowly making their way down. One by one as they assisted one another, being as quiet as possible.

Jude signaled Darius to go ahead of them, moving slowly in the guise of the shadows and containers.

Though wet and exhausted they still kept their phase, not wanting to waste the opportunity that nature has given them. Everyone’s pulse was racing as they reached the last container before the wall.

All of them were put to a halt, dumbfounded when they hastily turned on the next corner. Under a broken down waiting shed near the wall, just beside the gate was a straggler standing like a statue on its side.

“f**k!” Ariel immediately raises his bow as the zombie turns its head upon noticing them.

“Run and hide!” Jude commands as he and Darius dashes back to conceal themselves.

Like a pouncing animal the zombie sprints towards them, wobbling as it moved, arms raised and mouth wide open showing it’s ghastly mouth that was ready to take a chunk at any one of them.

Lance turns to scurry but ends up halting when he realizes that Ariel was frozen in place and shaking. Panic and fear was shown on the young mans face as the creature closed its gap. As if by instinct and without a second thought, Lance draws out his bolo knife and charges towards the creature.

“Ariel run!” he snaps at him.

As if by chance, lightning shined the whole place, allowing Lance to see his target much more clearer, he slashes at the zombies weakest point, but the cut to its neck was too shallow and the force of the creatures momentum shoved him to the ground.

He lets out a loud groan as he falls on his back making him the zombies new target.

Lance eyes was wide open, heart pounding and there was a shot of pain on his shoulder, yet he held his bolo knife with both hands, pointing its sharp end in front of the creature.

Ariel manages to wake up from the shock, though still in disarray he instantly shoots his arrow.

The zombie slumps to the ground as its head is pierced by both weapons.

Panting as he stood, Lance looks at the young mans eyes, thankful for what his comrade had done. Though Ariel was soaked in rain he could see tears on them.

“I...I’m sorry,” Ariel says still shaking but tries to stop himself from crying.“I couldn’t move,” he sobs.

Lance just gives him a nod of gratitude. Even he could not help his mixed feeling of dread and relief after the ordeal.

“What are you two doing, move your asses!” Jude orders while passing the two.

Darius was already at the gate hastily trying to force it to open, when Jude gets close the two managed to create a small opening.

They hear muffled growls and wheezing from afar, that’s when Lance and Ariel notice that a few nearby zombies were alerted.

A rush of adrenaline forces Lance to move, with one quick motion he grabs the still shocked Ariel pulling him to start running. Eyes being accustomed to the dark they manage to reached the gate.

“Go on ahead!” After pushing the young man into the small opening he looks back.

The few zombies have now increase to around a dozen, Lance takes out a canister like item on his pack and turns its lid before throwing it towards the horde, before quickly making his way to the exit.

The canister released a red like smoke around the area confusing the creatures upon entering it.

He looks around the remains of a ruined city, trees and tall grass have already taken over some of the area but a lot of the buildings were still in tact.

“Lance, over here!” Ariel waves behind what seemed to be the remains of an eroding bus, covered in rust and vines.

He runs toward him relieved that they finally got out of the port. “Where’s Jude and Darius?”

“I lost them.” Ariel looks down in apology and wipes his eyes.

Lance lets out a sigh. “We better get out of here, before the sun rises.” he taps his shoulder.

Trying to let his comrade feel that it was going to be alright. It was obviously every man for himself now, but their objective still remains the same.

They move in the shadows of decaying houses and large plants. Cautiously hiding within the tall shrubs that have somewhat covered some of the vicinity, making their way through rows of broken down buildings, apartment complex and piled up remains of vehicles.

The sunrise was nearing, when they decide to scuttle to a nearby house that had a fairly high stone fence, its entry gate was still barricaded with a jeep.

Ariel makes his way over it, as Lance stays on the look out.

“It’s safe,” Ariel hushes.

Lance throws his backpack over the wall, before jumping up to climb over it, Ariel was patiently waiting for him on the other side. When he was on the ground, they look at each other, he signals his friend to go to the back of house as he checks the front.

In situations like these they needed to make sure that the place was completely empty from any infected.

Everything seems to be still in one piece, the doors were still shut, though some of the glass window were broken, the railings were still attached to it. They meet up halfway after circling the place.

“The whole place’s still sealed shut, and there’s a metal ladder at the back.” Ariel informs him.

They make their way there, it seems the previous inhabitants knew the infected were incapable of climbing up and used the ladder as a means of entry and exit keeping the first floor closed off.

The ladder was still sturdy, situated in a balcony so they were able to use it. They slowly enter, listening for any noise, still cautious of the place.

The inside had one room whose door was open and the lower floors was just around forty square meter with no divisions. The remaining things inside were all piled up closing off the front and back door and the four windows surrounding it.

“This is place is perfect,” Lance states.

His companion nods, and they begin to put down their backpacks, relieved to finally be able to relax a bit.

“Lance, thanks for saving me back there,” Ariel says.

Lance just smiles after removing his ski mask “Don’t mention it,” he taps his shoulder, before sitting down. “We better check our supplies.”

They both rummage through their things, taking out a square plastic container about the size of their palms.

“Mine’s all good.” Ariel says showings the small vials that were neatly stack in it.

“Same here, now we just need to make sure we survive for one month.” Lance states wanting to lighten up the mood for his newbie companion.

During his first time, he was in a much larger group and they didn’t encounter any trouble. Though he has heard of such stories, this was also a first for him. Having already ventured three times in a row. He knew it was up to him to keep both of them safe.