THE CAVE | Joel

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Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be

there's a shadow hanging over me

oh, yesterday came suddenly"

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-The Beatles

Joel, Two days earlier. 

Maine. What a fucked up excuse of a pitstop. We'd gone as far north as we could without hitting Canada on a supply sun. Canada was hell in the major cities, maybe not so much in the wilderness but still not a place I'd like to spend a night

The supply run had, so far, lasted for two weeks, trailing the east coast and trying to avoid any major cities. The hunters had lost five of the forty souls that had gone out on the mission. We'd been broken up into three smaller groups when a swarm of runners came at us from both sides, turning some and maiming others. Now I travelled with a squad of fifteen.

My particular group of hunters resided in the broken suburbs outside of Hartford, Connecticut and only a few that were too weak remained. The cruellest human beings left alive, living it up in a small suburban community.  It was bizarre, especially to stand in what once would have been a wealthy family's lakehouse or home. None of that mattered now, though. Most of the horrible fucks that lived in these houses were replaced by even worse people. It was either the hunters or the infected and trust me, you didn't want to meet either. I was slowly getting tired of the hunters although I never argued if they needed something done. Anything. but after each favour, my mind conjured up the same question. What would she think of me now?

Now it was simply a supply run led by our faction 'leader' of sorts, John. He was by far the most ruthless out of any of us and took charge if anyone stepped out of line. Whatever the hunter's code was, he knew it off by heart and enforced the unspoken law on anyone and everyone.

We were nearing the west of Maine. Our six trucks had been left at the border of New Hampshire in another small town. We walked through the tall trees and lake district on foot. We were bound to come across food eventually. I watched John as he guided his most trusted four forward. I was not one of the four.

They were approaching a row of cabins centred around a lake and with a heavy descent, ran down the hill. Loud 'sloshes' could be heard as their boots dug into the wet mud on the side of the hill. A few even slid down out of boredom. Must have rained recently, I thought absently.  Soon, they began rummaging through the small log cabins. I stared at the lake, noticing splatters of blood on boat paddles here and there, but no bodies. That was normal, it didn't mean anything. 

One of the men came over to me, his rifle pointed to the ground. "Admiring the view?"

I was going to answer with a mumbled comment but when I turned around I saw that they had found the gold we'd been searching got. The comment was quickly lost as a wave of hunger passed through me. We feasted the whole evening and still had enough to feed the entire camp back at base. I doubted the food would make it that far though. We hunters weren't exactly known for our generosity and I knew that most likely, it would be mysteriously 'stolen' before they even reached Massachusetts.

"A'rig there Joe?' One of the men said, slapping my back forcefully and with a wide grin. I couldn't place his accent, but it had always been unusual. He had blood lining his teeth too. I hoped that some of the men had just found some red meat- and liked it rare. It made the entire evening seem primal which was only enhanced by a couple of men who had found an old bottle of whiskey and were wildly holding each other around the fire. What a joke. 

"Yeah, just want to sleep"

"Well go on, there's plenty of cabins to choose from," He said in an unusually kind manner. 

I wasn't planning on sharing with anyone. I didn't trust anyone and I doubted anyone trusted me. I went the furthest from everyone to a cabin tucked neatly behind some trees. When I entered, I smelt coal and gunpowder. Someone had been here recently but in every other aspect, they were gone. Maybe some other hunters before him.

I saw pictures on the mantle piece and books strewn here and there. There was even an unfinished game of chess set up on a coffee table. I ignored it and went to bed quickly. The quicker I went to sleep, the sooner it would be morning and we could get going.

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It took us another two days to reach the small suburb where we'd left our transport. As I'd suspected, the food had been accidentally miscounted and was needed for the hunters currently on route. So much for a supply run.

I liked the street we were in. It was one of the only places id been in a long time that looked regular. However, I was irritable and not in the mood for admiring pretty landscapes. I hung behind the large group as we approached the white-walled (now grey) houses. As we neared our trucks, we spotted half of the other group which had gotten separated from us over a week ago. They were mangled and bloody. Many carried their arms in front of them with grimaces and limps as they made their way through the street. Shit, were they infected?

One of the men in the front put his hands up and called. "Don't shoot, please, we're good!"

John walked forward, large gun in hand and posture straight as a board. "What happened?"

"Attacked," the man said shortly.

I could see that John was angry. "By who?"

"Some family. They had hacksaws and guns. I promise they weren't infected"

There were only six of them and John looked wearily between the figures. He turned to the four closest to him and gave them a curt nod, walking away. Without hesitation, the four raised their guns and fired, eliminating any threat of infection. That was that then, no point in questioning it.  Johns's rulings were final. I walked to my truck. It was the oldest of the lot, hence why It was mine and not John's. The others were ready very quickly but I couldn't start my truck at all.

"You alright if we get going and you catch up?" John asked the window of his car down. I nodded, wordlessly and watched as the others dispersed, driving toward the horizon. I sighed heavily, turning the keys in the ignition once then twice and then again for old time's sake. Nothing. 

I checked different aspects of the engine and tried again but it seemed to want to annoy me. "Shit, shit, shit! " I shouted, hammering the dashboard. I decided to give it a rest and wait a few minutes and as I did, I closed my eyes and snoozed for a short while. When I opened them, the sun was setting and the sky was all purples and pinks. I needed to get going or I would be on my own at night. Not the best situation. I tried the ignition again and thankfully the car began to rev. Thank god.

 I pulled out of the untidy parking I had done about four days ago and drove around the old block. The further I went down the road, the taller some of the buildings got. Mostly townhouses with flat ugly rooves and offices with the same boring architecture. From afar, I heard some shouts and I slowed the car's speed, rolling down the window to listen. It was coming from the top of a building. The location of which, I couldn't place.

"Bonnie run! Please run Bonnie, he doesn't have much time!"

Some clicking and then a large scream sounded. "Mom please stop, he's okay. Stay with me, Ben just stay"

I jumped out of the car and spotted a silhouette backing away to the edge of one of the townhouse rooves. What was she doing? I hopped back in and drove forward so my truck was right out front. I watched and heard screams and the silhouette fell into the back of my truck like an angel without its wings. Lucifer falling from heaven.

I got out again, gun in hand and pointed it at the girl. She had long black hair and very clear skin that made her look like she was just taking a light sleep. I didn't want to focus on her looks though. Something was up with the other two people and I assumed she was okay. The building wasn't very tall anyway, probably just some bruises. I looked up at the flat roof and I couldn't see anything but I heard strangled gasps. The sound of an infected child.

I stood back to get a clear view of the roof and saw them. Two figures, eerily similar to the one in my trailer. One of them was squirming in the hands of the other, clearly infected by the Cordyceps fungi. I knew he didn't have much time. The other figure spotted me and began to shout. "No, please he's fine !"

He suddenly bit her shoulder and I fired two shots at the roof. We were all like John in this world. In the end, I was the same as every one of those hunters, there was no point in being anything else. 

When I got back to my truck, I didn't know what to do with the girl. She was still breathing and when I checked for any abrasions, she was clear. I cursed inwardly and decided to drive closer to the border between Maine and New Hampshire with the girl in the back.  I assumed that she had hurt herself in other ways as she groaned when I turned her over. So, not just bruises then. I could have just left her there and headed back to the camp, it was never my problem. The others were so far away though I didn't think I could catch up with them without getting myself into trouble

I didn't have to though. This diversion meant that they couldn't trace me or harm me in any way for leaving. I sat there staring at old and fresh bodies and a giant dilemma brewing. After five minutes of aimless silence,  I decided I would drop the girl somewhere and head south, for Boston- to get some information about my brother. I would be fine. Tomorrow, this would all be behind me, nothing more than yesterday