NO WAY OUT
~written for Psychotic Scarlet (gaiaonline)
Starring: Hayden Ivey and Daenon Knightley
Sitting in a pile of rusting and weather-worn scraps, Hayden hummed slightly to the tune of an old country song as he happily sharpened his newly scavenged knife. The sky above was blood orange with gentle streaks of grays and indigos; dusk was falling and Daenon wasn’t back. Worry started to brew in his mind, “he should have been here by now,” he thought, “what’s taking him so long?”
Hayden stood and flexed his muscles, tucking the knife safely on his side. He didn’t readily admit it but he couldn’t bare sitting around while having uncanny images about Daenon being eaten alive by zombies flashing vividly in his mind. Hayden leaped smoothly off the pile and called on to Denver, he thought it would be easier to find Daenon with Denver by his side.
“Ready for an adventure pal?” Hayden said as he patted Denver gently on the head. The loyal German shepherd wagged his tail as he gave his owner an approving bark. The pair then headed out of the old junkyard, their current base, and hopped on Hayden’s motorbike which was readily parked by the junkyard’s gate. The motorbike had a sidecar, so Denver could comfortably travel with Hayden and Daenon.
Gone was the last light as stars started to glimmer over Hayden and Denver. The cool night air brushed Hayden’s bare cheeks but it had nothing to do with the shiver he felt all over his body. He felt that there was something wrong, hopefully it had nothing to do with Daenon.
After a few minutes of listening to the deafening roar of the bike, Denver let out a loud bark bringing the motorbike to an abrupt stop. “What is it boy?” Hayden asked the dog whose ears were perked up in attention.
Denver stepped out of his sidecar and started sniffing the ground; his tail wagging violently. Hayden observed his dog for a few seconds before it started sprinting towards a dark street. “Shit” Hayden cursed as he took off after Denver’s wake.
He took his knife out of a pocket on his side as he approached Denver whose head was crouched low, tail still wagging. He also noticed a figure kneeling in front of Denver. Hayden continued walking cautiously toward his dog, “Denver?” He called, clutching his knife tightly in his hand.
Denver turned around and ran towards his master who welcomed him with outstretched arms. “Don’t you ever take off like that,” Hayden said as he rubbed the back of Denver’s ear; he didn’t notice the figure approaching them.
“Well, well don’t I get a hug too Hayden?”
Hayden looked up and saw Daenon grinning above him. He then stood up and leveled with Daenon, the muscles on his biceps tensing.
“Missed me?” Daenon asked, his teeth showing as he smiled. He really liked pissing Hayden off; the look on his face when he’s angered is priceless.
“I wasn’t looking for you!” Hayden replied, his voice raising.
“Oh really?” Daenon answered, his brow was raised and a smile still playing on his face.
“Yeah!”
“Yeah?”
“I was uh- I was looking for something to eat. I was famished and so was Denver.” Hayden said. He felt proud that he found a way out of that mess. He didn’t want Daenon to think he was worried and in fact looking for him.
Daenon rolled his eyes, he knew Hayden fairly well and he knew Hayden’s tendencies to overreact.
“Right,” he retorted, “ I told you I was gonna get us some goods, you didn’t have to worry.”
“I told you I wasn’t worried!” Hayden half shouted, the muscles on his neck showing.
“Okay, if you insist.” Daenon replied, still smiling.
“You never fail to repulse me!” Hayden said, clutching his fist. Daenon tried to fend off a laugh as that would surely blow Hayden up. He calmly brought his hands behind his head, until he heard a peculiar sound.
“Shut up Hayden.” Daenon said, putting a hand in front of Hayden.
“And you have the nerve to tell me to shut up?” Hayden replied, red hot anger surging in his chest.
“No, seriously, keep quiet I heard something,” Daenon answered, his voice calm but cautious.
Hayden slowly unclenched his fist and listened carefully as well.
The grumbling, rumbling and gurgling sounds seemed to get closer and closer. Hayden, Daenon and Denver moved closer to each other; zombies, there was no doubt about it.
A disfigured creature advanced towards them, arms directed forward; ready to grab anything. Hayden who was still in a state of anger grabbed the creature with his bare hands and single handedly wrestled it, breaking every bone he can. An ear splitting shriek rose from the zombie as Hayden finished it off with a stab from his sharpened knife.
Hayden looked up, the arrogant look on his face gone.There were zombies, in every direction; he couldn’t see any exits, if only he brought a gun.
“Daenon, I think we’re surrounded.”
“Really? God you’re quick,” Daenon replied, rolling his eyes.
There was no time to think of a wittier comeback, Hayden stood up, grabbed a couple of mini knives from his pocket and started throwing it towards the zombies around them. A couple of zombies got hit; blood squirting out of their head and thorax. A manic look appeared on Hayden’s face as he advanced towards the zombies and started to slash and stab them with his knives. Some limbs were detached, innards scattered all over the ground and Hayden was covered with zombie blood.
Daenon sighed as he watched his friend attacking the zombies like a machine, he picked a metal tube in his grocery bag and followed Hayden, whacking and hitting zombies that came in his way. Denver was also trying to help as he attacked the zombies from below and started to rip the flesh on their legs; blood stuck on his fur and snout.
Daenon dropped to the ground, clutching a stitch on his side, “Hayden, they are too many,” he said in between labored breaths.
Hayden turned around for a moment towards Daenon and was hit by a zombie in the head. He felt some sort of throbbing pain as he held his head tight, trying to protect it from his attacker.
“Are you saying we run away?” Hayden replied, getting up to his feet and kicking the zombie who hit his head.
“We are not prepared and besides I can’t fight properly on an empty stomach!” Daenon said as he picked up a milk bottle and tried to throw it to an approaching zombie.
Hayden heaved a sigh, Daenon was right, there was no way of winning this, they were unarmed and undeniably hungry. Where did these zombies come from anyway and why were they so many?
“Alright,” Hayden said as he retreated towards Daenon and Denver, “can you still run? I parked my bike a few meters from here.”
“Yeah, I guess I can.”
“Okay at the count of three, we sprint to the right,” Hayden said, his voice stern.
“One,” Daenon stood up and inhaled deeply.
“Two,” Hayden position his knife on the ready.
“Three,” the three of them dashed off as planned. Hayden slashed a couple of zombies near them and Daenon ignored the searing pain on his side.
They continued to run, not even stopping to catch some air, until Hayden’s motorbike came into view. “Over there!” Hayden shouted and ran towards his bike, Daenon and Denver right behind him. When they reached the bike they held their chest, allowing air to fill their lungs once again. Their hearts were racing and their sweat was cold against their forehead but they didn’t mind, at least they were safe for now. Hayden grabbed the key from a pocket in his bloody jacket and tried to start his bike, a sound droned, the bike grumbled and hissed and then it was dead.
“Daenon, I think we’re out of gas,” Hayden said in a weary voice.
Daenon smacked his forehead and sighed, “ great! That’s just what we need right now.”