Survival or Struggle?

Ashley came back to consciousness with a low groan and CC by his side. Ashley looked around, the others were still unconscious. That's a problem. The fire killed off all the zombies surrounding them, a plus in a sea of problems. Ashley got up while CC looked at him with concern. It was always so confusing, even if Ashley was like CC now. One minute CC was cold and withdrawn, and the next he was his usual self. Ashley figured it wasn't time for questioning it now. He could here the fire still crackling, and the screech of giving and melting metal. Car parts were everywhere, and Ashley counted himself lucky as to not have been impaled by any of that. Well, he was lucky, he wasn't so sure about everyone else.

And while thinking about all of this, another thought came to mind. Where was the bus? CC had driven it away to make sure it didn't explode and kill everyone. Well, killing the zombies would have been fine. But Ashley would rather not be cooked, thanks very much. The thought was abruptly cut off by a soft groan. Ashley whirled around, thinking it was a zombie for a moment. But when Andy lifted himself up, he relaxed. CC strode forward and helped Andy to his feet. Ashley saw him blink several times, probably to get his vision back in order. After that, Andy looked from Ashley to CC and back again, brows furrowed.

"Where's the bus?" he asked, echoing Ashley's thoughts. CC simply turned and shown the two the bus that stood at the end of the parking lot, the bus facing the exit to the road to get out easily.

Andy nodded and Ashley rose a brow, but said nothing. Their attention was drawn to their two unconscious comrades. CC went to them and knelt down, putting his fingers to Jinxx's neck. CC nodded, clearly knowing that Jinxx had a pulse. But upon going to Jake, his brows furrowed, contorted into an extremely worried expression. CC looked on the verge of jumping out of his skin in panic. Which made Ashley notice instantly. He let Andy go to Jinxx and watched as Andy successfully roused him. Jinxx grumbled, clearly not impressed by Andy shaking him back into consciousness.

"You're a dick." Jinxx spat at him, wincing when the tone of voice he used caused his head to throb.

"Oh yeah, I made sure you weren't dead, or a zombie, and I'm the dick." Andy retorted back softly, noticing Jinxx's wince.

Ashley tuned out their bickering and went to CC, kneeling next to Jake and looked him over before his gaze moved to his worried comrade, who still had two fingers on Jake's neck, constantly on his pulse. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but a groan came from somewhere close. No, it wasn't Jake, he still was clearly out of the count. CC and Ashley's heads came up almost simultaneously, looking to where the groan came from. The zombie wasn't anywhere in their eyesight. But the smell sure was. It made the smell of sewage and rotten eggs together seem tame. This...this was a smell unlike anything Ashley would like to know.

Ashley heard Jinxx gag and Andy making a groan of disgust. CC's nose wrinkled, but otherwise didn't move while he watched the spot where the zombie should be appearing. Ashley rubbed his eyes as they were starting to water because of the smell. He wiped the tears appearing in his eyes and held Jake's wrist for a moment. Now he could see why CC was so worried, Jake's pulse was quick. He was injured, somewhere. Jake's ankle was one thing, but now they had to find out what was wrong, before whatever it came around the corner. Ashley hoped it would just go into the fire and burn itself to death, but it seemed fate wasn't with him, or anyone, on this one.

The zombie...thing came around the corner, and it was a fast. Despite the obvious stench, it was lean, boils and pus over every inch of its body, its mouth was elongated like in a silent constant scream, the hands(or talons) were sharp and covered in blood, which dripped off the talons in a menacing way that made Ashley shudder in disgust. They would have to figure out what was wrong with Jake later. Right now, they all needed to get out. They all got to their feet, CC carrying Jake, the thing aware of every move they made. The others closed around CC as a barrier as CC took off towards the bus to get Jake safely on board.

The thing was, the zombie wasn't watching CC anymore, it had its eyes set on Ashley. Through the stench and menacing glare, Ashley felt like this fight was going to be a tough one to get through. Even though there was only one, it didn't mean that it wasn't a threat. The zombie lunged at Ashley who, in turn, used the semi automatic he had and fired. But it was too quick for a head shot, and he ended up hitting it in the arm. Ashley cursed, getting ready for another shot when Jinxx shouted that there were zombies coming and they needed to run or be swarmed. The thing was, the zombie wasn't letting any of them go anywhere, Ashley especially. Ashley was able to run a little ways, before turning around and shooting the zombie in the stomach, causing it to fall.

The others wouldn't be able to make it to the bus in time. They would have to shoot and slice their way there. Jinxx took up the front, Andy at the middle, and Ashley at the end. He just had to deal with the zombie that had an obsession with him. While Jinxx and Andy were shooting their way through, all Ashley could do was shoot and hopefully be able to dodge without getting too far behind. When there seemed to be a lull in the horde of zombies coming in, Ashley took yet another shot. But before he could make it, the zombie's arm shot out and sent him flying. He slammed to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. He was barely even able to get up when the zombie was there, lifting him up by the neck.

Ashley struggled, hearing his friends running to him. The zombie shook him violently, bringing Ashley close to its face before bringing its teeth towards his neck. The next few moments were a blur. Ashley felt as if it were an out of body experience. But he was able to grab his katana and cut the zombie's arm off, and land harshly. He tore the arm from his neck, looking to attack the zombie in question again when Jinxx came to his side, Andy close behind. They tugged at his arm, indicating the need to go, to run, to get out. Ashley didn't budge for a moment, eyes locked on the thing screeching and trying to get near Ashley again.

It was only after a repeated insistence by the two that he began to move, shaking his head to jostle out of his weird mindset that he was in. He just felt...animal, in those moments. Like he was seriously apart from his body and did the things he did like it became natural. And maybe it had to some extent. But not to the point where he wanted to literally tear the thing's head off with his bare hands. No, that sort of mindset scared Ashley. As they finally boarded the bus, the thing still screeching behind it, Jinxx and Andy looked at Ashley like he was a new person. A scary one, one to not be trusted.

"What?" Ashley asked, furrowing his brow at them.

"Dude. Your eyes were...weird. Like completely predatory." Jinxx said. Ashley didn't know what he meant by that.

"Your eyes went...dark. Like there was nothing there. Not like a demon's eyes or anything. Just that your eye color and pupil disappeared. You looked, and moved, like one of those things." Andy said, his eyes wide for a split second before he schooled his expression.

"But I'm not." Ashley argued.

"We know Ash. It was just...shocking, that's all." Jinxx said softly.

The bus began to move then, and Ashley put what happened to him on the back burner and went to where CC had laid Jake. It was the closest seat to the front. He leaned against the opposite seat and looked at Jake.

"You find what was wrong with him?" Ashley whispered to him. CC nodded.

"A piece of metal went into his hip. He lost a lot of blood. But seeing there was so much blood and gore because of the zombies, I didn't think to look until I saw the blood trail. I managed to tourniquet the wound, but other than that, we have to get back to the complex. We can help him more there. No more stops for today." CC explained.

Ashley nodded, he was fine with that. And as he looked at Jake, he wondered what would have happened if he had stayed and killed that creature. Wondered how he did what he did without feeling anything. And how he was going to have to explain this to CC when he got the chance. As the bus made its way up the road, the screeching could still be heard. As well as a couple more making their way out of the woods of the back of the property, coming to aid their friend.

Notes