Sour

Sour.

That's the only word he could think of to describe the way the air felt going down chapped lips. The sky stained grayish black as the world rotted away to the nothing that further awaited him. How did it come to this? Soft steps mixed with screams, the sound of wetness beneath feet.

“Empty.”

A disorganized mutter escaped him, faint breaths could be heard as he fumbled frantically through the canned goods. The gentle clatter of empty cans echoed through the corridor. A soft gargle was heard in the distance, shaky hues looked up to witness the mess before him. The gray yellowing skin, bites and chunks missing from the squishy flesh, puss overflowing as it dripped down the rash wounds. Guttural growls escaping the shambling beast, empty again.

How many times had he been here? Anxiety eating away at his insides, every second that passed let another hurried gasp escape his cracked lips.

With a shaky hand he gripped the crowbar, a bloodied rusted metal tip lightly dragged across the concrete. Gentle footsteps scurried across the corridor, soon he quickened his pace and raised the bar, with a harsh swing he slammed down the metal bar. His arm ached, a thick crack was heard as a low grunt made the beast topple over. Puss and blood splattering back onto the boys face, speckles of brain matter adorned pale skin. He whipped his head up and ran his hand through his greasy hair, certain bits caked in blood like dirt. God what he wouldn’t give for a warm shower, how much he’d give to be able to take the time to clean and care for himself.

A pitter patter of footsteps soon disturbed him from the thoughts that held so much more pleasantries over the reality that was his life. He let his steely gaze dart around the echoing darkness of the corridor and soon saw the large group of creatures making their slow descend upon him. A soft tsk escaped him as he began to sprint once more, legs heavy like stone with each push forward it left him gasping for air. Lungs burning, he had been on the run from this hoard for almost a week, persistent bunch for sure, finally leaving the building he bursted into a nearby alley and began his path downtown, the sound of sneakers pounding against stone was the the only thing heard amongst the large abandoned ruins that once was his city.

-Alex Ramos