Chapter 20 - Lia

There wasn't much sneaking involved as we made our way out of the house. Even if people saw me, they were too busy trying to hide and save themselves to capture me.

We moved at a steady pace, not too slow or too fast. I wasn't too worried about the zombies really, I was constantly looking between Lia and Demi. They were nervous, anxious that the zombies would suddenly attack.

We were almost halfway when all the zombies suddenly came to a stop. Even the low guttural groans they made ceased. 

The hairs on my skin immediately stood on edge. I was getting a bad feeling in my gut. 

We exchanged looks with each other as no one dared to move. 

Suddenly, a sick, familiar voice bellowed, "Forget attacking D2! One of the humans among you is May Zepher, unless she steps forward or someone gives her up in the next ten seconds, all zombies are to attack every living thing in sight!"

Murmurs of fear flooded the air and my breath hitched but didn't have time to stay frozen. I immediately ran for it without a second thought. There was no way I would put my friends in danger.

"I'm May Zepher, come get me you bastard!" I yelled, my friends words that beckoned me back falling on deaf ears.

The crowd of zombies ran after me. They grabbed and lunged at me avoiding any vital organs. For whatever reason, it looked like they wanted me alive.

I tried my best to avoid the zombies, but I was only human, there was only so much I could do when so many of them were after me. When I glanced back, through all the rotting undead, I saw my friends desperately fighting their way towards me.

My eyes stung with tears far more than my torn flesh. I silently begged them to not come after me. Their attention was focused on solely me for now, but who knows when that sick bastard would turn them to my friends.

My legs burned as I ran, I was almost there. It'd be harder to get away from them once I'm in D2 but that didn't matter. As long as Lia and Demi were okay, I was fine with my ending.

A loud boom resounded and a gust of dust and smoke blew through the gates, covering everything. I stopped and reflexively shielded my face as I closed my eyes.

My mistake came almost immediately as I felt jagged teeth bite into my arm. I screamed in pain but before I could shake it off someone severed it's head and grabbed my good arm.

"Let's go! Demi finally got onto his people, he had them launch a CRPG!" Lia yelled as we ran.

"What?! Those things were used in the last war to take down nano-steel tanks!"

Lia laugh heartily in response. As the smoke slowly cleared I saw the zombies that once surrounded us in chaos, attacking any and everyone without regard for their orders.

The noise must've thrown them off. Another rocket was fired, sweeping not only dust and smoke, but body parts and debris. It was messy as far as plans went but we were desperate.

"Where's Demi?!" I asked loudly, hoping she heard me over all the noise.

"Not sure! He said to run as fast and far as I can with you and that he'd catch up to us once we're in D2!" She responded out of breath.

We were almost there, just a few steps more and-

A loud bang went off and somehow, it seemed louder than the ongoing chaos.

"Fuck!" Lia exclaimed in pain as she suddenly stopped.

My eyes widened in fear as I saw the blood dripping from her leg. It was a bullet wound. I didn't have time to think about how it happened or who did it.

"Lean on me!" I said frantically as I threw her right arm around my shoulder.

The bullet went straight through her knee, and no matter how much reassurance she was giving me, it didn't work. I was moving as fast as I could while being cautious of the zombies and the new threat of stray bullets.

Suddenly, the screeching of metal caught my ears and Demi bellowed, "Run! Someone is closing the gates!"

I picked up my pace, if the gates closed then it would be certain death for us. 

"We're almost there!" I exclaimed louder than necessary as another bang resounded.

I was trying to convince myself by saying that, but the sound of a bullet piercing through flesh did otherwise. My eyes slowly traveled to Lia and settled on the new wound in her stomach.

"I'm fine...it looks worse...than...it is..." She said breathlessly.

I didn't believe her, she was losing too much blood. 

"Three seconds! Hurry!" Demi bellowed.

I gritted my teeth. It was fine if I didn't make it, as long as Lia and Demi survived I would be happy. I just need to get her over the gates, Demi would handle the rest. Just a few more steps and I'll-

"I should've....reached out to you....sooner. Even though....we've only known....each....other for a....short while...you're my....best friend..."

"Save your breath. We're-"

"Sorry....May..."

Everything happened in slow motion.

As those words left her mouth, she pushed me forward as the gates finally fell....crushing her in half. The thud and squelching of bodies as the gates fell made my ears ring. 

It felt as though I was stuck in one of my nightmares as I slowly crawled to her. I thought I'd wake up soon. But as I grabbed her cold, outstretched hand, reality came crashing down. I started hyperventilating as tears fell, blurring my vision.

No. No. No. NO. NONONONONONO!!!!!

"LIA!!!! Please, don't leave me....I'm begging you!!! You promised you'd stay by my side! You can't leave me!"

I screamed, begged and cried to her lifeless corpse. I hadn't even heard the approaching footsteps, too caught up in my loss.

"Let's go," Demi said gently.

I ignored him.

"May...she's gone. We have to-"

"No! I can't leave her!" I wailed, my voice trembling. 

"She's dead," he said through clenched teeth.

"I can't-"

"She gave her life to save you! Are you going to let her death be in vain?!" He interrupted, his voice steady though laced with sadness.

His words hit deep, she gave her life for me. She knew that's what I was going to do for her and yet...

I heard Demi curse before he peeled me away from her corpse and threw me over his shoulder. It looks like he had his people kill all the surrounding zombies. If it werent for him I'd probably be dead too, but I didn't care. My eyes just remained glued to Lia's corpse. 

We hadn't known each other for long, but it felt like we'd been friends for years. She even considered me her best friend.

The further we got, the more tears seemed to fall. And when I could no longer see her, I shut my eyes, too exhausted and numb at the sametime.