Chapter 8

Desolation of Phourton, a city where many people lived, work, develop and most of all loved with all their lives. Now, it’s just a mar, a ghost town. Such a heart wrenching moment for Abner to see how the world he lived today, “what gut-wrenching sight to see” Abner thought as he continues to watch the ruined city before him.

A sudden gale coming from the east, Abner shivers as the air touches his sweaty skin. Wiping off the sweat, he turns around the room where he was staying was in a good shape, no leakage, holes, the wood, and stone still intact.

Luckily for Abner, a radio station was resting into this very room added for that, it’s still functional. He even discovered the storage room and the workshop as well, this is what Abner needs, many ideas flowing inside of Abner’s mind. A small smile form into his lips, sudden nostalgia entered his mind.

“It’s been years since I felt that joy, full of life and adventure. I really miss those days. I wonder what happened to Sven and the others after we split up?” Abner thought about his new friends after they separated ways.

*Flashback 2 days ago*

A downpour occurred as Abner and his new friends were seeking shelter, a sudden thunderclap occurred earning them to double their pace to find a suitable shelter to call it a day.

When they reached their destination, the human survivor take cover as best they can to avoid being sick. Sven look around to see if there’s no infected presence before them, Joshua entered the building next to them, to see if he finds a good place to stay. Maia went with him, while Abner and Sven cover their rear. After 30 minutes of waiting, Chiara tapped on their shoulders to gain their attention.

“The building’s accommodation was suck” Chiara said sarcastically, causing the two snickered. Waiting for their friend, Joshua finally went outside and tell the bad news, Sven and Abner look at each other and exchange words using Sven’s language.

“So, Abner, where do you think?” Sven asked, Abner looked while thinking where they would go next.

“I think we can move over that corner to see if there’s any suitable room we can find” He replied as the thunderclap erupted causing the nearby zombies scream in response.

With no time to think , they got up and start moving their destination. They dealt the zombies along the way, as they arrived, they immediately readied themselves to clear the building.

After 45 minutes of clearing the rest of the building, and now they arrived at the last floor. Sven look around the hallway, to see if there’s an infected roaming nor showed up at any moment.

He felt a cold, yet warm hand tapped at his back, looking back he saw Abner slowly walking towards the hallway. Footsteps were echoing through the hallway, he felt chills through his spine Abner’s mere presence alone, can make you guess before do something stupid. They heard Abner’s word.

“One last push everyone, we can do this” these words motivated them, and they pressed on. As they were cleared the room one by one, when Abner stand before the second to the last door. Sven tapped his shoulder signaling that they ready.

Abner opened the door and they both clearing the room, almost finished their task, when Abner noticed something strange coming from a nearby bathroom door a thick, rancid smell. Sven looked at him concerned, aimed his rifle to the door cover his back.

He cautiously stepped closer and shined the flashlight inside. What he saw made him sick to his stomach. An old and rotting corpse, lying there in the darkness. Its eyes had been gouged out, and long strips of flesh had been ripped away, leaving nothing but exposed bones and sinew.

Sven stumbled away in shock, his stomach churning. He tried to call for backup but the only sound that came out of his mouth was a pained gasp. While Abner didn’t move an inch.

Abner knew he had to push away the thoughts of what he had seen, and focus on the task at hand. He took in a few deep breaths to calm himself before walking back inside the alleyway, determined to find out more about the corpse.

The body was old and rotted away, but the uniform it wore was still somewhat recognizable, indicating the victim had been a lost unit or casualty . Nothing about the corpse made any sense.

He examined the scene closely, looking for any clues that could help him determine how the person had died. But all he found were a bag full of soldier’s kit and some fragments of a gun.

He noticed the dog tag and saw the identification of the soldier. “Cpl. Aksel Andersen” he murmured, and looked back to the corpse and whispered in Norway “Rest in Peace, Brother”.

All of a sudden, a chill ran down his spine. He was standing in the presence of a dead soldier-- someone who, at one time, had been wandered the ruins just like him.

While Sven was completely on edge, not knowing what he should do next. He knew he had to alert his friends, but all they wanted to do was run away, away from this sickening scene.

That's when they heard a noise coming from the ceiling. Abner grabbed his rifle and slowly made his way closer. He motioned Sven to back away from the ceiling above him, the two aimed their rifles to the source.

A sudden crack and they saw a monster were massive, towering several feet taller than them. It didn't seem to race but rather glide its way toward him, its eyes never leaving them. The two felt a chill run down their spine as they took a step back. He saw a flash of terror light glinting off the monster and that's when they realized it wasn't just any monster, but the same monster they encountered before! The two readied themselves for the worse outcome.

The monster seemed to be studying them as it took one step closer, its arms raised menacingly. Abner quickly opened fire, and finally killed the monster! Sven finally lowered his rifle as his hands trembling in fear.

Abner on the other hand, gathered his breath as they saw a dead body in front of him. He finally broke the silence, “It’s finally over”. And fired his rifle again to make sure he’s officially dead.

Sven release a sigh of relief and replied, “Thank you for saving our asses, can we leave this room for a while?”, his friend nodded and went back to the bathroom to get the soldier’s dog tag also shot in the head to make sure he didn’t get turned.

All that was left behind was the remembrance of that sickening smell, the memory of the dead soldier and the monster they encountered before one last time.

*Flashback ends*

Standing before his little gunsmith while remembering these past 2 weeks, he didn’t know where or when will he get back from the HQ, he missed friends, especially Maia.

Suspire and grab his water can, with a heavy sigh, Abner leaned back against the stone wall of his bunk, closing his tired eyes. After months on the frontlines of the war, the prospect of real rest was almost laughable. When the mission in front of him was complete, he had the daunting task of returning home to the people he used to know.

Abner longed to see his friends again, the silly misfits he had grown up with since childhood. He wondered how they were, if they were all still together, or if any of them had gone their separate ways. Had they fared better than he in life, or at least in this devastating war? Abner wanted to see them, to wrap his arms around each of their shoulders and give them the kind of comforting hug he had given them when he left.

He also thought about his girlfriend, the one he had promised to come back to, although he knew the promise was far slimmer now that the war had drawn out longer than anyone could have predicted. He thought about her lying in their own little corner of the world, sleeping with the hope that he was safe. He couldn't bear to think of her worrying, so he distracted his mind by glimpsing instead of the moment when he finally walked through the door, how she'd wrap her arms around his neck, the scent of her hair, and the feel of her warm body pressed against him. He tried to remember it so that he could make it through this last mission and make it back to her.

The sun grew brighter behind his eyes, but he was not asleep. He was thinking about his future, about all the things he'd put on hold for this war. He was thinking about the people he loved, and he was determined to make it back to them soon.