Infection: Dying Days

"Wait, when you mean 'standing there' you mean he's alive?"

David, who was on the other end of Amanda's phone questioned.

With a lamentable sigh, I whispered.

"Sad to say it but he's an infected. If I was the tiniest bit louder earlier, I'm pretty sure I would've had my face gnawed on."

"...I see, just get the key."

"I'm on it."

I then went to hang up the phone.

"Wait."

"Eh?"

But before I did, a cool and commanding voice was heard. Is this who I think it is?

"B-big Sis?"

"...We'll 'talk' later."

"Wha-"

BEEP!

That was the only thing she said before hanging. I couldn't even get a word in.

"…"

I'm in serious trouble!

"Are you alright Desmond?"

Amanda asked feeling concerned about my silence.

"Amanda, I think I'll be staying out here. Compared to what's inside the gym, I'm a lot safer here."

Is what I want to say.

Because when Big Sis gets mad her intimidation factor is increased to whole other level! She's someone who can make gangsters shiver in fear!

But wanting to tell Amanda of my impending fate, I decided to ease her worries instead. So, while getting up from my seated position I said.

"I'm good. Come on we need to get the keys."

"Why? Your friend can't find the keys?"

"Uh-huh. As it turns out, the one who has the keys to the gym security doors around here is Mr Cole, the infected we saw earlier."

"So we have to kill him?"

"Sigh, sad to say but yes. The entrances on the outside are blocked by infected and this is the only other way into the gym. So, this is the only way."

"But…"

" I understand it's uncomfortable knowing that the people you are killing were probably somebody's loved one. But when those loved ones try to bite and eat you, you have to throw those sentiments right out the window. It's either you living to fight another day or you becoming an all you can eat human buffet."

I calmly and sincerely explained to the reluctant Amanda before continuing.

"Look, if you want, you can stay here. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do."

As I said this, I grabbed my multi-purpose shovel that was on the ground near the door and cautiously took a step towards where we saw Mr. Cole last, which was the corner.

"..."

However, when I looked at that pitch black darkness, I retracted my foot and looked at Amanda.

"Can I borrow your phone for a couple of minutes?"

I asked with my hand out while not ashamed as to why I need her phone. It's too damn dark in that hallway! And according to scary movies, bad things always happen in the dark! Always!

"Pfft!"

All of a sudden, Amanda covers her mouth starts to laugh.

"Why are you laughing?"

I questioned.

"Pfft, because what your doing right now is totally the opposite of what you'd expect after making such a cool speech. Pfft, s-sorry, I can't help it!"

"Hey, I can't help that it's dark in that hallway. So, would you kindly let me use your phone?"

"Pfft. No, you can't use my phone."

"Eh? Why?"

Did I offend her?

"Because I'm going with you."

Amanda who was laughing earlier said in a serious tone.

"Huh? I thought you didn't want to kill Mr. Cole?"

"...That's true. However, considering what's happening right now, I don't have the luxury to think like that anymore. Like you said 'it's either live to fight another day or become an all you can eat buffet.'"

"And here I took you was a timid and shy girl when you're actually a smart and determined one."

I said with a surprised expression. Is this her true personality?

"I-I have my moments!"

Amanda whispered embarrassed. She's cute.

Sigh, too bad I can't stare at it a little bit longer. Tch, if I had my phone, I would've snapped a picture.

"Alright, since you're on board let's find Mr. Cole and get the keys."

"Okay. I'll light the way while you be prepared to swing."

"Gotcha."

With Amanda in the back with her phone's flashlight on lighting the hallway and me in the front ready to swing the moment I see Mr. Cole, we stealthily walk down the hallway.

When we arrived at the corner, we came to find that he wasn't there anymore.

"Be careful!"

I whispered a warning to Amanda as I craned my head around the corner vigilantly only to see a pitch black hallway.

He's located somewhere in that?

It's a good thing Amanda is with me then. Otherwise, my anxiety state would've been on max alert.

Stepping out into the hallway, I tell Amanda to shine her flashlight down the hallway.

"Do you see him?"

"No. I did find a clue possibly leading us to him."

"Where?"

"Over there."

"Hm?"

I pointed towards a spot on the floor eight to ten feet away from us. And when Amanda saw what it was, it made her gasp in fear.

"That's blood!"

"A trail of fresh blood in fact. Let's follow it and see if Mr. Cole is at the end of this trail."

Having Amanda steadily keep the light in front of us, we follow the blood trail north of the second floor gym door.

After about a minute of following the trail we found that it leads into a girls bathroom.

And with me being a healthy teenage boy, I can't help but let my hormone controlled imagination run wild the moment my eyes landed on the girl stickman symbol.

I mean yeah, it's not the girls locker room but hey beggars can't be choosers am I right?

"Before we go in there, I want to clarify I'm not as perverted as to go into a girls bathroom without a reason."

"Uh, okay."

"Good, I just wanted to clarify that."

I quietly whispered to Amanda as we entered the girls bathroom following the blood trail.

The moment I entered the inner section of the girls bathroom, I couldn't help but be amazed.

There's no graffiti on the walls. No dirtied sinks. I can't even smell the scent of piss that was sprayed on the floor and wall because of poor aimers! Compared to the boys bathroom, this place is paradise.

"The trail ends there."

However, if I was to point out one discrepancy in this clean paradise, it would be that the third stall door from the last is partly torn off the hinges and has a blood trail leading into it.

"Stay close to the entrance of the girls bathroom and shine your phone my way while I get the key."

I ordered Amanda while getting close to the stall with my shovel at the ready.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

As I crept closer, the familiar but disturbing sound of meat getting torn and chewed on enters my ears, causing shivers to travel down my spine.

I don't think I'll ever get used to this.

"Ugh!"

Upon reaching the front of the stall, the strong stench of blood and guts floated into my nose, almost causing me to vomit. I had to use my free hand to shield my mouth and nose from the smell.

Damn! Compared to all the other gory scenes I saw today, this one takes the cake!

A girl dressed as a gal had her guts being eaten by Mr. Cole as her lifeless tear stricken eyes filled with terror stared at the puddle of blood below her. To make the scene even worse, blood was sprayed on the stall walls that scratches so deep and violent that a few fingernails were lodged in the wood!

The Inside of the stall looked like a horrendous murder scene!