“We have to go!”
I grab Gray and pull her by the straps of her pack. The carbine sways off-target and sends a bullet into a boarded up storefront. She swears at me.
We made it into an alley before whoever was shooting at us got a second chance.
Water sloshed underfoot. The crawlies wouldn’t follow us. Gunfire continued from the street.
I couldn’t tell if I was rooting for the living or the dead, but I figured it was a win-win. A few less crawlies, and a bunch of bullets that wouldn’t come our way.
With the night-vision, we knew we were in a dead-end. We hunkered down at the end of the alley and waited. A crawlie slithered past, making that awful noise.
The gunfire continued for a while. We waited, saying nothing, doing nothing, trying not to even think. I know my gun was pointed right at the end of the alley, waiting for someone to shine a flashlight in. It felt like an eternity. Adrenaline will do that to you. Having a piece of hot lead embedded in something you’re wearing does that to you.
But nobody came. I checked my watch, waited a few minutes, and then we got our move on.
All clear.
The safehouse was up ahead. They'd blacked the lights out so you couldn’t see them from the ground, but there was a tall building next to it that lit up with amplification. I made a note to let the survivors know about it.
It was an old museum building set off to the side of a park. They’d dug a moat around the place, and I can’t speculate about how long it took them. Must’ve known where to get a backhoe. Every opening was covered in mosquito netting nailed or staked to the surfaces.
Gray pulled out her radio, extending the antenna. I never did the tech all that much. Wasn’t my jam, never had the knack. They must’ve told her what frequency they’d be listening on, because a few moments later a figure came out. He took the boards they were using as a bridge and extended them across the moat. Gray crossed first, moving quick and low like a ghost. Then I followed, trying not to think about the wood under my feet. It flexed and creaked like it was at its wit’s end, but I was across.
Then the makeshift bridge was taken back. I didn’t feel safe until we were inside, but the worst part of the journey was over.