31 What Are You Up To?

Following the alley that Jackie had previously led me down, I quickly arrived at the convenience store. The sign still stands tall, indicating I am in the right place as the sun reflects off the tinted windows.

'I guess I wait.' Not having anything better to do, I enter the mess of a grocery section. There weren't any threats last time we were here, but I can't take any risks. A brief walk-through of the building ensures that I am actually alone.

'It'd probably be better if I wait for it outside,' my mind recalls the car flipping through the front of the building.

I collect some snacks from the floor and head back to the sidewalk.

Over an hour passes as I eat some chips in silence and wait for my opponent. Cracking open a water bottle, my mind focuses on the previous cycle and realizes the difference, 'We were talking the entire time…'

The hulking beast must have detected us somehow, and the noise we were making is the obvious answer. I snap my fingers to return the volume to normal levels and begin to bang my rifle against the concrete curb.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" My voice echoes through the desolate street, accompanied by a constant clanking of metal.

It feels like an eternity before I notice any change in my surroundings.

A sudden crash screams from a street a couple of blocks away as a burned-out car tumbles through the intersection. Finally, knowing where my opponent is, I close my greasy snack and jump to my feet.

"There you are, you tough bastard!" I remove my rucksack and pick up my rifle to improve my mobility.

"I'm over here, don't slow down now." I continue to taunt the giant foe as it maneuvers the corner and slowly strides toward me. "You're really that slow? Can't you hurry this up? I've got somewhere to be."

Not waiting for it to reach the car used as a projectile previously, I run to meet it in the open street. 'I don't think it's smart, but I'm not taking a risk.'

I start at a sprint, closing the distance quickly before I slow down to a jog and eventually stop altogether. "Fuck me. I don't remember you being so big.'

Blinded by rage during the initial kill, I look up at the gargantuan before I'm reminded of its destructiveness. Images of it destroying the street and easily rolling a car through the shop window pass through my mind.

"I shouldn't have gotten cocky. Did Jackie really convince m-" My voice is cut off when the beast raises its hands above its head and slams the ground.

The whole world seems to shake as cracks emanate from the impact.

I back off slightly, allowing myself more room to move, and raise my rifle. Last time, the shots didn't do anything, and I had to strike the weak spot with my knife, so I held my fire and began to slowly circle.

Every step I take, the giant matches as it pivots in place.

'It's not going to give off its weak spot so easily…' I gulp and make a decision. 'It's slow, so I can still do this!'

Keeping this up is pointless. I step a little closer to the dangerous enemy as a feeling of trepidation enters my heart. If I mess this up, I'm screwed. Observing its arm's length, I walk toward the beast as it shambles toward me.

As soon as I'm in range, it swings its arms directly for me!

Quickly backpedaling, I'm able to avoid the strike. The monster's body is outstretched as I tumble on my back. Seemingly off-balanced, the creature begins to reposition itself before it can take another step.

'Shit, any closer, and I'd be dead,' I can only imagine my head popping like a watermelon struck by a giant hammer.

My grip tightens around my rifle as I steel my nerves. It isn't the time to get anxious that can wait for after the battle. If I get distracted here, I'm dead.

I roll backward to create more distance and bounce to my feet. 'If I can do it one more time, I've got this!'

With a combination of cockiness, confidence, and hopefully luck, I inch closer to it one more time. As soon as I'm in range of the long arms, the monster raises them and prepares to strike.

I jump to my side as the colossal fist barrels toward me.

"Got you now!" I trash talk the creature, unsure whether it can understand me or not.

I manage to stay on my feet after a last-second evasion and run past the enormous beast. It might kill me in a single blow, but the weight of its strikes is its weak point. Unable to recover quickly, it focuses what appears to be its head on me as I disappear behind its back.

The creature is still regaining balance when two quick explosions sound off in my rifle as I raise it and direct lead into the critical spot that defeated it in the past.

Instantly, it stops moving into its stance and begins to tip over in the street.

'Two shots! I probably could have done it with one…' I reprimand myself for using more ammunition than was required but don't stress it too much.

With a thud, the hulking mass of meat connects with the pavement. Two small streams in its back leak a rotten black fluid, instantly adding a smell of disgust to the air. I keep my rifle raised and trained on its back until I'm confident it isn't getting up.

After a moment, I finally exhale, and the sense of fear slowly leaves me. 'It's dead…'

I sling my rifle on my shoulder and head back to the convenience store to gather my supplies. Not forgetting about safety, I reduce my volume as I stroll through the abandoned street.

'The sun is still high in the sky, and I probably have some time.' Unsure of where I'm headed next, I pick up the bag of chips I was eating earlier and sit down for a break. The apocalypse wasn't a place to explore on an empty stomach.

Leaning against my rucksack, enjoying the salty snack with my rifle lying on the ground next to me, time passes as I decide on my next steps.

My hand enters the bag containing my victory snack only to realize I had eaten them all,

'How much time has passed?' I try to determine by looking at the sun's movement, but it is impossible, 'I'll need to have Jackie find me a watch next time.'

Satisfied with my break, I rise to my feet and dust myself off. The journey ahead is entirely unknown. A feeling of unease passes over me but is quickly replaced with a sense of excitement, "I'm not alone, and I won't stay dead. This is a gift!"

I toss my bag onto my back and pull the straps tight to my body before I bend over to pick up my rifle. In the distance, a half dozen basic zombies have shuffled out of the surroundings and are headed in my direction.

'May as well not waste the ammo,' I pull my knife out and prepare to cut them down. They are nothing but a roadblock.

They don't seem to notice me as I begin to walk toward them. Instead, they seem fixated on something else as they march toward the corpse that lies on the ground from my previous battle.

'What are you guys up to?' Curiously, I continue toward them.