Part 1
Today was the day! Hunting day! Packing my bag, I sling my rifle over my shoulder and step outside. Birds song their morning sun as it embraced my body in its light warm glow. The garden also liked it as I pan over the herbs and vegetables growing, silently enjoying the peaceful morning. Its been 5 years since the bombs destroyed everything. Stores, schools, business, and most people. During the bombing, experimental testing was done with how some impacted the earth. Some burned and scorched the earth and still burn today, patches of gas and invisible killers lurk within areas. Not saying the woods where safer but beats the city. The little handmade wood cabin faded in the distance as the trek began to set itself. Small deer trails weave through the brush for about two miles before spercing out into a small clearing. Taking in a deep crisp inhale, I hung the pack high as I could on my tree. No ladder but easy to climb with a stair case branches before leveling out. From mid-tree I take the rifle off and lay down on a half log and settled in for the morning as I wait like a spider for its prey. I took out last hunts Jerky and took a bite. Been a few hours and no sign of deer, just birds in the canopy and the occasional squirrel romping about. Though about making another half for more comfort when a deer poked its head out of the brush as I held the half eaten jerky in my mouth. Took the rifle and aimed down the iron sight, breath in, breath out, and fired my shot. Adrenaline hit as the deer took off running knowing damn well that was a well placed shot. Hopped out of the tree and reloaded another shot as I scouted the blood trail left. Following it into the brush I questioned if the head shot i thought I did ended up being a body shot. After about ten minutes and a few broken branches later I found my prize tho, should have just taken the participation award. I lay down the rifle and take a knee to get a better look. The shot was perfect head shot at the side, though and through. What drew my attention was its black neck and spots on its body as tiny fungus started to grow out of. ' Was it infected with something? How else could it have ran half a mile with a head wound.' I pondered the thought before I realized the black on the deer grew larger, now starting down the shoulder. "Well fuck," shouting as I stood up, might as well see if a mother one comes today or tomo.." I paused as I was cut off. A sharp high pitch wail screeched out as it echoed throughout the woods, even the trees swayed uneasy with no wind. It paused before frantic man like scream gurgled and as fast it came they stopped. "OK, fuck that plan, let's go home," grabbing my gun I note the black was now down to the elbow. Holding my gun at the ready, made my way to my pack tho no new noises, dont want to stick around to find out. Slung the pack on my shoulder as I started to head towards the cabin it came again, but closer. A gutteral shirk halted me as it sounded close and from cabin area. Leafs muffled scraping feet as the source came around a tree 20 feet away. A skeleton covered in thick black moss as fungus grows from all over, as old bones peak through the gaps still left. It shambles like the old zombie movies but the arms twitching and jerking themselves in random direction. As it came towards me I raised my rifle, breath in, breath out and fired right at its head. But still it came. Hands snap to me as its mouth popped and grinned as it moaned out one word. "Fffeeeeeeddddd! Feeeed!" As it closes in I whip the rifle around and use the but of the gun to try and buy some time as I turned to run. It reached out and grabbed my pack as it started to open. Supplies started to scatter as I grabbed the hatchet that fell, I tore the pack off breaking through the brush as I make my way deeper.
Part 2
Sides burn as I brace against a tree to help catch my breath, trying not to pant too loud. Set the gun down since all ammo was in the pack and gripped the hatchet with both hands. Straining my ears i listened to try and hear where it was. Instead was meet with a deer cry, low but definitely a deer, probably 50 years away. Hearing this, I start moving in opposite direction. The afternoon sky flashed between the canopy as I keep paced myself and kept an ear out. It wasn't long before my path had to stray to the right due to the moss growing off trees and some smaller animals lay dead within. Slowly being consumed by the creeping blackness. I wondered how far it has already spread when my thoughts where meet with rushing water. The river was high and fast, rushing past as waves broke the pattern to reach towards the sky before being drawing back. Following it down a bit a found some old campsite with debis and ruined tents reminded scattered around. Without my pack, decided to see if anything useful could be found. Which besides crumbling packs or cloths only things that remained intact were the tent stakes, a pan, and the lower half of a truck. Giving up about five minutes in started to head out when splashing by the river made me look. There it was, covered more in the black mass as a deer skull now replaced its hand. It let out a screech as it raised the deer headed arm as it wailed and jolted towards me. "Feeeeeeeeed uuuuuusssss," its voices mangled together as I reach for something as it come fast. Fingers wrap around something as I swing hard as I could as a metallic bing rings out. The pan connected with the being as I turned and ran, full sprint the pan clasped in my hand I heard the crys of the thing not far behind me. Stumbling to a stop bout 100 yards away saw a ravine with a fast moving river. Didn't think just backed up and jumped over, and as my feet slipped into the river I pulled myself up. On the other side the thing came out off the brush and stopped at the edge. I got up and took the opportunity and ran, only to stop a few miles down. Stopping to capture my fleeting breath a sharp pain enveloped my finger. To my horror all my tips started turning black as it started under my nails. Panic set it as I dropped the pan and weight my options. I had to keep moving but the longer I wait ill be...that thing. Thinking fast I grabbed timber and brush anything that would burn and started a fire. Once that was going I took off my belt and tied it on my arm and placed the pan on the fire. 'You ain't getting me,' thinking a loud, ' only way to rid you.' The feeling in my arm went away but the pain from the moss still pulsed with every beat. Position myself next to the fire and grab the hatchet my only salvation from this curse. Puting the blade in the flame I say a quick prayer that this works, as I lift the hatchet above my head.
Part 3
Bringing the hatchet down i feel the blade sink in deep as pains shot up my arm from the blow. Refusing my brain, I lifted the hatchet again and brought it down once again, finishing the job. Without a break I grabbed for the pan but found it too hot as blood spewed from my arm. Leaning down I just press the end into to pan itself to cauterized the wound as my screams tried to dull the pain, before lifing it and passing out.
Coming to, I scaned around but saw that nothing has changed before slowly sitting up and undoing the tourniquet. I reached out for the hatchet but my hand still lay next to it on the stump. Stood up fully and grabbed it with my left hand and secured it while looking for my way out. The sun peeked behind the trees and cliffs giving me just enough light to see for maybe a hour.
Not wanting to see that thing again I start packing out towards the setting sun. Making my way through seemed daunting with many stops as burning pain rithed thro my arm and would check for marks making sure. Tho besides my feet crunching the ground, my paranoid heart pounded in my ears was all I could hear.
Made it to a clearing as night fell upon the land and though no city or towns, a firewatch tower is a light about a mile away. It's presence priced the looming dark night and was guiding me towards hope and safety. Only made it 20 feet towards the tower before I heard it. Low at first before creeping up closer and closer behind me.
"Wwweeeeeeeeee feeeeeeeeeeddddd. Wweeeeeeee feeeeeeeeddd!" Shambling foot steps came closer as it grow louder and its shape laminated lightly as it glides into the clearing. It's deer like head bared no skin as it sniffs the grass, its other skull, part human part animal, peering straight through me as it wails and charges. The body was a collection of random parts being held together by the black infection and fungus.
Fear took hold and I froze in place. Not knowing what I was trying to process but also not wanting to. Finally got my legs to work as speed became my focus, trying to put distance between us. Tree branches whack my face as under brush reaches up to sabotage the race. Looking up can see the tower is close by the underside of it and put everything in the sprint.
Reach the stairs in the a winded voice " HEY! HELP!!" Rounding the stairs i hit the wooded legs trying desperately for my hope to stay with me as they disappear with every step. Coming up to the balcony I look inside and stopped as my heart sank. There in the middle of the room like a black statue was my rescue. Frozen in place while the black mold sprouted fungus from his shoulders and head. The mold didn't stop their as it started to spread on the floor around him.
Made my way to the door and swung it open to be meet with the stench of death. I spotted a ham radio sitting on a table next to him. Excitement consumed me as I ran over and fumbled with the dials and nods.
" Hello, hello, umm I need help. People are dead and im soon next!" I let go of the button before pressing it once more. "Over" I quietly said as the moaning outside became closer. Static filled the air as I placed down the receiver and scanned the room. Took the chair, bed and mini fridge to block to door as best I could before the wailing stench came up from below. "FFFEEEEEEEEEDDD" it screeched as it rounded the coner to the door, banging and shaking the handle I feared the door itself wouldn't hold. Grabbed a kitchen knife for some protection, tho not any good, a crackle of life came on the radio. "Ron? You good out there?" The female voice cut through the screeching as I ran over and grabbed the receiver, abandoning the knife. " Yes I need help! There is a creature coming at me, your ranger Ron is dead. And soon I will be too! Please send any-" My voice stopped as a felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning i see the black hand of Ron grabbing my shoulder, shirt turning black as the mold moved onto me and burying itself into my skin. Pain came from thousands of areas it worked in and as I started to lose consciousness I heard a raspy whisper. "Now we feed."
