Crash!

I kicked the backdoor in of a random home, gun raised. I was ready for a fight. Anyway, I began to search the small home looking for something to shoot. I made sure to be ready in case something attacked. After I searched the bathroom, bedrooms, and the kitchen I lowered my AR. I think I reinforced that fact that I wanted to shoot something.

It’s been three months since the invasion of Earth. The military was slaughtered almost immediately and most of the general population was dead. Made me glad that I avoided the safe zones… damn things were big ass targets. Anyway, as it turned out these things called themselves Sentients. Little was known about them, all we knew was they could adapt to our technology and kill us with little effort.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a stack of envelopes and began to look at them.

“To Mister and Misses Rudiger,” I said as I read one of the letters.

I tossed them over my shoulder as I looked at them. Once I reached the end of the stack I tossed the last envelope on the floor and began searching the kitchen. I turned around and opened the fridge; it was empty… no surprise there. I moved to the left and opened the cupboards; it contained cups… of course.

Moving across the kitchen I opened another cupboard, it contained spices. I grabbed a few and looked at them before tossing them over my shoulder. I took the salt and pepper knowing full well I could use them, but if I don’t, I could trade them for something. I threw them in my pack and continued searching. After a few more minutes I found some granola bars and a meat stick. I placed the granola bars in my pocket and chewed on the meat stick.

I’ve eaten cardboard better than that thing… but I needed the protein.

Thunk!

I dropped the meat stick and pulled my rifle to my shoulder while my eyes darted every direction looking for the source of the noise. I slowly walked out of the kitchen, through the living room and into the hall. I went through the bathroom before checking the bedroom and storage room. I walked back out into the hall and began to think that my imagination was getting the better of me... until looked at the hallway closet. I oriented myself to face the door with my rifle at the ready. I slowly grabbed the door knob and wrapped my fingers around it. With a fast and violent jerk I opened the door and stepped back.

“PLEASE DON’T SHOOT!” begged a young blonde haired woman as she curled up in a ball on the floor.

“Who are you?” I asked calmly.

“M-Melanie,” replied the young girl.

“Get up, and keep your hands where I can see them,” I ordered.

She kept her hands in the air as she slowly stood up.

“Step forward.”

She took two steps forward.

“Lift up your shirt.”

“WHAT!?”

“Pull it above your belly button,” I said trying to get her to relax.

“Okay…” she said nervously.

She reached down and grabbed the bottom of her purple shirt and lifted just above her belly button, revealing her stomach.

“Turn around, slowly.”

She held her shirt as she slowly turned counter clock wise, stopping when she turned a full 360 degrees.

“Now grab your right pant leg and lift it up.”

She grabbed the right pant leg of her grey sweat pants and pulled it up above her sock.

“Other leg.”

She did the same with her other leg.

“Now grab your armpits,” I said.

She crossed her arms and squeezed her arm pits.

“Alright,” I flicked the safety on and lowered my rifle.

“What was that about?” she asked as she let her arms go limp.

“It was to check for weapons,” I said. I turned away and walked down the hall, “So, what’s a pretty face like you doing here?”

“I was trying to hide... until I saw you heading for this place,” she answered nervously while she began to follow me.

“Ah,” I replied as I kept walking to the kitchen.

I walked around the other side of the counter and looked at her. Now that I could see her she was pretty cute. She had long blonde hair, which hadn’t been washed in who knows how long. She also had these deep blue eyes, wore a short sleeve purple shirt and long, grey sweat pants.

“S-so what are you going to do to me?” she asked nervously.

I crossed my arms and let my rifle dangle from its chest strap, “I can do a lot of things. I could rape you, beat you, kill you… not in that order; it all depends on what you want me to do first.”

“W-What?”

I rolled my eyes, “You know what? I’m just going to get straight to the point,” I paused, “there are a lot of things I could do to you, but for now, I’m going to let you live,” I said.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked.

“Even in the apocalypse I treat women with respect. You should be glad that you ran into me and not someone else,” I said.

“Whys that?”

“With a pretty face like that… someone would pin you to a wall, strip you nude, and have their way with you. Then kill you,” I said like it was nothing.

She started to shake nervously, “R-really?”

Three months into hell and she hasn’t figured that out… idiot.

I let out a huff and a small smile, “Welcome to hell.”

I turned around and grabbed a glass from the open cupboard. I turned back and placed it on the counter. I pulled my pack off my back and placed it on the counter. I glanced up to see Melanie still standing in the same place, “You know you can sit down?”

“I just want to see what you’re doing.”

I pulled a can from my bag, “Getting a drink.”

I opened the can with a loud ptsss, before pouring the brown fizzy liquid into the glass. I crushed the can and tossed it over my shoulder. The can made a loud thunk when it hit the hard floor. I sipped the drink while she watched me.

“Is that…”

“A Coke. My last one… and no you can’t have any,” I said flatly.

She let out a sad sigh as she looked at the floor.

I put the glass down and grabbed one of my many water bottles, pulling it from its home.

“Hey.”

She looked up.

I tossed her the bottle. It hovered in the air for a moment until she caught it in her hands. She looked at the bottle, then gave me questioning glance.

I rolled my eyes, “Its water.”

She looked back at the bottle and grabbed the cap with her right hand and began to untwist it slowly.

I let 10 seconds pass, “Jeez! It’s a water bottle not a hand grenade,” I said feeling rather annoyed.

She glanced at me before she unscrewed the lid a little faster. Once the cap was off she took a sip from the water bottle. Once she was done she lowered the bottle.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

I took a sip from my drink, “Don’t mention it.”

I grabbed my bag and drink and walked past her and into the living room. I took a seat on the couch and placed my bag next to me. Melanie walked in and stood there, watching me.

I gave her a glance, “You keep eyeing me like I’m going to explode,” I said.

She didn’t say anything.

“*sigh* grab a seat and relax. I promise I won’t do anything.”

Like she’d trust me.

“Okay…” she mumbled as she took a seat in a nearby chair and placed the water bottle on the floor.

We sat in silence as I sipped my drink.

“So what’s your name?” she asked breaking the silence.

I looked at her, “What makes you think I’m going to tell you?”

“I told you mine!” she retaliated.

“And that’s where you went wrong,” I said while nodding my head.

“So what do you want me to call you?” she asked.

“Anything but late for dinner,” I said trying to lighten the mood.

“And if I call you a dick or something?”

I took a sip of my drink, “I’ll put a bullet in your head,” I said coldly.

Her eyes went wide as she leaned back a little… that shut her up.

I finished off my drink and sat in silence. I wasn’t happy that I was stuck with this girl.

Bang Bang Bang!

“Eep! What was that!?” asked Melanie as she curled up into a ball in the chair.

When I heard the gunfire I grabbed my rifle as I shot up off the couch. I stood there for a second until I walked over to a nearby window and opened the shades with two fingers. I looked outside to see a man and a woman shooting. Melanie walked over and stood next to me.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” I said.

The couple ran and hid behind a car and kept shooting. I looked down the street from them and saw a Sentient working its way toward them.

Well they're screwed.

“Sentient,” I said.

“What!?” she said with a loud whisper.

I removed my fingers and began to walk away. Melanie mimicked my earlier action and looked out the window. I went to the back door and closed it as best as I could. Once it was close I grabbed the coffee table in the living room and placed it in front of the door.

“We need to help them,” she said frantically.

“What makes you think I would?” I said forcefully.

“Because it’s the right thing to do!” she said as she turned to look at me.

“Well sweetheart, this is the apocalypse. I know for a fact that they wouldn’t help me!” I pointed my finger at her, “They’re on their own!”

I turned around and took a step. I felt a hand pull one of my pistols from my belt. I quickly turned around to see Melanie holding my 1911. She was shaking like a leaf while she pointed the weapon at me.

“You’re really going to do this?” I deadpanned.

I heard more shots going off outside.

“Yes!”

I rolled my eyes; she looked like she’d never held a gun in her life.

I took a deep breath, “Take the safety off.”

“What?”

“The little piece of metal next to your right thumb,” I said.

She looked at the gun and clicked off the safety.

“Pull the hammer back.”

“I knew that,” she lied.

She tried to pull it back with her thumb. After the third failed attempt she brought the gun to her body and used her left hand to pull it back. Once she was set, she brought the gun back up.

“There you go!” I said giver her false enthusiasm.

“I’ll do it! I swear I’ll do it!”

I began to walk forward. She pulled the trigger, when the gun didn’t go off properly she cocked the hammer again. She continued until she was backed against the wall. I grabbed the gun and yanked it from her hand. She curled up and hugged the wall as best as she could when I took my weapon back. By now the gun fire outside had ended.

Held the gun in front of my face and grabbed the slide.

Shuck-king!

I pressed the gun next to her head, “Gun don’t work when it ain’t loaded.”

She had begun to cry by now.

I watched her for a few seconds. The sounds of her sobbing filled the air.

“I should kill you for pulling a stunt like that,” I said calmly.

I put my thumb on the hammer and pulled the trigger, lowering it slowly.

“But I won’t,” I said as I lowered the gun.

She began to relax a little, “Why?” she asked between shuddered breaths.

“Because you’re too stupid to operate a gun,” I said as I began to walk away, “let alone hurt me.” I took a seat on the couch and put my pistol in my backpack.

By now darkness had fallen, and I didn’t want to get caught out in the dark with Sentients in the area.

“Now as much as I don’t want to say it, it looks like were stuck here,” I said.

“Really?” she asked nervously.

“Yes really.”

I ran my hands through my hair as I let out a big yawn. Once I was done I let my arms go limp as I stared at the ceiling.

“If I were you I’d get some sleep,” I said not taking my attention away from the ceiling.

“I don’t know if I want to,” responded Melanie.

I adjusted my head to look at her, “Why? You think I’m going to do something?”

She just looked at me.

I looked back at the ceiling, “You can take the bedroom if you want. Lock the door if anything else.”

“And what are you going to do?” she asked.

“Sleep on the couch or do something on the floor.”

“And what if those things find us?” she asked.

“Then I’m gone, and you’re up a creek,” I responded.

“Y-You’re not going to help me?” she said with sadness.

I took my head off the back of the couch, “You failed to kill me. What makes you think you could hold your own against a Sentient or another attacker for that matter? Unless you have some skills of any use, you’re a dead weight to me.”

“That’s rude!”

“Chivalry died when the world went to hell sweetheart,” I replied.

“You know what!? Fuck you!”

She stormed off to the bedroom.

“As long as it’s not you doing it!” I hollered.

I heard the bedroom door slam.

I shrugged and laid down on the couch. I adjusted my backpack next to me and laid my rifle in between my legs. After a couple of minutes I fell asleep.

“Hey.”

“…”

“Hey! Wake up!”

“…”

“Please wake up.”

I scrunched my face as I moaned. I blinked as I let my eyes adjust to the darkness.

“What?” I said out of frustration.

“I… I’m scared,” replied Melanie.

I sat up and looked at the dark figure, “And you want me to do what exactly?”

“Could… could I please sleep with you?” she asked nervously.

I raised an eyebrow, “You can’t be serious?”

“Please?” she pleaded.

I let out a frustrated sigh, “Fine.”

The figure slumped, “Thank you,” she said with relief.

“Well…I doubt we’ll fit on the couch,” I said while I examined the dark piece of furniture.

“We… we can go to the bedroom,” she said nervously.

I looked at her, “Lead the way,” I grabbed my pack before I stood up.

We walked down the hall and into the bedroom. She went around the left side of the bed while I took the right. I tossed my pack near head of the bed and took my rifle off and set it on the floor next to me. She climbed under the sheets while I joined her. I laid on my back as far as I away from her as I could.

It was an awkward few minutes.

“Is… is it alright if I... hold you?”

She always this forward?

“Uh… sure,” I said.

I scooted to the middle of the bed. She adjusted herself and laid her head on my shoulder and a hand on my chest.

“Just so you know,” I reached under and grabbed the large knife I kept on my hip. I pulled it out to where she could see it, “Try anything stupid and I’ll kill you.”

She gulped, “Understood.”

“Good,” I leaned over and threw the knife at the floor, causing the blade to stick into the wood.

I leaned back and wrapped an arm around her.

I could feel her heart racing, “Nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Never shared a bed with a boy before?”

“N-No,” she replied nervously.

“I’d think a girl like you would get all the guys,” I said sarcastically.

She let out a depressed sigh, “My parents very rarely let me date… and all my relationships ended poorly anyway,” she said.

“Well that’s unfortunate,” I said.

“Eh, I had my books.”

Silence filled the room.

“So what about you?” she asked.

“What about me?”

“Did you have a girlfriend when all this happened?” she asked.

“No… thankfully,” I replied.

“So have you…”

“No I have never slept with a girl before. I rarely dated… let alone slept with anyone.”

“Do you-“

“You just met me and I prefer my first time to be with my wife… who ever that may be,” I said quickly, “I suggest you get some rest it’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

The room fell silent again.

“So what’s going to happen to me?” she asked.

I took a deep breath, “I don’t know.”

And that was the end of that conversation. I just held her until she fell asleep. I won’t lie, she did look cute as she slept. But the last thing I needed right now is to care for someone. Once I made sure she was asleep I passed out.

I woke up to an empty spot next to me. Once I realized she was gone I frantically searched for my gear… only to find that it never left my side. I let out a sigh of relief and got out of the bed. I picked up my knife, sheathed it and strapped my rifle on. I walked out of the room to see Melanie messing with a radio.

“Attention all survivors this is the United States National Guard-“

My eyes went wide, “What are you doing?!”

She looked up at me, “I just thought we could head to the safe zones,” she said nervously.

I ran up and yanked the radio from her hand and threw it to the ground before putting a bullet in it.

“EEP! ... What did you do that for!?” asked Melanie out of shock.

“They’ll be here within-”

The house shook as a loud roar passed overhead.

I looked at the ceiling as a chill rolled up my spine, “We need to leave!”

“There’s a car in the garage!”

“Find the keys!” I ordered as I ran back into the bedroom and grabbed my pack.

I ran back into the living room to see Melanie in the kitchen.

“I found the keys!”

“Gogogo!” I said as I rushed her.

She ran to the back of the kitchen and opened a door revealing the garage. She disappeared as I followed close behind. Once I stepped in the garage I froze.

“WOW!”

She looked back from the driver side of the car, “What!?”

“That’s a nice car!”

I looked at the gorgeous blue 65 Mustang. The dark blue paint was in perfect condition and the twin racing strips made it even better! It was a shame that I was probably going to wreck it. But it was a perfect escape rig… sort of.

“Hey!” I looked at her, “get over your car boner and let’s go!”

Ouch.

“Right,” I ran up to the passenger side and tossed my pack in the back seat. I closed the door, “I’ll get the door you start it up!” I said as I ran for the door.

I just made it to the door when I heard Melanie behind me.

“What is this!?” she said in a panic from the driver’s seat.

I turned an looked back at her, “What!?”

She looked up at me with fear and confusion on her face, “It has three pedals!”

“Oh for- Mmmmmm!”

I ran to the driver’s side, “Get out!” she climbed out, “It’s a manual!”

“What!?”

“It’s a manual transmission! Look we don’t have time to argue!” I said frantically.

I pressed the clutch in as turned the ignition. Once the car was started I got out and ran for the door.

“You get the other side!”

“Okay!” she said as she got on the opposite side of me.

“Okay on three. Onetwothree!”

With a forceful tug we opened the garage door. Once it was all the way up we ran back to the car. I climbed in the driver’s side and she got in the passenger. I pressed on the gas as I threw the car in first. In a flash we were outside. I shifted through the gears as the engine roared. I pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. I looked in the mirror to see Sentients giving chase.

The chase had begun.

My foot was pressed to the floor as far as it would go. I kept watching the mirror to see more and more Sentients giving chase. I was breathing heavily.

Oh what a rush!

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Melanie crying.

“Hey!”

She looked at me with fear.

“We’re going to get out of this!”

“You promise!?” she said with fear in her voice.

I glanced at the mirror, “Nope!”

A shadow began to engulf the car. I adjusted my head and looked up. I could see a dropship making its move.

“A game of cat and mouse huh?” I looked back street in front me, “you’re on!”

I made hard right turn down an unknown street. When the car straightened out Melanie grabbed the dash and her seat.

“You might want to strap in!”

Without a second thought she grabbed the seat belt and clipped in.

I lost the ship on that turn but the Sentients weren’t far behind. I raced down various streets trying to lose my pursuers, but every time a made a turn they weren’t far behind.

“Look out!” screamed Melanie as she pointed to the front of the car.

I watched as a Sentient landed in front of the car.

POW!

I hit the thing full force. I looked into its cold eyes as I dragged it down the street. I dragged my rifle out from next to my leg and placed it on the dash. I opened fire; I shot as fast as I could pull the trigger. Glass sprayed in all directions as the windshield exploded. Melanie screamed out of shock as she covered her ears.

“DIE YOU FUCKER!”

I unloaded all 30 rounds into the creature as glass flew in all directions. Once the rounds stopped I looked at the gun them back to the Sentient.

Fuckers ‘ll never die.

I jerked the wheel and did a hard right turn, causing the Sentient to fall off the hood. I flooded the engine with power trying to regain my lost inertia. I took my rifle and hit the broken glass with my barrel, thus causing it to fall onto the hood, then the ground.

“I see the freeway!”

I could see a bridge in the distance. I prayed as we got closer to the overpass. Once we made it I turned onto an on-ramp… or off ramp? Doesn’t matter, and raced up the thing. Once I was on the long two way road I kept my attention forward.

Melanie happened to look down at the dash, “What’s that red button?”

“What?” I looked at the lower part of the dash, “no way!?”

“What?” she asked out of confusion.

“Is that what I think it is?” I asked myself while not takng my eyes off the button.

“What?” replied Melanie.

I looked at my mirror to see Sentients closing in. Immediately I looked back at the button.

“Hope for the best.”

I pressed the button, immediately the I felt the car jerk forward as the engine roar with even more power.

“HELL YEAH! THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!”

I looked at the mirror to see the Sentients lag behind. I victorious smile crawled across my face.

“YEEEEEEEEHAW!”

The Sentients gave up their chase… or we outpaced them I don’t know. I drove for about an hour until we stopped at a small gas station in the middle of no where. I turned off the now beaten car… what a shame… I climbed out and so did Melanie. I took the empty mag out of my rifle and put in a fresh one.

“Thank the lord for nitrous,” I said as I walked to the front of the car, and so did Melanie. She looked scared, “Hey what’s up?”

Without hesitation she grabbed me in a hug, “Thank you!” I screamed as she cried into my chest.

I hugged her back, “It’s okay… just... let it out,” I said reassuring her.

Guess I can’t let her go now.

Author's Notes:

Saved by one of the hottest cars in the world!

Another "lost" memory