Prompt #2 (Tell This Story): Among Mist and Moss - Episode 1

Note: A short story inspired by the video game franchise Fallout, created by Bethesda.

It wasn't the prettiest place in the world, and probably not the most sanitary, but it was one of the only semi-safe places in the west region of the United States that wasn't overrun by zombies and ridiculously large, mutant animals. 

I grab my girlfriend's hand as we stomped through the swamp-like area, assisting her in crossing toward two wooden cabins that lay before us. They were old and had definitely seen a lot of years. The front porches were rotted and falling apart. Wooden parts of the dwelling bobbed in the murky waters, and I had no idea what type of aquatic life lived in that marsh. It wasn’t safe in the sense that we could hurt ourselves, I knew that, but it was secluded, a perfect location to hide out from the outside world of monsters that you only hear in ancient folklore.

I step cautiously onto the steps of one of the cabins, hearing the old oak creek in protest of my weight. I keep my hand close to my hip where my SIG Pro automatic pistol resided.

“Keep your shotgun ready just in case I miss,” I whisper over my shoulder to Lee. I can see that she held the weapon tightly, to brace herself of the recoil, but she looks natural. It isn't stiff within her hands, but it isn't loose either where she could hurt herself with it. She is definitely a marksman of a new breed.

She brushes her tangled and matted brunette hair from her face and smiles, showcasing her deep dimples. Camouflage paint covered her cheeks, forehead, and the bridge of her nose. She looks beautiful in the strangest way. “You never miss.”

We proceed to step into the darkened front room. I pull my gun out of its holder and grip it with my right hand, placing my left hand, which grasps a flashlight underneath as a foundation.

One foot in front of the other, Lee and I creep around the cabin like cats, checking every room and every corner for anything moving that could cause harm to us.

“Have we checked everything?” Lee questions for confirmation.

“Not this closet,” I say, reaching for the doorknob. “Pretty sure there isn’t anything in here, though.”

Abruptly, the door busts open, sending me sprawling down to the hard timber floor with out a loud thud. My heart thumps violently in my chest.

“Shit, shit! Lee! Yo, Lee!”

A zombie child, portions of his chest and an arm missing, most likely turned at the age of twelve, grabs my leg in an attempt to pull it off. I desperately try to crawl away, but his grip was strong.

“Christ!” Lee fires off a shotgun shell, the round taking the zombie’s head clean off. Chunks of decaying flesh flies everywhere and blood freckled my dirty face. The body collapses to the floor.

"Gross!" I exclaimed angrily. I stood up in urgency to brush the zombie skin off of my body.

"Sorry about that, love," giggles Lee.