Zombie Exodus: Side Stories, Brody & Madison 6 (Patreon)

Continued from scene 5

Madison looked up at the gate, assessing its height. "We need to climb over," she declared, taking a few steps back to gain momentum. "Brody, cover me."

Brody nodded, his grip tightening around the lacrosse stick as Madison ran towards the gate. With practiced ease, she grasped the bars and hoisted herself up, her sneakers scrabbling for purchase. Brody kept watch, his eyes darting back and forth for any sign of the infected. His lacrosse stick felt useless in his hands as he watched his sister, her lithe form scrambling up the bars.

As Madison reached the top of the gate, Brody saw the crazies rushing towards them, their eyes wild with hunger. They were getting closer by the second, and Brody knew they had to act fast. "Madison, hurry!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with fear.

"I'm trying. Do you think I'm playing up here?" Though her words had a sting to them, she was freaking out. Brody couldn't die on her. If she lost him, there was no point going on. She wanted to keep him alive, as much for herself as for him.

She swung her leg over the top of the gate and slowly descended, careful not to drop too hard. If she landed at the wrong angle, it could cause an ankle break. There was no medical care during the outbreak and no one to turn to. A superficial injury could mean life or death.

She could hear the shuffling of feet across the asphalt and the guttural growls, snarls, and moans. The sound was relentless, filling the air with terrifying energy that made her skin crawl. When she reached halfway, she dropped to the ground, allowing her knees to bend to absorb the weight.

"Perfect."

Brody saw the infected in the distance, his heart racing as he watched them rushing closer. He gripped the lacrosse stick tighter, ready to defend himself if necessary. A few runners were in the lead, and it wouldn't be long until they reached the gate.

Madison's fingers fumbled with the lock, her eyes darting back and forth between the lock and the crazies. The infected were almost upon them now, their rancid odor mingling with the stench of death. She took only a moment to look up through the bars and saw the faces of the crazies moving closer.

Brody changed his stance into something like an attack form, raising the lacrosse stick with two hands over his shoulder. He was ready to strike. It wasn't the best weapon, but it was all he had. It may only take out one of the crazies before it breaks, leaving him defenseless.

A few tense moments later, Brody heard Madison's voice from the other side of the gate. "Brody, I'm unlocking it. Be ready to move as soon as it opens."

Brody tensed, ready to spring into action. He watched the gate slowly creak open, revealing Madison on the other side. She looked up at him, a relieved smile on her face. "Let's go," she said, gesturing for him to follow her through the gate.

Brody slipped through the opening and shoved her towards the house, slamming the gate shut and locking it as the crazies reached it. Their gnarled hands clawed at the metal bars, their moans of frustration echoing through the air.

Brody leaned over, panting heavily as he looked at his sister.

"Thanks for not getting eaten," she said, trying to keep her voice light despite the terror that still coursed through her veins.

Brody rolled his eyes. "Yeah, don't mention it. Let's get inside before they find another way in."

They walked together along the wide path toward their uncle's house, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. As they approached the door, Brody reached for the handle, a triumphant grin on his face. "We're in luck."

Madison hesitated, looking around warily. "Wait, something's not right," she said, her voice low. "Why was the front door open if the gate was locked?"

Brody looked at her, confusion etched on his face. "I don't know, but we can't just stand here. We need to find a weapon and secure the house."

Madison nodded, her eyes darting around the perimeter of the house. The windows were covered with thick curtains, and there was no way to see inside. "We need to be careful," she said, her voice firm. "We don't know what's in there."

They stood there for a moment, weighing their options. Going inside the front door was the quickest way to find weapons and supplies but also the riskiest. Going around the house's perimeter might provide them with more information, but it would take longer. And trying the shed for weapons was a good idea, but it was also on the other side of the house.

Continue to scene 7