▪︎○ Forty Five ○▪︎

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The infected screamed outside while their footsteps echoed all around the room the three survivors found themselves in. It was clear from the collection of sounds that there were way too many roaming the area and aware of the trio's presence, making both Ellie and Olivia uneasy. Even while they kept their weapons raised and aimed ahead; waiting for the first wave of infected to swarm them head on, their hearts raced.

"Dead ahead," David suddenly said whilst firing off his pistol at the three runners approaching from the bridge they'd just crossed.

"I see them," Olivia mutters as she releases the string of her bow; somehow managing to take out two of the runners with a single arrow whilst thanking the heavens above that they seemed to run behind one another.

"Nice shot," Ellie praised with raised brows and a smirk, clearly both proud and somewhat shocked at the older woman's aim.

"Thanks," Olivia smiled before watching the teen fire off the rifle in her hands at the final runner and the two clickers behind it, killing them all. "You hear that?" she breathes as her head tilts up and her eyes scan along the roof above them with concern.

"They're on the roof,"

"Shit," the young woman muttered as she pulled out her pistol and rushed up the set of stairs to the higher platform, aiming at the broken windows either side of the room. "Stay close," she ordered Ellie firmly, earning an agreeable nod in return.

Like so many times before, the echo of gunfire filled the silent air. Bullets rained down, killing every infected that dared poke its head in the room. Clickers and runners alike fell limply around the concrete floor, their screams silencing upon doing so.

"We're doing fine, girls." David said confidently and breathily to the pair as he paced the platform with mild concern behind his eyes.

"Doesn't feel like it," Ellie sighs, causing Olivia to nod and scoff in agreement.

"Just keep at it,"

"On your left," Olivia warns Ellie who swiftly twists around and fires off her rifle, killing the approaching runner.

Minutes pass by, feeling like a never ending hour. Olivia's arms ache as does Ellie's. Their energy is running low, their heads are lined with sweat and their hearts are pounding. Everything is in slow motion, every bullet fired feels heavy and painful. They can't keep this up for much longer and they both know it. Even David seems fully aware of the girls growing exhaustion.

"What the hell?!" David suddenly shouts as a loud thundering bang rattles through the room, coming straight from the roof above them.

"Sounds like a bloater!" Olivia and Ellie shout simultaneously whilst sharing a worried and defeated look.

"A what?"

"That big fucking guy!" Ellie shouts with annoyance whilst pointing at the bloater now stood atop the broken elevator as Olivia rushes to her right on the platform, kneeling beside a crate and pulling open her worn rucksack. She works fast, pulling out everything she would need to make two Molotov's, then once the items are crafted she tosses one to Ellie and reaches to the side of the crate for the nail bombs that had been left behind by the dead men behind them.

She stands swiftly and without an ounce of hesitance, she and Ellie throw the Molotov's at the bloater, making impact with its overgrown head. Immediately, it sets ablaze with an air shattering roar that shoots fear through Olivia's heart.

Fear that grew and intensified with ever shuffled movement it made in their direction. Mainly because their ammo was running as low as their energy. If they didn't take this big guy out within the next few minutes, they'd end up dead.

Set Me Free ▪︎ Joel Miller ▪︎Where stories live. Discover now