Day 16: Knock, Knock

Group 4: Matthew, Josh, Liz, Jeremiah, Edward, Nicole
Location: Barn/Farmhouse

His heart was pounding as he stared down the barrel of the gun. The desperate beating found its way to his head and the throbbing made it feel as if his ears would explode at any moment. “Matt? What’s…?”

“Welcome back,” Matthew said, lowering his weapon. “I saw you stirring. I just wanted to make sure what woke up was really you,” he explained, dropping to the ground beside him. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Josh replied. Relief overwhelmed him and he placed a hand over his heart as the pace began to slow. The ache, once settled between his temples, traveled south until it reached the wound on his shoulder. With great pain, he reached up and rubbed his chest just beneath. “So how are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” Matthew said with a deep sigh.

“Come on, really.” Those piercing brown eyes focused on him, cutting through his bullshit “I’m fine” act with laser-like precision.

“Ok,” Matthew sighed again. “I’m not fine. I’m a fucking mess. I’m going crazy here. Not knowing what’s going on with Natalie. Where she is. If she’s even alive. I keep thinking about our last moment together. I don’t know if I even told her how I felt. And the thought that she’s gone without ever knowing is eating me alive. I have to find her.”

“We all lost someone, Matt,” Josh said, his thoughts turning to his dreams and his missing cousin Katrina. “We can’t let that slow us down. We can’t allow our emotions to get in the way because the minute we do, we’re dead. You know that. You need to find a way to get her out of your head or else…” Josh didn’t need to finish the sentence. Matthew’s head dropped.

“Yeah I know. I just…” Matthew jumped at the sound of something slamming into a door and looked towards the hallway. “Did you hear that?” he asked, gripping the weapon in his hand tighter.

“No. What is it? What did you hear?”

“Shh,” he said, holding a finger still. “Listen.” Another bang against the outer wall sent Matthew to his feet. 

“Wait! Don’t open it,” Edward shouted from his corner of the room. His voice was shaky and he covered his face with his hands trying to make himself small. “It’s probably them.”

“Them? I got news for you Ed,” Matthew scowled in the man’s direction, “Zombies don’t knock.”

“You don’t understand. There were tons…I was outnumbered. I had to get away…I—I…”

“What did you do?” Matthew asked, starting towards him. Another, louder sound erupted near the outside door. It was no longer knocking. It sounded like a battering ram was being thrown into the lock. “Who’s out there? Who’ve you brought here?” The continued banging was taking on a rhythm; it was synchronized, leading Matthew to believe it may not be a mass of ravenous undead, but the living who was knocking. “Nikki, you sealed up the door, right?” he asked, returning his attention in the direction of the noise.

“What…? Yeah, of course I did, why?” she asked groggily, still coming out of her nap. The sounds resonated through the room, rousing a sleeping Jeremiah as well.

“What was that?” he asked, looking up at Matthew and the defensive stance in which he stood. It didn’t take long for the others to follow.

“Someone’s out there,” Matthew replied. “And they are trying to get in!” 

Continue---->

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