They just roam the shore, mindlessly stumbling in circles. Their movements are slow, strange, and unnatural. The sound of the sand crunching beneath their feet echoes throughout the otherwise silent night. They seemed so weak and slow, yet there were hundreds, if not thousands of them.
I've been swimming for what feels like hours, though it's probably only been about thirty minutes. My muscles scream in protest with every little stroke and movement while my lungs burn, desperate for air as the cold and salty ocean embraces me, it's water weighing me down in my prison attire.
I look back at the island, weighing my options.
The shoreline is still infested with those mindless creatures, seemingly blocking almost any chance of me finding refuge on the beach.
The island seems quite vast, far larger that I anticipated. I see a dense and thick jungle stretching out behind the shore. Its dark shadows probably hold innumerable infected, all roaming around, searching for prey. Beyond it, large and jagged mountains rise into the sky. Their snowy peaks are just barely visible under the dark night sky. What lies beyond those mountains? Is there anything beyond them? What other horrors are out here on this island?
There are 192 prisoners here including me. It's going to be extremely difficult to find anyone on this large island. How many of us have died? How many of us are still alive?
I quickly spiral back into reality as another salty wave enters my mouth.
In desperation, I've already tried drinking the ocean water, yet it's salt just makes me more thirsty. I need to do something. I don't know how much longer I can last out here.
I can't help but feel so utterly useless. How long have I been swimming now? Thirty five minutes? Forty maybe? I cant keep track.
I stare at the horde, studying their actions. They no longer climb out of the sand. Instead, they seem to just roam around the shore mindlessly, as if they were looking for something. How do I get rid of them? What were they doing? Why were they just standing there?
A few more minutes have passed. I'm getting even more desperate now. It feels as if my limbs are being torn off my body. The ocean continues its relentless assault, each wave attempting to pull me under, swallowing me whole. The saltwater burns my throat whenever I try to gasp for air, and it only makes everything seem worse. It's as if the very sea is conspiring against me.
My vision blurs, becoming diluted as the weight of exhaustion kicks in, making it harder for me to keep my head above water.
I can feel my virtual body beginning to give out. I need to reach the shore. I need to sit. Even if it is just for a moment, I need to rest.
I push towards the beach, desperate for some sort of miracle.
I can't fucking die here. I've got to much to live for.
I try to maintain as much distance as I can from the main horde, navigating towards a far less crowded part of the beach.
I'll never forget the horror I felt when my feet first hit the sand. I remember looking up, coming face to face with one of those ungodly creatures. Its pupils were pitch black, empty, devoid of emotion, and humanity. It's skin was a strange and unnatural blush green-maybe turquoise? It was sickly as if drained of life. Either way, its gaze was completely hollow and its expression resembled curiosity, yet was clearly and utterly inhuman.
The repulsion I felt was sickening. It wasn't just the grotesque decay of their bodied, the peeling skin, nor the awful stench of rotting meat and flesh, but the way I felt being observed by something that no longer thinks, no longer feels, and no longer holds memories.
I barely have time to think before I lurch at the creature, vomit building in my mouth as I drive my old knife into the monsters throat. A sickening squelch, then a spray of thick, inky, hot blood splatters across my body.
The creature's scream was horrifying. It didn't scream in pain, but excitement. It didn't feel the wound in it's throat, but saw me as food to fill it's insatiable hunger.
Its claws lurched forward, attempting to scratch my body while its jagged teeth snapped wildly, aiming for my neck. I react much faster than the slow and dying abomination, thrusting my knife into the zombie's heart, ending the creatures pitiful and pointless life.
I find myself releasing a thankful sigh as it's body crumples to the floor, now fully lifeless and dead.
Looking up, I cant help but feel one thing.
Despair.
There was more of them. The creature's shrieking scream had lured them towards me.
I feet my heart beat quicken as I look at my surroundings. I was trapped, fully encircled by these beasts.
Was this it? Was I really going to die? Would I really be torn apart, and forced into joining the legion of undead on this godforsaken shore?
"Im sorry, Aurelia..."
I brace myself, tightening my grip on the knife, preparing to fight until my last breath.
I find myself flinching as one of their body's twitch abnormally. I close my eyes, fearing their wrath.
Yet, it never came. They didn't attack. They just... stopped
A dozen of them surrounded me, close enough where I could hear their wet, and unnatural breaths. Yet they only watched for a moment as their bodies continued twitching with unnatural spasms. Their heads tilted, and I could hear their weird sniffles, yet their feet remained planted in the sand.
My breathing quickened and my pulse pounded in my ears.
What was happening? Why weren't they attacking?
I swallowed hard, looking down at my shaky fingers, gripping my knife. Thats when I noticed it.
The blood.
It coated my hands, arms, chest, and face. The creatures black and putrid blood soaked into my clothes, and matted my hair. Their disgusting stench clings to me, and seeps into my skin as if I am one of them.
A creeping realization slithers up my spine.
They didn't see me.
No. They didnt notice me.
I take a step back. No reaction.
I take another. Nothing.
A creepy smile plays at me lips.
They hunt through smell and sound.
I wasn't just covered in their blood. I smelled like them to.
A lump forms in my throat as the full weight of realization hits me.
They were blind.