Chapter Eleven: Too Close

On the hard floor of my apartment, I wrote the new logs in my journal. The sun was still out, so I didn't need another light source. A lot had happened to me recently, and I'm still processing it. Sammy was dead, but I managed to completely resurrect her. Not without help, though I didn't like the man at all. He was an odd fellow. Jackson Reeves was his name. I still wonder how he knew of my purpose, or the bunkers nonetheless. He said that because of how they're locked, he couldn't get in, so how'd he know? A knock came to my room door. Checking, it was just Sammy.

'Whatcha doing?' She leaned in behind me.

'Writing in the journal.'

'Oh? You kept it!' She peered down at what I was writing.

Quickly I closed it.

'Did I see you complementing my looks?'

'You're a serial killer, and a damn good one at that too.' I got up, making her stand straight. 'Honestly, what do you want?'

She played with fingers. 'Do you really think low of me?' She sounded serious.

Choosing my words carefully, I just didn't respond. Instead, I hugged her tightly, 'Just listen to your partner...please.'

She hugged me back. 'I'm sorry.'

On the note, the night came to an end.

A siren was going off. Waking up, panicked, I ran out my room, grabbing the revolver and machete, and donned on my ripped cloak.

Sammy showed behind me slowly. 'What's going on?' She said sleepily, rubbing her eyes.

I grabbed Sammy's shotgun, and held it in hand. 'Monster's are attacking.'

Outside now, both Sammy and I watched crowds of people running to the other side of town, away from the gates. Going to the gate, we ran into a officer. 'Where are the monsters approaching from?'

He looked at me. 'Bounty hunter?' He shouted over the people's screams.

I nodded.

'Theres a horde of monsters approaching the front gate. One broke in apparently and was killed.' His walkie went crazy. Picking it up, he listened to the incoming order.

'We're being overran! Need immediate backup from all patrol units, to anyone available and capable of fighting!' The walkie went silent.

'The gate you say then?' Me and Sammy started to run behind the officer. 'So what are the monsters attacking?'

'From what was reported,' he took a breather, 'They're a hybrid between grizzly bears and zombies.'

'So zombie bears?'

'Not exc-' the man was crushed.

On his corpse, was a bear twice my height if it stood on it's hind legs. With it's flesh decayed, it also had sharp claws, sharp enough to probably cut steel. It's teeth, exposed where the skin lacked, were sharp like the claws. To make matters worse, the bears movements seemed quite agile and quick. Roaring, it came to charge at me and Sammy.

I rolled right and Sammy jumped up.

Landing on it's back, she pulled the decaying hair, strung tightly to the rotten flesh, as if she was gonna ride it.

Taking aim, I shot the bear in its front left leg, and chambered another round. No effect.

In anger, the bear quickly flung itself up onto its front two legs, and sent Sammy into me.

Sammy pulled me up and we ran at the bear. Taking a shot, Sammy removed chunks off his face, and slide under it.

Side stepping to the right, I shot the bears left eye. 'Keep at it, we'll kill soon!' Opening the chamber, I loaded in three more shots.

'There's a problem!' Sammy pointed towards the gate.

Looking over, I saw an army of bears coming. They must've broke through the defenses. 'Run, run, run!' I turned and ran for it.

Sammy jumped onto the bear and off, right beside me. 'What are we gonna do?!'

'Well for starters, we can't let them reach the civilians!' I came to a quick stop, and started running to the bears.

'Ooo, I like this plan,' Sammy to copied me now.

Once more, the genetic DNA planted in me when I was created, activated. Feeling faster, stronger, I holstered my revolver, grabbed machete and swung. With one strong strike, I sent the bears head flying. With the rotten flesh and my greatened strength, they weren't that resistant.

Sammy took shots at the bears trying to get us from above, they could jump high like a car hitting a ramp.

As time went on, I tore through bear after bear. Before long, I was drowned in jam.

'What was that you did their?' Sammy panted, trying to catch her breathe. One would assume it was from running, but instead ot was from her holding her breathe.

Thinking of an answer, it was stopped when a group of gaurds ran over, guns up. 'Stop there beast!'

'Me?' I pointed to myself.

Their squad leader stepped forward. 'Why of course, that was not strength belonging to no mere human. Prosthetic or not.

I hid my arms. 'If it weren't for me! You wouldn't be having your guns in hands, nonetheless your lives either!' I shouted in anger.

'That's true,' he looked elsewhere, then back at me. 'But monsters are monsters...not humans.'

'So I cannot feel, like a human. I cannot protect other humans? But a fucking dog can!?'

They moved in closer to me and Sammy.

'Miss stand aside, we're gonna detain this beast.'

Glancing at her, she had that murderous smile creeping up her lips.

Normally I'd stop her, but...but I wanted to see what would happen.

Charging at them, they shot in panic and confusion. They missed every bullet. Shoving her gun against the squadron leaders chest, she sniffed him. 'You smell like low life trash,' her legs moved in an odd fashion, 'So maybe you should be disposed like one.'

Tensions were high. Sammy had her gun against his chest. He stood high and mighty, but unarmed, unlike the rest of his troops, all assault rifles and battle rifles in arms. Then there's me, in the middle of it all.

Yelling from behind me. Then trash, lots of it. All the guards lowered their guns, Sammy too. With us all looking at the commotion, the citizens rioted. 'Leave those two alone,' they shouted. One lady in particular stood out, and I knew why.

Running through the guards and up to me, she took my arms. 'I have to thank you again mister for saving my son.' Looking behind her, I could see him in the group of people.

'It was my pleasure miss.' Now examining the gaurds, they were being harrassed into letting Sammy and I go, and eventually, they walked off. Now it was just Sammy, the people and I. 'Thank you all, that ment a lot.'

'You help practically everyday!' One man shouted

'The other day you fixed my lights!' A lonely widow beat the air with her fist in pride.

They all kept shouting and yelling and telling what I've done since living here. It made me smile, yet I knew staying here may endanger them. 'So in light of what you lot said.' I looked at Sammy, and she placed her hand on my shoulder. 'I'll be leaving tomorrow, to not endanger you all.'

They didn't argue, as if they knew it would be pointless.

Going back to my apartment, I tossed my cloak aside, my utility belt on it, wished Sammy well, and I collapsed onto my mattress. Sleep, was on my mind. I'm tired and exhausted. Closing my eyes, my life came to a moment's rest.