For a while, things went well.
Shannon let Leah lead the way, and she was good about keeping off the main roads without losing track of where they were going. The pops of gunfire were still on the horizon, but it was far enough away. And when they caught sight of someone spazzing out in the street before going zombie, the two fucked off into some place where they wouldn’t get seen. Not many people were out this late at night. The only living ones left were like them, running for their lives as they avoided everyone else in sight.
But then the two kept moving, and danger got unavoidably close. Shots became more frequent, and dead bodies were a regular sight. The military was a clearer presence too. It seemed like every couple blocks, another barrier had been set up, with the assholes taking potshots at anyone who drew near. Luckily, they cared more about cars than people, so Shannon and Leah were able to keep sneaking through.
By the time they reached the high-risers though, it was truly madness. Shannon would’ve never guessed how many people were still out in the streets, rioting and looting and fighting each other like they had no idea what was really going on. It became common for them to see a group of guys trying to beat a zombie to death, only for one of them to suddenly collapse and start turning themselves. Cops and soldiers were running around every so often, but they were as much a part of the brawl as everyone else.
Leah and Shannon kept moving, one block after another. Shannon waved her shotgun at anyone who drew near, and Leah scoped out alleys for them to take as shortcuts. There was so much chaos around that no one paid them any mind, letting the pair slip between the cracks without raising too much of a profile. In spite of all the shit going down, they were making it through alright.
“Looks like we’re clear,” Leah whispered as she peered into another alley.
Shannon kept her eyes on a group of guys robbing a shop nearby, her shotgun trained their way. “Cool. I’ll be right there.”
A screech pierced louder than all else as an eighteen-wheeler turned the bend. Before anyone could react, it lost a wheel and started skidding their way. Sparks shot from the undercarriage, and it twisted hard, with the trailer facing one way, but momentum carrying it forward. Shannon dove into the open street just in time. Bricks exploded out where the truck crashed into building.
Dust blocked out the light, and the air tasted like smoke, but Shannon coughed through both as she clawed for an opening. Her chest tightened.
“Leah!” she shouted. “Leah!”
Her voice rang out. “Shannon!? You okay?”
“Shit. Yeah. How about you?”
She coughed. “Yeah, I’m fine.” There was a pause. “Can you get through?”
Shannon studied the wreck. The truck had smashed into the wall, leaving only the trailer exposed. Between losing its wheels and tilting on its side, there was no way to squeeze by or climb over. A small fire sprang out where gas had leaked out, making going under impossible too.
“I got nothing,” Shannon said with a sigh. “What about you? Can you climb over?”
“Not a chance.”
This was bad. Buildings stretched out for over a block in both directions, and there was no way of knowing if there’d be any more obstacles on the other side.
Shannon wiped the sweat from her eyes. “Look, just stay put, okay? I’ll go around and come for you.”
Her sobs spilled through a moment later. “Please, don’t leave me, Shannon. I don’t want to be out here alone!”
That cut deep. Real fucking bad. The way Leah said that sounded as if she actually thought Shannon would abandon her at a time like this. Sure, she’d done her share of shitty things, but this would take the cake. Did Leah really think she was capable of something like that? They were fucking friends!
“I won’t!” Shannon yelled. “Just don’t move until I come back. It’ll just be a few minutes, I promise!”
The fire suddenly flared up as more gas gushed out, and Shannon withdrew a step. She grit her teeth, knowing there was no other way now. I won’t leave you, Leah.
Shannon ran down the streets. Her legs were on fire, her head was throbbing, and the shotgun felt like lead after all this time in her arms, but still, Shannon pressed on. She could hear Leah sobbing in her mind. She could feel her arms wrapped around her, even though she didn’t do the same back. She could see herself doing a thousand selfish acts at Leah’s expense, all over and over again. It was all catching up to her, right here and right now. Once again, she was the self-centered cunt. Even Leah thought that. It fucking hurt, and Shannon would prove her wrong.
But when Shannon turned the corner, her legs locked in place. There was a redbrick building not far off, over five stories tall, with a giant sign above that read ‘Hotel El Cortez’. An old hotel turned into low-income housing, right in the heart of the city.
She’d been lost in the chaos, but she knew the location at once. Diaz lived here. Her dealer. With his shitty little studio where he kept his stash.
And he’d definitely have crystal on hand.
Shannon knew what she had to do. Finish getting to Leah before someone else found her, then fuck off to the restaurant like she wanted. That was the smart thing to do. The right thing.
But now her hands quaked to the thought of getting something hard in her system, and nothing else seemed to matter. She glanced down the street for the alley that’d lead to Leah, then back to the apartment. It wasn’t that far out of the way.
Just a couple minutes, Shannon had said. Well, she’d make sure of that.
She made a break for her detour.
* * *
How many times had Shannon done this?
It all blurred together. She’d walk through the door of the El Cortez at the dead of night, body shaking and eyes struggling to stay open. The halls were all the same, but like a trained rat looking for her cheese, she knew every fucking way straight to the end of the maze. Even when she was blasted out of her mind and could barely stay standing, she’d never lose track of where to go. How could she? This was where she got the one thing that kept her going, from the one guy who always came through.
Shannon might have crashed here more times than she could count, but she and Diaz weren’t dating. Hell, they weren’t even friends. What they had together was entirely transactional. Shannon would let him fuck her, and he’d give her some of the good shit for free. Maybe she’d suck him off well if it was a special occasion. But there was no love, and no romance. Just two people exploiting each other. Sex for drugs, and drugs for sex.
So when Shannon kicked down the door to his place, shotgun in hand, she couldn’t help but feel that tonight wasn’t much different. She was here for drugs, and she was ready to fuck anyone up who got in her way.
“Diaz!” she shouted. “You here?”
No response.
Shannon immediately went for the bathroom, ripped open the medicine cabinet, and tore through the fake plaster wall he’d put in. Pills scattered onto the floor, but Shannon had no patience as she dug into his stash, seeking out the real shit. Her hands hit nothing but more weed and ecstasy. She shrieked and threw everything aside, her scalp on fire. Where the fuck did you put it!?
Most might think Shannon callous for being so aggressive against a guy she regularly hooked up with, but they’d have no fucking clue. This wasn’t like getting in a shoot-out. If Diaz had flushed his stash because the feds were in town, then Shannon wouldn’t think twice about putting a bullet right between his eyes. Right between his fucking eyes! She needed this, now more than ever, and that piece of shit would get what he deserved if he got in the way of her and this!
Shannon rushed back to the bedroom. Her eyes fell to the floor, and she gleamed.
There Diaz lay, head slouched over and body leaned against the bed, unconscious. But one of his hands was wrapped around a syringe that was plucked into his arm, and the other was holding a plastic bag with his treasure inside. Light spilled in from the outside world, causing the meth to sparkle, white and clean like pure mountain snow.
Shannon went straight for the meth, scooped up Diaz’s kit, and started melting it out. Her eyes traced the room as she desperately sought out a fresh needle, but none were in sight. Her head throbbed. Fuck it. She yanked the one that Diaz had used and got it ready for her. Some blood clung within, but that didn’t matter. Whatever diseases he’d had, she’d gotten a long, long time ago. All that mattered was getting her head sorted. Right fucking now!
The crystal liquefied, and Shannon sucked it into her syringe. She didn’t think twice before jabbing it deep into the vein that bulged the most. Her eyes closed.
The result was immediate. The pain disappeared, and her mind grew at ease. She started to laugh, at first a small chuckle, but this night was so fucking funny, and she couldn’t help herself. Her chuckle exploded into a hysteric roar, and she pounded her legs in exhilaration. Then tears started to flow, and it was no longer all a joke. She was crying. No, bawling. No idea why or over what, but the tears were coming free and everything fucking sucked. God, this hurt so much.
A figure rose in front. Moans spilled out. Shannon blinked through the blurs and studied the creature. Its moans turned into a hiss, and she realized that it was a zombie, with eyes that were whitened slates, and hands clawing for her.
There was no time to think. Shannon scrambled for the shotgun. The zombie lumbered her way, but she was quicker. Like a freshly-oiled machine, she braced the stock into her shoulder and fired a shell. Thunder roared out, and the zombie flew back. It twitched on the ground. Shannon instinctively fired the second shell, this time being sure to hit the head. The zombie stopped moving.
“Fucking hell,” Shannon gasped. She got to her feet and went for the door. Leave it to her to not lock up…
Except that the door was closed, and no one else could have come in. Horror gripped her as she pieced together what she’d done. She wiped the sweat from her brow and studied the dead body in front. Diaz lay still, his head torn in two.
Shannon could have puked, but that wasn’t what terrified her. She looked at the needle she’d used, with Diaz’s blood still stuck inside. It was diseased and black. Zombie blood.
Maybe it would be okay. Even if it could be spread through blood like Leah had said, Shannon had only injected a small amount inside. Ricardo had practically bathed in it before he’d turned. Besides, zombies only ever spread through bites. That’s how it always fucking worked! Shannon was being melodramatic. She’d be fine!
No, those were lies, and she knew it.
As her head fought against the high, there was no denying what had happened here.
Shannon had just killed herself.
