Flashback - Columbia Airfield
Hayley leaned up from her place on the floor of the holding area, her hands coming up in front of her face in a haze. She couldn't think, or see…or even breathe right. Glancing across the room, she squinted, still able to make out the three or four people that she was locked in with. She wasn't sure why she was carted off here, only that she couldn't find Ryder.
Ryder.
The thought made her jolt more awake, just in time for a police officer to open the door next to her.
"We're leaving out in a few. I need you all to be alert, stay close, and whatever you do, don't leave the line. If we make this fast, we can get you to the safe zone quickly and safely.", he ordered. Hayley frowned.
"What exactly is going on?", she asked.
"You don't want to know. If you're squeamish, keep your eyes closed and hold onto someone. I don't have time to stop for you to vomit…"
Hayley frowned once more, attempting to gather herself a bit more. She slipped her arms back through the straps of her backpack, and stood from the floor.
Moments later, she was holding the belt of the police officer in front of her. She attempted to bury her head in his back, but the curiosity kept her peering around. Nothing was happening, but there was blood everywhere. Outside the front doors, it became more real to them all. Out of nowhere, two of their group were taken down by something. They screamed and begged, but the police continued marching, ignoring the carnage.
"We're not going back for them?"
"They're dead. If we go back, we'll all be dead. Keep walking.", the police officer answered her. She pulled her head from his back, and looked around definitely. It was dark outside, a little too dark to see what was around them. This was a horrible idea, "GO! "
The booming voice above her rocked her entire body as she glanced up at the cop, and her eyes became wide. A man, with half his face missing was snarling and snapping at her savior's face. His shotgun against the man's throat seemed to do nothing.
"No! Stop!", she cried out, reaching forward to push at the bloody mess of a man. As she did so, the cop let out a strangled scream, and her face was splattered in warmth as his throat was torn open and he sank to the ground, "Oh my god…No no no…"
Doing her best to react, she grabbed the shotgun, and tugged, his terrified grip hard to break. She managed, however, and glanced down at him once more.
"I'm so sorry…", she whispered.
"Kill me. Please. Kill me…", he barely spit out, sputtering blood with every word.
Hayley stared, her eyes wide for a split second, before the snarling man began coming after her. Taking a few steps back, she began to run, but not before apologizing once more to the fallen officer. During her run, she managed to grab his flashlight, which had rolled several feet from him.
In the dark, she would probably encounter more of those…people, but she couldn't stay here. She huffed and began running, following the same direction the line had been taking. Maybe there really was a safe zone. Maybe there was still hope for Ryder..for everyone.