'Over here! This way.' I hear a voice shouting. I have no time to do anything. A glancing look back and all I see is a mass of these black spiders scurrying towards me. There must be tens of thousands of them, flesh eating spiders and I'm the main item on today's menu!
'Faster.' Someone shouts, as if I need encouraging to run any faster than I already am. It's not as if I'm out for a jog and about to be consumed by spiders, and could do more- I can't!
That same familiar feeling, my chest thumping like it's about to explode, and me running away from something terrible. I wonder if I should have stayed in the vault, maybe hunger might have been better than being eaten alive or ripped apart or blown up.
The voice no longer sounds, but I have an idea where it comes from. Up ahead seems to be what I recall were train tracks, and there are train carriages left unattended here and there. I can feel pain in my chest; my lungs are fit to burst.
Running, hearing the noise behind me, like a plague of locusts descending on me, a black swarm ready to wash over me. Not far, a carriage, beside metal sidings of a building, all closed in. Just a bit further, don't trip on the tracks, don't fall now.
I reach a carriage, it is too tall, no way up, I'm stuck, dead end. It's all over for me.
A hand reaches down, poking at me, demanding I take a hold. I have no choice, out of the frying pan into the fire. I grab a hold, and the grip is firm, hoisting me up. I am a big person, well over six foot, stocky build, and yet whoever this is takes me up like I am a soft pillow.
Just in time, as the little creatures flood around beneath us. Don't let go of me now, I keep a tight hold too. If he tries to drop me, I won't let go, he's coming with me!
The man swings me right over the top of the carriage. It is long, an old wooden thing, but still sturdy enough. Its roof is flat, but not much else here, I notice though a linkway to the building, perhaps the best way in.
I drop down, exhausted. If he has plans for me that are bad, I doubt I can do much about it. I look up and for a moment the sun blinds my eyes, until he too drops down. He is large man, all muscle, dark skin, shaven head, his eyes deep blue. Looks like he has seen a lot of life. Then, I see it. Why didn't I think of it before, the beard, the great thick bushy beard.
I try to speak in between gulping down great gobs of air. 'Are you from the settlement up away... other side of those things?' I ask.
The man looks at me sternly. 'What of it?' He demands, no hint of friendliness.
'You have a sister there?'
'What of it?' He demands, no raising his voice. It seems upset and angry at her mention.
'She asked me on my travels to see if I saw you, to say she's worried about you.'
This seems to calm him a little, and he sighs, sitting back.
'Yeah, I guess that would be Melissa.' He says, now looking at me quietly.
I shrugged. I was never one for names really, people come and go so much I often hadn't even thought to check.
'I'm Steve, I guess she would be missing me. Can't cope without me.' The man says, offering out a hand. I take a hold and we shake, firm grip and all.
'I have no idea who I am, still can't remember. Your sister said you knew a lot about the vaults, might know who I am or help me with it.' I say. It never gets old, telling people I don't know who I am.
The man laughs, I think at first at my not knowing, but then it seems not.
'What, what's up?' I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
'Don't be angry, she's just not that strong and panics without me.' He says, and I look at him showing my confusion. 'I don't know anything about those vaults. Sorry, she just said that to get you to come help find me.'
I can't say I was shocked by it, nothing shocks me any more. I feel angry, but what can I do about it. I look over the sides of the carriage, and it is surrounded by a teeming mass of creatures, not all spiders, all sorts of weird and creepy insects, and no doubt all hell bent on devouring us.
'What the hell is it with those things?' I ask, peering down.
The man stands up, beckoning me to do so too.
'They're the reason I'm still here, cos if you go to ground round here, then they swarm you and in minutes all that's left is bones. Look over there.'
I look to where is he pointing. I see bones of long dead animals, what appeared to be cattle, only the closer I look, the more I realize they aren't so long dead, and there are lots of them, skeletons littered all over.
'I went and traded for some cattle, and got myself a scavenging hound. Coming back through this way, they just came upon us and took the lot. I managed to jump onto a ledge and get up here, and then a walkway out of old planks up into the top of the building. For now they don't seem to be able to get up so high.'
Wide eyed, I look at him shocked. Sickened by what this world conjures up.
'So now what?' I ask, feeling sick to my stomach.
The man turns, heads across the walkway he has constructed. 'This way.'
I follow him, carefully. There are gaps all around, but the building is high, made mostly of corrugated steel panels. As we walk we crouch, and go into a darkened area. There is a sleeping bag, some other bags, and the place looks as if it was once an office. It has wood for a fire, not lit, and some water.
'I don't have much food left, only what I was carrying when I was set upon. Even without sharing I was done a few days.'
All seems lost.
'Don't they go when they lose sight of us?'
'Nope, hound tried to run and they came from all sides. No idea how you avoided them, just damned lucky I guess.'
'So, now what?' I ask, feeling sickened I have again been lied to and betrayed.
'Well we either starve to death, or come up with a plan.' He suggests.
A plan. I have an interesting idea...
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