I wrote a short story. It would be awesome if you read it and left comments \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The Library at the End of the World<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Lauren Spieller<\/strong><\/p>\n

I pulled Tara down into a crouch behind a white van, then peeked around the corner. There were only two of them wandering around\u2014their eyes clouded white and red, the skin on their faces torn and swollen. The policeman was already dead, and that kid from down the block looked like he was limping. By the time the creature caught up with him, we needed to be long gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s your head?\u201d I whispered, pushing Tara\u2019s bangs away from her face. The hair was matted against her head, thick and dark and wet. \u201cIt looks like you\u2019re still bleeding pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara handed me the baseball bat and grimaced. \u201cMeans I\u2019m still alive.\u201d She pushed back into the van and inched her way up till she could peer through the window. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her face, pooling along her collar.<\/p>\n

\u201cJules, we should keep moving,\u201d she whispered. \u201cThe one in the track jacket is almost finished eating the cop.\u201d Tara slid back down and gritted her teeth. \u201cMy head is killing me.\u201d<\/p>\n

I took her sticky hand in mine and squeezed. Our rings shone gold through the blood. \u201cThe old library is only two blocks away. We\u2019ll break in through the back and board it up behind us. Then we can fix up your head, okay?\u201d I patted my bag, where our first aid kit was waiting.<\/p>\n

Tara smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll race you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn three,\u201d I said, getting to my feet but staying low. \u201cOne. Two. Three.\u201d<\/p>\n

We took off running, our feet pounding the pavement as we skirted around abandoned cars and jumped over the rotting corpses that had once been our neighbors. The library was close, so close\u2014we just had to hope we didn\u2019t run into anything alive enough to chase us. I kept my eyes on the back of Tara\u2019s head as we sped through the streets. I wasn\u2019t letting her out of my sight, not again.<\/p>\n

Something slammed into my shoulder, throwing me to the ground. I rolled sideways, feeling around for my bat. A foot away from me, the thing slowly righted itself, its single arm swinging back and forth. I caught sight of my bat just as it rolled under a car.<\/p>\n

I tried to get to my feet, but it grabbed my foot and pulled me back down. It\u2019s mouth opened wide enough that I could see it\u2019s swollen, rotting tongue rolling toward the back of it\u2019s throat. \u201cHelp me!\u201d I screamed, kicking at its face. \u201cThe bat, get the bat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara spun around and ran back toward me. I kicked the thing in the forehead, cracking it\u2019s skull, but it didn\u2019t let go. It tightened its grip on my leg, it\u2019s fingers edging between my ankle bones. \u201cFuck, Tara, grab it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara took hold of its legs and pulled. The thing slid away from me, finally releasing my leg. I jumped to my feet and ran toward it just in time for it to sit up and reach for Tara.<\/p>\n

She screamed and jumped back. I searched the ground for something to use as a weapon, but for once the street was clear of debris. \u201cJules!\u201d<\/p>\n

I ran forward, picturing soccer balls and footballs and every other kind of kickable-thing. A moment later the zombie\u2019s head collapsed in on itself and it\u2019s went body limp on the ground. I pulled my foot out of it\u2019s skull and shook it off like I\u2019d just stepped in a brain-filled puddle.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly shit,\u201d Tara said, her face bright white against the blood in her hair. \u201cThank you. Let\u2019s get the hell out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

I kicked the body again for good measure and chased after her. That wasn\u2019t the closest we\u2019d come to one of those things, but it was enough to make my legs feel like wet paper.<\/p>\n

A siren wailed in the distance. For a second I considered pulling her off course, but the last time we changed our plan in the middle of a relocation, Tara had ended up falling through a ceiling vent into a nest of zombies. We\u2019d barely made it out alive. We couldn\u2019t afford another mistake, especially now that she had a head injury.<\/p>\n

The lot around the library was empty, save for a lawn mower and a pile of dead leaves. We climbed over the railing and up onto the porch at the back of the building so as not to make any extra noise by taking the rickety stairs. The library had been boarded up for over a year, every entrance sealed to keep kids from sneaking in and smoking pot. Funny how your priorities change\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cJules.\u201d I swung around, only to come face to face with Tara, holding a huge axe. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d she said, gripping it tightly.<\/p>\n

Her tank top clung to her body and I could still see the hickey I\u2019d left on her neck a few days ago. \u201cI think you\u2019re hot and if we weren\u2019t in danger of being eaten alive, I\u2019d eat you myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was trying not to smile.<\/p>\n

I held out my hand and she handed me the axe, then hopped back off the porch and peered down the street. \u201cI don\u2019t see anything. Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

I swung the axe into one of the boarded windows. The sound of wood cracking bounced off the surrounding houses. I cringed.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep going,\u201d she whispered. \u201cWe\u2019re still alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a few swings, I pushed the board through the window and stepped back. \u201cIt\u2019s dark and creepy inside,\u201d I said, leaning through the opening. I pulled my head back out and grinned. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

We climbed through the window and set to work boarding it up again behind us. \u201cYou\u2019re sure there\u2019s nothing else in here?\u201d Tara whispered, her eyes shining in the dark. \u201cWhat if we\u2019re trapping ourselves in here with one of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

I pulled a small flashlight out of my back pocket and handed it to her. \u201cI guess we\u2019ll have to hope we have them outnumbered.\u201d<\/p>\n

A low groan sounded outside. I put my eye up to the crack in the board. \u201cThere\u2019s one outside. Wait\u2014no, two. Shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

I grabbed Tara\u2019s hand and we backed away from the board, the darkness of the library swallowing us. The noises outside grew louder, hungrier.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d Tara whispered. \u201cThey\u2019re on the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay. Just stay\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

A hand burst through the boarded window. The fingers were bent in all directions, raking the air like twisted snakes. I took a step forward and swung the axe through the wrist, severing the hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to lock ourselves in somewhere,\u201d I yelled as another hand pushed through the hole in the wood. Tara\u2019s hand slipped out of mine. \u201cTara?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy head. It feels funny\u2026.\u201d She pressed her hands into the side of her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure it\u2019s not just them, I said, straining to see her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not them, it\u2019s\u2026\u201d Tara slumped forward, and I only just managed to grab her around the waist before she hit the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cTara!\u201d I yelled, shaking her. \u201cShit, are you okay? Tara!\u201d<\/p>\n

The wooden board shuddered and another hand slammed through the hole. I jumped so hard I nearly dropped Tara. \u201cOkay\u2026.okay we\u2019re going to find an office, and we\u2019ll lock ourselves in. Okay, Tara?\u201d<\/p>\n

She slid further toward the ground, her head slumping forward onto my stomach.<\/p>\n

The boarded window shuddered again, so full of holes and hands that it looked alive. I dragged Tara into the darkness, my heart hammering in my chest. I\u2019d lock us in somewhere, anywhere, and we\u2019d just have to hope they never made it in, or that they\u2019d leave. We had to hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cJules?\u201d<\/p>\n

I helped Tara to her feet and stared into her face. \u201cYou\u2019ve gotta help me, okay? You\u2019ve gotta walk. They\u2019re coming\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

A body burst through the wood, bringing a blast of sunlight with it. I covered my eyes, blinded for a second. The smell of decaying flesh filled my nose. More of them crawled through the hole in the board, blocking out the light as they entered.<\/p>\n

The first one through was fast. I yanked Tara toward me, just in time for it\u2019s grasping hands to miss her face. I swung the axe madly. The thing threw itself forward, leading with the gaping hole in its face. I jerked backwards and tripped over a chair. The axe clattered to the floor. Tara grabbed it from the ground, then we took off blindly into the darkness.<\/p>\n

A bookcase loomed out of the darkness. I hit my shoulder hard on its edge, sending a sharp stabbing pain through my right side. \u201cHelp me,\u201d I gasped, pushing hard on the side of the shelving as one of the slower creatures staggered toward me. I looked to my right, hoping to see Tara pushing the bookcase with me, but she wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n

A scream filled the air, bloody and terrified and inhuman. I threw myself around the other side of the bookcase just in time to see Tara fall onto her back, her feet kicking at the creature on top of her. The axe lay discarded at her side.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d I shouted, shoving aside a slow moving body sagging toward me. I stooped down and grabbed the axe, then faced Tara again. It\u2019s dripping mouth was inches from her face. I planted my foot in the thing\u2019s side and pushed hard. It fell off her, but was back on its feet almost immediately. I grabbed Tara\u2019s hand and pulled her up. \u201cGo!\u201d
\nNumbers of people have depended on herbal supplements to combat this disastrous disease of men. probe cialis generika<\/a> Often women tend to blame themselves for the situation and for taking some needed steps to stay active every time and gives your face a fresh and glowing looks. viagra without buy prescription<\/a> The party go to store<\/a> on line viagra could strictly be a girl’s affair or could include couples. Ayurvedic treatment to eliminate PE has brought with it a number of difficulties, but can buy cialis professional<\/a> also lead to enormous success and satisfaction. <\/span>
\n\u201cI can\u2019t, I\u2019m already\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust run, Tara!\u201d I gripped the axe tightly and took a swing. The creature staggered forward just in time for the blade to sink into it\u2019s body with a sickening crack.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck!\u201d I yelled, grabbing for the axe hanging out of its chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cJules, come on!\u201d Tara screamed behind me.<\/p>\n

The creature swung its arms wildly at me, it\u2019s blackened fingers clawing at my sleeves. I planted my foot on its chest, then lunged forward and grabbed hold of the axe. I pulled as hard as I could, the zombie continuing to claw at my leg and arms, until the blade came free from its chest with a sickening slurp. Seconds later I sliced through the creature\u2019s neck, the axe making short work of its decaying flesh and bone.<\/p>\n

I caught up with Tara just as she rounded a corner into the administrative hallway of the small library. We flung ourselves into the first room we found. Tara slammed the door behind us and I immediately threw my weight against it. The room went black.<\/p>\n

Something rustled in the dark and I heard Tara flick a light switch. Nothing happened. A second later a beam of light hit me in the face. \u201cYou have the axe?\u201d she asked, breathing hard. When I nodded, she spun the flashlight to face the door. A bolt shone dully a few inches above the handle. \u201cI still have that lock you found, but not the key. You\u2019ll have to cut your way back out.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nodded and held up the axe. \u201cI guess those things do bleed after all,\u201d I said, watching the blade drip onto the ratty carpet. \u201cWait. What do you mean \u2018I\u2019ll\u2019 have to cut my way out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Something hard rammed into the other side of the door. Tara slapped the lock onto the deadbolt as I backed further into the room. Another thump and a groan told us there were at least two of them out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s your head?\u201d I asked. If she thought I was going to be leaving here by myself, then she had hit her head harder than I realized.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hurts.\u201d I felt her fingers snake through mine. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have locked myself in here with you. I should have stayed out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. \u201cI was bitten,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cWhen I fell through the ceiling this morning. I\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said, shaking my head. \u201cNo, that\u2019s not possible. You\u2019ve been fine all day. It\u2019s not a bite. You just hit your head.\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened her eyes and held out the flashlight to me. \u201cI need you to take the flashlight, and shine it on my temple. You\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked to the door, which had begun to shake. \u201cThere\u2019s no time right now, we have to figure out how to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pushed the flashlight into my chest. \u201cPlease, Jules.\u201d<\/p>\n

I swung the light down to our hands, not wanting to see what was on the side of her head. Tara reached out and put her hand on mine, helping me guide the beam of light up her right arm, past her neck, finally stopping on the side of her head. It only took a second for me to find it. I dropped the flashlight to the floor.<\/p>\n

She put her cool hand on my face. I closed my eyes and leaned into her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was planning on leaving once we found somewhere safe for you to stay,\u201d she said, \u201cbut it looks like that\u2019s not going to happen. So, you need to either get out of here before I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up.\u201d I pulled away and walked back to the door. The things were still there, pounding on the wood. I thought of the boarded up windows, and wondered how long it would take them to claw through a door. \u201cWe have time. You just got bit this morning, which means you still have a little while.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have minutes, Jules. I can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The silence of the room pressed in on me, somehow louder than the things outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said you still have the axe.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked back at her. She held the flashlight under her chin, lighting up her face from the bottom, like a kid who\u2019s telling a scary story. \u201cI\u2019m not going to use it on you,\u201d I said, my voice hard. \u201cNo way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have a choice. If I turn, you\u2019re going to have to do it. You\u2019ll be stuck in here with me if you don\u2019t.\u201d She lowered the flashlight. \u201cYou promised,\u201d she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. \u201cWe both did.\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cI\u2019d rather be in here with you than out there with them! I\u2019d rather\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes shut.<\/p>\n

I ran back to her. \u201cIt\u2019s too soon,\u201d I said, my voice cracking. \u201cFight it, you have to fight it!\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked up at me, her eyes unfocused. \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

I crouched in front of her and took her hands in mine. \u201cWe can figure this out. Maybe I can, I don\u2019t know\u2026cut it off?\u201d She smiled, but her eyes were watery. I squeezed her hands. \u201cTara, I can\u2019t do this without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pulled one of her hands away and ran her finger along my lips. \u201cRemember how we used to come here during the summers when it was too hot to be outside? We\u2019d read to each other, and you\u2019d use funny voices for the characters.\u201d She wiped away a tear rolling down my face. \u201cI always thought this place was so romantic. \u201d<\/p>\n

I grabbed her fingers and kissed them. \u201cIt still is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara rested her forehead against mine. \u201cI think I need to lay down.\u201d<\/p>\n

A screaming moan filled the air and I jumped to my feet. The entire wall shook, as if they were ramming themselves against the other side of the door. I had to find us a way out before she turned. If I could fight through them, maybe we could relocate again. Maybe I could find the source of the siren I\u2019d heard earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, hand me the axe,\u201d I said, turning back to face her. \u201cI\u2019m going to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Tara lay on the floor, her arm stretched out to me, her fingers curled in toward her palms.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo no no.\u201d I picked up the flashlight and shone it on her face. She stared at me, but her eyes weren\u2019t right. And her mouth\u2026it was open, but her lips were pulled back against her teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cTara?\u201d I dropped down on my knees in front of her and reached out a shaking hand. \u201cYou\u2019re scaring me, okay? I need you to open your eyes. Can you do that for me? Please?\u201d I took her hand in mine, but it was limp. \u201cYou have to wake up. We have to get through them, and then I\u2019m going to find someone to help you.\u201d I grabbed her shoulders and shook them. Her head fell back. \u201cTara! Tara please!\u201d<\/p>\n

The door shuddered behind me and I jumped. Tara didn\u2019t move, didn\u2019t blink. I brushed her hair out of her face, leaned down and kissed her head. My lips came away wet with blood.<\/p>\n

I got to my feet, my legs shaking beneath me. Tears were falling fast, blurring my vision. I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve. Tara was going to wake up any second, and I didn\u2019t want her to see me crying. Even if it wasn\u2019t her, even if it was one of them\u2014I still didn\u2019t want her to see me cry. It always made her cry too.<\/p>\n

I picked up the axe and walked back over to the door. I could hear them clawing against the other side. I took a deep breath, then swung the axe hard, cracking the lock clean in two. It fell to the floor with a thud I could feel in my bones. The door groaned, nothing holding it closed now but the bolt. I pictured them pressing against the other side, flesh melting across bone, teeth covered in clotted blood and hair. One of them had swallowed a piece of Tara\u2019s beautiful skin.<\/p>\n

The door shuddered again, and a crack appeared near the bottom. I wanted to be scared, to feel something inside me other than the slow twist of my stomach, but I couldn\u2019t. Tara was gone.<\/p>\n

The groaning and the scraping of nails on wood dulled to a gentle hum as I turned to look back at Tara one last time. She still lay on the floor, her eyes half open as if she was falling asleep. But she wasn\u2019t sleeping and she wasn\u2019t coming back, no matter how much I wanted her to. Not as Tara, anyway. She was gone, and I was still here. Alone. But without her, without Tara\u2026I was more than alone. I wasn\u2019t even me anymore.<\/p>\n

Without her I was nothing but a body in a room.<\/p>\n

I swung back around to face the door. The moaning and the strain of wood roared back to life. I lay my palm against the wood, feeling it shudder and shake and strain. They were out there, calling for me. And behind me, in only a few seconds, Tara would be too.<\/p>\n

I bent down and put the axe on the ground, then stood up and closed my eyes. I pictured Tara leaning back against me, a book in her hand. We were happy.<\/p>\n

I opened my eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled open the door.