Москва, Россия

Date: January 18

Infection Status: Mild



His feet pounded against the bloodstained street as he approached a building and reached out grabbing the handle, and threw the door open wide. Jumping inside he turned and started to swiftly close the door as a rotting hand reached out towards him attached to a ravenous person. The door slammed, and the arm laid severed on the floor by his feet twitching slightly before it stopped. The 6'0'' man looked around and started to shove random large objects in front of the door. For the mean time that should keep them at bay he hoped. The building he ran so blindly into appeared to be a smaller warehouse which did not make him feel anymore safe. The entirety of the room was dark with a foul odor in the air he wasn't so sure he wished to know the source. Outside he heard the zombies hit against the door and make their god forsaken groans that sent chills down his spine. Ivan stayed close to the wall and looked around for a light switch which, now that he thought about it would not be of any use; there was no power. Keeping his eyes peeled the man started to carefully maneuver the lower level of the building before heading up the metal stairs. The Russian was careful to make sure his steps were not too heavy as he ascended to the upper floor. The strong odor he had smelled below became stronger as he walked down the hall way. The light from outside filtered a lot more easily from the upper floor were the metal roofing was rusting.



"That smell..." Russia thought to himself reaching up to cover his nose tightly trying not to gag. As he approached a room directly in front of him he carefully reached for the door knob and gripped it. A loud clang downstairs almost shook him from his own skin as he turned around swiftly and looked down the hall. Was there something with him that had been watching without attacking? Keeping his eyes glued to the end of the hall he turned the knob on the door and opened it slowly. Turning around he moved into the room and made sure there was nothing to greet him in there; and yet there was. A swarm of flies flew up into his face and he swatted them all away and then felt himself gag and choke.


That smell.


Looking up he saw a man hanging down from one of the beams in the ceiling, dangling, his skin discolored, and his eyes wide and staring in his direction. Ivan stared back as if it were the first time he had ever seen a dead body up close before. Russia backed up out of the room and slammed the door shut covering his mouth trying not to throw up. Feeling his stomach turn and lurch he finally doubled over, and released the putrid contents onto the floor. Groaning he coughed and looked up with shaky vision down the hall to see a face peering around the corner.
"I have already been bit what ....what more could you do?" The man inquired wiping his mouth off and standing upright the best he could. The person carefully moved more into view and Ivan could see it was a little girl around seven years old. She was covered in dirt and muck but otherwise seemed unharmed, even if she was shaking like a leaf. He eyed her carefully even so as she started down the hall towards him.


"Mister...are you okay?" She asked him so innocently, so unafraid at finally seeing a person who was not trying to eat her. Russia looked down at her and then nodded a little bit wondering if she realized he said he was bit. The little girl smiled and then looked past him at the door with a sad expression on her face.
"That man was helping me but then ...he got very very sad and said not to come up here. I....I did when I didn't see him the whole night and he..." She looked down at the floor and fiddled with her fingers some. Russia glanced behind him at the door, and then looked at her reaching out to gently pat her head. What was he doing? This girl was going to be good as dead like the rest of the children he saw out on the street. Yet he was standing here trying to reassure her if only just with a pat on the head. Moving his hand away he started past her but suddenly felt his sleeve get grabbed and he turned around. The young girl was holding onto his sleeve looking up at him with watery blue eyes.
"Please don't leave me here..." She said shakily. Russia looked at her wondering what he should do in this situation. Common sense told him that bringing someone this young along with him would only be a liability. Yet at the same time somewhere deep inside of him something stirred and he was unable to shake off her teary gaze. Ivan thought to himself about the pros and cons of the situation before making his final decision.


"I will take you out of the city and to somewhere safe but, after that we part ways I will be unsafe to be around before too long." He said feeling a bit of regret in those words since he wished not to be infected. However, the little girl appeared none too worried about the last part of his words as she nodded and followed after him. Russia shook his head and stood at the bottom of the stairs looking around for something to use as a weapon; anything. At this point event a simple knife would do him just as much good as a gun. Digging through debris and boxes he pulled out a large lead pipe and looked it up and down, it would have to do. Turning he looked at the girl and then towards the door of the building.
"I am going to open the door and there will be those things okay? You stay near me and you do not run off no matter how scary it gets. Only when I tell you to run do you run okay?" He looked at her and she nodded at him staying close practically hiding under his long coat. Russia moved the objects away from the door and took a deep breath staring at it; the barrier between safety and the harsh outside world.
"Ready?" He asked.
"D--Da." The girl answered softly. Russia reached over and threw the door opened as the setting sun poured into the room. Screams, shouts, groans, bones snapping, flesh ripping these sounds all filled the air around them. The moment the door was moved five of the undead bastards had their eyes on the area, and started after Ivan and the girl. He grit his teeth and moved forward smashing one in the skull hearing the bone crack. His blood coursed and adrenaline pumped through his body giving him more power and speed to his moves. Glancing back he saw the little girl was still close to him like she said she would be and he swung his lead pipe harder. Bodies crumbled at his feet and he found himself covered with spots of blood along the front.


These things were pissing him off, and seeing them rampage around his usually peaceful capital struck something. Inside his core he felt a dark rage start to build up a feeling he knew all too well. As he began to strike at more obstacles in their path a woman suddenly had rushed at his side, not to attack but because she wanted his help. However, in a moment of survival and mistake identity he turned around and hit her hard in the throat. The blond woman stopped where she was and reached up clutching her throat. She made a gurgling choking noise and fell to her knees, coughing and hacking looking up at him as if to ask 'why would you do that?'. Ivan looked down at her momentarily and realized what he had just done but brushed it off right away. In his own mind her rushing at him like that was a foolish move, and she should've seen it coming that he would strike at her. Grabbing the little girl's wrist he ran off leaving the woman there to choke to death as the undead descended on her.


All he needed to do now was find somewhere safe to go where no one was hardly around. Outside the city was the most obvious choice, and also the most difficult place to go right now. Standing in the middle of Red Square he looked around him at the devastation, worse than any war, worse than anything he had ever seen before. The little girl stayed closer to him moving to stand under his coat clutching his pant leg. Ivan reached down instinctively and placed his hand on top of her head and closed his eyes shaking his head, and then opening them again looking ahead. No matter what he had to push on even if the pain in his wound became too much, even if there were too many, even if it seemed hopeless. For some reason having this little girl with him brought a little more fight back into his spirit. The proud Russian spirit that never gave up in the face of a great adversity, and so he would battle on tirelessly until they were safe.