The Archer, Joel Miller, ON HOLD

Chapter two

Chapter two — OUTBREAK DAY

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     CHARLOTTE WAS ENVELOPED WITH FEAR. The young woman closed her blinds with shaky fingers, filled with terror from what she had just witnessed. She couldn't believe it, despite her past assumptions of her neighbor being a sicko from the amount of times he'd find ways to inappropriately touch her at work and make disturbing comments, she never thought she'd walk out of her house one night and find the man tearing into his wife's body. She was desperately trying to focus on taking deep breaths which only made them more shallow. Charlotte ran up the stairs of the home she and Ben had only bought five months ago and headed straight for the closet. On her knees she tried to unlock the safe to grab her husbands revolver. No combination she tried worked. She tried birthdays, and she even tried their wedding date even though Charlotte knew her husband was far too self absorbed for the code to be that.

The sound of glass shattering froze Charlotte in her spot. Inhumane like growls echoed through the house. Charlottes eyes landed on a baseball bat leaning against a nightstand. She was quick to grab it, but as a fault she made noise as she did. The stairs creaked, startling her even more. She took the bat and hid behind the door.

Her neighbor walked into the bedroom, crouched over, noises in between growls and coughs coming from him. Charlotte took her shot and swung at his head. The man fell to the ground but not a moment later he was back on his feet and tackling Charlotte.
Being pinned to the ground Charlotte got a good look at what used to be her shithead neighbor. Snapping his head at her and growling. A string like substance coming out of his mouth, his eyes pale and veiny. The young woman couldn't think of a worse way to die. She was fighting for her life in the literal matter, but knew she wouldn't win this fight in the end.

The wood of the bat was splintering into her palms, she pushed, using all her strength but it was no good.

A loud gunshot went off and the force Charlotte was fighting had disappeared. The man was pulled off of her and there stood Ben, a shotgun in his hand. "Lottie, get up baby we gotta go." Ben said helping his wife up. He searched her body for injuries. "You alright?" Charlotte didn't know what type of fucking question that was but she just shook her head. Ben opened the safe and handed his wife the revolver. There wasn't enough time for Charlotte to question anything, so the two ran out to their car.

Once they were on the road, the couple noticed that they were low on fuel, and would not make it much anywhere. "We'll head to Joel's. We'll be alright." Ben said shaking his head. Repeating his words for more of his own benefit rather than Charlottes. When they reached the Millers residence, No vehicle was in the driveway. "Shit they're already gone." Ben punched the steering wheel and got out the truck. He paced around and Charlotte got out to calm him down.

"Charlotte!" The young woman heard her name being called and she turned to find Sarah running out of the Adlers house. Charlotte took the young girl into her arms just as headlights came into the two's vision.

"Get in the truck!" Joel yelled getting out. "Right now! Move." He took Sarah and Charlottes arm lightly pushing them towards the vehicle. Loud growls and the sound of bones cracking interrupted them. Joel's neighbor Nana fell to the ground. Her head snapped up focusing on Sarah. The old lady started off crawling before she was up into a full sprint at the group. "What are we doing Joel!" Tommy hollered, his rifle raised and ready to shoot, but before he could Joel swung at the old lady with the wrench he had in his hand. The man then dropped the wrench turning towards his daughter.

"You killed her." Sarah whispered in shock.

Joel pulled Sarah into a hug. "Baby I'm sorry."

"Joel we gotta go." Tommy reminded.