We all three turn to run as the soldier notices us. He is fast, like the others I’ve encountered. We run back to the road, towards Ayla's car. I see the boy, still in the passenger's seat. I tell them to run to the car so we have some sort of plan. The Doctor and Lila cannot run as fast as I can. They cannot run as fast as the soldier chasing us. I can't let them get caught, I need them both. I slow down to let them pass me. The boy steps out of the car to warn us.
"Behind you!" He yells.
I think the Doctor can tell I am slowing to protect them both and as he passes me he runs next to Lila and tells her, "Don't look at him!"
That is smart, looking back will only slow her down. I look over my shoulder and see him gaining on us. He is fast enough and close enough, I have to give them time to get in the car. I try to distract him by changing directions slightly. I want to use the cars sitting around as defense and cover. If I can get him to follow me, hide for a second, then get to the car, I may be able to get away without fighting.
My change in direction does not deter the soldier. I yell at him, he does not even peek in my direction. He still chases Lila and the Doctor. I lost ground by changing directions and now I am in last place in the race to the car. I have to catch him!
I feel a surge of adrenaline. My hands and feet have that tingling feeling again, and I sprint. Stress, fear, and adrenaline seem to trigger something in me that makes me feel like everything is in slow motion. I catch him in no time but what should I do when I reach him? He is dressed like the one that shot Ayla. I do not think there is a weak spot from behind. I do the only thing I can think of on short notice. I jump in the air to kick him in the spine.
As all four of us approach the car, Lila, the boy, and the Doctor are on the passenger's side. The Fallen and I are still running towards the driver's side when I kick him. I put all of my speed and weight into the dead center of his back. I feel his body under my heel as I thrust my leg out with every ounce of strength I have. He rockets forward into the front quarter panel of the car. The force of the impact puts a man-sized dent in the car and the tires screech a little from moving sideways on the pavement. He falls to the ground. He lies motionless, but he is breathing.
I reach down to grab his radio as I catch my breath. This soldier does not carry an assault rifle like the one from earlier but he has a pistol in a holster on his side. I grab that as well. I do not want to be caught defenseless again. I clip the radio on the elastic band of my shorts.
Lila runs to my side of the vehicle and wraps her arms around my torso and I return the gesture. I hold her to my chest. Should I tell her about Ayla? Should I just enjoy the moment and not ruin it? She pulls back from me a little so she can see my face.
“Why weren’t you at the school to work out?” She asks me.
“I was, I just came a little late. I umm…”
“What is going on around here?” She starts to cry. “They killed my mom.”
“What? Oh my god baby! I’m so sorry.” I tell her.
“We were at the grocery store.” She tells me through her tears. “We had just finished checking out and were pushing the cart to the car. Everyone in the parking lot was running in all directions and screaming. We didn’t know what was happening. We tried to get to the car to leave and a woman grabbed her and bit her arm.”
“I didn’t know what to do, I was scared. I ran to the car. I wanted to get the car and drive it to her so she could get in, I couldn’t get back fast enough. They were all around her by the time I got there.” She cries harder.
“It’s like they were fighting over her. They were pulling her in all directions, I couldn’t watch. They pulled her apart and ate her.” She buries her head into my chest and sobs.
“I am so sorry babe. And I don’t mean to add to it but I need to tell you about Ayla.” I start.
I have tear in my eyes, not only from the story she just told me, but from what I am about to say. “Ayla is gone. She became one of them and was shot by a soldier. She attacked me on our run by the depot, she almost killed me. She seemed really strong and incredibly fast when I tried to get away from her. I don’t know what is happening but…”
“It is the Myocyte.” The Doctor interrupts me.
“What?” I ask.
“As most people know, we do not use 100% of our brain, or 100% of our muscle fibers, known in the scientific community as Myocytes. We can, and do on occasion use them all but they are usually times of extreme fear.” He tells us.
“So, these things are super strong?” I ask.
“Yes and no. We don't use all our muscle fibers in a particular muscle at once because they get damaged when we use them. If the muscle becomes weak, it hinders the ability to continue using the muscle, making it difficult for our human survival. At times it is possible to use all the muscle fibers at once but only possible for very short instances as it requires lots of energy which is stored in the muscle. The muscle will often break down after the action where it may not be possible for the muscle to be used for several weeks or even months. It’s a subconscious effect and is not possible for a person to do it consciously.” He explains.
“How can they do it then?” I ask.
“They can typically only do it shortly after they become Fallen. But it is based off of how athletic they are to begin with. A person with a higher body mass index would burn through the muscle fibers more quickly than a thin person. So, the more energy that is expended, the weaker they become.”
“That makes sense on why Ford couldn’t attack me, he fought off three others just like him.” I turn to Lila. “And that explains why Milledge couldn’t catch you.”
“How did you know that? Were you there?” She asks.
“Yes, I showed up as you ran in the front of the building and I was in the weight room as you drove away.”
“I was looking for your truck, I didn’t see you.”
“I had Ayla’s car.” I say.
We all turn when we hear a groan. There are more Fallen around here. We need to go.
"Get in the car! We are going to my house to try to figure this out, besides it will be dark soon." I tell the boy, the Doctor, and Lila.
I expect Dr. Hunter to object to going anywhere but back to the base he is from, but he does not. This makes me question his motives. Does he want to help? Does he want to capture me? Is there something I have not contemplated yet? Regardless, he has answers.