The Rescue

Henry clutched the boy to his chest, as he made his way down the staircases with Roy, who was ahead of him. This plan actually worked out for the three of them, and he didn't know what the hell to expect once they got out of here. Even if they make it through the hotel, the one thing they did not discuss was how they were going to get off the island in the first place. 

None of them ever talked about how they were going to get off the island. Henry doubted that Roy knew how to drive a boat. Henry cursed himself for not really thinking the plan through, but he was so determined to take a risk, that he didn't really think about the main problems behind his plan. He only wanted to save the boy, and his desperation to get back to his sister was all that mattered to him. Roy probably thought the same thing, since he didn't hesitate to go along with Henry's plan. 

Roy was now a friend to him, and he couldn't imagine what he would have done if it hadn't been for him. The boy stirred, his arms clinging together around Henry's neck. Henry whispered whatever comforting words came to mind very softly, and the boy visibly relaxed. Roy looked over his shoulder at Henry, and he offered him a wan smile, as he almost bumped into an infected. The thing slightly moved, but it paid him no mind. 

Henry believed they were now on the second floor. They had been walking for what felt like days, slowly making their way down the hotel staircase, in fear that they were going to aggravate the infected, blowing their cover. Luckily, they saw the trio as their own, and they were spared, for the moment. Roy still clung to the silverware that he had thrown earlier as a distraction, in case they needed a backup plan. 

Henry hoped it wouldn't come to that. 

They were now on the final floor. 

Henry and Roy looked at each other, and slowly pushed open the door to the first floor of the hotel. Henry should not have been surprised by the carnage that was awaiting them, but it still completely caught him off guard. 

There were about more than fifty infected roaming the floor, groaning. Blood was all over the floor, the walls, and even the dining room. That specific area looked the worst by far, and Henry grimaced, wondering what sort of terror had taken place here. The tables were thrashed, and there were bits of red all over the food on the ground, and Henry tried not to imagine what sort of body parts were mixed with the food. 

A honking sound interrupted Henry's moment of disgust. He looked up to see a car, driving recklessly on the road. 

Only it looked like the car was heading straight for the hotel.

The infected all turned in unison, and headed straight for the entrance. At the same time, Roy had grabbed Henry and the boy, dragging him along. Henry had just been standing there in awe, not truly realizing the danger they were in. The car burst through the entrance, running over several infected, and smashed other ones to bits. 

Glass flew everywhere, and some parts flew into some infected, as they were scrambling for the car. Henry and Roy watched in shock as one man emerged from the vehicle, holding a machine gun. He was shooting at the infected, yelling out a guttural yell. His eyes were wide open, spit flying from his mouth. He had lost his mind, and was no longer gave a damn. He was shooting all over the place, taking down multiple of the things, and more were now running from the outside, determined to reach the man. 

Roy slammed into Henry and the boy, bringing them down to the ground as the gun was leveled in their direction. Roy suddenly let out a grunt, as the three of them collapsed. The man was swarmed by the dead from behind, and he screamed as they tore into him. 

"Roy! We need to move! Now!," Henry whispered loudly. 

Roy grabbed Henry's arm, shaking his head. Henry gasped when he saw the blood spilling out of his stomach. Henry put his hands against the wound, applying pressure. The boy made a small sound, staring in horror at Roy's injury. 

"H - Henry."

"I can fix this! I can stop the wound!"

"You need to move Henry! Some of them are starting to look in our direction. They know. I - I think they can smell me."

Henry shook his head. 

"No! No, I can save you - ''

Roy grabbed Henry's hands. He gave him a small smile. 

"Good luck out there. RUN!"

Startled, Henry let go of his hands, and grabbed the boy, who was frozen. He didn't mean to let go, but Roy did it on purpose. Henry bit back the urge to scream when the dead ran past him and the boy, swarming his friend. Henry continued to walk slowly, holding the boy. He whispered comforting words again, telling the boy to ignore Roy's screams. 

They made it outside. 

Just like inside of the hotel, everything was destroyed, and there was nothing but blood and carnage everywhere. 

Henry looked around, seeing more of the dead running into the hotel, because of his friend's screams. Henry shuffled along, still pretending. He wasn't sure where he was going anymore, but he just wanted to get away. 

Away from his friend's screams. The boy suddenly felt quite heavy in Henry's arms, but he didn't dare drop him. The boy was holding even more tighter than before around his neck, not making a sound. Henry felt his neck getting wet, and he was shocked to see that the boy was crying. If only Henry could do the same, but he was afraid of letting out a single sound. 

There was one sound, one that Henry was not expecting. 

A massive ship appeared near the docks, crashing into the other boats on the dock. Men with guns ran off the ship, shooting into the crowd of the dead. Bullets smashed through the infected, bits of body parts or brain falling all over the place. One soldier leveled his gun toward Henry and the boy, and he opened his mouth, trying to make a sound, but he couldn't. It was like his vocal cords had been severed. 

Just when he thought it was over, the boy turned his head, revealing his tear-streaked face. The soldier put down his gun, and ran over to Henry. He grabbed his arm, and quickly took out a syringe. He applied it to Henry's neck, and then the boy's arm without hesitation. 

"It's the cure! Now come on, get on the ship! We're here were to rescue you!"

Henry and the boy were dragged to the ship. Henry fell on his knees, and when he looked up, he could see several survivors already on the ship. Some of them ran over to Henry and the boy, pulling them up on their feet, telling them that everything was now going to be alright. Dazed, Henry made his way to one part of the ship, watching as the soldiers were invading the area, shooting up the dead. He could see some survivors being taken away by the soldiers, also being injected with the cure. 

It was all true. 

This was nothing like the zombie movies he had seen with his sister.

 They had kept their word, saving the people that they could. 

Henry felt the boy wriggle, and he put him down gently. The boy looked up at him, his face covered in tears and blood. Henry ruffled his hair, giving him a wan smile. 

His phone rang at that moment. 

Henry slowly pulled out his phone, staring at the contact screen. 

Rachel. 

He answered the call. 

"HENRY! Oh God, are you alright? I heard about what has been happening on the islands, I'm so sorry, I forgot my fucking phone during the trip, oh my god, are you okay? Please! Answer me, Henry!"

Henry let out a sob. 

He thought of Roy, and what he had said about his family. They had all died, and he had died for them, saving both Henry and the boy, that he did not yet know his name. Henry cried harder, wondering if Roy was now in a better place, with his family. If so, Henry hoped they were now together again, because it was the only way for him to move on from losing a man that he had considered his friend. 

He felt a hand wrap around his own. 

It was the boy's hand. 

"Henry? What's wrong? Oh god, you're scaring me - ''

Through his tears, even though it was the hardest thing he ever had to do, Henry was able to speak. 

"I'm alright, sis. I'm alright. We're both alright. I missed you…"

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Thank you for reading the final chapter of The Infection. This story was actually based on a dream that I had, and I just had to turn it into a story! 

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn