Not Enough Time

Tick, tick, tick. A soft sound, barely heard from the heart-shaped locket hanging around the survivor's neck. Their eyes slowly opened as their body complained under the suffocatingly heavy blankets. They laid motionless, blinking only once or twice to let them focus on the dark. A thick scar on the survivor's neck reminded them to listen first.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The cold was unbearable as pain crept through their body.

28, 29, 30.

They counted the ticks in their head. Hearing nothing, they relaxed slightly. Reaching up, they tugged on the string just above them causing the cans on the other end to dance lightly. Again the survivor waited with no response. Eventually, they reached for the locket around their neck, holding it close to their face to see the time. Their numb fingers fumbling with the clasp. 9:36 AM it read. At least they think it's in the AM. They made another mark in a battered notebook, held together with tape and wire.

"Almost halfway there. Does that mean it's June? I think it's almost my birthday."

Reasonably sure they were alone, the survivor crawled out from under their pile and immediately started to work building a fire. Breathing into their hands to try and get some feeling back, they gathered a few broken pieces of school desks from around them, along with some paper the survivor had found in a drawer. Looking away as they flicked on their lighter, the bright sparks hurting their eyes. Soon a small fire warmed the old classroom they were hiding in. As the numbness left their fingers, they started carefully moving chairs close enough to the fire to block the light. With the now more comfortable dim light, they looked down at their locket. 9:49 AM it read.

"13 minutes that's not a bad record. But I need to get faster. 13 minutes is enough to..."

They stopped suddenly, their heart pounding as they heard nothing.

The watch had stopped.

"1, 1000, 2, 1000." They started counting out loud as they quickly scribbled 9:49:16 on another page, full of similar times.

"3, 1000." They popped off the back and quickly reached for a new battery from their bag.

"6, 1000." Nothing.

"10, 1000." Another nothing.

"13, 1000." Another.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Finally, the comforting sound returned. The survivor fought back the elation and kept counting as they got ready to set the watch to the closest second.

"30, 1000" They breathed a sigh of relief before closing up the back.

"That was too close." They looked towards the door and the utter blackness waiting just outside the light of their fire.

"I have to get more."

12:34:13 PM

The survivor held the locket close enough to see in the dim light. Holding their breath to keep out the poisoned and freezing air before covering their face again with an old US-made M40 gas mask. They looked up at the blackened sky.

I never realized how much we needed you.

They pressed on. Their goal was a new house a few blocks from the school. Houses often had slim pickings, but they were safer.

12:44:23 PM

That's 10 minutes. I haven't heard anything. If something was in there it would have moved by now. Could be asleep. No way to know.

They knelt beneath a lifeless shrub, dreading going inside.

No. 10 minutes is enough. I don't know how long this battery will last.

They took only shallow breaths through the mask, barely making any sounds as they inched their way forward.

12:52:34 PM

They peaked quickly in the last window, more out of habit than usefulness as there was never enough light. They made a wordless plea and tried to open the window. It wouldn't budge.

No... please, come on. Why couldn't it be unlocked? Everything is locked. I have to break it. I can't do that. They'll hear me. I can't. But I have to. I can't lose time. I have to do this.

Kneeling down, they felt around for any debris heavy enough to break the window.

On three...

The half-broken brick smashed through the window shattering the silence. The survivor stayed completely still, fighting the urge to run and hide. They waited, staring at their watch.

12:53:34 PM

Nothing.

12:56:54 PM

A twig broke and every muscle in their body turned to stone as they bit their lip.

12:58:12 PM

Their blood turned cold. Something was running.

12:58:13 PM

What do I do?! Do I run?! No. No--running gets you killed--it's faster! Inside! NOW!

They dove through the broken window, glass shards ripping through the top layer of their clothes.

12:58:15 PM

They hit the ground hard, but had no time to think as something heavy slammed into the outside wall.

12:58:16 PM

They ran towards the door. Something large landed on the floor behind them.

12:58:17 PM

They swung the door shut, tapping sounds coming from the floor behind it. It sounded like claws on the floor. The survivor braced their legs on the wall across from them as they used their body to keep the door closed.

1:02:02 PM

BAM! The door shook hard as something rammed against it. The survivor struggled for air in the mask, but it just couldn't filter the air fast enough. Eventually, they ripped it off gulping in a lung full of poisoned air.

1:02:22 PM

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The door held.

"Please stop..."

1:02:44 PM

BAM BAM BAM BAM—

Suddenly silence.

"Oh, God..."

1:05:02 PM

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It tapped on the door just on the other side of the survivor's head. They could feel each one.

Please, no.

They silently pleaded as tears left streaks on their dirty cheeks.

1:15:03 PM

The taps moved away and cracking glass could be heard.

Did it leave?

1:25:05 PM

The survivor heard nothing. They slowly got up, their legs painful from bracing for so long. Quickly, they shoved a chair under the doorknob and quietly looked around.

1:54:23 PM

They found one battery. It was the wrong size. They got ready to search another house.

6:12:34 PM

The survivor stood at the window of another disappointing home looking out into the night.

I don't know if I can do this. I still have nightmares about it. Those things swarming, ripping all of them apart. Screams just filling the dark. Until silence... Silence except for that horrible tapping. Their nails--or claws--or whatever, clicking against the floor. I learned that night. Stay away from open spaces. Close them off and hide. You can't outrun them. Everyone tried.

They reached up and rubbed the locket, eventually opening it.

6:13:03 PM It's going to start getting much colder now that the sun should be setting. I have to find a place. This fucking clock! Why couldn't it be a windup? This is fucking dumb. I'm gonna die in there. I know it! I can't... if they start to chase me... No. If the clock dies... I have to do this. I have to.

6:15:05 PM

They started towards the door and out into the heavy and oppressive black, barely breathing as they made their way to the jewelry store. As they got close, the survivor heard a noise.

Tap, tap, tap.

Tap.

Tap. Tap.

There was more than one. They closed their eyes and said a silent prayer to any god that still listened.

I could try to throw something away from the building. They'll know I'm here, but it might let me get to the back. This place has to have an office of some kind. It should have a good door too I just hope it's not locked. Please let it be open... That's the only place I can think of to hide. In there I might be safe. Just don't run. Never run.

6:15:35 PM

The survivor knelt down and picked up a small chunk of concrete from the nearly destroyed road. They took in one slow breath.

On three.

6:15:39 PM

Another shattering of the silence. Again running in the night, as they swarmed toward the sound and then froze. They were listening.

6:17:35 PM

They were listening.

6:19:54 PM

They were listening.

6:21:43 PM

The survivor made it to the back door. It was thankfully ripped off its hinges.

6:23:22 PM

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The survivor wasn't alone.

6:25:33 PM

The survivor could see the office door. They were shaking from fear.

6:25:33 PM

It could see the office door. It wasn't shaking.

6:25:33 PM

The survivor could see it.

6:25:33 PM

It saw them.

6:25:33 PM

The survivor was closer to the door. They ripped off their gas mask and ran.

6:25:33 PM

It dug its nails into the floor bounding forward closing the distance in seconds. There was distant tapping from all around, more had come.

6:25:33 PM

The survivor wasn't going to make it. The door opened out, not in. They wouldn't be able to open and close the door before it was on them. They had one chance. They touched the door handle and looked square into its savage eyes.

6:25:33 PM

It stared at its meal, only inches away. It lunged. The survivor flung open the door as hard as they could slamming the door into its face, making it wail in pain.

6:25:33 PM

The survivor took the second they had to pull the door back shut, taking the key and locking it from inside. The office was everything they hoped for. The door was solid metal meant to keep them safe from humans. The glass windows were thick enough to stop a bullet. They were safe.

6:25:33 PM

Tap. Tap. Tap.

But nothing else was heard. Not even the sound of a ticking clock.

"Oh, oh god! No! No, no, no, when did it stop? Don't panic! 1, 1000."

"2, 1000." There have to be batteries in here. There has to be!

"6, 1000." Where are they?! It can't end like this--please!

"12, 1000." There! Oh god, yes! They have them!

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"We can hear you, meat."

Credits:

• Panda - Editing, motivation, and the best life partner
• Big Daddy - Creative feedback, wonderful father, and amazing author
• Bones Malone - A wonderful editor and good friend
• Mik - Streamer, editor, and overall awesome
• Freestocks.org - For their lovely picture