Entry 2

The glow of the morning had begun to filter through the gap left by the mattress barricading the window as I lay pondering what to do. For days I had hoped some rescue was being prepared and I just had to hold out till they could reach me. As each day passed my hope of rescue had dwindled. I had not seen or heard anything to make me believe anyone was left. With no chance at rescue, what now? I had to do something rather than wait, hope won't keep me from starving when I run out of food.

I was trying to come up with some plan when I thought I heard a noise coming from outside the apartment. After days of near absolute silence I thought my tired mind was playing tricks on me. A moment later I heard it again a bit more clearly. It took a moment to sink in; there was a person out there! I ran to the window, jumped on the short bookcase which held the mattress in place and searched outside for a source. I could not see anyone or anything . Another noise directed my attention up the street to the left and I could just make out movement. As I watched intently I started to be able to make out the figure of a person running. I was dumbstruck as I realized I was not alone. As the shock wore off I ran to grab the hammer and began to pry off the boards nailed across the door. As I flung the last board to the ground and was turning the deadbolt I heard him yell out again. I threw open the door and stepped out just in time to see him turn down another street just before my apartment. He was so close! I yelled out to come back, he was going the wrong way. Then I saw why he was running; he was being chased and his yells were stirring up more of them. Even if he heard me there was no chance he could turn around. I was thinking about going after him to find a way to him to lead him back. As I was trying to think of a route, movement drew my attention to the stairs. One of them was on the stairway just a few steps down from my floor.

My yelling must have drawn its attention to me as it was working its way up the stairs. For a moment it looked right at me and I saw into its ghastly eyes. The spark of life had long since left and what was left was a horrible rotten shell. I realized it was what was left of a lady who lived on the floor above me. We had never talked much only a hello as we passed by or few words while we were getting our mail after work. Never again would she smile or give a cheerful hello as our paths crossed.

She stumbled as she stepped onto the walkway and shocked me out of my memories. It was not the lady I once knew and it was coming for me. I rushed inside, locked the door, and as I reached for a board I heard the resonating thud of her step next to my door. Her first hit rattled the whole door and I stepped away from the door and watched it in terror. I knew any moment the door would splinter and I would be dead. Strike after strike landed and the door managed to hold. After what felt like hours she finally stopped. I stood quite awhile longer watching but she never resumed attacking my door. I could not bring myself to look out to see if she was still there. I also was not brave enough to hammer the boards back into place and risk getting her attention back. Instead, I very quietly moved the nightstand in front of the door. I spent the rest of the day sitting quietly, afraid to draw her attention. I just hope the lock on the door is enough tonight.