Time to Leaf
The silence that had been slowly growing day by day, was both eerie and loud.
A ringing silence. One that had him remaining just as silent. The sound of aircraft had stopped the day he arrived. To prevent the spread, or bringing in more issues? He wasn't sure. But they had stopped. The screaming and panicking had slowly filtered away from where he was currently hiding out in. But the sound of the zombies, were very much present. He would occasionally hear some outside, but never bothered to look. He wasn't yet ready to face such a hazardous world on his own.
Especially with his limited understanding of the Korean Language. Both in written form, and verbal form. So finding any survivor willing to not only take him on, but teach him would be a huge task. One he was certain, no one would want. He'd be a burden. And used only for what he was. An omega that could be bred. It was a hurtful thought. And as a rather sensitive omega, it nearly made him cry. That the end of the world reduced him down to his capabilities to reproduce. Nothing more. All his hopes and dreams, gone. His chances for a happy mating with an alpha, reduced to ashes.
He felt even more alone and even more isolated, in a country he'd come to reconnect with. It was gone within a few breaths. And he was stuck living in a world he didn't fit in.
He'd stayed at the hotel and room he'd horded himself inside when he'd arrived. To save his own life, and try and plan. Going home to Australia wasn't an option ever again. As he sat on the bed, his eyes remained transfixed on his luggage. It was all he had left of the world and life he'd once knew. And been so optimistic about. He couldn't lug the things around with him all the damn time. He'd tire out, or get noticed too soon. He'd be dead before he got too far with any of it.
After having waited out the first part of the storm, Felix decided it was time he started to think of how to go from here. He could end it quickly. Find some rope or a knife. But the thought frightened him as much as the zombies did. It took him a few days, before he finally started to move about.
At first, he stayed in the room he'd occupied since the world ended. He'd found the snack bar and decided it would suffice for the time being. He also sorted through his luggage. Finding his clothing, and debating on what to try and carry with him. Mostly his underwear, but a few other clothes. Not many. As he quietly moved about the room and explored, he would pause and listen out for trouble. He didn't find much else. Maybe some first aid things that would come in handy. But nothing else.
Once he'd covered every inch of his room, he carefully went for it and began to head to the other rooms. He was quiet. Holding his breath. Listening intensely for any possible zombies. So far, there were none. And while he wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, he didn't. He wasn't that foolish. Happened in every horror movie. Not just with zombies. You let your guard down, and then you were dead. He mostly found more first aid things, and the other snack bars. He hadn't yet checked the lobby or offices.
But he would.
Soon.
//
With the same careful steps he often had, Felix crept from his room to head for the lobby.
He also held his breath, only letting it out slow and quiet. Anything to avoid being heard. The silence was so intense, that Felix could not be blamed for jumping clear from his skin when he head a metallic bang from somewhere outside. Uncaring what had caused it, he felt his heart running. His eyes went wide, and he frantically looked about him. Surely, the zombies had meandered off to check the sound out. Likely something exploding from a fire, or something falling down from pressure. Not his business. But it sure had scared the shit out of him.
He remained where he was, waiting for any zombie nearby in the hotel to make its grand appearance. He knew it would happen sooner or later. But when none came, he softly breathed a sigh of relief. At least, for this round. He was far from truly relaxed. His shoulders still tensed. But he pressed on to the lobby.
Once in the large open space of the lobby entrance way, he mostly stuck close to where the sunlight could seep through. The offices were dark. And he wasn't quite ready to risk it. He went about as slowly and cautiously as he had done up to this point. Grabbing anything he could tell wasn't about to go bad. Even in Korea, he just knew what was non-perishable.
And as he thought about it, the term wasn't very accurate. Wolves said that things didn't perish if they were canned or bagged, and not refrigerated. But they still could go bad. Just not in the same sense. They could turn moldy, fungal growth could occur. And of course, they turned very brittle and stale. So really, they weren't exactly non-perishable. They just had a longer shelf life.
Anyway, he then took what first aid supplies he could find. After taking them all back to his room, he returned for one last check. Not the offices! Not yet. Maybe when he was finally ready to leave. Perhaps he could find a backpack in one. As Felix returned, he carefully made his way behind the check-in/out counter. Just to see what useful items they may have behind the signs indicating as such.
This was an international hotel, right? Near the airport, as he recalled. So surely they must have something to help him. Anything! After carefully checking, he found a book. Slightly intrigued, Felix gently pulled the brick red faux leather bound book close. Cautiously, he opened it. And was met with something that did make him feel a little better. It was a book for translations. Though based on the date, it was a bit too dated. Likely, some things had changed since it was published. But it would help. He supposed it would help him learn how to write the letters of the Korean language. And understand the written signs about him.
But that was it.
It was still better than being in a country he was so unfamiliar with. Now more so, with zombies roaming around. With the outdated translation book in hand, Felix turned and headed back for his room. Time he did a little studying. He'd be very rusty. And likely, he'd get some translations wrong in the outside world. But it was certainly better than nothing. And it would help him stretch out his current snackage a little longer. He knew that those who were doing something like reading or watching something, tended to eat slower. And therefore, weren't as hungry after so long.
Essentially, slow eating.
But that was fine. It gave him time to figure out what he'd do once all the food and drinks he had on hand ran out. He knew he'd have to leave to get more. And maybe leave entirely. But he wasn't going to go anywhere until he had a very rudimentary idea of what the fuck anything said. But for now, he could stay and study as best he could.
It was all he had to keep him going.
//
The page nearly tore in his slightly shaking fingers.
They were cold, and felt powdery and dry. Then again, he had just finished licking them clean of the stray salts from the pretzels he'd been munching on. But even then, the snacks were barely enough to sustain him. Even if he was an omega. He was starting to be really hungry. The time for him to leave, was coming. He was doing some last minute studying. Ensuring he could have a very basic idea of anything around him. Speaking would be difficult. But if he could have a basic idea of what was written, then he knew he'd be fine.
With a frown, Felix sighed and closed the book. That was as much a sign as any, it was time he finally left.
It had been at least a week. Maybe more. He's lost track of time thus far. But he supposed now was as good a time as any to finally leave. Time to find a backpack, and salvage what he could. Then find a way to survive. He would not hold out for a pack willing to teach him Korean to take him in. He'd have to be a lone wolf. It wasn't what Felix had ever wanted. But it was all he could do.
With a soft sigh, Felix got to his feet. A little dizzy, but he waited for this to pass. It wasn't safe, but he wasn't starving. Not yet, anyway. After putting on some of the clothing he had with as many pockets as possible and filling them with first aid supplies, Felix left his safe room for the last time. With bated breath, Felix softly unlocked the door. And unlatched it. He was painfully slow, and as quiet as he and the door could be. Once the door was open, Felix cautiously poked his head out the door. He looked up and down the corridors, ears moving like radars.
Nothing.
It was still and quiet. Like always. But it still gave Felix chills, and an uneasy and unsettled feeling in his stomach. He supposed it would keep him alive. If he managed to find more food, of course. As slow and silent as he had before, he crept from the room. Aiming for the lobby. He supposed now was the time, to check the offices. For any snacks he may be able to save, to a potential backpack? Anything to carry more than he currently was. Anything to make survival a little easier for him.
It took an incredible amount of time to reach the lobby. His muscles cramping a little at the effort to keep from being loud and noticed. His face wrinkled. The awful smell of zombies prevalent. He had sort of grown used to it. Not his favorite, but he'd adjusted enough. But it was more pungent here. It hadn't been like that the last time he came to the lobby. Some days ago. Alarms were going off in Felix's head. Had one managed to get in? It was too early in his mind and in the apocalypse for the virus to mutate, and make the zombies "smarter". He knew that was coming. When, well that was a mystery he didn't plan to solve. Ever. It happened when it happened.
Like with all things in nature, it would evolve.
Likely, one stumbled in through the open doors. They were wide open. They hadn't been before. Okay, he was maybe making the details too horrible. The glass of the windows was strewn on the floor. Indicating one had potentially made its way in. Either by force. He doubted, as he'd been quieter than a mouse. Or, it stumbled in by accident. Based on how they moved, he would bet it was the latter. He would have to be swift and quick, and make his exit.
Just a backpack.
That was all he needed right now. He paused, and scanned his surroundings with crucial eyes. But he didn't see nor hear anything. But he didn't take any chances. With a chill going down his spine and the urgency now coursing through him, Felix hurried a little to get to the offices. He kept his eye on the busted out doors and his surroundings. He had to be vigilant. As he stepped behind the check-in desk, he paused and waited.
Nothing.
With his senses spiked, Felix hurried to the offices. Thankfully, there weren't many. He found mostly office supplies. A few snacks that didn't actually look appetizing. Half opened and eaten already. And strewn all over the floor. He wasn't eating that. But as he searched, he did not find any sort of backpack he could carry. He tried the storage room last.
Still nothing.
Felix's shoulders sagged in defeat. He'd have to find some store and raid it for one. Just as he went to finally leave the receptionist side, he paused. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. The stench had grown to the point he was almost bathing in it. He heard a shuffling from behind him. Shit! With wide frightened eyes, Felix turned to see it. A zombie that was slowly stumbling towards him. It hadn't yet notice him because he was quiet. The moment its eyes landed on him however, it let out a hungry bloody growl.
With a gasp, Felix turned and booked it for the doors. Running for his life. He managed to use the desk and the path around it to his advantage. It stalled the zombie long enough for Felix to make it out of the building, and into the slowly setting light of the sun. He looked back only twice to see it still in pursuit. It was enough for Felix. He turned and ran. Letting his feet take him where they could go. Mind racing, as well as his heart. He was alone, and he was without any means or necessities.
Why he hadn't thought to find a weapon?
Well, he hadn't thought about one at all. It had never crossed his mind for some reason. He'd been so focused on the fact he didn't understand Korean, he hadn't thought to think of a weapon to defend himself. So Felix ran. Alone, defenseless, and confused. He ran, fading on the setting sun like leaves in autumn on the breeze. Who knew where he'd wind up. How, and with whom. His fate remaining a mystery. All anyone that may have noticed could see of him, was a slowly fading figure.
He was truly, in the wild.