Save him, and quickly

She pulled the barricade aside, unbolted the door then pulled it open, hearing the futa's on the first floor and getting closer, their screams of ecstasy filling the air. Fenrir popped out the door and barked to get his attention. He whipped around in surprise, then quickly lowered his rifle. "Get in here, NOW!" He slung the rifle then sprinted down the hall, gesturing her husky inside then slipping in behind. Renée slammed the door and bolted the lock, hearing the footsteps stomping closer. "Help me barricade the door!"

He nodded as he dropped his rifle onto the table and lifted the barricade with her, as quietly and quickly as possible. After they had it against the door and reinforced, the Marine taking a beam and bracing it, he let out a sigh, having been holding his breath. The three of them sat their silently, listening to the futa's in the hall screaming and moaning, and searching for them. They wandered for almost an hour, before a scream from another somewhere else brought the pack of them thudding downstairs, searching for prey.

The man took off his helmet and set it on the floor as he slid down the wall and visibly relaxed. "Thank you for saving me ma'am, the name's Mark. Staff Sergeant Mark Evans, if military ranks even matter anymore." She smiled at him and nodded. "I'm Renée Wallace, and this is my dog Fenrir, welcome to my apartment of the apocalypse. What were you doing out there though, are you crazy?" Mark grabbed a gauze pack from one of his pouches and held it against his nose, as it had started bleeding.

"It's a long story. Where do I start? I was assigned to a National Guard unit and ordered to enter the city, we were trying to contain and stop the virus from spreading. We didn't know much coming in, but we had our orders, shoot to kill any infected, rescue any civilians we found, and capture and quarantine anyone infected who hadn't turned. When my humvee convoy entered the city limits, there was at least 30 of us, my squadmates and the National Guard we were linked up with. There was also several convoys, we were Eagle 6, about 15 platoons total." He got up and moved over to the couch and sat down, pulling the gauze away as the bleeding had finally stopped.

"We walked into a shitstorm. Those futa freaks came out of the woodworks, street after street lost, soldier after soldier fell, as we fought desperately to establish a forward operating base. Found a few dead spec ops soldiers near where we were supposed to link up, hence that rifle. Guess futa's had tried to board their helo while they were rappelling in, and no one survived. I've been alone for over a month, last person I saw was pulled from my grip into a hoard. I...couldn't even find it in me to put her out of her misery while they swarmed her."

He got a distant look in his eyes and became quiet for a little while. Renée finally interrupted his thoughts by coughing and standing up. "Well, I don't have much, ran out of supplies just yesterday and had to raid one of the apartments on this floor. But you're welcome to share a meal and stay, other than finding this husky this morning, I've been alone since the outbreak." Mark smiled and rubbed Fenrir's head. "I appreciate it ma'am, I'll help out any way I can to pay you back for saving me." He stood and joined her in the kitchen and helped her prepare food for the three of them as darkness came to rest over the desolate city.