Survive

By W. G. Tuttle

The world in turmoil.

A city shut-down.

Dejected from not finding what he searched for, Ray stood on a sidewalk in New York City—alone. At least, he thought he was alone. Until he saw a woman across the street, staring at him.

Then, crazed, she ran toward him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. G. Tuttle
• Release date: May 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781949637212

W. G. Tuttle

Born in Binghamton, New York in 1972, Walter George Tuttle, Jr., i.e., W. G. TUTTLE, is an American writer of novels, short stories, and screenplays.

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About the Author

A lunatic is running after me.

There I go judging again. Why did this woman have to be a looney? Maybe she was one of the hundreds of thousands sick in the city and needed help.

No. I don’t believe that. What would make her think I could help her? Nothing. I’m not a doctor. If she needs help, why didn’t she go to one of those testing tents or a hospital?

Because—she doesn’t need help. I’m the one who needs help. I’m out of shape and she’s gaining on me. No doubt, to harm me. Possibly kill me.

It all started when she had seen me across the street. I was on one side and her on the other. Not that I had noticed her right away. My mind scrambled about one thing in particular. Something I had come out for and couldn’t find.

When I looked across the street to see if there were any stores that might carry what I needed, that was when I saw her staring at me.

Without question, she was staring at me. I know, because we were the only people on this strip.

Now, when a younger woman stops and stares at an older man like me, an attractive woman from what I could tell, her eyes alone can witchcraft the shit out of a seldom-used wizard’s wand—if you catch the spell I’m casting.

My wand stiffened so hard a hint of uncomfortableness resulted. And, yes, it had been awhile. Under normal circumstances, the world could stress-press life out of folks easier than squashing a grape with two fingers.

But, these weren’t ordinary times. Far from. No, these were extraordinary times. Not unprecedented, but had happened only a few times in the history of man’s existence. Only a few things have impacted the entire world at once as this has. Not a continent or country had been spared. And the rising death toll—

She had run toward me.

For whatever reason, the woman had started sprinting right for me. And, ever since, she had been gaining on me. Even with a two-lane street lead on her, she had been gaining ground. My snake, transformed into an unbendable wand, didn’t help. Nor did my hesitant start from the shock of what was happening.

Fear had jumpstarted me into motion. No lie, as cowardly as this might sound, I ran like my life depended on it.

Run like a rabid dog was chasing you people used to tell me when I was a kid. Or anything that you’re scared of and you’ll run faster.

Pretending might make you run faster than you usually would, but never meant it would be fast enough. Too many factors went into it. Stamina being one. There was no doubt in my mind that the woman chasing me had more favorable factors than I. And what I lacked, fear—not pretending, for I didn’t have to pretend—fueled to delay the inevitable. At some point soon, she would overtake me. To do what, I could only guess. And all of my guesses assumed the worst.

Her footsteps slapped the pavement right behind me. Faint, but I heard them. My heavy breathing drowned them out.

Stop! she said with a hint of exhaustion.

It sounded right into my ears as if she were standing directly behind me. So close, there was no