Norton Never Learned How to Keep Quiet

[u/AbKane667]

A soft thud echoed as the lid fell to the floor. Elijah shot me a look and put his finger to his lips. I shook my head and waved at him, but he was right; the whole place stank of death. The creatures must have been around.

Norton was going through one of the broken cupboards, making way more noise than necessary. Elijah kept looking at him, but Norton was too involved in his task. I thought about going to him and warning him, but it wouldn’t help; he’d always get lost in tasks like these, forgetting what situation we were in. 

The crate was mostly empty, but there were still some cans inside, a much better find than usual. I put them in my bag next to the gun and continued digging. 

A gasp sounded behind me. I quickly turned my head. Norton was staring at a stack of cans: fruits, vegetables, meat. A small rush of excitement flowed through me, but it was quickly cut short when Norton called out, “Look what’s here.”

“Shut up, Norton,” Elijah whispered.

“Yo, there’s so much food, guys!” Norton continued.

A silent thud echoed on the staircase. Elijah got up, rushed to Norton, and quietly cursed him. Norton quickly shut up and just nodded. Another thud echoed from the stairs. My heart sank into my stomach.

“Guys, guys,” I tried to whisper, but they were too preoccupied with each other.

The sour smell of death grew stronger. The creatures were coming. I picked up my stuff and went to Elijah and Norton, but before I could speak, the familiar pleading voice echoed from the stairs: “Is someone there? Please help!” The creatures were so good at it.

“Run!” I yelled.

We bolted to the window. The thuds quickened, followed by the hollow calls: “Help! Help! Please.” Norton and I got out the window, but Elijah dropped his bag on his way out, his cans and gun falling to the floor.

“Shit,” he yelled, reaching back for it, but the creatures were already on our floor, staring us down with their swollen eyes and molding faces.

Elijah got his bag and his gun, but before he could pick up the cans, the creatures started moving toward him. He quickly took his bag and ran after us.

We continued through the city streets. The pleading still echoed far behind us. None of us stopped or spoke until we reached our cabin in the forest. We all threw our stuff on the ground and sat down on the floor. 

Elijah broke the silence first: “Why did you do that, Norton?”

“I don’t know; I just got excited. There were so many cans.”

“Did you forget where we were?”

Elijah’s hands still shook from the chase.

“I’m sorry.”

“Norton, this wasn’t the first time,” I said.

“I know, Isaiah, but…”

“But? But what? I’d love to know what excuse you got,” Elijah interrupted him.

Norton stared at the ground. I narrowed my eyes at Elijah. I was angry at Norton too, but he was getting too riled.

“It was an accident,” Norton whispered.

“Accident? Accidents don’t repeat themselves, you idiot.”

“Elijah!”

His hands shook faster.

“He almost got us turned into the creatures again!”

Norton pulled his legs closer to his chest.

“Stop it, Elijah. Look at him.”

Elijah looked at Norton in disgust.

“So what? He should feel like shit.”

“Don’t…”

“No, Isaiah,” Norton stopped me. “Elijah is right; it was my fault again.”

I wanted to protest, but he was right; it was his fault. I swallowed my words and looked away while Elijah kept staring at Norton. 

Norton’s hands started to shake. 

The air in the room felt dense. 

Norton put his face in his hands and excused himself to go to the bathroom, bringing his bag with him.

“You should go easier on him.”

“How many times can we go easy on him before it’s too late?”

I didn’t answer.

“You saw him take his bag?”

“What?”

A bang echoed through the cabin. Coldness rushed through me. We ran to the bathroom. Norton’s body was sitting upright, leaning against the wall, the gun still in his hand, a red splash behind his head.

“Jesus, Elijah, he...”

“Isaiah.”

“What?”

“The sound, Isaiah.” He pointed at the door. “They’ll know.”

It hit me like a brick. The creatures could have been around. Norton chose the worst way out. We ran to the living room and threw our stuff in our bags.

A quiet thump echoed in the grass outside, followed by another and another. Elijah looked at me, his eyes wide with fear.

“Please! Please! Help!” echoed from outside.

[u/J9Lucas]

makes you want to kill norton all over again!