Chapter 8 - Chapter 7

I wake up as the sun begins to rise, rolling out of bed I check my arm. Still bruised but it doesnt hurt as bad to move it. Thank God. If it was still impossible to move easily I would have to wait another day or so before going to check out the farm store. Heading downstairs and turning on the tv I flip through the stations as I enjoy a wonderful breakfast of pop tarts and a protein bar. After seeing nothings changed I grab my bag and put the stuff I'll need for today inside. Water bottle, jerky, some rope, a bungee cord, 6 extra .38 rounds, a screwdriver with multi tool, and flashlight. After grabbing my bag I place my trusty wrench in my pocket and head outside. The farm store is around 2 to 3 miles away and this is gonna take me away from the suburban part of town. there will be less houses and mpre stores. Maybe I'll be lucky and it'll be clear but honestly as chaotic as everything was the first few days I doubt it will be. When everything went to he'll people ran to the nearest store trying to grab everything they could. Hardly anyone was like me and just hid inside. I remember watching form my balcony as a group of rednecks drove through the streets shooting at the zombies and laughing when they ran them over.... I doubt they are still alive. Passing up the road I choose to stay off the road this time. I hug tge houses and driveways on my way keeping my eyes and ears out for anything. As I crest the hill to enter the buisness district I see something I was hoping I wouldn't. there are zombies everywhere down there. I see several flipped and wrecked vehicles and so many dark stains on the road from up here. I can see the farm store but it's on the other side of at least 200 zombies.... Even if I had the bullets with me there's no telling how many there are in the actual stores surrounding the road. It would be a suicide mission to try and get down there. My town had a population of at least 2500 people. And I'll bet half of them were down here when shit hit the fan. I keep looking and I notice a flipped truck further up that I recognize. Laying upside down smashed up I see the same truck those rednecks were using last I saw them. Shaking my head I sit down and try to think of a way to get down there. This hill is a good spot to keep an eye out since I can see in every direction.. As I begin to think about solutions I also think about the worst case scenario. I can draw them away from this area because even if its only 20 or 30 they would be able to push over most fences. Sure mine is wrought iron but even it had its limits. so I need to get them away from the farm store but not out of the valley.... Thats when I look at the crashed cars and I have an idea. It could be entirely stupid. Or it could take out alot of zombies while drawing more out of the stores. but first I need a path. If they hear me its over. I cant lose a hoard this big. I mean fuck, I barely lost the last hoard that followed me and there was barely a fourth of the number. So before I put my questionable at best plan into action I need to see if I can get down there without them noticing me. I begin to head down the hill but I head off the road into the trees and brush instead of the road. Sure it takes longer to not make any noise but its alot safer than strolling right through them hoping for the best. I mean I know they cant see me or smell me but what if one stubbies in front of me and touches me. Or worse what if I'm wrong and they can use other senses? Then I'm boned. So as they said in all those snore worthy meetings, Safety First. Moving on I push through the trees and brush and find a break area behind the super center. Its fenced in and there are several zombies walking around inside. The fence is probably around 7 feet tall chain link with a padlock on the gate leading out. Pretty sure that's a fire hazard but who am I gonna tell now? I move along quietly without being noticed and pass by several stores. Most of which just have a large steel emergency exit door on the back with some extra parking space. I finally make it to the farm store and climbing up on the central heat and air unit I check the back window. From where I am I can see at least 5 zombies moving about. Not terrible but I should see if I cant lure them outside with my plan and then go in as I can see from where I am the front door is wide open. I climb down and look around a bit more before I decide the only way I'm getting into this store safely is by using my plan. So I begin to backtrack. it's already past noon so I will wait until tomorrow to try anything. For now I need to head home and prepare.