We still are at a stop as he pulls out a whiteboard that says "follow us ".They are about to drive as I tell bill "open the door …" he opens it as I get out and wave my arms at them and yell "no, wait !" They've noticed this and stop, a man exits and calmly says
"Pal we meant in the bus …" I laugh a bit and say
"Sorry it's just the bus ain't starting up, damn thing…." I say as more men exit the truck.
"What's the problem Tom ?" Asked a man as Tom replied
"His trucks not starting up, help him out will ya ?" He asked as two men approach the bus as Bill and Sue exit.
"Gonna pop the hood and see what's going on, can you pass me the keys please ?" Asked the man as Bill cautiously handed them over.
"You're gonna need to get everyone out the bus for now …" says another man as Sue replies "sure .." Sue walked back in the bus and tells them "come in everyone, bring your things and let's go, they're gonna fix the bus …." He says as they all casually get their things and exit.As they get to work, I turned back to Tom and said
"This might sound dumb, but do you know A Bob ?" He looked calmly and Replied
"Bob ?"
"Yea a Bob he knew a guy named Ron and all, just I me and my girl, we saw a note that said for Ron to go to Santa Barbara and here we are, so we're looking for Bob …." I say as Tom smugly turns to a man working on the bus and says
"Hey Bob !" Bob turned around and asked
"Yea Tom ?" He kept working in the problem with the bus as Me and Scarlett are dumbfounded.
"You got some friends looking for you …" he said jokingly as he turned and looked at me.
Well they finished up with the bus and we al loft back on it.Bill started driving and we followed.
We arrived at a wholesale store.We got to the parking lot as we see people standing outside the store.A garage side opened as we followed them in.We left the bus as we walked into the store with Tom.We all followed as we got to a door, Tom knocked.
"It's me…." He said as they opened the door for him.I'm still keeping my guard up as I still can't decide if we're safe as I have Scarlett next to me.We looked around the store to see it still in tack.I don't see many people but it's not empty.
We make it to a food court area as we see the whole group together, eating.It's about a dozen people excluding the ones from the truck.We look awkward as Tom yells "aye morons we're getting robbed !" Many got their guard up and started aiming as we did as well.
"Whoa whoa I'm joking !" Said Tom as we all lowered our guns.Tom walked up to his group and said
"No these are bob's friends, Where's Bob ?" He asked as Bob entered the area.
"There he is, now Bruce are your people hungry ?" He asked as we see some men in the kitchen area of the food court making food.
"We got pizza …" he says as our people start to in line to get food.Me and Sue stand back as we talk with Tom and Bob aside.
"Listen Uh, I don't really- I don't know how to say this but me and my girl over there …" I say as I point out Scarlett.
"We only went on this wolf goose chase to give us hope you know ?" I asked as Bob and Tom laughed.As we walked around the store Bob replied
"Well there is no hope kid, this is it …any and that sign for Ron, he never found me I guess …" he said as Sue curiosity asked
"Well you think he's dead ?"
We all stood still and turned to Sue in utter disgust.
"Sorry … it's just a world like this, it's likely to happen …" he explained as Bob laughed it off and said
"It's alright ….no he's most likely gone and I'm fine with that, because if I couldn't help him, at least we helped you all …" He added on as we walked full circle, back into the food court area.Scarlett and all have gotten pizza as they eat it together, but separate from Toms group.
"Cmon, why segregate again ? We fought to keep us together not long ago right ?" Said Tom sarcastically as one of the men replied
"Hey watch it !" Tom backs away as he comedically says
"Hey I'm joking it's just, gosh why be dissolved in a world so broken ? Just adds on to its death, so come on you guys gotta talk …. This ain't high school with the teachers forcing you anymore …" he added as he walked near the people.Me and Sue quickly went to get some slices as Tom continued
"It's time to face a harsh reality of knowing your feelings don't mean shit now, just get along or die out there …" he said as he walks away.It shows me a character to Tom, he has charisma but is hiding something.
Time passed by as these few minutes of eating, turned to days of getting along finally.We have our own area to sleep on the floor as it's about to morning.I awoke as I walked around to explore, I stumbled upon Tom and Bob talking in the break room area with others.
"No but if we go to this other store, it could get us killed .." said Bob frustrated as Tom replied
"Your lack of faith is a chaotic mess, you keep that demeanor and you'll be killed ….by those things …" he said as he was describing a zombie.
"Look I'm thinking send in the new people with a couple of ours, to keep them afloat and more trustworthy with each other, plus we could use the extra supplies, Christ things are scarce in here, a fucking store that sells in bulk …" he says angrily as Bob thinks about as he walks around the room.
"I agree with you man but i don't trust these new people …" said another man as others agree.
"Hey hey ! The hells that huh ? Why look for trust, that's not our enemy, it's the motherfuckers that want to eat at us and gouge out our eyes, those monster out there that is our enemy ….so I will forcefully decide, hours from now, we send a team of eight to go to the other store to get supplies …" he says as he storms off.By this I quickly hid as he past by me, I played it off as I was walking through store.I got back to Scarlett and slept a bit more.I can really understand Toms logic but Bob is right on losing some, just hope today goes well.
"Alright then, you eight will assure us a future, go for toilet paper, wet wipes, band aids, bandages, pretend you're making a first aid kit, think of what it needs and take it …" he says as Me, Sue, Bill and five others are armed and prepared to head out.
"Sound good ? Okay, so you'll be taking the nice white van we got, Jesse you'll be driver and please if my watch is right, be back in 2 hours, that is 2:45 pm right ?" He asked me as I checked my watch and confirm it by nodding and saying
"Yea …"
He smiles and said
"Thank you, now good luck to you all …." He says as he walks away like he just gave a board meeting to his workers.We started walking back into the garage and got in the van and headed out.We sat aside each other as we still feel a bit nervous and untrustworthy with one another.
We stared at each other awkwardly as we await to arrive, thank god we arrived.
We got to the front of the store, overpassing it's gigantic parking lot.We see the doors are right open as Bill and another enter first.
"Have y'all tried this before ?" Asked Bill as we all entered slowly and cautiously keeping guard.
"Yea there is a reason we didn't think they'll ever be another attempt …" said a man as Sue asked "why not ?"
Suddenly a noise is heard, a creature of sorts, roaming the store.It's presence is known as I ask
"The hell was that ?" As we paused for a second, one of them replied
"Well, the first team we sent, one came back and explained this big zombie, looks like a Big foot." He says as we've made it to the food court area of this store.
"And just like big foot, this Motherfucker is real and somewhere in this store, it tore those men apart….god- we're killing it today though so let's head out …." He says as two men go back to the entrance and lock it shut with padlocks.They return to us as we scatter around the store.Me, Bill and Sue go together as the others go separately.We've walked to the microwave foods section, it gets dim.This whole place is nearly dark expect for the lights we have on us.
"Run it to the break room !" Yells a man as we three book for it, sensing danger.We make it as we hear ferocious foot stomps as Something is chasing us, I could feel it.We didn't look back as we all successfully made it to the break room, all eight of us.Whatever that thing was, I can feel it was about demolish us.
"Alright we exit out through here and refocus at the front of the store." I request as a man says
"Alright, we'll go another round with this thing …"
We start to walk out through the garage area and open up the doors to exit.We walk back around to the entrance as we take cover at the building, some people have arrived.
"Christ, the hell are they, back up ?" I asked as the man says "I don't know, listen I'll go talk to em ….tell em to be careful and maybe help each other out …." He's about to walk as I stop him,
"You're fucking nuts, they'll kill ya …" I say as he backs me off and replies
"Listen like you've heard, our enemy is things like those things in there, not our own …" he says as starts to walk up to them cautiously.The random people are frustratedly trying to get in, as it's padlocked shut.
"Hey fellas !" Says the man to the people.They aim as he says
"Whoa I'm a friend okay, the names Texas, like the state … " they hold fire as one of there own takes action.
"Alright, Texas, the you armed ?" He asked as Texas takes out his pistol slowly and drops it on the ground.
"Only this one, but other than that, nothing else -" Texas stood there nervously with his hands up as the man takes his gun.He checks it as it's loaded
"So anyways fellas, I'd advise not going in there …" he says as the man get aggressive.
"You saying it's your property, like you claimed it ?" He asked as Texas replied quickly
"No it's just -" as the man interrupts him
"Well it's ours now !" He yells as he kills Texas in cold blood.This alerts us more as quickly go up to retaliate.
"You Motherfuckers ! " yells Sue as we are at crossroads.We ducked behind the van as some of there's have as well, it's at least a dozen of them who've gotten there in a police truck.
"Hey kid, gimme that grenade …" I asked on as he hands it over.
"Let's see if this big foot of yours is real huh ?" I say as I launch the grenade at the entrance.Injuring two of there's and opening the doors open.It took a moment as we continued to shoot back and forth.At last, in broad daylight, this hideous built creature emerged.It's about 8 feet tall, it's a big Motherfucker, a head where it's stomach would be, and another head carrying the blob around.It had nails the size of knifes and that head on its stomach looked like a god damn Doberman dog.It started growling and yelling as they see it.They're stunned at the creature as they focus there bullets on it.The creature starts to attack as it kills from four, up to six now.We've have some cavalry as we've killed about three, sadly lost three of our own, including Texas.
"Fall back, let's get the hell outta here !" Yells the man as I command our lonely few.
"Get in the van, let's go, Bill you drive !"
We enter as only a few of they have to deal with the creature still roaming around.One man is still being desecrated by the thing.
"Did you see that shit, Look demonic !" Said sue as we panic.
"Just calm down, we'll just explain what happened to Tom and explain we're not alone around these parts …" I say as I look around at the five of us.
"You two, what are your names ?" I ask the two remained.
"Uhh , I'm uh, Charles and he's Bo, " said Charles in a hurry as I tell em
"Alright well y'all okay ? Y'all ain't get shot ?" I ask as they shake there heads.
"Alright, we'll in just glad we made it out of whatever that was, do y'all know anything about that group ?" I ask as Bo replies
"Well Um, Toms mentioned he's tried to make contact with some people but never heard anything ever since …"
I nod as breath in, Sue still in awe at the creature
"Did you see that damn thing, how it just tore em apart … " he says frantically as I tell him
"Calm down Sue, they're just any other one of these things, killable, maybe fire maybe, maybe explosives, but it'll die …" I say as we continue to drive.
We arrived back as we entered the garage, I quickly get out and rush inside.I walk past people as I see Tom and Bob in the food court.With no hesitation I pull a gun on Tom
"You sent us to die, we lost good men because of you, you coward !" I yell as others start to aim at me and Tom keeps his hands up.
"The hell you talking about ? I said it'll be dangerous-" he says I interrupt
"Dangerous ? Dangerous is salmonella, this was a fucking suicide…." I yell as Scarlett says
"Bruce calm down, just put the gun down …" I hesitate as I still continue to aim
"Sorry sweetheart, this man has caused too much pain for this, you know there's another group out there ? I bet you did huh ? Probably told them to go to ambush us maybe ? Got Texas killed got em all killed " I say as Tom replies offended
"Are you fucking insane, in a god damn apocalypse, why would someone setup so much drama ?" I continued to aim for a second as a noise is heard over the intercom.
"Hello ? Hello I know you pieces of shit can hear me, now whoever is your top guy, let's talk in front yea ?" He asked as we all stopped aiming and looked around.
"Who the hells on the intercom ?" Asked Tom as everyone scattered to arm up.Tom, Bob, Scarlett, Sue, Bill and I rushed to the entrance as we see through the window, a man.Having a glittery demeanor and an awful five o'clock shadow.He waved as he got back on his device, connecting to the intercom.
"Hello there, which one of you is it ?" He asked as me and Tom looked at each other.I backed away as Tom moved a bit forward.
"Really ?, okay , we'll I had some friends of mine pass by and never come back, from what I've heard is your people got em killed …" he said as Tom yelled,
"I don't know what you're talking about, we're just Common folk, trying to survive….like you gentlemen have been doing as well it seems …" he says as I look closer outside to see a variety of trucks and cars.And dozens of people just standing around, armed.If I could give an estimate, at least a a hundred.
"Well, I saw the aftermath, that damn creature took out some more of my men until we out it down, heads up if you get another one, bullets mean bullshit, Fire kills em softly …but anyways, I'd like you all to exit out accordingly and face punishment… it's only fair …" he says as I interrupt
"Your guy shot first, we had no choice !" I yelled as he said
"Well who the hell are you, I thought I was talking to ?" He asked as Tom said "Tom …"
"Tom here, I don't remember calling upon you, so back the fuck outta this conversation!" He yelled as it hurt our ears as it interpreted wrong through the speakers.I backed up next to Scarlett as we stood around Tom.The man smiles and said
"Im feeling a lack of attention for that one huh ? Hehe, well since you gave you're name, I might as well, I'm Jack, I used to be a security guard, now I'm a civil servant of the people as our band of brutes enforce peace amongst the few that survive …. " he says as we look intrigued.
"So open these doors and let us enforce our peace, alright….okay you got Five minutes …" he says as he walks away.God I gave one last look into the crowd of people, I thought I'd never see a group so big.