The area changed from the last time I was in Springfield as the plants took over the buildings within a couple of years. The feeling of nature taking back land was scary, but it was going to happen at some point in our lives. Jones was focused on getting us to the mall safely as we listened to music on the way. The sounds of a broadcast came on with the boys calling for people to join them at the mall still playing. Zombies were wandering around the area as we knew that they were once people. Their skin was falling off and bone was showing as they walled with no end. Some would chase the truck, but their bodies were becoming weak by the lack of tissue. So, the closer we got the fewer zombies were around.
The mall was a large place as I would think most people would be turned there than living. But before Jade and I did the same thing with the Wally World base. I remember the college here was most of the city as students from all over the world would stay there to learn. The number of zombies was greater than in both West Plains and Willow Springs. All I could do was look and watch hordes of zombies crash through buildings as I watched someone being chased down before being eaten alive. Jones was focused on getting us to a safe place, but the feeling inside was dark as if something was going to happen. A building we passed had a banister saying "Echo Returns" as it slowly fell to the ground. The sounds of war and gunfire rang as a person ran in front of our truck. He was a young boy around fourteen or fifteen when I heard a group screaming for him to join them. The boy looked familiar as we stopped and let him into the back of the truck. We drove away with worry as I looked up and saw the group, deformed as they looked like they were ripped in by zombies.
"You okay kid?" Jones asked as we turned towards the busier parts of the city.
"Yeah," he replied as he reloaded his gun and grabbed his walkie-talkie.
"What's your name?" I questioned as I could tell the kid did not trust us one bit.
"Will," he answered.
"Short for William?" I replied again with questions.
"Yeah," he said nonchalantly as he placed his gun in his bag, "What about my name?"
"Well, you look like my nephew," I replied as we kept driving deeper into the city. The sounds of zombies made me shiver as we got closer to Springfield's mall. "I had two nephews, William, and Wyatt. They were sweethearts, but it's been four years since I saw them. They were spoiled rotten as they grew up, but I heard one of their voices on the radio and had to come."
"Radio?" he questioned.
"Yeah, they say for survivors to come to the mall in Springfield."
"You sound like my aunt Lize," he replied, "She made sure that we had fun playing video games and listening from time to time. She is probably dead from these creatures."
"Is your last name Rockwell?" I questioned as the mall came into view. The whole place was covered in metal and electric fences to keep the zombies at bay. The idea of my nephews having to grow up quicker than normal kids made me feel bad. This boy looked like him and had the same first name as one of my nephews. He has brown hair tied up in a bun and wears mostly dark clothing.
"How did you know?" he replied.
"You alive," I answered as tears pricked on the sides of my eyes. The idea of my seeing my nephews made me happy as they have been a part of my life since they were born. The thought of them being dead made me fear for the worst but being with them made me happy. William was shocked by what he had heard, that seeing me alive was strange. He smiled as the closer we had gotten to the mall the sooner he pulled out the radio to call for the main gate to open. The sight of people working together was larger than any fort I have seen so far as every person had a job. William was happy to be home as Wyatte ran towards him with worried eyes.
"William!" he cried, "You ass! You left me on the radio on an important mission!"
"Sorry," he replied, "but we have an important guests."
This was the first in a long time that I saw my nephews and this became the best day of my life.