tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88601849603085061292024-02-08T05:03:13.126-08:00A World Now GoneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-71505042510899702472016-12-24T04:30:00.000-08:002016-12-24T04:30:16.463-08:00Lindsey's Story - Christmas Special<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Endings &
Beginnings<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
My name is Lindsey Taylor, and
this is my story. It all started in the bank, I always hated formal settings. I
was in my element laughing with friends, or just sitting with my family. But
waiting in line at a bank? Trying to seem professional? Not my style. And the
people here seemed so different than people outside. Is that weird? The
customer service people were friendly enough, but wore that all-to-familiar
expression of fake interest and stress. The customers didn’t acknowledge each
other’s existence. There was a tense atmosphere, judging anyone that held the
line up or took too long at the counter. “Stress” and “Tense” are sort of the
key words for this story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Finally I got to the counter, and
the bored man behind the glass called someone down from upstairs to help me, we
went up to his office on the second floor. There were a few small offices up
here, but only a few were for customers, we passed one and I saw a woman
sitting back in her chair with her feet on the desk. Judging from the combat
boots and leather jacket I doubted she was the banker. We made eye contact. I
jumped forward slightly, almost bumping into the man I was following, something
about her stare unsettled me. Not like she was judging me, more like she
already had a long time ago. And she was unimpressed. She was, in a word,
intense. I don’t like being judged, or studied, or even talked about, I guess
that’s why professional settings like this make me uncomfortable. Too many
opportunities to mess up and embarrass myself. We sat and got to business on
the boring bank stuff. He was nice and did most of the talking, so that made me
calm down a bit. But I was still sitting like a rock in my chair. Not making
any movement as if it would show what a bundle of nerves and neuroses I was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
A man burst into the room,
sweating profusely through his suit, making us both jump. He told us what we’d
heard on the radio: that people were, changing. That anyone who’d had the
recent flu vaccine would eventually become a zombie. I’d seen a few people
getting sick, even some I knew, but hadn’t really taken note of it. Nor did I
see it as the start of the apocalypse. Zombies. Crazy right? I wouldn’t have
believed him except for how panicked he looked, and by the noises that were
coming from outside. Screams crashes, cars honking. In a word: chaos. I
panicked, I reached for my phone to call my parents, but they weren’t
answering, neither was anyone else I called. I needed to get out of here, I
needed to find them. The man who had filled us in had long left, and the banker
that was helping me was also calling the people he cared about. With the same
result. I got up to leave, but was stopped by the woman I’d seen before. She
rushed into the room and closed the door, I tried to push past her but she
pushed me against the wall with her hand over my mouth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Everything moved so quickly.
There were dead on the lower floors, trapping us up here. Eventually the sounds
of chaos outside quietened, but we could still hear the groans of the dead, as
well as the occasional scream or crash. The woman remained calm through it all.
She said her name was Jacobs, now that I had met her she didn’t make me feel so
uncomfortable, she had an air of confidence when she spoke that made me admire
her, and trust her. After two days of rationing we had eaten all the food on
this floor, we had been lucky that we had access to that much. Jacobs spent all
of her time staring out the window, assessing, figuring out what we should do
next. But the banker, Ian, was getting impatient, and hungry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
On the third day he made a break
for the stairs. He ran past us and pulled open the door, alerting the two
zombies that were waiting near the stairs. I ran to pull him back but he pushed
me away and I fell against the wall. He only made it halfway down when he saw
that the dead had grown in number, and after a few days of hunting and feasting
they were a horrifying sight. He scrambled back up, falling in the process. He
had almost made it back when one of the dead caught his leg. But I had caught
his hand. I was struggling to pull him back, but they were too strong, others
had reached him and bit into his leg, causing him to scream out. “Please!” he pleaded,
“don’t let go!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I won’t!” I yelled back, but I
was starting to be pulled into the stairwell, and the dead had started to
notice me too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Suddenly a broken chair leg came
crashing down on Ian’s arm, he yelped and let go, and I fell back into the room
as the door swung closed. Jacobs. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I yelled,
climbing to my feet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Me? What’s wrong with you?” She
replied angrily, “you were about to risk your life, <i>and</i> mine, for a man who was already infected! Are you really so
stupid?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, I guess I’m just human,” I
retorted venomously. I moved away, not wanting to hear the sounds that were
coming from the ground floor. The respect and trust I had found in her was
broken and replaced with betrayal and fear. If she truly cared so little for
others how could I ever trust her again?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another day went by, and things
were starting to get desperate, no food, no real protection from the dead
pounding at the door, and no comfort. I had stayed away from Jacobs, only
vaguely aware of her constant post at the window. But as midday came on our
fourth day here she came and sat down next to me. “I won’t say I’m sorry,” she
began, but her tone wasn’t harsh, or even commanding like it was before, “you
have to understand that everything has changed now. We can’t be the same people
we were before”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So what, we can’t be human, we
can’t care about other people?” I asked, part of what I said was genuine, but
another part just wanted to hurt her<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, but we have to be prepared
to sacrifice our ethics, to break our moral code if we have any hope of
surviving,” she turned to me and I saw in her eyes all of the emotion that I
hadn’t before, “that guy will not be the last person that we will lose, but we
have to be ready to let them go. Even people we care about”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I find it hard to believe you
care about <i>anybody</i>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“I care about you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I stared at her, lost for words,
I didn’t understand. She swallowed and got up, her eyes hardening again after a
moment of weakness. “I have a way to escape,” she said, her commanding tone returning.
And despite my previous concerns I felt a bit of trust in her. And something
else too, although I wouldn’t admit it until later. “But I need your help.”
Just before sunset we were ready. I threw a desk chair through a window on the
east side. Immediately after she threw one through a window on the west side,
followed by another, then I joined her and together we threw heavier objects. A
desk, the fridge, a table. After a few minutes we could see that it was
working, the dead were flocking to the commotion on the west side, and had
completely forgotten about the east side. Using curtains tied into rope we made
it to the ground, and quietly we walked away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
There was a small convenience
store nearby where we stocked up, using make-shift bags made out of our jackets.
Plastic bags wouldn’t help with stealth. We couldn’t be professional entirely
though, after two days of starving we could help but dig in to a few tempting
bags of chips, and some bread, and some chocolate. And god knows what else. But
this made us sloppy, and as Jacobs checked out what was behind the counter I
went to the toilet, and walked straight into one of the dead. In panic I fell
back, knocking over a stand and screaming in the process. The dead was on top
of me in moments, and I used every last bit of strength I had to stop it. This
was it, it had to be, I didn’t have the strength to push it off, at least
without letting it bite me first. And deep down I knew that Jacobs had left the
store, left me behind. She had all but told me she would. It was weird but in
those moments, when the horrifying corpse was attacking me, all I could think
about were the past four days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I heard a gunshot, and the dead
corpse was thrown to the side, and I was intact. It was Jacobs, and although
the hand holding the gun was straight and stable, her face was a wreck. I
climbed up and ran to her, and she dropped the gun and grabbed me, holding me
close. I pulled back, “I thought you were going to leave me,” I almost cried<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“I-I,” she stuttered, I’d never
heard her voice even waiver before, “I couldn’t,” she looked at the gun before
putting it on a shelf, “I found it behind the counter, and then I heard you,
and-and I”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I couldn’t control myself, I
kissed her. And it was… fantastic. It might have been spurred on from the
adrenaline but I knew I’d wanted to for a long time. After some indescribably
long moments she pulled away slightly and smiled, “we need to get you some
boots Lindsey”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I laughed, “was that a lesbian
joke, Jacobs?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
She laughed back, “no, I just
don’t think those heels have served you very well. And call me Allison.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The next few days were surprisingly
peaceful, and almost… pleasant. Nothing seemed to phase us as long as we were
together. I was seeing new sides of her every day, she was so much more than
the scary woman I had seen in the bank. And from the way she looked at me I
could tell that I was so much more than the insecure girl I thought I was. I
had found through her that I could be strong. And even happy, despite the state
of things. At first Allison had brought me trust, then fear, and now strength.
But above all, love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
We were picked up after a week by
two huge trucks, their trailers full of survivors. They had survived this long,
but they weren’t very organised, nor did they have any plan or leadership. Allison
soon found herself their leader. Two weeks later there were five trucks, and
several smaller vehicles. And I had found myself on a scouting team. Allison
hadn’t liked that, but she respected the person I had grown into, and while she
was my leader, and my girlfriend, I wouldn’t be a burden anymore. On anyone. The
outbreak might have been the end of the world, but for me it was just the
beginning, for my new identity, my new life. And for me and Allison.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-41262597669297888972016-10-30T21:55:00.002-07:002016-10-30T21:55:29.311-07:00Brooke's Story - Halloween 2016 Special<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My name is Brooke Rowe, and
this is my story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They say you show different
faces to different people. Your family, your friends, your lover. You act differently
because you want them to appear differently, you want them to see you in a
certain way. But does that mean you are a different person? Is the person my
family knows a different person my friends know? And if that’s the case then
which one is the real me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know the answer of course,
they all are, and they all are not. I can break each of these people down into
traits, responses, or views I do have, and those I am creating just to have an
effect on those around me. So if I change myself to have an effect on others
does that mean I am only the real me when I am alone? Of course not, because
even when I am alone I am trying to convince myself that I am a better person
than I really am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> When I joined
the army I formed a new face, new reactions to new stimuli. A man made a joke I
was offended by, I laughed and joked back. A man told me to do something I didn’t
want to do, I nodded and did what he asked. I heard a bang, I saw an enemy, I
responded with force, and anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I came
home, but after you’ve worn a face for months it begins to change you. And
faces you set down can’t be picked up again so easily. But the stimuli are
still there, as are the responses. I’m meant to be different here, I’m meant to
pretend I feel safe, but I don’t, I feel threatened. So I lash out with force,
and anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I try and
pick up new faces, ones that will fix the changes underneath. But there are
traits you pretend to have, and those that become a part of you. Your true
face. So maybe that is the only way to find your true face. To experience the
unknown, to be faced with new challenges and see how your instincts react. To
meet new people, and see how they affect you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I say find
your true self, but as I said before you already know which traits are real and
which aren’t. But maybe that’s good, to be able to suppress the parts of
yourself you don’t like, and let the ones you do flourish. Or maybe instead of
finding our true selves we are finding a way to admit our true selves. And a
way to fix the parts that are broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I’m in a different
place now, a different world. And I’m surrounded by different people, people
who rely on me. And none of the faces I have are ready for this, or right for
this. And slowly I’ve realised that the people I’m with are seeing my true
face, or maybe I’m letting them see it. I don’t care, what matters is that for
the first time in a long time, even though everything is falling apart and
dying that I feel myself. As sick as that is. As ashamed as I am. But these
people, they need me. The real me. And I need them. And for as long as I can I
will protect them. Even if it kills me. And maybe one day, by staying with
them, I will be able to see the face they see, and it will be what I’ve always
wanted it to be. Me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-33305442747180163152016-02-07T05:01:00.003-08:002016-02-07T05:01:32.932-08:00Haven Chapter 32 - Final Chapter<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 32<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We
can’t tell anyone yet,” I told Nicole after shaking out of my stunned silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “They
deserve to know,” She argued, but I could tell she was conflicted too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “True,
but if I tell them now they’ll argue, some might even want to leave him behind,
or worse,” I played out the scenario in my head, it never ended well no matter
what I would say. Eventually Nicole agreed with me, we had to keep moving
forward, but to what end I had no idea. Haven was safe for now, but if our
theories were true and the dead could sense us from miles away no one location
would be safe, not forever. I kept remembering those theories I had before all
this, ideas for the perfect hide out. But even if one of them could protect us
indefinitely, we couldn’t build it in time, and it was more than unlikely that
we’d stumble upon one in the suburbs. But it wasn’t for just me to decide, for
the first time in a while we had the opportunity to reunite everyone together
in one place. They had put their trust in me as a leader, not a dictator, and
now I understand the importance of that title. If the decision had to be made,
it would be made by all of us</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The cars
were loaded up with as much as we could take, so we couldn’t drive as fast as
we wanted to, not to mention the danger posed by the remnants of the zombie
horde. But after a few hours we made it, we found the others. Once again people
starting jumping out of cars before they had fully stopped, too anxious to
reunite with their friends to wait. Connor and Will wouldn’t stop smiling and
laughing as they examined they damage that had been done to the cars. Chris and
Monica shared a friendly smile, although Monica seemed even happier to be
handed the extra ammo. Malcolm and Andria had already reunited, but the still
kept close to one another, I had forgotten they were friends before all this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I was
smiling, we were all smiling, until Nicole turned to me, her smile fading, “where’s
Brooke?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We had
lost someone before, but I was dismayed, yet slightly comforted, that it wasn’t
easier the second time around. I explained everything that had happened at the
station, the resistance, Anthony, everyone who had died. I introduced Lindsey
to the others, but I was not surprised she did not receive a warm welcome, the circumstances
were fair from pleasant. Lauren cried freely, Chris comforted her silently.
Will walked off, and Connor followed him, Daniel as well a little later. It wasn’t
until they returned and the other’s settled down that I spoke again, “We have
to decide what comes next, whether we return to Haven, and try to make it
perfect”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “But it
never will be,” Chris finished, “no amount of wooden beams and barbed wire
could stop what we just saw”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Exactly,
but the alternative is not very appealing either,” Nicole argued, “Previously
we had a purpose, find our friends, find medicine, find a home. But what do we
do if we can’t find a home, where do we go?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What
was it like in the resistance?” Will asked Lindsey, “travelling with little
destination in mind?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “It
worked,” she began, trying to sound encouraging, “but we had huge trucks, with
shipping crates large enough for dozens of people and equipment, we were even
trying to experiment with hydroponics”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We have
two cars and a Ute,” Connor said bluntly, “that’s hardly enough to live place
to place”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “He’s
right,” Nicole agreed, “without those kinds of resources we’d have no chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We all
segmented into smaller groups, arguing over what was best. I tried to find the
answer in my own head, a home would never work without a massive amount of luck
and manpower, and we had neither. But living on the road would only end in
disaster to, it would destroy our mental and physical health, and resources would
always be a problem. If we stayed in one area we’d know all the dangers but
eventually run out of food, and if we ventured out too far we would have no
idea what we’d be heading into. If we had the same resources the resistance had
we wouldn’t have to worry about running into trouble, we’d have the manpower to
stop it. And if their experiments bore literal fruit we wouldn’t have to worry
about food. Without realising it I stumbled upon the answer. “We’ll join the
resistance,” I said finally, and eventually everyone agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Before
we lit the signal we wanted to be ready, and we knew we’d have to replace the
Ute with one with an intact windshield, so Daniel and Monica went out on foot
to find one. The others sorted out the supplies, between what we had gathered
from Lindsey’s father’s house and what we had kept from Haven there was quite a
bit. I sat in the old Ute’s passenger seat, trying to get some rest. Part of me
wanted to be with Jade, but I was far too exhausted, and she always seemed to
be full of energy. Nicole stunned me out of my nap by hopping into the driver’s
seat and slamming the door, a sour look on her face. “Are you okay?” I asked
drowsily, I was tired but concerned, Nicole usually kept the spirits up, not
dragged them down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I’m
fine,” she snapped back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “You
sure sound it,” I replied sarcastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “It’s
nothing it’s just,” her sour mood broke into sadness, “it’s them,” she gestured
out to the others, smiling and laughing as they examined our supplies and
planned their life with the resistance. “They’re happy,” I said confused, “is
that a problem?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No,”
she sighed back, “I want them to be happy, but… Brooke is dead,” we were both
quiet for a long time, “maybe I’m just bad at moving on but I don’t feel like
laughing right now”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No one
expects you to,” I tried to be soothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Well tell
them that,” the sour face was back, “that’s it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> She
turned the key and the engine roared to life. The others outside looked up in
confusion, but I faked a smile and with a gesture they want back to their conversations.
I was worried she was going to try and drive away so I prepared to grab her
hand, but she didn’t reach for the handbrake, she reached for the radio. “You
won’t get anything you know,” I almost laughed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I’ll
get white noise,” she replied sarcastically, “enough to drown them out.” And
she was right, teeth-grating static came through, and Nicole smiled grimly at
the look on my face. As a joke she pretended to scan through the channels, pretending
to judge each one before moving on. This time I really laughed, but I did go to
stop her, “you’re gonna waste the fuel.” But she knocked my hand away and
shushed me, as she turned the volume up, and listened carefully. A voice came crackling
through the radio, impossibly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> It was
the end of a message, and I thought we had missed it, until it began again on a
loop, “Hello my name is Lewis Carter, and if you can hear this, you are not
alone.” The fact that someone was out there broadcasting on the radio was
crazy, but true. The others eventually heard the sound of a voice and came running
over, about to speak until the heard the message and realised. The message didn’t
end there, “I’m in Melbourne, near the centre, and I’m working with Doctor”-
the message cut out for a moment and I could hear another female voice, then
the male voice again but neither were distinguishable. But then it became clear
again, “we are working with other’s to find a cure, we are at Gordon Centre,
and if you know where that it is you know enough about science to help us.” I
turned to Nicole, and she nodded in recognition, Lewis spoke again “we are safe
there, I repeat we are safe...” the message paused for a while, “come to GC if
you can help, this our last chance, this message will repeat on this frequency.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We all
stood in stunned silence and listened to the message twice more before Nicole
turned the engine off. Was it possible? Somehow, somewhere there were people
working on a cure, was a cure even possible? Nicole insisted she wouldn’t be
able to help, and argued that we stuck to the original plan, but she was
outvoted. Eventually I convinced her that even if she couldn’t help being close
to a possible cure would be important. The only issue was the trip there, and
the location. Everyone with common sense knew that the city would be swarming
with the dead, and if we wasted fuel and supplies to get to the place where we
died it I would never forgive myself. So we waited until Monica and Daniel
returned with the new Ute to put it to an official vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Over the
past months since we left the clinic my leadership skills were tested, if I
even had any to begin with. But even if I didn’t I had to believe that I
developed some, otherwise every bad thing that has happens is my fault, and I
couldn’t live with that. And if my guidance leads us to a gruesome death in the
city I would have no one else to blame. Except maybe this guy Lewis. But if I
lead them to our salvation, maybe for once I can be sure, that I am the right
leader for these people. My friends, no they’re more than that now, my family.
I would do everything to protect them, even if that meant stepping down and letting
someone else take control, but for now I was their leader. And I won’t let them
down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> They returned, we voted and then we left. Headed
towards Melbourne, headed towards our fate. And possibly the fate of the entire
world. Or what was left of the world now gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-19017013737931070692016-02-04T01:54:00.003-08:002016-02-04T01:54:23.511-08:00Haven Chapter 31<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 31<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> My heart
was beating fast in my chest, I felt like I was still surrounded by the dead.
But instead of being afraid I felt excited, and anxious. We were close to the
warehouse, in a moment we would see it, but there was still the possibility
that the others didn’t make it back alive. I didn’t know what I would do if
they didn’t, how I would be able to go on. Without Jade any hope I had of
having any meaningful future was gone. That was why I worried so much, it was
one of the reasons why I left her here. I thought she would be safe, but know I
wonder whether she would’ve been safer with me, even when we were trapped in
the station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We
turned the final corner, and then it seemed like my heart had stopped beating
entirely, they were alive. Just like us the car, as well as its passengers, was
worse for wear, covered in blood and the windscreen was smashed. They hadn’t
noticed us yet, I saw Chris cleaning chunks of flesh off the car, and as we
approached Daniel exited the warehouse, his arms full of supplies they had left
behind. But I couldn’t see Jade. My mind flooded with all the possibilities,
was she inside? Was she left behind? Was she even alive? But all my questions
were answered, along with a small heart attack, when the windscreen shattered,
showering the bonnet with glass. Inside I could see Jade holding a baseball
bat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Before
they noticed us I saw the three of them arguing, but when they finally did they
stopped, and ran to greet us. The doors slid open before we’d even stopped and
Lauren dashed out towards Chris. I barely registered their reunion, or that of
Daniel, Will, and Nicole, my eyes searched for Jade. I finally saw her as she
stepped out of the Ute, and I found myself running towards her faster than I ran
away from the dead. We collided and it hurt because of our injuries, but
neither of us cared. I held her close, almost crying. I treasured every moment,
everything. Every scent, sight, and touch felt new and familiar at the same
time, and I never wanted to let her go. But I had too, and after pulling back
and laughing better than we had for years we all met at the back of the Ute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “How did
you guys go getting away?” Will started<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Better
than we expected if I’m being honest,” Daniel answered, “the windscreen got
smashed when we hit one full on, but we were able to keep the rest away with
sticks”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We
fired as few rounds as possible,” Jade added, trying to keep our eyes from
meeting in case we never looked away, “once we had their attention we didn’t
want to get any more, what about you guys?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Well…
um…” Will replied nervously, still traumatised by his near miss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We ran
into a bit of trouble,” Nicole said gently, we knew what had to be discussed,
even if we didn’t want to discuss it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Will
might be infected,” Lauren blurted out, she apparently didn’t not have as much
tact as Nicole<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What?”
Daniel and Jade reacted at once<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “He got
covered in glass,” I explained, looking unsympathetically at Lauren, “and the
glass was covered in blood”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “<i>Infected</i> blood,” Will emphasised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I was
more than worried about Will, and not just about his health. In the past experiences
with the Dead have either shattered his confidence, or strengthened his, well
his will, Will’s will. And this was a similar time, and right now we all needed
to be strong, I couldn’t afford to have him lose his strength right now, this
had to be dealt with now. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” I began, using my
best leader voice, “Nicole and are going into Haven to check Will out, when we
come out we will decide what to do, until then you guys need to do everything you
can to fix the cars.” And then I gestured to Will and Nicole and walked away,
ignoring anything the others said in protest. Inside the warehouse looked very
different than it did before, more like a home. I didn’t feel bad about
abandoning it before, but now seeing what the others have done with it I did.
The three of us stepped into what remained of Nicole’s first aid area. “I
appreciate the support Todd, but I think you should leave,” Will suggested
sheepishly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No, I’m
here to help,” I insisted, wondering why he asked, then almost as an answer
Nicole turned around and spoke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Alright
Will, take of your clothes,” She was all business<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I was a
little less professional, “I’m gonna go,” I said quickly and ducked under the heavy
sheets blocking the view. As I turned to leave the warehouse I was stopped by
Jade. “Why aren’t you outside?” I asked, although I was happy she wasn’t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Because,”
was all she said, as she pushed me towards the beds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We had
almost died, and Will might be infected, but somehow I felt happier than I had
felt in a long time. Although we might be abandoning the warehouse, I knew that
as long as we were together I would be home. After an hour and a half of work
we were satisfied with the work we had done on the cars. I knew at some point
we would have to replace the Ute with one that had a windshield, but it would
get us back to the others. And we had found a strong clear plastic sheet to
replace the window we had broken to save Will. We also used a few buckets of
water from a nearby pond to clean most of the blood and guts from the cars,
although they were hardly sparkling. Both cars were covered in dints and
scratches, but they were still in one piece. Everything was packed and ready to
go, finally we were going to be together again, and everything would be okay.
Until Nicole and Will walked out from the warehouse, and they were both deathly
pale. “Nicole?” I asked, fearing what she would say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> She
leaned in close, so only I could hear, “Will’s got a cut on his leg, it was
small but there was blood. I can’t know for sure, but its possible Will is
infected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-35887915380793691162016-01-27T18:33:00.002-08:002016-01-27T18:33:41.016-08:00Haven Chapter 30<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 30<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The van
became covered in blood, in their desperation to reach me inside the dead had
scratched whatever remaining skin off their hands. The smell was disgusting,
but I felt strangely calm, resolute. I was going to die here, and I was okay
with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But I
was wrong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Apparently
the world wasn’t done with me yet, and the scratching and growling slowly
stopped, and as it did I could hear the low growl of another engine. I tried to
look through my mirrors to see where it was coming from, but the ones outside
had been ripped off and my back window was smeared with blood and worse. But I
could still make out some shapes. The dead that had given up on me were now
running frantically away from me, or more towards another car. They turned the
corner, I couldn’t see them anymore. The sounds faded away but still I stared
at where they were just a few moments ago. Then a bloody hand slammed against
my window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I leapt
out of the front seat and into the passenger side, I pulled out my gun on
instinct, even though it was out of bullets. But my fear was miss lead, as the
hand wiped away the blood I could see a face, and it was one I recognised. It
was Will. In one swift motion I unlocked the door, opened it and hugged him. I
had never been more grateful to see anyone my entire life. And he wasn’t alone “Thank
god we made it in time,” It was Nicole, gasping for air, they’d obviously ran.
Lauren eventually joined us, in a similar state to Nicole’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What
are you doing here?” I asked, while I was glad to see them I didn’t think
joining me on a suicide mission was the best choice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Saving
you, you ungrateful idiot,” Nicole replied indignantly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Connor,
at least we think it was Connor, sent us a message,” Will explained, he was all
smiles, “‘Save Todd’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “It was
pretty obvious it was you who stopped the dead from reaching us,” Nicole
continued, “then all we had to do was”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Follow
the zombies,” the three of them finished in unison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “So the
car that drove them away?” I was suddenly worried that they put their lives on
the line to save me, after I did someone to save their lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “The
Ute,” Will answered, “Chris, Jade, and Daniel took it as a distraction while
Andria took the car to pick up the others”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Speaking
of the others we better get going,” Nicole began with a serious tone, “They’d
have a much better chance at surviving with our help.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I couldn’t
believe they had done this, I thought I was dead, and more than that I thought
we had failed as a group. We had lost Brooke even though we thought we were
prepared, and then when faced with another threat I was forced to sacrifice myself
for them. But now I found out we are stronger than I thought, that even when
they were apart my friends had managed to organise a rescue mission. This time
they had saved me, but my job wasn’t done yet, not by a long shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I got everyone to wipe down the windows so we could see. Will had brought ammo
and weapons so we restocked, then we were off again. I turned down the corner I
saw the dead disappear down, but after that there were no other signs of where
they had gone. Luckily Will had a radio, as did Daniel. “Daniel, it’s Will, we
got Todd where are you guys?” Will sounded afraid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Will!”
Daniel’s voice came through the radio, he sounded distressed, and you could
hear the sound of the engine as well as gunshots in the background. “We’re
headed towards Clyde Road, we’re hoping to lose them there but we could use
some help!” I grabbed the radio off Will<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Daniel?
Can you hear me this is Todd?” I spoke, trying not to sound afraid, or too
desperate to hear Jade’s voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Todd! Thank
god you’re alright!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Yeah,”
I tried to stay focused, “we’ll come up behind you and split the group in half,
once you’re sure you’ve lost them we’ll meet at the warehouse”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Haven? Alright,”
Daniel finished and the radio just played static<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Haven?”
I turned to Nicole with a raised eyebrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Nicole
shrugged back, “seemed like a good name at the time”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No, its
fine”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I guess
it made more sense before we had to abandon it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Daniel
had chosen a good road to lead them to, a familiar one, and soon we could see
the stragglers of the dead. Will climbed on top of the van and shot at any that
came to close. They must have been practicing while I was away because he’d
become a good shot. In fact we got so close I could hear the gunshots of the
other’s and then the engine. I wanted so much to simply drive through the
zombies to see them, to feel her next to me again. But I had to wait, because
what I wanted even more than that is for her to be safe. So I had to wait.
There was another reason why Will was on top of the van, he had a better view
of the dead, and when we got to a certain point in their group he yelled to me,
“now, Todd, turn now!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I span
the wheel carefully, I needed to be sharp enough to turn around in the space
and time given, but too sharp and I would lose control, and that would not be
good. Will clung on to the top as we turned, but when we hit the curb the whole
van jolted and he lost his balance. His hands still held on to the bar attached
to the roof but now his legs dangled precariously. At any other time he might
have been able to drop down, or even stand up, but we were still surrounded by
the dead, and they were hungry. He pulled his legs up as high as he could, and whenever
one of them got to close he’d swing them out to knock them down, but it wouldn’t
work forever, and every time he made contact he risked infection via fluid
transfer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Will
hang on, I’m coming to get you!” I yelled out the window and reached for the
handbrake, he had slowed down considerably during our manoeuvre, so I could
stop here and get out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No you’re
not!” Nicole pulled my hand away, “you’ll be eaten alive the second you open
those doors, and even if you aren’t the plan would fail and we would all die”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We can’t
leave him!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We won’t,”
with her other hand she grabbed my gun, turned the safety off and fired at the
window. Glass shattered covering Will’s legs and I felt a chill, those windows
were still covered in infected blood, one scratch and it could be over. But at
least we could save him now. Nicole yelled for Will and caught his attention,
seeing her plan he swung his legs towards her. She caught them and tried to
pull him inside, “Lauren help!” from the back seat Lauren left her huddled
position and grabbed Will’s belt. “Will you have to let go!” Nicole yelled out
the window<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Are you
crazy?” I heard him yell back. But nevertheless it was his only chance, he let
go. Will wasn’t incredibly heavy, but still Nicole and Lauren had trouble
holding on, let alone pulling him in. With one hand on the wheel I reached out
to help. We were moving faster now, pulling about half of the dead away from
the others, and I had to focus, so I let Nicole guide my hand. Finally the
three of us were able to pull him inside, but now there was a hole in our defence,
if the dead caught up now there would be little to stop them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But we
were lucky, I might say skilled, but I’m not that confident. After a few side
streets we couldn’t see them anymore, and after a few more we slowed down to
see if there were any still frantically following us. There wasn’t. I had
survived, we had survived. And now we drove to meet the others at the
warehouse, the place they named Haven. Where finally I would reunite with Jade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-27736729989610988972016-01-25T21:59:00.000-08:002016-01-25T21:59:22.102-08:00Haven Chapter 29<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 29<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The
other’s panicked after I left, but luckily they all had enough sense not to try
and run after me. But there was still nothing they could do, they couldn’t
reach the warehouse because there was still a sea of undead between them, and
they couldn’t run after me for the same reason. So they sat on the ground, some
were crying silently, others kept ranting on about how they could have helped
me if I had taken them too, others just sat in silence, thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> It was
like this for several minutes, until in a burst of movement that made everyone
jump, Connor leapt off from his sitting position towards one of the houses
nearby. The others stood and glanced at each other in confusion “Connor?”
Lindsey called, she worried that he would do something stupid out of grief and
fear <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I can
save him,” he stated bluntly as he half-ran out of the house, holding a piece
of polished metal in his hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “How?”
Monica asked desperately, but Connor just ignored as he stood in the middle of
the road, staring wildly at the horizon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We only
have a few minutes left,” he said to himself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Of
what?” Malcolm asked through clenched teeth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Sunlight,”
Connor replied as he held the piece of metal up in the air, and twisted it
periodically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> As the
sun set the inhabitants of Haven stood on the lookout they had built, staring
at the horde of dead which had seemed hell-bent on tearing them apart until a
few moments ago. Jade had noticed it several minutes ago, more of the dead than
they had ever seen before, marching steadily towards them. But then suddenly
they all stopped and turned away, distracted by something they could not see. A
few remained, but they were confident the walls and traps they had set up could
handle them. Lauren and Chris weren’t in the lookout, at the first sight of the
horde they had been sent to get the cars ready for evacuation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Come
on,” Daniel said and he turned away along with some others, it was time to
abandon the home they had made. Jade was the last one to turn away, she knew
that if they left the chances of the others and me finding her were slim, and
if she said goodbye to Haven she was saying goodbye to me too. “Find me,” she
whispered to no one, and as she turned tears began to run down her cheeks. But
just before she descended the stairs something caught her eye on a hill in the
distance. A flash of light, blinking in a pattern. She recognised it, Morse
code, the code Connor had taught everyone when we had begun raiding, and
quickly she picked up the pattern and deciphered the message. S-A-V-E T-O-D-D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I knew I
was going to die, but it wouldn’t be here, not if I could help it. And even if
I did, I would make sure the other’s escaped, it was the least I could do for
the group that made me their leader, that placed their trust in me. I guess we
were about to find out whether or not their trust was misplaced. I slammed my
foot down on the accelerator and I felt the van surge into motion. This time I
didn’t care how many corpses I hit, I had gotten their attention now I needed
to keep it. Eventually, and gratefully, I broke out of the dense centre of the
horde, I wasn’t hitting as many bodies, and I could actually see where I was
going. But I couldn’t take this opportunity to escape, I couldn’t risk the
warehouse being targeted again. So I kept my eye on my rear-view mirror, and
lowered my speed anytime they would get too far away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But as
any driver knows, time you spend looking at the mirrors is time you’re not
looking at the road, and eventually I made a mistake. I didn’t notice the road turned,
and I only realised at the least second, I turned the wheel sharply, my foot
tentative on the break, if I slowed to much I’d be eaten. I went up on the foot
path, which didn’t help my lack of control. I hit a small tree, luckily my car
was big enough and fast enough that I didn’t stop immediately, but I I’d start
to spin out of control. I knew I had to stop, if I didn’t the car would most
likely flip, and there would be no escaping then. I pressed on the breaks,
slowly at first then harder and harder, until finally I regained control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I’d been
slowing down for too long, the dead were almost on top of me. I had stop facing
them, I could see them running towards me. I could feel my heart beating,
faster than it should. It was too late now, this was it, I wasn’t going to
survive this, but I would do everything I could to save them. I put the car in
reverse and slammed the accelerator. I watched the rear view mirror, and saw
the road end in a t-section. I span the wheel quickly when I got there and put
the car in drive as quickly as I could. I wasn’t as quick as I would’ve liked,
the fastest of the dead slammed into the side of my car. I heard them growling
and scraping at the sides as I once again hit sped forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But this
time I wasn’t as lucky, one of the zombies that had made contact got its leg
caught in the wheel and was dragged under the van. Its brittles bones broke and
punctured the tire, and the van swerved around the road wildly. I did all I could
to keep control, but it was no use, the bulk of the horde had caught up and
soon they would be on top of me. No amount of metal or glass would protect me
from their hunger. I promised I would do all I could to save them, and I had, I
was done. I stopped the van, I knew the best way to distract them now was to
let them reach me, and wait for them to rip me apart. I was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-48529882507129318832016-01-11T21:59:00.001-08:002016-01-11T21:59:11.382-08:00Haven Chapter 28<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 28<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Things
were tense at Haven after they realised Emma was missing, there was a lot of
fighting, arguing. Some wanted to find her, but others like Nicole were
convinced there was nothing they could do. So they waited, they kept watch for
the others, they continued with their tasks. The one hope they had was when I called
in, they had already assumed she had followed us, or hoped at least. The
alternative was that she had run away from the group to travel alone, and
although she had survived alone before, none of them felt she would be better
off. But the call was cut off, and they couldn’t reach me again. They had no
idea why, I might have been killed, or the radio may just have run out of
batteries. The truth was that Greg had taken it away, and that the radio was
still with his body in the station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But even
if they knew they couldn’t go after her, even if they had no idea whether or
not we would return, they still prepared for whatever would happen. Nicole made
sure that her station was prepared for any injuries, and had emergency supplies
ready in case they had to leave. Daniel found a way to connect the generator
from the boot of a car, meaning in a moment’s notice it could be driven away.
Jade and Chris built up as much defences as they could. And Lauren made sure
every vehicle had supplies to last us days, even if they couldn’t convince
themselves that it would all be okay, they did their best to make sure it would
be. But even as they prepared a danger far worse than anything we had faced was
inching towards them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Today we
figured out the terrible truth, that there was no escape from the dead. They
hunted by sight, smell, and sound, but when starved they pushed those senses to
their limits, and slowly they marched towards the faintest of signs of living
flesh. It turns out the resistance was lucky, since they were always on the
move they were long gone before any starving hordes turned up at their doors.
But we weren’t so lucky, the other’s had stayed in the warehouse for far too
long, and now their scent had drawn the attention of every zombie 50 km, which
was far too many. Even if we had enough bullets to kill them three times over
we wouldn’t be able to kill enough to stop them reaching the warehouse and
tearing apart everyone we hoped to protect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> There
was only one hope left, and I had to act fast, and I had to act alone. The
others started yelling at each other, panicking, Malcolm wanted to run, and
return with more supplies to save the survivors. Monica wanted everyone to slow
down, convinced there was a logical way to deal with this. Emma suggested we
charged in, using the car as a weapon to trample them all down, but Connor
pointed out that the car would break before they even gotten through half of
them. “I’ve got it!” Lindsey yelled, and everyone fell silent, “we use the
smoke signal, call in reinforcements”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Would
they get here in time?” Emma asked hopeful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Even if
they did respond to the signal it’s doubtful they’d bring enough force to deal
with this,” Malcolm responded pessimistically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “It’s
worth a shot,” Lindsey argued, and turned around, “I’ll grab it from the”- She
was cut off by the sound of an engine starting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
slammed down on the accelerator, speeding down the hill in the empty van,
towards the horde of dead. This was the only way I could save them, save her, I
would drive straight into their ranks, make enough noise to get their
attention, and then drive them away from the others. But I couldn’t escape, if
I tried to out-run them chances are I wouldn’t have distracted them enough, or
driven them far enough away from the others to save them. I would have to drive
slow enough to tease them, but fast enough not to be overtaken. I doubted I
would survive, in fact dying and letting them waste time tearing me apart is
probably the best chance I have of rescuing the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
glanced at Connor, Lindsey and the others as I drove past, they yelled, and
tried to run after me, but in the mirror I saw them stop, some holding others
back. They knew what I was doing, and I hoped they knew that I had to do it. I
wondered what would happen to them, I hoped they would get to the warehouse and
warn the others of what was coming. But if the other’s realised what was
happening and left before they arrived it’s possible the group would be split
forever. Hell it felt as if we had been split forever. How long was it since we
left for the police station? Too long I guess. And now I felt I was going to die
without ever seeing any of them ever again. But I was doing this for them, and
I would make the same decision again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The back
of the army of the dead came closer and closer, and I wondered how far I would
have to drive into their ranks to get the attention of those in the front. Some
of the dead were at the back simply because they were further away than the
others, but it was clear that others had fallen behind due to the damage they
had sustained. A few were even crawling now, their legs having been torn away
to mostly bone, or simply torn off all together. I tried to avoid those ones as
I started swerving around them, afraid of them damaging the wheels. I knew that
every zombie I hit would damage the car, and I wanted them all to follow me
away from here, not swarm a broke-down vehicle. But eventually it was unavoidable,
the first one I hit splattered across the windscreen, and comically the wipers
activated, trying to clean it but all it succeeded in doing is smearing guts
and blood across more. Seeing through was becoming difficult, but after a few
hard hits the major body parts fell off and I could see again. I was in the
middle know, and I was surrounded by the dead, and oddly one of the most
horrifying sights I’ve ever seen also gave me hope, as one by one the
reanimated corpses turned and began to stumble towards me, hunger in their eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-91309533919774338062016-01-04T01:18:00.004-08:002016-01-04T01:18:46.113-08:00Haven Chapter 27<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 27<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I felt
sick, I always did when I saw things like this but there was no danger here, no
adrenaline pushing me forward so I felt worse. I could only imagine what
Lindsey was feeling, her face was a mixture of stoic resilience, shock, and
grief. Connor looked sympathetic, and I tried to be the same. Emma walked into
the room from another, her hand over her mouth. She had been the one to find
the body and it clearly had startled her. Connor was the first to speak, “the
place has been raided, he must have fought back”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I’m
sorry,” I said softly, but Lindsey ignored me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Does
that mean this was a waste of time?” she asked, tearing her eyes away to look
at Connor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “No,”
Emma answered, shaking her head to try and focus, “The garage is locked, it
looks like someone tried to break in but failed”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Good,”
was all Lindsey said as she walked past the three of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We were
surprised by her calm tone, although we shouldn’t be, we had seen it before.
Once again I wondered about the resistance, and Lindsey had been through to
make her like this, was it training? Or experience? We eventually followed her
through the house, except Connor who went to take watch by the front door.
Eventually we stopped at a large metal door with a padlock on it. It had
bloodied dints in several places and the latch looked like someone had tried to
break it off, the blood looked dry though, so assumed it happened a while ago,
hopefully. I turned to Lindsey, “Do you know where your father left his”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We
don’t need a key,” Lindsey interrupted calmly as she shot the lock off, making
everyone jump. Connor ran back inside, gun raised, but he lowered it when he
saw what happened. “Uh, Lindsey?” I started, slightly afraid, “I think I should
take the gun.” I reached out for the gun, I was worried about how she would
react, but I was even more worried about what would happen if her grief made
her do something stupid. Her hands gripped the gun tighter for a moment, and I
got more concerned, but gratefully she released it, and passed it over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> What we
found there was exactly what we needed: about 5 cans full of petrol. But there
was more than that too, Lindsey had said that her father was a survival nut and
she wasn’t lying. Rope, tools, tents, there was a huge amount of gear we could
use, too much for us to carry in fact. That’s when Connor and I took a look at
the car. It was in very good condition, better than most cars I used to see on
the road, it was older, but not so old it didn’t have all the comforts newer
vehicles do. Luckily for us Lindsey’s Dad left a spare set of keys in the
garage. The issue was that this car still couldn’t get past the barrier we
stopped at before, so we had to come up with another plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We
decided to split up, Connor and Lindsey took the car the long way around,
through several small streets that would eventually lead them to the other side
of the barrier. Emma and I walked back the way we came, carrier just the fuel
we had come for. We were walking up hill this time, and carrying more weight so
it took longer than before, but at least this time we didn’t have to be so
cautious about running into any of the dead. “What do you think about Lindsey?”
I asked Emma, neither had spoken much yet, and both of us were already out of
breath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What do
you mean?” she panted back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Can we
trust her?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Depends,
if you mean can we trust her not to stab us in the back then yeah, we can. But
if you’re asking if we can trust her judgement and skill, then I can’t say,”
Emma surprised me with her analysis, clearly she’s been thinking about this,
then I wondered what she thought about us “back at the house she was emotional,
but she didn’t really seem that reckless, just distant. She did, however, shoot
a lock off with one bullet, so at least she can aim nicely”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
laughed at the last bit, “Yeah I guess so”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Why are
you asking?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We
still don’t know what’s going to happen,” I said, hoping I could trust Emma
with my concerns, “with the resistance I mean, we might join them, or if the can’t
find a way back they might have to join us for a while. We’ve been in fights
with them already so we know they don’t easily panic and they have skill, but
if people like Anthony can infiltrate their ranks who knows what will happen.”
Emma nodded, then looked away, I took that as a sign she didn’t have anything
more to say. It was something to think about definitely, most of the time when
new people join our group it’s been a pretty easy decision, and I’ve come to
trust them quickly, but joining such a large group of people comes with a whole
new set of problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We
turned the final corner and saw the blockade, I picked up a stick and banged against
the rumble a few times, in a rhythm we had set out. It was the code to saw it
was us, and that we had the petrol we needed. A few seconds later a reply came
through, the sign to say they were still here, and they hadn’t encountered any
trouble. Then came a voice, “Todd, is that you?” it was Malcolm’s voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Yeah,”
I replied, glad to hear a friendly voice, “we’re coming through.” There were
obviously mixed feelings when I told them about what we had found, sadness
about the fate of Lindsey’s Father, but happiness at the news of more supplies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> As we
waited Malcolm refuelled the van, and Monica, Emma, and Owen, the man from the
resistance, went on a quick raid of the surrounding houses. I sat down for a
rest in the van, but I couldn’t relax for long as Jacobs walked in and sat down
next to me. “It’s pretty obvious we need to talk about what happens next,” she
started, but this was different than the previous times we’ve talked, this time
she spoke to me as an equal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Yeah,
pretty soon I’ll be home,” I tried to speak to her the same way, “but I don’t
think we’ll be up for a trip back to, where ever you live”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> She
smiled, “actually we don’t live anywhere, we haven’t settled yet”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “But you
said”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Without
a base we are more susceptible to raiding, so when we negotiate I make it seem
like we’re all set up,” she explained, my mind was reeling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “So… why
haven’t you stopped yet?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “We
haven’t found a place yet, it needs to be large and out of the way enough to
house us and keep us safe, but close enough to previously populated areas so we
can still get new supplies”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Right,
makes sense I guess”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “So here’s
my question: does your base have enough space to house and protect over 150
people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I wish I
could say I thought about it, but the answer was already obvious, “No”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Then we
can’t settle there, that brings me to my other question: is it in your people’s
best interest to pack up and join a group without a home”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Once
again I already knew the answer, “No”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Then
that settles it, we are not combining groups, and considering everything we had
to trade was on the vehicle Anthony stole,” she paused and took a deep breath, “there’s
no reason for us to stay together”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I’m
sorry Jacobs”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Please,”
she shook her head, “call me Allison, I’m only Jacobs to people who I don’t
trust.” It was an off-hand statement, but it meant a lot, I found myself
disappointed we wouldn’t be working together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “When
Connor and Lindsey get back I’ll take the car and leave,” she said finally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Ok,” I
wondered how to make it up to her, I shamefully realised that if it wasn’t for
us she wouldn’t have lost so many people, even if one of them was Anthony. “We’ll
split the supplies from Lindsey’s house,” I offered, “she your person anyway”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Thanks,
but that’s the other thing I want to discuss,” Allison replied, she spoke in a weird
tone, “I think Lindsey should stay with you guys”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What
why?” I was surprised to say the least, the two of them seemed very close<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “She’s
strong, friendly, and capable. And she’s one of the people I trust the most”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Then
why”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Because
one day our two groups will join,” she said, and she turned to stare earnestly
into my eyes, “if we both survive long enough we’re going to have to combine
forces with every honourable survivor out there to rebuild society. And even if
we’re not combining now we still have to work together, and as I said I trust
Lindsey, so if one day we meet again and she says she trusts you
whole-heartedly I can believe her, a hundred percent.” I believed her, and more
than that I agreed with her, we had to survive this, and I could see the new
society she hoped for. And I knew it would take everyone to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Connor
and Lindsey eventually arrived, followed by several of the dead that were
easily handled in close-combat. As we divided the supplies between us Allison
took Lindsey aside and explained what we discussed, the range of emotions on
their faces was heart breaking, but they both new it was for the best. When
they were done Allison handed her a small pack, she and I had discussed this
too. It was some of those gas things Greg had used to contact her back at the
station, only these ones were a different colour. The main purpose of these
ones is to say that they had found a place to settle, but we were to use it
when we felt ready to join their traveling group, or their settlement if they
had one. And then, after a few other words and goodbyes they left, Allison and
the one man out of almost a dozen, heading back home. I wondered what kind of
reception they would get when they returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We all
got into the van, now full of petrol with some spare cans too, and headed back
home. We knew we weren’t out of the woods yet, we still had no ammo, and if we
ran into any large group of zombies we had little hope of coming out alive. But
despite that we were still optimistic, after all that had just happened losing
Brooke, finding Lindsey’s father, saying goodbye to a potential alliance, we
felt things were finally looking up. We were all smiling, up until the point
that the car lurched to a halt as we reached the top of the hill, and Malcolm,
the driver, stumbled desperately out to stare at the horizon. We all followed
him, and joined him in staring. The warehouse was visible now, we could just
make it out amongst the other buildings and fields. But that wasn’t all we
could see. It was the largest amount of the dead I had ever seen, and it wasn’t
in one line or group, but it was coming from several directions, from dozens of
side streets, all stumbling in one direction. Towards the others, towards our
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-64870459475172552062015-12-29T02:33:00.002-08:002015-12-29T02:33:29.266-08:00Haven Chapter 26<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><u>Chapter 26<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The path
we chose was safe, for the most part. There was one road that made me worry
however. It wasn’t a main road like the ones we travelled in the beginning, but
it was large enough and was well-travelled enough to make me worry about what
we would find there. And I wasn’t the only one, Jacobs and Connor came to me
before we left to make sure this was our best chance. There was a safer road we
could have travelled, but we would run out of fuel before we made it. This
would mean if we ran into trouble we would be too far from the van to make an
easy escape, and if we didn’t find any fuel we would have to abandon the
vehicle entirely. This didn’t stop me from second guessing myself though, the
entire trip I was on edge, but I guess everyone was. My hands were white and
sweaty with anxiety when we turning carefully onto the road that made me so
afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> There
were two possible scenarios that would mean trouble, the first is that
abandoned cars would form a roadblock. We almost constantly see empty cars, but
most of them are on the side of the road, or at least avoidable. But in heavy
traffic when a few cars stop they all do, leading to massive obstacles like we’d
seen before. We would have to leave the van, possibly abandon it completely,
and if we did who knows if we would find anything road-worthy even if we
searched for days. The other scenario is an encounter with the dead, whose
threats can go unsaid. But if we found both waiting for us, we could find
ourselves exposed, surrounded, and with no hope of escape. It was lucky then,
that we only found one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> From
what I could see of the car pile-up a smaller car lost control, Malcolm
suggested the driver had an infected passenger judging by the blood and the way
the passenger side window was smashed. What caused the rest of the carnage was
a truck, about the same size as ours that ploughed into the other cars and
flipped over. From there it just piled up, people weren’t concerned with speed
limits and road safety during an apocalypse, and if one car stops they all do.
We stopped a kilometre from the blockage and Connor scouted about, making noise
with a metal pole to see if any of the dead were still moving. After a few
minutes of silence we drove up and stopped in front of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “There’s
no way through,” Connor stated grimly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “How far
away are we?” I asked Lindsey, keeping my voice calm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Not
far,” she answered in a similar tone, “we could walk and bring the petrol back
in about an hour or two.” I thought about it for a moment, leaving the van
behind made us more vulnerable, but I doubted we had enough fuel left to go around.
I turned to Jacobs, “what do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “It’s
risky,” she conceded, but she had already made up her mind, “but we have no
other choice”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “One of
us should stay here,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “You go,”
she nodded at me, “take Lindsey and two others.” I turned to the others who
were all hoping out of the van, “Connor” he nodded and walked over to the van “and”-
I stopped myself, my mouth had betrayed me, I was about to say Brooke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> This was
exactly the time I’d choose her, trust her to have my back. But I had to remind
myself that she was gone now, I had to place my trust in someone else. Monica
and Malcolm were strong, they knew what they were doing and I trusted their
judgment, but that was also a reason why they should stay here. I didn’t fully
trust this resistance yet, although I did trust Jacobs’ decisions. I also had
to consider the other reason for our trip, to find Lindsey’s father, I knew who
to pick, “Emma.” Her head darted up, surprised, “really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Yeah,”
I said, doubting my decision, “but you don’t get a gun, you’re there to help
carry stuff, and as an extra set of eyes. And don’t wander of alone, got it?”
She kept nodding enthusiastically as I spoke, making me doubt my choice even
more. I wondered whether she was eager to be trusted, or happy to be helpful.
Connor and Jacobs gave me odd looks, and I tried to convey confidence as I
looked back. From their reactions I doubted it worked. We all grabbed half-empty
backpacks from the van, and took half the ammo and weapons we had left, which
still wasn’t much. Then we left, once again splitting our group in half and
praying that we were making the right choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Lindsey
was right in the end, it took us about half an hour to get to her father’s
house, but I stopped them as we entered the court it was on. “Once we’re inside
we’ll be more vulnerable,” I explained quietly, “Connor, you and Emma head
inside and see what you can find, Lindsey and I will do a quick sweep in the
other house and see what’s there.” I nodded at them to leave, then turned to
Lindsey, “don’t stop to gather anything, unless its fuel,” I quickly added, “just
keep an eye for the dead… or the living” unfortunately in these situations they
can be just as dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The part
of the suburb was one of the nicer ones, big houses with rich interiors, a lot
of good it did them now. As much as I tried to focus I did begin to wonder what
it would have been like to live in one of these. Settle down with Jade and a
few kids. We had just bought a house before all this but it was nothing
compared to these ones. But I guess all those dreams meant nothing know, all my
dreams involved both of us surviving. And to do that I had to get this done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> There
was no spare fuel in any of the houses, and I was able to enter a third one
when I heard a scream come from Lindsey’s Father’s house, it sounded like Emma,
and it was cut off quickly. From the other side of the street I saw Lindsey
break into a sprint, she was faster than I gave her credit for, I did the same
a second later. We both burst through the door, expecting the worst, guns
drawn. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, but for Lindsey I assumed it was
the worst thing imaginable, to turn a corner and find her father lying on the
floor, his head smashed in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-36368004688042228632015-12-27T02:03:00.001-08:002015-12-27T02:03:19.656-08:00Haven Chapter 25<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <u>Chapter 25<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We
actually made it further than we thought before we ran out of petrol. We were
about three quarters of the way back to the warehouse, over a few hills we
would be able to see it. Unfortunately our progress wasn’t a good thing, the
closer we got to home the fewer places we could find that hadn’t been raided by
us or the marauders. We stopped in a dirt road to pull out any maps we still
had, we only had a few minutes of fuel left, so we had to face the fact that we
might have to work to find more. The remaining resistance man, Malcolm, and
Monica went off to see if they could find anything nearby, leaving the rest of
us to stare at a map. I tried to remember the places we had raided before to
eliminate them as targets. A milk bar down one road, a high school down
another. Jacobs and Lindsey said most of their raiders hadn’t come out this
far, but they couldn’t say for sure. I knew the marauders had raided most if
not all pharmacy’s in the area, but it didn’t matter anyway, it wasn’t medicine
or food we were after, but petrol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I knew
we could find some in some of the main roads where traffic had stopped, but I
also knew from experience that those roads were also filled with the dead. What
we needed was a small car park, nowhere that would have been raided already, or
where the infected would have ran before dying. Somewhere where the only cars
there would be the ones people left there on purpose, not to flee from the
dead, or somewhere they would keep a lot of fuel. But I thought I could safely
assume that a petrol station was out of the question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Jacobs,
Connor, and I were still arguing over the viability of raiding a Primary School
when Lindsey spoke up, “I might know of, it would have petrol, and other
supplies too”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Why
haven’t you mentioned this before Lindsey?” Jacobs asked, concerned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Because
I was afraid of what I would find there,” she stared at the floor as she spoke,
“it is… it <i>was </i>my Dad’s house, he was
a firefighter, and a bit of a survival nut. He was always going on road trips
up to the mountains, buying all sorts of equipment to make sure he comes back
safe… I haven’t heard from him though…” We all knew the pain of losing loved
ones, but it was somehow worse when you weren’t even sure if they were alive. I
wanted to comfort her and say we had another options, or that we could go there
as a rescue mission as opposed to a raid. But I couldn’t promise anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Where
did he live?” I asked, trying to find a point between comforting and
business-like. Lindsey pointed at a spot on the map, I recognised the street,
and better than that we could reach it with what little petrol we had in the
van. But if we got there and we didn’t find any more we would be even further
away from our goal. “Alright,” Jacobs cut through the sombre atmosphere with
her determination, “we’ll wait for the other’s to return and then we’ll be off,
Todd, can you help me find the safest route to get there that won’t use up what
little fuel we have?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Uh,
right,” I agreed a little pathetically, something about Jacobs always made me
feel like an idiot, and apparently act like one too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> For an
hour or two we measured and argued until we eventually decided on the best
course. It wasn’t the safest one, but it was the best we could do with what
little driving time we had left. Jacobs insisted I ‘get some rest,’ a sentiment
I would have appreciated if it hadn’t come from someone I was trying to
impress. So once again I found myself alone in the back of the van, thinking
about Jade, and Brooke, and everyone I had lost since the beginning of this
nightmare. But I was more than sure I wasn’t the only one grieving, because
after ten minutes of lying on my back in the cramped space I heard the muffled
sounds of crying from outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> It was
Lindsey, obviously know that she was alone the grief for her fallen comrades
and her fear for her father’s safety had caught up with her. I wondered if I
should go out there and comfort her, and I struggled with what I would say: ‘It
will be alright’ that would be a lie, ‘I’m sure he’s fine’ that is also a lie, ‘we’ll
get through this’ that too may turn out to be a lie. But in the end my choice
was made for me as I heard her stifled her crying as someone came around the
corner. I heard Emma’s voice, with a softer tone than I had ever heard it
before, “I would ask if you’re okay, but I’m pretty sure you’re not”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Please
leave me alone,” Lindsey told her, trying to steady her voice, “I want to be
alone right now”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Now that’s
not true,” Emma said confidently, and I heard her sit with her back resting on
the van, “no one wants to be alone right now, if they did it would be all too
easy to just leave”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I don’t
want to talk about my father,” Lindsey stated firmly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Okay”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Or Kyle…
I mean Anthony”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Okay”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> There
was a long gap of silence and I wondered whether one or both of them had left<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “What do
you want to talk about then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I… I don’t
know…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Well I
have an idea,” Emma’s voice became softer, “why don’t you tell me about your
friends”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “My
friends?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “The
ones we lost at the station, you knew them right? I didn’t but I would like to”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Ha,”
Lindsey laughed like she had back when we met her, “Alright.” She went on to
talk about the people she had lost, the man that rescued dogs that were
abandoned, the one who had organised a karaoke event during the storm, the one
who had punched Pete in the face when they first met. I was surprised by how
happy Lindsey became the more she spoke, and by how happy I was too. I didn’t
want to forget those people, but I never knew them, I had nothing to remember
them by. But now I did. After a while their conversation died off, until
Lindsey spoke again, “what about your friend?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “My
friend?” Emma sounded surprised at the question<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Brooke
right? Wasn’t she your friend?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Well…”
I could hear regret in Emma’s voice, “to be honest I didn’t know her that well,
or for very long. She wasn’t distant or anything, we just, never connected,”
she paused again for a long time, “but now I suppose we never will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The
grief and sadness returned, and memories of the times I had felt connected to
Brooke came with them. Memories of Caleb came too. But luckily we did not stay
for long in that state of mind. We were jolted out of it by Jacobs’ voice, “they’re
back! Get ready to leave!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I jolted
upright in the back seat, “did they find anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “Nothing
useful, on to plan B, get the others in here.” I stepped out of the van and
walked around to find Emma and Lindsey getting up “are you ready?” I asked
Lindsey carefully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> She
glanced at Emma before answering with a nod, “Yes.” We all piled inside the
van, and I made a note to pick up another vehicle if we found enough petrol.
Everything relied on what we would find there, whether we would return home,
whether we would even survive, and whether Lindsey had any family left to speak
of. We were on the road again, and God knows what we would find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-55789115175765837562015-12-13T22:42:00.001-08:002015-12-13T22:42:37.484-08:00Haven Chapter 24<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> <b><u>Chapter 24<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I moved quickly, and
some would say recklessly. I heard Jacobs yell out my name as I jumped through
the broken window and ran for Connor. I couldn’t lose anyone else today, I
wouldn’t. A few of the dead who were trying to break into the station broke
away when they saw me, but Lindsey had jumped through after me and took them
out with two quick shots. I was yelling now, yelling at Connor to turn around.
He did, but not soon enough to run away or fight back. The dead man fell on
him, but my warnings allowed Connor enough time to get the wrench he was using
in the way of its teeth. But that didn’t stop it from pinning him to the car,
and grasping at him frantically, as Connor tried to push it off using the
wrench the metal dug into the corners of its mouth, running down Connor’s hands
and arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Back at the station
things weren’t going any better, between the dead that had gotten inside and
those that threatened to create another opening they had their hands full.
Jacobs had already lost two people and with Lindsey and me running after Connor
there were only Emma, Malcolm and her inside. Malcolm had thrown some of the
wall barricade to the floor to trip up those that had gotten inside, but now
the ones outside had begun to break in. They had to either retreat deeper into
the station, or leave and take their chances outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> After an agonising run
I finally reached the cars and shot at the zombie who was attacking Connor. I
got it in the hip and its leg crumpled, this lessened the weight on Connor and
he was able to push it to the ground, smashing its head in with the wrench.
“Are you alright?” I asked, panting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Yeah,” he replied,
looking rather shocked. Even though we had lived through a lot these past few
months, we all still felt fear when we came face to face with one of those
things. I felt fear most of the time if I was being honest. And I felt it again
when I heard three gunshots come from elsewhere in the filled car park. I
quickly scanned the cars, eventually I found the source, it was Monica backing
away frantically from a few dead men who were stumbling frantically into and
around cars. I knew she could handle it, but her gunshots were attracting more
zombies, and she was heading right here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I quickly turned to
Connor, we didn’t have much time. I could see the others jumping out the broken
window, we had to leave now. “How many sparkplugs did you get?” I asked, almost
messing up my words out of stress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “3,” he answered and I
groaned, we needed more than double that “but there’s another one in there,” he
continued and leant back into the engine which was now covered in blood. “I’ve
got two more!” one of the resistance men shouted as he ran towards us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We better hope Monica
had the same luck,” I said pessimistically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> The others were getting
close, as were the dead that were following them, and now I was shifting from
foot to foot in desperation. There is nothing worse than being in danger and
being able to do nothing but wait. “Come on!” I yelled in frustration<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “It’s the blood, is
made everything wet,” Connor complained, “I’m not sure it’ll still work now-got
it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “It doesn’t matter if
one doesn’t work,” the resistance man informed us, “we just need to get out of
here we don’t need it to run perfectly”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Alright,” I breathed
deeply, almost grateful to not be waiting, “you two take these six to the van
and start putting them in”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We’re still missing
two!” Jacobs’ man interrupted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I’m going to go help
Monica, hopefully she has enough,” as I finished talking I ran off away from
the van, towards the sound of Monica’s gunshots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> By this time the others
had all left the station, but they may have been in even more danger than when
they were inside. They had lured many of them inside before they left and now
those ones where left trying in vain to get through the window. Jacobs had shot
the first few who tried, this meant that the rest had to deal with the bodies.
But there were still many outside, and they were less grouped than the others,
meaning that danger was coming from multiple directions. For this reason they
were moving slower than I did, making sure they don’t get boxed in or surprised
by a new group. But they were running out of ammo, and the dead were getting
closer. Pretty soon they would have to resort to melee takedowns, and when they
do there’s a much higher chance of them getting infected, or eaten. And I’m not
sure what would be worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I reached Monica
eventually, firing a few shots at some of the dead that were out of her line of
sight. She was panting when I met her, she had been running for a while now,
and a labyrinth of abandoned cars was hardly an easy obstacle. “Are you
alright?” I asked urgently, not matter how much I wanted those sparkplugs my
friends came first, but Monica simply nodded, and pre-empted my next question
as she held out an open hand with three sparkplugs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> We all met back at the
van, and as Connor got the work on the sparkplugs the rest of us took position
around the van. There was less than twenty bullets between us, and only four of
us hadn’t resorted to melee. We had lost another one of the resistance men, and
now we were completely surrounded. The wall of undead wasn’t complete, and at
its thickest point was only about three bodies thick, but we couldn’t give them
an inch. We also had to refrain from killing to many of them in front of the
van, out of fear of making a blockade of bodies, preventing our escape. I have
to admit Emma impressed me here. I had thought she would be too frightened to
take on a dead men in close quarters, but obviously I underestimated what she
had had to do to survive as she took down the dead just as well as the best of
us. I still wouldn’t agree to take her on raids, but after this I felt I could
at least trust her to protect herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Finally Connor yelled
out that the van was ready, and one by one we entered the van. I was the last
one in, and I used my last bullet to shoot the dead man that tried to follow
me, and slammed the door shut. Connor was in the driver’s seat and he turned
the key. The moment before it started was like a nightmare. If it didn’t all we
had achieved was locking ourselves in what was effectively a lunch box for the
undead. But it started, and it sounded healthy to as Connor slammed the accelerator,
trampling a few of the dead as we sped away from the station. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I sat in the back, remembering the last time I was
here, getting advice and encouragement from maybe the person I had trusted the
most, and the person I was just getting to know. I turned back to watch the
station get smaller and smaller. And I think I starting to understand how Will
had felt at the hospital, it hasn’t just that I had lost a friend, or that they
had died trying to save me. It was that I was forced to leave her there, never
knowing what would happen to her body, or if she had suffered at the end. All I
could do, was move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-2624302106940103302015-11-30T01:01:00.002-08:002015-11-30T01:01:22.267-08:00Haven Chapter 23<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> <b><u>Chapter 23<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> We turned and ran for
the van, only to find another group of the dead making their way through the
parked cars. Connor and a few other began firing at them, but they were getting
to close, and Jacobs pulled them away. We made it to the station before them,
and quickly closed the double front doors, barricading them with several nearby
desks and chairs. My heart was pounding in my chest, the recent events seemed
crazy, and almost unbelievable. Unfortunately I found I could believe it, and
that it was all too real. Meeting Jacobs, finding Anthony, Brooke’s death and
now a zombie encounter? I couldn’t but feel overwhelmed, and defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“What are we supposed to do?” Lindsey cried, her voice
a mix of determination and fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We pick them off, one
by one, until we can make it to the car,” Monica suggested firmly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “There’s too many for
that,” I argued, I didn’t want to sound pessimistic, but right now fear and
grief overwhelmed my need to seem like a leader<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Then we only kill the
ones in our way, then lure the others inside before escaping,” Connor said. I
nodded, it seemed like it could work, but a part of me wondered how many would
have to die for it to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “There’s just one
problem with that,” Jacobs said, and I heard a strange sound in her voice that
I hadn’t heard before, I thought it was shame. Or maybe guilt. “Before we went
into negotiations I wanted to take precautions in case this was a trick,” she
continued, “stop you from leaving if you stole from us”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What did you do?”
Malcolm yelled furiously, and I cringed, now was not the time to antagonise our
potential allies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We removed a piece of
your engine,” Jacobs confessed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “You what?!” Connor
turned from reinforcing the barricade to stare at her in anger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “You would have done
the same!” she defended herself, but I could tell she regretted it, and not
just because her actions may have led to our demise. But then a thought occurred
to me as to why she might have felt so guilty “This was him wasn’t it? It was
Anthony’s idea,” I tried to sound apologetic, or at least understanding, she nodded
in response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I felt the familiar
fear creep up again, but this time I fought back. Whether my resistance was
from anger towards Anthony or from fear of dying I don’t know but I knew I wasn’t
going to let it overwhelm me again. I had to get to work, I knew there had to
be a way out of this. I wasn’t going to let Jade down, I wasn’t going to die
here, so far away from her. “What did you remove?” I asked, trying to sound
authoritative<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Spark plugs, 8 of
them, but…” she paused, looking even more guilty, “Kyle took them with him”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Kyle?” Malcolm sounded
confused<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Anthony, he stole the
name of the man he left to die,” I answered coldly, “where can we find new
ones?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Any car, as long as
they’re not damaged,” one of the resistance men answered, “but to find and
remove removed 8 of them would take too long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I thought for a while
about our situation, there were 5 of my group including me, and 6 from the
resistance including Lindsey and Jacobs. We all had guns, but my group had no
spare ammo, and most of resistance’s spare ammo was on the truck Anthony had
drove away with. Theoretically we had enough ammo to take out the 75 odd
zombies beating down the door, but there were too many unknowns. What if we missed
a few too many times? What if they broke in before we could finish them off?
What if the noise of our firing drew more dead towards us? We had chosen a station
far away from any town centres but this was still the outer suburbs, and there
would have been thousands of people living here before the virus was released.
So there was no telling how many were waiting outside for a reason to come and
tear this station to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I made a decision, we
would try to kill the ones attacking us, but we wouldn’t wait for them all to
be killed before trying to escape. I conferred with Jacobs, and eventually she
agreed. 2 resistance men along with Connor would be searching the cars for
spark plugs, with Monica and another of Jacobs’ men protecting them, while the
rest of us tried to take down the zombies. It was a risky plan, it put more
people at risk than if we simply tried to kill them all, but it also accounted
for the possibility that more might turn up. We might lose some people, but
there was a smaller chance that we would lose everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Everyone heard the
plan, and soon everyone knew their part, we moved closer to the windows, and the
dead outside became more aggressive. I could see them clearly now, and as
horrifying as they looked I appreciated the fact that they looked so different
than the people they once were. Most of the skin and flesh covering their arms
and legs had been torn away, leaving muscles and tendons clear and exposed.
Most of them had deep, jagged cuts of their face and around their mouths. They
were nothing less than monsters now. Slowly we spread out along the wall,
trying to stop them from grouping up in one place, and then we waited for the
signal to begin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Now!” Jacobs screamed,
and I repeated it. Then I didn’t hear much else except the sounds of gunshots
and the horrible sounds bullets made as they broke through bone and flesh.
Glass flew everywhere, blood too, but we were careful to stand back, careful to
not be infected by blood transfer. Eventually the dead in front of began to
clear, as the bodies of those I had killed piled up, blocking others from
taking their place. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the others
were getting to the same point. But some weren’t so lucky, and I heard a scream
that wasn’t like any sound the dead make. One of the zombies had built up
momentum in their hunger and broke through the window, grabbing one of the
resistance men. It was too late for him, but I saw Jacobs aim her gun in his
direction, and in horror I knew why as she fired straight through her own man’s
skull. At least he wasn’t suffering anymore, but I had to question whether or
not I could do the same for one of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I heard a yell from the
other side, and turned just to see Connor jump through a clear window, closely
followed by one of Jacobs’ men. Through the blood-smeared glass I saw them make
a bee-line for the cars. I quickly turned my attention back to my section, the
zombies had crawled on top of the bodies of their fallen kin, and I had to
start firing in earnest again, I could let my attention slip. Eventually the
sheet of glass gave way entirely, and I had to step back as the body of my most
recent kill can crashing into the station, I could see others in the same
situation. “Come this way!” I yelled to the few who could hear me as I moved
slowly to where Connor had exited. If we could draw the dead inside, then trap
them there it would by the others more time. I took the time to make a quick
glance to see Connor’s progress, but wished I hadn’t, because what I saw was
the body of Jacobs’ man on the ground, covered by two or three of the dead,
with two more lurching towards Connor, who was furiously working on a car,
oblivious of the danger he was in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-76693801865988598222015-11-23T22:32:00.001-08:002015-11-23T22:32:11.248-08:00Haven Chapter 22<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> <b><u>Chapter 22<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I caught Greg as he
fell, then a second later I heard the shots, I turned my head quickly just in
time to see the life leave Brooke’s eyes. She collapsed too, and I heard Connor
yell her name as he grabbed one of the rifles. Anthony quickly retreated as
Connor started firing, he ran out the door and out of the police station,
towards the others. I turned away from Brooke to the man in my eyes, only to
see he was dead too, in shock and grief I opened my arms and let his lifeless
body fall to the floor. The room seemed to be deathly quiet, yet exploding with
motion and sound at the same time. I felt Connor run past me, following
Anthony, and I saw Emma sit up after being thrown to the floor, and as she
turned and saw what had happened her eyes widened, and her body started to
shake. Once again Anthony had ruined everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Jacobs also picked
herself up off the floor, blood leaking from the side of her mouth. But unlike
me and Emma she did not react drastically to the site of Greg and Brooke’s
bodies, instead she looked stiff, and grim, the same face she had when we first
saw her. I wondered for a moment if her relationship with Greg was the same as
my relationship with Brooke. Both of us were leaders of our respective groups,
while Brooke and Greg where older, more experienced people who supported us in
that role. My confidence in myself and in my leadership died with Brooke, as
did any hope I had of building any kind of life in this new world that didn’t
involve death, grief, and despair. From the look on Jacobs’ face this wasn’t
the first time she had faced a comrade’s death. I felt numb, I could barely
move my legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Todd,” Emma said
quietly, the first time she had ever sounded like the child she was supposed to
be, “I’m-I’m so sorry, I”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “This wasn’t your
fault,” Jacobs said for me, although the look she was giving Emma told me she
didn’t exactly appreciate Emma’s presence. I said nothing, I wished I could say
I comforted her, but all I could do was stand there and stare at the pools of blood
forming on the floor. “Todd!” Jacobs said sharply, my heads snapped up, staring
at her with wide eyes, “we don’t have time to grieve, the others…” As she spoke
I realised with fear that death wasn’t done with us today. But I wanted to make
sure it was Anthony it took next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Malcolm waited
helplessly outside, worrying about what was going on inside after Emma recklessly
ran into the station. But it wasn’t till long until he heard one loud gunshot,
he glanced towards Monica, who looked just as concerned as he felt. Then two
more shots rang out, and with horror he realised that three shots would be
enough to take out all of his people (excluding Emma).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> The men from the
resistance rushed into motion, setting up a line around the entrance, with two others
pointing their guns at us. But then they heard the sounds of rapid footsteps
from inside the station, and the men lowered their guns as the man wearing the
motorcycle helmet walked out, only this time without his helmet. Malcolm was
more worried than ever for me and the others, but that was nothings compared to
the look on Monica’s face when she grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to the
van. She looked terrified, and furious at the same time, it was more emotion
than most had seen on Monica’s face in a long time. “Marauder,” she hissed
quietly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Malcom’s jaw dropped, “that’s”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Their leader,” Monica
continued, not taking her eyes off of him as he ran towards his truck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Emma’s in there,”
Malcolm quickly played through all the horrifying implications of that, and
what could’ve happened inside. Neither of them could believe the situation they
had gotten themselves into, although few situations were believable or pleasant
these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> The two of them were
startled out of their fear as the line or men began firing into the station
then stopped. Two of them began slowly walking inside, but from their point neither
Monica nor Malcolm could see what had happened inside. They turned their eyes
back to Anthony who was now inside the truck, and Pete was about to jump into
the passenger seat when another gunshot sounded. This time it was from the
outside of the station as Anthony fired another bullet straight through Pete’s
skull as he started the engine. And before Pete’s body had hit the ground he
was driving away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I ran out after Connor
and Anthony after grabbing my gun from the desk drawer. Just as I left the room
I had shots from the entrance, I gestured for the others to stop, and
cautiously glanced around the corner. They were firing at Connor, I wasn’t
surprised the let Anthony through, they had no idea he what had happened. Luckily
Connor saw them before they saw him and he was able to dive behind a concrete
pole before the fired. He wasn’t fast enough however, I could see his leg
bleeding and he was sitting with his back to the wall. I heard Jacobs sigh
behind me as she pushed past me. I saw two of the resistance men walking slowly
into the station, they turned their guns on her, and for a second I thought in
their cautious state they might shoot her, but they recognised her and lowered
her guns. Someone had shot something however, as the sound of a gun shot from
outside echoed through the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Emma ran to help Connor
as the rest of us ran outside, just in time to see Lindsey and the others fire
at their truck as it drove off. A couple of them tried to run after him, and
one made for the bike, but a sharp word from Jacobs made them stop. She knew it
was hopeless, and too dangerous. I could see Malcolm crouched down over a body
on the road, and as he stood up covering his mouth and nose I saw it was Pete.
I glanced at Jacobs and she sighed once more, but this time it was grief on her
face, rather than anger. She had given up on vengeance as Anthony disappeared
into a side street, and now all that was left was to pick up the pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Where’s Greg?” Lindsey
asked quietly, her voice breaking, she already knew the answer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “And Brooke?” Malcolm
added as he walked up. But our silence told them all they needed to know, and
their reaction was instant. Lindsey collapsed into a heap, sobbing as another
of the men sat with her. Malcolm swore loudly, and stormed off towards the van,
we left him alone for now. Monica walked past me to help Emma support Connor.
Everyone had varying reactions, but the pain we all felt was the same. We all
have had to deal with death before, and it never gets easier, but for me this time
was different. I wasn’t there to see Caleb die, I didn’t see his blood. And there
was no one to blame then, only the mindless death that came with these times,
this time there was someone to blame. I wanted to run after him, to take a gun
and hunt him down. But everyone was relying on me, and I knew the only thing we
would gain from chasing him is more death, and more pain. We had to leave, but
as I said before death wasn’t done with us yet, and I doubt it ever will be. A
scream pierced our silence as one of the resistance men who ran after Anthony
returned, only to walk right into a group of undead, about 50 of them, marching
towards the sounds of gunshots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-34213438918194234002015-11-17T20:47:00.004-08:002015-11-17T20:47:37.749-08:00Haven Chapter 21<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> <b><u>Chapter 21<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What the hell are you
doing here?” Malcolm seethed through clenched teeth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I wanted to help,” Emma
replied defiantly, “I know I can, if you guys would just give me a chance”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “How is hiding in our
boot going to help us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I was going to come
out when you got here and help scavenge, but then those other guys showed up so
I hid,” Emma seemed genuinely scared, “Malcolm, what’s happening?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “These people are from
another group, a resistance of over 100 people, Todd, Connor, and Brooke are
inside negotiating right now,” Malcolm answered, and the both of them glanced
towards the station. “It’s frustrating, I have no way of knowing if things are
going well, If it’s a trap, or they think we’re too dangerous…” his voice
trailed away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> The two of them were
relatively new to the group, but in days like these, when your forced to rely
on others so much, you form bonds easily. Malcolm trusted and relied on us more
than he’d admit, after he was injured we took care of him, if it wasn’t for our
efforts he would be dead. And a part of him knew that other groups might not
have wasted the time and resources it took to nurse him back to health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Emma trusted us, but
she was determined not to rely on us too much. Instead she wanted us to rely on
her. In these situations the best way to ensure that is to be useful, and
killing zombies and scavenging supplies is the only useful thing she knew how
to do. But we still treated her as a child, and it infuriated her. She could be
useful, she knew it, and she would prove it to us. “I’ll go check, see if I can
see anything,” she said eagerly and darted off towards the station, hiding
behind cars to stay out of sight. “Emma!” Malcolm hissed again, but it was too
late, she was gone, for a moment he considered following, but Pete’s voice
stopped him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What are you doing
over there?” he called, suspicious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Nothing, I’m- nothing,”
Malcolm glanced over to where Emma was as she disappeared into the station,
then swore under his breath, and sat back in his previous position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> We were rattled, that’s
for sure, but Brooke put her hand on my shoulder and I regained my composure,
these negotiations were too important to risk everything just for a chance to
get rid of Anthony. Although the thought was tempting. I glanced at Connor, and
he looked confused, and then I remembered that he wasn’t with us during our
first encounter with the marauders, and he had no idea of who or what had
startled us. “Are you alright?” Jacobs asked, slightly concerned</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Fine we’re just”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We’re just happy you
trust us,” Brooke interrupted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I never said that,”
Jacobs responded slyly, “remember that I still have five men outside with guns
all pointed at your friends, this negotiation isn’t over yet”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Why?” I asked, still a little thrown, and I made sure
to keep an eye on Anthony, I still had no idea what he was doing here, with
them, “we have something you can use, you have something we can use, we should
join forces"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Well let’s say I trusted you completely and you
trusted me, we still have a lot to talk about, for example,” she leant forward,
hands on the table like mine, “where would we go, is your base large enough to
handle so many people? Is my base as defendable? And it would obviously be much
easier to move your group than move mine”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I opened my mouth to answer, but I realised any
information I give her about our home I was also giving Anthony, and that’s a
risk I couldn’t take<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Hmm, see? You don’t trust me yet either,” she smiled
smugly, and I swore internally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">What was he doing here? We knew he escaped the fate of
the other marauders but how did he end up with the resistance? I must have
underestimated him if he managed to convince Jacobs that he could be trusted,
hell she even picked him to be a part of the negotiations. And now his very
presence is derailing this talk, and any hope I had of controlling these
negotiations had gone out the window. But that was before Brooke spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“We may not be able to give you information about our
base, but we do have other information, information you might find <i>very </i>interesting,” as she spoke she
looked Anthony right in the eye, and I instantly realised what she meant. If we
assume that the resistance is in any way morally good, then Anthony’s actions
and history is enough to get him kicked out, if he’s lucky. But would they take
our word for it? We had to have proof. Then things clicked, and I knew how we
could prove it, Emma’s brother’s necklace, if Emma recognised it it would prove
her story, and condemn Anthony. “What
kind of information?” Jacobs asked curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Once again I opened my mouth to speak but once again
nothing came out, but this time it was because Anthony, hiding behind Greg and Jacobs’
backs, was holding a side arm, and it was pointed straight at Jacobs’ head. And
that wasn’t the only thing I saw that left me speechless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Emma crept silently
through the broken halls of the police station, careful to make as little noise
as possible. She wished she had asked Malcolm which room they were in, but she
wondered if he even knew, but eventually she heard noises from a room just
ahead, “What kind of information?” she heard a woman say, Emma assumed it was
the resistance leader. Silently and slowly she moved towards the room, she
could see the back of two men’s heads, she could tell they weren’t Connor and I,
so she could assume her friends sat on the other side of the room. Unable to
resist looking she raised her head slowly, peeking into the room, and making
eye contact with me almost instantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I froze, the situation
unfolding in front of me was a nightmare. A tense negotiation, the leader of a
large resistance, Anthony with a gun, and Emma, far away from safety, almost
inches away from the man who ruined her life, and had the potential to ruin so
much more. I had to think quickly, I had to do something, anything to stop what
was about to happen, but I didn’t have much time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Well?” Jacobs replied
confused, “what is this important information?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I search for words, and
then an idea came to me, “Connor,” I blurted out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Eh?” Connor actually
managed to tear his eyes away from Anthony’s gun in shock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “He’s a police officer,
he was there when the army took everyone away, he knows things, useful things,”
I glanced up at him, trying to convince him with my eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Uh… yeah, yeah sure, I’m
know about other stations, places that can be built up for defence”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We already have a
policemen in our ranks,” Jacobs replied unimpressed, “several actually, so,
what were you really going to tell me?” she caught on to my bluff. I couldn’t
focus, my eyes kept flying between Jacobs, Emma, and Anthony, trying to figure
out how to fix this, when once again something went wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What are you looking
at?” Greg asked confused and turned around just as Emma ducked under the
window, but it was too late “there’s someone out there,” he told Jacobs, and he
marched through the door as Anthony hid the gun quickly out of sight, but not
completely away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Internally I was
screaming, I couldn’t think, I could act, I couldn’t imagine what would happen
next. I wanted to dive for one of the rifles, but I knew that I was out
numbered, and if I acted rashly it could cost the lives of everyone outside,
not just mine. I wished Jade was here. I wish Will and Nicole were here, they’d
know what to do. I glanced at Brooke, she gestured for me to breath, but she
looked just as concerned as I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Greg came back into the
room, dragging Emma with him, “this one of yours I take it?” he asked grimly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I wondered if I could
deny it, but I didn’t want to risk Emma’s life, “yes, but I didn’t bring her
with me I swear, and if I had I wouldn’t have asked her to spy on”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Quiet,” Jacobs said sternly,
and I could see the fury in her eyes, “Kyle, take this one outside and shoot
her as an example.” My heart stopped as Anthony stepped forward, clearly he had
taken the name of the man he had left for dead. I had to save Emma. I was ready
to leap for the rifle, when finally Emma looked up at the man walking towards
her, “<i>you</i>!” I could hear the pain in
her voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Kyle do you know her?”
Greg asked struggling to keep a hold of Emma as she tried to reach for him, her
hands curled into claws<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “No I”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “You bastard, I’ll kill
you!” I understood what she had gone through, but the ferocity in her voice
scared even me, “you took everything from me, give it back! Give him back!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Emma calm down!” I
tried to stop her, she didn’t know Anthony had a gun, and neither did Jacobs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Quiet, now tell me
what did he take?” Jacobs moved closer to Anthony, suspicious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Everything,” she
seethed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Her brother’s
necklace,” Connor said trying to help, but it didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Jacobs quickly grabbed
at Anthony’s neck, and came away with a necklace made out of a shark’s tooth. “Give
it,”- Emma began, but Anthony reacted first, in a quick motion he threw out an
elbow, and hit Jacobs’ head, sending her to the floor, and with the other hand
we pointed his gun at Emma. We reacted almost instantly Brooke leapt for Anthony
while I ran for Emma, and Connor made for the rifles. But we were too slow and
Anthony fired, just as Greg threw Emma to the floor, then he took the bullet
meant for her right in his neck. As he fell Brooke reached Anthony and grabbed
his gun, trying to pull it away from him, but all she did was pull the barrel towards
her as he pulled the trigger again, firing two bullets straight into Brooke’s
chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-15530961662995029972015-11-11T20:15:00.006-08:002015-11-11T20:15:46.993-08:00Haven Chapter 20<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Chapter 20<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I don’t know what I was expecting, an old man I guess,
aged and experienced, someone like Greg. Instead what I saw was a woman, barely
older than me, and younger even than Brooke, physically she was comparable to
Lauren, thin and tanned, most definitely not what I expected. Her expression
however gave an impression of experience and knowledge, as well as distrust and
confidence. I hadn’t planned much for the negotiations, but judging on her look
I doubt I would have a large amount control over the way they go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I gathered myself and snapped my jaw closed, I walked
towards her as passively and friendly as I could manage and smiled, “hi, my
name’s Todd it’s nice to meet you”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">She raised one eyebrow in response, and turned looked
back to her entourage appearing around the corner before responding, “Jacobs.”
She only gave me her last name, but whether that was because she preferred it,
or she wanted to keep things formal I didn’t know. But I guessed the later. As
the truck pulled up she spoke again but not to me, “Greg what’s going on here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I caught him trying to radio his group,” Greg paused
and turned to Lindsey, “with <i>her</i>
permission”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Lindsey,” the first sign of emotion I heard in
Jacobs’ voice was disappointment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Their people deserve to know they’re alive,” Lindsey
argued desperately, before becoming more serious, “you know what that’s like.”
There was a pause before Jacobs spoke again, this time with a kind yet firm
tone “I do, but you have to decide whose feelings come first, their group’s, or
ours”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I know,” Lindsey returned to her serious state, “it
won’t happen again”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“It better not,” Jacobs replied, also become stern, I
could see where Lindsey learnt it from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Now what are we going to do about you?” finally the
resistance leader made eye contact with me, and I felt more nervous than I ever
have. I didn’t know if I could stand up to her if I needed to, and I knew if I
let her she could take everything we have worked for. “I heard everything he
said ma’am,” Greg said, still pointed a gun to my head, “he didn’t say who we
are or where we were”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Good,” she replied, and I breathed a sigh of relief,
“that means we don’t have to kill you and leave your bodies here as examples” a
part of me didn’t know whether she was kidding or not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“So what do we do now?” I asked passively, letting her
take control, for now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“We won’t talk her, not with so many people,” she
thought for a moment, “I’ll talk with you alone”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No,” both I and Brooke replied at the same time, she
nodded at me and I continued, “How can I be sure you’re not going to torture me
for information, or kill the others while I’m negotiating.” She raised her
eyebrow again, I hope it was because I’d impressed her and not because she was
amused. “Very well, we’ll be fair, you, me, and two people each, the rest stay
out here,” she walked off to confer with the others, and finally Greg lowered
his weapon and followed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The others had gathered around me, but we had to
whisper not to be heard as Lindsey and Pete were still watching over us, fingers
on triggers. “I should go with you,” Connor said immediately after walking
over, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t trust Connor completely at first, but after
everything that has happened I think I did, but I wasn’t sure whether he was
the best person to bring into the negotiations, he was an intimidating guy, but
that might be to advantage. Or to our disadvantage. I decided to leave that to
the side for now, I had already decided on one person to bring, “Brooke?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I’m in,” she replied immediately, I’d come to rely on
Brooke a lot these past weeks. I looked around the circle, and once again
wished I’d brought Jade with me, but I hadn’t. Monica was solid, and stoic, but
we needed to appear kind and friendly here, so she wouldn’t be best. Malcolm I
still didn’t know too well, he was an introvert I guess. Which meant I only had
one real option, no matter what my doubts were. “Connor you too,” I said,
trying not to sound reluctant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I know we’ve clashed in the past but I know I can
help Todd,” he assured me, and I tried to listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I turned around and saw Jacobs walking towards me, she
had chosen Greg and a man covered in defensive gear, along with a helmet with
the visor closed and enhanced with metal bars. “What about your weapons?” I
asked, each man had a rifle, and Jacobs had her hand gun unclipped in its
holster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“You’re gonna have to convince me to trust you a bit
more first sorry,” she said smugly, and I had no choice but to agree, and the
six of us walked into the station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> It had been a good half
hour of us negotiating inside, and things outside had gone from tense to
boring. Lindsey was trying to get Monica to talk about apocalypse fashion, and
failing. Pete and the rest of the resistance members were sorting out their
various loot. This left Malcolm to sit and nap, his back against the van. At
least he was trying to nap, it was starting to get warm now and he didn’t care
that much for summer, and the cool bumpy metal of the van did little for his
comfort. Not to mention the fact that every so often the resistance members
would burst out in laughter, and several times he caught Pete point towards him
or Monica before they starting laughing again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> But just as he finally
was started to forget the stress of the situation he heard someone sneeze,
loudly. He started awake, and glanced around, but no one was actually close enough
to make that noise, nor was anyone acting like they heard it too. There was a
second, quieter sneeze, and that was when Malcolm realised it had come from the
van. He glanced inside but there was no one there, trying to act inconspicuous
he glanced under the van but he couldn’t see anyone’s feet, he realised there
was only one place it could’ve come from: the boot. It had been locked by a
padlock and we hadn’t found a key, nor had we found it worth breaking off. But
when Malcolm, carefully choosing a time when no one was looking, looked there was
no padlock there. He knew who was inside, but still he opened it, and found
Emma lying inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “So that’s how you
survived?” Jacobs asked, her feet up on the desk between us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “That’s what I said,” I
replied, starting to get more hostile, she had spent the first half hour of the
negotiations quizzing us about our encounters so far, the marauders, how we all
met, how we lost Caleb. It was starting to grate on me, and not once did she
show any emotion or sympathy. “No doubt you’ve had a similar experience,”
Brooke said coolly, and I thanked her for it silently<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “More or less,” Jacobs
answered still calm, “there was a group who tried to ambush a large raiding
party a few months back, we lost a few people”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I’m sorry to hear
that,” I tried to sound sympathetic. There was a few moments silence, this was
when the real negotiating would start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “So its obvious how
joining us would benefit you,” so started smugly, “we have more numbers and a
more defensible base”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “You don’t know that,”
I disagreed, although I agreed with her, “our base might be stronger than
yours, and numbers aren’t necessarily advantages”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “True,” she conceded, “but
I can assure the majority of our resistance has raiding and fighting
experience, we aren’t a herd of sheep to be slaughtered” it was odd to hear my
own words spoken to me “and if your base really is stronger than you can bring
those skills back with you.” I smiled, she was starting to think about letting
us join her, or so I thought. “But what if it isn’t?” she turned the tables on
me, “what if you arrive to find something far greater than your home, and what
if your group is far less experienced than you pretend”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What are you asking?”
I wanted to try and stop her flow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “If your people join us
what can you give us that you can promise will be a boon, and not a curse,” she
was getting more aggressive as she spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I was silent for a
while, I turned to Brooke, then to Connor, we all knew what we had, but it was
a risk letting them know we have it. I had to make this count, it was the
biggest bargaining chip we had. “We have something, something you want,” I placed
my hands folded on the table, “even if you already have one you’d still want
another, but before I tell you I need to trust you”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What do you want?”
Greg asked but he knew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Drop your weapons,”
Connor answered, then nodded at the helmeted man, “and take off your helmet.”
Jacobs was quiet for a while, considering our request, for a long while she
stared into my eyes, and I stared resolutely back. “Ok,” was all she said, and
she opened a desk drawer and dropped her handgun inside, Greg did the same, and
taking the other man’s rifle he placed them both between our two groups. The
other man unfastened the clip and began to remove his helmet. I breathed I sigh
of relief, this was all going to turn out ok, “we have a portable generator,” I
said proudly, and Jacobs and Greg looked pleased. But we weren’t we were
mortified, as the third man turned around and we recognised him: Anthony, the
leader and all that remained of the marauders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-15313536798257461562015-11-04T02:46:00.002-08:002015-11-04T02:46:40.644-08:00Haven Chapter 19<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Chapter 19<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">We were waiting a long time at the station, I had
thought to try and get to know our captors, or maybe I should call them our new
friends, but neither Greg or Pete were particularly chatty. Lindsey however
seem quite content to talk, only not about where she came from. She was a bit
odd I’ll admit, the first thing she tried to talk about was where Monica got
her clothes from, to which Monica was confused and slightly concerned. Which
even I must admit was more emotion than Monica usually shows. Brooke saw an
opportunity though, “Where did you get your clothes from Lindsey?” she asked
with as much feigned interest as she could muster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Oh,” Lindsey smiled looking down at her dress, “I was
moving to a friends when-when all this happened, and had a bag full of my stuff
at the time”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Oh lucky you,” Connor added, knowing what Brooke was
doing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“The boots of course aren’t mine, but heels aren’t
quite practical for the apocalypse are they?” Lindsey snorted with laughter a
little. She was very odd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Did the give you those back at home?” Brooke asked,
prying for information<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Yes,” Lindsey answered abruptly, her face suddenly
serious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“They must have a lot of stuff stockpiled wouldn’t
they?” Connor tried to get some more info too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“We have enough,” once again Lindsey answered without
her previous levity. The conversation stopped after that, it was clear she
wasn’t as dumb as we assumed. I looked over at Greg and saw him smiling proudly
at Lindsey, and smugly at us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> After a while I went
and stood on my own, impatiently scanning the horizon for any sign of this
resistance leader, until Connor walked up to me. The sun had begun to set when
he spoke, “What do you think about all this?” he asked, not actually looking at
me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What do you mean?” I
answered with the same stoic face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “A resistance as large
as 156 people? Do you really think that’s possible?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “And the alternative,”
I turned to look up at him, “these guys carry around flares so they can make
people wait several hours before mugging them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Connor laughed at that,
“True,” he paused, but after the sun just went beyond the horizon he spoke
again, “I guess it’s just hard for me to believe, I know it’s true but still… I
mean, how haven’t they been killed? A group that size with no military
strength?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We don’t know that, we
have no idea what they have at their camp, that’s why we’re having this
meeting”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “What are we looking
for here Todd?” he turned to look at me finally, “after these negotiations are
over are we going to move in with these guys? Or just trade?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I don’t know yet Connor,”
I turned away from him, “besides I can’t make a decision like that on my own,
whatever happens we’re going back to the warehouse before we do anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I understand that,” he
replied in a more serious tone, “but you may not have a choice, we don’t know
if they’ll let us leave with any information we gather, and we still don’t know
if we’re just being led into a trap, they may just want to follow us home”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I don’t get that vibe
from them, but I get what you’re saying, I’ll be careful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Hey, sorry to interrupt,”
It was Greg, walking over, “it looks like they won’t make it today, and we’re
under orders not to travel at night so I’m gonna assume they have the same,
they’ll camp somewhere tonight, and I guess we’ll be staying here tonight.” I
nodded, with all the abandoned cars and broken buildings it can take a while to
get anywhere these days, we got lucky on the way here. I suddenly realised the
tense situation we were in, they couldn’t trust us completely, and we couldn’t
trust them either. I could let them take watch, that would make them trust us
more, but they could still kill us in our sleep. If we offered to take watch
they’d probably refuse, and we’d lose brownie points. So there was only one
option, “we both have one person on watch at all times, and they stay
together,” I said firmly, and Greg nodded his approval, making me breathe a
sigh of relief, I got the feeling from Greg that he was an experienced leader,
and his approval meant I was doing alright too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> A few hours into the
night I woke up, it was colder than at the warehouse, we hadn’t brought
blankets or anything, and I was alone. I thought of Jade not for the first time
tonight, I knew she would be freaking out that we hadn’t come back, and I wish
I could comfort, I wish she was here. But I knew I had done the right thing,
the others needing her and Chris more, and there was no one I trusted more than
her to take care of them while I’m away. I shook my head and tried to get those
thoughts of her out of my head, I had to remain focused if I’m going to prove
our worth to this resistance. But they wouldn’t go away, I had to do…
something, anything to let her know I’m alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> As quietly as I could I
threw off my jacket and wrapped it around me, I knew where our stuff was, I
just had to get to it. I left the station, but quickly had to duck back inside
as Connor and Lindsey appeared from behind a car, it was their turn on watch
that hour, and from the looks of it Lindsey was talking his ear off. Having
long given up on trying to get information out of her Connor looked far more
relaxed than he usually is, albeit more bored too. As they turned around I made
my move, darting around the numerous vehicles and abandoned objects on the
road, until I made it to our van.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I was ready to make the
call when I heard their voices get closer. I ducked down in one of the seats,
hoping Lindsey wasn’t tall enough to get a look inside if she turned. “So what
did you do before the end of the world?” Lindsey asked in her oddly chipper way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I was a policeman, you
knew that,” Connor replied confused<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I don’t mean your
career silly, your hobbies!” Lindsey laughed in response<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Oh, um… to be honest I
didn’t really have any, my job was my dream, and I put all my energy into that,
I guess the only thing I did besides work was catch up with my friends,” Connor
sounded sad, but whether it was because he regretted not experiencing more, or
out of grief for what he lost I didn’t know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “That’s annoying,”
Lindsey replied upset, and I could most feel Connor’s brow crease “I was trying
to start a conversation, I can’t talk about police business,” Lindsey
continued, and this time I could literally see Connor’s eyes roll as he took a
step backwards, a slight turn of his head would give me away, but it may
already be too late. “Hey was this door always open?” Lindsey asked heading to
the van door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “No it”- Connor quickly
stopped as he turned and saw me lying in the car, my finger to my lips
“actually yeah I think it was, come one let’s check behind the building,”
Connor quickly recovered, even if it was a tad unbelievable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Once they were out of
sight I continued rummaging through our things until I finally found it, the
radio, I turned it on, set it to the right setting, but was stopped from
pressing the talk button as the door slid open, and Connor stepped in, the
barrel of Lindsey’s gun right in his back. “Stop right there,” she said firmly,
I still had no idea how her personality could change like that in an instant, “drop
the radio.” I did what she said quickly, and threw my hands up in the air “I
was only trying to contact my girlfriend,” I tried to reassure her, “they
thought we’d be back by now, they think we’re dead”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “You will be if you try
this stunt again,” she pushed Connor over to where I was standing and aimed her
gun between us, “now I am going to get Greg, and then we’re going to decide
what to do with you”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Wait!” I stopped her,
tears in my eyes, “I left her behind, I know what it’s like to worry about
someone like she’s worried now, I-I can’t bear the thought of her grieving me,”
I fell to my knees, only now did I really feel everything I had bottled up
inside me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I felt tired more than
anything else, all this planning, worrying, thinking ahead. Jade was my one
escape from that, the one person I could lean on and confide in, and although I
knew she was safe, a part of me felt the same grief I knew she was feeling now.
Strangely I wasn’t afraid, for the first time since Will turned up at my door I
wasn’t scared, just tired, sad, and strangely, homesick, but not for my old
home, for the new one I had built with Jade and the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I know how you feel,”
Lindsey said softly, still facing the door but with her head turned slightly in
my direction, somehow this seemed the first time I saw who she truly is, “Every
time I leave there are 156 people missing me, relying on me, they’ve all become
my family and without them I feel empty.” I closed my eyes, surrendering to the
feeling inside, until I felt her hand on my shoulder, “go ahead,” she smiled,
but her voice still had the same tone as before, “but only for a moment.” I
smiled wider than I think I ever have, I turned to Connor and he smiled, but
sadly, evidently he missed someone at home too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I pressed the button,
and made the call, “hello? This is Sheepdog calling Basecamp hello?” I’ll admit
the call signs could use more work, but eventually a crackle came through <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Hello Sheepdog are you there? This is Amazon,” It was
Andria on the other line, she hadn’t gotten to choose her call sign either, “is
that you Todd”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Amazon yes it’s me, we’re alive, we’re with”- my
message was cut short as I turned to see Greg’s gun pointed directly at my
face, his hand held out for my gun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">As I handed it over I also noted that the sun had
begun to rise, and the entire van had become orange, but instead of comforting
and warm it was cold, and insidious. “Sheepdog are you there? Its Wild child
she’s”- Andria’s last message was cut off, something to do with Emma. Greg
shoved the radio into his pocket, “the only reason you don’t have a bullet in
your brain right now is because of Lindsey,” he said through clenched teeth, I
could see Lindsey on the other side of the truck, she was disarmed and look
ashamed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I’m sorry, I had to let them know we’re alive,” I
tried to explain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I don’t care what you were trying to do,” he replied,
choosing his words carefully, “this is a bad way to start negotiations boy.” I
knew he was right, I just jeopardised the raiding party’s future, but was I
right to do it? God knows what the others would have done if they thought we
died. My heart says what I did was right, but my mind disagreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Greg opened his mouth to continue, but was interrupted
by a yell from outside, and Pete came running into the van, “Greg! Greg! They’re
here,” he panted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“So early?” Greg looked surprised but he didn’t take
his eyes off of mine, “you sure”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“They must have got a head start before dawn,” Monica
said stoically, barely even acknowledging the situation in front of her. The
sound of engines in the distance proved them right, and one got louder and
louder as we left the van, Greg and Pete’s guns pointed at us the whole time.
Finally a motorbike came around the corner, the scout I thought, considering it
was far ahead the other vehicle, judging by their noise. “Todd, Connor, Monica,
meet our fearless leader,” Greg said sarcastically, as the woman on the
motorbike took off her helmet, she was far different than what I expected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-82112923413184261972015-10-04T05:04:00.004-07:002015-10-04T05:16:28.183-07:00Haven Chapter 18<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Chapter 18<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Things were going to be alright, that’s what we told
ourselves. I was telling myself that when we were getting ready to meet with
the resistance leader, and Nicole was telling herself that when we left for the
station. By the time we were there though, she felt far less confident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Well, what do we do now?” Daniel asked, after the
raiding team were out of site<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Business as usual I guess,” Will chimed in, a little
concerned about Nicole’s silence. Everyone had subconsciously agreed that she
was the leader in my absence, Will too, but even he turned to Nicole for
decisions. Will and Daniel walked off to check on the generator, leaving Jade
and Nicole alone. “Are you alright?” Jade asked, placing a hand on her shoulder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Yeah,” Nicole replied absently, but shook herself out
of it, “just a little concerned I guess”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I know how you feel,” snorted Jade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I guess this is your first experience at this,
watching the raiders drive away, every time you go I get worried you’re not
gonna come back”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Hey we always come back, all of us,” Jade pulled
Nicole around, “they may be gone for longer than usual, but this is no
different, okay?” Nicole smiled and nodded, and they headed inside, but in her
gut Nicole knew she was only agreeing to spare Jade’s feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But as Will said everything was “business as usual” at
the ware house. Will and Daniel did calculations about how long the petrol
would last and when they’d need more. Andria dutifully reported this back to
Nicole, who along with Lauren added what new medical supplies would be useful.
Andria then gave this, list to Jade, after adding basic supplies such as food, blankets
and building tools, and Jade promised to look for then on the next raid. This
process was flawless by now, but without the others, without a new raiding
mission to organise, people ran out of things to do quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">A few hours after the raiders left Will found Nicole
alone in the medical section, everyone else had been rounded up by Chris for shooting
practice. “Hey how you doing?” he asked, forcefully chipper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Bored, to be honest” Nicole laughed back, and Will
laughed with her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“It’s weird isn’t it, having nothing to do,” Will’s
tone got more serious as he spoke, or at least more introspective, “we spent so
much time struggling to survive, then time trying to improve our lives, now
that that’s all done what do we do?” Nicole spent a while thinking on that. In
the past, before the fall of society, she spent her time reading, or working,
or studying, or hanging out with friends. But she couldn’t do that now. She had
friends around but ‘hanging out’ just didn’t feel right. What was the point of ‘having
fun’ when unspeakable things were happening to so many people outside these
walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I know what you’re thinking,” Will’s voice
interrupted Nicole’s thoughts and she realised how much time had passed since
he’d spoke, “you’re thinking that there’s no point in trying to get back to our
‘hobbies’ or ‘interests’ because in the end they’re just frivolous.” Nicole
wondered where Will was going with this, was here trying to agree with her? “But
you’re wrong. Do you remember what I was like when we thought Todd, Connor and
the others had died at the station, I didn’t even see the point in doing
anything, helpful or not. But these past few weeks, working with Connor and
Daniel, helping the raiding system work, I realised that if we stop moving we’re
going to stagnate”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“What are you talking about Will?” Nicole asked
annoyed, she turned away from him, she didn’t want to be cheered up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“The whole reason we started raiding, hell the whole
reason we survived the apocalypse is so we could live,” He turned her around
and looked in her eyes, “but that doesn’t stop at blankets and a generator, we
need to start enjoying ourselves again otherwise one day, we’re going to wish
we hadn’t survived.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The harsh reality of what he was saying struck Nicole,
and tears started welling up in her eyes. “God, I’m sorry,” Will apologised
stepping back, “I got a bit carried away, I’ll admit to practicing that speech to
myself”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No it’s okay,” Nicole laughed, still crying, “I agree
with you but, how? How are we meant to just pick up where we left of and start ‘living
life’ again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“We don’t ‘pick up where we left off’ we start again,
I don’t feel like the same person I was a few months ago, and although what has
happened is dreadful, I don’t want to be that... kid… again. I want to start
living life in a new world we have to build for our own.” They were both silent
for a long time, until Nicole, no longer crying, laughed before speaking, “when
did we become the drama queens”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Will laughed too, “I know aren’t we supposed to be
leading these guys?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">They went their separate ways after the others
returned from their practice. The paintball supplies were running low, but when
it came to raids those supplies were not only rare but not a high priority.
Jade and Chris were confident with people’s progress however, and were even
trying to convince Daniel to join the raiding team. Will, Lauren, and Andria
had improved, but were still too afraid of combat to fight, surprisingly Nicole
showed skill, but still flat-out refused to use or even carry a gun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">After their talk Nicole and Will felt better about
their situation, and found more ways to occupy themselves. They also found new
hope for the future. Will began to make, or find, playing cards while Nicole
found some paint and tried to make the warehouse feel more like home. That
afternoon the six of them sat around a table playing with Will’s cards. “Good
job you guys,” Lauren beamed at them, “this place feels much… lighter, than
before”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“More like home,” Chris agreed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Well don’t start planning colour schemes just yet
Chris,” Daniel joked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Well maybe we should name it,” Andria suggested shyly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“What?” Jade laughed at her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No she’s right,” Will interrupted her, “I mean ‘the
Warehouse’ hardly inspires familiarity”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Well what do you suggest,” Daniel gestured at Andria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Haven,” Nicole said quietly, but everyone heard, and
stared for a while<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Yeah, Haven,” Andria smiled gratefully at her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“Sounds good to me,” Will laughed, and everyone smiled
happily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">But Lauren noticed something off, “Hey guys…. Where’s
Emma?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-5197268503368365252015-09-29T04:56:00.001-07:002015-09-29T04:57:42.928-07:00Haven Chapter 17<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 17</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Wait! Wait!” A woman’s
voice shouted out from outside. I turned to where the voice came from and saw a
woman wearing a tattered dress came running through the open door. It was an
odd sight, her dress was bright a colourful even if it was tattered and her
hair was long and blond a strangely clean, but she was also wearing huge combat
boots a few sizes too big and holding a large rifle. “I saw their cars outside,
they’re not undead!” She panted, out of breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> There were two others,
the ones pointing their guns at our heads, one looked like a young man,
probably younger than me, with a pistol. The other was older, I assumed he was
the leader, holding a rifle just like the woman’s. There some long moments when
they just sat pointing their guns at us, I knew we had the numbers but even if
we tried to attack at least half of us would be dead before any of us fired a
shot. “What’s wrong?” The woman asked confused, “why are you still”-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Because the fact that
we’re alive doesn’t mean we’re not a threat,” I pre-empted her question, there
was no way a gunfight would end well, our only chance was if I could talk our
way out of this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “He’s right,” the older
man spoke finally, but I could tell from his voice he wanted to shoot us just
as much as I did, “if we lower our weapons what’s to stop him from shooting us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “We wouldn’t do that,”
Connor assured a bit more desperately than I would have liked, “look I used to
be a police officer you can trust me”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Yeah ‘cause the police
were all saints before yeah?” The younger man pitched in sneering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Pete,” the woman
sighed exasperatedly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Lindsey, go outside, and
take all but two of these guys with you, carefully,” the older man said to the
woman, then turned to me, “we can talk, but we keeping our guns where they are,
the rest of your people won’t be harmed, unless they try something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> I nodded, and the rest
of our group started to move through the door, lead by Lindsey and her rifle.
Connor tried to stay, but I gestured for him to go, and grabbed Brookes arm
instead. “I can help,” Connor argued quietly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Yes you can, outside,”
I replied, “make sure no one does anything stupid.” Connor left, and I could
feel the eyes of the older man, judging me. “My name’s Greg,” he introduced
himself gruffly, “the delinquent here’s Pete.” Pete looked shocked at his
description<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I’m Todd, this is
Brooke, and we’re not here to hurt anyone,” I replied as calmly as I could<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I believe you, but not
enough to let you run off, you understand,” he said a bit patronisingly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “So what do we do?”
Brooke spoke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> He sighed before
replying, “I’m part of a larger group, and if I let you go and it bites us in
the ass it’ll be my head.” He fell silent and thought for a while, I thought about
saying something but thought the better of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> Eventually he spoke, “I
trust you enough not to shoot you on the spot, and even if I let you go we
could miss a big opportunity”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Oppurtunity for what,”
I thought I knew what he meant, but I wasn’t 100% convinced either<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Trade, diplomacy,
alliance, whatever you want to call it.” I breathed a sigh of relief, I don’t
know what else he could have meant, but I had to be sure, “So what’s next?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “I contact our fearless
leader is what’s next”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Really?” even the boy
was surprised, “do you think that’s necessary?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"> “Do you feel qualified
to make a decision for 156 people?” Greg asked him sarcastically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">My mouthed must’ve been open for a solid 5 minutes,
156 people? That’s was how big these people’s group was? I couldn’t even
believe there were that many people alive let alone in the same place. No
wonder they were so cautious about strangers, that a lot of responsibility. I
felt the weight of 13 people, I could only imagine what kind of person had the
strength to lead a group of that size. Brooke’s voice reminded me to close my
mouth, “are you the group that was collected by the military?” I almost yelled
when I realised what that would mean, all of us had lost families and we know
that at least Nicole’s family were in that group. But my hopes were raised too
soon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No,” Greg replied sadly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No one knows what happened to them, last we heard
they were headed for Melbourne,” even Pete was serious, I assumed everyone had
lost someone in these past few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">We were quiet for a while, lost in our memories, but I
shook myself out of it, and focused on what was ahead, 156 people was hope
enough for now. “How do you contact your people, radios?” I wanted, needed to
find out more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“No, too many raiding groups, not enough radios,
people need to eat and we have a lot of people,” as Greg spoke I still felt
like I was dreaming, “we use smoke signals, a few brainiacs back home figured a
way to have coloured smoke, it doesn’t draw zombies and it allows for some
simple signals.” As he spoke he didn’t move and at first I was confused, until
I remembered they still had guns pointed at our chests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">I considered my options for a moment and then came to
a decision. I dropped my gun, “I’m willing to trust you, if you trust me”
Brooke looked concerned to say the least, “we’ll drop our guns, give you the
keys to our cars, if you lower your guns and let us met your leader”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“’Let you’ meet our leader?” he asked amused<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">“I’ll admit I’m more than excited to find a group as
large as yours,” I did my best non-threatening smile as I spoke, and apparently
it worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">He lowered his weapon, and after an annoyed grunt so
did Pete. We walked outside and he told Lindsey to do the same, I could see Connor
was negotiating too, and from the astounded looks on the others’ faces (except
for Monica, nothing shocks that woman) I could tell they heard the news too.
156 people. Finally there was some hope that somewhere a family remained
intact, that a group of teenagers didn’t have to run for their lives or
scrounge for food. Greg lit a strange tube of fire and a ton of Blue smoke came
pouring out of it, rising into the air. I don’t know what will happen in these
negotiations, hell we could still be shot. But for once that bad feeling in the
pit of my stomach receded. Things were going to be alright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">50000 words :D</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-59947318192410145472015-08-18T05:13:00.000-07:002015-08-18T05:13:02.824-07:00Haven Chapter 16<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <b><u>Chapter
16<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> During the drive to the second
police station we enjoying an odd atmosphere. There were times when it felt
like we were just going on a road trip with friends, those were the times when
there were no empty buildings around or crashed cars. Those times when the
signs of the state of the world were hidden, and for a moment, we could forget.
In the area we were driving in there was a mix of small farms and fields and
new estates that were still pristine. Well, pristine until the dead began to
rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> While driving through estates and
main roads the deterioration of civilisation was obvious, abandoned cars and
broken buildings made up the majority. Every now and then one of the dead would
stumble into sight, either from a side road or from a building. The time had
taken its toll, most of the dead had been that way for weeks, and their skin
and flesh were peeling away due to the damage they sustain in their seemingly
mindless existence. Some were missing entire limbs, and were crawling along the
ground. They weren’t the worst though, the worst were the ones that were
obviously freshly turned. Intact bodies, only slightly damaged skin, if it
wasn’t for the blood and the way they moved I may have mistaken them for the
living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> We were careful with our driving, we
stuck mainly to those estates and farms, avoiding the large roads that while
they would have gotten us there quicker, were undoubtedly filled with cars and
the dead. This delayed us, and our journey was arduous and awkward. Every so
often we would drive through a larger estate, or past a local supermarket.
During those periods we slowed down, and tried to minimise our noise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A couple of times the dead got too
close for comfort, and however was on “defence duty” jumped off the top of the
people carrier and took them out close quarters. It was more dangerous that
way, but there was less chance of attracting any more unwanted attention.
Before we left we had fitted the people carrier with low walls and a hatch to
go between the levels, not only did it allow for extra storage, but it would be
a good platform to fight from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">During
one of the relaxed field periods Brooke turned to talk to me, ‘are you all
right?’ We were sitting in the back two seats, the others were either up the
front discussing maps, or on the roof. ‘I’m fine,’ I answered, trying to
convince her, ‘why do you ask?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘You
seem tense,’ she replied knowingly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
guess so,’ I relented, this wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have, ‘I just
feel weird without Jade here, and to be honest I’m not entirely confident about
this mission,’ I added the last bit quietly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
know what you mean,’ she sighed, ‘I know it’s better for the others to stay at
the warehouse, but I can’t help but worry. For them and for us, they protect
and help us as much as the other way around’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
never thought about it like that,’ I paused, ‘but you’re right, everyone has
something they bring to the table, the lower our numbers the less minds we have
to draw from.’ We both nodded, then I continued, ‘but this raid isn’t our goal,
they need to be there to protect everything we’ve worked for,’ I finished
confidently<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
agree,’ Brooke paused, then leant in closer, ‘and about the other thing, a lack
of confidence doesn’t mean a lack of determination. As long as you have
determination, all anxiety does is make you wary, which isn’t a bad trait for a
leader to have.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
she finished I realised that was the first time Brooke had called me a leader,
and I also realised just how much I valued her opinion. She was the oldest member
of our group, and in the past she has also been one of the most vital. I
smiled, she had calmed me down nicely, instead of worrying in general now I
felt more focused on making sure this raid went according to plan, and if it
didn’t, on getting everyone back home alive. All I could do was hope that by
the time we got there I would be prepared for anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> When we made it to the station we
were all in high spirits, even if we were extremely tense. But it was more a
state of preparedness than a state of fear, we had spent the last few
kilometres going over what to do in certain situations. And so far everything was
going well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> The station seemed intact, there was
one window broken but all entrances were closed, so there was little chance of
finding any dead inside. Before entering however, I made sure to have Connor
and Brooke do a sweep around all sides of the building, making sure there was
no way any deadmen could have entered. I was about to break down the door when
I realised something, what if other survivors had gotten here first? They could
have cleared out the station, then set this place up like a trap for anyone
else who happened upon it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> After our encounter with Anthony and
the marauders I knew what some people were capable of. Wolves, I had called
them, back when I used to daydream about what it would be like to survive the apocalypse.
Man did I have it wrong. I had to be cautious, so I did something I hoped no
other group would expect, I went in via the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> This police station was single
story, and we were able to use the people carrier and its modified roof to
reach the top. Some of the others, Malcolm and Connor especially, thought I was
paranoid, but then Brooke pointed out that since there was no downside to the
roof option, there was no reason not to be paranoid in this instance. Brooke
and I went first, the roof of the building was flimsy metal, the first layer at
least, so it made quite a bit of sound every time we moved, which I cringed at.
But there was no reason to assume that there were any dead to hear us, so we
continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
was a small service door, presumably only used by maintenance staff to access
the various machines the poked out of the roof like mushrooms. We could only
enter one by one, and after some discussion I went first. The interior was
dark, and small, but when I moved into the main rooms the space opened up more
and some light from the few windows streamed in. The inside of the station was
a mess, papers and random office items were scattered around the floor and a few
chairs were toppled over. At first I was afraid there were dead here, but when
Connor joined me he assured me this was normal, when the other police in his
station left with the army it was left in a similar condition. No need for
cleanliness during the apocalypse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
first room we stopped at was a locked one, it was reinforced so even if we
tried we couldn’t break it, however that also meant no other raiders could have
either. Just as we were about to move on Connor stopped us and started fumbling
around in his pockets, eventually producing a key he insisted fit in this door.
‘Why would you have a key to a different station’s door?’ Malcolm asked
disbelievingly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘It’s
not like we’re completely separate teams,’ Connor replied, ‘we have a room like
this at our station remember?’ I saw him grow grimmer as he spoke, clearly
being in a police station again was bringing up bad memories of the life he
lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Connor
swung upon the door, and we had our first success of the day. The room was
small, with a bunch with some electrical appliances and one small cupboard.
What we found would be useful though, on the bunch were two more police radios,
luckily they had been turned off and still had batteries. This brought our
groups total to 5, two at the warehouse and now three here. On the cupboard we
found a few useless objects, high-vis vests and some protocol booklets. But also
a set of binoculars, this I was excited about, they would definitely come in
handy. The others were less impressed and we soon kept moving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We
decided to cut to the chase and head straight for the munitions room, hoping to
find something left by the force as they left. Unfortunately we were too late,
the room had already been cleared out. My heart sank, and when we searched the
other rooms and found their contents equally unhelpful it sank even lower. The
only reason we found anything helpful was because whoever raided this place
before us couldn’t break down the door. I tried to cheer myself up, it’s better
than finding nothing and us all being eaten by the dead. But even as I was
saying that to myself, my heart stopped entirely as I heard the front door
break down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Without
even talking we enacted the escape plan we had organised before, and ran for
the large open room, with windows we could climb through that led straight to
the car. But even that plan went wrong, because as soon as we entered the room
we didn’t find a group of mindless deadmen, but a group of survivors, all
pointing guns, straight at our heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-34883622973390337652015-07-21T00:01:00.005-07:002015-07-21T00:01:49.286-07:00Haven Chapter 15<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chapter 15<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
first few raids we went on went on were quite successful. Just like the
warehouse we targeted places that were away from small roads and residential
areas, they were less likely to have been emptied. Regardless there were still
some places which we got to too late, and wasted petrol and energy, but what we
gained from our successful trips was worth the risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everywhere
we went we found varying sizes of first aid sets, and we filled our supply of
bandages, painkillers and antiseptics quite quickly. Food was found often too,
but less often was it fresh enough or preserved enough for it to be worth it.
Weapons were also a rarity, and none were recovered for the two weeks since we
started raiding. Blankets, wood for building, and basic supplies like toilet
paper and toothpaste made up the majority of our haul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While
the raiding team were out, Will and Nicole were in charge, and they made good
use of their time. They made sure everyone, including the raiding team,
practiced their shooting, surprisingly Nicole supported this. She said that in
a situation where someone needs to use a gun they might as well be trained.
They also used the building materials we gathered to reinforce the warehouse,
and create a bit more privacy between the sleeping areas. None of us had any
experience in building or carpentering, but we learned quickly that it didn’t
have to be pretty, just effective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Eventually
Malcolm was well enough that Nicole and I agreed to let him join the raiders,
something Emma wasn’t happy about. Although our newest member was trusting us
more and more I could tell she still didn’t feel at home. She had grown close
to Lauren and eventually to Daniel, but she seemed uncomfortable eating our
food without contributing anything worthwhile. Mainly Emma helped the others
with the construction, but she thought that fighting and raiding would be a
better use of her time. I suspected that the reason behind this was so that she
could search for Anthony, which was just one of the many reason why I wouldn’t
let her come along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When
he wasn’t off raiding Connor was working with Will to try and get in contact
with anyone else with a radio, specifically other police stations. He never had
any luck, but one day he came to me with a worrying suggestion. ‘You want to do
what?’ I asked incredulously<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
want to take the raiding team to a different police station,’ he answered
insistently, ‘they haven’t made contact on the radio so it’s probably empty’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘You
haven’t stopped to think maybe they’re not answering because they’ve been
overrun by the dead?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘The
dead have no reason to be there,’ he said excited, ‘the army would have cleared
the place out just like they did my station, there would be no one living there
to attract them’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I
don’t know Connor, police stations are usually in pretty packed areas’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Not
this one,’ he interrupted, ‘I chose this one specifically because it’s so
separate from any other building.’ He showed me a map of the surrounding area
and I had to agree it was pretty isolated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
I wasn’t completely sure yet, what was worth risking travelling further than we
ever have before for? ‘What do you hope to get out of this Connor?’ I asked,
careful not to give him false hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Isn’t
it obvious? Guns,’ he answered, and I had to admit he had a point, ‘and not
just that there should be more police radios there, another generator too.’ I
groaned, trying to decide, the possible gains were more than tempting, but the
memories of the last station were still fresh in my mind. After a while I
decided, ‘we’ll take it before the group, let everyone decide.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I gathered everyone except Chris and
Malcolm who were on watch. I carefully explained everything, the possibility of
finding more guns, and the risk of entering another situation like the one we
just got out of. A few nodded their heads, and a few asked questions, but after
an hour it was time to make a decision. ‘So what do we do? Should we take the
risk?’ I asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Don’t you decide?’ Emma asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘He’s our leader not our general,’
Will replied sarcastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘This would be a risk everyone would
take,’ I answered her, ‘it’s not my decision to make’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I don’t think you should go,’
Daniel spoke up, ‘we have enough guns for all of us here, and the generator and
radios aren’t worth it’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘We might have enough to sustain us,
but what about others,’ Nicole disagreed, ‘eventually we will meet other people,
or at least I hope so, and we would either fight them, join them, or trade. No
matter what the outcome extra weapons, fuel and communication would help’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘She’s right, our numbers will grow,
hopefully, we should be prepared for that,’ Brooke pitched in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘And who knows maybe we’ll meet
other people at the station,’ Will added, and gestured to Connor and Andria ‘you
guys were at the other one, maybe there will be some people hiding out in that
one.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A few groups separated and began to
discuss, but eventually I stopped them when I noticed Monica deep in thought. ‘What
do you think?’ I asked her, but she didn’t even seem to react until she spoke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I think we should go,’ she agreed, ‘no
matter what is waiting there for us, staying here and only raiding what is
close won’t work forever. Eventually we will have to venture further, why not
make it now?’ I agreed with her, and soon enough most others did too. Lauren
and Daniel still disagreed, and after being consulted Malcolm did too, but they
all conceded to go with the popular vote. I was glad of that, we may be a
group, but too big of a disagreement and people could still leave. I valued
everyone here more than I thought I would, even newer people like Emma, Andria,
and Malcolm were important to me. Maybe it was because they thought of me as a
leader, or maybe it was that for all I know they were the only other people
left in this world besides me, but I didn’t want to lose anyone. Not to the
dead, and not to pointless politics, I just hope everyone else felt the same
way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I told Malcolm he didn’t have to
join the rest of us if he disagreed with the choice we had made, but he said
that if we were going to risk our lives, he might as well try and help save
them. In the end only five of us were going to go on this raid, Jade and Chris
were going to stay at the warehouse. In previous raids all seven of the raiders
went because we weren’t gone long enough to worry. But if the dead came while
we were away I’d prefer to have more than six people here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> It was hard saying goodbye to Jade,
even though it was only for a short while. On other raids she had come along,
and I didn’t have to worry about us being separated, but now I did. ‘Come back
to me okay?’ she said joking, but I knew she was worried<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I’ll be back before tomorrow, I
promise,’ it was a promise I hoped I would keep. The six of us got in the
people carrier, usually we’d take the Ute and a small faster car for raids, but
once again my concern for the others changed our tactics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> For two weeks every time we left to
raid I had a bad feeling in my gut, and now it was worse than ever. But I had
learned to suppress it, nothing had gone wrong for a while, why would things go
wrong now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-89146788094621348682015-07-16T21:00:00.001-07:002015-07-20T22:55:04.417-07:00Haven Chapter 14<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <u>Chapter 14<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> After that she quickly began to
trust us. She told us about how she ended up here, she was alone at a bus stop
when the commotion started, but unlike others who stayed at home or ran to what
they thought was safety she hid in the abandoned cars, only moving to find food
when she was starving, or to change locations to avoid encountering the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Then one night while she was
sleeping in a van, a group of men found her while siphoning fuel from the
engine. While keeping her at gunpoint the stole all her belongings, food she
had gathered, weapons she had made in case of emergencies. And lost among those
things was sharks tooth necklace. ‘It was my brother’s,’ she explained
emotionally, by this point it wasn’t about telling a story, for her it was
reliving those events, making sure they were real, ‘He died before… before all
this happened.’ Everyone was grim and silent, we had all gathered to hear her
story but now I wondered whether it was such a good idea to crowd her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> But Lauren came over and put an arm
around her shoulder, that seemed to bring Emma back to her reality, and she
continued her story. ‘I knew it was stupid but I wanted to get it back,’ she
said bitterly, annoyed at her failure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s not stupid,’ Will reassured
her, ‘it’s a memory of what you lost, those things are important’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Still I shouldn’t have been so
reckless I’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s all right,’ I interrupted,
clearly she had had this argument with herself many times before, ‘just tell us
what happened next’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I followed them, the stopped for
the night not far away from where they robbed me. I snuck into the back of the
car that’s outside here, when they stopped I thought we were at their, but soon
they ran out screaming.’ I was surprised at that, I thought she hadn’t been here
when we first arrived but apparently not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> After a glass of water she began
again, ‘I hid in the car again, I heard gun shots and a bunch of footsteps. I
must have been in their for hours before I left,’ we all felt sympathy for her,
we had all been in that situation, terrified of the dead, wishing you were
anywhere else but being too afraid to leave. ‘When I did get out there was a
body hanging against the door, and I could see the dead chasing two others away
in opposite directions. I found a few bodies of the men inside’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Marauders,’ Daniel corrected her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘What?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Marauders we’ve been calling them…
marauders,’ Daniel realised how stupid he sounded and stopped talking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> After a long awkward pause during
everyone looked oddly at Daniel she finished her story. ‘I searched their
bodies, and their stuff but I couldn’t find my brother’s necklace. But the time
I realised it wasn’t there and went to find the two that got away I saw some
cars coming and hid in the ventilation,’ she finished and Connor spoke after<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘That
was us,’ he explained, ‘we actually found one of the marauders that got away’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘What?’
she span around quickly, startling Connor, ‘did he’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Not
that we saw,’ I answered before she finished<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘That
leaves only one other person,’ Nicole sighed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Anthony,
they’re leader,’ Monica said sternly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Emma
wanted to go after him, she even threatened to leave on her own, but Lauren,
Will and a few others convinced her to stay. There was no way we would ever
find him after all this time anyway. She calmed down after that, but she seemed
to lose some of her spirit and barely spoke or reacted when Andria showed her,
and those of us new to the new structure, around the warehouse. The only time
she did seem to react was when she volunteered to help Lauren and Nicole with
first aid and supplies. I think she felt guilty about her involvement with
Malcolm’s accident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Malcolm
had recovered a lot, and in a few days he was on his feet. The rest of us got
more comfortable in the new space, and revived from their depression everyone
got to work. Daniel hooked up the generator, but we never used it, but in an
emergency we could use lighting in the first aid area, or the heaters on an especially
could night. The strange thing was that we weren’t working towards anything. I
realised after watching everyone train with a gun, or learn how to bandage a
wound properly that we still had no goal. Nothing to look forward to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
knew I had to find something, or this new enthusiasm for training and preparedness
wouldn’t last. But try as I might I couldn’t think of anything. One night I sat
around a fire with Will, Nicole, Jade, Brooke, and Connor, talking about this
topic. ‘You’re right,’ Nicole agreed, clearly she’d been thinking about this
too, ‘without a goal this burst of energy will fizzle out eventually’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘I’m
not so sure, we haven’t seen any groups of more than 2 undead in ages,’ Jade
spoke up happily, ‘why risk spoiling a good thing?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Because
eventually the dead will come,’ Brooke answered dismally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Or
the living, we don’t know if Anthony is the only marauder left, or if there
aren’t other groups out there that would kill us and steal our supplies without
a second thought,’ Connor said, adding to the depressive mood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not
for the first time I wondered how many other groups were out there, struggling
to survive. Some would be like the marauder’s yes, but others may be like us,
trying to maintain our morals and sanity in these maddening times. ‘Maybe we should
start scavenging again?’ Will suggested<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Because
that worked so well last time,’ Jade answered sarcastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘No
I mean it,’ Will insisted, ‘we may have enough food to last us a while, but now
that we’re in a defensible position, why shouldn’t we try to improve that
position, and our quality of life at the same time?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘He’s
right,’ Connor said all too quickly and I wondered how often they’d spoken of
this before, ‘if we can find a good refrigerator we might be able to actually
get some fresh meat in our diet’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Most
meat would’ve gone off by now,’ Nicole said confused<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘He
means we’d hunt for it,’ Brooke said matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Maybe
not,’ I disagreed, ‘I mean if we had an infinite amount of power and ammo then
yeah sounds great but what if when he bad guys get here we have no petrol for
the cars and no ammo for our guns?’ Everyone who had liked the idea quickly
returned to their morose moods. I sighed and relented, ‘but maybe we can find
new foods that don’t require power,’ Will smiled thankfully, ‘and along the way
some creature comforts.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Everyone
seemed to like the idea, and quickly word spread to everyone else about the new
scavenging operations that would be happening. Eventually without even asking I
had a team ready to go: Chris, Jade, Brooke, Monica, and Connor. Emma had made a
strong case to come along, Malcolm too, but I shut them both down, out of concerns
for Malcolm’s health, and Emma’s age. Deep in my gut though I had a bad
feeling, that leaving the safety of the warehouse was a bad idea. But I knew
even that feeling of safety was a lie, we were no safer here than we were
outside. So we might as well leave, and try our luck raiding. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">But still, I always made sure to
go with them, just in case.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-21669460510429235232015-07-12T07:26:00.002-07:002015-07-12T07:26:17.125-07:00Haven Chapter 13<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <u>Chapter
13<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘What’s your name?’ I asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> The girl turned her head away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘How long have you been here?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Still she gave me no response<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Are there any others here, or
anyone who will be returning?’ I didn’t expect a response and I didn’t get one,
but this time she looked straight at me with an icy glare. She couldn’t be
older than 16, 15 maybe, and she was thin, most likely this place was the first
source of food she had found for a few weeks. Part of me sympathised with her,
but I knew I could let my guard down regardless of her age or condition. And
after some arguing Nicole reluctantly bound her to the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I left the make shift room we had
constructed and found Will, Nicole, Brooke, Daniel, and Connor waiting for me. ‘Did
she say anything?’ Connor asked quietly, as if worried she was here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘No,’ I answered trying to think<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘That’s not surprising considering
she doesn’t have any reason to trust us,’ Nicole sighed, she’d obviously tried
before<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘No it’s not like we took care of
her and fed her even after she harmed one of our own,’ Brooke pitched in
sarcastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I ignored her and turned to Nicole, ‘how
is she doing?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘She had a pretty bad cut from some
broken metal and, I think, a concussion. She’s lucky she didn’t lose too much
blood there’s no way to replace it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Brooke walked off shaking her head
as the rest of us stood thinking, after a while I suddenly had an idea. ‘Connor,
you should talk to her,’ I suggested a little too enthusiastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Me?’
Connor pointed to himself confused, ‘why? I mean I’m happy to give it a try but
interrogation isn’t my forte, neither are teenage girls for that matter’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Weren’t
you a police officer?’ Will joked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Yeah,
an officer not a detective’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘No
that’s what I mean,’ I interrupted, ‘as Nic said she has no reason to trust us,
but you were a police officer, she’ll trust you’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I think you’re over estimating
people’s trust in the police,’ Daniel pitched in, but after Connor shot him an
annoyed look he raised his hands and walked off. ‘Alright,’ Connor conceded eventually,
‘I’ll show her my badge and do my best but don’t expect miracles.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Connor
went through to her room and Nicole left to check on Malcolm. When we were
alone Will walked over, ‘Todd I want to apologise’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘No
its me that should apologise,’ I stopped him, ‘I over-reacted and shouldn’t
have flown off the handle like that’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘But
still,’ he put up a hand to stop me interrupting again, ‘I want you to know
that if we’re ever in that position again, your gone and we’re left behind, you
can trust me to take care of things here.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
nodded, unsure of what to say as he walked off. In the beginning Will had been
more grounded than me, I had refused a leadership role out of fear and Will had
stepped up. So what had changed? Why was it that he was so fragile?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
knew the answer as soon as I had asked the question. We still didn’t know the
full story of what happened at the hospital, with Caleb, with his mother. And I
doubt we’ll ever know, I just have to help him find his stable ground again, or
hope that he finds it himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I had wondered over to the larger
area of the warehouse were we had set up the food and was sitting with Jade
when Connor came up to me. I raised my eyebrows in an unspoken question and he
shook his head back. ‘She seemed to relax a bit more, but she still wouldn’t
talk,’ he explained disappointed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s all right, it’s a step in the
right direction at least,’ I tried to boost his spirits, no doubt his friend’s
condition worried him and he would rather be helping him than questioning a
prisoner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I noticed Lauren with a large amount
of food a few metres away. ‘Hungry are you?’ I asked sarcastically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> She laughed back oddly, ‘no its for
Chris, and our… guest too.’ I had forgotten she was helping out Nicole with
taking care of the medical stuff. An idea began to form in my mind, ‘hey
Lauren, wait.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I hid in Malcolm’s room, only a thin
sheet of cloth separating this one and our guest’s. I heard Lauren enter, and
set a tray down on a bench near the bed. ‘I know its not very nice,’ she said a
bit loudly and I cringed, worried she would give us away, ‘but if you have any
preference just speak up.’ I remembered high school drama class and
reconsidered putting Lauren up to this task. But as Lauren prepared the food my
doubts disappeared. ‘Anything’s fine,’ the girl spoke quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I moved to a gap between to sheets,
and I could see the girl eyeing the food hungrily. I grinned, I thought that
maybe if we didn’t just interrogate her she might actually open up, and it
seems I was right. Lauren jumped slightly when the girl spoke, but quickly
recomposed herself, ‘do you have any allergies?’ she recited one of the
questions I gave her, the more we got her talking the more likely it was that
she would keep talking. ‘Gluten, or’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘No its fine,’ she interrupted
Lauren clearly eager to eat a proper meal, well, as proper as things get in
these situations. ‘I’m Lauren by the way,’ Lauren spoke pleasantly, clearly
happy she was succeeding, but she was only met with silence and an odd stare
from the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> She pulled at her bonds to draw
attention to them, ‘I can’t eat with these on,’ she said carefully. But as
Lauren picked up a spoon and prepared to spoon-feed her porridge she groaned
and pulled away. Lauren gave her an odd motherly look and eventually the girl
sighed and let Lauren feed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Things were going quite well in my
opinion, they were clearly building a rapport, sparse as it might be. What I
didn’t count on was my cover being blown by the one person we didn’t inform of
the plan. ‘Todd? What are you doing here?’ Malcolm groaned as he rolled over in
bed. I saw the girl spin her head around at the sound, and as we made eye
contact and knew our plan had failed, and the girl spat a mouthful of porridge
at Lauren you quickly left the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Nicole rushed into the room after
hearing Malcolm wake up, smiling wide. I was pleased, probably more than I felt
at the time, that Malcolm was okay, but it couldn’t have happened at a more inopportune
moment, we her finally getting somewhere. I ran into Lauren and everyone else
outside, ‘I’m sorry,’ she said shakily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘You have nothing to be sorry for,
you were doing great,’ I reassured her, ‘we were just unlucky is all. And lucky
at the same time I guess, Malcolm’s awake’ everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Apart from Brooke and Monica who were keeping watch everyone had gathered
around to see how things went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Nicole eventually came out of the
room, still smiling thankfully. ‘Everything looks fine, as far as I can tell
anyway,’ she explained, ‘but things could still go badly, just like last time’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘But he’s got a better chance now
right?’ Connor asked concerned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Oh yes,’ Nicole said almost
laughing with relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> But our celebration was cut short as
we had the clatter of metal hitting concrete from inside the girl’s room, then
ripping fabric. We rushed in, somehow she had got a hold of a knife Lauren had
taken in with her and gotten free. We followed her through the hole into the
meal area. ‘Stay away from me!’ She yelled, waving the knife around wildly, but
as Chris and Connor raised their guns she let out a sound like a sob and dropped
the knife. I could see her desperation, and then somehow I knew, I knew she was
not a threat to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I made a gesture with my hand and
the others lowered their weapons, but I didn’t stop Daniel and Jade from edging
behind her and blocking any escape. ‘We don’t want to hurt you,’ I spoke softly
and tried to reason with her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Is that why you tied me up?’ she
asked, obviously afraid but still defiant, ‘interrogated me?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘We couldn’t trust you as much as
you couldn’t trust us,’ as I spoke I realised what I had to do. I pulled my gun
from my holster and she flinched, but slowly I put it on the floor, sliding it
over with my foot. ‘Todd!’ Jade protested, but I silenced her with a nod<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I’m giving you a choice, you can
take this gun, some supplies, and leave. We won’t stop you,’ I knew I was
taking a risk, but I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try and help her. She
picked up the gun, but didn’t point it anywhere, I took that as a sign to
continue, ‘or, you can tell me your name, and you can stay here, with us.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> There were several long minutes when
everyone was tense. And we all jump when we heard the gun fall to the floor, as
she softly spoke, ‘Emma, my name is Emma.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-69919951259144392802015-07-11T04:52:00.002-07:002015-07-11T04:52:34.781-07:00Haven Chapter 12<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chapter 12<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I could hardly believe we’d made it,
but then another part of me never doubted that we would. All the familiar faces
seemed like little miracles, I had been so concerned about the safety of the
others I think I convinced myself I would never see them again. But as it turns
out, my concerns were valid, and not everyone was alive and well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Malcolm had been injured, in an
incident everyone had been shady about, Nicole said she would tell me about it
later. Originally he hadn’t seemed badly injured, but the next day he collapsed,
and he’d only woken up sporadically since. Nicole said he was lucky, we had
used up most of the IV supplies on Chris, and there wouldn’t be enough to
sustain another unconscious patient. But it had been a long time since he last
woke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Will he wake up?’ I asked Nicole
when we were alone in Malcolm’s room, well, the section separated from the rest
of the area using shelves and cloths<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘There’s no way to tell,’ Nicole
answered definitely, she was becoming far more confident in her clinical
expertise, ‘I don’t know what damage has been done, he may have fractured his
skull, or just have a bad concussion. All I can do is keep his head cushioned
and do what I can to keep him stable, it’s up to his own body to fix what is
wrong’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I refused to believe it was up to
chance, ‘but all those medicines from the hospital, can’t they help?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Most of those were antibiotics, useless
in this type of injury, and as I said I don’t know what is wrong, a medicine
that might help one diagnosis might worsen his condition if I was wrong.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I knew she was right, I was learning
to trust her opinions more and more, medical or non-medical. ‘How did this
happen?’ I asked, although I’m not sure whether it was her I asked, or myself.
Nicole turned me around and pointed at a spot on the wall where a section of
ventilation was missing, ‘it fell right on top of him, Lauren and Brooke were
there when it happened. We had just found something strange and Malcolm was coming
to get them’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Something strange?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Food scraps and empty containers,
as well as a sleeping bag that according to Malcolm wasn’t there before,
someone had been staying here before us, but after we ransacked it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I tried to process this information
as quick as I could, someone else here? Was it that Anthony guy? The leader of
the marauders? ‘Were they still here?’ I asked, worried we’d be thrown back
into jeopardy just as we thought we were safe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Nicole nodded grimly and I was
filled with dread, ‘they were hiding in the ventilation when it fell.’ She
walked over to one of the “walls” and pulled back the cloth, through the
shelves I could see another bed, but the patient on this one was a young girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Jade, Connor, Daniel, and Chris were
being updated by Will and Lauren when I came over and sat down next to them. ‘Did
you were about this?’ Jade asked shocked, the others were all wearing similar
expressions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Nicole just filled me in,’ I reply
exhausted, not for the first time I wished I hadn’t stepped forward to be the
leader<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Did you speak to our new guest?’
Connor asked, more than slightly concerned over the issues she could bring with
her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Not yet she was resting, Nicole
said she’d find me,’ I took and deep breath before speaking again, trying to
sort my thoughts before getting any new information, ‘how’s everything else
been going here?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Well,’ Will started a bit shamefully,
‘Brooke and Nicole got themselves sorted but to be honest the rest of us…’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘We were too worried about you to
really start doing anything,’ Lauren finished for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A flash of unreasonable anger came
over me, ‘oh great so while we’ve been out struggling to survive, risking our
lives to get back here you’ve just been laying around sitting on your asses!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Hey!’ Chris stood up angrily but
Daniel stood in front and held him back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s not like that Todd,’ Will said
quietly, ‘we got to the station and organised ourselves, it felt like we had
our lives back, we could look to the future and see something real. Even when
we were separated from you we still felt like we had some hope. But then Malcolm
collapsed and it just felt like everything was going wrong, and there was
nothing we could do,’ his voice broke as we spoke, and everyone was silent, ‘it
was like I was on the rooftop again, losing a friend, and it was all my fault.
I couldn’t imagine doing anything, I was too afraid of losing someone else.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I wanted to say something, I wanted to
comfort my friend, but part of me was angry, I don’t know why, and another part
of me was so affected by his words I couldn’t find any of my own, so I just
walked away. I saw Daniel, Lauren, and Chris walk off the other way, and Jade
followed me but I didn’t really want her to. Only Connor stayed but I doubted
he could help Will much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I walked outside to Brooke’s empty
shooting range, grateful for the privacy. Angrily I picked up one of the
paintball guns and quickly fired a few shots, and missed the target each time. ‘Damn
it!’ I swore, I didn’t know why I was so angry, was it because I was genuinely
upset with Will and the others? No. To be honest I couldn’t blame them, I had
been in the same position just a few days ago, on the verge of giving up, but I
knew the others had made it out of the station alive. As I looked out on the
horizon I could see some smoke from the still smouldering wreckage of the
station, fire from the explosion must have set the building ablaze, god knows
what they must have thought when they saw that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I wasn’t angry anymore, just sad,
but unlike before I didn’t feel depressed, or like giving up. I felt like
changing things for the better. I never wanted to hear something like that
again, I would make sure of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘So have you calmed down now?’ I
turned around and saw Jade walking towards me, she must have waited inside a
while before following me, smart move. ‘Yeah,’ I smiled bitterly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Good, ‘cause you were out of line
there,’ She leant against the wall Brooke had made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I know, I don’t know why I said
that’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I do,’ I turned sharply to her as
she spoke, ‘you were scared, scared of not making it here, scared of what you
would find, and when you did get her you find we almost lost another friend.
You weren’t angry at Will, or Lauren, or even at yourself, you were just…
scared’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Even before all this you knew how I
was feeling before I did,’ I laughed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘That’s not that hard seeing how
slow you are about it,’ she moved closer as she spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> We stood there silently for a
moment, enjoying being together, safe, again. ‘I’m sorry we haven’t been
talking that much recently Jade,’ I apologised, looking in her eyes as she
looked at the ground, ‘or spending much time together at all’-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s okay Todd, I can hardly blame
you for not being the perfect boyfriend while also leading a group of
apocalypse survivors,’ she laughed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘But still, I want that to change,
maybe the reason why things at the station went to hell, and why I came so
close to giving up is because I didn’t have you to clear my head, and tell me
how I was feeling’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Well I guess that’ll have to
change,’ she spoke quietly as she leaned in close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Todd!’ I cursed under my breath as
Nicole burst through the door, ‘She’s awake!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-44720084910536792062015-07-01T00:03:00.004-07:002015-07-11T04:20:51.871-07:00Haven Chapter 11<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chapter 11</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘So what do we tell them when they
get here?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Who says they’ll make it here?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Don’t talk like that! We have to
believe they’ll come back to us, I have to believe that…’ Lauren’s voice
trailed off as uncertainty took hold. What if Andria was right? It had been two
days since they had left the police station, and there was still no sign of
Chris or the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Some of the others, like Lauren,
still held on to the hope that they survived. Others, like Andria, thought they
were in denial, and with their hope for their friends’ survival there energy
seemed to have gone too. Almost everyone wondered around the warehouse, they
couldn’t think of anything to do. On the first day Lauren and a few others had
wanted to go and look for them, but when they did they saw smoke coming from
the station. That meant either they didn’t make it out in time, or they
escaped, and there was no way they would find them without make the situation
worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A few people though, Nicole, Monica, and
Brooke among them, coped by keeping themselves busy. Nicole had two new
patients to tend to, and got herself set up in one corner of the warehouse.
Brooke started keeping watch day and night, all by herself. Nobody was getting
much sleep anyway. She and Monica had also set up a shooting range outside, using some
paintball equipment they had found inside, but they were the only ones who used
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Will and Andria had originally tried
to boost moral by cooking some of the last non-dehydrated food they had and make
the warehouse feel more comfortable. But after Malcolm’s condition worsened Andria didn’t have the strength to try, and without her support Will quickly
fell into the same state of melancholy as the rest of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> And now, as the sun set on their
third day at the warehouse Daniel and Lauren sat by the window, barely touching
their food, lost in their thoughts. Were they ever going to see their friends
again? And if they didn’t how long would it be until their new home was no
longer safe, and once again they would have to run, and risk losing even more
friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> The nights were difficult in the
warehouse, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">he thin metal walls did little to keep out the cold and it was
almost June. With the generator either lost or destroyed they couldn’t power
the heaters, and the blankets they had brought along were hardly abundant. It
was these times that Lauren missed Chris the most, she missed cuddling close at
night, sharing each other’s warmth and love. She wondered whether she would
ever feel truly safe and warm again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Apart from the sound of the wind
blowing against the walls the warehouse was silent. Scattered throughout it the
group slept, or at least tried to. And high above them on the rooftop Brooke
sat, huddled in the thickest blanket they had and watched. For two nights
things were quiet, if it wasn’t for the smoking of the burning police station and
the knowledge of the dead wandering around Brooke might even say it was
beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Tonight however, things would be
different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I couldn’t give up, I would never
give up. There was too much to live for, Lauren, Will, all of my friends were
counting on me. We caught our breath in regular stops, but slowly we walked,
quietly, careful not to attract any attention. Our radios had been damaged in
the escape, we couldn’t communicate to the others or even let them know we were
alive. For the two nights we had to make it through alone we stayed in the most
intact house we could find, and ate what little food remained that we could
trust to be healthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> On the third night however, we didn’t
stop moving, we were so close now, so close to everything we were fighting for:
our friends, our loved ones, and the hope for a new home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> I stopped our group a few kilometres
short of the warehouse, seeing the huddled figure on top. I had no doubt it was
Brooke, or maybe Monica, with a rifle aimed right at us. I breathed a sigh of
relief, they had made it, all through this trip I worried that the others hadn’t
made it too the warehouse, or worse that when they got there it was already inhabited,
either by the dead or by the marauders. Without a way to show it was us in this
darkness there was no way we were getting inside until sunrise. But there was
no way to know if it really was one of us in there, but I had to believe that,
I just had to prove it was me. Luckily I had thought of this, and grabbed the
last working flashlight we had on us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Brooke aimed the rifle carefully,
using the scope to get a good aim, even though in this low light it was hard to
tell. She carefully, without taking her eyes off the unknown figures, took out
a pair of scissors and cut the string next to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Inside a group of empty cans strung
together fell to the floor with a loud clang, and everyone jolting awake, hose
that were asleep anyway. Quickly they all gathered in the office room and armed
themselves the best they could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘Brooke come in,’ Andria spoke over
the radio, ‘is it the dead Brooke? Are we evacuating?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘It’s not the dead,’ she answered,
her voice crackled through the radio, ‘at least I don’t think it is’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Lauren grabbed the radio off Andria,
‘is it them? Is it Chris is he alright?’ She fired off question quickly. Andrial thought to snatch the radio back off her but thought the better of it as he saw
how tightly she clung to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> ‘I don’t- hang on,’ Brooke stopped
talking as she tried to make out the object that was being lit up in the
distance, after a while it started to move forward, and eventually she got her
answer and her heart jumped in her chest as she recognised the license plate
from Connor’s car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860184960308506129.post-77434681109864435792015-06-30T23:06:00.002-07:002015-06-30T23:06:38.995-07:00Name ChangesA few character names I decided I didn't like so I changed them, the past chapters online will remain the same but all future chapters will include these changes:<br />
<br />
Wendy-->Jade<br />
Daphne-->Lauren<br />
Simon-->Chris<br />
Steven-->Malcolm<br />
<br />
Any strong feelings on this matter feel free to leave suggestionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12625811818308885994noreply@blogger.com0