Erica lifted the rifle, but Theo stopped her. "Just leave him be. Let him stay like that."
"You're right," Erica replied.
The group ran around the undead captor to the fence at the back of the yard. Before they could hop over the gate, Tall guy appeared in the doorway, and he was wielding some type of assault rifle. "Hey, assholes!" He shouted at the group.
He raised the gun to fire at them, but Erica took aim with the hunting rifle. Not at Tall Guy, but at the rope that kept the third captor in place. She squeezed off a round and the bullet tore through the rope that had been wrapped around the rotter's neck. The corpse steamed right to the Tall Guy. The tall guy fired off several rounds from the rifle into the midsection of the undead before the dead thing tackled him to the ground and bit into his throat.
The five of them watched as the tall captor thrashed around on the ground, kicking and wailing and trying to get his former friend off of him.
"Hell of a shot, Erica," Silvie said.
"Hey, he said he'd leave us alone," Erica answered.
"Yeah, you're right."
The rotters that were in the area heard all of the commotion coming from the backyard and began charging towards the house.
"We gotta get moving," Alan said. "Follow me."
"Follow you where?" Asked Erica.
"My house. It's not that far from here."
"Sorry, Alan if we don't seem very trustworthy right about now."
Alan pulled the AK from around his shoulder and handed the weapon over to Theo. "Here. I don't need it."
Theo took the rifle, "Okay, I think we can trust him."
"I know this area well, and it's getting dark. Not only that, the dead people will be here any second."
"Come on, let's go," Silvia said.
Erica relented. "You're right"
They all hopped into the alley just as the first batch of rotters made it over the top of the privacy fence that surrounded the backyard. The rotters rushed over to the back doorway and began tearing into what was left of Tall guy, and wandering into the captors' home. Erica pictured the corpses tearing apart Ryan's lifeless body laying there on the living room floor.
Alan led the group to the end of the alleyway and then into another backyard.
"We're only a few blocks away from my place," Alan told everyone.
"You know your way around pretty well," Theo said.
Alan nodded. "I'm an urban explorer. It's one of my hobbies."
"Whoa really?" Macey asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"No offense Alan, but you have 'software designer' written all over you," Theo said.
"Software engineer," Alan corrected Theo.
"Can we discuss our career paths later?" Silvia asked. "There are dead things all around us, I'm starting to smell them."
After sneaking through a few more backyards, the group stopped in between two of the homes. Across the street from them sat Alan's house. They had to wait for a small pack of the dead things to wander by before they could head on over to Alan's place. It was almost completely dark outside, and they could only make out the silhouettes of the rotters that were moving past.
"As soon as they're out of the way, follow me. We're going to the left side of the house. We're getting into the basement," Alan told the others.
Once the dead things were far enough away, the group bolted across the road and to the side of Alan's home. Alan tapped on a small basement window, the corner of the pitch black curtain covering it moved slightly, and then the window slid downward.
Alan crawled into the basement first, "Come on in guys," He told the group.
The rest of them crawled inside the basement and were greeted by a petite blonde woman. "Guys, this is my wife Brittney," Alan said.
"Please, make yourselves at home," Brittney said to everyone. Brittney was wearing a red flannel shirt and blue jeans. She kept her blonde hair in a high ponytail and she walked around the basement barefoot.
Alan's basement was nice and cool inside. There was a washer and dryer tucked away in one of the corners. Resting beside the appliances was a large cot that Alan and Brittney both slept on. There were two big coolers filled with food items and a circular table sitting in the center of the room. And there was a brown, dingy old couch that's best days were well behind it. But Theo and the girls couldn't care less. They were just happy to be free from the captors.
Theo, Silvie, Macey, and Erica all plopped down on the couch. Theo looked around the room, "Man, this sure is nicer than our old basement."
"Yeah, it is," Erica added.
"How long have you two been down here?" Silvie asked Brittney.
"Since the second day of this," Brittney answered. She walked over to a small closet and began pulling out some extra blankets and pillows for the group. "Alan, I was worried sick about you," She said to her husband.
"Yeah, I figured. It was those guys in the camo. They finally caught me," Alan replied.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. They jumped me when I was cutting through a backyard."
"I told you not to go out that night, didn't I? I told you that you'd run into them eventually."
"Yeah yeah."
"So what happened?"
Erica answered before Alan could, "We took care of it."
Alan nodded. "Yep, sure did."
"I don't even wanna know," Brittany replied.
"We'll just say that those dicks got what was coming to them," Theo said.
"That reminds me, Theo, show Brittany the back of your head. She'll clean the wound for you," Alan said.
Brittany examined Theo's head, cleaning the wound with some cotton swabs and peroxide. It burned a little, but Theo didn't mind. "Doesn't look too bad," Brittany told Theo.
"Man Theo, those bastards got you good. I'm, well, we're glad you're okay," Erica said.
"I don't know what the hell I was thinking, trying to fight back like that," Theo replied.
"You were protecting us, and the supplies," Macey answered.
"Yeah, and did a shitty job of it too."
"Don't worry about it," Silvie said. "You did okay."
"Is all our stuff there?"
Macey began to rummage through the bags of supplies. "Actually, I think a few bags could be missing. We all grabbed what we could, but there's still a few bags back at the truck. I don't think those masked guys looked in the Blazer at all."
"Shit, I forgot about the truck," Theo said. "So much for us getting to the river."
"Guys, I can take you to the truck and if there's a spare tire, we can fix it, get you all back on the road," Alan told them.
"Really?" Erica asked.
"Yeah."
Brittney looked at her husband. "Not tonight you're not. You just got back to me. I don't want you heading out there."
"Yeah Alan, you did enough for us already," Silvie said.
"You should have seen your hubby back there Brittney, we'd all be dead if it wasn't for him," Theo said.
"Your husband's a hero," Macey added.
Alan blushed a little bit, "I did what I had to do."
"I don't know about the rest of you," Erica said. "But I'm exhausted. Can we discuss our truck and supplies a little later?"
Theo agreed, "Yeah, I could use some rest too."
Alan and Brittany laid down. Theo spread out a blanket and curled up in one of the basement corners. Erica let Silvie and Macey share the couch while she fell asleep on the floor behind it. There was no laying around and waiting to drift off to sleep for any of them, they all passed out right away.
Chapter 19
It was one of the better night's sleep that Theo had in a while. When he awoke, he was glad that his head didn't feel like it was in flames anymore. Theo rubbed his eyes and stood up. Everyone else was gathered around the small table in the middle of the basement.
"Hey Theo, come join us for some breakfast," Alan said.
Theo sniffed the air. "Is that fresh oatmeal I smell?"
"
Yep."
"Come on Theo, it's good," Macey said.
"Bacon? Is there bacon?" Theo wondered.
"Nope," Alan replied.
"Stop being greedy, Theo," Erica told him. "Get your bony ass over here for some grub."
Theo sat in between Macey and Silvia and began eating. "You know Alan, something's been bothering me about this basement."
"Which is?" Alan asked.
"Where the hell are the steps?"
Erica pointed to where the steps would be that led up to a boarded-up door, "Yeah, what happened?"
Brittney giggled. "Oh that. One of those dead people got inside our house."
"Yeah, Brit and I ran down here and I boarded up the door. Then we tore the steps apart, just in case," Alan said.
"Why didn't we think of that in our old place?" Erica asked Theo.
"Please, that was way too labor intensive," Theo replied.
"Lazy prick."
"Damn right. And since I'm so lazy, do you wanna head out and fix the truck all by yourself?"
"Sorry, Theo."
"That's better."
"Do they do this all the time?" Brittney asked Silvie and Macey.
Macey groaned. "You have no idea."
"Mommy and Daddy fight like this all the time, will you please adopt us?" Silvie joked.
"Erica wouldn't marry me. That whole her being a lesbian thing," Theo replied.
"So hot," Alan said.
"Yeah," Brittney added.
Erica threw her arms up in the air, "That's it, I give up."
Everyone in the basement laughed. After their ordeal with the captors, nobody from the group was in a hurry to leave Alan's house. Even Theo.
"Listen, uh, about the truck. Do we have to get there right away?" Theo wondered.
"You guys can stay here for as long as you'd like," Alan said. "You have enough supplies, right?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure how many bags are still at the Blazer though. Did those masked pricks take anything out of the back of the truck?" Theo asked the girls.
Silvia shook her head. "No. They knocked you out and then grabbed us. That was about it. The rotters were getting closer to the truck anyways."
"Whenever you guys are ready, I'll take you over to the truck, and we can change the flat," Alan told them. "For now, you guys can all relax a bit. It's been a rough couple of days for everyone."
"Try a rough couple weeks," Erica said.
Theo went over to the basement windows and moved one of the curtains aside. He was trying to see what the weather was like out there. "Looks like some heavy ass clouds. Probably gonna rain."
"Good, then we don't have to go out at all," Erica said.
"Why? Are you made out of sugar?" Theo joked.
"Where's that damn AK?"
"Have you guys smelled any of the dead people when they're soaking wet? Not pleasant, let me tell you," Alan said.
"Even worse than they already do?" Macey asked.
"Ten times worse."
The rain started to fall after the group finished eating breakfast. It poured down for most of the day. Everyone didn't mind, however.
"When we do decide to go and take care of the truck, who's all going?" Theo asked. "Besides Alan that is. I guess I'll be the first volunteer."
"Do we have to worry about any more crazed assholes wearing masks ready to jump us?" Silvia asked.
"No, not that I know of," Alan answered. "As far as I know we're the only survivors around here. I think our neighbors all tried to take off. You guys are the first people I've seen in about a week and a half. You know, it could just be me and Theo that goes to the truck."
"I'll go," Macey volunteered.
Erica was stunned. "Whoa, really?"
Macey nodded. "Yeah. I want to go. I really do."
"Why?"
"I think it would be good for me. I want to help. And I know the truck well enough. I know how to change a tire."
"Well if you really want to Macey. I guess you can come along," Theo replied.
Macey stood up, she was ready to go right then and there. Theo chuckled. "Macey, after it stops raining." Macey sat back down, red in the face.
"Someone's a little eager," Erica said. "You want to smell the soaked rotters don't you?"
"Oh yeah, I can't wait to do that," Macey replied.
The rain didn't let up until well into the evening, too late for the group to head out and try and repair the truck. In the morning it was dry and sunny outside, Alan and Macey woke up Theo.
"Ready to go?" Macey asked. She was twirling her hatchet around.
"You look like a serial killer, Macey," Theo told her.
"Sorry. Just excited."
"You twirling that hatchet around reminds me of both my ex-wives."
Alan climbed out of the basement first, and then Theo. Theo popped his head back into the basement, "Coast is clear, Macey, come on."
Before Macey exited the basement, Erica said, "Macey, you be careful out there, you got it?"
"I will, I promise," Macey said.
"Hey what about us?" Theo asked.
"Eh, Alan yeah, but you? Whatever," Erica replied.
"Erica, you're such a charmer."
Theo and Macey followed Alan over to the front of his house. The street in front of the home was clear.
"Okay, do you guys remember where exactly your truck was?" Alan asked.
Theo rubbed his chin, thinking about it. "Maybe it was the hit to the head, but I can't remember really."
"Macey?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"Okay then, stay close so you can give me directions. Theo, you watch out behind us," Alan said.
Before they darted across the street, Theo stopped them, "Hey Alan, where's your weapon?"
Alan shrugged. "I don't have one."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. These things aren't that smart."
Theo walked behind Macey and Alan as they headed towards the truck. Theo's head darted from side to side, he was looking out for any rotters, and any more unfriendly survivors as well. When they made it to the booby-trapped street, the truck was still sitting up on the curb.
Theo pointed, "There it is. Good job, Macey. You found it."
"I told you I knew where it was," Macey replied.
"You know, you're starting to sound like Erica."
There was a lone rotter moving near the front of the Blazer, an older man wearing a filthy tuxedo. His right hand was torn away. The three of them decided to wait for the dead thing to pass rather than try to take it out.
"Okay, as soon as he's out of our hair, we'll get to work on the truck," Alan whispered.
The dead guy meandered down the road and the group scurried over to the truck. The first thing that they looked for was the supplies. The three remaining bags were in the back untouched. A little wet from the rain, but other than that, the supplies were fine. Alan and Macey started working on the flat tire right away.
"You're not gonna help out with the spare tire?" Macey asked Theo.
Theo chuckled. "Nope. Whenever I got a flat or had any kind of car trouble, I called for a real man to come and fix things."
Macy and Alan both laughed. "Alright then Theo, keep an eye out for the dead people," Alan said.
"Will do. If I see any rotters approaching, I'll scream like a chick."
Theo climbed up to the roof of the Blazer to try and get a better view. It didn't help out too much though. "Shoulda brought the AK," Theo muttered.
Macey and Alan heard him. "How good of a shot are you?" Alan asked Theo.
"If they're right in close? Pretty good. Other than that, I'm A-Team level bad."
"Yeah, it's a good thing we left it the house then."
"Actually, it's pretty quiet out today." Theo hopped down from the roof of the Blazer and he walked around a little bit. He looked at the sharp metal objects that had been laid out in the street by the captors.
"If you're getting bored, Theo, why don't you try and help out? I
can teach you how to change a flat." Macey said.
"Hey, I'm the driver, you're my pit crew," Theo fired back.
A rotter stumbled around the corner and spotted the group. It rushed towards the three of them. He was a younger guy wearing blood-stained medical scrubs. His hands up to his elbows were soaked with blood. He looked like he was some sort of demented surgeon.
Theo swatted at the rotter with the crowbar, landing a blow upside the dead thing's head. Alan came up from behind, grabbed the corpse by its shirt, and flung it down to the ground. Before Theo could put the dead thing out of its misery, Macey pulled the hatchet from her belt and sent the blade down through the middle of the corpse's forehead.
Macey just left her weapon in the dead thing's head and proceeded to vomit up her breakfast.
Theo laughed. "You never forget your first time."
"Shut up, Theo," Macey replied.
"Now you have to get that out of the skull."
"You guys mind doing that for me?" Macey asked Theo and Alan.
In unison, Theo and Alan both said, "Yes."
Macey steadied herself and removed the hatchet from the rotter's skull. She clutched her stomach, "Oh damn, here comes another serving of breakfast," And she vomited once more.
"It's amazing," Theo said to Alan.
"What's that?" Alan asked.
"All the things we've seen, the dead pricks feasting on bodies, tearing throats and entrails out and chomping down, but this is what makes her sick."
"How do you get through it?" Macey asked Theo.
"I'm telling you guys, just think about doing laundry."
Alan pointed down the road, "Look." There was someone walking down the sidewalk, and the person didn't appear to be one of the rotters.
It was a guy wearing an orange tank top, black shorts, and boots. He was walking down the sidewalk normally.
"Whoa, that another survivor?" Macey asked.
"I'll go and check, you guys work on the tire," Theo replied.
Theo jogged towards the guy, stopping once he got to the corner of the street. He checked for any nearby corpses, the coast was clear. "Hey man, you okay?" Theo asked the man walking down the sidewalk.
Urban Decay Page 18
