Down the road on my left I spotted the Roamer. It was heading away from us over the bridge toward the out of town limits. Across the street one stood at the small gas station. It stood with its head down and totally still. It was either distracted by something we couldn't see or it was in some sort of dormant state, which none of us had ever witnessed in the past month. We couldn't even tell if it was a Roamer or a lone Bolter. One thing was certain; it wasn't Ken. A little relief despite wanting to locate him.
A crack of thunder ripped through the sky. The thing at the station looked up quickly, fully alert now. Then it looked it our direction. It watched us watch it...it sniffed the air for a moment and then charged directly at us. A damn fucking Bolter. It was out of the station lot, across the small patch of grass, and in the road in seconds.
Reggie did his shuffle in his seat beside me as I slammed my foot on the gas and went directly straight, diagonal of the charging Bolter. Before I could even pass it completely it hit the car, breaking the mirror clean off and sending Reggie my direction. I had nearly veered off the road. I looked in the rear view mirror. He was still giving chase. Reggie and Tim and Ben were turned in their seats.
Then we saw three other Bolters join up with him. From somewhere near the parking lots around the station. Where the fuck had they come from? Where they standing unseen from us also dormant? Were they hiding while the other stood alone?? Surely that wasn't the case. If it was it was absolutely terrifying. Bolters may have a true pack hunting mentality. More than we realized. If that's the case, they're even more dangerous than we already knew them to be. I look forward to the day when the Bolter population dwindles down into just more Roamers and Shamblers.
They began to slow behind us, standing in the street looking in our direction. I slowed down. The creatures took quick creeping strides into the parking lot of the cinema. I kept going straight until we reached the next intersection and I turned us toward the direction of home. Wasn't ten minutes but Tim said nothing of it.
The rain began to pour down now. I had to be careful to make sure I didn't crash into any infected that may be on the road. It was getting harder to see. Last thing I wanted to do was drive right into a swarm of those fuckers. That'd be the end of us almost guaranteed.
The rain came down in sheets and the wind was beginning to rock the SUV. The wipers were on high but visibility was extremely low. I slowed even more and really started to regret that give in of ten minutes. One day wouldn't have hurt and this was a mistake that could have cost us dearly. First not having any contingency plans when we traveled here from Akron and now this. We had to be smarter if we were going to survive. Eventually luck runs out and we're going to completely fuck ourselves.
Shortly we passed a single Roamer standing on the side of the road, distorted through the glass. He just stood soaking and like a deer in headlights. It was a creepy sight that sent chills down the spine.
Lightning flashed bright, blinding me for a moment, as I turned onto our street. A loud booming thunder followed and rolled across the sky. I turned the headlights out as I pulled into the drive. I knew the place like the back of my hand. I knew these roads, too, but the storm insured I had to have them on, otherwise I'd leave them off to avoid any detection.
We parked near the house and made a run for the front porch. Jim and Kelly were already standing there, armed and nervous. The worry on their faces unmistakable. We gave them a scare. The fear of us never returning just like my Uncle.
The worry quickly went to surprise when they saw the boy emerge from behind Reggie.
As Recorded:
"This is Ben," I began to explain. "He was living in Sky Lanes by himself. Been there a couple weeks."
"Are you kidding me?" Kelly exclaimed more than asked. "Are you okay?"
[Ben seemed to ease up with the presence of a woman]
"yes, thank you," Ben responded.
"This is my husband, Jim."
[Ben smiled politely. Said nothing. (Obviously)]
"Are you hungry?" Kelly asked, not waiting for a reply. "Come on, let's get you food....you probably haven't had real food in weeks."
[Ben followed her into the house]
[Reggie and Tim proceeded inside behind them]
Jim and myself stood there awhile longer.
Brave kid. That's all I know. Living on junk food and bottled water.
To survive on his own out there...I'm definitely impressed. Must be smart.
Smart enough to be cautious. Move slow and watch surroundings....but still thirteen, so naive enough to go outside when it was wasn't needed. He had food and supplies. Lanes were empty...he was outside somewhere...just walked through the door and we scared the shit out of each other.
What took you to the bowling alley anyway?
Well, we thought of all the places he'd logically go and decided on the small doctors office and dentist office. We figured right....his truck was in the Sky Lanes parking lot.
Did you find him??
No. No, he's dead.
....I'm sorry. How's Tim?
Processing it. He's been mostly quiet.
So you found his body...or was he...?
No....Ben saw him outside a week ago when he parked. He went over to the office doors and broke the window. Some Bolters heard him and gave chase. Ben went outside later and saw Ken in the parking lot.
Shit....who knows what else that poor kid has seen. Shit that no kid should see. Like a body in a parking lot.
We witnessed something else....I donno what to make of it. [Thunder rumble]
Hmm?
Tim asked to drive into town just for a bit and look for his father....who could be anywhere. That's why we're back so late, got caught in the storm. But, there was a Bolter standing at this gas station in town. Now, he was like...in a dormant state or some shit. Just standing there, head down. Thunder cracked and he became aware of us....rushed at us...I punched it forward. Fucker took my passenger mirror off. But anyways....we look behind us as the bastard gives chase and three other Bolters came running to catch up with him from somewhere near the station. Now, I donno if they just happened to wander there or were also dormant...but it felt like a hunting trick....like the one in the lot was a decoy. I started wondering if they have a real hunting, you know...pack mentality...a hunting strategy. They can't have that kinda intellect you wouldn't think....
That's fucking scary...I....I don't even know what to say to that shit, Jack. I mean....well, Bolters are the newly turned. It's the only time their brains would still be most intact and functional....kinda makes sense, maybe. Like...they are completely primitive creatures. Totally animalistic. The Bolters therefore maybe have enough function to have that kinda pack mentality for awhile. Obviously as they deteriorate they lose it....become Roamers.
Makes sense I guess.
I still don't wanna fuckin' think about it though.
Me either. Tomorrow I might take Tim back out and look around some more. You should come, get a feel of the area and town.
Yeah. I think I will. Getting a little stir crazy already, anyway. I'm liking it out here. I think we can be safe here.
At least for now. As long as we keep this place hidden we'll do alright I think. Trees won't hide us when the fall comes, though.
Damn....hadn't even thought of that.
We'll discuss that soon. You see anything while we were gone?
Nah...no cars, anyway. Saw some Roamers way across the street in that field. [points]
How many?
I donno....eight or nine. Small little horde. I'll tell you one thing though, they don't like storms! Every single time lightning flashed and there was thunder, Dead Calls followed immediately. From different directions. You only see that pack in town?
No...there was a Stagnant in the hallway of the doctors office. I put it down with the crowbar.
A Stagnant?
Yep....laying in the hall with two broken legs and a broken arm. Would really love to know what exactly happened
to the poor son of a bitch.
..yeah...me too, actually.
Aside from that....there was a lone Roamer in town walking toward the outskirts and saw one on the side of the road on the way back here standing in the rain.
Crazy day. Crazy days!
In the rush of everything we didn't even think to bring Ken's truck back. We don't really need it, but you never know. It was my Uncle's....just feels wrong to leave it.
We'll figure it all out tomorrow....let's go get you some grub. Kelly found some cans of beef stew we cooked on a small fire in the back.
End of Recording
***
Later, after two bowls of stew, I climbed out onto the roof with Reggie to begin our night watch as usual. It was a shuddersome night as the fog rolled across the fields and yard thanks to the earlier storm. The imagination plays tricks with you on such nights. Especially nights now a days.
Jim wasn't kidding either when he said the infected hated the thunder and lightning. Though the storm had passed there was now flashes of heat lightning. With almost every flash we could hear multiple Dead Calls in various directions. Some close, some far. There were more of them roaming the countryside then we'd thought. Another fact I checked on our list of naivety. Just because this wasn't the city did not mean country areas, having nearby decent sized towns, would have a low infected population. Many of these communities topped two thousand people...some more. You'd just never guess it by looking.
As Recorded:
How traumatized you think that boy is?
No clue. He's still young...effects of witnessing such horrible things might not hit him until later. Now that he's safe and doesn't have to be on constant alert like he was when alone in that alley, he'll begin to cope with things. He said he was there for what? Two weeks give or take? He told me his parents were dead but he avoided speaking to me about it...which I get. But what may have happened is anyone's guess. Did he see them tore apart and he managed to escape? Did he have siblings? His parents or others could have been murdered in front of him...
I hate thinking about this grim shit...
He probably hasn't even had much time to grieve. Maybe now in this safer environment he'll get to do that.
Today just sucked. Absolutely and fuckin' completely.
Could have been worse...
How?
Well, we could'a died for instance.
...That's a good point. Could have ended up like your Un--Fuck, I'm sorry....I wasn't even thinking, brother.
No, it's fine....you're right. We easily could have ended up like him. Didn't matter we were in a group of three....we still could have been bested by a Bolter pack...and Ben said he saw that horde of at least a hundred.
Maybe he was exaggerating a little bit....
Maybe, but to even exaggerate that much means he still saw a large number of them, likely more than we'd have been able to deal with. Even trying to run...hide....everything around there had glass doors and large glass windows. My Uncle didn't have a chance. Honestly, I'm shocked he made such a careless mistake.
Underestimated the danger is all....we've done the same, ya know? I'm sure it looked clear all around in general. A little glass busting I'm sure didn't feel like a big deal.
I know....we've been careless, too, but you know we wouldn't have busted any glass.
Fuck no.
I donno. Should have just walked the hell away. Double checked the area...drove around a little bit. He was smarter than that....least I know I wasn't the only one not fully thinking ahead.
None of us are, man. This is new to us all. We're adapting...surviving. We're learning as we go...we're going to make some mistakes....just gotta hope they're not fatal ones. There's so much we just don't know. Shit, like today! What the fuck was up with those damn Bolters? Were they just spread out, like we hope...or was some decoy trap kinda shit they be pulling?
I keep thinking about that shit, too. It honestly scared the hell out of me. I'd prefer not to leave this fucking house for as long as possible or until it was essential and was a must. But I know that's not an option. Sitting here until the food runs out to go get more [laugh]. We have to keep a steady stock here. We really need to gather as much as possible for the winter. We have awhile but we can't be like the fuckin' grasshopper.
What the fuck you talking about a grasshopper for, man??
You don't know the story about the ant and the hopper?
No....but I know you gonna tell me some country ass shit.
The Grasshopper was friends with the ant....now, the ant knew winter would come and it'd be cold and no food would be growing...
Naturally.
Now, the hopper wasn't into working....it was summer and he wanted to chill and play and have fun all summer.
Fuckin A, right!
Yeah....you think, just let me finish. The ant worked all summer while the hopper dicked around. Hopper constantly tried to get the ant to have fun...and maybe on the occasional day he did, who knows....but he worked all the others. Winter came. The ant was in his mound with food that would last him all winter. Meanwhile, the hopper starved and froze to death.
The fuck?!
See....moral of story is to plan ahead for the winter.
Didn't the grasshopper go to the ant for help?...motherfuckers were friends.
Hopper did....ant said I told you so and closed the door.
That's cold ass shit!
[laughs] No, the ant helps the hopper....and he also learned a valuable lesson. The ant had worked extra hard because he knew he'd have to feed his dumbass friend. The following year, hopper busted his ass alongside his friend the ant. We can assume with both of them working, they got to take some extra days to enjoy the weather as well.
That's a good ass story....you should have been like...a fuckin' teacher or some shit.
[laughs] Right. Anyway....seriously...we have to plan ahead for winter. I wonder if Jim or kelly know how to jar fruits and veggies. I know you don't.
How the hell you know I don't? Just cause I'm a city boy....
Do you?
Hell no.
There's plenty of farms around here that were already planted. We need to get jars and we need to pick all the stuff we can. That'll last awhile.
Being way out in some fields isn't the smartest thing....we just talked about not doing stupid ass shit.
We just have to be careful. Not like we're going to walk out there, yards away from vehicles. As long as it's dry we'll drive into the fields. Another reason to go back for my Uncles truck. We have someone on watch....use some binoculars. If any infected at all are spotted...especially packs or swarms...we leave right then and there with whatever we have. Take no chances.
I guess. Where we gonna find binoculars?
There's some in the basement...by the gun safe.
Gotcha. Now....what about jars?
I have an idea...not sure if it's worth it....but the jars will guarantee some long lasting food.
What is it?
You ain't gonna like it.
Man....just say it...get it over with.
They have always sold mason jars at the little discount store in Sky Plaza.
The Sky Plaza we just could'a died at? Hell no...Fuck No!....Forget that shit, no. That's a suicide mission....dying for fuckin' jars? No....nada.
Okay, hear me out...we can--
NOOOOO!
Besides the Bolters way down further in town, it was pretty damn quiet. We had one...ONE...infected. The Stagnant in the doctor's hallway. I figure we just check it out....the jars used to be kept on a display at the front of the store.
And if they ain't??
Then we do a check of the place.
Define check.
The bowling alley was empty. If the stores door is intact it's possible it's clear....we park right next to the door...as close as we can...one of us--
Meaning you. Your crazy ass idea.
Okay, me....I will open the door. I'll throw something in
side, make some noise. Throw a few things. If there's no Dead Calls it's probably certainly clear. If it's not we get the hell out fast.
....I hate you sometimes. I just wanna say right now, I'm gonna be the first to tell you...I don't like this plan. You're my boy....I got your back...but straight up...I don't like this fuckin' plan. I hope everyone else be hating it, too. Hates not even a strong enough word. Like....I got nothing.
The Dead Lands Diary (Book 1) Page 7
