by Kris Beus
Chapter 21
Once we reached the vehicles Earl jumped in the driver’s seat of the worst looking pickup in the lot. He turned and saw Aaron and I looking at him wondering why he had chosen such a terrible vehicle.
“We will be leaving it alone as we hike back into the mountains. There will be a good chance someone will steal it. I would rather lose this truck than The Dozer.”
Aaron and I still somewhat unconvinced jumped into the back of the truck where Jaime was waiting. It took Earl trying for several minutes before the stuttering motor finally started. The truck sounded like it wished to die. Slowly we pulled out onto the road and up to the gate. The security officers walked up to the driver side door and asked Earl when he expected to be back. Earl just shrugged saying, “Depends on what we find.”
The man turned and waved for the gate to be open. Slowly we pulled onto the dirt road leading to the highway and quickly realized the suspension was shot. Every little bump and pot hole nearly threw us out of the back. We were unable to do anything, but hold on and pray we made it to a smooth road. Earl seemed to be driving as slow as possible not wanting to lose any of us. We reached the road within minutes, but it seemed like hours in the back of this monstrosity.
The highway was much better allowing Aaron and I to scout using our snipers. As we thought the dead had increased dramatically. They were not running at us like mindless animals, but rather watching from a safe distance to see if we could be attacked successfully. Through my scope I could see their pale faces standing in the tree line peering out. It was hard to get a realistic count of the numbers which were actually out there.
Looking into the truck cab I could see Earl had the mapped sprawled out. He seemed to be spending as much time looking at the map as the road. I tapped on the glass and pointed over to the side telling him to park for a second. Once he did I asked him if he would like someone to navigate for him. Jaime immediately jumped out of the back and into the passenger side grabbing the map from the seat. I couldn’t hear what was said, but saw Earl point to where the town was and where I remembered the mountain to be. Jaime shook her head and Earl stepped on the gas not wanting to remain a sitting target.
After this many trips I began recognizing the area and knew we were coming up on the turn towards the gas station and town. As we turned I spotted blood from the civilians we had lost here recently. The gas station was now in view. Worried about bikers Aaron and I kept our scoped pointed. It seemed with the increase in dead activity they had stopped all patrols. We continued on, but then took a left going off road and towards the mountains.
The ride once again quickly became unbearable. Aaron and I stopped scouting and held on as the truck continued over the perilous terrain. The sun was directly above us, but the chill in the air remained strong. It was easy to tell snow would be coming soon. The terrain was beginning to be almost impassable. Trees were becoming thicker as we slowly moved towards the mountains. Earl had to slow down nearly to a crawl. We were able to make it another mile heading deep into the wooded area which would give our truck cover.
Earl stopped the truck. Aaron and I jumped out the back and Jaime walked over from the passenger side. “I think this is as far as she will take us,” Earl said patting the hood of the truck.
“I am surprised she made it this far,” I said jokingly.
The other members of the group laughed and shook their heads in agreement. Jaime pulled out the map looking it over carefully then pointed in the direction of the mountains.
“We need to begin climbing then walk along the ridge until we get into visual range of the town.” As she spoke Jaime handed the map over to Earl who looked at it then nodded.
“Let’s go,” He said and we set off through the trees towards a large mountain.
The cold in the air was pushed away as we hiked. This area had thick trees and brush making it a struggle to gain the distance we needed. Luckily the difficult terrain seemed to dissuade any undead from hunting in the area. Hopefully they would not be all over the mountains either. We all walked in silence knowing there could be danger at any turn.
After an hour or so we finally made it to the base of the mountain. Looking up we all quickly realized all the hiking through the forest was nothing compared to what we were about to start.
With each step towards the summit our energy was being drained. All of us began moving slower and slower struggling to stay on our feet. We reached a small plateau and decided to stop so we could eat and catch our breath. I grabbed a can of raviolis and beans. As I opened them the smell was amazing. My stomach began growling immediately. Jaime pulled a couple dishes she packed and we split everything up the best we could. Watching my companions it was easy to see they all had the same hunger I did. We finished the two cans off within a matter of minutes and we all laid down sipping on our canteens. After fifteen minutes or so we got up and began the journey to the top.
The second half of the mountain seemed to be a bit steeper than first forcing us to give everything we had. On the way up we had to help each other giving both support and motivation. We knew the climb was almost over as the tree line began receding. Once we moved past the tree line I turned and could see for miles. Even the town was visible though very far away. As I stopped Aaron who was walking behind me didn’t notice and ran into me.
“What the hell are you doing?” He asked.
I just pointed towards the town we were headed to scout. When he turned to look I began moving forward with a new vigor since the goal was in sight. With a better vision of the mountain it was also easy to see why Earl chose this one to climb. What looked like a mountain from the base was actually a massive ridge which headed in the direction of the town. After another half hour of climbing we finally reached the top.
All of us fell over from exhaustion. Jaime seemed to be more exhausted than the rest of us and all the color was out of her face. I made a note of it asking if she was alright, but as I did she immediately grew resentful. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Aaron and I had scopes towards the town and across the ridge attempting to figure out if we would be able to stay on this ridge for the entirety of our journey.
We opened another can of food this time picking corn and split it four ways. Once finished we noticed there was only a couple hours before dark. Not wanting to lose any travel time we set off immediately. The ridge was difficult to navigate and if one of us were to fall it would surely be fatal. The sun began to set and the sky began turning to all different shades of red, pink, and purple. Not wanting to risk falling we decided to make camp for the night.
The cold began piercing us to the bone. A fire of this altitude would immediately give us away so we would have to go without. To create warmth we all got close as possible to one another and pulled the blanket Jaime had brought over us. All four of us laid huddled together Jaime on my right using my arm as a pillow. My head rested on the bare dirt looking up at the sky which was becoming black. Stars started appearing slowly at first. I thought of our mission and worried what would happen if we were caught. This was certainly the most dangerous thing I have done since leaving my house.
With all the thoughts in my head I found it difficult to fall asleep. My mind was focused on Jaime’s small frame which was smashed up against me. Her hair tickled my face making it hard to become comfortable and my arm began falling asleep. I knew it would be nearly impossible to fall asleep with her in this position, but I had absolutely no intention of changing anything. The hair in my face and head on my arm kept her centered in my mind. I was only able to think of how happy she made me. Once again the only thing able to take me away from this nightmare was being close to the one I loved.
Even with my arm now hurting and the light brushing against my face exhaustion of the climb forced me out of consciousness.
Chapter 22
I awoke the next morning freezing. The voices of Earl and Aaron could be heard though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Jaime was still next to m
e scrunched up and violently shaking. Worried I quickly rolled her over and saw her lips had begun turning blue. Fire had now become more essential than ever. I yelled to Earl and Aaron sitting five feet high. Once they reached us both of them looked shocked when they realized my worry. I told them to get firewood.
When I tried to get up Jaime very confused grabbed me attempting to force me to stay. I pulled away from her and started pulling twigs off bushes which were able to climb higher than the trees. Looking down the hill I saw both Earl and Aaron running towards the tree line.
I was able to gather enough brush to get a small fire started. I built it a couple feet away from Jaime who now was surely in the beginning stages of hypothermia. Even with a small fire she could feel the heat and uncovered her head so she could get closer. I continued running from bush to bush attempting to get all the fuel possible and after each one throwing it all on the fire.
With the urgency both Earl and Aaron made it back within a hour. They were both dragging large branches behind them. Upon reaching the top they threw the branches on the fire. After a couple minutes of burning the fire was able to push the frigid air away from Jaime and her lips began looking much better. I grabbed the pot out of her backpack and dumped some water into it. Once it began steaming I helped Jaime slowly sip it. After drinking a bit of the hot liquid she stopped shaking. Once all the water was gone I grabbed the spam and began heating it directly on the fire.
I had never been a huge fan of the fake meat, but seared with fire it actually tasted quite good. Aaron, Earl, and I took small bites leaving the majority for Jaime. She ate it ravenously and when finished looked much better. We sat for a bit talking about which area would be best for scouting the town. We had made it quite a ways from where we hit the top of the ridge. A screech echoed from the depths of the forest. Aaron and I immediately pulled our guns up looking for its source. So far the journey had been quiet, but the fire had alerted a large group of the undead. At first one or two began making it up past the tree line, but we were soon shocked to see hordes coming up at us ten at a time.
All of us terrified we grabbed our packs and began running along the ridge. The hordes were closing and in this time without caution since we were so outnumbered. As we ran along the ridge they began running in the same direction staying below us. Earl who was leading the group quick held his hands up and stopped. We stopped as well then he pointed towards a large group of rocks which were a little lower on the ridge.
Quickly we ran to the group of rocks. The horde seeing we had stopped running along the ridge now climbed straight up towards us. The rocks were solid each weighed several hundred pounds. We all began pushing on one which looked ready to fall, but made little headway. The first undead who made it out of the trees were now only several yards away. Seeing the group would need more time to get the rocks free I pulled up my rifle and took aim. Before I could shoot Earl yelled, “No we are in earshot of the town.”
I lowered the gun and looked down at my pack seeing my lucky board. It came off my bag easily and I began climbing down to meet the dead who were charging us. The first one in swinging distance was a man of forty who wore a tore up blue suit. His right arm hung dead as though it had been ripped out of its socket. The left arm began swinging widely once he was in distance. Ready for him I brought the board across his face. The nails pierced the skin ripping flesh away and knocking him off balance. It wasn’t enough to kill the man, but with the steepness of the hill he began tumbling downwards into the rest of them. The man took out the first one he hit which cause a chain reaction.
Watching the damage done to the hordes by one body tumbling down the hill I was excited to see what a boulder would do. Running back up with my board out they had loosened the rock enough to begin rocking it back and forth. With my board I stuck it underneath the rock and as they all pushed forward I pushed down on the board forcing the rock free.
The boulder began flying down the mountain. We could feel the impact on the ground each time the boulder bounced. The boulder headed directly towards the center of the horde. It smashed through their line leaving only decimated corpses in its wake. Seeing the success of such simple tools we started working on another rock. Using the board as a lever setting the huge stones tumbling down the hill was done quickly. The dead tried to get out of the way, but with the steepness of the mountain quick movement was impossible. We began searching for anything large enough to do damage. The smaller rocks were much easier to aim and once taking one out they would hit the ones behind causing many to fall.
With all the rocks in the area thrown down towards the dead their horde had been cut down, but still held a few stragglers. I held my board ready for any to make it. The other three pulled out large machetes in preparation of the remaining dead. I counted eight left who were still climbing. The sounds they made as climbing reminded me of the sounds a starving animal would make seeing food. A woman came within reach I sunk the nails of my board into the top of her skull. As quickly as possible I ripped the board out and swung at another woman who came in from my right. The board was a little off missing the skull and penetrating the neck. Though injured the woman was still able to fight.
I began pulling on the board unable to loosen it from the woman. While attempting to pull the board out I couldn’t help but stare into her white milky eyes. Even though the virus took her humanity the rage still existed. Her mouth began sputtering blood all over me. Afraid of becoming infected I decided to push her down the hill with the board still in her neck. She tumbled down the mountain and was stopped instantly when her back wrapped around a large aspen. Even though it was a couple hundred yards away the crack was clearly audible. Her arms were flailing, but with a broken back her legs no longer worked.
When I turned to see if my group had the same success I witnessed Earl cleanly slicing the head off what looked to be a teenage boy and Jaime shoving her weapon into the eye of an overweight man. She shoved hard enough to push the two foot a machete through the back of his skull. The man fell backwards dead. We were able to finish the entire group of them without firing a shot.
Everyone looked shaken, but once looked over no one was bitten. I had blood covering my shirt and pants from the woman who I had struck. Both Aaron and Jaime ran over to me worried. They were not sure if the blood was mine or the dead’s. They lifted my shirt to check if I had been hurt. Once satisfied a look of relief fell over both of their faces especially Jaime’s.
Slowly we continued back up the mountain and along the ridge. After a couple hours the town was now clearly visible. We could make out a building from the top of the mountain and could see people looking through the scopes. Not wanting to be seen we began walking down the mountain closer to the trees.
Continuing along hidden by the trees every few hundred yards we would walk up the mountain just far enough to see over the trees. After another hour of walking we were close enough to see almost everything in the town. Aaron and I both moved up the mountain. Behind some shrubs and rocks we laid down pointing our rifles. Jaime was next to me looking through binoculars and Earl stayed close to the trees watching for another assault.
Even though we had scopes I still struggled to see what was happening within the city. The bikers could easily be spotted since they wore black leather jackets. From what we could see they were the only ones carrying weapons. They had used different materials to seal up a large portion of the town. They only had one gate which seemed to be heavily guarded. One biker sat on top of a flat roof building and two bikers in front of the gate. Two guards seemed to be patrolling around the blocked in area. It was difficult to tell the amount of total guards the town had.
I noticed a shop which seemed to have the most action. It had a large sign out front which had Pawn Shop written on it in large white letters. Watching guard after guard walk in and out it looked as if it held either their security center or town hall. I continued watching to see if there was anyone entering or exiting. What I saw shook me down to my co
re. The door opened and they threw a woman half naked into the street. As she stood up I could see her struggling to walk. Wanting Aaron to see I nudged him and pointed to her. Around ten minutes later five bikers walked out of the same building talking and laughing.
“I would enjoy killing them,” I heard Aaron say under his breath.
It was then I realized Jaime had seen what they did to her. She was silent and unaware of anything besides the monsters who were running the town below. Slowly I placed my hand on her shoulder. She jumped looking at me with tears in her eyes. I put my arm around her and she began watching the town again.
“You don’t need to watch, Aaron and I can scout them.”
Slowly she set her binoculars down and looked over at me smiling. “Thank god we are going to put an end to all of that.”
I smiled back then pulled my scope back up. We laid silent and motionless for hours just watching these wretched people. If they were not in the Pawn Shop hurting a woman they dragged off the street they were beating one of the few men who were doing the work around town. The men who were working all wore white t-shirts. There was one man that seemed to draw more attention from the bikers than the others. One of the bikers was screaming at him and as he was screaming other bikers came over. The man had his head down looking at the ground. After a couple minutes of screaming the one large biker pulled what looked like a homemade police baton from his belt and began beating the man in the head with it. This seemed to spark something in all the others. They all joined in kicking and stomping this poor man who had already been starved nearly to death.
After a few minutes of beating the man they walked off leaving him alone in the street. Even from hundreds of yards off it was easy to see they had beaten the man to death. His head looked like it had been deformed and red covered his white shirt. Sickened from the horrors I witnessed I stopped scouting and headed down towards Earl who was sitting and staring into the forest.
