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He started to cry. Rose hugged him. She started to cry. Granny was worried. She asked Tyler, “Where Tyler? Where did it happen at?” The boy answered, “At the highway, by the cabin.” Will said, “I know where it's at. Tyler, how many of them were there?” The boy said, “ A lot. Like twenty.” Will said, “ I am going to check it out. You stay on your radio. I can use mine to talk to you. I'm going to look around out there.” Will looked at the children. They were clearly traumatized. Granny looked like she was in total despair. And, Rose looked very worried. Keith said, “ I'll go with you.” They climbed into Will's truck and headed for Toms cabin. When Will and Keith arrived to the spot where Tyler said that his parents were attacked, they could see that there had been an attack. There was blood on the roadway. They stepped out of the truck. Will held one gun in his hand, and he slung his AR-15 over his shoulder. Keith said, “Sh.” He had a knife in one hand and a gun in the other. They could hear snarling from behind some bushes. Will had to take a deep breath, before moving closer. Keith crept along side the truck. When they made it to the bushes, They saw that, the ground dropped around six feet. There were seven zombies eating their friends. They unloaded weapons into the dead. They walked down the uneven ground, to where Tom and Dawn lay. Tom was still alive, Dawn was dead. Tom had blood gurgling out of his throat, and in his mouth. He had bite marks all over his body. His shirt was torn. He had flesh taken from various parts of his body. He could barley speak. Keith and Will rushed to their sides. Keith felt Dawn's throat. There was no pulse. He put his head down, in sadness. He had gotten to know Dawn much better in the past weeks. Now, he had to go home and give Rose, the children, and Granny the bad news. He looked at with a sullen expression on his face. Will bent down over his friend. He was weak.“Tom! Tom! Hang on, Buddy!” Tom whispered, “The kids..Are they alright?” Will said, “The kids are okay, Tom. They are at Ms. Clea's.” Tom whispered, “Will, Promise me...” Will repeated, “Promise you? Anything, Tom. Promise you what? Hang on, Tom!” Keith cut in, Will, there is no time. We need to get them to the house.” Will ignored Keith. Tom whispered, “Will. I am not going to make it. Will, get my keys. Supplies in... the.... cabin...” He gasped for air. “Supplies in the cabin. The kids, Will. This is gonna be hard on them.” He gasped for air, again, “Please.. Will you look out for my kids? Please, Will?” Then, he struggled for air and gurgled. He had stopped breathing. Will's eyes teared up. Keith stood there, saddened and stunned. Will yelled, “Tom! Tom!” Keith looked away, as Will shook his friends' body, in an attempt to wake him up. Tom lay on the ground, limp and lifeless. He realized that Tom was dead. He fell back onto the ground. He just stared at his friend. He looked over at Dawn. She could not hold out as long as Tom did. They both fought. It looked like they both put up a hard fight. Dawn was in the same condition as her husband. She was all bit up and bloody. There were chunks of flesh missing from legs and arms. Will cried out,” What the hell? This is like a nightmare!” He sat there for a long time, holding his head in his hands. Keith said, “ Will, we need to get thm home. We need to make sure that they don't wake up. Maybe, you should go back up the hill. I'll take care of it.” Will shook off some of the shock of watching his friend die. He stood up, and looked around. He counted seven zombies. He examined the embankment. “This must be why Tyler saw them disappear. They must have rolled down that drop off.” He pointed towards the hill leading back to the road. Keith said, “That makes sense.” Will said, “Let's get them up by the truck, then we can take care of them.” They started to pull the bodies up the hill. As they pulled Dawn up the hill, and made it near the truck, she started moving. They froze. They both looked down at her. Will rubbed his eyes, just to make sure that he was not seeing things.
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Keith said, “ She's waking up. Get back, Will!” Will froze up. Keith ordered, “Focus, Will!” Snapping out of shock, Will moved backwards. Keith took out his knife. As he made his way towards Dawn, intending to stop her from turning, they heard growling. All of the sudden, a mob of zombies came rushing out from behind the bushes. Will yelled, “Keith! Watch out!” Keith shoved one to the ground. He yelled, “Get in the truck!” They both rushed into Will's truck, and jumped inside. They slammed the doors shut, just before getting mauled. They watched a mob of twenty, or more zombies surround the vehicle. They were clawing and snarling at them through the glass. Keith said, “We'll have to come back for them, later. We need to go!” Will was freaked out. He had never seen this many of the dead up close before. He started the truck, and took out his radio. He drove off, knocking zombies to the ground for several feet. Into the radio, he blurted out, “This is Will. Is anybody listening?” he waited. He already regretted leaving Tom and Dawn. He wanted to give his friends a proper burial. He wanted to bring them home to their family. It was not right to just leave them here. He pushed the button on the radio, again. “Anybody.... Come on... answer.” Stella came onto the radio. “What is going on, Dad? Where are you?” His voice was shaky. He said, “ Those things got Tom and Dawn. Keith and I, we were trying to bring them to Ms. Clea. More of them came, and ambushed us. You Girls stay inside. Stay in, and keep the door locked, until I get back. You hear me?” Her voice was low. She answered, “Okay, Dad.” He said, “I'll be back, as soon as I can.” Stella said, “Dad.” He said, “Yes.” She continued, “Be careful.” He said, “I will. Lock the doors.” He sped up a mile. He slammed on the brakes in the middle of the road. He opened the door, and jumped out onto the pavement. He was in visible shock. Keith stepped out of the truck. After a few moments, he asked “Will. How much ammo do you have left?” Will answered, “Not sure. I used more than I should have on the first dead bunch. You?” Keith said, “I have an extended magazine. Thirty more rounds. We should go back, and shoot down that mob. They could make their way to Granny's, or your place.” Will looked over at Keith. He thought about that. If that size of a mob came up on any of them, they may not get away. “Okay. Let's kill some zombies.” They climbed back into the truck. Will turned around, and headed back to the spot where they'd found Tom and Dawn. On the way back, Keith gave Will a few pointers. He said, “ Now, Will. Don't let them grab hold of you. That is how they'll get you. They are stronger than they look. Lead them, then stab them into the eye's, or throat, in an upwards direction. Or, take the head off. But, neither of us have a sword, so....” Will said, “ I think that I know. We should just shoot them all down.” Keith said, “ I think that, that is what brought the bigger mob to us. They heard the gun shots. We should shoot them, this time. But,, just in case they get close enough to us, I wanted you to know how to take them out.” Will said, “Thanks.” They came to where the ambush had taken place. They saw two zombies wandering around. Both Tom and Dawn, were gone. So were the others. Keith stepped out of the truck. He grabbed on of the dead, and stabbed it in the eye. It fell. Will followed Keith's directions, and stabbed another in the temple. It also, fell to the ground. They looked over the area, expecting Tom and the other zombies to wander back to them. They were gone. They looked for hours, up and down the roadway. They went back to the spot where it all started, exited the truck, and walked half a mile into the brush. Dawn and Tom were gone. Neither of the men knew what they would say to Rose and Granny, or the children. Will said, “ We'll need to go get more ammunition, and some water. We can scout some of the trails. See what we can find. I don't know what else to do.”
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Keith said, “ Alright, then.” They made it back to Granny's place,first. As they made it to the porch, Rose opened the door. She said, “ Did you find them? “ They walked inside. They were still wound up after seeing Dawn wake up from the dead. How could they tell Rose about her sister, and brother-n-law. Both men looked saddened. Rose studied them. She knew Keith. Judging from the look on his face, she knew that it was bad news. Her eyes started to tear up. “Is she alive?” She waited for him to say something. Then, she turned to Will. She said, “Mr. Neely. What did you find? Tell me....
please?” He looked down, then looked back up, again. He shook his head from side to side. He said, “I'm sorry, Rose.” She started crying. There was a long silence. They all heard a voice say, “ We need to bury them. Where are they?” They all turned around to see Granny standing there. The look on her face was like one that Rose had never seen. She stared at Will, as she spoke. “Will. Can you bring them home?” She knew the answer. She had a look of complete despair on her face. Rose rushed to her Granny. She said, “Granny, sit down. We will get them here. I promise.” Granny sat down. “Will...” Granny said. Her eyes never left him. Will said, “Ms. Clea, it's not as simple as just moving them here. They... well, Dawn.... she woke up. Then, more of them came out from behind the bushes.” Rose put her hand to her mouth. She knew that it was too dangerous to go back, if there were a mob of the dead ambushing people. Will said, “I don't know if you understand what happened out there. I am going to go back. We're going to get them here. We, uh... we have to find them, first.” Granny sat frozen. She said, “I understand. I need to bury my Granddaughter. Her children are upstairs. They need to bury their parents. They need some closure, Will. If you can get them here, that's what it would mean.” Rose cut in, “I'll go.” Will and Keith both protested, “No!” Keith said. Will said, “Rose... You need to stay here. Granny and kids need you here. Keith and I, we'll go back out there, and we'll keep looking.” He turned to Keith. “Right?” Keith looked over at Granny. “Yes. We are going to keep looking.” He kissed Rose. He said, “ promise, we'll keep looking for them.” She stood there, still trying to absorb the news that, her sister was now dead. She shook her head up and down. She fought to hold the tears back. She had to protect her niece and nephew. She had to be there for Granny. After Keith met Will outside, they went to Will's house. Will rushed inside. Stella and Scarlett followed him through the house. Keith stood by the front door. The girls asked a slur of questions. After a few moments, Will came back with several guns, and a bag of ammunition in his hands. Stella and Scarlett followed back outside to Will's truck. Stella asked her father, “ Where are you going? Dad! What is going on? Why do you need so many weapons?” Will turned to his girls. He kissed each one on the head. He said, “I love you both. Dawn and Tom, they didn't make it. We are going to try to get their bodies home for a burial. Pray for us. Pray for Ms. Clea, Rose, and the kids. Stay here. I will be back as soon as I can. And, lock the doors. Those things are moving together in large groups.” The two Neely sisters exchanged a fearful glance. Will and Keith left, and climbed into the truck. They pulled off, just as fast as they ran into the house. Scarlett and Stella watched the truck move away. Scarlett said, “Sis. I am scared. What is happening?” Stella hugged her sister. She said, “So am I. Things are changing. Come on, let's get inside.” They went inside. Stella locked all of the doors. She started a fire in the fire place. She sat on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her hand. She thought about the man that she had hit. The dead man that she had hit. She thought about the contorted, twisted, look on his face. She had to keep reminding herself that he was dead. She knew this would get worse. Will and Keith got out of the truck where Dawn and Tom were found before.
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They looked down the embankment. They were no where to be seen. Both bodies were gone. Keith looked at the zombies that Will had killed. He said, “ We could set a trap for them.” Will repeated, “ A trap?” Keith said, “ Yeah..... We lure them back here. Take them out.” He looked around. “Does your stereo work? ” Will answered, “ Yes. But, I think that we have a shortage of radio hosts, right now.” Keith replied, “ Horn?” Will said “ Yes.” Keith said, “ We hit the horn, see how many that we can draw out. Maybe, Tom and Dawn will come back.” Will said, “ It's worth a shot.” Keith said, “ Will. Just remember, they are not your friends, anymore. Don't forget that.” Will replied, “ Yeah. I know.” They climbed into the truck, “ Will laid on the horn. Then, they waited. No dead came walking around. It took several tries. They were perplexed. Will asked, “ How could they disappear, so fast?” Keith added, “ I don't think that they are around here, anymore. Those things just wander all over the place. Once, when Rose and I were over by Cedar Lake, we killed one that, had a Chicago Policeman's uniform on. They are gone. I just hope that, they don't wander up to anyone's house.”
Will looked around for a minute. He said, “ Alright. We drive down the road, again. Maybe, we see one of them from the road.” They climbed into the truck. They drove up the highway. They came to a gas station. Will pulled off into the parking lot. Keith asked, “What are you doing? I don't think that, anyone is here.” Will replied, “ I saw someone in here earlier. We should fill up.” Keith said, “ Will, this place had been closed for weeks. Rose and I travel this way, all of the time.” Will stepped out of the truck, and walked inside. Keith noticed that, the door was unlocked. He was surprised to see that Will could just walk right inside. Will didn't see anyone. “Anyone here?” Nothing. The lights were on. He walked up and down the isles. “Hey!” He turned around, and went back to the counter. “No one here, huh?” Will turned to see Keith standing at the counter. “I can't believe that the door is unlocked....” Will inched his way to the door with a sign that read; EMPLOYEES ONLY. Will turned his head sideways, and listened at the door. He turned to Keith. He put finger to his mouth. “Sh.” He pulled his gun up, and pointed it at the door. He slowly opened the door. As soon as he did, a man rushed out with a gun in his face. Will shot the man dead. He looked into the room. The clerk was laying on the floor. There was a pool of blood around his side. “This is Barry. He is the manager, here. That...” Will pointed towards the man who he had just shot. “ is NOT an employee, here.” Keith said, “ Too bad we didn't get here a little sooner. People are getting desperate. Anyone that had anything will be a target. Rose and I saw this a couple of times out there. We need to be careful, Will. There may be more like him out here.” Will went to the robber, and felt for a pulse. The man was dead. Will looked like he was going to self destruct. Keith stood there. He calmly said, “ They are going to turn soon. We need to deal with them.” Will froze, and looked at Keith. Keith took out his knife. He slowly, stuck the knife into the temple of the man in front of him, then the man in the storage room. Will watched him, in silence. Keith said, “Will, things are not the same, anymore. We should take the gas. And, we should fill up those gas cans over there, and take them back with us.” Will said, “ Alright.” Keith said, “I forgot to tell you, those things come out of corners and places that, you would not expect. So, be careful going into a place like this one. Even though, this is gas station, they come out from everywhere.” Will said, “I figured. Let's get going.” Will turned on the gas pump. They took all of the gas cans out to the pump by the truck. They filled up and started down the road. Keith took the door keys from the managers pocket. He showed the keys to Will.
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“Not having these, won't keep other people out. But, It might slow them down. Maybe, we can go back in a few days, and get what else we may need.” Will had never stolen anything, before. He worked hard for a living, and would have never thought that looting would be a means for survival for him. But, he knew that things were now, different. He nodded in agreement. He understood that, they needed to do whatever was necessary to survive, now. They drove up a couple of back roads. They came back around the highway. They saw no sign of Tom, or Dawn. Keith said, “We should get back. As they turned off of Jasper Road, they saw a tree down across the roadway. Will came to a stop. “I don't like this. We didn't have any storms. This wasn't here the other day.” Both men felt uneasy. Keith said, “Turn around.” Will backed up. He turned the truck around, then drove back the way they had come. He went down Jasper Road, as fast as he could drive. As they came to the turn off, they were met with another vehicle blocking the road. They exchanged a panicked glance. Keith blurted out, “Is there any other way out?” Will was already backing the truck up. In seconds, he turned around, and was speeding down the back
road. He yelled, “I might know another way.” All of the sudden, he took a sharp turn into a field. Keith yelled, “Wait! What are you doing?” Will cut in, “ This leads through to the creek. We can cut through, and get on the highway from here. I don't know who blocked us off, but I'm not gettin my head blown off to find out! If they have resources to cut down a tree, and beat us backwards to block us off, they have a lot of help. And, they are well organized. We gotta get back and make sure everyone there is okay.” Keith replied, “Then what?” Will answered, “ We keep watch. There is no police to call. No government. Things are different, now. People are getting desperate. That makes them dangerous.” Keith didn't say anything else. Will picked up his radio. “Stella. Are the doors locked?” A minute later, she asked, “ Yep. Where are you, Dad? Did you find them?” He replied, “Nope. But. someone is out here blocking the roads. I think that they are tying to lure people from their vehicles. If you see anyone outside, you stay in. You hear me? This is more than one or two people.” She said, “Alright, Dad. You should come home.”
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