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She cut him off. “What did you say their names were? Did you say, Jasmine?” She thought; could it be the little girl from the hospital? He repeated himself, “Yes, I said, Jasmine. She is five.” Renee, suddenly, put her hand to her mouth. She looked shocked. Everyone stared at her. Jimmy asked, “Ma'am? What is wrong?” Ben and Chloe, still looking at her, didn't understand. Now, Jose chimed in, “Mrs. G.... Are you okay?” They all waited for her to answer. She said, “I would like to see these children.” Ben argued, “Mrs. G....” She cut him off, “ Ben. If they have children, I would like to see them.” She turned back to the two men, “Where are they?”
“Behind that school, and over the ridge. She said, “Hold on.” She picked up their guns. Then, she walked away, so that, the two men could not hear her. She gestured for Chloe, Ben, and Jose to follow her. She asked, “Do you guys know if Aidan came back?” Ben said, “Not yet.” She said, “I think that they are telling the truth. But we need to be careful.” Jose said, “I don't know. We saw some soldiers killing people. We got away, just before it was our turn. A mob of zombies got them, before they could get us.” She said, “So. If they are telling the truth, should we send them back out there, with two small children? I won't do that.” They all studied her, for a minute. He said, “Okay, Mrs. G.” Chloe put her gun down. She said, “So, do we let them bring their group here?” Renee said, “We need to wait for Aidan.” She turned around. “Okay, Boys. We are waiting for someone. As soon as he get's here, we will clear this up. Follow me.” She carried their guns with her, as she walked them to the barn. She said, “We will get you some food, and water. Just, wait here.” Jimmy said, “Ma'am. They are out there waiting for us.” She turned, and looked at him. “It will be, just a while.” She turned, and walked out. She told Ben and Jose to watch the barn. She went to a storage shed, took a chain, and a lock in her hands. She went back to the big doors. She wrapped the chain around two holes in the barn door, and locked them in. She went to the house. As she entered the kitchen, Nina and Rosa were waiting. Nina asked, “Renee, is it true that some men are here?” Renee said,“Yes. They say that, they thought this place was empty. They say that, they have two children with them.” Nina asked, “Children?” Rosa stood up, “It's a sign.I am telling you.” They both turned to look at her. Renee said,. “I am going to feed them. As soon as Aidan gets back, we'll figure out how to see the children. If they are telling the truth, I have to help them.” Nina asked, “How old are the children?” Renee continued making sandwiches. She said “They said, five and eight.” Nina said “Renee. I know that, this is your place. This is your call. And, I appreciate all that you have done for us. But, please ….tell me that you are not going to leave those children out there, in this?” Naomi said, “You helped us.” Renee froze, she looked out through the kitchen window. “I know Naomi. I don't want to leave those kids out there. But, I am waiting for Aidan. Then, we figure out what to do.” Just then, Aidan walked in. “ Figure out, what to do about what?” They all turned, and looked at him. Before Renee could explain, Chloe rushed in. She blurted out, “Aidan! Two guys came up here, and we have them locked in the barn.” He asked, “ What?” He pulled his gun out of his side holster. He marched outside, and straight to the barn. Everyone followed him. “Where's the key for the lock?” Renee handed it to Ben. Ben took the key, and unlocked the pad lock. The doors swung open. A male voice from inside said, “Aidan!” Aidan's mood, went from kill mode, to total surprise. All of the sudden, Aidan and the man calling himself Jimmy, hugged each other. Jimmy said, “Oh, Man! I didn't ever think that I'd see you again.” Aidan replied, “I thought you were in California, by now. Man! I thought we had two looters on our hands. What are you guys doing? How did you come this way?”
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All of the others stood around, gawking at them. Jimmy said, “Aidan. This is Major Scott. He, and his family are with me, and a few others, too.” Aidan asked, “How many? Jimmy said, “Major Scott, his wife, and eight year old son. Pastor Dom, and Myself. And, a girl that we just picked up with her young daughter, Ava and Jasmine.” Renee heard those two names, together. It has to be them; she thought. Aidan asked, “You were traveling around?” Jimmy said, “We were held up in a house outside of a little town. A herd of those things came through. We had to run for our lives.” Aidan asked, “Where are they?” Scott answered, “ We told them to stay back in the RV, and wait for us. Ava had not been here in a while. We wanted to make sure that, it was safe for the kids. You know, just in case this place was over run. We thought it was abandoned.” Aidan said, “Hold on a minute.” He turned to Renee, then the two walked out of ear shot. “This is your home, Renee. Jimmy, he is my friend. He is a good guy. I have to go help him, if you don't feel comfortable with him and his group being here. They have two kids with them.” Renee studied Aidan, he had been her neighbor since he was a young boy. She had watched him grow up. He had a good head on his shoulders, and he had good judgment. She said, “You go make sure that, it's okay to bring his group here. I trust your judgment. If you say that he is a good man, then bring them here.” He half-hugged her. He walked over to Aidan and Scott. He said, “So. Let's go get your group.” Both, Jimmy and Scott, were relieved. Renee handed their guns back to them. They all walked back to where Nicole, and the others had been waiting. The others were ready to leave, as soon as Jimmy and the Major made it back. When they drove up the driveway and stepped out of their vehicles, Renee looked for little Jasmine. When she saw that it was her, she was very happy that the little girl and her mother had made it. Ava and Jasmine focused on Renee, right away. They rushed towards her. Ava hugged her “Oh! I'm so glad it's you!” Renee hugged her back. “I am so glad you two made it.” Renee squatted down in front of Jasmine, “Hi, Jasmine. Do you remember me?” The little girl was somewhat shy. She looked down as she rubbed her foot in the dirt. “You brought me back home.” She looked up at Renee, and smiled. Renee said, “I am really glad that you are here, Jasmine.” Jasmine replied, “Thank you.” She stood up, then turned to Ava. “I always thought about you guys. I had hoped you had found a safe place.” Ava said, “It's been a roller coaster.” She closed her eyes. “Thank you. For helping us, again.” Renee hugged her. “Anytime, Ava.” Jimmy and Aidan approached Ava and Renee. Aidan said, “Renee. If it's alright with you, I thought that they could take a couple of rooms in the school. Just until we can figure out where everyone should be.” She said, “Yes. Of course. We have plenty of food. Is anyone hungry?” Nicole said, “We ate, earlier. Thank you. Maybe, water for the night. And a snack for the kids.” Renee smiled. “You bet.”
Imogen and Kyle were moving up the highway, and were almost where the cabin was, when several, living dead walked out in front of the truck. Kyle yelled, “Look out!” She hit the brakes and swerved. The truck started to fish tail. The vehicle skidded into a screeching halt, off of the roadway, and onto the grass. She clutched the steering wheel. Kyle said, “Are you okay?” They both had to shake off what had just happened. He turned to see if the dead ones were close. They were all headed towards the truck. He said, “We need to get going.” She still stared at the steering wheel. “Imogen!” He looked behind them. Six living dead reached forward, as they staggered towards them. They were about twenty-five feet away, now. He jumped out of the truck. Imogen panicked. “Where are you going?”
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She thought that he would run away and leave her there. She stepped out of the truck. As she turned around to see where Kyle was going, she watched him fight off all six zombies. He grabbed the first by the hair, and jabbed is knife in her eye. She fell dead. The second, he kicked down. And, turned to swing the knife side ways into it's, already blood-soaked temple. Then, the third, he shot. And, the fourth, he threw to the ground. He stood on his chest, while stabbing it through the eye. The fifth, he struggled with. Imogen started to cry, “ No! Kyle, be careful!” She thought it would surely kill him. He jabbed the knife up through its throat, and into t
he brain. It fell dead. The last one, he kicked to the ground, then shot in the head. He turned around, to see her standing there, dumb founded. She stared in disbelief. He was covered in blood. The look on his face, was one of indignance. He walked back to the truck. “I should drive for awhile.” He took his bloody shirt off. He tossed it into the grass. He took a bottle of water and poured some into his hands, then rinsed his face off. He repeated this action two more times, as he spoke. “I told you, you cannot freeze up with these things.” He took some paper towels from roll that lay behind the seat. Then, dried his face off. He ordered, “Slide over.” She said nothing, just climbed into the drivers-side seat, and slid into the passenger seat. He climbed onto the drivers side seat. After shutting the door, he stepped on the gas peddle. The truck was stuck. The tire was caught on something. He stepped back out of the truck, and walked around to the front end of the vehicle. The tire was sitting in a hole. He would have to dig a trench behind the tire. He went to the back of the truck, and took out his backpack. He had a folded spade-shovel clipped to the side of the bag. He took it, and knelt by the tire. He started digging a trench. He dug for a while, then stood up and went to the truck. He sat behind the steering wheel, and tried to back the truck up. It caught onto the grass and moved backwards. Kyle headed up the road. They traveled for a while. He finally spoke, “Imogen. You can't freeze up when those things come at you. Do you understand? The only thing we have on them, is that, they move slower than us. They out number us, ten- to- one out here, and fifty-to-one in the city.” He glanced over at her, and waited for a response. She said, “ I know. I just, I don't know. I didn't expect them to be in the road.” He asked, “How much further, to your place?” She said, “A few more miles.” He said, “Tell me when to turn. When we get there, I'll go in, first. To make sure that it's clear.” She said, “Okay.” She leaned her head onto the window. He drove, until she told him where the turn off was located. He turned onto the dirt road, leading to the cabin. He asked, “How far up this road?” She said, “A mile. Maybe?” He said, “I need to pull off, and you stay with the truck, while I go check out the cabin.” Imogen said, “Okay. But, it should be safe.” He said, “We”ll go another half mile, then I go look around.” She shrugged. “Okay.” After finding a spot to the side of the road, he pulled over. He stepped out of the truck. He said, “Give me a half hour.” He closed the door and walked up the gravel road. After he disappeared around the curve in the road, she nervously looked around. She reached up to the lock button, and locked the doors. She sat there, thinking about her parents, and Carly. She felt a lump in her stomach, again. Every time she thought about the events from the previous month, she felt that nervous lump in her gut. A little while later, Kyle came jogging along the back road. When Imogen saw him approaching, she unlocked the doors. He came to the truck and climbed inside. Imogen asked, “Well?” He shook his head up and down, in approval. He took a bottle of water from the back seat, opened it and chugged it. He started the truck, and drove to the cabin. They stepped out of the truck, and walked inside. The cabin was somewhat plain. It had two bedrooms and a spare room in the back. Imogen's father kept all of his spare tools, and camping supplies there.
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She walked through the little home, wondering what to do with herself. Kyle asked, “The power is still on? I am surprised. Thought it would be off.” She replied, “It's off grid.” He asked, “What?” She repeated, “It's powered by the creek. There may be food in the fridge. Mom and Dad came up here regularly. Mom always stocked up on stuff. She didn't like to be here, and need something after dark.” He said, “ I'm impressed.” She went out to the truck, grabbed two bags. She came in and walked back through the cabin. “I am going to take a shower. I am taking my parent's room, you can sleep in mine. Over there.” She pointed up at the bedroom door. She went into the bedroom, and closed the door. Kyle glanced up at her from the chair that he was sitting in. He leaned forward for a moment. He went back out to the truck, and started to unload some of the items that they had brought with them. After he was carried in some clothes, he took a shower. He went to the room that Imogen pointed to. He could tell by looking at it that it was a girls room. He laid down on the bed, and fell asleep. He awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs. He sat up on the bed. He looked at his watch. It was eight-thirty-six A.M. He stood up, and went to the window. He looked around outside. There was a large, open, backyard. In the distance, he could see a pond. He could also see, what looked like, an old chicken coup. It looked empty. He put his shirt on, and went out into the main part of the cabin. As he entered the kitchen, he saw Imogen standing in front of the stove. She was cooking breakfast in shorts and an old T-shirt. He noticed that, she had the back door open. She had placed a large fan, blowing outside, in front of the storm door. She turned around, teasing, “He lives.” She turned back around, and re-focused on the breakfast that she was making. He asked, “How long have you been awake?” She said, “There is coffee made, and the rest is almost done. I don't know. A couple of hours.” He watched her take a percolator, filled with hot coffee, off of the wood burning stove, turn around and pour him a cup. She looked up at him, “We don't use an electric coffee maker here. It's going to be a scorcher, today. As soon as this wood burns out, I'll close the door.” He already felt the heat inside the kitchen. He picked up the cup, and said, “Thanks.” He took a sip. She said, “There is milk, and sugar there.... If, you want it.”
He said, “This is good, thanks.” She said, “I'll sneak to the nearest town, and see what I can scrounge up for us, later on. If we are going to stay here, we'll need other stuff. Especially, when winter get's here. Do you know how to chop wood, or build a green house?” Stunned, he studied her for a minute. He sarcastically said,“ I suppose that, I could learn. I would have to tackle, how to pick up and swing an axe. It seems like, it's so, mind-boggling. And, that Blade!” She rolled her eyes. He continued, “Do we have seed to plant?” She said, “There is a feed store in town. I'll get us some.” Kyle said, “Imogen. You do remember that there is a zombie apocalypse unfolding, right before our eyes ...Right?”
She turned around, holding two plates of bacon, eggs, and toast in her hands. She placed both plates down on the table. She said, “Yes. I do remember that. I have been thinking about my Dad and Mom. About Carly. We need to make sure that, we have a store of food for winter. Or, we won't make it.” He studied her. She was determined, that was for sure. “I'll go with you. If it looks over run, we turn around, and come back here.” She said, “Okay.” They ate in silence. After they were finished, Imogen cleaned up. She went outside to the shed. She was looking for gardening tools. A few minutes later, Kyle stood behind her, “What are you doing?” She replied, “Looking for gardening tools.” He said, “We can look for some when we go into town.” She said, “ Okay.” He said, “ I need a day or two, to do some scouting. I may be able to pick up supplies, that way.”
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She stopped rifling through the things in the shed. She turned and looked at him. “What if there is no one else left?” He said, “Oh, believe me, there are others. There are going to be good and bad. But, right now, there is no one to call for help, if the bad ambush you. There are a hundred different dangers out there, now. Fatal dangers.” She listened to him speak. “We have to be ready, then. I want you to teach me everything that you know.” He said, “ I'll do that. I will. A little, at a time. For now, you and I need to sit down, and you need to tell me everything that you know about this place. I need you to show me the perimeters of the property. I need to know what is on the other side of the property. This way, I can try to figure out the best way to protect it, and us. You need to be prepared, to up and leave, if we are attacked. We may have to run with the clothes on our backs. Do you understand?” She said, “No! We stay, and fight.” He cut in, “Imogen, if we are ambushed by a group, or a horde of those things,we will have to go, and fast.” She cut in, “I want to stay here. I will stay and fight.” He said, “Y
ou are a Doctor. You will be needed, when we do find others. We are going to figure out how to keep watch, and protect ourselves. But, you have to be willing to accept, when we are at a loss. Or, you get us both, and anyone else we find, killed.” She said, “So, when do we get started on supply runs?” He said, “Tomorrow. We need to scope this place out, first. Then, we figure out a way to keep watch.” She said, “Okay, then. We can hike around the place, today. There is not much to see. But, maybe we should look over the house on the other side of the trees.” He repeated,” The house on the other side of the trees?” She said, “Yes. An older couple used to go stay there in the summer. I don't know if they are there, now. They don't live out here year round.” He said,” Okay. I think that we should to go through what we already have. Figure out what we will need.” She walked past him, and outside of the shed. He followed her. Once outside, she said, “Good idea. We should look for medical supplies, and toiletries, too.” He followed her into the cabin. “Imogen, we have to figure out a way to hide this place. We also need a way to block people, and the dead, from coming up on us. If we can't, and they get up here, we will be surrounded, in the blink of an eye. She sat down on the sofa. She said, “So. What do you suggest we do?” He exhaled, “Let me look around, first.” He sat down on the chair in the corner. She said, “Do you think we will be safe here? It seems like you don't think so.” He said, “Well. What I am concerned about, is large groups of the dead moving this way. And, just as bad, people who are dangerous.” She replied, “There have to be other people out there. I mean, we are here.” Kyle agreed,“Yes. There are. But, not all good. You saw what the group that I was with was doing. U-corp is mostly made up of former, foreign military. And, they are contracted by government. We were first sent in, to help. That is what we were told. The more out of control everything became, the more some of the guys started going rogue. And, we don't only have militarily trained people to worry about. There will be people who were criminals before this all happened. And, then, just desperate people. We have to try to figure out the good from the bad. That, will be the hard part. We also need a look out.” Imogen asked, “We can use any part of the place for that. He said, “We need a couple of high points. High enough to see over trees and several hundred yards. Other wise, we will be caught by surprise.” She listened to him. “So, we still have to help people that we find.” Kyle agreed, “Yes, we do. But, we still have to use caution.” She said “Okay.” Kyle stood up. “Right now, I will take a look around. If you don't mind?” She said, “Knock your socks off. I need to pick this place up.” Kyle added, “I think that, we need to inventory what supplies we have.” She said, “Okay. Good idea. But, you do know that we don't really have that much.” He said, “I know.... I'll be back.” Kyle went to the truck, first. He opened the door, and felt around behind the seat. He pulled out an AR-15 and two an extra magazines.
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