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Will walked into the tool room inside the barn. Gabe was working on one of his projects. Will stood still, as he gawked at a large device that lay all the way across a work bench. The device had several barrels protruding from a large rectangular-type weapon. He asked, “ What is that?” Gabe said, “ It's a robotic firing device. I need one more piece of steel. Then, I think that I can finish it. Also, do you have any magnets that you don't need?” Will said, “I'll ask the others. In fact, you can ask. We will have a meeting tonight. We have been putting together some plans for attack.” Just then, there was a knock at the door. The two men turned to see who it was. Will replied, “ Yeah?” They heard Charlies' voice from the other side, “ It's me.” Will said, “Come in, Charlie.” The door swung open. They watched, as Charlie pulled a child's wagon filled with some electronic devices. He said, “ I have some of the things that you asked for, Gabe.” Gabe's eyes grew big with excitement. He went to the wagon. He rifled through the things that Charlie had brought in. He had a camera and some batteries. And, a lot of wires. He said, “Yes! Now I can finish the drone.” Will asked, “The drone? You built a drone?” Charlie said, Gabe, and I were talking about the blind spot by your place. Gabe knows how to build a flying drone. So, we can put a camera on it, and use it to get a look at the areas outside that we can't go to.” Will said, “Okay. I like this idea. Charlie. Do you know if we have any steel that is already cut?” Charlie said, “I can check with Frank. What size?” Gabe cut in, “ Many sizes. But at least three that are a few feet long. The same dimensions.” Charlie scratched his head, while staring at the firing device. “I'll check. If not, we can cut some if you give us the dimension that you need.” Gabe said, “Okay. Here are the size dimensions that I need.” He took a pen from his pocket, and wrote down the measurements on a piece of paper. Then, he turned to Charlie, and handed him the paper. “Thank you, Charlie.”
“Okay. I should get back. I have to check on the cameras. I think that everything is okay. But, just need to check. Jennifer, and Scarlett are there for a few hours.” Will said, “I know it's quiet. She would have been screaming into the radio, if she had seen anything.” Charlie half-smiled, and turned to leave. Gabe said, “Will, I have seen some terrible things out there. I know that you are taking this seriously. But, that gang of Raiders, they'll keep coming back. They want this place.” Will said, “ I know, Gabe. And, I am glad that you made it here. Glad that you are helping. So, are you going to tell me how to use this thing?” Gabe said, “Yes. I have a couple of other things that, I am not sure about, yet. But, this...” He pointed towards the large contraption. Then, the mini drone sitting on another shelf. “will help us a great deal.” Will said, “Okay, then.” The two men talked. Scott, and Nicole walked along the wall. He said, “I want you and the women to practice getting the kids and older people together. Then, getting them to safety. Kyle says that, there are more of them. And, they'll be looking to meet up with what is left of their group. We have to be ready for them, until we either beat them, or they go away. Which, I am sure will not happen. I want you to be ready with Devon, and those that you and the Pastor can get out, if need be. Remember, stay inside the escape room. If this place falls, we'll come and get you from the other side.” Nicole said, “Babe. Do you really think that they can get through the walls?” Scott replied, “Nicole. All it will take, is for one person to get in, and open any of the gates for the rest of them. We stick to our original plan. We are working on details, now. But, if it looks like they are going to take this place, you get Devon and get to the escape room in back of the orchard. And, wait in there for me.” Nicole was worried. She knew that they had the advantage. She also knew that, her husband had a lot more experience in war than herself.
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He knew what he was talking about. “Are you going to tell me what has you so on edge about these Raiders?” she asked. He stopped walking. He turned, and looked down at her. “These people only let those live that, will agree to be loyal fighters for them. Those boys that we took in, the two that were fighting with them...were forced to fight for them. The younger of the two, is twelve years old. You and Devon be ready to get out fast, if they take the place. Keep your radio with you at all times, from now on. We'll be talking about it at the next meeting. If we are engaged, I may not be able to get to you right away. There are a couple of bug out bags for you, and Pastor Dom in the apartment. If you have to run, grab them.” He paused, then looked at his watch. “Come on, let's go talk to the group.” They laid out a plan for the women to hold drills, to get the children to safety if they needed to. For days, things were quiet. They were wondering why no one had attacked them. They didn't believe that, these Raiders, would just give up. So, Kyle went to the men. He said, “I'm going out to see what is going on. It's too strange that, they have not been back.” Will said, “I've been thinking about that. Maybe, they ran into a herd. Maybe, they had to run away from this area.” Scott said, “Kyle, we should wait another week. It's too dangerous to go out, right now.” Kyle said, “I'll be careful. It will be better if we can get an idea of where they are, and what they're up to.” The men didn't like it. Aidan said, “Kyle, they could ambush you, and we wouldn't know what happened. I think you should wait.” Kyle said, “I am going to go. I know that, none of you can come out, and help me out if I get caught up out there. But, I can relay messages back to you along the way. The reason I am calling this meeting, is to ask one of you to keep a journal, in case there is trouble, and I don't make it back. You know? When I check in. You need to know where it's safe, and where it is not safe. I can sneak in, and out of places you would not believe. If all goes well, I'll be back in a few days. If I can't get back for any reason, you will have notes on what is going on out there. This will give you a heads up, for future supply runs....” he hesitated, then continued, “... or escapes.” All of the men exchanged a concerned look, and silently, agreed.
Josh had been going out, and collecting supplies for some time. His grandfather became angry with him, at first. His grandmother acted, as though, she would have a heart attack. Then, one day, as he wrapped his body with heat duck tape, his grandfather came to him, “I am going with you.” Josh was caught off guard. “What, Grandpa?” Rob repeated, “I am going with you. We can get more things, and we can watch each others' backs.” Josh said, “Grandpa, you should stay here with Grandma, and the girls.” Pearl stood by the door. “No. I will lock the doors, and shoot anything that comes here. Or, anyone. You let your Grandpa go with you. He is right.” Josh looked back and forth between them. “Okay, then.” They prepared, and left in Josh's truck. On the way there, “Rob said, “Josh, we need to look for a trailer for this truck, and an RV. Josh thought about it, “Okay.” As they came to a large warehouse, they saw the parking lot filled with forty, or more zombies. Josh stopped the truck in the middle of the street. He was visibly disappointed. The young man said, “There are too many of them.” Rob said, “You know? The internet still relays all videos that were uploaded, before it all went to hell?” Josh asked, “Why do you say that?” Rob said, “I have been watching some of the vids that were put up by the zombie hunters. Did you know, there are zombie hunters? Anyway, we need to be quiet, and pierce their brains. I also know that, they are basically mindless, and can be lead away easily. I say that, we use a ploy to lead the dead away from here. Then, we go in, and get what we need.” Josh said, “Good idea, Grandpa. But, there could be more inside.”
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Rob said, “Then, we do it twice. Let me drive.” Josh looked at him. He hesitated. “Oh come on, Boy. We still have to collect our supplies.” Josh stepped out of the drivers side. He walked around to the passenger side. He knocked a lunging zombie down, stabbing it in the temple, in the process. His grandfather slid over into the drivers side seat. He drove the truck into the parking lot. Beeping all of the way. Josh blurted out, “Grandpa! What are you doing?” The dead looked towards the truck, in sync. Then, they followed the
truck. Josh asked, “Where are we going?” Rob said, “We need to lead them away. I am leading them to the old tow-yard.” Josh repeated, “The tow-yard?” Rob said, “It's all fenced in. Don't worry, I brought a lock and chain.” He picked up a bag, and turned it upside down. A large chain, and lock fell out onto the seat. Josh, just stared at the lock and chain, while Rob idled the truck, as he beeped the horn. Josh looked into the side view mirror. The dead stumbled behind the truck, all the way to the tow-yard. As they approached the yard, they saw the front gate. It was closed, and locked. Josh said, “Grandpa. We can't get in.” Rob said, “ Ha! Jerry always took the back way. I'll need your help, in a minute. I need to speed up, and around to the back. Then, you need to get the gate open. After we lead them to the back part of the yard, we get out, and lock them inside.” He looked over at Josh, who did not seem to look convinced that his plan would work. They were approaching the side of the building, now. Rob sped around the corner, to the back. They stopped right in front of the gate. Josh jumped from the vehicle. He ran past a guard shack. A zombie guard slammed into the window, clawing at the glass. Josh hesitated for a second. Then, realized that the zombie could not get to him through the glass. He rushed to the gate. He pushed it to the side. Then ran back to the truck. Instead of moving the vehicle, Rob sat there. Josh blurted out, “Grandpa, hurry!” He knew that he was staring at something. But, what was it? Josh looked around. “Grandpa?” Rob lifted his finger in the air. “Hush, Boy.” He said, “We are going to do this different.” He stepped out of the truck, and shot at a side mirror on one of the cars. The alarm went off. Then, he shot off another. Another alarm went off. He shot a third one. That alarm also blared, loudly. He rushed back inside the truck. He immediately, backed the truck into a spot behind another building that blocked view of oncoming zombies. He shut off the truck and locked the doors. “Duck down, Josh!” They peeked over the dashboard and watched the mob of zombies walk right past them. Once they were inside the yard, Rob started the truck, and drove to the gate. He jumped from the truck, and closed the gate. A couple of the dead turned around, and slammed into the gate. Rob tried to hold it closed, as he wrapped the chain around the poles. He locked the chain. From behind, two more zombies approached Rob. The leathery-faces,were snapping their teeth at him. One of them fell down. Josh who stood behind the other, had smacked it in the head with the pickaxe. He was already stabbing the second one in the temple. It also fell. The herd of dead pushed up against the gate. They growled, and reached for them. Josh said, “Come on, Grandpa.” Rob said, “We need to pound on the windows of the building before we try yo go inside. That will bring them out into view, for us.” They climbed into the truck and drove back to the business. They made sure it was clear, then went in. They gathered supplies for half of the day. That evening, they proudly, told their story to Pearl and the girls.
Before sunrise, Kyle woke up. He left a note on the table, next to the bed. As Imogen lay asleep, he tip-toed to the door. He left and closed the door to their apartment. As he approached Will's place, he saw the middle aged man waiting for him on the wall top. He ran up the steps. Will was holding a duffel bag. He said, “I fixed this for you. Look through it, before you run into anyone. Dead or alive.”
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Will walked Kyle down the stairs. He led him to a horse. He said, “This is Barney. Can I trust you to feed, water, and bring him back home?” Kyle looked over the large stud. He noticed, a rifle strapped onto the side of the saddle. Even though, he had his own full-auto slung over his shoulder, and two other side arms on his person, he thankfully, accepted the horse. He said, “He is a fine specimen. Thank you, Will. Are you going to listen for me?” He held up his radio. Will said, “Every hour, Kyle. You keep me posted. And, let me know where you are, at all times. If I can't get out to help, maybe I can tell you how to get you back here. He'll need water every couple of hours. And, there is a bag of apples tied up on the saddle. Barney likes em. I put a couple extra in there for you, too.” Kyle smiled. He said, “Thank you. Okay, then. Sounds like we have a plan.” Kyle mounted the large horse. He noticed, the expression on Will's face, even though, it was still dark. He had sad look on his face. Kyle said, “I'll check throughout the day. If I get into trouble, and cannot talk, I'll push the button on my radio in increments of three. If I think that, trouble is coming this way, and can't talk, I'll keep pushing the button in and out. That way, you'll get a continuous beep of static. You know? On and off. Just in case.” Will nodded, “Be careful.” He turned, and rode to the gate. Stella opened it part-way, and let him pass through. After he left, she closed the gate. She joined her father on the top of the wall top. “Imogen is going to be mad.” she said. Will said nothing. He watched Kyle ride off, through his infrared field glasses. After a few minutes, he spoke into the radio, “Kyle. You have two grenades, and a flare gun in the pack. Just in case, you need to create a diversion, or give us a signal if you are close by, and injured. Don't forget, Barney will need to drink every couple of hours.” Kyle said, “Yes, Sir. Thanks, Will.” Kyle pulled on the reigns, so that Barney would come to a stop. When the horse did, he took out his eyeclops that he had used on missions, and placed them on his head. He adjusted the head piece, and started on another mission. Will watched Kyle and Barney move away, until he could not see them anymore. He said, “Say a prayer for Kyle, Stella. Barney can only do so much.” Stella asked, “Did you tell him about Barney?” Will said, “If he runs into trouble, he'll figure it out soon enough. I guess that, I should mention it at some point, though.” Stella shook her head, from side to side. “If he hides, Kyle will think he ran off, Dad.” Will said, “I'll tell him a few hours. Did you lock the gate?” She said, “Yes. Do you want some more coffee?” Will said, “Sure.” Stella walked down the steps, and to the house.
Will got on the radio, “Kyle.”
“Yes, Will?”he answered. Will continued, “If you run into trouble, Barney is trained to help.”
“How?” Kyle asked. “Listen to him, Kyle.”
Okay, sure; he thought. But, he said, “ Alright, Will.” Will said, “I'll stay on here. Keep me posted, Kyle.” He answered, “Okay, Will.” Later, Will and Scott stood at the back of the orchard. They had brought the last of the spare supplies into the escape room. Will said, “Do you know, who does not know about where to hide, if need be?” Scott answered, “Mostly, everyone knows. The women have been prepping, and training them.” They heard gunfire, from a distance. They both turned to each other, and froze. Then, they ran to the horses. They mounted, and took off towards the sound. Will yelled, “It's sounds like it's coming from Ms. Clea's place. “ When they arrived at the wall, near Rose and Granny's place, they saw Rose standing on the top of the wall. She was bending forward, while peeking through a slat in the protective barrier. She was facing the field. She turned to them, and gestured for them to be quiet, with her finger pressed to her lips. Her other hand, still gripped the AR-15 that rested on her forearm. Then, she turned back towards the wall, and stared at the tree line.
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Scott asked, “Are they back?” She jerked her head back towards them, “Sh! They aren't shooting this way. They are shooting at each other. They are behind the tree line.” The men were confused, now. Scott asked, “At each other?” Will spoke into the radio, “Kyle... Kyle, is that you?” Kyle came on, “No. I'm up in the next town. North of the Orchard. What's up?” Scott came on, “You be careful, when you come back this way. We have someone shooting it out, on the other side of the tree line.” Kyle asked, “You need me to get back there?” Will said, “No. You should probably stay where you are. At least, until we know who it is.” Scott chimed in, “ And, how many?” Kyle said, “Keep me posted. I'll do the same. It's been quiet all the way here, so far.” More shots rang out from behind the trees. Will said, “It sounds like, it's further out into the trees.” He and Scott crept up next to where Rose peeked through the cover-wall. Now, they were all crowded together. Scott called out to Charlie, “Ch
arlie. Can you see anyone outside the walls?” Charlie said, “I have been trying to find them. The most I can make out, is smoke from the other side of the tree line. Looks like something is burning.” Just then, Renee came on, “What is going on?” Scott replied, “We have some people shooting at each other, outside the walls.” For a moment, there was silence. They could hear some yelling. It sounded like someone had gotten attacked. They could not see if the victims were being attacked by the dead, or the living. Nina and Aidan hurried up the stairs. Before they came all of the way up, Will turned to them, and warned, “Keep your heads down. Some one is shooting it out in the trees.” They exchanged a concerned glance. Aidan asked, “The Raiders?” Rose said, “Most likely. But, we can't see them. So, we don't know, not for sure.” Now, there was chatter from others over the radio. Many were blurting out concerned questions. Hazel asked, “Are we being attacked, again?” She sounded like she was in a panic. Jack yelled, “What the hell? Scott, Jimmy, where is that coming from?” As others cried out questions, Scott, attempting to keep everyone calm said, “Okay, People. Every one who is on guard, stay there. Keep your eyes and ears open. We have someone else shooting it out, outside the walls. It's probably the Raiders. But, we can't see who else is out there. Hold tight, and stay on your radio.” The chatter quieted down. Heather came on, “Should we get the kids gathered up?” Will answered, “Keep them inside the school, for now. Stay with your radio, in case anyone tries to get inside here. We'll keep you posted.” More shots rang out, in repetition. Then, they heard a loud boom! They all froze. Rose, and Scott, turned towards each other. Rose blurted out, “It sounds like a bomb!” Scott said, “Maybe?”
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