Fight 4 Us (Book 10): Ghosts

by Grenda, Brian

  I look at Jerri-Lynn and say, “We aren’t going to rush into anything with this. We will make a plan to get into the house safely.”

  Jerri-Lynn replies, “Let’s hear the plan and then we will go from there.”

  “Sounds good. We can talk about it at my house. I hope you guys are staying for the reception,” I say to Jerri-Lynn.

  “We will definitely come by, thank you Ryan,” responds Jerri-Lynn.

  “Good, I’ll see you over there,” I say to Jerri-Lynn and her group.

  Jerri-Lynn and her group say goodbye to me and start walking down the street and away from the cemetery.

  Phil, Jon, Matt, and Shaun walk over to me.

  “You doing okay Ry?” asks Jon.

  I look at Jon and answer, “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s definitely rough losing my father but I’ll be okay.”

  The same small bird that flew over the cemetery before flies over us again and lets out a loud chirp.

  “Man, bird Bobby G is letting us know that he is still here,” jokes Matt.

  “That was pretty good Matt,” I reply to Matt.

  “Birdy G,” jokes Shaun.

  “Bobby G could definitely talk your ear off,” says Phil.

  “He always did. I remember when you guys would come pick me up to go out. Bobby G always wanted to talk to you guys, and I usually had to interrupt him so we could leave the house,” I say to the guys.

  “Good times at the Briggs house,” says Phil.

  I say to the guys, “Let’s go get some food and get a plan for Chris. I know Shaun has to be hungry.”

  Shaun smiles and replies, “Oh I definitely am. It’s gotta be close to lunch time.”

  I walk with the guys away from the cemetery.

  As I walk away from the cemetery, I look back at Bobby G’s grave and think to myself, “Bye dad, I hope you got to see who came out today and know that everyone here is going to miss you.”

  CHAPTER 3

  NO WAY

  “I’m sorry about your father Ryan, we all are,” says TJ to me as we sit outside on my back patio.

  “Thank you, TJ, but I want to make sure that my father didn’t die for nothing. I want to find Chris, possibly get some information out of him, and then get even with him,” I reply to TJ.

  “What do you have planned for Chris and where is he?” asks TJ.

  Phil, who is standing with Shaun, Jon, and Matt behind me, answers, “Chris is most likely in a neighborhood that is pretty close to here.”

  “How do you know he is there?” asks Janet as she stands behind TJ.

  “We don’t know exactly, but there is a car parked on the lawn and there is a large group of zombies drawn to something inside the house,” answers Phil.

  “Where have you two been TJ? You were supposed to join us for the attack on The Grove?” asks Shaun to TJ and Janet with an aggressive tone.

  I feel that Shaun’s questions, even though they are a little aggressive, are fair and important.

  TJ quickly answers, “We had some problems with my sister and at MacDill.”

  Phil, Shaun, Jon, Matt, and I look at TJ and Janet for further explanation.

  “And? Can you elaborate on that?” asks Phil.

  Janet answers, “Alice was threatening to go back to the casino and then all this crazy shit went down on base with the military and TJ’s father.”

  “Aren’t you with the military also?” asks Jon to Janet.

  “Yes, I am military, but not part of the pain in the ass group that is led by Colonel Meyers and Lieutenant General Swartz,” answers Janet.

  “Is that the group that attacked the casino?” I ask TJ and Janet.

  “Yeah, they have some orders from the government about some program and they were moving onto the next stage of it,” answers TJ.

  “How do you know this?” asks Matt.

  “My father runs MacDill, and he’s in the know about some things going on with the government,” answers TJ.

  “So the government is still around?” I ask TJ and Janet.

  “Yes, the government is still around as far as I know,” answers TJ.

  “There is no way that the government didn’t know about these zombies… They may have even made them,” says Shaun.

  “Here he goes. Mister conspiracy theory,” says Phil.

  “He may be right, I don’t know how it started or where, but I do know that we were getting more and more strange calls about people being attacked and bitten by neighbors and homeless people before the streets and neighborhoods started to become infested by the dead,” says TJ.

  “When did all that happen?” I ask TJ.

  Lauren walks out our sliding glass door with Jerri-Lynn, Brody, Kiersten, Andre, and Sam.

  We all look at Lauren, Jerri-Lynn, and Jerri-Lynn’s group.

  “What’s up sweetie?” I ask Lauren.

  Lauren answers, “A lot of people have left, and we wanted to know what the plan was for going after Chris.”

  “Let’s make the plan right now,” I say to everyone.

  I look at Phil and ask, “What are we looking at in the neighborhood where you think Chris is?”

  Phil explains the neighborhood, what he saw, and we come up with a plan.

  “It’s 2:00 PM right now. Let’s get ready to go and we’ll head over to the neighborhood in two hours. We all know our parts and let’s stick to them,” I say to TJ, Janet, Lauren, the guys, Jerri-Lynn, and Jerri-Lynn’s group.

  Jerri-Lynn and her group exit my house and head home.

  Brody heads to his house to get ready and gear up for his part in our plan to go after Chris.

  TJ and Janet stick around for a second and talk with me, Lauren, and the guys.

  “Ryan, can I ask a favor?” asks TJ.

  I look at TJ and ask, “What’s up TJ?”

  TJ answers, “I’m not sure what to do about my sister. I keep worrying that she will leave and go back to the casino.”

  “Why stop her?” asks Phil.

  TJ gives Phil a questioning look.

  “If she wants to go, she will find a way to go. Just help her with it. Keeping her from something will only make her want it more,” says Phil to TJ.

  “That sounds about right. Telling a woman that she can’t have something, or someone, only makes her want it more,” says Lauren.

  “Oh yeah?” I ask Lauren.

  Lauren smiles and answers, “You know what I mean.”

  Janet says, “I agree. We should work with Alice and help her.”

  TJ looks at Janet and asks, “But what about the casino? I’m pretty sure Colonel Meyers was going back there for supplies and whatever else they wanted to take.”

  “What do you want us to do with your sister? Give her a job here?” I ask TJ.

  “Could you? If you gave her a purpose here, then she might back off trying to find answers about the casino,” answers TJ.

  “It doesn’t work like that TJ. If Alice wants to go back to the casino, she probably will. She seems pretty stubborn and headstrong,” says Janet.

  I think about what Alice could do around here, and I can’t think of any specific job for her.

  “Let’s worry about finding Chris and then we can worry about your sister. The main thing is that she is alive and safe right now,” I say to TJ.

  TJ and Janet say goodbye to me, Lauren, and the guys.

  “We will see you soon,” says TJ to me and the guys.

  “I hope so,” jokes Shaun.

  TJ rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

  “Shaun’s right though, you said that the last time we had a plan for something big,” I say to TJ as Janet and TJ step into my house through my sliding glass door.

  TJ responds, “You are right, but that’s all done now. We are able to help you today.”

  “We’ll see you soon, and I want to know more about the military and government for sure,” I say to TJ.

  “I will tell you everything that I know after we find Chris,” replies TJ.

 
; TJ and Janet head back to TJ’s house to prepare for their part in the plan to find Chris.

  The guy’s head to their homes, and Lauren and I start to get ready for our plan to find Chris.

  Jon changes his clothes and grabs his shield and handgun.

  Jon feels a part of him is missing as he doesn’t have Silencer on his back.

  Matt puts on a thick sweatshirt and Kylie walks over to him.

  Kylie says to Matt, “Be careful out there.”

  Matt grabs his handgun, shotgun, and puts his knife into its sheath.

  Matt feels nervous, but doesn’t want to show that to Kylie.

  “I will, but I’m mostly going to be a lookout for the guys today,” says Matt to Kylie.

  “Well keep a good lookout then and be safe,” replies Kylie before she kisses Matt.

  Phil puts on his bulletproof vest and Nicole walks over to him.

  “I want you to show me how to shoot,” says Nicole to Phil as she helps Phil with his bulletproof vest.

  Phil looks at Nicole and says, “Definitely. I will teach you for sure. I will also teach Mason and Mia when they are older.”

  Nicole smiles and jokes, “Maybe on their first birthday.”

  Shaun and Lisa are arguing inside their master bedroom.

  “I want to come today Shaun,” says Lisa as Shaun exits from their master bathroom.

  “It’s not safe, you can come out with us another time. It could get dangerous today,” says Shaun to Lisa.

  “You don’t think I’m ready for something like this?” asks Lisa.

  Shaun hesitates to answer Lisa and that pisses Lisa off.

  “Lauren can go, but not me?” asks Lisa.

  Shaun puts his handgun into his right hip holster and answers, “I didn’t say that. I don’t control what Ryan and Lauren do.”

  “But you control what I do?” shouts Lisa.

  “No! I don’t control anything but what I do! If you want to fucking come, then come along!” shouts Shaun.

  Lisa doesn’t know what to say.

  “Look, I know you want to come with us and play a role around here and you will. But we just lost Ryan’s dad and I don’t want to risk losing anyone else,” says Shaun with a calmer tone of voice.

  Lisa is about to talk, but Shaun interrupts, “I promise you will come out with us… But please help guard this place when we are away. We need people here to guard the front gates also.”

  Lisa nods her head at Shaun.

  “I’m sorry for yelling but there is no way that I could ever get over losing you. You are my rock,” says Shaun to Lisa.

  “And you are my paper,” jokes Lisa to Shaun.

  Shaun kisses Lisa.

  Lauren helps me put on my samurai armor and jokes, “You look ridiculous in this.”

  “I like it. It may look ridiculous, but I feel invincible with this on. Especially with the bulletproof chest plate,” I reply to Lauren.

  I help Lauren with her bulletproof vest, and I ask, “Is it too tight on your boobs?”

  “The girls are alright, a little tight since we adjusted the vest, but it’s okay,” answers Lauren.

  I look at Lauren and say, “I’m glad you are coming with us today, but I’m also nervous. Please be careful today.”

  “I’m ready, well at least I think I am,” replies Lauren.

  “It’s okay to be nervous. I’m nervous pretty much every time we leave this place, but that keeps ya sharp and ready,” I say to Lauren.

  I can see the apprehension on Lauren’s face.

  I want to make sure Lauren is confident today and say to Lauren, “Phil and Shaun saw the neighborhood already, and we have a solid plan for today.”

  Lauren nods her head, but I can see that she is still a little anxious.

  “You are a good shot with your bow. Just make sure you have plenty of arrows and keep your handgun ready,” I say to Lauren.

  “Always be ready,” responds Lauren.

  Phil, Jon, Matt, and Shaun meet at Bobby G’s oak tree.

  Lauren and I exit from our house.

  I walk with Lauren towards Bobby G’s oak tree.

  Shaun shouts, “Ut oh! Samu-Ry is here!”

  “Here we go with the jokes!” I shout to Shaun.

  Lauren and I walk over to Phil, Shaun, Matt, and Jon.

  Phil says to me, “TJ is in position, and Andre is setting up right now.”

  “Good, we got the vehicles ready?” I ask Phil and the guys.

  “Yeah, we are all set,” answers Shaun.

  Suddenly, I hear some loud music coming from outside of Citrus Oaks and away from our community.

  “Sounds like Andre is ready,” says Phil.

  “Let’s get moving,” I say to the guys.

  Phil, Matt, and Jon get into Phil’s black SUV that has the plow on the front of it, and Phil drives towards the main gate of Citrus Oaks.

  Shaun, Lauren, and I walk towards the electric truck that Shaun parked in the street next to Bobby G’s house.

  I turn around and look at the oak tree that is in Bobby G’s front yard and smile.

  I see a small bird in Bobby G’s oak tree, and it chirps at me.

  I smile and whisper to myself, “I got this dad.”

  Shaun gets in the electric truck, and Lauren and I get into the back truck bed of the electric truck.

  “Don’t go too fast Shaun!” I shout from the back truck bed of the electric truck.

  “Yes sir, fast it isn’t,” jokes Shaun.

  Lauren and I stand in the back truck bed of the electric truck and hold onto the custom railing that was installed on the roof of the electric truck.

  Shaun slowly drives towards the main gate of Citrus Oaks and we hear the music that is being played outside of Citrus Oaks a little bit louder now.

  “You okay?” I ask Lauren.

  Lauren answers, “Yeah, but I should have tied my hair back for this.”

  Shaun arrives at the designated location and parks next to TJ’s jeep.

  TJ and Janet come over to Shaun’s electric truck.

  Lauren ties her hair back while Lauren and I stand in the truck bed of the electric truck.

  “Where’s Alice and Odin?” asks Shaun to TJ as Shaun exits the electric truck.

  “Back home. I didn’t want to leave Alice home alone, so Odin is with her,” answers TJ.

  “How we looking TJ?” I ask TJ as I look down the street towards two cars that are parked in the middle of the street.

  “Pretty good. Andre drove into the neighborhood as you can hear, and has the music playing to draw the zombies away from the house,” answers TJ.

  Lauren sees two zombies slowly walking towards the back of Shaun’s electric truck.

  “Behind us!” shouts Lauren.

  Janet reaches for her handgun.

  SCHHWAFF! SCHHWAFF!

  Lauren quickly fires two arrows from her bow and kills the two approaching zombies.

  “Nice,” says Janet to Lauren.

  I see Andre’s truck driving down the street and approaching the two parked cars that are in the middle of the street.

  The two parked cars slowly reverse and make just enough space for Andre’s truck to fit through.

  The music that Andre is playing out of his giant speakers in his truck is a nineties rap song.

  Jerri-Lynn, Kiersten, and Brody exit from the two parked cars, that were in the middle of the street, and run down a side street.

  A group of three zombies approach the side of Shaun’s electric truck.

  BANG! BANG!

  SCHHWAFF!

  Janet and Lauren kill the three approaching zombies.

  I see a large horde of zombies following Andre’s truck now.

  A car drives out from the nearby street, that Jerri-Lynn, Brody, and Kiersten went down, and approaches our position.

  Andre’s truck drives past the two parked cars that were previously moved out of the middle of the street.

  The car, that just exited from the nearby str
eet, drives over to our position and parks next to TJ’s jeep.

  Jerri-Lynn, Kiersten, and Brody exit the car.

  BANG!

  A lone shot is heard in the distance, and it sounded like it was far away from the approaching zombies.

  Andre approaches our position, turns off the music inside his truck, but keeps driving down the street.

  The zombies that were following Andre’s truck keep walking down the street and slowly approach the two parked cars that Jerri-Lynn and Brody left in the street.

  “Where is Phil?” asks Shaun.

  “Keep your weapons ready! We might get some stragglers!” I shout.

  The horde of zombies are right before the two parked cars that sit in the street now.

  TJ, Janet, Lauren, Shaun, Jerri-Lynn, Brody, Kiersten, and I all see the approaching zombies start to funnel between the two parked cars.

  “Where the fuck is Phil?” I shout.

  Suddenly a loud roar of an engine is heard, tires screech, and a vehicle speeds towards the backs of the approaching zombie horde.

  CRUNCH!

  SPLAT!

  Phil drives his black SUV into the zombie horde. The plow on the front of Phil’s black SUV rips, shreds, and crushes zombies as Phil drives through the horde.

  A couple zombies are able to pass through the space between the two parked cars, but Phil kills a large part of the zombie horde with his SUV.

  SHICK!

  SLICE!

  PKOW!

  Brody, Jerri-Lynn, and I kill a couple of zombies, that were most likely attracted to Andre’s music, as they approach our location.

  Phil drives down the street and through the space between the two parked cars.

  CRUNCH!

  Phil runs over the last remaining three zombies with his black SUV as he drives over to our position.

  “I think we are all clear,” says Phil as he rolls down his SUV driver side door window.

  I look at Phil’s SUV windshield, hood, and front plow attachment and they are covered with zombie blood, guts, limbs, and clothing.

  Janet sees the upper body of a zombie that is entangled between Phil’s black SUV front grill and front plow attachment.

  “That fucker is still alive,” says Janet as she walks over to the mangled zombie that’s stuck on Phil’s SUV.

  SHICK!

  Janet stabs the zombie in his head and says, “I will never get over the fact that these fuckers can still live without arms and legs, just as long as their brain is intact.”