Chapter 2: Three questions, two guys, one shelter
Two days later
I didn't know how long I was on the road, or where I was. All I know is that there was a boiling sun beating down on me, and I was hot as hell.
Thank god I have some fresh water in my backpack. Although I was low on food, I didn't really care right now. Don't get me wrong, my stomach is killing me and growling like crazy Not to mention I felt somewhat weak. But after months of being on my own, I've developed a high tolerance to lack of food. I mostly focused on keeping myself filled up with water, so I wouldn't die from dehydration, and I tend to ration my food to conserve it. It was very difficult to adjust to, but It kept me alive.
I still had some granola bars on me but I decided to ration them for later on. I need to make them last until I can scavenge for more stuff to eat.
Suddenly I felt a strong cool breeze hit my body that felt amazing. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply.
Thanks. I needed that.
When I opened my eyes, I looked up at the sky to see that it was getting gray really fast, and I heard a soft rumble roaring in the sky. I smiled.
"It's going to be a rainy day today I take it?" I said.
A loud roar in the sky caused me to jump a little. I looked back up smirking. "I'll take that as a yes then."
I suddenly heard a low feral growl that sounded like it was coming from my left side. I turned to see a zombie limping his way through the grass looking at me with a vicious stare.
He looked very pale with thin cheek bones, yellow blood shot eyes, and light brown hair. What really interested me is that he was wearing a military BDU that was all worn and bloody. I concluded that this guy was in the army or National Guard.
I wonder how much of the military is left by now.
I didn't see any bites on him, but there were bullet wounds all over his chest. Whoever killed him must have not shot him in the head causing him to turn.
That's one of the scary things about this plague: It doesn't matter how you die. If you don't take the brain out, you'll come back as a zombie.
As he was getting closer to me, I unsheathed my steel tomahawk and raised it to my face. I carry a pistol with a silencer and I'm a pretty good shot with it, but I only use it if it's absolutely necessary, otherwise I tend to stick with the tomahawk that I have scavenged at a local hunting store.
He was really close to me and reaching his arms out to get me and was growling louder, but I gave him a quick slash to the head before he could devour me. I pulled my weapon out of his head causing him to instantly fall to the floor with a clean hit on his forehead and his eyes opened.
I looked around my surroundings to see if there were anymore coming my way, but I think this guy was the only one so I sheathed my weapon and exhaled deeply.
There was another rumble in the air and I felt some taps of water falling on my head and arm.
I crouched down on my knee and I placed my hand on the soldiers eyes shutting them. Looking at him now, he didn't look like a feral undead monster who eats people, he looked like any other ordinary person who was at peace finally. I reached inside his shirt, and pulled out his dog tags that revealed his name: Paul Stone. After looking at them, I placed it in his hand rested both hands on his chest.
"Thank you for your service, and rest in peace." I quietly told the corpse. I always had respect for our guys in the military, but because of soldiers declaring a brutal martial law and killing "infected" people, I can't trust them with my life.
I got to my feet and began walking on the road again. Another rumble roared again and a few seconds later, rain began pouring from the sky soaking me wet almost instantly. I didn't really care though, the rain felt really good, especially since it was boiling hot a few minutes ago.
After 10 minutes of walking I suddenly saw what looked like a light blue pickup truck closing in. It was already too late to run so I brought out my pistol and kept it lowered until they were close.
The truck started slowing down coming to a full stop right in front of me causing my heart rate to accelerate. As the doors opened I raised my pistol at the first person who stepped out. He was a big African American guy with a rough beard, a light blue beanie, and a dark grey tank top. The second guy was a skinny but tough looking what guy with light brown hair, a goatee, and a crossbow on his back. He was wearing a black leather vest with a poncho, and some worn out jeans.
"Woah! Woah! Easy!" The first guy said raising his hands up. "We're not here looking for a fight."
I scowled being skeptical about his word. "Try anything and a bullet goes through your skull." I pointed my pistol at the other guy. "Same for you, Rambo." He scowled back at me, but didn't do anything. "What do you want?" I asked them.
"I'm Tyreese." The first guy told me with his hands still up meaning no harm. He motioned towards he friend. "This is Daryl. We saw you on the road, and we just want to talk."
"What's yer name, kid?" Daryl asked me in a low gruff but caring voice voice.
I lowered my pistol and hesitated. "It's Casey." I answered.
Tyreese smiled. "Nice to meet you Casey." He said in a more friendly voice.
My faced relaxed a little bit. "Now what do you guys want?" I told them again.
"We just need to ask you a few questions if that's okay with you." Tyreese replied.
I gave him a puzzled look. "What kind of questions?" I asked cautiously. I mean I just met these two guys a minute ago and now they want to ask me a few questions?
"How many walkers have you killed?" He started.
Walkers? I think he means the zombies.
"Dozens? Hundreds? I don't keep count." I answered.
"How many people you killed?" Tyreese asked.
I hesitated for a few seconds not because I was scared or nervous, but because I don't really like to think about it.
"One." I silently told him.
"Why?" Daryl chimed in.
Wow! Are you seriously asking me that?
I turned towards Daryl with a icy stare. "Because she begged me too!" I hissed. I turned my attention back towards Tyreese. "Any other questions you want to ask me?"
"No... no... I'm sorry." Tyreese sympathetically said. My expression softened and I simply nodded. I don't really hold grudges that much. "Look... Casey. We have a small community about forty five minutes away from here. We have food, shelter, and other kids your age. It's you choice but would you like to be apart of it?"
I looked at them surprised.
They have a settlement?
I never thought that would be possible. Then again these guys might be lying and were probably leading me to somewhere to kill me. But honestly I was tired of being on the road, scavenging for supplies, and being hungry all the time. Maybe they're telling the truth maybe they want to kill me. Either way I don't really care. Dying is better then just barely trying to survive all your life.
"Alright I'm in." Was my answer.
