Pan) Hey guys, Still own nothing But Emily and Boo.
XXXXXXX
Traveling with a pre- teen on foot through Shuffler infested woods was now on my list of 'Top ten things I never want to do again' right up there with eating muskrat and walking in on your parents doing the nasty. Okay, maybe not as bad as the last one but it was pretty bad, it seemed Sophia made it her mission to step on every dry, brittle loud snapping twig she could find. I knew that wasn't the case but it irritated me none the less seeing that I had to kill more Shufflers than was needed so finally I made her walk behind me as I picked my way through the woods. It helped she stepped on less twigs and made less noise following in my foot steps as Boo trotted beside us, she was covered again in Shuffler gore. We made crappy time, a trip that would only take me two hour turned into four and a half, we had to stop several times because Sophia's feet would start to hurt or she was thirsty or was to hot. As we walked I made a mental note to get her a back pack of her own and fill it with water and some snack type foods and some other things we would need also she was getting a new pair of shoes, well boots. Finally we reached the road and followed it for another twenty minutes until the town came into view and I ushered Sophia back towards the trees and we moved to the edge of the town. Lifting my rifle I looked through my scope and scouted the area I saw a few Shufflers milling about but didn't see any signs of people which I liked I preferred the dead, they were easier to handle. Dropping my rifle I turned to Sophia telling her to stay close and do what I did we walked into the town I looked around watching the Shufflers to see if they caught our scent so far so good we made it two blocks before I had to kill one.
I rounded a corner and nearly ran smack into it stepping back I bumped into Sophia (who was taking my words 'stay close' as literally as possible) and knocked her onto her butt. I tore my machete from its sheathe and jammed it through the underside of the corpses jaw the thing convulsed and I pulled the blade out and it hit the ground with a meaty thump. Looking over my shoulder Sophia was pushing herself up and rubbing her now sore butt with a shake of my head I kept on going Sophia keeping a little more distance between us. I killed two more Shufflers before we reached the corner store stopping at the doors I looked back at Sophia wondering if having her stay here or taking her in would be safer. I settled on taking her that way I would be able to keep an eye on her I gripped the door handle before I turned to her and held out my machete. She shook her head viciously not wanting it I sighed and thrust the handle of the long blade into her now trembling hands, she gripped it tightly knuckles turning white. I pulled my buck knife from my boot and gave the door a swift kick and listened for any sounds hearing a few groans and something topple to the floor I nudged Sophia back keeping her behind me I yanked the door open and planted my knife into the first Shufflers head ripped it free and stabbed the one behind it in the forehead. It fell on top of the first and I stepped over them glanced behind me to see Sophia doing the same then turned back to the store slowly I picked my way through the place stepping over shattered glass and moving around toppled shelves I killed two more Shufflers before the store was clear. Walking through the aisles I found a navy back pack, telling Sophia what we needed she helped scavenge and found some medical supplies, a box of tea bags and a small can of instant coffee along with some canned goods and a six pack of instant noodles. Stashing the goods in the navy pack I handed it to Sophia and she shouldered it nodding I moved back towards the front of the store.
The clothing store was a few blocks from us if I was thinking correctly, it had been a while since I wandered through the place and I didn't need any supplies at the time so I didn't map the place out. As we moved down the street I kept an eye out for danger having to pull Sophia with me a few times to keep out of the sight of a few Shufflers, the girl had no since of survival instinct it was a wonder she survived as long as she did. So it shouldn't have surprised me when it all went to shit when we made it to the clothing store I went through the same routine kicking the door and killing the four Shufflers that came calling. Then climbed over the corpses and looked around then made a bee line to the shoe section telling the little blond to pick a pair of boots that would fit as I searched for a new pair of my own. I didn't need them at the point in time but I liked being prepared, so sue me. Finding a pair I found Sophia holding a box looking around, waving her over we went in search of clothes that were more post apocalyptic appropriate for her to wear, mainly a few pairs of good pants, shirts, hoodies, socks and other needed items. As she picked out her clothes I grabbed packs of socks, panties and a few bras and shoved them in my pack then found a new pair of jeans and a hunter green tank top. Going back to Sophia I saw she was folding some of the clothes she had picked to put in her bag, she was folding them normally when we were somewhere safer I'd show her a better way to maximize the space in her bag. Looking around again I set my bag down along with my weapons and flung my new clothes over a clothing rack before stripping off my tattered tee shirt and tugging the tank top on then I kicked off my boots, Sophia looked over at me.
"Change." I told her as I wiggled out of my gore stained jeans and tossed them to the side and pulled on the new ones then my boots and strapped my weapons back in their proper places.
She didn't argue or ask questions as she changed pulling on jeans and a tee shirt with a cartoonish polar bear on the front. As she sat down to pull on her new boots I heard a clattered from the rear of the store as did Sophia she stopped tying her boot and looked up with big frightened eyes. I held up a finger signaling her to be quiet as I slipped my buck knife from my boot and moved around the clothing racks and towards the back of the store. Reaching the back of the store I looked around and saw the door to the employee area bouncing slightly as if it was just opened, lifting my knife higher I walked towards the door I was almost to it when Sophia's high pitched scream and Boo's maddening barking and snarling jerked me away from it. Spinning on my heel I bolted back towards where I left the girl and dog rounding a clothing rack my feet were pulled out from under me as something gripped my ankle and I pitched forward. My knife clattered to the floor and skidded away as I landed flat on stomach the air knocked from my lungs, something was clawing at my leg and I flipped onto my back to see a legless Shuffler trying to pull its way up my body, quickly pulling my free leg back I smashed my foot into the things face. Then again when I heard Sophia's scream once again, I started smashing my boot into the things face as it clawed desperately at my leg trying to get to where it could take a chunk out of me.
Finally with one last kick I freed my leg and scrambled to my feet not giving the crippled Shuffler another thought as I grabbed my knife and ran towards the screaming. Passing where my bag still lay along with Sophia's now scattered clothing I ran through the store following the screams and cries, I found her at the front of the store near the cash registers. She had climbed onto one of the item convares and was kicking the Shuffler as it reached out for her it would grab for her and she would swiftly kick it's hands away or strike it's face or torso. Boo was barking and biting the thing but it wouldn't look away from it's main concern, as I went to help Sophia scrapping behind me caught my attention and I turned in time to duck as a Shuffler swiped at my head. Then I had to sidestep another behind it as it jerkily lunged at me, hitting the floor it slowly pushed itself up as the other one moved in groaning and snapping its rotting teeth at me it's hands held out ready to grab and claw. I moved back trying to get a clear kill on either Shuffler they were too close to each other for me to kill one and get away before the other took a chunk out of me. I glanced over to Sophia and my heart damn near stopped, another Shuffler was creeping up behind her she was to busy kicking the other to see it.
"Sophia behind you, kill it." I shouted at her as I moved out of the way of one of my own problems and cursed when I saw they were still too close.
Sparing another glance at Sophia I saw she still hadn't done what I told her she was still kicking at the first one as the second advanced on her. She had my machete clutched in a death grip in her hands and didn't use it, a mixture of fear, anger and adrenaline filled my body as I shouted at her again.
"Sophia kill the fucking thing there's another one behind you, hurry!" Ducking I jumped back and glanced back to her and she finally looked over her shoulder and promptly panicked.
She let out another scream and scrambled to the other end of the belt putting distance between her and the first Shuffler but moving herself closer tho the other. She realized her mistake too late as the second one reached out for her and she screamed again lifting the machete that was knocked from her clumsy grip at the same moment I did what I was trying to avoid as I cursed.
"God fucking damn it!" I ripped my nine millimeter from its holster and put a bullet in the Shuffler as its fingers grazed the girls shirt then shot the other one near her then shot one of mine. Gripping my buck knife tightly I planted it violently into the last ones forehead ripped it free stuffed my gun in its holster and stalked over to Sophia. She sat shaking on the belt tears still sliding down her face my mix of anger, fear, annoyance and adrenaline blocked the fact that she was petrified. I gripped her upper arms and yanked her off the convare belt she yelped but I ignored her as I gave her a good shake.
"Why the fuck didn't you listen and kill it, huh!" I gave her another shake, her lip trembled as she tried to find words. "Christ you almost died, stupid, why didn't you listen!"
"I-I-" She broke into a sob and Boo started barking at me but I didn't pay her any mind my focus on Sophia.
"You what?" I growled.
She looked up her eyes teary and frightened as she shouted. "I was scared!"
Her words struck home as I released her and she back up to the convare belt. I looked her over: stick thin frame, scrawny arms, scrawny legs, practically still a baby and shaking like a leaf in a wind storm and I expected her to be able to take out a Shuffler with a machete. God I was a fucking stupid ass. Pinching the bridge of my nose I sucked in a deep breath and let it out then ran my hand down my face and looked at her. She had her arms wrapped around her as if trying to hold herself together or keep me from touching her, I realized I fucked up, bad. I wasn't good at apologizing, never was to start with but now that the world went to shit it was especially hard for me not that I didn't think I needed to apologize because I knew I damn well needed to I just didn't know how. So I walked around to where my machete lay on the floor and slipped it back into its sheath across my lower back and made my way back to Sophia stopping beside her I looked over to her.
"I'll teach you to shoot, you need long range up close and personal ain't your style." She looked up from the floor her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Let's go get our stuff and get out of here that screaming and gun fire was bound to attract something." She nodded and we moved back to where our things were Sophia quickly stuffed her clothes in her pack and I shouldered mine and waited for her to do the same.
Reaching the front of the store I pushed open the door and automatically shut it again the street was full of at least fifteen or twenty Shufflers stepping back I moved Sophia away from the door and ran my hand through my hair. We needed out it wasn't safe or smart to stay here with the large group outside and the thought of other people moving through I had to think of something. Walking back through the store I passed the crippled Shuffler not paying it any mind Sophia squeaked and sprinted past it. Boo growled at it as she passed, making it to the back of the store I went to the open employee door. Stepping in I saw it was a break room and waited for the Sophia and Boo to enter then shut and locked the door taking in the room I saw vending machines one full of snack food and the other full of drinks. Looking around and not seeing anything to bust the casing I walked over leaned back and planted my foot into the casing, and damn near fell on my ass a few more kicks and I was rewarded with a cracking sound from the glass two more kicks and the casing shattered. I told Sophia to gather up the food while I worked on the soda machine it took a few more brutal kicks to break than the first but it too gave in and she moved over to pick up the few scattered soda cans and pulled some more from the machine and stuffed her back pack full. As Sophia filled the bag full of what she could I looked around the room for a way out I saw nothing no exit door no windows.
"What are we doing?" I jerked at Sophia's voice and looked at her as she zipped her back pack.
"Trying to find a way out but there's nothing." I sighed the urge to kick one of the metal folding chairs rushing through me but not wanting to scare Sophia again I held back the urge.
"What about that?" She said after a few minutes of looking around and pointed to a corner of the ceiling.
Following her finger I looked up to the corner of the ceiling and saw an access hatch shoving one of the hard plastic tables over I climbed onto it and shoved the hatch open. Nearly laughing when sunlight poured in, jumping down I hooked Boo to her harness and climbed back onto the table and grabbed a folding chair and climbed onto the chair and pulled myself up to look out to see the rooftop. Dropping down I pulled off my ruck sack and shoved it through the hole then called Sophia over helping her onto the table I hooked my fingers and lifted her up and she scrabbled through the hatch. Whistling Boo jumped onto the table grabbing the rope I pulled myself up through the hatch and pulled Boo up and out. When I got Boo unhooked I looked for Sophia and saw her standing at the edge of the roof leaning over the ledge opening my mouth to yell at her I stopped myself. Patted Boo's head and walked over to the girl and followed suit leaning over the ledge and saw all the Shufflers milling around the street there were at least twenty five now. Sighing I pushed away from the ledge and tapped Sophia's shoulder and waved her to the center of the roof away from the sight of the walking corpses. Closing the hatch I set my pack on it then walked over and sat against the old air conditioning unit that was on the roof to block some of the sun Sophia and Boo did the same Boo sprawled out on her side and Sophia sat cross legged. Unzipping her pack she pulled out a can of orange soda and a pack of Twinkies wrinkling my nose at her choice of food she saw my reaction and gave a little smile and offered me the back pack. Grabbing the same can of pop and a bag of trail mix we sat and ate our respective yet pathetic meals in silence, when she started to fidget I looked over and sighed.
"What is it?"
"Are we going to be stuck up here?"
"For a little while, yeah."
"Oh." Her face fell ad she started fiddling with her fingers.
"We won't be stuck for long."
"How do you know?"
"I just do, it's something I'm good at." I leaned my head back against the A/C unit and closed my eyes she shifted some more.
"I'm bored." She went on before I could say anything. "Wanna play a game?" I cracked an eye open and looked at her.
"What kind of game?"
"Um, I Spy?"
I snorted at her answer. "Not much to Spy up here kid."
"Truth or Dare?"
"I'm not a teenager or drunk enough."
"Um, Twenty questions?"
"That's not really a game but I'll bite, you go first."
"Okay I'll ask one then you can." I nodded and she paused to think of a question. "What's your favorite color?"
"Blue. Who was your favorite person in your group besides your mom?"
"Carl, we're about the same age he's my friend, I miss him he was supposed to show me how to catch frogs." She paused then asked her next question. "Who was your favorite person?"
I jerked at the question. "Boo."
She cut in before I could ask my next question. "Boo's not a person."
"She is to me, she was my best friend for a long while, still is." I nudged the dogs hind-end with the toe of my boot and she grumbled and rolled over. "Who else did you like in your group?"
"Are all your questions going to be about my group?" I smiled at her.
"Most likely, wanna get a feel for who I'm looking for." She nodded and pursed her lips.
"There's Rick he's Carl's dad he's our leader, really nice he likes helping people, Lori is Carl's mom she does the laundry and cooks along with Andrea she seems really sad sometimes but they're both nice. Dale he's kind of like a grandfather to me then Glenn he's like a brother he's funny, T-Dog he takes watches, well all the boys do except Carl. Then there's Shane he's Rick's friend and kind of like Carl's uncle he scares me a little he's loud, last there's Daryl he don't talk much and he likes to hunt but he's nice enough I guess." She stopped and took another dink of her pop.
"They sound... nice."
"They are, I miss them." She glanced off to the right then back at me. "What's your favorite animal?"
We spent the next hour asking questions and giving answers and snacking on the junk food and pop we got from the vending machines. The sun started to set and I laid out my sleeping bag for Sophia, as she kicked off her boots and shimmied into the bag she asked me her last question.
"When will you teach me to shoot?"
I looked at her then at the setting sun. "Tomorrow, I'll teach you tomorrow when there are less Shufflers, we can pick off the stragglers then be on our way. Sound good?"
"Yeah, good night Emmie." She smiled softly as she lay down rolling to her side facing away from me.
The nickname I hadn't heard in months sent a bolt of nausea through my gut and I fought it down, it was only a name. A name only two other people had called me, I ran my hand through my hair as I stood and made my way to the edge of the roof and started to walk the perimeter keeping a look out for anything. As I made my four circle around the gravel covered roof top I told myself if Sophia wanted to call me by my nickname I'd let her if it gave her some kind of connection to me a sense of calm or safety who was I to take it away from her. Two rounds later I made my way to my bag and sat down with my rifle and took it apart to clean it I had a promise to keep in the morning after all.
XXXXXXX
Pan) Let me know your thoughts.