HEYO! WHAT'S UP! LET'S GET THE COASTER OF CHEESE PIZZA MOVING ALONG!
Hey guys, JohnTheMoon is here and glad to present you with Episode Two of the Outbreak Chronicles. As a rewrap on what episodes mean, meaning that each story is an episode. Depending on the plot and the significance of the episode will the length be shorter or longer in the number of chapters. So Episode One was eight chapters, this episode could be two or three chapters, or the next episode be twenty chapters. Who knows?! Even I don't!
As for a plot rewrap. We left our heroes in quite a tight spot the last time around. Their base was ransacked by the One-Arm Man and his group of people. Along with leaving Eddy on the brink of death, and kidnapping the others besides Techlin, Nazz, and Eddward, who went to encounter the group of survivors the One-Arm Man used as a cover-up. Now, we will see the reaction of that cause.
This, my fellow revolutionary readers, is the next episode of the Outbreak Chronicles.
Episode Two: Hunters of War
Eddward Silver glanced at the clock of the wall reading eleven: fifty-six in the morning.. He was sitting at the edge of his bed, fully dressed in his gear. Cleaned of the blood that Eddy had left on it. As if it never happened, but it did happen. It has been three days since they arrived to the new survivors, since the destruction of their camp. Destruction of years of work and memories. All of it was gone. Even his friends were nowhere to be found. Now, one of his surrogate brothers was battling for his life, and the other could be-
"No, he isn't dead. He is alive with the others. Waiting for us." Edd stated in a determined whisper. staring at his lap. Tears coming up to the edge of his eyes that never really flowed down his cheeks. From what he heard, Eddy has been closely monitored since the day they arrived. He lost so much blood. Then his wounds were not helping. They left a number on him. Concussion, slashes, broken bones, especially a very mangled leg, his old wound on his arm reopening and being worse; the doctors said his arm may not be usable again. Just a mess of meat and nerves. His heart has stopped five times. Honestly, Edd didn't have much hope for him. But he held on to that slither; that slither and his friends are the only things keeping his hope intact.
Edd sighed heavily. As a leader, his mind needed to stay solid and controlled. At least as much as possible. The Leader stood from the bed and looked around the room. There were two other beds, emptied of their owners. The room was bare save for a dresser, lamp on said dresser, and that's it. The door was to the right, and Edd headed out the room. His destination was set once he reached outside. It was midday, and the residents of the Sanctuary were out. Barely over seventy. It was small, yes, but in this time, it was a huge camp and a large populace. Young, old, children, newborns, families, so many people were here. There was schools, patrols, defenses, training facilities, medical facilities, there were even some farming inside the buildings and on the roof. The electricity came from fixed up solar panels and generators powered from fuel siphoned from the cars.
The Sanctuary took up an entire block. Both ends blocked off by heavy defenses that were buffed up because of what Edd told them two days ago. About the mutations. They had no encounter as of yet. But they were getting defenses ready and better for the possibility of meeting them. Edd told them of the Old-man they saw at the gate. Shaun himself was not aware of him being in the base. He was going through loyalty among the guards, double checking everyone and everything.
Edd made his way to Shaun's office. Before going inside, he saw three men, that he recognized as the patrolmen, walk out. Shaun was in his office behind his desk. Looking tired. But Edd had waited enough, rested enough. Now, he wanted to get out there and find his friends.
The man was not surprised about the boy's sudden appearance in his dair, the Leader went to the desk, closing the door behind him as he did, and leaned over it. His eye filled with the emotions he had a few days ago: vengeance, fury, hope, and determination. A dangerous combination in Shaun's eyes, and he anticipated the demand.
"Tell me everything about the One-arm man."
Nazz Vesta stood impatiently in the medical building. Out of the other two, she has slept the least from the anxiety and fear that she felt. A lot of nightmares. Then there was Eddy. Nearly dead. Three days of operating on his small frame. Three days of nonstop blood being pumped and lost, and flatlining, and the smell of blood and meat. Each night, Techlin and Eddward would drag her away to sleep.
Now, another day of waiting, her clothes were washed and her hair a mess. She looked tired and have cried for long periods of time. The loss of her love, her family, and the home they made is taking its toll on her.
She has experienced non-stop nightmares, her burning with her friends in that house, her friends being tortured, Kevin being mangled and beat near death, all the bad things that she hoped to never happen were coming to her. Then there was Eddy, his constant battle with death was making her anxious; she didn't want to lose anyone, even if Eddy wasn't the closest, he helped them and he helped her at times when she was in trouble.
"Eddy," She sniffled and wiped her eyes of tears. She was sitting in a metal, folding chair, one of the many lined against the wall. The medical building was an apartment that the Sanctuary inhabitants have been working on, trying to get the equipment and necessary tools. They had a good set up, nothing like a real hospital, but definitely good. The walls were a brown color and the floor was a tiled, spotted design. Her seat was just three doors to her left to the small lobby area and exit. Four doors to her right was Eddy's room. The doctors haven't been moving in and out of the room for a good hour. Nazz's anxiety tripled.
Checking the clock on the wall, Nazz saw it was noon. Four hours have she been sitting and waiting. Two of those hours, seeing the doctors come, say good morning to her, and going back to work, seeing the night shift doctors leaving after the ones come in the morning. Two nurses, the only two around, were leaving and going so much they must have been doing so for a mile. A doctor or two would come out covered in blood, others with disgruntled looks. The third hour was primary substance of silence, nothing but that. Now, the fourth hour has just passed, and the silence prolonged to be a stain on her ears. No screaming from Eddy, no feet rushing by, just utter silence as pitch black as darkness.
Then, the door opened, the sound echoing through the halls, and a doctor came out and looked at her.
"This is a nice spot right here guys," A man with a bald head and wild beard stated to the group. They were scavenging. Techlin couldn't help being cooped up so long, so asked Shaun if he could do anything. This was the best choice. They were always in need of supplies.
Techlin had changed his clothes, all his old ones were burned down. He now had on a light green shirt, and slightly dirty camouflage cargo pants and boots. He still had his spear, and his revolver. He carried a large rucksack on his back that was filled with some clothes and food. Not too much food to get. Most of it has been raided. They were at the edge of the market area, raiding a pawn shop.
"This all looks like junk." Another person part of the group, a girl, stated. She was a little older than Tech. Brown hair and glasses with light tone skin.
An old black man with graying hair, though fit enough to carry a lot, responded, "None of this is junk."
"What do you know old man?" The girl shot back. Techlin didn't like her; she was too much of an annoyance. A know it all.
"More than you, I'm three times your age, kid. Know your place." The old man said and it was getting heated.
The bald bearded man responded to them both. "Hey, shut up. We don't want any mutations or hordes coming our way."
"Thank you." Techlin whispered after a few moments and the bickering generations stopped.
"No problem. Those two are the best at this besides me; they been like this since I met them." The man said, picking up an old knife and seeing the metal was good, but the blade was dull. He pocketed it.
"Hey Wade, you ever think the government is hiding somewhere?" Techlin said out of the blue as he put things in his bag.
Wade didn't say for a minute. He was thinking. "Maybe. Illuminati might be behind this entire mess, wanting with the cure in hand and decimate the world of those things."
Techlin Lincoln chuckled at that. " Yeah, someone could have the entire salvation of the human race in his or her hands."
Wade and him shared a few quiet laughs. It wasn't long before they were all done and decided to head back. They grouped together in the center of the room before heading to the entrance. They exited into the midday light, the sky an endless set of clouds. A few Soulless wandered, but they were not aware of their presence. They moved silently, their full sacks of resources not jingling. The streets had barren cars, the buildings had poorly boarded windows, dried blood on their walls and pavement, all of it a simple reminder of the day one Massacres. Staying low, they continued down the road.
Wade led them, Techlin followed, then the old man, then the girl covered the rear. They had their weapons drawn and ready for action. They were heading towards a corner of an alley, Wade went around and immediately backed up.
"Go back, go back!" He whispered quickly and they listened as they rushed away. A Soulless stumbled from around the corner, but it was not a regular one. It was a Beacon. Suddenly, Techlin tripped on a curb and stumbled on the ground, his pack hitting the ground and jingling. They all froze. Looking back at the hideous creature that was the Beacon, they saw it open all its mouths.
"Run!" The girl shouted. Techlin recovered and started his run, and as soon as he took three steps. The piercing screech of the Beacon started, they all covered their ears and kept running. Tech could see some blood dripping from the old man's hands.
They continued on, an agile came from the right and Wade dodged it by the hair as it crashed to the wall. Techlin, for a split second removed his hands and grabbed his spear to slice clean through the head of the down creature. That split second was his regret as a constant ringing replaced his sense of hearing.
Placing his hands on it, he could feel the warm liquid of his blood coming down. They kept running, soon a horde was coming after them. Agiles hot on their trail as they sprinted with the materials. Wade saw an opening of a building and turned, the Beacon had long since stopped its roar and now left them to the dogs. Heading to the opening, they made it through the door; the windows were boarded up already though poorly. They started to seal off the entrance with anything they could find. Which was nothing, but themselves. The Soulless came and swarmed the entrance, trying for entry. Techlin and two ff the scavengers were holding them back while the old man looked for a way out.
"We are not going to make it!" The girl said tearfully as the Soulless pushed on.
"Yes we are!" Techlin shouted.
"Janice, you got to stay positive!" Wade vainly said as he too struggled with them to push the growing force of monsters back.
"Guys, this way!" The old man called at the left end of the room. They all looked at each other before sprinting towards him. The door gave way to the wave of the undead that continued their unremitting pursuit of flesh. Making it to the door, they all went up a stairwell and into a room with no lighting. The door was blocked by them all, but Techlin who moved in the darkness and found a heavy object to block the door. The adrenaline gave him the power to push it. The three moved out the way and the door was block.
For the next ten minutes, the sound of banging and moaning and groaning and yelling was all they heard until it all slowly went away. They gave up. And now silence and darkness was their friend.
AND I AM DONE!
Hey guys, hope you all enjoyed this beginning of the next episode. It has been a good ride making it. I felt that the pace did pick up at the end just because of the situation. I wasn't rushing, but trying to make you guys feel the rush of the moment. This is a style I'm trying out, hope you guys like it. If you don't tell me, let me know what you guys think, and all of that.
Well, that is enough from me. I hope you all are safe and sound and having wonderful lives.
See you guys in the next chapter of Episode Two:
Situation.