Chapter 10
The snows gave way to heavy rain and biting winds. But soon the weather was nice enough to start foraging again, to start to put their plans into action. Naomi had ordered the troupe out as soon as the ground had become solid enough to get out of the large expanse of field they'd situated in. The convoy had decided on a deadline, by June they'd have to have found a boat, collected enough supplies to last them, and be set on their way.
Naomi, Cook, Emily, Katie, Effy, and JJ had all gathered around the campervan. A map sprawled out across the bonnet as they huddled around it. "Jj, Ef and I will lead the way. It'll be a bloody long drive, but we should be good to go once we get there."
"It used to be a large town, so statistically speaking the likelihood of the undead being abundant is high. By compiling a list of things that attract them, I'm sure we can get through this with as little injury or death as possible" JJ stated, his eyes flicking across the map rather frantically before nodding and folding it up. His unruly hair having grown a lot longer than it had been in their previous lives, now hung in his face in shaggy curls.
"Body armour on, everyone. We don't need any casualties. Everyone will be coming back" Naomi ordered sternly. The group had only barely recovered after Freddie had been lost.
Emily spoke next "Don't forget to eat, we need all the energy we can get to get in and get out." She smiled, giving Naomi's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Right, are we done here fuckers? We're wasting time! I want to get going already!" Katie piped up, her face contorted into a scowl "don't get eaten, don't get lost, and stick together. End of. Let's go" She finished before marching off to hop into the campers cabin.
"Katiekins has spoken! Someone's woken up on the wrong side of the bench! Good luck with that shit blondie!" Cook laughed, clapping a hand to the back of Naomi's shoulder before nodding to JJ and a still quiet Effy. "Let's get crackin!" He stated before moving to get into his own truck, followed quickly by the other two. Effy climbing into the back of the van rather than the front.
Emily just sighed, shaking her head slightly as she looked up at her girlfriend. "Well, shall we?" She asked, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to Naomi's lips.
"Let's get this over with" Naomi smirked, running a hand through her darkening blonde hair.
Emily turned on heal and opened up the camper door to climb into the passengers seat. Naomi insisting on driving there, for no other reason but the twins had proven to be better shots when it came to handling their guns. They'd both taken to it quite quickly, and were two of the best in the group. Naomi on the other hand, while a good shot was better at hand to hand combat.
She'd climbed into the drivers seat, grumbling when Katie popped up between them. "What's Gina packed for lunch again?" She asked, pulling their ready made lunch from under the dashboard.
"A few flasks of soup, and a couple of tins of peaches" Emily spoke, peaking into the bag herself. "I think she packed us some tea also, but who knows, it could be muddy water" The fading redhead stated, her dark doe eyes flicking up to meet her sisters sceptical ones for a moment.
Naomi's eyes had been trained on Cook's van, while her ears listened into the conversation between the twins. As the boy pulled away from the small convoy, she followed him. The little camp growing smaller as they got further away. Soon disappearing into the fog all together, fading into the white mist.
It was early morning, and the sun had just barely started to peak out from behind the horizon. By JJ's calculations they were nearing late February, though nobody was entirely sure. Christmas had come and gone before they had even realised. Gina making an effort to do something 'special' for the small group. They had all appreciated the pick me up, when the older Campbell pulled a bottle of Jack from somewhere in Katie's car. Smiling a wicked grin as she held it up as if it where a prize, stating they could all use a little liquid warmth.
The six of the troupes had gotten up before the break of dawn. A crisp frost had covered the ground as they all huddled together for a hearty breakfast of potato soup, and stale crackers.
The small convoy they'd left behind where all still dozing contentedly, in the warmth of their cars. Everyone had perked up more than enough when the blow up beds and sleeping bags were handed out. They'd started sleeping more, and had all become well again. The winter colds and illness' fought off by the warmth of their beds, and their water proofed clothing.
"How long is this drive going to take?" Katie's voice broke through Naomi's thoughts. Her blue eyes flicking up to peak into the rear view mirror momentarily before focussing back onto the road ahead of them and what she could see through the fog.
"Two or three hours, depending what Route JJ decides on after he see's what the first half of the journey is like" Emily responded, though never took her eyes away from the window.
"The roads have been getting pretty bad, amazing what a few months without road care does" Naomi quipped, though knew she was the only one who was really interested.
"Well if it's going to take that long, then I'm going back to sleep." Katie stated, before returning to the cabin of the camper. Settling into her sleeping bag sprawled out along the little couch behind the table.
"You should probably do the same" Naomi spoke quieter now, reaching over to lay a hand on Emily's thigh. Her thumb stroking gently along the fabric of her waterproofed trousers.
"I got plenty of sleep last night. Besides if something goes wrong we'll need a gun at the ready" The redhead smiled brightly, leaning over to press a kiss to Naomi's cheek.
"JJ said there would be a lot of those things about" Emily sighed, keeping her gaze away from her girlfriends. She could be as brave as she wanted to be, as long as Naomi wasn't aware of her internal nerves. Her eyes, unfortunately gave away everything. They were more than windows, they were like doors to her soul; and right then she was having a hard time keeping herself calm. She couldn't let Naomi know, she'd be fine as long as the blonde was unaware. It wasn't time to unravel, that would come later, in the safety of their stationary home on wheels. Back with the rest of the convoy, tucked away with her sister and lover.
They'd never entered such a large town before, they had only speculated what it'd be like. They were planning to hit an angling shop, another supermarket, and all while trying to siphon off as much petrol as they could. There was fear in the unknown, and there was a lot they didn't know.
The low hum of the engine kept her mind busy, and away from the thoughts of what was to come. She checked, and double checked her pistols. They had enough amo for a short while, but they needed more if they were going to be really trying for this island. They'd banked on the Angling shop to have what they needed in the way of weaponry.
A few hours passed, and finally after a rather bumpy start they pulled into a large town. Shops had been broken into and ravaged, glass scattered the pavements in large shards glistening under the morning sun. Frosted over and sparkling, looking much less menacing than they were in reality. Emily and Katie had both become more than alert, peaking up out of the windows, their pistols loaded and ready to start shooting if need be. Naomi pulled up beside Cook's van, leaving enough room between the doors of each to get in and out quickly. Not too far away, a shop with a rather large fish hung above it's smashed windows sat. It was dark, and they couldn't quite see into it yet.
From this distance they would at least not attract any attention from anything residing in the shop before they'd even got out of the vans. Now that they'd been shut off, the ominous quiet resumed it's play. Hanging just within reach, amplifying every step they took, every breath, every heart beat that rang so loudly in their ears.
Naomi rounded their camper, careful where she put her boot clad feet. They'd not need anyone alerted by something as daft as crunching glass. Emily and Katie were both stood, back to back almost as if they were covering each other. Their expressive eyes that were so differently similar scanning their surroundings so keenly that Naomi was afraid to interrupt. Instead, she too pulled one of her pistols from her holster at her hip.
Cook, JJ, and Effy rounded the vans next, each looking as menacing as the next. "Naomi and Emily stick together, Katie you're with me, Ef you're with JJ" Cook spoke as quietly as he could. Indicating the pairs they should go in. He was good at things like this. The strategy behind the actual comattive pairs.
"Quietly" JJ spoke next, wrapping a piece of rope around his waist, then tying the other end to Effy similarly.
He passed a good length to each of the pairs, and had them do the same. Giving no explanation for why, just whispering for them to hurry up.
He pulled Effy along, leading the way for the whole team. Edging closer, and closer to the shattered front window of their destination. It was as if time was standing still, and before long they were all edging into the darkened store.
Katie paused, pulling cook back with her as she seemed to strain to listen to the darkness before pointing into it's shadows.
The pair edged towards one of the back corners, the light from the morning sun dwindling before they disappeared. Emily watched intently, before moving along one wall, Naomi following closely behind her. A loud bang occurred startling everyone, then another, and another. Crashing erupted, and suddenly the shop was alive with movement. Before Naomi could stop her Emily was off, sprinting in the direction her sister had disappeared into.
"Get the supplies!" Cook screamed, and there was the soft hissing of silenced gunfire. Naomi wrenched her torch from her belt, and shone it into the darkness in front of them. Someone had knocked over a line of shelves, and there were at least four or five of the walking dead advancing on the pair shoved into a corner. They were groaning, and slashing at the air in an attempt to get closer.
Emily had her gun raised, and shot three or four shots off, sinking each of them into the creatures that were nearing Cook and Katie who were trapped behind one of the collapsed shelves. Two dropped to the ground, motionless and quiet now. Gone again, dead for the second and permanent time.
Cook seemed to be scrambling to get to his own gun, while Katie dropped the other two easily. "Who knocked the shelves over?!" Naomi hissed as she leant over to try and hoist one of the heavy metal objects off the two of them. Emily keeping her eyes and Naomi's torch on the other parts of the shop.
"We didn't! They must have heard us!" Katie shrieked, trying to push the shelves away. Cook finally grabbed his gun, and joined in the efforts. Within a moment the shelf was off, and thrown hastily aside.
"Where the fuck are Eff and JJ?" Cook growled, as more hisses of silenced gunfire erupted from Emily's pistol.
"We're trying to get what we need before that lot get too close!" JJ replied from somewhere in the darkness, a torchlight flashing from where the other two were. But his eyes had widened once he saw what was coming towards them. A horde, of twenty or more of the undead were stumbling clumsily in their direction. They looked as though they were coming from within different shops. Excited by the prospect of fresh meat, they had hurried out at the sound of crashing metal.
"Thanks for the help mate!" Cook yelled, "quickly!" He ordered, shrugging his bag off to thrust it at Katie who smashed the butt of her pistol through a glass cabinet that contained boxes on boxes of different ammunitions.
"Naomi, grab some of those riffles!" Katie shrieked, pointing frantically up at high hooks a few display weapons were hanging from. There were at least four or five, and she slung the shoulder straps over her neck as she reached for more. She didn't dare look round, She couldn't get close to any of them without dragging Emily with her and right now she needed to help Katie grab as much as possible.
The undead were getting closer now, and Emily's husky voice broke through to Naomi over the commotion.
"Naomi! I'm out of bullets!" She yelled, and Naomi didn't hesitate to fight to get the smaller girl her own pistol.
"We need to get out of here!" Effy yelled, finally coming into view, "we got into the store room, and there was more than enough back there, come on!" She yelled, and shoved JJ towards the entrance.
The animated corpses had clambered into the shop now, though their numbers severely dented, that didn't stop them from advancing. Their legs carried them slowly, and Naomi all but hoisted Emily up "You need to drive!" She yelled, pulling her long hunting knives from their sheiths. Ready to fight her way through the mass of biters.
"Keep your bag in front of you!" She ordered to everyone. They all shrugged off their rucksacks and held them out in front of them as they ducked and dived, stabbed and slashed in an attempt to push the dead back enough to get out of the shop.
Emily kept behind Naomi, as the blond landed blow by blow right where she needed to. Corpses falling limp one after the other, landing with heavy thuds on the darkened floor. They were nothing like they had been when it had all started. Now they were rotting, and tearing. Their clothes ripped and dirty, and their skin blue-ish green. It seemed as if the winter took them by storm, like there weren't hardly as many as there had been.
They finally forced their way out of the shop, some of their bags full, some as empty as they had been when they had all started their day. The streets were now teeming with movement, with groaning noise.
A blood curdling scream, followed by Emily speeding off again, her own knife drawn caught Naomi's attention. Katie was on the floor, a bitter hovered over her, it's jaws chomping and clamping around thin air. As she had her hands firmly around it's throat, it's own hands clawing dangerously at her forearms, digging it's fingers valiantly in, trying with all it's might to get at her. Cook was wrestling another one away, his own knife out of reach of the biters head. Naomi followed quickly, dodging and ducking as arms lunged for her and Emily. Slashing and stabbing where needed. Effy and JJ had already made it back to the vans, taking refuge between them as they fired their own guns into the crowd of the undead.
Finally they caught up, through the crowded street Emily sunk her knife into the back of the walker's skull. It collapsing onto Katie who screamed again, before shoving it off roughly. Tears streaming down her face. "Fuck!" She yelled collapsing into her sister as Emily slashed both ropes that bound them to someone else. Naomi used her new freedom to slam Cook's bitter away from him. Following it closely with her oversized hunting knife that swiftly caved in it's brains.
"Get back to the camper! Start it up!" Naomi yelled as one of the biters wrapped it's fingers around her throat so tightly she couldn't breathe. Emily looked torn for the split second Naomi had kept her gaze. But was soon dragged away.
Cook himself was being overcome, the numbers of the undead were growing, and growing and there wasn't much they could to but to try and keep them at bay long enough for the others to ready the vans.
With one heavy shove Naomi pushed her knife into her assailants ear, and with a gut wrenching crunch it dropped to her feet. "Cook, we need to go!" She panted, and was only met with grunts of approval. Wasting no time, they ran, ran as fast as they could. Throwing caution to the wind as the vans came nearer.
"Supermarket next!" Cook cackled, almost as if he was enjoying the rush. The adrenaline that was forcing it's way into their bloodstream.
Naomi said nothing, but wrenched the door to the camper open, and got in as fast as she ever had. Slamming the door shut tightly behind her, only to be met with Emily throwing herself into her lap, crushing the rifle barrels into her stomach and pelvis as she held the blonde tighter than ever.
Katie stepped on it, and before Naomi could register what was happening they were barrelling through the horde after Cook's van. Knocking any of the creatures stupid enough to get in the way down.
"Holy fuck!" She stated, slamming her hand against the steering wheel.
"Did we even get anything?!" Naomi panicked, she knew what they'd gotten, but all in all it wasn't much at all.
"JJ and Effy had full bags" Emily soothed, her cheeks red and glistening with freshly shed tears as she stroked her fingers down Naomi's neck. "Those things must have nails" She spoke, "Did that one manage to get you Katie? Or was your jacket too thick?" Emily asked, and turned no examine her sisters sleeves.
Naomi took the chance to pull down one the mirrors, examining the angry red fingernail marks dragging down her throat.
"No, I wore two jackets just in case. Those things in the films always managed to claw someone to death, and I thought I'd make sure" She spoke, her breathing coming in short shallow pants as if she'd just run a marathon.
"We need to clean that, make sure there aren't any germs or anything that they could pass on" Emily turned her attention back to Naomi's throat.
"Did you see if the others were hurt at all?" Naomi asked, the quiver in her voice prominent as she spoke.
"They didn't seem to be. I hope not anyway. I can wait to get out of here" The redhead sighed, rummaging around in the back in order to find what was left of their first aid kit. There had been plently of injuries and issues like this, and that meant their stock was dwindling.
"We're not far off now" Katie stated, more calm than she had been. "We've got to find a boat, which we're going to do in two days time. We've got to collect enough petrol to get there, and back a few times which shouldn't really be hard. The boys are getting that sorted out. Then, we just need enough food and supplies before we start the trip. Give it a month and we'll be on our way" She stated calmly.
"We figured it all out when you were arguing with your mom yesterday" Emily spoke sheepishly, as she dabbed a foul smelling antiseptic on the open wounds trailing Naomi's neck.
"I'm glad someone's figured it out" the blonde smirked. "I'm glad we got a load of camping gear as well actually. That should come in handy" She admitted. Throwing Katie a smirk who returned it with a scowl.