Chapter 37 The Field
Authors notes: well damn here we go again, new area, new campaign, so let's go it's time for Blood Harvest
BLOOD HARVEST
no hope, no cure, no problem
The group was silent for a good 10 minutes as the sun had now set in the sky leaving them in the darkness of the forest save for their flashlights mounted on their primary weapons. Eventually bill pulled away from the young girl who had subdued her crying as he pulled her up, "listen kid we can't stay here it's dark and we need to find somewhere to rest, I know your upset we shouldn't be here but we have to move on if we want to stand a chance of survival" he said in a calm quiet voice as she looked up at him her blue eyes glassy as she nodded slowly. "Alright I think we are at the entrance to the Allegheny National Forest so we can make our way through and find a way out of here, maybe we can find an military outpost out here somewhere" he said pointing to the direction behind them filled with thick trees. "Alright thankfully we still have our weapons and food and water supplies so let's get moving god knows what it's like out here at night" he said as he lead the way forward his scar fully locked and loaded. He lead the way up what looked like a hill, with trees bare and leafless all around them, they passed under a huge sign, stating they were now entering the Allegheny National Forest.
The group staying close together as only their flashlights lit the way forward, the darkness all around them like a hungry predator threatening to overwhelm then if they were unprepared. The hill they were on was tall but thankfully not very steep meaning it was easy to climb, much to their surprise there didn't appear to be any infected around them either, simply the silence of the night. "Once we get to the top of this hill their will be a billboard, that will hopefully have some useful information on it, if we find it it may give us a lead to where we can find evac" Bill said quietly not wanting to make noise as he continued to lead the group forward through the darkness. The group advancing up the hill quickly but quietly so they didn't attract any unwanted attention, the last thing they needed was a firefight in the darkness especially in a baron forest where there was no cover at all. Bill spotted something up ahead, a small camp with several sleeping bags that had been abandoned by their previous owners, a bench on the right with a sign that bill had mentioned earlier. "Well if we use a lighter and the paper they've left behind we can make a camp fire and rest here for the night" Louis said pointing out a camp fire already made that just needed lighting.
"Alright then let's rest here for tonight and then early tomorrow we head out again" Bill said noticing their was only 3 sleeping bags, "I'll take the first watch, you 3 get some sleep, I'll wake you all up in the morning" he said smiling reassuringly as Francis and Louis slipped into the sleeping bags. Zoey smiling back at bill who nodded at her as he lit another cigarette and went to sit on the bench, Zoey sighed before removing her backpack and shoes slipping into the sleeping bag and yawning before quickly drifting off to sleep. Francis and Louis conversed quietly for a while, as Bill simply sat at the table rifle in hand placing his bag and medkit on the bench so it wouldn't hinder him if he had to move quickly. Eventually the other 2 men drifted off to sleep leaving Bill alone in the darkness as the occasional crow cawed or dog howled, Bill sighed, it was at the very least that there was still organic life out there that wasn't infected. He stretched as he stood and walked several feet down the path ahead of them being careful not to shine his light too far forward in case he attracted trouble, he frowned deeply as he looked ahead into the darkness... nothing but trees and abandoned benches here and there, with no cover for them but plenty of cover for the enemy to use.
He cursed quietly, the journey through the forest was going to be rough and full of infected, he knew they were out there, though he couldn't see or hear them there was no way the forest was empty, they were out there waiting for poor bastards like them. To come and be slaughtered by their overwhelming numbers... he drew a deep puff of his cigarette, he wasn't going to let that happen, after everything they had been through including being a donned by the slaters and having their supplies taken, he'd been damned if they died here in a cold dead forest. He would wake them at seven when the sun was rising at least allowing them to use the light as much as possible without fear of being stranded another night. As he went to go back to the bench, he stopped dead, he heard a ruffle from somewhere nearby, sharply turning on his heel and drawing his rifle he aimed up and over the trees. But there was nothing, nothing but more silence and darkness, he grunted turning back around and returning to the bench, perhaps it was a bird or another type of animal. He yawned as he sat back down, keeping his rifle close by as he didn't want to not be prepared if trouble came... it was going to be a long night...
...
Zoey yawned as she awoke some time later, opening her bag and slipping her shoes back on, she gasped as she realised the men she had trusted her life with were nowhere to be seen. She shot up raising her sniper rifle, "guys, where the hell are you?" She said quietly as it was still dark, at least it was for a moment before she yelped in shock as everything around her began to turn a deep orange including the moon. She shook her head making sure she wasn't imaging it before she began to walk forward, "hello, is anyone out there?" She said a bit louder then before as she walked through the dark forest. Eventually she approached a long wooden bridge leading to what she could see as large trailer on the other side, she gasped as she crossed as the bridge shook with every step she took. She made it across walking slowly to the trailer and opening the door into the pitch black building switching on her gun mounted flashlight to illuminate her path. She immediately wished she hadn't of down so, "oh god...no..." she whimpered collapsing to her knees...
Strapped to the wall by what looked like razor wire, was her 3 friends, their bodies a pale colour as blood poured from their corpses, their eyes gone and lifeless, their weapons no where to be seen. He 3 male colleagues were dead and killed in such a horrid way that it shook her to the core, she climbed to her feet, shaking with every movement as she stumbled forward collapsing onto her hands and knees again as suddenly signing and evil girlish laughter began to emanate all around her. "Who's there, why have you done this what do you want?" She screamed firing off her weapon at the window and door as the laughter got louder the signing staying the same. She screamed in terror as a figure appeared right behind her, a hunter wearing a dress, her long hair hanging loosely as he hood went over her face shrouding her eyes but allowing Zoey to see her bloodied fang like teeth grinning evily at her. She stammered backward hitting the wall and shaking with fright as the hunter Kendall right next to her and smiled, "awww is the little girl scared, don't be scared, we will take good care of you" she said in a frighteningly friendly sounding female voice.
Zoey then recoiled in shock and disgust as the hunter leaned forward pressing her lips to her own, her tongue going in Zoey's mouth as Zoey thrashed about trying to break free. Eventually the hunter pulled away, lifting Zoey by the throat as she did, "join us Zoey, join us and we can rule this world with our grand ruler forever and ever with no one to stop us" she said tossing Zoey outside. The girl coughed and gagged spitting before looking up her eyes widening in terror, a figure what looked a lot like a witch in a red dress crept forward singing softly as she did so. "She tells the truth my young friend, with us you can do whatever you want, be whatever you want, you can even see your parents again if you wish" she said softly as she stood above the whimpering woman. "No, no, no no, NOOOO!" she screamed as the female hunter joined the witch, "I'm human, I don't wanna be like you" she said tears coming down her face as the witch and hunter laughed at her. "But why fight a war you can't win... you have no chance, soon the whole of America will be mine, and then... the whole of your planet as well" the witch said laughing sadistically.
Zoey then recoiled in horror as many dark figures began to appear from the trees all around her, their eyes a deep red, she screamed as her 3 friends stood behind her, including her own mum and dad stumbling forward with their eyes also glowing red. "Join us" the witch simply said as the infected all around her began to chant as well as the female hunter simply laughed, Zoey simply screamed as they surrounded her chanting the same words the witch had said...
...
Zoey yelped as she shot up from the sleeping bag, looking around to see bill sitting at the table, looking at the path ahead and Francis and Louis sound asleep, she breathed heavily as her whole body shook ever so slightly. She took a deep breathe, sighing before laying back down, not wanting to disturb Bill with her horrible dream, she slowly fell back asleep assured it was but a nightmare...
End chapter
Authors notes: starting off quite dark for blood harvest but hey at its core left 4 dead can be a dark game and I don't want to sugar coat that, Zoey is young so having nightmares would be possible unlike the likes off bill who have probably seen enough war and death to be immune to bad dreams. Anyways next one should be up soon thanks for reading and I will see you all in the next one.
Goodbye