AN: Sorry these chapters took so long been very busy in work and I've have also been going over some of the other chapters adding in a few more things. There's nothing major been changed but there are moments in them that link to the story line later on so you might want to take look. So you understand what's happening but anyway here are the next two chapters and I hope you enjoy. Please comment if you enjoy or if there's something you don't like or if you have any constructive criticism for me. First story I've written so any help is appreciated and would love to know if people like the story thanks.
Season One Episode 6 part one
Hannibal, Missouri
After travelling for a few more miles the group decided to take a pit stop, parking by a sign saying 'Kansas city 87 miles'. Addy, Ellie and 10k were sitting in the bed of the truck and Warren had her one foot perched on the truck and was leaning on her leg while Doc, Garnett and Cassandra were standing next to them and they were all currently watching Murphy who had his back to them in a field doing his business.
"No z's in sight" Mack suddenly said coming down the side of the truck after scoping out the area, he then proceeded to climb into the bed of the truck from the side and sitting on the edge.
"Anybody else worried about Mr. Sunshine out there" Doc asked them all
"I know he's looking worse" Garnett said leaning against the truck his arms crossed against his chest
"Yeah, he was pretty creepy to start with" Warren agreed
"It's not his fault he looks a bit creepy" Ellie said defending him "That vaccine is probably doing some weird stuff to his body"
"Come on guys give him a break" Addy spoke up agreeing with Ellie "It's the apocalypse, none of us look our best. It's like one long bad hair day"
"Speaking of hair what's with all the bald patches" Mack piped in
"Maybe that vaccine is like zombie chemo" Cassandra suggested
"Or maybe that vaccine isn't working" 10k said just as Murphy started turning his head to look at them like he could sense he was being watched making some of them look away or pretend they were doing something so Murphy looked away and finished his business.
"What do you think Doc?" Garnett asked him
"I've seen Z's look better than him"
"Will he make it to California?"
"If we haul ass"
"If he goes zombie, we might have to put him down'
"Dibs on piking him" Warren joked making them all smile
"If he turns piking him is the least of our problems" Garnett said looking back toward Murphy who had now finished his business and was looking at them.
"What" He said irritated when he saw them all staring
"Pit stops over. Lets get moving" Garnett shouted over to Murphy
"I have a ginormous bladder" Murphy grumbled as he walked back to them "Sue me".
"Man, I sure could use some of them Kansas City barbecue ribs about now" Doc said climbing into the truck with Murphy climbing into the other side
"How about you darlin'. You're a big rib eater, aren't you?" Murphy said teasing Cassandra who was behind him
"You know I was almost starting to feel sorry for you" Cassandra snarled climbing in after them
"Ignore him Cassandra" Ellie said turning to glare at Murphy from her place in the front seat "He's just cranky because he hasn't eaten" And Murphy just pulled a face at her which she returned before turning to look out the front window.
"You look pretty happy for someone who hasn't eaten in two days" Warren said to Garnett smiling
"Could be worse"
"Really?"
"We're still alive, aren't we?" he said making Warren chuckle
"You were always a glass half full kind guy, It's what I love about you" Warren said making Garnett smile
"Aww guys you're going to make me sick" Ellie teased pretending to gag and Garnett ruffled her hair while Warren poked her playfully in the side making her chuckle.
"Actually I was looking forward to getting some food and a hot shower at province town"
"Well don't get your hopes up" Murphy grumbled "We don't even know if this place still exists"
"Hammond had it marked on his place as a resupply place" Garnett argued "And if his contact there is the same Major Williams from my national guard days, we might actually get some help"
"So we're rely on the map of a dead guy?" Murphy said
"In case you forgot that dead guy was a hero who died protecting you" Warren said
"Just because he's dead doesn't make him a hero" Murphy grumbled and Warren looked like she was ready to snap at him before Garnett interrupted
"Well I hope Province town does exist" Garnett said " because we're out of just about everything but hope" and with that said and no one else not knowing what to say Warren saturated the truck and they stated there journey to Province town.
Pulling up to a stop in front of a barricade by the main entrance they could see a metal fence covering the whole area which made it look pretty secure. Except for one thing that made the group a bit wary and that was two signs, one which said 'Province town weapon free zone' and the other 'Prepare to surrender all weapons before entry'.
"Surrender all weapons?" Ellie heard 10K say from the open window as he read the signs "Are they serious?"
"Looks like it" Mack replied
"What do you wanna do?" Warren asked Garnett
"Their town, their rules" Garnett shrugged like it was obvious "Looks like we don't have much of a choice"
Ellie pulled a face not entirely comfortable with given up her weapon and looking behind her she could see Doc, Cassandra and Murphy weren't that fussed on the idea either, but I suppose if they wanted to get in they would have to. As she was thinking this four guards stepped forward with their guns raised and pointed at them.
"Stop right there!" A woman wearing a blue bandanna and sunglasses shouted "This is a private compound, I'm gonna have to ask you to turn around and go back the way you came"
As she was saying this Garnett got out of the truck with his hands raised and walked slowly towards them "I'm looking for a Major Williams. Joe Williams"
"And who are you?" The woman asked
"I'm Sergeant Charles Garnett, Georgia National Guard. We've known each other going back pre-z"
The woman looked back towards the other man before turning back and nodding at Garnett "Wait there. Your crew stays in the truck" She said as one of the guards walked away presumably to get Major Williams. "They try to get our or we see a weapon we'll fire"
Garnett turned back to look at the group and nodded
"Easy everyone. Charlie's got in under control" Warren said trying to reassure everyone
"So you're calling him Charlie now?"Murphy asked mocking her
"Yeah, and I'm gonna start calling you my bitch if you don't shut up" Warren said making Ellie smile before a man coming out of the building with the guard caught her attention. He was wearing a green cap and took a long look at Garnett.
"Well holy shit" He exclaimed "It's the ghost of Charlie Garnett. Never expected to see you again, at least not alive"
"Hey, Joe. Didn't expect to see you again either" Garnett replied "Looks like we're both still standing"
"Looks like. Last time I saw you, you were pulling my ass out of a ditch full of Z's"
Just returning the favor. How many Z's we kill that day?"
"Not enough"
"Do you mind?" Garnett asked gesturing to his hands which were still up, so the major turned to his guards and told them to stand down and Garnett put his hands down.
"You're the first person I've seen from before. How the hell you end up here?"
"I'm actually on a mission for the government, If you can believe that."
"If it was anybody but you, I wouldn't"
"We've come form New York. Haven't eaten in a few day"
"New York? Haven't seen anyone east if the Mississippi for over a year. How many of you are there?"
"Nine. Including a doctor"
"Real Doctor?"
"Sort off, he's watched a lot of E.R" Garnett said as Doc popped his head out of the window and gave little wave
"Alright" The Major said "Come inside and tell your story. We'll get you some food. But the truck stays outside" He turned to the guard behind him and said "Let them in" Before turning back to Garnett "And of course you'll have to check your weapons"
With that said they all hopped out of the truck and made they way over to check in their weapons. Garnett went first then Cassandra and then followed by Addy and Mack.
"Just make sure we get these back" Mack grumbled as he past over his gun and Addy past over her bat
"Why is this not making me feel any safer?" Addy grumbled
"Looks like it's seen a little action" The guard said as she picked up the bat and Addy just laughed sarcastically before walking away.
"Ex prison guard?" Warren asked as she stepped up to the woman with a handheld metal detector
"TSA" The woman replied
"Just like Dodge City" Doc said as he was being scanned by the metal detector
"We have our reasons" The Major said
"Makes sense" Garnett agreed "Strong on the outside, safe on the inside"
Ellie was last to hand over her weapons and she was currently standing behind Murphy and 10K who was handing over his weapons which consisted off his rifle, slingshot, knife, a small revolver a dagger and a large knife. He then stepped over to be scanned and the detector beeped at the front of his trousers. Which 10k pulled out a long metal chain out of them.
"How was that comfortable" Ellie blurted out making 10k turn to her and smile sheepishly before walking away and Murphy stepped up which didn't take long as he didn't carry any weapons. When finally it was Ellie's go, she begrudgingly gave the guard her gun and her knife. She then pulled out two daggers from her boots and two more from her waistband and finally she pulled out another knife but this one she was a bit reluctant to give away.
"Ellie" Garnett said making Ellie release a small sigh
"Fine" she said and handed it over "But please don't lose this, it was my dads"
The guard looked a bit shocked at her accent before he nodded softly and Ellie stepped toward the woman with the mental detector and it only beeped over her bracelet on her left wrist before they were all lend out the door by the Major.
"Mayor you're not gonna believe this" The bandanna lady said "Three of Jacob's flock are back"
Turning to the gate Ellie could see two boys and girl in their late teens standing at the gate
"Major Williams?. We'd like to come back we were wrong to leave" The tallest boy said
"Jacob turned out to be just some crazy cult leader" The other boy said
"We brought food" The girl said
"What do you want us to do?" The bandanna lady said
"If they're clean, let 'em back in. Probably wont be the last of his sheep to wander back" The Major said before walking of the others following.
"I feel so much lighter without that damn hammer" Garnett said as they walking through the compound
"Yeah, I feel naked, and not in a good way" Warren said
"Yeah, I suppose being on the road so long and having a gun, its like our safety net and we feel vulnerable without it" Ellie said
"When we started out, everyone was armed." The Major explained "Then one day a guy decided to shoot his wife's boyfriend. He turned and we lost five people. So we made a rule. Only guards could carry inside. Then a trading group came in. Took a gun off a guard. Seven dead that time. We were lucky it wasn't worse. We have a strong perimeter. Never been breached. All our problems happened inside. So we removed the threats. No weapons inside the walls period. It's a better way to live. Safer"
"Being armed all the time has an effect on people" Garnett said "Maybe I'm naive, but this gives me hope"
"Is this a zombie cage?" Warren asked as they waked past a cage
"Doesn't seem much use these days. We patrol the surrounding area for Z's twice a day, so they aren't really a problem. It's the people we have to worry about. Since going weapon free, we've gone over a year without fatality. Think about that. You've been out in the world. How may deaths have you seen in the last year?"
"Enough for a life time" Garnett said
"What if someone, you know dies of natural causes?" Murphy asked
"Sure that could happen" The major said as he led them inside one of the buildings " All the doors and gates close automatically, sealing off each section of the compound. Like on a submarine. Can't be open by Z's. Everything's been zombie-proofed".
"You ever heard of the titanic?"
"You're welcome to wait outside in your vehicle"
"You'll have to forgive my friend. He's been through a lot" Garnett said
"That and not having eaten for a few days tends to make one cranky" Ellie said
"We all have. Nothings perfect but this is as close as it gets." The Major said "After a while, most people find they can actually sleep through the night"
"Really cant imagine that" Addy said
"We grow all our own fruits and vegetables" The Major said as he led them into like a dining room. "The scraps and our waste all go into a biomass generator. We're up to four hours of electricity a day"
"Really? that's cool" Addy said as the door on the other side of the room opened and the three teenagers stepped through. The girl was carrying a basket in her hands.
"What's their story?" Warren asked
"We had a little trouble a while back with a preacher we took in. He drank his own Kool-aid. Decided the zompocalypse was actually the second coming and we needed to save the Z's, not kill them. Calls them 'The Resurrected' real whack- job" Ellie pulled a face as she tired to comprehend that way of thinking when she caught the look on Murphy's face like he agreed with it.
"I'm not an expert on the bible, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing in there about zombies" Warren said
"We had to kick him out, along with his followers. Ive seen this kind of thing before. Crazy spreads fast"
"So why would you let them back in?
"They all had family still here, I knew once they were out a while, they'd get hungry or scared and some would come back. Like clockwork these three turned up today"
"Not true believers, huh?" Garnett said
"Hard to believe on an empty stomach, speaking of which, lets get you people something to eat. The first meal is on me. The rest you trade for, No meat of course hope you're vegetarian
"Oh yeah" Cassandra said as she grabbed a plate and Ellie sent a small smile her way as she also grabbed a plate and started grabbing some fruit with the rest of the group doing the same.
Garnett's Pov
"We're headed to a CDC lab in California" He explained as they sat down on one table with Warren and the Major while the rest of the group sat on another
"You're never gonna make it to California" The major said as he took a sip of his drink
"Yeah, that's what I've been told"
"No, seriously. The Z's are swarming out west. Millions of them. Been hearing about it second and third hand. Nothing left to eat in the city, so they're pouring into open country, forming mega herds. Rumor has it the whole west coast is a no-go zone"
"Well we still got to try" Garnett said "The guys a pain in the ass, but he's our only chance for a cure"
"Getting yourself killed won't cure anything. I could use you here. I need experienced soldiers and a doctor"
"That's a tempting offer, Joe. But we got to keep going. Clocks ticking on our guy. In fact we could use your help. We could use an old school ass kicker like you out on the road"
"I don't know. I've seen so much hope come to nothing. This is the first thing I've been a part of that might actually work. These folks rely on me"
"I know. I get it"
"I've got a spare room two or three of you can use. The rest can grab a bunk in the community room" He said as he stood up and Garnett and Warren did the same.
"Let me think about what you said" The Major said as he shook Garnett's hand "We'll talk more tomorrow. In the meantime, get some rest"
"Thanks"
"Thank you" They both said at the same time before they made their way over to the others
Ellie's Pov
Sitting at the table Ellie was currently eating some grapes, none of the group were talking much they were too busy focusing on their food except for 10k who was eating but he was also watching the three teenagers or more specifically he was watching the girl. Looking over Ellie could see they were having a heated discussion about something until the girl and the smaller boy got up from the table and left leaving the tall boy on his own. A noise to her right brought her attention back to the table and she was that 10k had got up and was going after the girl. Boys and their hormones. Ellie thought to herself a small smile going across her face.
"Dude, dude slow down. They're not gonna take it from you" Addy said to Mack and looking towards them Ellie could see Mack was shoveling his food down.
"Yeah dude" Ellie said "You keep shoveling it down and then your gonna bring it back up and then none of us are gonna enjoy our food" She said and Mack grimaced but he did slow down.
"So..." Warren said as she sat down with Garnett " We got the lock down on the sleeping situation. There a room that two or three of us can share, and then there's a communal bunk"
"Dibs on the room" Murphy announced and the others just pulled a face "What? Be less risk of anyone figuring out who I am"
"I think we should give it to those two" Doc said referring to Warren and Garnett who both tried to act oblivious even though they all knew they wanted the room.
"What, no,no,no. We're not a..." Garnett rambled making them all chuckle
"Yeah, you guys take it" Mack said
"Is it that obvious?" Garnett asked and Murphy just looked confused
"Your not very subtle about it" Ellie said smiling
"Well... If we're gonna do the time, we may as well do the crime" Warren said suggestively and she got out of her chair and Garnett followed.
"That fella seems pretty popular for a guy who just got kicked out of here" Doc said to them referring the the tall guy sat on the table behind them making them all turn to look at him and they could see him talking to a few other guys.
"It was a lot harder than we expected" The could here him say "Thought we'd be better back here"
"Lucky for you the Major was willing to take you in again" One of the others said
"Yes, it was lucky for us all. Listen to me, all of you" They guy shouted and turning back around they could see him standing on the table a cross around his neck" For I have good news, The major didn't believe in the world of Jacob. But he will, All of you will be given another chance to hear his word and join the resurrection church"
"What are you doing?" One of the men said trying to pull him down "Get down from there" But as he said this the guy grabbed the cross around his neck and pulled it apart to reveal a small dagger
"He's got a weapon!" Someone shouted making them all jump up from their seats as one of the guards tackled him to try and get the weapon as he started reciting something
"For as the father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the son gives life to whom he will" Once he was finished he raised the weapon and cut his own throat.
"He's gonna turn" Mack said as they all tried to find something they could us weapon. "Dammit it" He said when they could see anything.
They were too late through as they guy had already turned and was currently munching on the poor soul who had tried to grab the weapon which resulted in a train reaction, they other occupants of the room started screaming and running away while the guy who was bitten turned and they both bit more people as they which resulted in more zombies.
"We are sitting ducks in here" Ellie shouted whacking a zombie who had come to close in the face with a plate as she ran to the door with Doc, Cassandra and Murphy in front of her.
"Come on. Murphy" Doc shouted but he hesitated "Ellie look out!" He shouted and turning around Ellie could see a zombie heading her way so she side stepped it.
"Look out Murphy" She said to him when she saw it going for him instead but he was too late the zombie grabbed him and rammed him into the wall but instead of killing him it froze it was just staring at him until Murphy pushed him away and ran out the door next to him.
"Murphy?!" Ellie shouted running after him hoping the others got out ok but she knew if they let Murphy die then this would have been for nothing so she pushed forward.