Chapter 7- New Mexico
Three hours later, outside of Pie Town, New Mexico.
It was early afternoon, an hour ago the group had stopped at a large house outside the town. The house was secured with tall Chain Link fencing. The property had a medium-sized greenhouse. Everything Inside the green house is dead. The two Humvees are parked on the large gravel driveway.
Westley stood in front of the dead family that once lived here. He had stacked some scrap wood he had found earlier on top of the dead family's bodies. There were two small children;. A five-year-old boy and a twelve-year-old girl. There was a father and a mother as well.
Westley grabs a piece of wood and lights it on fire and then tosses onto the bodies that had wood on top of them.
Westerly covers his face with his shirt, as he watches the flames rise and consume the dead family.
Wayne walks over to him, he has his M4 in his hands. "This is the new normal…. The family chose to take their own lives an hour before we got here," he says.
Westley looks at the muscular man, "How the hell do you know?" he asks.
Wayne lets his rifle hang from the strap that is around his torso. He grabs a paper that has been folded up. He unfolds it and hands it to Westley. Westley reads the paper.
The world has gone to hell, God is punishing us all for our sins. It is currently 12:22am, We can hear the screams. Oh, lord the screams haunt us. We will not die like our lord intends.
There was something written at the bottom of the paper, but Westley couldn't read what it said. He throws the paper into the fire.
Wayne grabs a hold of his rifle and watches the fire. "Before the sickness got out of control, a lot of my fellow soldiers took their own lives. A lot of them resigned and went home to their families," he says. Westley looks at Wayne. "I've watched my best friend get torn apart by….. Those things," Wayne continues. He looks at Westley, "I wanted to go with you because I was scared….. Scared of being torn apart by the dead. Scared of… becoming one of those things."
Westley pats Wayne on his large shoulder, "You will survive, as long as we stick together," he says. Wayne nods.
Inside the house, Nick and Kyra sit on a large camouflage couch. "What did you do? Before the… hellish plague?" Kyra asks.
Nick looks at Kyra as Travis walks into the front room with Chris. The two sit down on a small couch next to Nick and Kyra.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. I was just curious," Kyra says.
Strand walks into the front room, he has a large hunting rifle in his hands. "Looks like these people liked to hunt," he says.
"Hunt what? We are in the desert," Travis asks.
"I don't know," Strand replies.
"They could just like hunting rifles," Kyra says.
"There are still animals in the desert, and they may drive. I hunted a lot in Georgia," Billy says from where he stood with Alicia and Madison. "It's a pastime and there is nothing better than eating something you killed. The pride is sweet enough,"
"You think the dead feel the same?" Ofelia asks.
"Nope they are just hungry. They don't feel pride or satisfaction when they kill. Most of the time killing people doesn't bring in satisfaction even if you think it will," Billy says.
"The dead don't feel anything, they have no emotions. They only have the desire to consume," Strand says. He pulls the bolt back on the rifle and sets it down against the wall.
Angelica and the new guy; Markos, walk into the front room. Angelica's hair was messy and she was all sweaty.
Markos is breathing heavily. Kyra looks at the two with disgust. She looks away and gets up. She looks out the window at Westley and Wayne who are still burning the bodies.
"Not a prostitute. You met that guy three hours ago," Daniel says.
"Somebody has to have some fun, and he didn't pay me," Angelica says, defending herself.
"You're disgusting, prostitute or not. You don't just go around sleeping with people you barely know," Kyra says, still looking out the window. She sees Westley and Wayne turn away from the burning bodies and walk a couple feet away.
"You can have fun without sex," Alicia says. "For all we know he could be a killer,"
"That is why we have guns," Billy says as he looks at Kara who was sleeping. "Speaking of which when we get to Georgia you guys are getting weapons training," Billy says.
"Some of us already know how to use guns," Strand says.
Westley and Wayne walk inside the house. "Most of you don't," Daniel says.
"We are heading into town," Westley states.
"I will go with you," Kyra says as she moves closer to Westley and Wayne.
"Ok," Westley says. He looks at Angelica and Markos. "You smell bad," he says.
"That's because all they did since we got here was screw," Kyra says.
"Gross," Wayne says.
"I'll go with you guys," Nick says.
"Why? We have supplies?" Madison asks.
"Won't hurt to get more besides there could be more ammo and weapons. And there could be more people," Westley says.
"Yeah, there could be more people. Not everybody is going to be like Wayne, or Alicia, or Madison. What are you going to do when you run into someone, and we aren't there. Your friend there already lives in fear of this world. He might freeze up, and you die," Billy says.
"He's a soldier he can handle himself. We won't be long," Westley says. Nick, Kyra and Wayne walk towards the door. Westley stops, "Anything specific you want?" he asks. Daniel walks over to him.
"I'm coming with you," Daniel says.
"No offense but too many people will become a burden," Westley says.
"I'll take the other Humvee, and we'll be able to carry more supplies. That is what this is about right?" Daniel asks.
"Fair," Westley says. He walks out of the house along with the others. Madison kisses Alicia's head and walks outside.
"I'm coming. I'll be Daniel's back up," Madison says as she goes to the Humvee. Daniel climbs in the driver side and starts the Humvee and follows Westley out.
Westley slowly drives through the town. He stops when he sees a group of men loading a crate into a Van from another Van. The men are wearing black hoodies and red bandanas over their face. "They look like a Gang," Wayne says.
The men look at the Humvees. Two other men drag a young woman out of a building. The woman is gagged with a rag and has her hands tied behind her back. The woman lets out muffled cries.
"They're kidnapping that woman!" Kyra says.
Westley looks at Wayne, "Get on that gun," he orders. Wayne nods and climbs up to the mounted gun. He aims the gun at the men.
"Let go of the woman now!" Wayne barks. One of the men pulls out a small pistol and shoots at Wayne. The bullets hit the metal guard around the gun. Wayne points the gun at the man who shot at him and squeezed the trigger, letting bullets fly rapidly.
The man is hit many times and falls to the ground. "Let me repeat myself. Let the woman go!" Wayne barks again.
One of the two men holding the woman grabs a knife and slits the woman's throat. The woman falls to the ground and a puddle of blood begins to form. Wayne starts firing the gun at the men; killing the rest of the men. Daniel climbs out of the car and pulls out his handgun. He walks up toe the men and starts to shoot them in the head. He walks up to the woman and does the same. He looks at the Humvee as Madison gets out. "Like Billy said. Not everybody will be like them," He says as he holsters his gun.
Westley, Nick, Kyra and Wayne get out of the Humvee. Westley walks over to the Van where they were loading the crate in. Wayne looks at the dead men. "Definitely not good people," he mumbles. Nick and Kyra walk up to Westley who was trying to open the crate.
Westley finally opens the crate. A large tray of heroin was placed one by one on the tray. "Drugs," Kyra states.
"Yeah, these people might be drug smugglers," Westley says. He looks at Nick who was looking tensely at the drugs. He puts his hand on Nick's shoulder and shakes it. "Hey, are you alright?" he asks.
Nick snaps back to reality. "Y..Yeah, I'm fine," Nick says softly.
Westley closes the crate and closes the back doors to the van.
Westley looks around at the buildings. "A gun store, right there," Westley says, pointing at a building with a sign with a gun symbol on it.
He looks away and looks at another building. The building had blood smeared on the windows. There was a sign above it that read. Ron's General Store. Daniel grabs a can of gasoline and walks over to the drugs and starts to pour it on there.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Nick shouts.
Westley looks at Daniel and Nick. "Nick relax, it's drugs not good stuff," Westley says. He puts his hand on Nick's shoulder. "Come on, I need your help," he says.
Nick takes a breath and nods.
Wayne looks up at the windows of the buildings. He grabs his M4 and follows Nick, Westley and Kyra into the General Store. Daniel throws the gas can down and pulls out a lighter and throws it on the drugs lighting them on fire. Madison walks over to him.
"Thank you," Madison says.
"We don't need any other problems," Daniel says as he starts to loot the bodies. Madison looks at him.
"I can't believe this is what people do when the world ends," Madison says.
"This is what people want to do but are too afraid to too because they don't want to be punished," Daniel says. "Cowards are the people we have to worry about now,"
"One of these days we are going to find something that wants to kill us and are smarter than the people you and Billy have killed," Madison says.
"That is true, but we have two military vehicles. Let's hope that is enough," Daniel says.
"What are the chances of my kids staying who they are?" Madison asks Daniel.
"None of us will be the same person who we were by the end of the months if we are still alive," Daniel says.
"My god, Daniel I need you to promise me something," Madison says.
"What is it?" Daniel asks.
"That if I die, If I'm bit you will make sure they don't see me. Make sure I do not turn into one of those things and do not let my kids see me," Madison says.
"Only if you do the same, Madison," Daniel says.
"Deal," Madison says. Daniel nods as they continue to loot.
Billy walks with Alicia and Kara outside and towards the fence of the house. "You have been out here for an hour. What have you been doing?" Alicia asks. Billy walks outside the gate with the two following him. Billy stops outside and points to a target. He pulls out Rick's gun and holds it out to Alicia who grabs it.
"I showed you how to hold a gun and the right stance. Now it's time to work on your shooting," Billy tells Alicia who nods. Billy pulls out another handgun and hands it to Kara. "You just hold yours, kid. I want you to get used to the weight," Kara nods as Billy nods to Alicia who gets in the stance Billy showed her. Billy moves closer to Alicia and helps make sure she is in the right stance. "Okay, now keep your hands steady," Billy taps her finger. "Not until you are ready to fire," Alicia nods as she moves her finger away from the trigger.
"Billy," Kara says. Billy looks at her, and she points at one of the dead. Billy pulls out his Colt, pulls the hammer back, aims his gun, and shoots the dead in the head making it fall to the ground. He holsters his gun and looks at Alicia.
"Should we really be shooting?" Alicia asks.
"We can deal with the dead," Billy says as he looks at Kara. "Good job, keep an eye out for us," Kara nods as she holds the gun. Billy stands behind Alicia and grabs her arms and moves them a little. Alicia could feel his breath on her throat and his arms around her. "Take a deep breath and make sure you are steady. When you know you are put your hand on the trigger and squeeze it. Do not pull it," Billy says in her ear. Alicia takes a deep breath and pulls the trigger. The bullet doesn't hit the side of the tree away from the target.
"Well, that was a waste of a bullet," Alicia says.
"You aren't going to hit it on your first try Alicia. I started when I was young, and I have been perfecting my shot for years," Billy tells her. Alicia nods as she takes aim again.
Westley stands next to Nick as they gather medical supplies. "Nick, you looked at those drugs kinda funny. You didn't use drugs did you?" Westley asks as he grabs a box of bandages.
Nick freezes. He looks at Westley, "Yeah… I my first encounter with the dead was when I woke up from using drugs… I saw a woman eating another person. I freaked out and ran, nobody believed me at first," Nick answers.
Westley nods. Wayne and Kyra finish gathering canned food. "We're done here," Wayne states. Westley nods and the three leave the store.
They walk back to their Humvee and throw their bags in the back. Westley grabs his machete while Nick grabs his fire axe. Westley looks at Kyra, for some reason he didn't want to look away. She looks at him making eye contact. Westley snaps out of it and looks away. "Let's search some homes, maybe we can find someone or something," Westley suggests. Westley leads the three to the nearest home.
The home was small with a small yard. The grass was thin and brown. Westley slowly walks up to the front door, the others follow. He slowly opens the door, he is instantly hit with a smell of death and decay. Westley gags as he looks at the body leaned up against the white wall on the left side of the front room.
A man wearing an army uniform was leaned up against the wall, his brains scattered around him and on the wall staining it red with pinkish chunks. Between his legs was a double barrel shotgun. Sewn onto his uniform was the name Daniels. Nick starts to puke from the gory sight.
Wayne gasps as a small girl slowly walks towards them from the kitchen of the house.
"She was so young," Kyra mutters.
The girl was wearing a pink skirt, blood stained it. She had brown hair that was in a short ponytail. The girl skin was tan, she had a large bite mark her right leg. The girl hisses as she walks towards them. Westley takes a couple steps forward and swings the machete down cutting into the girl's skull.
The girl quits moving and Westley pulls the machete out of her head. The girl falls to the ground; face first.
The three search the house before leaving. "I found pictures of that man and girl together, she was his daughter," Wayne states.
"Maybe that's why he blew his brains out," Nick suggests as he follows behind Kyra. The three walk to the Humvee and wait.
Fifty minutes later, the group had finished in town and was back at the house. Wesley sat outside, he thought about the dead girl and the man who had committed suicide. He sighs and leans back on the hood of the Humvee. Angelica and Markos walk out of the house chuckling. Markos pulls Angelica to the back of the house. Westley relaxes as he feels the warmth of the sun. He looks up at the blue sky.
There are a couple of large clouds over him. He hears footsteps and sits up, Kyra is walking towards him. She sits next to him on the hood. "How ar–" Kyra was interrupted by a loud giggle.
She looks in the direction and winces. "Those two at it again?" she asks.
"I guess so," Westley says.
"How are you doing?" Kyra asks as she runs her hand through her thick blonde hair.
Westley looks at Kyra, "I'm alright," he answers in a sigh. "What about you?"
Kyra smiles, "I'm fine. Just seeing that father and daughter… Breaks my heart," she says as her smile turns into a frown.
Westley nods and makes eye contact again. He quickly looks away at the house.
In the house Strand and Travis sat at the large round table the previous family had. The table was brownish red. Wayne, Nick and Chris sat on the couches in the front room. Nick was cleaning a knife while Chris was sleeping. Wayne was fiddling with his M4.
Madison and Daniel make sure all the weapons were loaded when Ofelia came outside. "How are you two working with those two at the back of the house?" Ofelia asks her father and the blonde.
"We listen to the gunshots," Daniel says as Alicia shoots off another round. "Those two are going to bed dead the second we run into a herd,"
"You think so?" Madison asks.
"Yes, they care more about sex than they do surviving," Daniel says.
"He's not wrong," Madison says. Outside the fence Billy looks at the tree. Alicia had gotten closer with every shot.
"I think that is enough for today. You've done good today Alicia," Billy says. Alicia nods with a smile and hands him the gun. Billy holds it for a second and tucks it into his pants. Kara hands Billy the gun. Billy puts the gun in his back and walks back inside the gate. They walk up to Daniel, Madison, and Ofelia. Billy grabs a bag of weapons and food and water.
"What is that for?" Ofelia asks.
"Just in case," Billy says as he walks inside. The others follow him. They get inside and sit down.
Westley and Kyra watch as the others go inside. They try to ignore the sounds coming from behind the house, but it becomes too much for the two. Westley sighs and gets off the hood of the Humvee. Kyra does the same.
"Those two are so annoying. They're gonna attract the dead," Kyra growls.
"Yeah, I know," Westley responds as he walks up the steps and into the house.
Later that night, everyone had found their rooms and had gotten comfortable. There wasn't enough room so Westley and Kyra shared a room. Westley slept on the floor while Kyra slept on the large bed.
Marcos and Angelica lay in bed together. "We should sneak out," Angelica says in a giggle as Markos slides his hand down her thigh.
"Are you crazy, it's dangerous," Markos whispers.
"Awe come on, nobody is going to see us," Angelica responds as she tugs on Markos underwear.
Markos's lust gets the better of him. "Alright," he says. The two tip-toe out of the house. The air was warm, not too hot, not too cold. Markos leads Angelica onto the first Humvee. He gently pushes her onto the hood and starts kissing her.
Angelica grins and pushes Markos away and scampers around the yard. Markos chases her and finally catches her when she trips and falls on her back.
Markos moves on to of her and takes off her bra.
Ten minutes later Angelica is on top of Markos. They are both clothless. The sound of footsteps goes unnoticed by the two as they are in the middle of love making.
"Will they ever stop!" Kyra groans as she wakes up after hearing Angelica and Markos.
Markos grunts and looks up at Angelica. He yells when he sees an old man inches away from Angelica.
The man was missing half his face. Before Angelica could react the man grabs her and bites her neck ripping out a large amount of flesh. Blood sprays all over Markos, and Angelica screams echo throughout the area.
Westley quickly gets up as Kyra gets out of the bed. The old man pulls Angelica off Markos and starts biting her neck and face.
Markos screams in fear. He looks around the yard. Large amounts of the dead are shuffling through the yard. Markos feels a hand on his shoulders from behind. He squirms as he tries to get free. A woman bites the side of his neck. Markos screams. Two more Dead move to him one of them grabs his right arms and takes a bite ripping his flesh.
The other pushes into him, knocking him down. It begins to rip open his stomach. Markos screams in pain as the Dead pulls out his stomach and starts to bite it. Billy and Daniel go to the door and open it slightly looking outside and seeing the herd outside the house coming up to the porch. Billy shuts the door and locks it. "Westley, Kyra get out here," He says as he goes to the bag of weapons. He pulls out Rick's gun and hands it to Alicia who grabs it. "Time to see if that training came in handy," He says as he pulls out two rifles.
Wayne comes out of his room, he has his M4 in his hands. "The Dead?" he asks.
Westley comes into the front room with his machete. Kyra comes out with the M4 Westley had earlier.
"I'll trade you," Westley says.
Kyra nods and they swap weapons. Billy holds out an M4 to Kyra. "You and Westley will go up to the upstairs window and cover Daniel and I," Billy says.
Wayne looks at Kyra, "No offense, but she is a lousy shot. I'll cover Billy with Westley," he says.
The three head upstairs. "You're going out there?" Alicia asks.
"Yeah, we need to get to the Humvee. Daniel I understand if you want to stay," Billy says. "Maybe it is better. You cover me from here with them," Daniel slowly nods as they start to hand out guns and go to windows. Billy pulls out his swords and walks to the door. "Everybody ready?" He asks, his voice carrying throughout the house.
Westley aims his gun out the window. Kyra sits on a chair. Wayne stands beside Westley with his gun aimed out the window. Billy looks at Alicia. "If I don't make it. Let my Dad know I tried," Alicia nods as Billy opens the door. He stabs the first one and kicks another. He pushes the dead off his sword and down the stairs knocking more of them down. He cuts one heads off as more of the dead come to the porch and start to walk up it. Billy slices and stabs and feels the blood shooting on his face and clothes. "Westley, Wayne clear the left side of the porch. If I can get them all on the right I should be able to jump off that side and make a run for the Humvee," Billy says as he moves to the right killing the dead.
Westley and Wayne start firing at the dead. Wayne hits every dead he shoots at. He hits their heads causing them to fall.
Westley looks at Wayne in amazement. "Damn you're good," he says.
"I know," Wayne says with a grin. Billy kills the ones on the porch and runs to the other side and jumps off. He turns and sees Markos coming towards him. He stops him in the head before he turns and starts to cut through the crowd. He stabs one and pushes it down on more. He runs for the Humvee and jumps on the hood. He drops his sword as one of the dead grab his leg. He pulls out his Colt and shoots it in the head. He climbs into the gunner seat and breathes heavily. He starts to shoot down the dead. He sees pieces of their heads and bodies coming off. After about a minute of firing the last one falls to the ground. Billy sighs as he lays his head down on the metal.
Westley, Kyra and Wayne all sigh in relief. Billy gets out of the gunner seat and slides down the hood and onto the ground. He picks the swords up and cleans the blood off of them and sheathes. "I think I look like Carrie right now," Billy says.
"Who?" Wayne asks. Westley looks at Wayne and shrugs..
"You people need to watch older movies," Billy says.
"Yeah let me just go to the store and buy a movie, who knows maybe the movie theater is opened," Westley sarcastically says.
"How about the next time there is a herd you go after them on your own," Billy says.
"How about you quit barking orders like you're in charge, you jackass," Westley replies.
"He pretty much is in charge," Madison says as she comes outside.
"Maybe he's in charge of you and your family but not me. I can leave if I want to," Westley says.
"We'd find your body a day later," Daniel says. They hear a growl as Angelica comes around the corner.
"I guess she turned after Markos," Billy says before he pulls out his Colt and shoots her in the head.
"Nah, I'll survive. Maybe I'll go my separate ways," Westley says. He walks downstairs. Kyra and Wayne follow him.
"Will you two stop fighting," Billy says as he pulls a rag out and wipes the blood away from his face. He goes to the Humvee and grabs a water bottle. He pours it on the rag and wipes the blood off his face before he pours it in his hair.
Westley, grabs one of the bags of food and water he had collected."You can leave but you aren't taking the Humvee either of them. We can't hold everybody in one," Billy says.
"You can fit 8-10 people. You're lying, but it's fine keep the Humvee let me get the rest of my things," Westley says.
"I just did my math wrong. I'm a cop. But my Dad could use it, so I won't say no," Billy says.
"Then I'll take the other Humvee," Westley says. He looks at Wayne and Kyra. "Anyone wants to join me? I'm heading north. I'm guessing you won't be," he says.
"I'm coming with you," Kyra says.
"I'm in," Wayne says.
"Great, let's go," Westley says. He starts to head towards the door.
"To hell with your brother than?" Billy asks as the others start to get their stuff from Westley's Humvee.
"No, my brother is a survivor if anything. Prison taught him that. He'll be fine," Westley says. He waits for everyone to finish before he loads the rest of his things in the Humvee.
"You know how to reach us if you change you're mind," Billy says as he goes to the driver side of the Humvee. "I hope you guys don't run into the wrong people,"
"And the same to you," Westley says. Westley takes one last look at everyone before getting into the driver's side. Wayne and Kyra get into the Humvee. Westley starts up the Humvee. Billy pulls the Humvee out and heads for Texas.
Westley drives down the driveway he turns into the road and heads north to Oklahoma.