Shane had dropped them off at the edge of the city at some railroad tracks about thirty minutes ago. Pairing up and he showed the others how to attach their bayonets to the lug under their barrels. "Remember everyone don't shoot unless you have to most of you saw what I did in the alleyway before just stab them in the eye the blade will do the rest." Everyone nodded and teamed up.

They started searching nearby houses immediately in three pairs Alicia and T-dog, Andrea and Morales, and lastly Glynn and I. Each of us taking a small house moving slowly Glenn takes position behind me and after a quick look through the front windows we are able to see three walkers motioning for Glenn to stand on the other side of the door I open it quietly holding up three fingers he nods

3

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1

I knock on the frame softly just loud enough to draw the attention of the necked middle-aged woman covered in bites and blood as it shambles towards the door zeroing in on the sound I come around and jab the walker in the side of the skull and after a moment it falls limp. Dragging the body out of the way I knock louder and the other two, who look to of been father and son come shambling into Glenn's and then my blade. "Poor family," Glynn says I only nod there's nothing more to say. Inside the house, after ensuring no more walkers were inside we shut the door and started looking.

From the lack of gunshots, it sounds like everyone else is doing okay. But as I'm looking through the kitchen pulling unopened cans of food down I get worried as I wrap the food in a clean bath towel I found in the closet I carry my finds into the main room of the house surprised to see Glenn caring down a pair of pillowcases "I cleaned out both the bathrooms medicine cabinets and it looks like the son was a boy scout lots of survival books a wildlife survival kit." Nodding I hold up the towel "I found a few canned foods, but hey I'm getting worried about the others so I am going to go check on them real quick ill shut the door behind me just keep looking." He nods without worry

Slipping out the door with a quick look up and down the street I come up to Alicia and T-dog's house. Outside next to the door was a single walker with a hole in his face where an eye would have been. Stepping to the side of the door I knock and whisper "It's me Rick" after a second the door unlocked and T's face appeared "Hey, what's up Rick?"

"Me and Glynn just cleared our house and I wanted to check on you guys," I said as he let me in to keep outside activity to a minimum.

"Yeah man, there was only one inside for us no problem," T said waving to a pile of canned food, a case of TP, a couple of cases of water and soda

"Good good we will be moving out in about ten minutes," I told him as turned to leave seeing him throw thumbs up my way I shut the door behind me.

Andrea and Morales's house didn't have any bodies out front looking inside I see them doing the same as everyone else again I stand to the side of the door to whisper and knock. Andrea's face flushed and breathing hard opens the door "Is everything going alright?" I ask

She nods "it was quiet for us, the people who lived here apparently ended it quick they were in their bed a gun between them… we did find both their cars in the garage with almost a full tank other than that the house doesn't have much in the way of supplies"

Two working vehicles already that's a godsend, So already we have a way back and we have only hit three houses. "that's fine the cars already make this trip worthwhile" I said as I left heading back to my house. Opening the door I see Glenn eating a can of sour cream and onion Pringles. As I came in he jumped almost falling from the armrest he was sitting on. Laughing as I shut the door "calm down dude got some good news. Everything is fine plenty of supplies and Andrea and Morales found a pair of cars with almost a full tank of gas." Glenn can't say anything with his mouth full but nods enthusiastically.

Over the next three hours, they search another ten houses finding quite a bit of food and drinks even a handful of weapons; two hunting rifles, a shotgun, a crossbow, and three handguns. It takes about an hour to load the car and fill the bed of the truck they had found and cross-loaded the fuel. With everything they had found they still needed more…. But would they have enough time…. Looking at the sun directly overhead at the car loaded with food and water the others notice my frowning expression "What's wrong rick? We have enough food and drinks for almost a month…"

Rick looked at the people surrounding him and nodded "yes plenty of food, drink, meds, and even a few more guns. However, what we will need is ammo and military-grade weapons and there are only so many bullets." Nodding everyone starts thinking. Glenn however speaks up first. "Before the city fell the Army and National Guard set up barricades and checkpoints all over the city." Excited with a plan ready ok let's split up again to grab as much as we can I want to be heading back by…" looking at his watch 12:45 "five I think would be safe I think I can speak for everyone I don't want to be in the city at dark." Everyone nodded enthusiastically at that "ok everyone lets go Andrea and Morales with me T you take Alicia and Glenn.

Before they split up I take a pair of police Radios from my bag turning them both to channel fourteen I hand one to T "if you find anything good or get in trouble let us know otherwise we will meet back at the tracks no later than four-thirty." Nodding they all waved so long T's group got into the spray-painted white Crown Victoria while Ricks group got into the massive light grey Nissan Titan as they headed off in opposite directions.

It had been a quiet couple of hours Philip thought as he looked down at his watch 4:36 looking in his rearview mirror he saw Andrea driving a jeep with Morales driving a Humvee behind her every vehicle was overloaded with weapons ranging from heavy and machine guns removed from tanks, Humvee's and several sandbag bunkers down to Saws, rifles, pistols, and grenades more guns were left behind after their ammo was removed and stored. With no room to spare Philip had called back that it was time to go to the meeting spot and use the extra time to organize everything a bit.

They had been there for less than an hour when T's team pulled up in their crown Victoria with what looked to be a burger food truck and a tow truck hauling a Snap-on tool truck.

"Your late" I called out as T came next to me.

Laughing T replied, "you would not believe how many times we had to tow disabled vehicles out of the way I think we got a good haul though."

Chuckling myself "if you got anything like we did I bet how many walkers did you take care of?"

"fifty-three" T said with a bit of pride

"not bad we got forty-six ourselves" I threw back "ok it's time to go everyone let's get back to camp before nightfall." Everyone cheered as we pulled off soon leaving the massive dead city behind

I know we don't meet these nursing hope people but hopefully exterminating the first horde and another hundred or so will make it easier on them if not it doesn't matter what matters is the group I threw my lot in with looking and the train of vehicles and the mountain of supplies and gear inside I know that will make a lasting difference for the group.

They pulled off the road onto the well-beaten dirt road leading to the campground.

Pop pop-po-po-pop

Bam….Bam

BOOM