The engine rumbled as the vessel continued down river. Pushing ice out of its path and leaving a trail of ripples and foam behind.
Beth had shuffled away from her brother. She laid her arms on the rail and hummed a tune over the engine's noise as she stared down at the watery depths. Watching the currents flow by.
"Want to go for a swim," she heard Jordan say. His footsteps thumped closer to her until he was leaning against the rail as well. "The water looks refreshing. Let's go for a quick dip." He joked, nudging her shoulder.
"I'm down. It doesn't look too cold." She kept it up with mock enthusiasm.
He smirked as Beth gazed at the river. "You know, sometimes when I'm out swimming to where I can't see the bottom, I wonder if something big is following me."
"That's...eerie." Jordan replied slowly as she rested her chin on her wrists. "You haven't had that thought?"
"No, never. Till now."
Francis remained on the floor with his head bowed holding Kayla close. He didn't register she had started squirming with discomfort, since he was trying to focus on anything else over knowing they were on a boat.
"Dad help! Please I can't feel the bottom!"
Feeling it dip and rock made it much more difficult. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, which she couldn't handle anymore. She pushed down on them and squeaked his name until Zoey noticed what was going on and went for the rescue.
"Francis," she leaned down to shake him by the shoulder. "Dude let go." It took a couple tries until he jolted back to reality. He looked up as his grip loosened and Kayla inhaled a large breath of air.
"You were suffocating your sister."
He looked from her to Kayla who had gone limp in his hold. Her eyes closed as she tried easing her breaths. "Sorry, you ok?" He asked, pulling his arms away a bit. Allowing her to push off him. With her eyes still closed, she held up a thumb as an answer.
Francis put his hands together with his low. As hard as he tried to keep it at bay, it was obvious to whoever noticed how nervous he was.
Zoey did. But didn't comment or ask if he'd be alright. Instead, she watched as Kayla tilted her head before tucking herself against him. Moments later she perked with a smile as if she had an idea.
"Hey Sasquatch remember when we were cooking meatloaf one night, and a fire sparked in the oven that almost burned the house down?"
Francis lifted his head as her voice overtook his suppressed memories. She continued so casually, like it was the most normal thing while poking his arm to pull out of it more. "The kitchen was filled with smoke, and one of us knocked the phone off the receiver so it was like the beginning of Scream."
"Then you made the fire worse by throwing water on it. You don't do that with a propane oven." He chuckled, making her throw her hands up in defense. "I panicked! I turned it off first give me credit."
"The meatloaf episode?" Beth asked as she and Jordan turned to them.
Francis lightly smirked when the two joined the conversation. Jordan though, shaped his lips as he knelt down and took in pieces of the story. "What happened exactly?"
"Alright so," Beth began with a clap of her hands, readying to tell him the whole thing.
"I'm not getting a response from base right now." John announced. He set a microphone to his radio down. The connection started to brake, and static faintly crackled from its speakers. "Must've gotten their hands full with orders. Or assisting survivors."
"You hope." Amanda muttered, turning away to look out at the river.
From the other side of the boat, Louis and Keirstan were having an intense rock paper scissors shoot game. The two shook their fists vigorously until Keirstan shot rock, Louis scissors. She pumped her fist as the analyst gave a cry of defeat and she slyly grinned while flicking him hard in the forehead.
"Next round." Louis challenged in determination while Bill walked through.
He ignored the unfriendly look cast by Amanda as the veteran went up to the cabin. "You should come with us." Bill advised. "I don't think you'll find much if you go alone. Staying with the military is your best bet."
"We should. I know we should. But," John emphasized. "I sense we're not done here quite yet. I feel we should stay a bit longer. Just in case anyone else comes."
Bill nodded, his hands on his hips. "We all need the help we can get. Do you know their schedule, so you don't miss them?"
"Mm-hm." John turned around and stepped away from the wheel. "We were given their coordinates so we'll be able to follow them if we need to catch up. Once we're ready."
"We found ours in a police station." Zoey recalled as she stopped next to Bill. Amanda kept watching them coldy as they continued. "How about we pull them out and see if we're both on the right track."
John shifted his eyes away while Zoey went over to their supplies to pull out theirs.
As she did, Bill noticed the man's hesitance. Fidgeting very slightly where he stood. No longer looking at them directly. Bill slanted his brow just a bit observing him carefully.
"Uh yeah. Let me get mine here." He said, as Francis lazily swatted Kayla's hands whilst she did the same with his. He closed his eyes as she poked his neck rapidly with Beth telling Jordan another misadventure. Attracting Keirstan and Louis to sit down with them for some humor as well. Then Francis retrieved his severely crumbled cookie from his pocket again and held it up between her and himself. He laid his head back when she frowned, and ripped the packaging open before taking and pushing a piece of it against her pursed lips.
"Just. Take. It." Francis pressured. Crumbs fell as he continued to push the cookie against her mouth. "Take...it. Why you gotta be so stubborn."
Keirstan looked to see this and leaned over to slap at her companion's stomach. In response Kayla jumped back with a yell of protest. Giving the biker time to shove the cookie between her lips. He pulled back as she paused and then started chewing. He squinted his eyes while dropping his hand.
"Thanks for reminding me."
Keirstan breathed a short, soft chortle through her nose as he took a couple more pieces. Handing one to Beth, he popped the other in his own mouth and continued to pass the cookie remains around between the three.
"See, you miss chocolate chips don't ya." Francis puffed at her content face.
At the sight of them savoring the morsels Louis shuffled back against the starboard. "Now I want cookies damn it." He pouted folding his arms.
"Your loss. Should've looked harder in the store." Keirstan said in a smug tone, leaning back.
"Says she who didn't find any either." Jordan reminded loudly and earning himself a middle finger as he yelled.
Louis had held his shaky hands at chest level with a desperate expression at the sky. "Oh how I long for some fresh cookies right out of the oven now…"
"Stop! I'm trying to think of anything but food!" Ian whined from his spot at the stern.
Then the analyst started to drool. "I used to make them every weekend. I can smell the deliciousness." He inhaled a large breath and said, "warm, melt in your mouth gooey softness."
"You'll be gooey softness if you don't stop talking about it." Amber threatened.
He sucked in his saliva and glanced at her from the corners of his eyes. "Rude." He retorts, dropping his hands.
"Let's try a fire like with instant coffee. Set up a pan over it and find ready to bake cookies." Keirstan chirped.
"Nah everything's expired by now." Bill pointed out, and turned his head to watch John shuffle through his belongings with Zoey holding theirs beside him.
A scream suddenly ripped through the trees. A distorting, haunting scream. It grabbed the alerted passengers' attention to whip their heads at where it was coming from whilst Birds flew off from their perches.
"Aw shit," Ian groaned quietly. His eyes straight ahead and leaning away from the rail. "Sounds like another one of those Shrieking things."
Glancing out the window where he stood, John rose and walked out of the cabin. Making Amanda look from the shoreline to him as he also watched the forest.
A very long quiet moment had gone by. It came a second time.
"It is another one." Francis growled. He rose from the floor and searched for movement. For any signs they were given from the first one they encountered.
"Don't bother it doesn't sound close." Bill grunted through a puff of his cigarette.
Francis tsked, "so did the last one." He gruffly replied, and continued to scan the shore.
Soon though his gaze wavered down at the water. And he went quiet, immediately feeling his muscles tense with a pang of heavy nervousness again.
He swallowed a lump in his throat but forced his eyes up. Trying his best to push his phobia away to concentrate on spotting the fucker.
"You saw one too." Came John's low voice.
"Those things." He suddenly appeared older when all looked at him, his orbs tired and face wrinkled. "Grey eyes, wearing jackets. Big claws like those crying infected…"
"Yup. We saw one. It was stalking us for a while." Louis answered. Memories of their experience with the horrid special flooded his head. From when they first heard its ghostly cries in Whitney County, to the shelter and theater. They unnerved him greatly, and iced his heart.
Keirstan then started hooting like a Gorilla. She hopped from her spot with her hand raised in excitement. "Yes, Senpai?" Beth called.
"We could call those things Screamers."
She frowned when the whole boat crew remained quiet. As if waiting for a better suggestion. "I didn't say it was the most creative name. We need to call them something." Keirstan defended.
"I guess."
Amanda rubbed an arm uncomfortably. "They're so...sadistic." She mumbled.
"They are." John agreed with a nod. He sighed through his nose and sat on a crate while his wife shuffled into the cabin to take over steering. "This disease. It's affecting animals, it's done all kinds of things to people. Devastated the world, millions are gone…"
He reached over to take his gun from its spot against a wall beside him. Quietly, he looked it over in his hands. "...I never thought the day would come."
"I thought I'd be ready for it. All I did in school was watch zombie movies and play video games. So, I…" Zoey's voice softened, as she thought of her old habits. Doing just that, isolated in her single dorm. Snacks scattered around her bed and TV on with either enjoyment. Hardly touching her notes amid her free time or going out unless she absolutely had to or went home for breaks. There was a silence among the vessel.
"I wish I never wanted real life horror." Zoey admitted in a shameful, timid demeanor. Getting quieter by the end of her sentence.
"Wait what, you thought this would be some kind of fucking game?" Amanda exclaimed whirling around. The movement startled Zoey to look into her chilled, sharp eyes. "This isn't fun. May I remind you what your fucking killing sweetheart? And you thought this would be entertainment?!"
"Alright, alright." Bill held his hands up chest level at her, as Zoey dropped her gaze.
"Amanda calm down."
"No I'm not gonna calm down!" She spat, her raised voice cracking.
Zoey remained quiet, as did everyone else.
"This whole thing is fucked up. Fucked. Up. There's nothing exciting about it and you clearly," she jabbed a finger at Zoey in anger. "Haven't lost anyone or anything to the outbreak if you thought it'd be funny!"
Jordan, Beth and Kayla stared upwards with Francis turning to the confrontation. As he did, Amanda jumped a little seeing him look her way. His expression caused her to take a step back and he went on to say something. Until Zoey returned the look with coldness of her own. She shifted towards him as if she sensed he was going to speak up. Placing a hand on his chest to keep him quiet.
"I have my losses."
"Yeah?" Amanda snarled, her attention on her once more. "What did you do after, think of this as Dying Light or some shit?!"
"I don't think this is funny!"
"Ok enough!" John boomed. He rose and twisted around at Amanda while Louis got up as well. The boatman raised his own hand, "that's enough. Just...go back to steering the boat." He coaxed, his back facing their guests.
Amanda cast another glare as Louis gently guided Zoey away. She reversed into the cabin, but stopped, looking up at her husband. "We need. To talk." She said insistingly, Darkly. Loud enough for only him to hear.
"About?"
"Get in here."
Perplexed, John peeked over his shoulder to see Bill and Francis watching them. He held up an index finger with an apologetic look as he pulled the door shut.
"Dramatic bitch." Kayla snorted seconds later, her eyes lidded. "Be quiet in case she hears you." The biker growled down at her. He eyed the veteran who was now making his way to the stern, where Louis was talking with Zoey to check on her."I mean, she's got a point." Keirstan said quietly. Picking at her fingertips. "They're…"
"We don't have a choice and you know that." Jordan jumped in sharply, stopping her from saying more.
Ian looked around at his group to see Beth encouraging Francis to sit back down, and Bill placed a hand on Zoey's shoulder while joining their talk. "...Well, at least the Screamer stopped." He said in an attempt to ease the tensity.
"Plot twist it was the one in the theater. It just faked its death." Beth started.
"Uh-uh, I got it as I said I would." Francis boasted as he settled. "Where did the blood come from if I hadn't?"
"It threw up a tomato right as you took the shot."
He shaped his lips and wrinkled his forehead in confusion. "...Where would the tomato come from?"
"From-"
"You're a tomato." Francis said resting an arm on her shoulder. "False, I'm a potato." Beth corrected, "I hate tomatoes."
"And I hate potatoes."
"Fuck off you do not. You inhale baked potatoes whenever someone made them." Kayla said in a yawn, shaking out of a drowsy haze she was slipping into. "Especially if there was bacon in the mix."
"Ok fine. Ya got me." Francis admitted with Ian shouting at them, "again with food!"
He rested his head back thinking of the recipe. He placed a hand on his stomach the longer he thought about it. Swearing he could taste phantom flavors of a steaming potato smothered in melted cheese and meat. Lots of meat. Francis felt excessive saliva collecting in his mouth, and he swallowed it down before distracting himself further by tilting his head back to observe the cabin's door. He couldn't see them through the window. He couldn't hear them either.
And he didn't like that.
"Plot twist two, the theatre Screamer was a different one than we saw at the shelter." Amber chimed in. Her eyes widened slightly at the theory seconds after she said it, and she placed a finger on her lips wondering if it could be true.
"Ah come on," an unfazed Jordan called at her. "You know there's always more than one."
Keirstan perked again from listening to the topic and snapped her fingers. "How about we were stalked by multiple Screamers." She challenged.
Amber trembled in a dramatic way as gibberish noises spilled from her gaped frown, delivering a sly grin to spread over Keirstan's face while Francis turned away from the door searching for Bill again.
"Will you stay still," Beth whispered and grabbed his belt when he shifted to get up a second time. "I don't want to having a panic attack!"
"Beth I'll be ok." He said sternly. Francis took a few steps away which cause her to lose her hold. The young survivor stared after him frustrated, Jordan and Keirstan in question, and Kayla stirring next to them. "What now." She grumbled.
...
"I just want them gone." Amanda overlapped John's reply in a curt voice.
He motioned at the windshield with a quick shrug. "What do you want, there's nowhere to stop right now."
"We shouldn't have picked them up at all John. There's too many of them for us to handle. You heard me, and for some reason you decided to take them all anyway. The hell were you thinking?" She tapped her temple in irritated impatience.
"They weren't gonna separate in groups and wait for us to come back." He stated. Then, his tone softened until he wasn't talking anymore. Looking as though he was going over something in his head. Amanda quietly waited for John to continue. She raised her brow at him and held her gloved hands either side.
"Why don't we-"
"No." She shook her head with her hands rising. "No more 'let's do this.' The reason we picked survivors up in twos or threes was because it was easy, remember? The next spot we find is where we kick them off." She dropped her hands then and lifted her solemn eyes to meet his.
"They're gonna know something's up. And we're outnumbered."
John didn't answer right away. The boatman glimpsed from her, as she mumbled in bitter hatred, "fucking cunt played this as a joke…" to at what was ahead through the glass. Picking at his bottom lip with his teeth. "You're right. Ok."
He was answered with a mute side-eye.
"We'll get them off. Just give me time to think of why."
…
Louis was trying to get Zoey in a better mood with some wisecracks and poking fun at himself. She leaned against the stern, lowering her head with a small smile when he threw his drunken streaking incident out too. He couldn't get her to laugh. However, seeing her smile just a bit was good enough for him.
"Dude if I were there, I'd be laughing at you for the rest of my life." She was trying to keep that smile from creeping up her face further as she spoke, and he grinned widely. Flashing a peace sign. "Everyone did for the longest time."
Hearing their conversation made Amber look back at the sisters in slight fear. All of their drinking nights in college flashed through her mind like a tsunami, and she tensed at the bizarre, sometimes out of control results of having too much. She was just glad streaking wasn't one of them.
The girls caught her gaze and returned it with looks of wonder. "What?" Both asked. The older making a challenging gesture.
"Nothing, nothing it's," Amber looked at the sky and ground. "Nothing."
With all resuming their own business Francis crossed the vessel. Keeping his mind off the water as best as he could manage and focused on talking to Bill. The boat rocked as if to intimidate him. And it worked. He froze.
With the dock creaking, he could feel he was starting to shake. His sight subconsciously started shifting towards the river, but he caught this and tore his eyes away. Instead, he traced them on Bill, and only Bill. The water wasn't there. They were drifting on nothing.
Ignoring the light cold sweat and trying to replace his discomfort with his rugged aspect, Francis blew his cheeks while he approached the old man who had stood aside at the port. Satisfied to see Zoey was going to be ok.
He saw those worn blue eyes shift on him. "Can I help you." Was the unimpressed, monotone greeting.
It took a moment for Francis to respond. When he did he said quietly, "I...don't like this. Bill there's something going on here."
"Oh Jesus." He sneered. "You don't like anything." He fully faced the biker and held an emotionless expression as to why he should listen.
"Come on." Francis shot back. He heard strengthened confidence in his rough voice again. His nerve wracking unease suddenly drained away. Replaced by his tough demeanor. The river wasn't his biggest concern anymore. It was whatever situation that could be looming over them.
"I saw how you were looking at the guy. Did you see him pull out a map, he had plenty of time to."
"There it is." Bill blackmailed his attitude with a flicked wrist.
At those words Francis stopped from responding. He studied the veteran's face as both men held still.
"...Bill please, I swear to God. I feel something's up."
"I noticed. I don't need your confirmation."
"What?"
His older comrade glanced at the cabin. "As I said Francis. He was acting strange. I could tell by his breathing. It's different among people, and his was shallow. Normal breaths would make changed pitches in you voice more obvious when you're lying. He was trying to hide that."
As he answered, Francis felt a cold seeping into his stomach. Then, his nose and brow started to wrinkle. "See n' now we're stuck here till whenever they decide to hit land. What now fearless leader, I said we shouldn't of gotten on. I said that and you didn't fuckin' listen!" He exclaimed in spitefulness.
Francis warned something was not right. He said they should've kept going long before the horde had arrived. If it wasn't for the noise, they probably would've been ok. But everyone else took to Bill, leaving him in the wrong in their eyes. Again.
Scoffed at and shot down. He was growing more frustrated feeling this way.
Francis sharply inhaled through his nose. "Huh. I'm the one that puts us in danger. I didn't say let's jump on a complete stranger's boat and hope for the best!" He stabbed a finger at Bill in his rant. His voice slowly rising as he went to take an imitating step forward.
Bill slapped his hand aside and shoved him away, hard enough for him to take that mid-step back. "You can stay right there." He forewarned. "And keep you fucking voice down. We had nowhere to go unless you wanted to stay to get ripped apart."
Louis, Amber, Zoey and Ian cast glimpses at the two in curiosity. No one could exactly make out what they were bickering over now, and they weren't informed of what was going on.
"What's happening this time?" Ian wondered out loud, so Amber went to ask what the problem was until Louis cut her off with a hand wave. "Probably nothing guys. It's Bill and Francis. They always have something to argue about." He reminded, looking over at his partners just in time to see them break off.
"Whatever old man!" Francis spat as he stalked away. Sitting down once more away from the small team. Bill furthered his distance from him without a sound.
"See?"
"But there's always a reason for it." Amber grimly stated, rubbing her chin. "It's senseless to argue over nothing."
"Yeah true." Louis admitted. Drumming his fingers against a rail.
Zoey didn't take part in the conversation. She stared at the foliage listening to everything around her but didn't care enough to spare a look. They stopped talking altogether.
"I'll go...I'll go ask what's up." Louis spoke again.
He moved across the dock as Jordan, the sisters and Keirstan watched on together. Kayla was leaned forward on her hands for a better view of Francis in wonder why he hadn't come back to them. "What do you think that's about?" Jordan murmured. Kayla got to her feet as Beth hummed in thought of what else could be wrong.
As her sister went by Keirstan looked from the dock to the bow. The sound of ice continued to thump and occasionally drag along its body the further it traversed down river. She soon rose from her spot too, stretching her legs and twisting her torso before heading the opposite way. "Just gonna see what's ahead. My legs are cramping." She announced when the couple peered up.
"Alright. I'm gonna stay here and stay confused." Jordan got himself more comfortable and dramatically yanked himself against Beth, who had to stifle a snicker. "Confused over what?"
Soon after from behind them the cabin door creaked open. John stepped out with his hands in his jacket pockets and checked what all were doing. Nobody paid him any attention. Only Ian who noticed and gave him a wave. The boatman returned it with a nod then made his way to the bow as well.
He found Keirstan with her back to him. Taking in the natural scenery they drifted through. She rested on her elbows, completely unaware he was behind her.
…
"So where do you think they're taking us." Kayla inquired after listening to Francis' suspicions. She sat cross-legged in front of him. She was nervous. He could hear it no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
"I don't know." He rumbled quietly. Down casting at his boots. He shifted his eyes up on her. "They try anything on you two they'll have to try it on me first."
"But we outnumber them." She stated with more perkiness now. "We can take 'em."
He went to answer, sighed, then tried again. And rubbed his fingers against his knee they laid on. "Anything can happen Kayla. You'd be surprised what advantages the disadvantage can have."
"How often does that happen though. I think we'd still win."
Francis scowled at her and she hunched her shoulders when a sudden rising commotion of overlapping voices and panic reached their ears.
"Put it down young lady."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa hey! John!"
"What is that? Let her go!"
Kayla gazed by him as he twisted around, both in alarm. They scrambled up and hurried to what was going on. Finding the survivors spread around the dock, Jordan hastily pulling Beth away from the situation, Zoey pointing a pistol and John gripping a terrified Keirstan in a chokehold. A black needle and syringe held in his other hand. Ready to be plunged in her artery.
"I'm sorry. But we can't help you anymore."
"Please Mr. Slater," Louis cried out. The panic most evident through him. "We mean no harm!"
"Let. Her. Go." Zoey barked, the boat shifting towards the shoreline now. It wasn't long when it started to reduce speed, then slide to a stop over crunching gravel and snow.
She had her pistol aimed at John's forehead. Keirstan held onto his arm looking at her group in pleading fear as John backed into the cabin. Which made it harder for Zoey to see what she was pointing at now. Even if she moved for a better view, he would too. A wrong shot could be made and it would be over for her.
"Keirstan!"
In the same moment Amanda slid out to stand by the doorway. Holding her own weapon against them in return.
"Fucking let her go! What did we do?!" Beth shouted. In fury she was reaching for her katana but was stopped when Bill snatched her wrists away as Jordan was about to do. Both pushed her back towards Francis, who was fuming from seeing the problem unfold.
"I said drop the gun miss," John warned. "Anyone else reaches for a weapon, she gets it." He jiggled the syringe, swishing a liquid inside.
Keirstan glanced at the needle poking her skin during the arguing and tried to crane her neck away. Just for His grip to tighten as Amanda spoke up.
"We got word from the military that they can't take anymore survivors at the near base."
"Zoey put the gun away." Bill ordered, not looking at her.
She remained in her position, her bangs wafting in her eyes as she watched the two.
"Put it away!" Bill repeated in an angrier tone when he saw she hadn't listened.
Amber and Ian begged her to do so from their spot in the back of the group, staring in disbelief as Kayla was. Moments ago she was full of confidence that they could easily take them down. Only to be proven wrong and Francis was right. Just like that. They had her friend. Their advantage.
Francis was storming through and pushed Zoey's hands down when he reached her. He snatched the gun and tossed it across the dock without a care of how she'd react.
"You wanna tell us why." He challenged in detest and bristling at their "saviors".
Seeing his body language had Amanda train her rifle on him. She didn't answer right then. When she did, Amanda and Francis never looked away from each other. "A couple of survivors there started showing signs of turning and were quarantined. It can't be risked taking more in, so we were ordered to abandon whoever we've found."
"Why are you being so hostile about it? What are we supposed to do then?!" Amber held her hands chest level to show what Louis had meant. "We've got nowhere to go!"
"We feel some of you wouldn't take kindly to this. Like your friend here." Amanda disgustingly nudged her head at Francis.
The large man glowered dangerously. Zoey and Bill could see he was shivering with anger, however he made no retaliation. He stayed where he was.
"Now get off. Or she dies."
"W-wait!" A distraught Ian skittered a couple steps closer with his hands also raised. "Is there anywhere else you could take us, we have nowhere to go. But no one has to get hurt over this!" He desperately pleaded looking between them and Keirstan. She had pursed her trembling lips and eyes screwed shut. Hands still wrapped over John's arm, the needle started to pierce her skin a little when he pushed it to show this was serious.
"No. There's not." John answered coolly.
"Get that fucking thing off her!" Jordan yelled with Beth holding onto his arm to keep him from doing anything. "Than get off," John overlapped in irritation, motioning to the opposite side of where they boarded and roughly adjusting his hold on her. "Must we keep repeating ourselves?"
Along the moments of vicious stare downs between either side, Bill was soon the first to walk around to collect his belongings. He picked up Zoey's pistol and straightened afterwards sending the couple a dire look the entire time.
Francis looked to see Beth had already done the same. She was heading off the boat with Jordan as both shot upset glances at their endangered comrade. He resentfully slung his shotgun on one shoulder, bag over the other and saw Louis and Kayla watching one another in absolute despair.
The frown he was wearing deepened. "Move it!" He barked harshly. His loud voice startling the two in making them scramble to grab their things. "Quit standin' 'round like Goddamn Deer in headlights!"
She shakily hurried ahead of him and slowed just before she reached the exit. "...Keirstan…" Kayla whimpered. She turned on her way off back at the hostage, who helplessly watched them leave.
She was blocked from view by Francis who trailed closely behind. "Do as they say. They want us off first. And then they'll let 'er go."
There were no words between anyone during this. Hopping off the boat and splashing in the shallows lining the river since neither one set the plank out to cross over. The water splashed and burbled, the gravel crunched. The wind blew through branches. Both parties faced each other after John had emerged in full view.
Finally, he released and shoved her forward. With no hesitation she stumbled for her team, clumsily scooping up her belongings as well and taking Beth's hand as she jumped overboard.
"I didn't want this to happen." John broke the silence looking down on all of them.
Francis was glaring in return as he spoke with Kayla holding a shaky Keirstan in a tight hug. Allowing her to bury her face deep in her shoulder, as Beth rested her hands on her arms from next to him.
"It was their orders. If we didn't follow through, they would have killed us all…"
His gaze slid away uncomfortably from the devastated or angry faces they were receiving. He remembered the promise that was made. To help them as these survivors fought the infected while he fixed the engine.
Eventually John started to back up with Amanda walking out of view. "...I wish you luck."
It wasn't too near the shore to have trouble departing. So with that, the boat was soon returning on the river. Their silhouettes visible through the windows from inside.
"FUCK YOU!" Zoey screamed over the roaring engine. Water speckled on her pants when she ran after it, which was much further away now. She bent down and grabbed handfuls of rubble to chuck at them. "Fuck you! What are we supposed to do you lying assholes!"
"Stop screaming!" Louis yelled on top of her cracking voice while running after her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back. She bowed her head as her knees buckled so he embraced her as well. "I know, I know Zoe it's…" he trailed off as she cried in his chest. He stopped, staring at the trees and to stroke her hair.
"This is just fucking great." Amber protested. Ian was sitting on a small boulder next to her with his chin in his hands not looking at anyone. "They didn't even say where we are! The fuck!" She exclaimed while swinging an arm out at the scenery.
Jordan and the sisters were busy making sure Keirstan was alright. She massaged her neck and nodded or shook her head at their questions, "are you ok…?" Ian eventually called in absolute dismay. He hopped off the boulder, Amber turned around and followed him to their friends.
"...I think...I'm...I'm ok…I'll be..." Keirstan replied, her lips pursed again in a frown. Casting her gaze downwards when Amber placed a hand on her back.
Francis continued to hatefully stare in the direction the boat vanished in. Standing from the sidelines, with his back turned to him Bill puffed out a breath of smoke. And flicked the ashes in silence.
He hadn't moved from where he got off. His mind was sinking back in dark thoughts again as Francis grimly shifted his sight on the flowing water.
"...Someone! Help!..."
Eventually, he broke from his trance and lifted his head to check their surroundings. There wasn't anything coming their way, as far as he could see or hear. Then he looked at the sky. And quickly, side stream smoke dissolving high over the treeline got his attention.
Francis turned to get a better look. It was smoke. He watched where it was coming from and headed for the trees.
His footsteps crunching over the pebbles and snow made the others look at what he was doing. "Where you going?" Louis called when he began to push his way through the foliage.
Without receiving an answer, the alerted sisters were the first to chase and pull Keirstan along after him. Bill gazed out from the corner of his eye, and over his shoulder when the rest of the group pursued. "Francis, where the hell are you going?!" Louis shouted between breaths.
"There's smoke. There's something nearby."
"Probably a collision." Kayla made a guess. Then a small branch whipped back from Ian in front and slapped her across the face.
"Well I weren't just gonna stand around n' feel sorry for ourselves." Francis retorted. Climbing up an embankment, passing crashed cars that had fallen down it and pushing foliage and more branches out of the way.
He broke through the trees and was met with a two lane road. Littered with more destroyed upturned vehicles, both on the cracked pavement or hanging over the ledge. His companions made it up shortly afterwards as he searched the area.
There was more smoke ahead from a short distance. When the survivors turned to see where it was coming from, it was realized there was another city close by.
And Beth watched as Francis' face fell in recognition when he turned his head to read the shot up expressway signs. He settled back in staring at the tall dark buildings lining the sky.
"I know where we are."