Ch. 18

'Static Part one'

[Byrdstown, afternoon]

Summer understood the risks of trying to steal a car, the loss of life was the penalty for failure here, and Summer didn't want anyone to perish here.

Ian and A.J. crept up the street to where the survivor headquarters was thought to be, Summer covered from the rooftops using a fire escape to gain access.

The two men came upon a makeshift fortress, the wall was comprised of segmented concrete slabs and pieced together with metal sheets and fences, it didn't look pretty but it looked sturdy.

From Summer's vantage point she could see that there were catwalks, spanning a distance of about sixty yards connecting the walls to the police station which the walls encircled, men patrolled the top of the walls making Summer duck behind an exhaust fan jutting up from the roof she currently inhabited.

There was a gap spanning ten yards between the wall and the closest rooftop, making a jump across impossible.

Ian and A.J. made it to the wall, the large man placed a hand on the wall, confirming its sturdiness.

"Not bad..." Ian marveled at the haphazard ingenuity.

"Looks like a bunch of shit piled up." A.J. dismissed, looking up at the walls. "Probably could climb it." A.J. observed, looking at all the crags and handholds.

"Can't yet we'll get the shit shot out of us..." Ian said glimpsing a guard overhead.

The trio pulled back to make a new plan of attack, carefully making their way back to a safe distance from the wall.

"We can't go over it or through... What about underneath?" Summer asked, looking back at the fortress.

"Maybe... But we gotta have a way back out when we're done." Ian pointed out, crossing his arms.

"Right..." Summer said, rounding a corner cautiously.

"The gate might just be manually opened... Just latched somehow." A.J. uttered as the trio came upon an old firework store.

Once inside the survivors attempted to devise a plan.

"So... Any ideas?" Summer asked, after clearing the ground floor since the second floor was blocked off with furniture.

"Maybe we can find a way over like a board or something." A.J. said, leaning against the wall.

"We would shot before the board even makes over." Summer pointed out.

"You have a better idea?" A.J. asked, pushing off the wall.

A.J. stepped towards Summer but was nearly picked up by Ian and nonchalantly set back where he was.

"I do actually." Ian answered A.J.'s previous question. "More like an add on to her plan, let's make a distraction, we are in Wing's firework shop." Ian pointed out, gesturing to the generic Asian interior around them.

Connecting the dots quickly, Summer turned her attention from her surroundings to Ian. "Firecrackers would work, but we still need more intel before we try and get inside." Summer said.

"At least where they keep the vehicles." A.J. piped up.

"Right." Summer agreed, pulling a box of firecrackers from a shelf. "They better work still..." Summer grumbled before setting them in her backpack.

"Anyone got a lighter?" A.J. raised a new concern.

"Uh... They probably have matches or something in here." Summer replied, immediately looking for a possible fire-starting source.

"You wanna go see if you can scout out the camp? We can look for the stuff we need while you figure out a plan." Ian said, rummaging through the clutter.

"Ya, ok." Summer answered, walking to the exit, putting her ear to the door, and listening before stepping out into the street.

"Oh, hey! Wait up..." Ian called after the woman. "We might as well have the poppers." Ian informed, holding his hand out.

Summer shrugged out of her backpack and pulled out the box and handed it to the large man before continuing her mission.

It was damp and dark in the tiny gas station that Genevieve, Melissa, and Amanda were currently holed up in, it had been boarded up probably years ago judging by the dust that covered the entire inside, it seemed to be completely looted long before their arrival, Amanda laid behind the counter breathing shallow, rapid, and shaky breaths while she slept.

"Melissa?" Genevieve uttered, gaining the woman's attention. "Is she going to be ok?" Genevieve inquired, looking at Amanda's restlessly sleeping form.

"She'll be ok." Melissa said, masking her worry from the child who knew better.

"What's wrong?" Genevieve asked.

"We're... We're out of painkillers." Melissa confessed, looking to their injured friend. "She's going to feel the brunt of the pain... Like she did when we removed the bullet." Melissa explained.

"W-what can we do?" Genevieve asked, fear of this potential doom rising in her chest.

"Find more meds..." Melissa said, pursing her lips as she looked at the little girl.

"Where do we start?" Genevieve asked, making her way to the door.

"This place seems pretty picked clean, I'm not sure we can find any medicine here..." Melissa explained, with Genevieve turning to face her.

Genevieve took a moment to process what was being said before she started formulating a plan. "Well, then we go find them in the base." Genevieve declared, picking her backpack up and stepping through the door quickly followed by Melissa.

"Where're you going?!" Melissa called after Genevieve.

"To find Summer and the guys they'll be there already, they'll help find medicine!" Genevieve explained.

"No Genevieve, we don't know where they are and you can't roam around out here." Melissa pointed out, trying to have the girl to see reason.

"We need to help Amanda!" Genevieve said, turning around to face Melissa.

"We will. But if you get caught out here by any of those men you won't be killed right away..." Melissa said, a dark tone in her voice.

Genevieve's brow furrowed, confusion written across her face. "What... Would they do?" Genevieve asked hesitantly.

Before an answer could be voiced they heard an engine revving, getting closer and closer.

Melissa grabbed Genevieve and ran back to the gas station, but was stopped short by Ian's voice.

"Yo, guys get in!" Ian shouted with haste as he ran past them and into the station.

Ian went around the counter and saw Amanda lying still and silent. "Amanda?" Ian said, wondering if she would answer him.

Ian heard an audible breath from Amanda but nothing more, but Ian took it as an answer, it was more then he was expecting. "I'm gonna pick you up, we got a car outside!" Ian said, squatting down to pick the teenager up.

Receiving no answer Ian carefully hoisted Amanda, earning a few whimpers that transitioned to shaky breathing, yet she laid limp in his arms never opening her eyes.

Ian used his back to open the exit door out into the summer warmth of Tennessee's afternoon sun.

Summer's heart dropped when the large man emerged with Amanda's motionless body. "Ian, is she?" Summer asked, getting out of the back seat.

"She's alive..." Ian answered somberly, laying Amanda across Genevieve and Melissa's lap before he getting in and supporting her lower legs.

Summer sat in the front passenger seat as A.J. retook his spot at the wheel, the woman looked over the gauges and saw that the vehicle was almost out of gas. "A.J. didn't I tell you to check the gauges?!" Summer growled, looking at the culprit.

"We were in a hurry! So fuck off." A.J. spat back as he sped towards the town limits.

"We're gonna have to find gas!" Summer shouted, her temper beginning to flare.

"I know that!" A.J. yelled, getting in Summer's face.

"Get outta my face." Summer said, with a look hard as steel.

"Make me!" A.J. shouted, holding her stare.

Summer had her fill of his attitude, she allowed her temper to get the better of her. "Stop the car and I will." Summer said, sounding dead serious.

Understanding what was implied A.J. hit the brakes skidding to a stop just outside the town.

"Guys, stop!" Genevieve shouted as the two people in the front seats immediately rushed out of the car.

"Guys, what the fuck?" Ian questioned, in unison with Genevieve.

Summer slammed her door shut at nearly the same time she heard A.J.'s slam as well.

She turned to see her adversary rounding the front of the vehicle, Summer allowed herself to see red, sprinting forward she leads with a right-handed hook connecting with A.J.'s chin, recoiling A.J. interrupted Summer's left hook by grabbing her throat with his right hand followed by his left, lifting the woman into the air, Summer's face turned from anger to pain in an instant, Summer clutched at A.J.'s wrists, trying to free herself from his grip.

After a second or so Summer was thrown across the road, rolling to a stop, she clasped her throat and couched before looking back to her attacker, he had closed the distance pushed her down on her back with his foot before straddling her abdomen, A.J. reared his fist back before bringing it down, Summer mover her head to the left, narrowly dodging the attack, A.J. recoiled from hitting the pavement instead of his intended target, Summer followed up with a straight punch to A.J.'s nose, the feeling of bones breaking nearly knocked A.J. off of Summer, after a short moment A.J. shoved Summer back down and reestablished his position before getting pulled up and off of her with immense force A.J. was thrown, stumbling back a few feet before realizing Ian had thrown him.

"Outta my way Ian!" A.J. sputtered, spitting blood that had flowed from his nose.

Summer had sat up and was rubbing her neck, trying to catch her breath.

"No. Go get in the car." Ian said, with a serious tone.

"No way Ian, you ain't stopping me!" A.J. growled, walking towards the large man.

"Dude, don't do this." Ian warned, with his hands open trying to calm his buddy.

"Get out of the way!" A.J. yelled, trying to shove Ian with no success.

"That was a preview of me versus you." Ian said, putting his hands out in a sign of peace.

A.J. saw Summer slowly starting to get on her knees. "Outta my way!" A.J. yelled again.

"Dude, look at what you're doing." Ian said, gesturing to Summer than to the passengers in the car.

A.J. eyes seemed clearer and his brow furrowed at Ian's words before he looked at Genevieve and Melissa, looking worried about what could happen, then A.J. looked at Summer who was on all fours struggling to her feet, A.J. could see his markings on her neck.

"Get in the car..." Ian reiterated in a low voice.

A.J. wordlessly turned around and got in the front passenger seat.

Ian turned around to help Summer who was still struggling to stand.

"You ok?" Ian asked, grabbing her bicep gently to help the woman up.

Ian's words reminded Summer of her big brother who would've taken care of A.J. as he would have anyone.

"I'm ok..." Summer replied, hrs voice hoarse from the abuse she had endured.

"Ok... I'll drive." Ian said, leading her to the backseat where he had been.

Summer sat with Amanda's legs in her lap, dazed from her fight.

"Are you ok?" Genevieve asked in a whisper, placing a tender hand on Summer's forearm.

Summer only nodded numbly, then lifted her arm for Genevieve to lay against her.

Genevieve accepted the invitation, hoping her presence would help Summer feel better.

Ian put the car in gear and steadily pulled away from Byrdstown, the group stayed on the highway one-eleven, heading north for the border.

Amanda hadn't opened her eyes since they had arrived at the gas station, Summer knew that wasn't a good thing, Amanda's breathing was more steady now but was that a good thing? Summer hoped so.

After only a few minutes of driving the car started faltering.

"Shit, here we go..." Ian lamented, feeling the car start to shudder.

The car died on a slight hill, Ian quickly put the car in neutral, letting the vehicle coast as far as possible, the vehicle slowed to a stop near a sign posted that read off different destinations but one stood out.

"One mile to the state line. Finally, get outta this damn state." Ian said, heart, dropping as he recalled a time Amanda defended her home state and noted her silence now.

A.J. got out as well as Ian, the large man went around to assist in getting Amanda out, when everyone was out Summer pulled a couple of handheld radios from her backpack and set one on Ian's backpack strap.

"We'll split up here you and Amanda head for that big warehouse, we'll head to the town and check things out if it's clear I'll radio you." Summer briefed, shouldering her backpack again.

"Aight." Ian said, looking at the teenager in his arms.

Summer started to trek towards the small town gesturing for the rest to rally on her. "Keep her safe..." Summer said somberly, over her shoulder as she took Genevieve's hand.

Ian simply nodded knowing she wouldn't be able to see, carrying Amanda, Ian made his way for the warehouse.

Twenty minutes passed before the group made it to the town consisting of a few houses, a general store, a gas station, and a few other odd places,

Summer and Genevieve split off from Melissa and A.J. as they needed to scout the place quickly.

They noticed there were small bridges across the roofs of the buildings, no one seemed to be up there, it was very quiet, too quiet.

Summer saw A.J. up ahead and decided to group back up with him and Melissa.

"Find anything?" Summer whispered, looking around as A.J. pulled some chain link fence away.

"Duck in and find out." A.J. whispered back.

Summer and Genevieve slipped under the opening followed by Melissa then A.J. who let the fencing back down as quietly as possible.

What met their eyes surprised all of them.

"Holy shit." A.J. said, looking at an old school bus outfitted with sheet metal plating along all sides, chain link fencing covering the windows and windshield, tires halves covered the bumper corners, the front end was fitted with a makeshift ram.

"I've never seen anything like this." Summer breathed, looking at the monstrous vehicle.

"They're not using it... The tires are flat." Genevieve pointed out, gesturing tentatively at the wheels.

"She's right." A.J. agreed, stepping over to the fence and kneeling to pull the portion he had lifted before open again.

Just as Melissa ducked through Summer heard a gun cock behind her, soon after Genevieve cried out in pain, Summer whirled around to see a group of strangers pointing guns at her while one of them had Genevieve by her hair.

A.J. received a boot to his ribs causing him to fall back inside the enclosure splitting him from Melissa who had undoubtedly been captured, struggling to his feet he had a shotgun pointed at his face before he could get up again.

"Wait! Don't hurt her!" Summer pleaded, with her hands raised.

"Who are you? Why're you snooping around?" A tall middle-aged man with a southern accent asked, walking through the parting group of gun wielders.

"Summer..." The young woman answered.

"This your daughter?" The man asked, looking at Genevieve.

"Uh... No." Summer replied hesitantly.

"What is she to you?" The man asked, looking to Genevieve for an answer.

"S-she's my friend." Genevieve declared, wincing in pain as the man holding her hair pulled.

Pursing his lips, the man turned back to Summer "State your business then." He ordered.

"Just trying to stay alive..." Summer said, locking eyes with Genevieve.

"How many of you are there?" The man asked, tossing Genevieve back to Summer.

"Just us here..." Summer replied quickly.

"So not with that big man or the dead girl?" The man asked, with an expectant look.

Summer hesitated as her heart dropped. "She's... Dead?" Summer asked with a break in her voice.

"I'm sorry for your loss." The man said, walking past the stunned woman.

"What do we do with them?" One of the grunts asked, pointing his gun at A.J. who raised his hands in defeat.

The man in charge turned back around. "Take 'em in." The man replied, walking through the now open gate to the enclosure.

The group was moved inside the general store which had been converted into a bar.

"We have new people!" One of the grunts announced.

Summer and the group were welcomed quietly but warmly.

Summer saw Ian sitting at the bar, pushing her way through the crowd and grabbing Genevieve's hand so they wouldn't be separated.

"Ian, are you ok?" Summer asked, getting closer so no one would hear them.

"I'm fine, but..." Ian said, looking down at his hands.

"I heard... About Amanda..." Summer confessed, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ian set his head in his hands. "Ya, I tried..." Ian said, somberly.

Outside, the rain started falling, wetting the broken roads of Tennessee, the teenage girl laid lifeless in the elements as walkers wandered nearby.

As the thunder rolled.