Chapter 3
Who's there?
Vanessa: 20, female, tan, long black hair, lithe build, of Asian decent separated from family.
After the introductions were over the new friends made their way down to the kitchen area.
"So how did you end up in this neck of the woods?" Jake inquired as they made their way down the hall.
"We were trying to evacuate the city, my parents, my brother and I," Vanessa lowered her head and her voice went monotone, "Unfortunately the highways were so clogged it just made it easier for those things to catch people. We tried to escape but we had to abandon our truck and that's when we were separated."
"Well your safe here and hopefully your family found a safe place as well," said Andrew resting his hands on her shoulders trying to reassure her.
"Yeah but that does not solve our problems," said Erin rummaging through the cupboards,"We are low on food and I don't know how we are going any where to stock up."
"Well let's see there's a grocery store two streets and to the west up a gun store three buildings up the street I came down," replied Vanessa looking out the windows to the city.
Everyone looked at her. Jake was the first to speak "How did you know that?"
"Well when I started running the first street I was on there was a grocery store but that's when two of those things spotted me. I turned down the street and kept going until more of those creeps stormed out of an alley. That's how I ended up on your street I came across a gun store it looked like some one raided it earlier. Luckily for me who ever it was dropped the gun I found. I kept running and that's when I literally ran into you guys."
"Okay then," said Erin, "we know where to go but how are we going to get there?"
"My van!" replied Andrew shooting up from his chair.
"You mean that old tin can that barely runs?" added Jake.
"It runs just fine, I replaced the engine last month," retorted Andrew.
"Stop your bickering! Where is the van?" interrupted Vanessa.
"It's in the underground parking lot," replied Erin
"Let's go," snapped Vanessa sprinting down the steps.
A few minutes later the four friends were standing in front of an old Volkswagen van. It was mostly covered in rust and the few areas where paint was still feebly clinging were old and bleached.
"She does not look like much but she's built like a tank," said Andrew with an air of pride.
"Good I'm driving," said Vanessa.
"What? Hey!" shouted Andrew as the young lady he met barely 15 minutes ago grabbed the keys to his van and made for the diver's side door.
"Wait before we go," shouted Andrew running over to a steel chest unlocking it and flinging the cover open.
"Gather round boys and girls cause Christmas came early," he stated turning around with an auto-reloading shotgun in hand.
"Dude where did that come from?" inquired Erin.
"Don't worry they are all registered to me and like it matters now," answered Andrew
Vanessa got out of the van and walked over to the chest she pulled out a hand gun identical to the one she had. Erin and Jake took M16 rifles.
"Okay if we have these, why do we need to go to the gun shop?" asked Jake.
"So we have as much ammunition as possible," replied Vanessa.
"Yeah and get some more guns for other purposes such as sniper rifles," added Andrew, "Those were supposed to arrive tomorrow but that's not going to happen."
"You're a weird man Andrew, prepared but seriously weird," said Jake making sure a round was in the chamber.
"Open the door we're going out," Vanessa told Andrew while putting the car in gear and heading for the door.
Andrew pressed the button for the garage door opener that was placed on the roof of the van and it rose quickly. The van gained speed and shot into the street knocking down four zombies who were attracted by the sound of the door. Andrew pressed the button again and the door closed just as quickly. Zombies started chasing the van so Erin and Jake opened the windows in the back and tried to take some down. They fired in short bursts some of the shots hit their marks and some of the zombies got a fresh coat of brain paint.
"Okay we'll be coming up on the gun store in five minutes, how does it look back there?" questioned Vanessa her eyes focused on the road.
"Not good there are about ten of those things coming up fast," replied Jake in between shots.
"I see some help on the way," said Andrew winding down his window.
There was a gas truck that ran into a lamp post. Andrew loaded a different cartridge onto the gun started firing at the truck. As the van made its way past the truck one last shot ruptured the tank causing a huge explosion. The van rocked but the fire ball had decimated the undead that were pursuing them.
Two minutes later they were in front of the gun shop. Luckily no zombies were in site.
"Okay Jake, Erin you guys stay here and keep an eye out. Andrew and I will grab every thing we can," ordered Vanessa.
Everyone abandoned the van leaving it idling and took their respective positions. Erin took the rear of the van while Jake took the front. Andrew and Vanessa quickly entered the building make a quick sweep for zombies before they grabbed duffel bags of a shelf and loaded them with every form of ordinance in the shop. As they were finishing up they heard gun shots coming from outside.
"Guys you better hurry we have company," shouted Erin
Vanessa and Andrew quickly ran outside flinging the bags into the van. Looking in Erin's direction they saw a twenty zombies running towards them. Reaching into one of the calf pockets of his jeans Andrew pulled out a small light green ball. Pulling a pin from the ball and throwing it in a high arc he shouted, "Everyone in the van!" The group quickly scurried in to the vehicle.
"Punch it V!" yelled Andrew.
The van bolted forward just as a loud explosion erupted from the undead swarm.
The grenade Andrew had thrown went of effectively wiping out three quarters of the ghouls. The speeding van took out three more and Jake and Erin eliminated the final two. A shout of triumph came from the van but was quickly stifled as twice the number of creeps started coming out of a side street.
"Aww shit!" shouted Andrew fishing into his pocket again.
"Not another one, you'll just attract more," stated Vanessa.
"I think we have a bigger problem right now besides I think if more were coming they would be here by now," replied Andrew pulling the pin and leaning out the window the van just passed the street taking out a few zombies. Andrew aimed and threw the grenade it landed in the gaping chest cavity. The undead intrigued by the new object in its stomach stopped in its track while the rest of the pack passed it by. When the grenade went off the zombie was near the end of throng causing serious damage. A third of the zombies were now sailing through the air.
"Thank you sir I will take the stuffed monkey," exclaimed Andrew
"Yeah, well dead eye you better get back here and look again," retorted Erin
Climbing into the back he saw while he did take out a good amount, the main body of the gang was still after them.
"Fine let's get rid of the rest of them," he said, taking aim the three friends started picking off their pursuers.
"We are closing in on our destination!" shouted Vanessa from the front.
"We just have a few more back hear, can you see anymore ahead of us?" replied Jake.
"NO so far it's clear, damn it" exclaimed Vanessa suddenly veering off course. The next few events went by in a blur. There was a loud bang, the people in the back were flung in to the side of the van and a shot rang out.
"My leg!" screamed Erin clutching her calf.
"I'm so sorry," whimpered Jake backing away to the other side of the van.
Andrew quickly tore the sleeves of his shirt off and tied it as tightly as he could around Erin's calf. "Jake get it together, Erin will be fine but I need you to take out our friends back their," he said pointing out the windows of the van.
"Don't worry I think we lost them," said Vanessa looking in the rear view mirror.
Jake looked out and saw that nothing was following the van.
"Where did they go?" inquired Jake
"The loud bang we heard was apparently the gas tanks in a building biting the dust. The wreckage was coming down so I turned at the nearest street. Do not worry were back on course. How is she doing?" asked Vanessa
"I'm shot in the leg how the hell do you think I am!" screamed Erin.
"Don't worry Erin as soon as we get to the grocery we will find some pain killers." Andrew said reassuringly.
"Speak of the devil," added Jake who had taken up position in the front seat.
Andrew made his was in between the seats what he saw was not a mere grocery but a warehouse one of those that sell a little bit of everything, "go around to the back,"
A few moments later the van pulled up behind the store where there was a large wall and an equally large gate.
"Pull up to the gate I'll climb over and let you in," said Jake hanging the rifle over his shoulder.
When the van came to a stop Jake scrambled on to the top of the van from there he was able to get a hold on the top of the wall. Vanessa kept an eye on him while Andrew was on the look out for zombies. Luckily the ware house was on the out skirts of town so there was not much activity. There were a few shambling corpses about fifteen yards away. Holding the scope to his eye he noticed that most of the zombies were missing their ears.
"I guess that's why they have not charged yet," muttered Andrew
The gate started to open and Jake was there sweeping his rifle back and forth looking highly agitated. The van cruised in and the gate was closed behind them. Andrew and Vanessa hopped out of the van. They made their way over Jake.
"Good job," said Andrew clapping him on the shoulder. He noticed his friend was standing very rigid, "What's the matter man,"
"The gate was not locked when I got over," he replied his voice trembling in his throat, "It had this jammed through the handles," he continued dropping something he had under his arm. It was a hunting rifle, an empty hunting rifle, and there was a bloody hand print on the butt.
"Okay guys, gear up cause we aren't alone here," stated Andrew coldly slamming in a new clip for his shot gun then with a smirk on his face he aims at the door to the building. "Knock, Knock,"
I really want to thank Sayiea. If it was not for you I would probably forget all about this.