I know I take long to update but for give and have patience I eventually get it done. thanks to everyone who revies my story with out you I would not bother.
Chapter 4
Anybody Home?
There was a loud bang and Andrew was heading over to the ruined door way.
"We're going in hot, Vanessa stay with Erin if we don't come out in twenty minutes… get out of here," said Andrew still focused on the door.
"No, I think we should take Erin inside with us," replied Vanessa.
Andrew stopped and turned to Vanessa, "Not a good idea, if we need to defend ourselves she will make things difficult," retorted Andrew, "Look we appreciate what you have done for us but I am not jeopardizing my friends. You are staying, we are going, we will make a sweep come back and get the two of you okay?"
Andrew and Jake disappeared into the dark building. Vanessa looked after the two angrily but went to the van. Inside the building was dim; the only source of light was what sunlight came through the skylights. Andrew and Jake made their way through the building as quietly as they could.
"I don't think there is anyone here, at least anyone alive," whispered Jake.
"There is someone here hopefully more," replied Andrew in the same tone.
"BEHIND YOU!" shouted a voice from the P.A. system.
Andrew was able to turn in time to put his gun between him and the tall undead charging at him. It tackled him to the ground its bloodied maw snapping mere centimeters in front of his nose.
"Sho…" the word did not even have time to escape to his lips before a bang echoed the empty lanes.
Andrew opened his eyes to see the once relentless zombie draped lifeless over the body of his gun with half of its face blown off. That's when he became aware that most of the gore was on his face. He looked towards Jake, his gun barrel still smoking.
"Thanks man," said Andrew pushing the now re-dead corpse off of him.
"Anytime man, by the way," replied Jake pointing to the top of Andrew's head.
Reaching to the spot pointed out he removed an eyeball with the stem still attached. "Gee, ain't I lucky," commented Andrew tossing the eyeball away.
"Did anyone get bit?" asked the voice from before.
"No, do you mind coming out here? Talking to a disembodied voice is annoying," replied Jake.
"How can we be sure you're not bit?" a different voice came over the P.A. system.
"Well we come up there and beat the crap out of you. Will that be lively enough for you!" shouted Andrew.
"Okay, we're coming down," replied the voice followed by an audible click.
A few minutes later a man about 20 holding a rifle and a girl around 18 came down the stairs leading from the office.
"You sure none of you are bit?" the man said looking at the two strangers doubtfully.
"Hi nice to meet you my mane is Jake and the big guy with the big gun is Andrew, what's you your name and NO NEITHER ONE OF US IS BIT GET IT THROUGH YOUR BLASTED HEAD!" shouted Jake.
"Uh yeah and a thanks for saving you two would be nice," added Andrew.
"Sorry but since this whole thing started we just have to be careful," replied the guy, "and my name is Matthew."
"And mine is Jessie," added the girl.
"Nice to meet you, are there anymore of those things in here," inquired Andrew looking at the lanes of the store.
"No that was the only one," answered Jessica
"Then why did you not shoot it?" asked Jake indicating the rifle Matthew held.
"No bullets," replied Matthew looking embarrassed.
"Alright we have two friends waiting out side I'm going to get them and come back," said Andrew. He turned to leave then turned around and said "They aren't bit either."
Moments later Andrew and Vanessa were lowering Erin into a seat in the food service area.
"Is there a first aid kit anywhere?" Vanessa asked Matthew.
"Yeah I'll get one," answered Matthew immediately sprinting into the store.
"How you feeling Erin?" asked Andrew.
"Like I got shot in the leg, how do you think?" replied Erin
Matthew returned with the kit and handed Vanessa.
It took an hour and a half but Vanessa was able to remove the shell and bandage the wound.
"Okay that should do it," said Vanessa wiping sweat from her forehead.
"Can you walk on your own Erin," asked Andrew impatiently.
"I think so, thanks for your concern," replied Erin sarcastically
"Look I just want to get back to the café that's all" retorted Andrew.
"Why are we leaving, I mean everything we need is right here food, shelter, defenses and medicine," asked Jessie.
"I think that's a good idea as well," added Jake
"I agree at least until Erin heals," said Vanessa.
"What about you, I guess you want to stay as well?" asked Andrew looking at Matthew.
"Yeah actually I do," said Matthew stepping face to face with Andrew, "You got a problem with that?"
"Yeah man what's up, you been acting bitchy since we got here," asked Jake with a quizzical look on his face.
Andrew surveyed the group of people before him they were all looking at him like he was an alien.
"Fine we'll stay, I'll go and get the stuff from the van," snorted Andrew storming out of the store.
"What's his problem?" inquired Erin.
Jake just shrugged his shoulders.
Vanessa looked on as Andrew vanished in to the gloom of the store.
Outside the sun was shining and a breeze was blowing if you just woke up you would think it was a perfectly beautiful except for the fact that along with the breeze came the stench of rotten flesh. Andrew's face contorted at the stench, he went and checked the gate that they came through. Apparently while he and Jake were securing the store Vanessa was securing the gate. She found a length of chain and put it through the handles then put a length of wire through the ends and tied the whole thing shut. He turned around and opened the doors to the van. He sat down on the floor of the vehicle that had brought them to this sanctuary. Lifting his shirt he gingerly touched a large bruise on left side of his ribs emitting a hiss upon contact. The crunching of gravel came from his right; he dropped his shirt and raised his shot gun in the direction.
"You better speak or you're to have hole where you're face once was!" shouted Andrew, wincing in pain from having the butt of the shotgun resting there.
"Don't shoot," replied a soft voice, Jessie came around the side of the van, "I came to see if you needed help with anything."
"I was just catching my breath," answered Andrew resting the shot gun beside him, "So how did you get here?"
"Our dad brought us here," replied Jessie.
"The zombie Jake shot inside huh?" inquired Andrew staring at the iron gate before him.
"Yeah," answered Jessie her head drooping and tears forming in her eyes.
"How'd you get here, I mean where were y'all when this started?" continued Andrew.
"We were in our cabin in the woods, dad took us there during spring to hunt and fish" replied Jessie her words catching in her throat as the memories flooded her mind, "This morning this weird guy was banging on our door, Matthew went to answer it but dad stopped him, the guy then jumped through the window. We thought he died but he got up and charged at me dad jumped in the way. The guy bit dad on the arm before Matthew smashed his head with a frying pan. We came to the city to get medical attention but there were more of things here. Dad was getting worse and we did not have any other option. Half an hour after we broke in here dad passed away. Then he became one of those things, we were able to barricade ourselves in the office. He knew we were there so he just stood there and looked at us," the tears started to flow freely now and Jessie finally broke down and started to sob.
Andrew reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Suddenly Jessie hugged Andrew tightly and continued crying. The pain was so intense Andrew felt his vision blur and breathing become difficult. He stifled his scream so he did not attract any attention living or dead. Jessie let go after a few minutes.
"I'm sorry, I never broke down like that before," said Jessie wiping a few tears from her eyes.
"It's okay," was all Andrew could choke out.
"Are you okay?" Jessie asked puzzled by the reaction.
"Yeah, could you carry the bag with the ammo it's the lighter of the three," answered Andrew starting to grab the duffel bags.
Jessie grabbed the bag then looked Andrew directly in his eyes and said, "Thanks for letting me cry on you," before she turned and headed inside.
With great difficulty Andrew lifted the two bags and went inside. Upon entering he could hear the some what rhythmic sound of a bouncing ball. As he neared the front of the store he noticed that Jake and Matthew had one of the basketball hoops set up and were going at it while Erin, Vanessa and Jessie cheered them on. Andrew was making his way pass focusing on a table to rest the bags down while doing his best to ignore the pain when from his left he heard Jake shout, "Yo, dude catch." Unable to turn in time and drop the bags the ball slammed into his rib cage. To the weakened bones and flesh it was the last straw the crunch of bone and the pull of muscle was the last conscience feeling Andrew registered before the air escaped his lungs, his vision darkened and his head hit the floor.
As he lay there his vision fading he was barely able to see everyone rushing towards him. Their words were rushed and garbled and he could not make out a single syllable. His breath was getting harder so much so that it felt like he was breathing sand. With one final gasp his entire world went black.
Well here it is chapter 4 hope y'all enjoy it.