The rain picks up from a heavy mist to an average shower. Judging by the darkness of the clouds and occasional pulses of yellow means the weather is about to go from an average rain to a severe thunderstorm in a short bit.
The highway takes us across a bridge that is suspended above several businesses and restaurants below. Resting on the side of the road is an armored personal carrier that has crashed into the side barrier. Chunks of rubber that have exploded lay all over the road.
The black markings on the ground from where the tires tried to grab the asphalt, the back axel laying in the middle of the road, and the gouging deep scratches on the vehicle leads me to believe that something slammed into them. I make sure it's clear and park in the emergency lane a couple yards back.
"Are you seriously about to approach a military vehicle?" Kate snaps.
"I doubt they stayed around after taking a hit like that."
Kate sighs and pulls her rifle up, "If you get in trouble, the only reason I'm saving you is because you're my ticket out of here."
I use the concrete barriers and vehicles to get close. Kate brings up the back and protects the rear. It doesn't look like there was a firefight because there's no brass casings in sight. Nor is there any signs of a struggle.
"What the…shit…" Kate whispers.
"What is it?"
"I don't know, but a piece of this tire just popped under my feet." Kate whispers as she lifts up her leg. Orange slime leaks from the sole of her shoe. The object she stepped on looks like a piece of tire. Yet, there doesn't seem to be any tread. I pull out my hunting knife and poke at the strange object.
It's hard as a rock, and every time the blade scrapes against it, a black, powdery residue coats the tip of the knife. Underneath it is a puddle of orange liquid that's got the consistency of bile and mucus. As intriguing as it is, it's not helping my conscious. I look back at the military vehicle and study it for a moment. No. It couldn't be. Yet, what could have hit something as heavy as an APC with so much force that it broke the back axel off and caved the side in?
"What do you think it is?" Kate asks.
"Something big."
It would be a great if it were possible to search the vehicle thoroughly, but if what I think is the thing that caused this, it would be better to just leave as soon as possible. I keep my revolver up and jog to the driver's side door of the APC. The initial impact was so great that the door can't shut all the way.
"Holy shit…"
The entire front half of the APC has been ripped off. The only thing separating the driver and passenger seat from the outside is the steering wheel. Massive claw marks slice through the hull as if it were paper, and the engine block looks like a crushed, aluminum can.
The passenger's side door has been opened, so it's safe to assume that whoever was inside got out in a hurry. I peek into the APC and quickly back off. There didn't seem like there was anyone inside, but I don't want to chance it and catch a bullet to the head.
Kate is kicking around an extinguished road flare and some white sacks. It looks like those hand warmers that emit a massive amount of heat for a short period of time when they're crushed.
I carefully climb up and check the inside again. Nothing. Which means that everyone inside got out alive. Not only that, but they left some ammo cans. I slide through the busted windshield and move to where the soldiers sit before deploying.
"You in here Matt?"
"Yeah, don't shoot."
Kate climbs in and eases to the back with me, "What happened here? The entire front half looks like it's been ripped off."
"I don't know, but it's still nearby. So let's make it quick."
I dig the ammo cans out and open one up to see what's inside. There's about seven boxes of military grade 9mm inside. Everyone could use some of that. Well, people like me and Kate. Everyone else could use a lot less.
I open one of the boxes and examine the bullets. The nose of the round has been carved out just like a hollow point. However, if this is the ammunition I think it is, it'll fold out like an eagle talon the moment it hits something. Despite none of us having a 9mm, it's still a very good find. Kate opens up a can and pulls out a tan box.
"Seriously?"
"What is it?"
"Five Seven. Who the fuck even uses Five Seven?"
"People with Five Sevens."
"And how many people in a hick state like Oklahoma are able to afford something chambered in Five Seven?"
"You got me there I suppose. Regardless, it'll still be something we can use to barter with."
"Yeah. I guess it is like the fifty-dollar bill of ammo."
Kate closes the can and sits it next to the 9mm. She pulls another out from under the bench and opens it. "Mine."
"556?"
"Yup."
Kate opens the last two ammo cans, "7.62 and some more 556."
I grab a hold of a long attaché case in the back and pull it out. It's surprisingly heavy. Whatever it is. I pop the latches on the sides and flip it open.
"Kate? Did you say we have some 7.62?"
"Yeah."
By 39 or 51?"
Kate holds up one of the rounds and looks around the brim that wraps around the primer, "Ah, 7.62x51."
I reach in and pull the desert colored battle rifle out, "Good."
The weapon is heavy. Really heavy. Almost twice the weight of that AR-15 Adam and I used to shoot in the past. It's about like holding a brick in each hand, but it will be more than enough to kill anything that gets in the way. Plus the added weight will help keep the rifle stable enough for an accurate follow up shot.
The rifle has a foregrip, an adjustable stock, and two spare magazines. I fold the collapsible stock out and brace it against my shoulder. The iron sights look a little strange, but it appears the curve of the back post has to be in line with the curve with the front sight to properly aim.
"Alright. Let's get out of here."
I pack the rifle back in its attaché case and stack three ammo cans on top. Kate grabs the remaining two, and the both of us peek out the back window of the vehicle. It looks to be clear. We throw the doors open and rush back to the jeep. Kate jumps in and offloads her ammo cans. I sit the attaché case in the back seat and start the jeep back up.
The both of us were lucky to find that vehicle before anyone else did. Although we made off with some ammo, and a new weapon, that doesn't make things better. There is only one thing that could have done that to a heavily armored vehicle. Not to mention that piece of burnt flesh Kate mistook for a piece of tire. Memories of that night come back, and a series of chills tear through my skull.
"Hey survival expert."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have any idea what could have done that to a military grade vehicle?" Kate asks.
"At first, I thought it might have been an ambush set by some survivors, but the closer I looked, it's more than likely something far worse."
"Far worse as in?"
I remain quiet and continue to focus on the road.
"Spit it out."
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."
"Matt, I've seen some wild stuff ever since society collapsed. I think I can handle it."
I take a deep breath and let out a frustrated sigh, "What did that back there is a thing I call the wyvern."
"Wyvern?"
"I don't know what it is, or where it came from, but it is easily the most dangerous thing out here. I'm suspecting that it's the thing that tore that vehicle to shreds."
"How do you know this?"
"Because it almost got me. Luckily, I got away, but I watched that thing punch through a man dressed in an EOD suit like it was paper. Right before he devoured a man in one bite."
"Is there any way to kill it?"
"As of now, no. The stuff you stepped on earlier was more than likely a piece of its flesh that broke off when it slammed into that vehicle."
"What about those flares and hand warmers that were laying on the ground?"
"I don't know for certain, but the night I encountered that thing, it locked onto me immediately. Despite having eyes like a shambler. My guess is it's blind, but it can still detect heat. The flares and hand warmers were probably a way to interfere and distract the thing long enough to escape."
"Do you think these things are learning how to adapt?"
"I wouldn't put it passed them. Even the shamblers."
"Fuck."
"Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"If we happen to see the wyvern, don't fight it. You turn around, run and find a place to hide, and make sure you have a knife on you. If the thing can't outrun you, it will attempt to ensnare you with its tongue."
Kate remains silent and looks back out her window. I didn't want to bring this up because I didn't want to scare her, but maybe it was the best thing to do. If something were to happen to me, or we get separated, and the wyvern is tromping around, what is she going to do?
From what I've observed from being around Kate is she's extremely stubborn. Yet her stubbornness is what makes her so brave and fierce. She would more than likely take the wyvern on with nothing but a knife.
As terrifying as that experience was, it was probably a good thing I encountered that thing and lived to talk about it. The wyvern may not have revealed everything it can do, but we have a basic understanding and ways of approaching a situation if the thing happens to come across us.
"So what did you find?" Kate asks as she reaches around back and grabs the attaché case.
"Something big."
"God… this thing is heavy." Kate groans as she pulls the rifle out and examines it.
She folds the stock out and presses it up against her shoulder. At first glance, it didn't look all that big. That's until Kate decided to hold it. The thing is absolutely massive compared to her rifle. Kate hits the magazine release and checks the little twenty round magazine.
"Damn, this thing shoots a big bullet." Kate says as she puts the magazine back into the gun and pulls the charging handle back. Brass being plucked from the magazine and being effortlessly transferred into the chamber gives out a crisp, smooth ping. This gun has had little to no use if it's able to make such a satisfying sound.
"Take the exit here. The place is just straight up the road." Kate says as she loads the other two magazines.
I shift down and get onto the ramp that takes us to street level. Just like every place we've come across, this little suburb has been devastated as well. Every building has shattered windows and barren space. Merchandise ranging from clothes and televisions have been strung out all over the street.
Other than a horde of shamblers that are taking up residence on the sidewalks and inside the abandoned buildings, there doesn't seem to be any human activity. I look around for signs of military or law enforcement possibly being around, but it looks like they didn't even bother coming here.
Since this place was between Coaltown and Brookhaven, I figured this would be an ideal place to try and to set up an overflow for the quarantine zones, but it probably fell so quick that everyone who didn't get bit or eaten fled to Brookhaven or tried to brave the rural areas with nothing but the clothes on their backs. If so, then these people had it really bad.
Kate points to our left, "On the other side of that building is that store I was talking about. Before we head in though, I want to go into that glass building and scope that store out to make sure it isn't occupied."
"Sounds like a plan."
The road curves to the left and leads to a four way. Straight ahead is a big glass building. Probably an office complex for a bank. I turn my head back to the left and see some movement off in the distance. The big object slowly raises up. All the saliva in my mouth dries up as the object stands up on two legs and blocks the road off.
"Don't make a sound…" I whisper.
"What?"
Kate gasps and quickly covers her mouth to try and mask the noise of her breathing. The thing is looking the other direction, so it hasn't spotted us yet. I let off the brake and ease the vehicle into the parking lot of the office complex. The wyvern drops down onto all fours and faces our direction.
"Fuck…"
I kill the engine and lay across the seat. Kate lays down beside me and carefully opens the passenger door. The both of us ease out and examine our environment. There are several other vehicles we can use to hide since there's no way to really fight back against this thing.
Kate hands me the battle rifle, the spare magazines and gently shuts the door. I use the tires and underbelly of the jeep to keep an eye on the wyvern. It doesn't seem like it's agitated, or aware that we're even here. If anything, it's coming over to investigate the vehicle. I point to the truck parked a couple spaces away and motion for Kate to move, "Try to stay in front of the tire."
She signals that she heard me and crouch walks over to the truck. The wyvern stops in his tracks and stands on two legs again. I don't know what it's looking at, but it must be focusing on the heat radiating off the engine. The thing drops down and picks up the pace that escalates from a slow walk to a mild jog.
I wait for the thing to get closer and dive over to the back of the jeep. The weight of the wyvern's footsteps shake the ground as it slows down and walks up to the front of the hood. All the nerves in me die, and the cold feeling of dread creeps upon my mind. This is the second encounter, and it's just as terrifying, if not more than when we first met on that bridge.
All along its body are patches of newly developed scales. A memory triggers, and the night of that thing being completely engulfed in flames comes to mind. That stuff Kate stepped on earlier must have been some damaged plating on its body. There does seem to be some scratches here and there. Probably from bullets, but for the most part, it regenerated everything back like nothing even happened.
Its long tongue slithers out of its deformed mouth as it focuses on the front half of the jeep. The wyvern reaches out with one of his arms and puts it on the hood. Its claw grabs a hold of the paint and carves a huge scratch. The wyvern applies a little more pressure and effortlessly punches all the way through the hood.
It hovers over the scratch it made and sniffs the hole. The wyvern hisses at the hood and stands back up on two legs. Instinct takes over, and my body forces me underneath the jeep. Kate has her rifle propped against the rear bumper of the truck she's hiding behind and takes aim. I hold up my hands and wave not to fire. A look of disgust grows across her face, and she tilts her head.
I put my hands together and shake them." Don't do it! You can't kill it!" I silently mouth.
Kate mouths something back, but I can't make out what it was. It's probably about how she doesn't want to sit idly by, but that's all she can do. The moment she fires, that thing will charge. Crushing me in the process before it swallows her in one gulp.
"Don't do it! The thing will kill us both!" I frantically beg.
She points at me and then points at the wyvern. Almost like she's implying that this thing will get me if she doesn't do something.
"Then save yourself if it does!"
The expression on Kate's face sinks from a look of spite to a shocked realization. She shakes her head no and presses a hand into her face. The wyvern drops back down and turns its back towards me. I crawl back out from under the vehicle as the thing walks away. Kate rushes over and sits by my side as we watch the wyvern stroll into the parking lot of a steak house across the street.
"You okay?" Kate asks.
"Yeah. Just a little shaken."
"Good."
Kate stands up and walks towards the glass office complex. The falling rain seems like it's enough to mask the sounds of our footsteps. Kate ducks under the busted-out door and continues into the building. I turn my flashlight on and keep my rifle shouldered.
The office building for the most part looks unscathed. Almost every place I've been to has organs and brass casings strung all over the place with walls painted red. As abandoned as this building seems to be, it doesn't sit right.
No shamblers, no croakers, no signs of any kind of conflict. I check behind the receptionist's desk to make sure there isn't anyone hiding behind it. Kate and I head upstairs and post up at the threshold of the second floor. This floor has a ton of those cubicles and three aisles to walk down. The roof of the store is visible from where we are, but we can't see ground level unless we get closer to the edge.
"Hey Kate."
"Yeah?"
"It looks like there's way too much for cover if we split up. You willing to listen?"
"As long as it doesn't get us killed."
"Keep your back pressed to mine while I lead the way."
"What?"
"Just do it. Nothing will be able to sneak up on us, and we'll be able to cover more angles if we do. I'll cover the left, you get the right."
"Sounds good."
I raise my rifle and take aim at the aisle leading towards the roof of the store. Kate sticks close and covers the right.
"Anything?" I ask.
"No."
"Good."
I press my shoulders into Kate's back. She leans in like she's ready to take off. I take a deep breath and keep my rifle sights swaying back and forth in a clean, fluid motion.
"So where'd you learn this type of stuff? Because this isn't something they teach at a range." Kate asks.
"My dad was a police officer and every three months, the military would send some special forces instructors to hold an academy for handpicked officers. Mainly to help eliminate active shooters as quickly as possible. Since my dad was a massive overachiever, he always got selected to partake in these courses."
"Now dad was supposed to keep these manuals and pamphlet tactics put up, but nobody ever came to our house, so he'd just mix them in with the newspapers and mom's beauty magazines."
"And I'm guessing you got a hold of them?" Kate asks.
"Yup. When my brother and I were younger, we'd take our water guns, read those manuals and practice." I reply.
"Did you spend a lot of time at the range?"
"Dad would take me, and my brother once a week. If the SWAT team wasn't using the kill house, we'd set up targets for one another and practice on clearing rooms. Occasionally one of the SWAT members would come by and teach us some more advanced tactics. How about you and your marksmanship?"
"My dad loved to hunt. Be it quail, duck, deer, or elk. If it was hunting season, He was out there. When the season ended, he was killing boar. When I was eight, he took me on my first hunt. He told me that it shouldn't ever take more than one shot regardless of what you're hunting."
"Those words stuck with me, and once a month, I'd buy several boxes of plinking ammo and spend hours shooting the bullseye on paper targets before we'd go on a hunt."
I push my elbow into Kate's shoulder and get her attention. We aren't far from the vantage point now. I lay down on the ground and cautiously crawl to the glass. Kate drops to her stomach and follows. There are a minimum of four people standing on the roof of the store. Chances are there's more of them, and they aren't going to be very keen on letting us in.
I crawl under a desk sitting next to the edge while Kate hugs the wall of a nearby cubicle. The four guys on the roof have scopes on their rifles, and all of them have a designated place they are watching. There are two people standing guard at the entrance while a couple wonder around the parking lot. If there's more, they'll be around back and inside the store.
"You see anything?" Kate asks.
"A bunch of assholes."
"How many?"
"Too many."
"Shit." Kate sighs. "You don't think any of them could be your friends?"
"As far as I can see, no."
"Could they be inside?"
"I hope not because these guys don't look like the sharing type."
"You don't plan on going in? Do you?" Kate asks.
As much as it hurts, there's no way we can go in there. Even if Eric, and the others are in that store. There's no way we can take on that many people, and come out alive. I really want to know if Eric could be in there, but I don't want to put Kate in danger. Who knows? Maybe they aren't in there. Maybe they got what they needed before these guys showed up.
"Let's go up one more flight of stairs and take a look. If I don't see them, then we won't risk it."
Kate lets out a heavy breath of frustration, "Alright."
I back away from the window and stand up. Kate presses her back into mine, and we head towards the next flight of stairs. It never really occurred to me how great elevators really were until all this bullshit happened. Having to walk upstairs with no air conditioner and high humidity sucks.
The feeling of Kate's weight disappears from my back, and the sudden jolt of her twisting her body towards the other end of the building ripples through my body. Kate aims her rifle down the aisle and steps towards a cubicle.
"There's something down there Matt."
I post up on the cubicle across from her and check the other aisle. A shadowy figure runs across the aisle and disappears behind the cubicles on the other side of the floor. The muffled footsteps skittering across the carpet stops, and an eerier silence fills the room.
"I can't tell what it is, but it's over there." I whisper.
"Croaker?" Kate asks.
"Possibly."
"A person?"
"Hope not."
Kate checks the other aisle to make sure it's clear and rushes over to where I'm at. She takes aim down one aisle while I guard the other. We check over our backs to make sure there isn't anything sneaking up on us. It's clear for now, but for some reason, there is a lingering feeling that we're dealing with someone who knows this building better than we do.
"Let's get out of here because I feel we've overstayed our welcome." I whisper in Kate's ear.
"Agreed."
Kate and I rush across the aisle at the same time and check our surroundings. So far so good. The stairwell is just across this last aisle. We rush across and head downstairs. I yank the door open and take off into a dead sprint towards the back exit.
Kate gets a head of me and takes the lead. The light that bleeds through the glass of the back door is quickly engulfed by several figures. We pull our rifles up and all of them disappear into the rooms located around the exit. I turn around and take aim at the entrance of the stairwell. There wasn't enough time to process what I saw, but if it were shamblers or croakers, they would have ambushed us by now.
A man in a shredded business suit rushes down the stairs with a machete but realizes that I have a gun. He hops behind cover and eases his head out.
"Stay the fuck back!" Kate yells.
"Don't shoot or that thing outside will hear us!" A voice replies.
"Then back away from the fucking way!"
"What are you doing here anyway!? This is our home!"
"We didn't know the place was occupied!" I yell back.
The round barrel of a handgun slowly eases out of a side room that sits right next to the stairwell. Right above that comes another barrel with a square frame. Across the corridor, a rifle eases out and takes aim at us. Underneath that is another barrel with a wooden pump. Definitely a shotgun.
Two more long barreled rifles ease out in front of the room with the handguns. On the other side of the hallway, two small caliber rifles ease through the small gap in the door while a third pokes out from underneath them. This is looking like we made a huge mistake. Even though we are at a stalemate, our odds of getting to walk away are diminishing.
"Let us go you assholes!" Kate screams.
"Kate. I'm thinking we're outgunned here."
"And the moment anyone fires a round, the wyvern outside will make short work of all of us! All they got to do is let us go!"
The person holding the round barreled handgun tilts it up. Almost like he's talking to the person below him. I swap back and forth between all the targets to try and keep them covered. Just in case someone decides to drop their weapon and charge us. The square framed handgun drops their aim and disappears along with the round barreled handgun. Those two are planning something.
Kate points her rifle up at the ceiling, "You know what? That isn't such a bad idea."
"Kate…"
"It doesn't seem like they're going to let us go…"
I grab Kate by the shoulder and give her a reassuring shake, "Kate, let's think this through. You said that the wyvern will kill us all if someone pulls the trigger."
"Maybe so, but me and you will find a way to get out of it."
"Goddamnit Kate! Listen to yourself!"
Kate hesitates to put her finger on the trigger. Her body shakes as she takes a deep breath and tries to reassure herself that this is the right decision. An impulse takes over and forces me to drop my gun. A thought immediately rolls through my head that this is a fatal mistake, but I fight it off and try to comfort Kate.
"We can make it out of here Matt, all we got to do is make a break for it." She whispers. Completely unaware of the guns that are being trained on us from behind.
"Stop Okay! Just…Stop…" Someone from one of the rooms yells out.
I look over my shoulder and see all the guns are now tilted towards the ground. A door opens all the way up and someone peeks around the corner. The dark corridor hides their face from me, but it seems like they're really focusing on Kate.
"Answer me this. Where did you find that girl, and why are you two calling it the wyvern?"
The voice sounds really familiar. A wonderful feeling takes over me, but I keep calm and hold up a hand to motion for a moment.
"Kate. I need you to lower the gun. This can all be prevented if you listen to me."
She takes a deep breath and holds it in, as the barrel of her rifle remains pointed up towards the ceiling. I put my arms around her and rest my chin over her left shoulder. "It's okay. I promise." I whisper.
Kate lets out a heavy breath infused with reluctant sadness, but she continues to aim the rifle up. I slowly reach over to the rifle and flip the safety on. "We're going to be alright. Come on. On the count of three, we lower the gun. One, two, three…"
The stiffness in Kate's arm fades away, and she lowers the rifle in a very slow manner. I catch the gun as it falls out of her hand, and set it off to the side. The weight of Kate's body drags me down with her as she collapses to her knees and acknowledges that everything is okay with a little pat on my hand.
"I found the girl in Coaltown. We all got into an accident, and a huge misunderstanding took place. As for the wyvern, the thing nearly swallowed me whole that night I went to that quarantine zone."
"It is you!"
"He's alive!"
MATT!"
Several shouts of sincere happiness echo down the hall as all the doors behind me slam open. Someone puts their arms around me from behind and rocks me back and forth out of pure joy. I continue to hold onto Kate as everyone hugs on me. Kate tightens up with anger and fearfulness as the people up front drop their weapons and head our way. I pull Kate closer in to try and give her the impression that I'm not going to let anything happen to her.
"It's okay Matt. They're not dangerous." Eric says.
"Yeah. They gave us a place to stay for the time being." Emily says.
Kate picks her rifle back up and nudges me to let go. I turn around, and a huge wave of relief comes over me. Everyone is here. Eric, Emily, Melissa, Lauren, Adam, Fleming, and Jessica. My emotions get the upper hand and cause me to throw myself into Adam's arms. He pats my back and chokes on what sounds like a stifled cry, and a sincere laugh.
I grab Eric's hand and shake it vigorously, "Thank you for keeping everyone safe."
"Well, I had a little help."
"For the most part, he kept all of us safe." Emily adds as I hug her and Melissa at the same time.
"How's your arm holding up?"
"Aches and spasms out every once in a while, but it's okay for the most part." Emily replies as she pulls the shoulder of the shirt down and uncovers a huge gauze.
"You have no idea how happy I am that you're okay."
"I could say the same for you." Emily smiles.
Fleming and Lauren wrap their arms around me. Jessica is trying to be the tough one by acting like she isn't interested. I stretch out my hand and reach towards her. Jessica closes her eyes and looks the other way. The sound of emotional stress causes her voice to crack as she tries to breathe.
"Come on Jessica. You know you missed me."
Jessica keeps her head tilted down and walks over. I hold my arms open, and she walks into my grasp. She presses her face into my left shoulder and wipes the tears streaming down her cheeks. I lean in close to her ear, "Just so you're aware, I had to make a molotov out of the whiskey you ordered."
"I suppose you owe me a new one then." Jessica giggles as she runs her fingers underneath her eyelids.
"Only when I get my money." I poke back.
Standing behind them are two soldiers dressed in their uniforms. Their name patches as well as their rank, branch, and division have been cut off. Both have suppressors on the end of their rifles as well as several different accessories ranging from optics and side sights mounted on the rails.
"Matt. These are the two soldiers we encountered at the gas station. They're also the ones that brought us here." Eric says as he prepares to introduce us. They take their ballistic helmets off and nod. Both of them have really short hair, but one has black hair, and the other looks like a light brown.
"This is Capps." Eric says as he points to the one with black hair. He transitions and points at the one with the light brown hair, "And this is Tavor. They found us while we were holed up in a motel in Coaltown, and they agreed to come along and help us."
"We've also been trying to get into that store across the street, but we haven't found a way to safely get in yet." Melissa adds.
The group of people that were blocking the exit gather around, but they keep a safe distance away from the reunion. Among them are a couple of children as well as some stragglers, but it looks like a majority of the adults worked here since their dressed in professional business attire. These kids either belong to these people or were strays picked up off the streets.
"You hungry Matt?" Eric asks as he makes his way to the stairwell.
"Nah. I ate a pretty hearty meal last night, and I've been trying to get used to eating small portions."
"Who's your friend here?" Adam questions.
"This is Kate. She helped me escape Coaltown, and we've been staying in a house out around Black Breech." I reply.
We make our way up to the fifth floor of the building and everyone goes their own ways. The group of people as well as the children head into a side room while Capps and Tavor post up next to the window overlooking the store.
"Alright. Matt and I need to have an important conversation. I need his opinion on something." Eric says.
The rest of the group split up and enter a cubicle. Adam and Melissa enter one together while Jessica and Lauren sit down at a table. Fleming pulls out a deck of cards and shuffles them as the three of them prepare to play a game.
Kate seems to really be on edge because her thumb as been resting on the safety switch of that rifle ever since Eric introduced us. Almost like she doesn't trust them despite this being the group I came from. To be fair though, Emily shot one of the guys with her, Adam shot the other, then we collectively shot at her.
"Hey Kate, Eric and I are going to have a quick chat over there. I'll be right back." I point at two chairs sitting out in the open.
"Alright."
Kate sits down in the aisle where she can see me. It'd be nice if Eric and I could actually discuss matters in private, but it feels like the moment I disappear, Kate is going to run away because of the circumstances prior to all this.
"So what are we discussing?" I ask.
"It's about our next move after this. Melissa brought up how her grandparents live far out in the rural country side. The only problem is we don't have enough supplies to get us there."
"And I'm guessing you want to try and hit that store?"
"With what Capps and Tavor are telling me, these people can't be reasoned with. They kill anyone that comes anywhere near that store. Last night, I went with them to do some scouting, and we managed to find one way in that was unguarded. Which we pulled back because it was starting to get dangerous. I know for a fact we don't have the firepower to take all of them on, and I don't want to lose anyone either." Eric says.
I lean back in my seat and think. An extremely wild thought comes to mind, but there is no way to be certain that it's going to work."
"Eric, on a scale from one to ten, just how bad do you need into that store?"
"I'd say an eight minimum."
"Well I have an idea, but it's not a very good one."
"What is it?"
"Come."
I stand up and walk across to the opposite side of the building. Eric follows me across the floor and looks out the window. I scan the ground for any signs of movement. Eric tries to make sense of what I'm talking about, and I guarantee that the moment he does, he'll call me a mad man.
"There." I point at the overpass.
Eric's eyes fill with fear as he shakes his head, "No fucking way."
"Do you want to get into the store?"
"Yeah, but I don't want to have to worry about assholes shooting at me, and a one-ton beast chasing after me as well!"
I put my hand on Eric's shoulder, "It's not going to be chasing us, it's just going to wonder up to the front entrance."
"You're insane. Nobody here will follow through with it."
"They'll follow through if they know they're not the ones being the bait."
Disappointment flows into Eric's eyes and causes him to swell up with fear, "No…You can't. We just got you back."
"And I'm the only one that's encountered this thing and lived. You, Kate, the two soldiers and everyone else can go in the back way and gather what we need while I deal with the wyvern, and the people up front."
Eric takes a deep breath, "This is by far the stupidest thing you've ever come up with."
"Glad to hear. Go gather everyone up, and you can come up with the rest of the plan…"