By the time Garnett decided it was time for us to stop we had made our way into a small town. Warren had wanted us to drive through the night but I could tell she was starting to get tired, we all were. Cassandra, Mack and Addy being the only ones who had managed to fall asleep in the truck and take naps. Jumping out of the back of the truck once Warren and Garnett found a house I grabbed my weapons bag following the group.
"Mack, Addy, Cassandra," Garnett started, "Since you had the most sleep you guys have first watch. Everyone else get some rest." Mack and Addy both saluted walking back out onto the small porch of the little house, Cassandra behind them. Walking in the first thing we all did was look for Z and shut all the doors. Once everything was clear we quickly made sleeping arrangements for everyone. Warren and Garnett getting the actual bed upstairs, the rest of us to figure out who would get the couch or the floor.
"Who says you get the couch," I asked as Murphy flopped down with a quilt.
"Because I'm older than you," he said laying on his back getting comfortable throwing his arm over his eyes.
"In that case shouldn't Doc get the couch?" I asked laughing and pointing to my right.
"I may be old on the outside but I am young when it counts baby," Doc said joking towards me laughing. I couldn't help but laugh as I laid a thick blanket I found down on the floor next to the couch as Doc sat in the recliner. Laying down and getting comfortable 10k was setting up a foot rest in front of another chair across the room from Doc. Everyone seemed content and ready to fall fast asleep. It had been a long time since I felt safe enough to fall asleep in a home, usually I was the one keeping watch while everyone else slept. Resting my hands behind my head I laid there staring at the ceiling not being able to fall asleep just yet. Listening to the soft snores of Doc and my brother I finally decided I had deserved some well rested sleep and soon drifted off.
….
Waking up the next morning wasn't easy. I had never been a morning person and even after the apocalypse I just couldn't do it. This morning I had woken up to my brothers hand ranging off the couch right in my face. Smacking it away woke him up, leaning over the couch to look at me, squinting at how bright the sun was shining in.
"Good morning Sleeping Beauty," I said looking up at him too and stretching.
"Hardy-har-har," he said as he sat up making sure to step on me as he did so. Warren and Garnett were already in the kitchen making coffee, Doc sitting at the table going through his medicine bag. I stood grabbing the blankets I had been laying on folding them and throwing them onto the couch.
My brother had walked over to join Doc and I walked into the kitchen to see if the previous owners had anything that would still be good. It wasn't long until Cassandra had walked in from her watch outside and made a bee-line for the couch. I could tell she was tired as she unfolded my blankets throwing it over her lower half and quickly falling asleep. Grabbing the fig-newtons from the kitchen I walked into the dinning room to join my brother and Doc. Murphy had always been good at cheating cards even teaching me a thing or two.
"Remember when we used to play cards when we were younger?" I asked Murphy watching him play with Doc.
"I remember going to the park and playing people out of their money," Murphy said with a smile, making the memory sour.
"I will see your Vicodin," Doc said pushing some pills across the table, "And raise you one tetracycline."
"Good luck Doc," I said leaning back watching the two men. Both of them sat there thinking for a quick moment to think of what to do with there cards.
"Call," Murphy said and I could tell he had it in the bag. Playing cards with him for as long as I did I knew what every facial expression meant.
"Three of a kind," Doc said proudly but it was short lived as Murphy showed his hand.
"Full house, aces high," he said laying down his cards proudly and smiling.
"Oh come on," Doc said, "You know, if you're going to continue using my deck then your going to have to stop pulling cards out your ass." I was joking and laughing with both of them when Warren and Garnett told everyone to be quiet, that citizen Z was on the radio again.
"Friends, I'm talking about mean weather coming in fast. Some reports of tornadoes, find shelter and take cover. Its dangerous out there, more so than usual. Now back to the soothing sounds of the apocalypse," he said over the radio. I still couldn't shake the feeling that I knew that voice, it was just on the tip of my tongue but once I thought I knew I forgot again.
"Since he was so wrong about that chopper weather man is a pretty good job for that geek," Murphy said as he started shuffling the deck. He offered to let me play this round but I declined not wanting to get cheated out of everything I owned. It wasn't much longer until Mack and Addy came in and went into the kitchen, Warren telling them about the weather Citizen Z talked about.
"How does it look out there?" Warren asked them.
"Cloudy with a chance of zombie," Addy joked and I couldn't help but laugh at that. After we all had our laugh Garnett told them to go get some rest and that they were going to go have this round of watch. Addy and Mack quickly made their way up stairs, Addy giggling the whole way up the stairs.
Sipping my coffee and watching my brother once again cheat his way through a game of cards I looked over to 10k and Cassandra, still asleep on the couch. Her blanket had managed to slide a little farther down her body, 10k stepping over to try and cover her back up. He had barely managed to get the blanket past her elbow when all of a sudden she drove her knife through the quilt inches from 10k's hand.
"the blanket…it was just…sorry," 10k muttered out now knowing how to react to her. She only held his stare slowly putting away her knife and laying her head back down, 10k retreating back to his recliner.
"You know, if we breed those two, throw in a little of little Raven here and it would be all over for the zombies," Murphy said leaning in close to Doc. Both of them broke out into quiet laughter as I just rolled my eyes, 10k looking over at me in confusion. I could only shrug my shoulders at my brother and the things that went through his mind sometimes. However it wasn't long until Garnett and Warren came busting through the front door, gun shots ringing out behind them.
"Puppies and kittens everyone, time to go," Warren said as she ran through the living room of the home and out the back door. Doc and my brother quickly shoved everything on the table into Doc's bag and jumping up running after Warren. I jumped up running into the living room grabbing my weapons bag from behind the recliner with 10k's gun leaning on the wall next to me. Handing it over to him he quietly thanked me and we made our way out the sliding glass door.
…..
We were all sitting in the truck waiting for Doc to get some gas out of an abandoned car on the side of the road. Citizen Z was on the radio again telling everyone about the storm that was coming and how dangerous it was going to be. If I was honest I wasn't looking forward to potentially getting stuck in it. That had always been a fear of mine since I was little, storms. Mainly it was the lightening and the thunder that I wasn't fond of, but now if there was a tornado we had the threat of zombies on top of it. I had seen Sharknado before the apocalypse, and if this was anything like it we had a big issue ahead of us.
I was sitting in the back of the truck with Cassandra as she watched for Z's, 10k sitting on top of the truck also on the watch. We were listening to Citizen Z telling us that we needed to find shelter and we needed to find it now. Warren and Garnett were trying to figure out what we were going to do and Murphy was getting fed up with it.
"Okay, hang on," my brother started, "Am I missing something? You did not drag my ass this far so that mankind's hope could get sucked up by a tornado, did you?" I rolled my eyes my Murphy making sure he knew it.
"Stop being so melodramatic," I told him as he turned to sit back into the truck.
"Says the women who cried every time there was a thunder storm," he countered raising his eyebrows trying to intimidate me.
"Wasn't it you who jumped in my bed when mom wasn't home because you were scared?" I countered back at him. I smirked at him as he pushed his way through into the truck. Cassandra looked at me surprised about that little tidbit of information about the infamous Murphy. It wasn't long until all of us were packed into the truck again and were on our way.
Coming to a crossroads we stopped again, Warren trying to decide which way to go, Garnett trying to coax her into turning to Castle Point. I had been listening to some of their conversations about it, Castle Point being where Warren was from. She missed her husband and didn't know what happened, whether he was human still or Z.
"That's your home town right?" I heard Garnett ask her. After a moment of thinking Warren decided to go the opposite way, towards St. Louis.
Once she made that turn it looked like we were heading straight for the storm and I was not happy about it. I could see off in the distance the beginning of what could be a tornado.
"Wow look at that storm coming in," Addy said, Warren coming to a stop again.
"Alright fine, you win," Warren said as she turned the truck around driving away from the storm this time, towards Castle Point.
Once we got into town Warren came to a stop in what looked like the center of town bringing the car to a stop. Warren jumped out walking straight for what looked like a small community billboard.
"Wow, I've never seen a sky like that, its so green," Cassandra said as she jumped out of bed of the truck.
"I've never liked tornadoes and I'm pretty sure they don't like me," Doc joked.
It wasn't long before we all piled into the car again and on our way to Warren's house. She had told us that there was a storm cellar at her house and I was excited to see the life she lived before the apocalypse.
Once we got there we quickly jumped out, 10k following Mack and Addy up to the door watching their backs, Warren and Garnett not far behind them. I was with my brother walking around making sure he didn't do something stupid, Doc walking with us. I could hear Mack trying to break down the door but not succeeding only for Warren to grab her extra key. I couldn't help but laugh as Mack huffed rubbing his arm lightly.
"You know if he is in there and he's…"Garnett started looking at Warren.
"I wont hesitate," she reassured him. I had my Beretta aimed and ready to go no mattered what happened once the door was opened. When we all poured in we split up some going upstairs and some going into the living room. I fell in behind 10k walking down a hallway covering him just in case anything dead or alive decided to jump out.
While we were down the hall we heard some commotion sounding like there was someone else here. Looking down the hallway I saw them carry a young man into the living.
"Who is that?" 10k asked me quietly.
"I don't know I think they just found him. He doesn't look like he will last much longer," I said turning away from the living room and looking at 10k. I didn't realize until just then how much taller he was than me, the top of my head just making it to his chin. I could feel my cheeks turn red so I quickly looked away again telling him to check the last room then we would head to the kitchen and check the supplies in there.
"Check the bathroom for any medical stuff," 10k said as he made his way back down the hall, "Meet me in the kitchen." Nodding my head in understanding I quickly did as told and turned into the bathroom.
Throwing open all the doors to the cabinets there wasn't much of anything. Throwing my backpack on the ground I quickly shoved the box of Band-Aids into it looking to see if there was anything else for the taking, but once I saw there wasn't I threw my bag back on and made my way into the kitchen seeing 10k already had gone through half the cabinets.
"Find anything worth taking?" I asked as I laid my bag on the counter. He shook his head as I came up next to him opening the next door to look through. Now that both of us were looking through the cabinets it wasn't long until we had gone through everything but came up with nothing.
"The basement is secure, we can ride it out down there," Warren explained as I heard my brother complaining, again, "Let's just gather some supplies before it hits."
"Kitchen was pretty well stocked up," 10k said as we made our way back into the living room with everyone.
"There is plenty of water and canned food but no batteries or medical supplies," I said walking out behind him.
"We need to get our communications up," Garnett started with his military voice on, "You two, go out in the neighborhood and see what you can find. Don't go too far and get back before the storm hits." 10k and I both nodded our heads and made our way to the door.
Once we got outside the wind was blowing even harder now, the clouds darker and the storm looking like it was almost on top of us. The wind was blowing so hard it was blowing my hair all over the place. Placing my gun under my belt behind me I took the hair bow I had and threw my hair up into a messy bun deciding that was a safer option than a ponytail, not wanting to get my hair snatched by a Z. 10k turned and looked at me for a moment not understanding why my hair was important at that moment.
"Hey, rule number one right?" I said catching up to him, "Tight clothes, short hair." He smirked at me as I laughed and walked ahead of him taking out my largest knife from my belt loop giving mercy to a Z that came our way.
"I think every time there is a zombie you pull out a different weapon," 10k joked as we made our way into town, "How many do you have on you?"
"Well, not counting my bag back at the house," I started as I sat there a moment thinking, "About six. I just hide them well." We made our way into a small shop seeing if they had anything we could take.
"Everything in here has already been ransacked," I said as we walked into the local Dollar General. Looking at the store in front of us everything that use to be on the shelves where now thrown all over the place, several shelves fallen over. The glass doors on the coolers had been busted open, glass all over the floor. Looking over at 10k he shrugged and we both made our way deeper into the store.
Opting for the Beretta I pulled it out as we looked around the store. Walking through the small clothing section and looking around for anything I turned to 10k who was holding up a pair of panties.
"As much as I think you would look good in pink I don't think those are you style," I said as he jumped, quickly throwing them and his cheeks turning a bright red. I laughed not realizing that all our commotion was attracting some unwanted attention that had been hiding. Barely turning around in time I could only defend myself by holding the Z back. Grabbing the zombie by the collar that it was wearing I used all the strength I had just to hold it at arms length as it reached for me. With it grabbing at the front of my shirt I yelled for 10k to help me, him immediately at my side with his own knife driving it through the Z's skull. As the zombie fell to the ground still holding my shirt it ripped the sleeve almost off my shirt.
"Are you ok?" 10k asked concern rich in his voice.
"Yea, I'm fine just my pride is a little damaged," I said looking down looking at my shirt, "And my favorite shirt." I huffed and turned around looking and making sure there weren't anymore Z's as 10k made a quick lap around the store.
"Well, I don't think there is anything in here worth taking," 10k said as he made his way back to me.
"I guess we should head back now," I said shrugging and trying to hold my shirt together so my chest was still covered.
"Do you want a shirt?" 10k asked as we made our way to the door.
"No, I have one in my back-pack in the truck," I said giving up with the shirt, "Hopefully the tornado won't rip that one to shreds too." I smiled at him as we made it to the door pushing it open again only to be met by the one thing I was hoping to avoid.
"Looks like we stayed in there too long," I had to yell over the sound of the wind.
"We should head back," 10k yelled back. Nodding my head in agreement we made our way back where we had come from. I had noticed something strange, there wasn't a Z in sight. I would have thought with all our yelling over the wind that it would have attracted something.
Once we turned a corner the wind was even stronger, effectively pulling out the bun that I had earlier. I was looking around trying to remember which way it was back to Warren's when 10k tapped my shoulder. Looking over at him I noticed what he was looking at without him having to say a word. The storm was finally on top of us, the tornado forming right in front of us.
"We need shelter," I yelled starting to get scared. I had never been in a tornado before but if they were anything like the ones in movies I doubted we would land in a magical place called Oz.
"Run for the car," he yelled grabbing my arm as we both ran over to a car that was across the alley. Luckily the door was open as I threw the passenger door open getting in as fast as I could as 10k held the door. Crawling to the driver side I made enough room for him as well. Once he crawled in behind me and shut the door I turned around to see what was behind us. I immediately knew that was a bad idea what I saw the tornado finally touch down to the ground. That was when I felt the car starting to move. I turned back around I saw that the car was starting to spin. I was starting to go into panic mode and without thinking quickly reached out and grabbed 10k's leg. Turning to my right I noticed he was looking at me with his cheeks slightly pink. Once I realized why I quickly removed my hand just as the car lifted off the ground slightly. Grabbing the dash to steady everything the car lifted again.
"Oh no!" I yelled as I had to push against the roof of the car to keep myself in my seat
"Hang on!" 10k yelled as he did the same.
We were both yelling as the car started flipping. The glass around me was breaking and I knew I would small little scratches by the end of this.
After the car flipped a few more times the storm was gone as quickly as it happened. Once the car flipped over one last time back onto the wheels it slowly stopped moving. Shaking violently then nothing. I looked around watching the storm clouds move away from the two of us, opening the door the get out. 10k wasn't far behind me, crawling out of the car on my side this time.
"Well that wasn't so bad," I said with a shaky breath turning to look at 10k behind me. He only laughed slightly as he slammed the door shut slinging his gun over his chest. Deciding it was now finally time to peacefully make our way back to the house and to the group we walked away from the nearly crushed car, following the path of destruction ahead of us.
….
Once we had Warren's house in sight I couldn't help but make a run for it. I wanted to make sure that everyone else was ok. Making my way around another overturned car I saw everyone and let out a breath of relief slowly down. 10k was walking behind me, turning to look at him I saw the smile on his face as he saw the group as well. I saw the couple from Warren's house glad that the boyfriend looked alive and well. Once we made our way over to the group Addy was the first to notice us.
"Do I want to know why the two of you disappear then show back up with a ripped shirt?" she joked as she walked up pointing to me. I had totally forgot about that, too worried about everyone else.
"Shit," I said running over to the truck, "I forgot." Opening the back door I grabbed my back-pack unzipping it and grabbing the first shirt I had under everything else. Without thinking I quickly stripped the ruined shirt off throwing it in my bag thinking if I ever needed a rag, I now had one.
"Hey, whoa, what are you doing?" Murphy asked as he made his way over to the truck behind me.
"My shirt was ripped," I said innocently as I quickly put on the black long sleeved crop top, showing midriff just above my belly button.
"It may be the end of the world but you cant just strip in the middle of everything," Murphy said getting brotherly defensive.
"Awww, you love me so much," I joked as I patted his cheek only making him angrier. He grumbled under his breath as he pushed past me getting into the truck. I threw on my green Army jacket and walked around the back of the truck to go sit up front with Doc.
"Where did this fire truck come from?" I asked as Garnett and Warren walked over from saying their goodbyes to the couple.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Garnett started as he opened the door to the fire truck, "I got you a surprise Raven." 10k, Cassandra, Mack Addy and Warren all piling onto the fire truck. Doc, Murphy and myself opted for the truck. Turning around as Garnett walked up to me I saw that he was holding an ax.
"Warren and I took it from the local fire department," he said as he handed it to me. I was over joyed to see it, a huge smile spreading across my face as I took it from him.
"This will without a doubt be put to good use," I said as I opened the tailgate storing it safely with my bag full of weapons. Garnett laughed agreeing saying that he knew it would be, turning to head back to the fire truck.
Once we were ready to go Garnett honked the horn and we waved to the couple as we set off once more.
"Survivors of the world, hello. If you're hearing this, congrats. You're still alive. You are the baddest of the badasses, fearing neither man nor twister nor living dead. My headset is off to you," Citizen Z was talking on the radio again. He was beginning to be the only hope I had for outside people who could help save the world. Turning around and looking at my brother asleep it was weird seeing him now, at the end of the world. I had always assumed the world would have ended before we met up again. Yet here we were, sitting in the same truck travel across the U.S. Except this wasn't the end of the world, this was only the beginning.
