It had been less than a day after the broad cast. Two days had passed since the virus hit. I went to the top of the roof to keep watch. I hadn't noticed how close we were to Wal-Mart, which meant that we would be picked up rather quickly. I had a perfect view of the Wal-Mart roof, that's how close we were. If only I was a little closer to where I would be able to see the buses head out, then I would feel better. I found a pair of binoculars so I could any or all action within fifty square feet of me, or so I believed.
I looked at the Wal-Mart roof. I often saw people walking around over there. Lots of action, I could tell. I just found it slightly difficult to see the people clearly. I couldn't tell what was going on, but it seemed to be chaos down there. I felt in a sense, I only hoped the buses would make it.
Damion ran up to the roof. He looked panicked.
"There has been an attack on the military base!" He shouted frantically. He stopped in front of her.
"You're not serious are you?" I asked.
"I am, they are sending people out on buses randomly. They are going to be sent off someplace!" He was finally beginning to calm down.
"That means…" I began to say, but stopped.
"It means we're in the shithole." He muttered.
I went back down to the saloon. We had agreed that it would our meeting place, if the time should arise for a needed meeting. We were all silent; I noticed that Jennifer was missing. I hadn't seen her for a few hours either. Peter came running in with Mark right behind him. Peter was out of breath.
"She's gone!" Mark shouted. Everyone was stunned.
"What do you mean gone?" Tammy asked.
Peter held up a small note. "This explains it," Mark said. He handed the note to me; I unfolded it and read it aloud.
"I'm sorry guys, but I have to go. I can't stay here. I'm sorry; I have my reasons, from which I can't explain. You'll find out later, trust me. Just be careful where you step. Sincerely, Jennifer." I folded the note back up and looked at the others. "What do we do now?"
"We can't do anything. We're stuck here," Carren said. She lowered her head into her hands.
"We won't starve here though. The base's plan was ruined. Maybe we can just stay here. There's enough to last us for a few months," Tammy muttered out.
"Yea, but there isn't enough to last us our entire lives, I think we ought to leave," Rustle said.
"I think we need to have one last look around for Jennifer though. If she went outside, we would be able to see her. Besides I was on the roof and I didn't see anyone leave," I said.
"So what will you have us do, stay here and die?" Rustle was getting angry now.
"We're going to die anyway! I doubt that there is such a thing as a safe zone in this world anymore. Every town and city is destroyed! We are safer here, but not for long. I know that for a fact. Besides that, I think her letter is a little fishy. Why would she say to watch our step if everything was fine?"
"She does have a point," Damion said.
"Ok then its settle," Mark said," we'll look around for Jennifer one last time. Then met back here and decide what to do next."
We all nodded and went our own ways. Mark and Peter went together; I was beginning to wonder about them. Tammy went with Rustle and Damion. I went with Carren. Carren and I went to the right, Tammy and her group went to the left. Mark and Peter looked around this small section of the plaza.
Carren and I didn't talk much while we were walking. I don't know how anyone could get along with her anyway. She wasn't any use because she wasn't brave enough to shoot the dead people. I paused as a draft of wind blew one of the nearby doors open. The door closed again with a loud thud. Carren jumped and gave a small squeal. I just stood motionless. Nothing happened, Carren managed to calm down.
"I'm sorry. This whole thing has been terrifying for me. Why did this have to happen to me? I just came to get my hair done. I mean it, my hair needs to be fixed. I remember it, I was getting my hair shampooed and then this man runs inside with other people. He makes go outside to kill those things, it was terrible."
"It was very terrible.. At least you were inside, and didn't have to do much then," I butted in. I had to shut her up somehow. She was just rambling on and on and on. I didn't like ramblers very much, and I hated girly girls. They tended to scare me sometimes.
I nearly jumped at the sound of someone screaming. It was a man's scream. I took a quick glance at Carren, and then I ran toward the sound of the screams. Carren ran behind me. We came to where Mark and Peter were supposed to be looking. The lights were dimming, like a candle does when the flames are fighting the wind. I walked inside the clothing store. It felt a little eerie. Carren stayed by the doorway. I stopped paying attention to her, and I kept looking around.
I looked behind the counter and saw Peter. He was shaking and sweating. I bent down beside him. He seemed terrified of something.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly.
"They are here. They are here," were the only words he could get out of his mouth. He was in shock.
"Whose here?" I asked. Peter just looked at me stunned.
I heard a loud thud and I looked up over the counter. I saw some of the clothes manikins moving a little. I glanced back at Peter; he was stiffer than a dead body. 'Dead body,' I though to myself quickly. I stood up and walked over toward the manikin display. I held a hand over my knife that I was keeping inside my pants pocket. I took several deep breathes and tried to hide how scared I was. I stood next to the manikin and couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
A bright light was shinned in my face. I used my arm to block it.
"Charlene," Tammy whispered loudly," is that you?"
"Yea, who else would it be?" I responded.
"Where's Carren?" Tammy asked.
"Isn't she…" I began to ask, but hesitated. I walked over toward the light and saw Tammy.
"Don't tell me you lost her."
"I didn't loose her Tammy." I looked around the store once more. "Okay, maybe I did loose her. So what? She probably chicken out and ran off someplace."
"This is getting weird Damion said.
"Yea, isn't strange how it didn't start getting weird until Charlene came here?" Rustle asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked sharply.
"Let's not worry about that now. Charlene, did you see Peter of Mark in there?" Tammy asked quickly. She was trying to be the peace keeper. I could tell.
"I saw Peter. He was in a state of shock last I checked." I told her trying to sound calm.
"Let's go get him then. We can head back to the saloon after we get him." Tammy said. She walked inside the clothing store. I walked behind, Rustle followed me. Damion went in after a Rustle. Tammy shinned her flashlight behind the counter.
"You said that Peter was back here, didn't you Charlene?" Tammy asked.
"Yea, why?" I asked. Tammy gave me a motion to come over to where she was. I walked over to her. I followed her finger and looked to where I last left Peter. He was…gone.
"You have some explaining to do," Rustle whispered in my ear.