"So, what's the plan?", Tracy asked inquisitively turning to face the much larger form of Mike, who was in charge in Nick's absence.
She saw Mike start to think of an answer when something else occurred to her, "No, no. I don't mean for the next five minutes, I mean for the rest of our lives... What's the plan?" Tracy really wanted to know what was in store for her and the rest of this group's future.
Yeah, Mike. What do you think will happen?", Mike's girlfriend Molly spoke up from behind them. Tracy hadn't known either of them before today, though she was aware of their existence.
"I couldn't say, ladies," Mike replied to her and Molly, "But we can't stay here forever, and I'm sure Nick's plenty well aware of that. It's his call for what we do next. And I for one trust him to come up with something good." Mike was in the same position as her and everyone else here, Tracy realized, none of them knew what would happen. If anything Nick had the best grasp of it but not even he could predict the future.
Tracy nodded, not nearly satisfied, though understanding that it was the best answer she'd get, "Well, I guess that'll have to do."
"Yeah," Mike agreed, "The situation may suck, but hey, we're all here, so I think it's cause to celebrate."
Tracy did admire his optimism.
The five reached the top of the stairs, and Mike got Tracy's attention, "Um, Tracy. Let me get in front of ya, kay?"
Mike obviously wanted to check again, just to be sure they were safe, and Tracy couldn't argue. She did as she was requested and even tried her hand at what she hoped was a comforting smile as Mike passed her raising the shotgun to it's ready position at his shoulder, "Alright," he said, "Y'all just wait here, and lemme check everything out."
He proceeded down the hallway, checking every single room and nook and cranny for that matter of the upstairs. Even the spaces where there was absolutely no way something as large as a person would fit. He was thorough, Tracy had to give him that. She was glad that this group had people like Mike. She figured that none of them would've survived if they hadn't had his expertise, along with Nick and Chad of course, who had really rallied everyone together. Actually, she though, everyone here brought they're own abilities to the group. At least, she hoped she did. Being worthless, especially in a situation like this, was completely unacceptable.
Unacceptable. That was a word that Tracy had heard a quite a bit, but that was a story for another time.
Mike disappeared into the master bedroom, and Tracy took a quick glance at the other three girls that were out here with her, Molly, Ali and of course, Tracy's best friend in this world, Ashley.
Tracy thought of what they'd all been through on this day. This day. Only one, single day. And so much had changed.
What time was it, it suddenly hit Tracy, who reached into her pocket, snagged her watch, and pulled it far enough from her pocket to catch a quick glimpse.
2:17.
Only two in the afternoon. Tracy would've still been in school. Jesus, the day was only about half over. And it was still just day one.
Tracy returned her watch to her pocket, and was about to attempt striking up a conversation with the other girls, though Mike interrupted her from the master bedroom, sticking his head out and saying, "Okay. We're cool. Bring it on up."
Mike stepped back into the room and was temporarily lost from sight.
Tracy led the three other girls into the room, where Mike was haunched over slightly and was fiddling with the volume of a medium sized T.V. or some other setting on the thing, "Cool, no worries." he muttered mostly to himself, as he took a big step back and, apparently satisfied, sat on the giant bed that faced the T.V.
It didn't take Molly much time to join him on the bed, as she sat as close to him as she could, leaning on him for support and comfort. He wrapped his arm around her, making her feel as safe as humanly possible.
The man on the T.V., and anchor, Tracy realized, looked grim, as did everyone else on this day. Everyone who wasn't causing the distress, that is, Tracy reminded herself.
Ashely soon sat next to Molly, and Tracy sat next to her. Geez, this bed was big, Tracy thought, settling in on the corner. There wasn't any room for Ali, though the tiny red-head probably could've cared less, as she sat down and propped herself against the wall, facing the other four rather then the T.V. She leaned her head back, and shut her eyes.
Did she have to be so anti-social? Tracy thought.
Tracy was closest to Ali, and she watched as she sat down and attempted to relax, though Tracy's attention was soon brought back to the grim looking anchor, who seemed relaxed enough, though he was obviously anything but.
"We're of course live." The anchor informed them, "But we may have to go off the air at any moment. We'll continue broadcasting until such a time... God help us all."
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Nick and Chad made it up the stairs without incident. This may have been due to the fact that there was nothing in the house that could've caused an incident. But even if there was, the pair wouldn've been quite ready to deal with it.
They made it to the top in silence, both with weapons in hand for the sole purpose of just trying to get used to them.
"So, what's the plan?" Chad asked, turning slightly to his best friend as the two made they're way down the hall to the master bedroom where the rest of their group was assembled.
Nick sighed, and echoed once again his much used phrase, "Working on it."
"Dude, I hate to be an asshole, but that ain't really a plan." Chad muttered.
Nick nodded, and gave a half smile, "I know. Now fuck off and let me think."
"Oh, now you're just being mean." Chad muttered, holding back a laugh.
The pair arrived at the open door to the master bedroom, and Nick was the first to step inside.
They were greeted with tired and somewhat strained looks from Tracy, Ashley, Mike, and Molly, who were somewhat squeezed together on the master bed, watching the news, which Nick assumed couldn't have been very pleasant.
Ali just glanced up from her spot on the floor against the wall, and closed her eyes again.
"Sup?" Mike asked, glancing at Nick, then Chad.
"Not much," Nick replied, staring at the T.V. where an anxious looking anchor was struggling to do his job, "Same question." Nick said, looking back at Mike, "What's going on?"
"Oh, y'know, the usual," Mike muttered, returning his gaze to the T.V. "It's all over the world. That's confirmed. And the tube is sayin' that our men of science are estimating that just over two thirds of the world's population ain't quite human anymore."
"Jesus Christ." Chad muttered, slinging his M1, "That means that there's over four billion of those thing runnin' around out there..."
"That's exactly what it means," Tracy joined the conversation, "That means we must be part of the stronger third."
"Or the luckier third," Ashley said, not looking at Tracy, but keeping her gaze fixed on the T.V.
"Yeah," Mike began, "Oh, and the science dudes have a scientific name for these things, now."
"Oh?", Nick said.
"Yep," Mike confirmed, "The official name is 'zombies'. They really worked hard on that one."
Chad started laughing, and had a hard time controlling it, "That' s actually really fuckin' funny!" He choked out between laughter.
Nick nodded, "Well, that's good to know. Now we can call them by the 'official' name next time they're trying to kill us." He took a breath, "Okay, Molly, you're now obviously in Mike and Tracy's group. Ashley and Chad, you guys are still paired off as well as Ali and myself. When we're moving around the house, unless we're doing some sort of task that requires different, we stay in our teams."
"I think I missed this." Molly muttered, the first thing she had said since Nick and Chad had arrived in the room.
"You did, but I got your back." Mike said, "No worries."
Nick looked up at the huge bedroom window that overlooked the street where the group had come from, and he quickly moved past the four teens that were watching T.V. and looked outside. He could easily make out the parked bus, and most of the street on either side. There were no zombies on the road, or anywhere else, for that matter.
Where are they? Nick wondered to himself, Shouldn't they be everywhere?
It was just plain creepy that they're weren't any nearby Nick would've preferred that there were at least some around. It was a lot better to know where they were, then to not.
Nick then realized that his sudden movement to the window had acquired him the full attention off everyone else in the room. The waited patiently for him to say something.
"What's up, man?" Chad asked, "Are there any out there?"
"No." Nick responded, assembling in his mind what he wanted to do next.
"Well where the fuck are they? At a fuckin' potluck?" Chad muttered, "It's just really fuckin' weird that we aren't swarmed with 'em."
"Agreed, but we might as well take advantage of it," Nick said, "Alright, I want Chad and Ashley to stay here. Both of you keep an eye on the road, and on the T'V. There's a window that gives a pretty good view of the backyard in the bedroom across the hall, keep an eye on that to, and let me know if any of them show up."
"You got it." Chad said. Ashley just nodded.
Nick turned to Mike, "Mike, you Molly and Tracy get some more shit piled onto those barricades. They look pretty good but I just wanna be sure."
"Kay." Mike said, standing up, and helping Molly to her feet as well.
"Ali." Nick stated, getting the small girl's attention, "Chad and I found a couple of cars in the garage. I want the keys, so I figure the best way to do that is to look for them. We may need another way out besides that bus."
"A way out to where?", Molly asked, "Where are we going?"
Nick sighed, "I don't know yet," he turned to address the whole group, "We're fine here for now, so we'll stay here for now. I'll think about other options as soon as I'm sure we're safe here."
Chad joined Nick at the window, and looked out to confirm what his best friend had said about the lack of zombies in the street, "Motherfucker.. Where are they?"
"Not here. At least not right now," Nick paused, "If any of you do see one, don't shout it out. Obviously. Just spread the word quietly."
"Righto," Mike said, leaving the room with Molly and Tracy in tow, "Just give us a few minutes, and this place'll be really fuckin' secure."
"Good." Nick said, taking a few steps to follow them. Ali, seeing this, got up to follow Nick. She kept her MP5 in a somewhat ready mode in her small hands.
"Stay frosty," Nick said to Chad and Ashley, as he disappeared from the room, Ali following milliseconds later. They were gone so fast that Chad hadn't had time to reply.
He just glanced at Ashley, who was still staring at the T.V. where the nervous anchor was still reporting. Chad sighed, and turned to look out the window, checking to make sure the M1 was secure on his back.
There was still nothing moving out there.
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I know, I know, I know. Speed it up. I'm getting there, I promise. Some interesting notes is that despite over a hundred hits, no one reviewed the last chapter. Darn. Guess that means more stuff has to happen or something. Anyway, at this juncture in the story (Over 54,000 words) Who'se you favorite character and why, what's your favorite moment so far in the story, and why. And what's one thing that was so horrifically bad, that you'd change it? (BESIDES my grammer. I'm already aware that that is sub-par.) And feel free to include any of your favs that I didn't mention. It's kinda like one of English assingments, only hopefully more fun.
Anyway, til next time! And thanks for reading!