Luck
"He doesn't look much, Jazz." Ritchie raised an eyebrow as he sat by the creek. "Yeah. Can he even take down a biter?" Drew laughed throwing a thumb in Glenn's direction who was standing in front of Dale as he prepared to go fishing. Glenn's slightly small frame was hunched forward with a grin on his face. "Come on guys. Don't be an asshole.", Rea sighed shaking her head. "He says he knows Atlanta. We need that kind of guy." Jazz reasoned with Rea, Drew and Ritchie. "And I can take care of myself just fine." Jazz shrugged nonchalantly. "We know but you can't look out for him too." Drew interjected. Everyone turned to him, "What?" Jazz hissed at him. "It's true. We look out for our own." Drew's mouth curled up. "If something happens to Glenn, they're in deep shit." Rea growled at him. Jazz stared at him incredulously before shaking her head, sighing in frustration. "I can't do this with you." Jazz groaned out before standing up. Rea and Ritchie glared at Drew shaking their head at him.
"Foster!" Drew called to Jazz and was only ignored as she made her way into the woods. "Foster, hey!" Drew tried to catch up with her as she ran away from him. "Jazz!" the auburn head woman then turned to him and marching towards him with a hard glare. "What the fuck do you want?!" She yelled in his face. Drew only stood dumbfounded at her outburst. "I appreciate everything you've done for us but fucking get. a. grip." she hissed at him pushing her hands against his chest. Drew could only stare at her with his hands up. "We've gotta stop thinking for ourselves. If something happens to them, we're fucked as well." Drew opened his mouth, "Jazz…" "Get off my back. I'm going on a run with Glenn whether you like it or not." Jazz snarled at his face pushing him one last time and stomping away.
Rea and Ritchie watched as Drew made his way back to them by the creek. "Well?" Rea asked. "I'll go with her. I'll keep an eye on them." Drew said reluctantly. "Wow. Really?" Rea laughed a little. "What happened back there?" Rea laughed even more. Drew could only shake his head staring at the shallow water thoughtfully. "Well, good." Rea nodded. "I'll come too." Ritchie piped up. Rea put a hand on his shoulder, "We need you here Ritchie. And Drew's the only one who knows so much about guns." Ritchie then stood up and walked away before Rea could finish what she was saying.
Three weeks later, the whole camp had settled in a routine where everyone was getting along well and pulling their own weight. As soon as the sun rises and before the sun sets, six people would split up and check the perimeter. The camp was being watch twenty-four hours a day by two people for four hours. Most of the woman had volunteered to wash the clothes of everyone, the others took care of the children while the others cooked and washed the dishes. The men mostly took care of protecting camp, checking perimeters and setting up wires and clothes around the campsite. Drew, Glenn and Jazz had grown accustomed to each other from numerous supply runs.
Now the three, sat inside the RV while Shane stood, with a map laid out in front of them. Drew sat at the one side while Jazz sat between the window and Glenn. "We're running out of supplies." Shane stated giving Glenn a look. "There's no more left to check, Walsh." Drew pointed out as every single town that wasn't too far was marked with an X. "Well Atlanta's still there." Glenn said reluctantly. Everyone paused for a moment. "No one would dare go there." Shane snarled at Glenn. "That's true but think about the supplies, Shane. The food, medicine and probably guns." Jazz stated looking up at him. "It's gotta be worth the shot." Drew nodded. "Yeah. I don't think our supplies' gonna last for more than a week." Glenn looked at Shane. "Excluding yours of course." Shane added nodding to Jazz who only raised an eyebrow. "I already told you, we don't have a problem giving you supplies. But this time you have to replace them." Jazz said heatedly. Shane studied Jazz before turning to the rest. "You three are risking your lives going out there." He glared down at them. Drew let out a snort, "We've been risking our lives for supplies the moment we started going on runs man." Drew then stood up handing the map to Glenn as they left.
The next day, the camp was unusually noisy. People stood outside their tents whispering among themselves glancing at Shane and Drew who was talking about the weapons they need. "Shane?" Dale walked up to him as he stood there waiting for Glenn and Jazz. "Is there nowhere else to look for supplies?" he looked at Shane with wide eyes almost begging him to say 'no'. "Sorry, Dale. There isn't." Glenn spoke up walking up to them. "Don't worry. We planned this carefully. In and out safely, no problem." He tried to reassure the old man who would worry about the safety of practically everyone in camp. "We have no choice. We're all running out of supplies." Shane said distractedly as he glanced at his watch before leaving the three and walking up to a tent. "Jasmine!" he called in a sharp tone. The tent then flapped open and Jazz came out. Jazz strode his way almost getting in his face, "Yes, Dad?" she hissed at Shane and walked away. Shane stood there dumbfounded with his jaw clenched.
As Drew, Glenn and Jazz along with Shane rechecked their supplies and route. Rea stood by the RV when she noticed Riley come out of her tent with a bag over her shoulder. Riley tied her hair up before zipping her tent shut when she noticed Rea make her way towards her, "Where are you going?" Rea asked accusingly. "I'm going with them." She grumbled before pushing past Rea. "You'd die out there, Riley." She called out. Riley let out a laugh, "And they won't?" "They have a better chance. You don't." Rea made her way towards her. Riley's mouth opened and closed before sighing. "And you know it, Riley." Rea sighed taking her bag. Riley sniffed shaking her head, "I have to know if they're dead or not, Rea." "And you will. Let's just wait till they come back and then we'll come up with a plan, okay?" Rea smiled at Riley who nodded thoughtfully.
"You got your gun?" Jazz patted the holster strapped to her thigh. "Your knife?" she tapped her front pocket. "Food and water?" "Ritch…" Jazz sighed rolling her eyes at him. "Stop fawning!" Rea yelled out laughing. "She'll be fine." Rea added. Jazz chuckled when she was suddenly pulled into a hug. Ritchie felt Jazz shift on her feet. "Be careful." He said firmly, looking into her eyes. Jazz only nodded with a smile on her face before pulling away. "Keep us poted." Shane said as Drew got inside the driver's seat before he started the engine and drove off.
After the three had left, Riley and Shane sat on top of the RV keeping watch. "Riley, want me to cover for you?" Rea called out covering her eyes from the sun. "No. I'm fine." She snapped at her. Rea shook her head before going down the creek with the other woman to wash the clothes and get cleaned up. "You don't seem to happy about them leaving for Atlanta." Shane stated glancing at the young woman. "Rea won't let me. Said I'd die out there." Riley only said. Shane studied her from head to toe before nodding his head, "You think you can handle yourself?" Riley glared at him. "No but I gotta do something don't I? Rather than sit here on my ass and worry about my family." "Well sweetie, you gotta learn how to take care of yourself first before going out there. 'Cause the moment you leave this place, no one's got your back." Shane glanced at her.
The pick up stopped in an empty highway. "Are you sure this is it?" "Of course not." Jazz chuckled as they stepped out of the truck and putting on her baseball cap. They were in the middle of the highway with a small trail through the fields going through the forest.
"What?" Drew snarled at her. "But I'm thirty five percent sure." She pointed out as she slipped on her backpack and pulled out her baton. "What about you?" Drew jerked her head to Glenn. Glenn pulled out a map from his pocket, "Uh I'm seventy percent sure." He shrugged. "Jesus christ…" Drew pinched the bridge of his nose slamming the door shut. "Hey. Put thirty five and seventy together you get…." Jazz trailed off looking up. "A hundred and five, Jazz." Drew glared at her. "I'm not good at math, okay?" she rolled her eyes at him before leading the way with Glenn in the middle. "A hundred and five says something right?" Glenn grinned back at Drew.
"And this leads us to the city?" Drew asked. Jazz stopped in her tracks to look back at him, "Yes, Drew. If it doesn't we wouldn't be here." She sighed.
"Bitch." Drew mumbled under his breath.
"Asshole." Jazz didn't even miss a second in biting back at him. "Come on, you guys. We're not even half way there yet." Glenn piped up following Jazz through the rice fields. "Well from the looks of it, this looks like a five mile hike." Drew pulled out his rifle as they looked ahead at the Atlanta buildings rose from behind the forest.
Back at the camp, Ritchie stood inside the supply truck with a notebook when he noticed something. "What?" he mumbled to himself rummaging through the stacks of canned goods. Quickly getting on his feet and slamming the truck shut he made his way to the creek where Rea and Chelsea was washing their clothes. "Something's wrong." he stood beside Rea. Rea looked up at him before getting on her feet.
"I was rechecking our supplies when I noticed that the numbers are wrong. We're missing a lot of supplies here, Rea." Ritchie explained handing Rea the notebook as they made their way back to camp.
"Are you telling me someone's been stealing from us?" Ritchie shrugged, "That's the only explanation I can think of." Ritchie pulled up the door of the truck and they both stepped in. "Look at the supply count three days ago then count the supplies left." He shook his head.
Riley and Chelsea now stood with Rea and Ritchie inside the truck. "What do you mean someone's been stealing from us?" Riley asked. "You think it's them?" Chelsea eyed everyone. "It could be anyone." Rea shrugged. "What? You think it's one of us?" Riley chuckled. "Yeah. Why not? You want to get away from here so bad. You could have easily gotten the supplies take any car and leave." Ritchie glared at her. James saw the commotion from outside his tent and made his way towards them. "Yeah! I could! And I did! But I fucking returned them!" Riley yelled looking pissed. "Calm down, Riley." Rea placer her hand on her shoulder but shrugged it off. "Look you and Chelsea are the only one's who was the key." Ritchie raised his voice.
"It was me okay." James piped up. Everyone stared at him.
"What?" Ritchie glared at her. "No. We were talking and we want to go to Atlanta. As soon as possible." Chelsea confessed looking at James. Everyone stared at the two siblings. "Can I go with you guys?" Riley looked hopefully at Chelsea. "No. No one's going to Atlanta without planning and supplies." "They can do whatever they want, Rea. They're not kids and you're not their mom." Ritchie laughed a little. "We don't know how Atlanta is! We don't know how bad the virus hit them!" Rea yelled. "I've been waiting for Jazz, Rea! She hasn't talked to me for weeks!" Riley yelled. Rea grabbed her arm, "Just wait until those two get back and if it's safe we'll help you get to Atlanta." Rea sighed before letting Riley walk out. Rea groaned out in frustration before sitting by the door watching Riley march her way towards the RV and continue her watch with Shane. "We all want to get to Atlanta but we can't split up." She shook her head. "We have families, Rea. We have to know if they're okay." Chelsea explained as she took a seat beside her. "Doesn't your mother live there too?" James interjected. Rea laughed bitterly as she shook her head, "I don't have to see for myself that she didn't make it. I know she didn't…" "You don't know that." James raised his voice. "I know my mother." She mumbled. "If we find them, they can stay here with us." Rea said before getting on her feet. "You don't have to do that. We were talking and…" James glanced at Chelsea. "We plan to look for a house off the road and away from the city. We'll be fine there." James nodded as if convincing himself. "What are you talking about? That's a stupid decision." Ritchie threw his hands up. "It's not. This place isn't secure. Biters could be roaming the woods for christ's sake! We can handle not getting a decent sleep in a decent bed but our folks are old and I can't have them camp here. They need somewhere more comfortable." James glared at Ritchie.
"So you're really leaving us?" Rea said in a soft manner. James shrugged, "I have to do what I think is best. For me and my sister..." "We need you here." Rea almost pleaded. Chelsea smiled, "You don't. You guys can get by without us."
"Are we there yet?" Jazz exclaimed stomping her feet dramatically against the soil. "Will you stop asking that question!?" Drew hissed looking around them. "I'm bored okay? And didn't I tell you last time to get off my back?" Jazz shot at him still leading the way through the woods. "What!? That was weeks ago. And if your yelling attracts biters it is my business!" he almost stopped himself from shoving her. "I think we would've already know if there were biters." Glenn said as a matter of fact. Jazz looked back at him and gestured a hand to Glenn, "Thank you." "Look!" Glenn pointed ahead. There just half a mile was the highway. "Thank you!" she whispered before sprinting and laughing to herself. Drew smirked at this but nonetheless rolled his eyes as he and Glenn followed Jazz out the forest. Jazz stared at the sight in front of her as she stepped over the barrier. "Huh. We're gonna need luck on this one." Jazz grinned at him as she pulled out her handgun. Glenn's mouth fell open. Atlanta was covered in roadblocks, cars broken down and biters roaming around.
Drew cut open the wire fence before pulling it open. "Go." he gestured to Jazz who squeezed herself through the small opening "Be careful." Jazz watched as Glenn got through the fence. "Ah!" Drew yelped as he went through the opening. His thin grey shirt was ripped open with blood staining his shoulder blade. Jazz rolled his eyes at him before taking off her bag and grabbing the first aid kit.
Drew sat at a small stairway as Jazz took out the supplies. "I'll check the alley." Glenn told them walking away with a bat. "Not too far, Glenn." Jazz called out as she put pressure on Drew's cut. "Ah." Drew winced as he flinched. "Oh don't be a pussy." Jazz smirked at him dabbing the cut with a cotton ball. "It fucking hurts okay," He glared up at her. "Well suck it up. We have to keep moving as soon as possible." she mumbled, wrapping his shoulder with a gauze. "'When we get back, you have to get that checked. It'll probably need some stitching." she said chuckling.
Glenn quietly walked the alleyway before turning to a corner and stopping dead in his tracks. A horde of biters stood mindlessly in the middle of the road. Glenn took a step back in horror as his foot made contact with a signage and made a loud crash. "Ah fuck." he mumbled as the horde looked directly at him and made their way towards him.
A loud crash echoed in the alleyway as Jazz stuffed the first aid kit in her bag. "The hell was that?" Jazz expanded her baton as she looked at Drew who slipped on his shirt. "The cut's pretty nasty so I think you should take it easy." Jazz handed Drew two pills. "What is it?" he asked as he popped it in his mouth. " Jazz shrugged handing him a water bottle, "For the pain and infection." "Hey!" The two looked back and spotted Glenn running towards them as he pulled out a map. "Walkers!" he yelled as biters rounded the corner. Jazz pulled out her baton strapping on her backpack.
"What did you do?!" Drew hissed at Glenn as he studied the map. "I didn't know there were walkers!" "Give me your rifle." Jazz handed Drew her handgun. "You can't shoot with that arm." Jazz pushed the handgun on his chest.
"That's a fucking horde! Can't waste bullets." Drew yelled before pulling out his machete and running up the stairs to a backdoor. Drew smashed his good shoulder against the backdoor but it wouldn't budge. Glenn took a shot at the walkers with his shotgun and took down a few of them. "We have to go back!" Drew yelled as Jazz slammed her baton against a biter's skull . "No! If we do, they'll get to the truck! We have to get inside!" Glenn yelled firing shots. Drew spotted a pipe before grabbing it and smashing it against the lock and tried pushing and pulling it open. "Come on, Drew!" Jazz yelled before running up to him. "It's stuck!" Drew yelled. Jazz pushed him away before sliding the door open. "GUYS!" Glenn yelled climbing up stairway and shooting biters. Drew had to grab Glenn by his bag before sliding the door shut and blocking the door with the pipe.
Jazz stood panting in the middle of the dark. Jazz quickly patted her cargo pants before slipping on her headlamp on her cap and turning it on. "Everyone okay?" Drew said in a hushed tone turning on his flashlight that was attached to his ear. "Yeah." Jazz looked around them. "Glenn?" she turned to him. "Yeah.." he nodded pulling out his flashlight. "That was close.." he grinned a little. "Too fucking close. I can't believe we almost died because Drew doesn't know how a sliding door works." Jazz spat before walking away. Glenn let out a snort before following Jazz. The three found themselves in a five storey office building. Jazz tried to open the front door but it wouldn't budge. "It's locked from outside." Drew sighed holding his shoulder. "Well at least we know we're alone in here." Jazz rolled her eyes and grabbing the rifle from him and handing him her handgun. "Don't lose it." she glared at him before leading the way to the fire exit to the rooftop.
"Goddamn it!" Drew slammed his fists against the sink. Jazz barked out a laugh as she wiped a blood trickling from his cut. "We need to wash it down with water. Unless you prefer alcohol?" she grinned as Drew glared at her through the mirror. Drew sat at a toilet as Jazz washed his cut with water while Glenn checked the floor for supplies. The two stayed quiet as Jazz continued washing the cut.
Drew studied the woman beside him. Bruises were nowhere to be found but scars still littered her limbs with a long scar running from her ear to her neck and disappearing inside her shirt.
"Stop staring."
Drew snapped out of it when he noticed Jazz was giving her a nonchalant look. He averted his eyes before looking back at her again, "How are you?" Jazz stopped wrapping his shoulder. "They've healed completely,huh?" he asked. Drew watched her face fall but quickly composed herself, "I'll be okay. Eventually." she shrugged giving him a smile. Drew paused at what she had just said before nodding his head.
"Okay. This time actually take it easy. I don't want to take you back to camp with one arm left." she joked before grabbing the supplies and exiting the toilet. "Is he gonna be okay?" Glenn asked as Jazz made her way towards him. "Yeah. He'll live." she grinned before grabbing a pack of coffee. "No food huh?" she sighed. Glenn shook his head stuffing the supplies in his bag. "Figures. It's an office." Jazz mumbled before walking up to the window and staring down the street. "We should've never fired those gun." she shook his head as biters got closer to the building. "We had no choice." Drew piped up as he stood there beside her holding the radio Shane gave them. "You think you can still get to the market?" Shane's voice came through the radio. "Yeah. We still have some time." Jazz nodded. "Definitely. We'll keep you posted." Drew radioed before turning it off. Glenn strapped on his backpack, "Well I think firing those shots were a good diversion." The two looked quizzically at him. "We fired those guns. Biters from the market probably heard them and as of now are probably on their way here. Which means less biters for us to deal with."
"Are you sure about this?" Jazz looked at Glenn suspiciously. "No but it's the only way we're getting out of here." Drew shook his head. Jazz glanced at Drew who stood at the edge of the rooftop with a weird grin on his face. "You look excited." she snorted looking from the edge of the rooftop to the one next to it. They were jumping from one building to another. "I am and also nervous as fuck." he laughed. "It's a five storey drop. How fucked up is this?" Jazz threw up her hands. "This is the only way we're getting those supplies, Jazz." he crossed his arms. "Besides, it's not that far." Glenn nodded at him. "What are you a chicken?" Drew mocked her. Jazz ignored him still staring at the landing. "I thought you liked adventures?" Drew laughed. Jazz shot daggers at him, "I do but if it means falling to my death then no." she put a hand up. "It'll be fine. I'll go first." Drew reassured her.
"Should be around the corner." Glenn grinned as they walked along an empty avenue. "Finally.." Drew sighed in relief as he spotted the market. The three jogged towards the entrance when Jazz spotted a truck parked by the exit. "Glenn.." she called out before pointing the truck. Glenn nodded before heading towards it. Drew and Jazz split up to walk the perimeter and meet behind it. "Clear." "Same." Drew said before they both made their way inside the market through the backdoor.
Glenn stood outside the entrance with the van parked in front. Glenn started growing impatient when noises started coming from inside. Suddenly three shots rang from inside. Cautiously making his way towards the entrance, Glenn held his shotgun ready to shoot when the door suddenly shook and swung open. "Let's go!" Jazz yelled panting covered in sweat and splats of blood. Glenn sighed before lowering his weapon, "What happened in there?" "Later..." Drew panted limping towards them.
Glenn took a step back, "What the hell happened to you?!" he yelled pointing at Drew who was covered in blood. "Calm down... Biters are coming let's just get what we can and get the hell out of here." Jazz pointed to the fences where biters were coming their way.
Yes I'm still alive. And another update will be posted in a few days. Or maybe tomorrow.