Ryan opened the bunker door just enough so he could get a quick look at where the sound was coming from. Suddenly, another gunshot pierced the air and Tess was immediately by his side.
"Shit". Tess knew that guns should only be used in an emergency. Anyone who lasted this long knew that too. The sound could attract walkers, a lot of them.
"We haven't seen anyone in weeks Ryan. Where do you think those shots are coming from? Maybe they're in trouble." Tess asked him nervously. Her instinct was to help but they were in way over their heads.
"Yeah well we haven't really tried to run into anyone since those men we saw weeks ago. Maybe some group set up camp nearby while we've been holed up in here. We have to just wait Tess. It's only two of us. I doubt we'd be able to do much". Ryan knew that if he let her, she'd probably go looking to see if anyone needed help regardless of the danger she'd be in. He had to worry about protecting the two of them first.
Ryan closed the door and locked it. Tess didn't know if it she was feeling dizzy from the alcohol or if it was panic steadily creeping its way in. Ryan sat next to her on the bed and she hooked her arm in his. All they could do was wait.
A few minutes went by and Tess got up to sit at the table. Then she heard it again. No, that's not a popping sound. This time, it was lower, and constant. "Do you hear that Ryan? It sounds like there's something right above us". The noise was getting louder and more distinct.
Voices? But they didn't sound like people…
The blood drained from Tess' face as realization set in. She gently unlocked and lifted the door a fraction of an inch. Her fears were confirmed. That noise they were hearing after the gunshots were coming from the dozens, no, hundreds of infected making their way across the fields behind the farm. Whoever shot that gun was in a lot of trouble.
Were they even safe? It was all they had but maybe this bunker wasn't enough to protect them from what she was seeing. Tess had never witnessed anything like this in the past couple months. Why were so many of these things walking together in a group? She then felt Ryan's hand wrap around her wrist to pull her back and close the door.
"We can't do anything but wait Tess" Ryan's voice was shaking, his eyes wide as he kept a hold on Tess. The sounds became louder and their moaning rolled over them like thunder.
Minutes felt like hours as they both stood by the door too scared to budge. Tess' mouth was dry and her hand was cold against Ryan's sweaty one.
Then they heard the faintest sound of gunshots over the moaning of the dead. They were distant and they wouldn't have noticed if they weren't so attune to what was happening outside. There had to be a large group fighting these things. But Tess knew it was a lost cause for them. They were as good as dead. There was no way they could protect themselves against so many of them.
The sounds rang constant for a while then died down almost all at once… then one last shot was heard. Tess let out a muffled cry for those she was sure met a painful and frightening end. The shuffling and moaning continued through the night.