Chapter 5: Safety and Shelter

"STOP"

As Hogarth was about to put a bullet in the man's head two other voices cried out. With that they stopped and looked on. Two more boys come out of the RV and were standing right in front of them, also carrying rifles, bags, and survival gear.

One was a boy with jet black hair who looked to be about 14 years old and was wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and basketball sneakers. The other looked to be around 13 years old with blonde hair, a baseball cap, wearing a vest with a plaid button down shirt underneath.

They had threatening looks on their faces and probably would've shot Hogarth and Tut if they'd gotten the chance.

"Who the hell are you guys," Hogarth asked angrily.

"He's with us just let him go and we'll let you guys leave," the kid with the jet black hair said.

"He tried to kill us," Dexter said angrily, "he fucking attacked us right here and was about to kill us."

"Davey, did you?" the blonde haired kid asked.

"No they attacked me," Davey said, "they came up and just starting beating me right here."

Hogarth looked Davey in the eyes and saw him shoot an evil grin towards him. This sent him over the edge as he finally lost his temper and exploded.

"YOU FUCKING LIAR!" he screamed at him, "HE'S LYING, THIS PIECE OF SHIT JUST ATTACKED US RIGHT HERE AND WE JUST WANTED SOME HELP."

Tut pulled him away, "don't make our situation even worse, dude." He then decided to take over the talking. "Look we don't want any trouble, we just want to get up and go alright?"

"Well I guess we can settle this easily, why are you out here anyway," the black haired kid asked.

Hogarth had finally calmed down and decided to talk, "we were heading to find a group out here, it won't be safe out here for much longer so we wanted to find a survival camp out in these parts."

"That's where we've been heading," the blonde said, "if you'd be interested we would happily help you guys get to where you're going."

"You're kidding me, you'd like it if these little brats came along," Davey said angrily.

"Well it sounds like a good idea and we could use the extra help," the black haired kid said.

"Even after what they did to me," Davey snapped.

"Davey after everything you've done on this trip, I highly doubt we're gonna believe you now," the blonde said with a sarcastic look.

Davey didn't want to lose this fight and he wanted this annoying kids out of his way right now. For a brief second he saw Hogarth's bandaged arm and decided to make up a lie in order to have him killed.

"But one of them is bitten," he shrieked.

"What?" the black haired and blonde said in unison.

Everybody seemed shocked by this but the only two who seemed to be incredulous to this statement were Dexter and Tut. Hogarth looked down at his bandaged arm and found that's what they were talking about.

"No, no, no, I...I...I got it when I fell out of a car when this whole thing started," he said firmly "I was never bitten by the walkers."

"Walkers?" the other two boys said confused.

"He's trying to cover it up, shoot him down right now," Davey yelled.

"It's impossible he would've turned by now if he was bitten," Dexter said in defense of his friend.

"I don't understand, what does being bitten have to do with this." Hogarth didn't understand, what would being bitten have to do with any part of this.

"ENOUGH," the black haired kid yelled.

"I'll settle this, I'll see if it really is a bite, Davey go inside the RV and wait," he said.

"No I want him dead now before he..."

"I SAID GO!"

Davey sulked off into the RV and the black haired kid came close to Hogarth.

"Just untie the bandages and I'll see."

Hogarth did as he was told and undid the bandages on his arm. His six week old wound wasn't as bad as before. It was scabbing over and would eventually heal. The boy examined Hogarth's wound and very quickly came to a conclusion.

"He wasn't bitten. This wound is healing fine and if it was a 'walker' bite," he said still confused by that name given to the creatures, "his temperature would be through the roof and he would be coughing up blood."

"I think we should've talked about that Hogarth," Tut said.

"What?"

"If a person is bitten by these things, they'll get very sick and will eventually die," the blonde said, "and then they will end up becoming one of these things."

"We've seen it happen to a lot of people," the black haired boy said.

"Well now that this whole thing is settled, do you guys wanna come with us," the blonde asked.

Each of the boys said yes but in their own different way.

"Sure."

"Why not."

"Certainly would be the best option."

"Will that friend of yours be able to deal with it," Dexter asked.

"He'll be pissed off but he'll eventually give in," the blonde said.

"I'm Hogarth, and these are my friends Dexter and Tutenstein."

"Names Danny, Danny Fenton," the black haired boy said.

"And I'm Arnold," the blonde said.

"Nice to meet you," they each said and they all shook hands. With that they all got into the van but when Davey saw that the boys he wanted dead were still alive he was much displeased.

"YOU DIDN'T KILL THESE FUCKERS," he screamed.

Danny slapped Davey and yelled right in his face.

"Look Davey, we've put up with your shit for a long time now, trying to lie to get us to off three guys on the road is pure bullshit. They are coming with us whether you like it or not so just fucking deal with it and shut the fuck up."

"Fine," he said begrudgingly and slumped back in the driver's seat starting the van.

"How do you put up with this guy," Tut asked.

"Just show him who's boss and don't let him be an asshole to you." Arnold told him

The RV then started and they all started driving down the road.

Elsewhere

The three women were running as fast as they could to try and get back to the campsite. Eventually they came across a gated fence to an area in the middle of a clearing in the woods.

"SAM OPEN THE GATES," Cleo yelled.

Another girl went down and pulled open the gates.

"HURRY GET IN" she shrieked.

They ran right in and they shut the gates right there, locking it with a combination lock.

"I see we have more mouths to feed," the girl named Sam said in a sarcastic but at the same time cheerful tone. This girl named Sam was a goth girl wearing a skirt, thigh high boots, and had black hair (probably dyed) with certain hair accessories.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding anywhere," Annie said worried she probably offended the other girl.

"No don't worry we've got plenty of room here, and it's nice to have new acquaintances," she said with friendly air, "My name is Samantha Manson, but friends call me Sam."

"Annie," she replied as she shook hands with Sam.

"I managed to find several rabbits Sam," Elizabeth said handing over her pack of game to the other girl.

"Good job Elizabeth, this'll last for a good amount of time," Sam said happily.

Just then a little mouse that looked to be about four came running out. She was wearing a ribbon around her waist like a dress and was carrying what looked like a little rag teddy bear.

"Mommy, you're back" the little mouse squealed in delight running into the arms of the mouse with the red cloak.

"Woah, Cynthia careful, you're getting to big for Mommy to hold," Elizabeth said playfully as she embraced what appeared to be her daughter.

"Where are your sister and brothers Cynthia," Elizabeth asked

"They're all playing with Tucker, Mommy," Cynthia said.

"Go along and play with them, I've got some work to finish okay?"

"Okay," the little mouse squeaked before dashing off giggling.

"I always knew that the techno geek had something that was good about him, especially when it came to taking care of children."

"Is that your daughter," Annie asked.

"Yes, she's my youngest actually, I have four children, two boys and two girls," Elizabeth said smiling, "what about you any kids?"

"I only have one son, but he's not here right now," Annie tried to keep from breaking down. She just hoped that wherever her son was he was alright and that he would find her soon. She felt very guilty just leaving him on his own like that. But she brushed those thoughts aside and decided to ask the one question that was on her mind.

"Elizabeth, I don't mean to be intrusive but, why is it that you a mouse, are standing upright, talking to me and have human characteristics," she asked.

"Well here's the thing," Elizabeth said, "I was part of a colony hidden in the mountains called Thorn Valley."

"Thorn Valley, that's up in the mountains near the Catskills isn't it?"

"Yes," Elizabeth said. "Years ago, a group of mice and rats were experimented on by the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH. From these experiments the mice and rats grew human level intelligence and also became human sized as well. One of those mice was my husband Jonathan." Elizabeth explained in full detail.

"Were you one of those mice," Annie asked.

"No, I was just a regular field mouse, however, several NIMH scientists went looking for the mice and rats but in the process they released several of the chemicals that mutated the rats and mice, it then mutated the mice and rats that were in the area and I, along with my family, were one of the many to be exposed.

"So this colony you were part of, what exactly was it," Annie asked still curious as to what it was.

"After we were exposed to the NIMH chemicals we decided to set up a colony in the Catskills where Thorn Valley was. I met Jonathan my husband and we had our four children, it was always kept a secret until now when this whole thing with the undead started. When all the attacks began we tried to secure ourselves to be protected but then Nicodemus passed and everything went to chaos," Elizabeth stopped speaking and looked down at the ground for a moment with a sullen gaze as if she was remembering a horrible memory and trying to suppress it, "anyway I left Thorn Valley with my children and came here."

"Pretty much when the dead came around and everything went to shit, that's when we all got scattered," Sam said as she came up and sat down right next to Annie.

"Elizabeth, I remember you saying you have a husband, where is he" Annie asked.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a couple minutes as tears went down her cheeks. When she spoke her voice was full of sadness, "He disappeared about two years ago, they never found his body. So we just assumed he died."

Annie was immediately filled with regret and guilt and tried her best to apologize. "Elizabeth, I'm very sorry, I shouldn't have asked that," she said, "I didn't mean to offend you in any way."

Elizabeth wiped her tears away with her hands and stood upright and firm. "It's alright, I'm pretty much over it, but I don't feel like talking about it right now."

Annie then turned to Sam about to ask her some questions. "So what about you Sam where were you when this all started?"

"I was just going to junior high and living life as a goth, vegetarian and humanitarian with my boyfriend Danny and a lot of my other friends as well."

"Everything just started and we just left with our families, Tucker and I ran away from the first survival camp we were in and now we're trying to find Danny."

Just then an African American boy of around 14 came in view with the little girl Cynthia and four other children hanging all over him. He and the children were all laughing as he was tackled by the four mice kids.

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh as she got up and walked over to the kids as they tackled the teenage boy.

"Okay kids, I think Tucker's had enough so let him up,"

The kids whined but obliged and got off of Tucker. He then got up and wiped himself clean of dirt and grass.

"Thanks for taking care of my children," she said shaking his hand.

"It was no problem at all, you have very energetic and lovely children," Tucker said in a polite and gentleman like tone.

He then walked over to Sam and sat down wiping his forehead in exhaustion. "Whew those kids are a handful to take care of," he said tiredly.

Elizabeth gathered up the four kids and brought them over to Annie. Of course there was Cynthia, but there was another girl with a bow on her head wearing a dress. Then there were two boys one being chubby and another very skinny.

"Well you already met Cynthia so here are the others. This beautiful little one is Teresa, and the two boys here are Martin and Timmy."

Each of the children said hello to Annie and she kindly returned the greeting.

"What happened out there Mama," Timmy asked.

"We ran into some of those things out there but it was no big deal, we got out just in time."

The pudgy one named Martin picked up a stick and stepped forward, "I should've been there Ma, I would stop those things in a minute cuz I ain't scared of nothin," he said trying to act brave.

"Martin, this is serious, people have died because of these things and we need to stay safe."

"Is she gonna stay with us Mother?" Teresa asked.

"Of course honey, now children why don't you all go down to the lake and get washed up, we're going to have lunch soon."

The children did as they were told and ran off.

"So you said you had a son too, what was he like," Elizabeth asked.

"He's an angel, very kind, energetic, optimistic and musical," Annie said.

"Musical?" Elizabeth asked confused.

"Yes, you know when he was around five years old I went into his room one day and found him listening to all of these old records that my former husband just had in the basement. He started to play guitar after that and he made really good progress. He was always begging me to take him to all of these concerts but I never did it."

Annie couldn't help but laugh as she remembered all of those fond memories she had of her son. Even in this really bad time it's good to think back to happier memories. They make you strong and give you hope that everything will get better.

"I just hope he makes it here," Annie said as she frowned.

"I bet he will, just keep your chin up and keep hoping he'll make it," Elizabeth said as she got up and walked off.

"I know he'll make it," Annie said. She knew that her son was determined and brave and he would do anything to find her.

Well I finally introduced new characters from Danny Phantom and Hey Arnold. Now I know there are plotholes here regarding the Rats of NIMH origins but I must say this isn't canon and it doesn't follow the original story. Either way this chapter got up really good and I'll be starting on the next one as well. For followers of my Underrated Classics series for An American Tail. I will be continuing it as I've come up with new ideas and have gotten back to writing some good chapters. That's all I have to say for now.

VGA