Ch. 5
'Still running. Pt. One'
[Near Ashton, ID, Morning]
The sun rose over the horizon lighting everything in a beautiful glow.
An alfalfa bale was set in the pasture Blake then cut the twine before looking at the rising sun.
"I'm getting used to having you around." Steven said with his hands in his jacket pockets as he walked out up to Blake.
"G'morning." Blake said rolling up the twine and turning to face the older man.
Blake noticed a little girl running to catch up with old man.
"Got a little follower today?" Blake asked stuffing the twine in his pocket.
Steven turned to see his granddaughter racing up behind him. "I sure do apparently." Steven said putting an arm around Genevieve who looked tired.
"Up early aren't you girlie?" Blake asked with a smile.
"Yes." Genevieve answered tiredly with a smile.
"You've been a big help 'round here this past week." Steven said gesturing to the cattle grazing a short distance away with his free hand.
"Glad to help." Blake answered honestly.
[Two hours later, Guest house]
Summer opened her eyes groggily tears pasted over her eyes she sat up rubbing at her eyes Summer got up and walked to the window looking out Summer was unfazed by the breathtaking view retreating downstairs Summer walked into the kitchen Melissa was sitting at the island sipping what Summer assumed was coffee.
"Morning." Melissa whispered sweetly.
"Morning." Summer replied without any enthusiasm opening the fridge.
"Blake is taking care of the morning chores." Melissa informed.
Summer mumbled something as she pulled out a yogurt cup.
"Jenny's still asleep." Melissa continued.
Summer didn't respond as she looked for a spoon.
"And Jaime is working on the car. Blake told him how to take the piece off." Melissa concluded her briefing.
Summer sat down at the island with her yogurt and her head down. "Ok.." Summer said somberly.
Melissa looked at the broken-hearted teenager. "I know this is a hard time and it may not get any easier.. But you'll get stronger.
Summer looked at the blonde woman with sad eyes. "What if I don't want to get stronger." Summer asked with a sniffle.
Melissa thought before she answered. "Well.. Try for Blake. He needs you Summer." Melissa said encouragement in her voice.
There was a small knock at the front door catching the attention of the two women prompting Summer to go and answer the door.
"Hi." Genevieve said sweetly standing on the porch.
Summer looked for the child's parents then back to her. "Hi.. Can I get you something?" Summer asked.
"Grandpa wants me to go walk the ducks to the creek. And Blake wanted me to come get you first." Genevieve informed.
Summer looked at the small child who was rocking on her feet for a moment before answering. "Ok." Summer said reaching down grabbing her shoes. "Here.." Summer said mostly to herself as she sat in the doorway trying her shoes. "Let's go." Summer said standing once again.
The two walked down the sidewalk and across the gravel driveway to the small duck house.
Summer pulled the doorway out which fell softly into a ramp for the waterfowl that immediately started walking out three adults and six ducklings.
Genevieve watched intently as the animals waddled towards the creek both her and Summer following.
"Kinda cute huh?" Summer asked walking behind Genevieve with her hands in her pockets.
"Yes. I like how fuzzy the babies look." Genevieve said with a happy tone.
"Ya.. They're pretty fuzzy." Summer said half-heartedly.
The duo walked with the ducks down to the creek and watched as the ducks waded into the water.
"So why're you dressed up?" Summer asked noticing Genevieve was wearing the white dress she was found in.
"It's Sunday. Mommy likes us to dress up for Jesus." Genevieve explained truthfully.
"Makes sense." Summer said looking at the clouds. 'Could you really be up there.. I hope so...' Summer thought to herself.
[In the machine shed]
Blake stepped in through the large double doors. "How's things going?" Blake asked stepping over a tool set laid out.
"I think I.." Ruiz said effort evident in his voice. "Got it.." Ruiz said with a final heave the piece gave way spilling fuel onto Ruiz. "¡Mierda!" Ruiz exclaimed as he put his finger in the hole.
"What the fuck happened?!" Blake exclaimed closing the distance quickly falling to his knees to better help the officer.
"Fuel!" Ruiz sputtered as he tried to wipe his face and eyes with his free arm.
"Here!" Blake said handing Ruiz the new hose.
"Thanks." Ruiz said taking the new piece.
A gunshot rung out causing Blake to stand up shock and fear at what that maybe.
"What the fuck just happened?!" Ruiz exclaimed struggling to put the hose on as quickly as possible.
Blake stepped out of the machine shed and another shot rang out making Blake jump slightly he turned towards the sound immediately sprinting in the direction of the thunderous sound.
"What's wrong!?" Blake asked skidding to a stop next to Steven holding a hunting rifle.
Steven lowered the weapon as Blake saw the corpse laying on the ground across the creek and Summer and Genevieve on the ground the ducks sounding the alarm as they hurried their young back to safety.
"Holy shit." Blake said moving around Steven towards the girls. "You ok?!" Blake asked helping the girls up.
"M-monster!" Genevieve exclaimed breathing heavy grabbing a hold of Blake's outstretched hand.
Blake pulled the girls up to their feet Ruiz came barreling down towards the creek.
"What happened?!" Ruiz asked before he noticed the corpse. "Even out here..." Ruiz muttered.
"Likely by itself." Steven assured the group.
"Let's hope so." Blake said leading the girls away from the scene.
Ruiz caught up with Blake and the girls holstering his pistol.
"I got it fixed." Ruiz said walking next to Blake.
"Good. Start it up?" Blake asked as the girls headed inside as the men went towards the machine shed.
"It wouldn't start." Ruiz admitted.
"What?!" Blake exclaimed stopping to face Ruiz. "Shit!" Blake said walking briskly towards the machine shed.
Walking passed the tool set and opening the SUV door the interior lights came on Blake reached around the wheel and gave the key a turn listening for a second before stopping.
"Gas." Blake said simply walking out of the shed again. "Just needs some gas." Blake explained as Ruiz hurried to stay by Blake's side.
"So we're gonna ask Steven if we can pull the SUV over to the fuel station?" Ruiz asked keeping pace.
"Yup." Blake confirmed walking towards Steven's house.
Blake stepped up the porch and knocked on the door the door was answered by Steven's wife.
"Ma'am. Uh.. Is Steven in?" Blake asked.
"Blake. You can call me Brenda. And yes he's with Genevieve in the living room." Brenda informed the two men.
The duo entered the house and proceeded to the living room where they found Steven sitting on the couch with a shaken but composed Genevieve her parents pacing worried that the corpses could come again.
"Steven. Is there anyway we could use your truck to pull the SUV over to the station?" Blake asked standing in the doorway.
"Uh. Sure I'll get the keys." Steven said getting up from the couch and disappearing into a hall returning moments later with the key.
"Be quick." Steven said handing the keys to Blake.
"You bet." Blake answered walking back out of the house.
After exiting Blake walks towards the truck Ruiz walks towards the shed to find a chain Blake pulled around with an old seventy's style Chevy truck Ruiz pulled an old thick chain wrapping it under the frame of both vehicles before jumping in the SUV.
"Go slow!" Ruiz said peeking his head out the window.
"Ya. Sure." Blake said before readjusting in his seat.
Ruiz flipped the ignition to the on position and put the vehicle in neutral Blake pulled the SUV down the drive and turned right.
[Guest house]
"You seem fine." Melissa said analytically as she scanned Summer's wrist.
"You sure?" Summer asked rubbing her wrist.
"Pretty sure." Melissa assured standing up and turning to the kitchen sink.
"Like why wasn't I woken up early?" Jenny asked eating a late breakfast.
"No one knew you wanted to be woken up." Summer said starting towards the stairs to the second floor.
A knock at the front door stopped Summer who now went to answer it.
Opening the door Summer was greeted by Brenda.
"Hey.." Summer said giving a half-hearted wave.
"Hi. You alright?" Brenda asked quickly.
"Yes.. Thanks for asking." Summer said looking out into the yard.
"We're having lunch in about half an hour. If you're interested." Brenda invited.
"I'll let the others know." Summer said simply.
"Ok.. I'll see you then." Brenda called after Summer as the door was closed.
[Main house, half hour later]
Genevieve sat at the table it looked to her more like a brunch she believed she heard her mommy call it.
Blake The police officer had just made it back and were sitting down to eat.
Summer and Melissa and Jenny sat down too.
Then mommy and daddy did too.
Summer watched as the little girl analyzed everything around her.
A noise from outside cut the chatter inside the house the men all stood up Brenda as well and proceeded to the kitchen window.
"I'll get my gun." Steven said walking briskly down the hall.
"Nowhere is safe." Blake said with frustration as the cattle sounded the alarm.
"¿Por qué no podemos quenos en paz?" Ruiz asked himself in frustration.
Steven came back through the hall and made his way to the door and opened it upon opening Steven noticed more than just one.
"Blake! Jaime! Jeff!" Steven called out the men followed his voice to the front door. "There's a bunch of em. And I bet their headin' for the pasture." Steven assumed holding his rifle skyward.
"What do you want us to do?" Blake asked cracking his knuckles.
"I.." Steven started to say before he was interrupted by a corpse that growled loudly as it made its way to the meals waiting in the doorway.
Steven raised the gun to his shoulder and fired hitting the corpse in the face all the corpses made their way towards the gunshot quickly the group noticed how large the horde was.
Ruiz pulled his pistol out and fired hitting a corpse in the head.
"Shit!" Blake exclaimed noticing more getting ready to pass the vehicles "We gotta go!" Blake said matter of factly.
"They've blocked the cars off!" Ruiz yelled shooting another corpse.
"Get the girls upstairs!" Steven shouted firing another shot.
Melissa and Brenda stood gathering the younger girls up the stairs.
"Wait! Blake!" Summer screamed as she was pushed up the stairs.
"Daddy!" Genevieve cried out as she was making her way up the stairs.
"We can't last stand this shit!" Blake yelled bursting into the kitchen finding a knife he handed it to Jeff.
"Go for the head." Ruiz instructed the group.
Steven fired a shot defacing one of the corpses causing it to fall to the ground motionless Ruiz fired twice second one killing Steven tried to fire again but found he had expended the last of his ammunition.
"Blake! Go get the ammo out of my room it's under the bed!" Steven ordered with Blake obeying immediately running into the hallway and disappearing into the bedroom.
The first few reached the porch steps as Ruiz fired another round hitting the head of one of them he fired again yielding only a clicking sound.
"Maldita sea!" Ruiz exclaimed as the horde poured started to pour onto the steps.
"Back up!" Jeff yelled to his comrades as he pushed through and stabbed one in the head wrestling the knife free he went for another stabbing it as well a corpse lunged grabbing Jeff's stabbing hand and bit into his wrist.
"NOO!" Steven yelled watching his son-in-law get bitten.
Jeff wrestled his wrist free holding it in pain a slew of corpses grabbed him pulling him into the fray of undead being ripped apart stalling the onslaught for only a minute Blake ran back with the ammo box opened and ready.
"Here! I--" Blake started before seeing the horrific scene. "Fuck.." Blake said in a saddened tone.
"No!" Steven yelled swiping at the horde with the back of the rifle with little effect.
Ruiz attempted to stop him but Steven was a large man that was angry.
The horde were no longer occupied and now staggered for Steven who was taken by surprise as they overwhelmed him quickly.
"Up the fucking stairs!" Blake yelled to Ruiz as he tried to slam the door shut without much success.
"What about you?!" Ruiz questioned knowing what could happen.
"Get up there and hide I'll try to out maneuver them! Now get!" Blake yelled again straining against the door with all his might but finding quickly he wasn't strong enough.
Ruiz bounded up the stairs and into the room where everyone else was.
"Where's Blake!!??" Summer demanded in fear.
"Downstairs." Ruiz said breathlessly.
"WHAT!?" Summer screamed practically throwing Ruiz out of the way but as she tried to open the room door Ruiz recovered and practically picking up Summer who started kicking, Flailing and screaming with tears bursting causing Genevieve in the corner with her mother to start crying.
Ruiz wrapped Summer up and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Summer please calm down!" Ruiz whispered pleadingly as Summer was breathing heavy from her fight against her restraints trying to break free again. "Please!" Ruiz whispered pleadingly again. "I'm letting you go. Ok?" Ruiz said slowly removing his hands.
After being released Summer went immediately to a fetal position crying silently heaving as she did so Jenny had been crying before any of the rest.
Pulling a gun out of her purse Genevieve's mother looked at it in her hands feeling it's weight her husband said only if it was the only choice and with the roaring of the horde below them this was the only choice The mother lifted her eyes to her crying daughter.
"Come here Genevieve."
Heavy heavy! well see ya soon with the next half of episode 3!