Ch. 9
'Sacrifice Pt. One'
[Outside of Chattanooga, night]
The group had walked for a half hour the highway was congested with vehicles Blake was still carrying Genevieve, Melissa and Summer were walking behind them.
They all stopped upon the sight of an RV.
"Wow." Blake said adjusting his hold on Genevieve to ensure she wouldn't fall. "Pretty good shape." Blake breathed as Genevieve squirmed signalling she wanted to get down and rest Blake obliged setting her down and heading for the vehicle to inspect it.
Melissa helped Genevieve onto the hood of a car after asking for permission.
Summer remembered she had grabbed shoes for the child and pulled her backpack off setting it down she unzipped it and pulled the small pair of shoes out. "Here ya go hope they fit.." Summer said as she passed by setting them in the kid's lap.
"Thank you." Genevieve said in a small voice.
Melissa unshouldered the black rucksack that had once belonged to Jenny and handed to Summer as she went by.
Summer walked up into the RV and looked around for a moment before setting Jenny's backpack and opened it up finding some food, a water bottle three quarters full some make up and a magazine Summer didn't recognize setting the others stuff down she pulled it out and opened it before shutting it quickly and throwing it away.
"You idiot.." Summer muttered to her dead friend. "You..." Summer tried to say before the tears broke through and she let herself sob.
Summer hadn't finished having her moment when she heard a calm voice. "Don't scream." A woman's voice said.
Summer froze not daring to get back on her feet.
"What's your name?" The voice asked.
"Why should I tell you? Summer asked wiping her eyes dry.
"I don't want to hurt you. I could have killed you awhile ago." The voice pointed out.
Summer thought about this before answering. "Summer..." the teen answered with a sniffle.
"How many of you are there?" The voice asked.
"This many." Blake answered from the entrance with Genevieve and Melissa behind him Blake had his gun drawn.
"If I wanted to hurt anyone I could have." The woman said raising her hands.
Summer scrambled up and quickly bolted to her allies she turned around to see a woman close to her thirties.
"Well then want do you want?" Blake asked still aiming for the woman's head.
"You're in my RV." The woman explained calmly.
"What makes you think it's yours?" Blake asked challengingly.
The woman dropped her hands. "My name's on the title." The woman said matter of factly.
Blake's aim faltered for a moment before lowering the weapon.
"You aren't with the bandits are you?" The woman asked.
The group looked at each other before Blake looked at the woman. "Hell no." Blake answered honestly.
The woman watched for any sign of dishonesty before eyeing the child they had with them.
Genevieve shrunk behind Blake when she made eye contact with the woman but made a small wave to her.
The woman gave a soft smile before looking back to the adults. "Can anyone help me change tires?" The woman asked.
Blake put a hand up hesitantly.
"My name is Corrine." The woman introduced herself.
"Blake.. c'mon. You stay in front of me." Blake said letting the new woman out of the RV.
Genevieve hopped on the bed in the back of the RV and looked at her new shoes.
Summer walked to the back as well seeing the little girl she sat on the side of the bed next to Genevieve.
"I got something for you..." Summer said holding the former backpack of Jenny.
Genevieve crawled over to swing her legs over the side. "W-what is it?" Genevieve asked noting this was probably the first time they were having an actual conversation.
I'm gonna let you hold on to ... my friend's backpack." Summer stalled thinking of Jenny's demise.
"Oh. Ok." Genevieve said as Summer put the pack gently in her hands Genevieve looked at the slightly worn rucksack.
"You'll be watching over our food." Summer said simply.
"What? Why?" Genevieve asked intimidated by the important task.
"Because the grown ups are going to be taking care of the weapons." Summer pointed out.
Summer started to get up. "Um. Wait.." Genevieve said stopping Summer.
Summer turned back to the child.
"What about my backpack?" Genevieve asked.
"We can just leave it behind." Summer said nonchalantly.
"But..." Genevieve held a backpack in each hand. "My parents bought me this one.." Genevieve said sadly.
Summer recoiled internally she did understand the pain of losing both parents. "Transfer what's in your old one to the new.. and maybe remove something from the old one to remember them by." Summer offered.
"Ok.. can I borrow your knife? I will have to cut it out." Genevieve said.
Summer removes her knife gifted to her by Amanda and handed it to Genevieve.
"Thank you.." Genevieve said in a somber tone.
Summer left without another word.
Blake had finished putting on the last donut tire when Summer stepped out to see how things were going.
"All good?" Summer asked lingering in the doorway.
"Ya.." Blake confirmed getting off his knees. "Found a good tire and three donuts." Blake informed.
"How far do you think they will get us?" Summer asked crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame.
"Fifty miles." Blake said looking down at his and Corrine's work. "Let's pile in." Blake said walking towards the door.
Everyone found a seat and Blake jumped in the driver's seat and turned the key hearing nothing.
"Um... Shit." Blake muttered angry with the fact everything seemed to be going wrong.
"Bad word." Genevieve said popping up next to Blake.
"Crap." Blake quickly responded getting a satisfied smile from Genevieve. "Well... I guess I'll go see if I can find the problem." Blake announced getting up from the driver's seat.
"Can I come?" Genevieve asked trotting after the young man.
"You betcha!" Blake said stepping out of the RV. "But stay close." Blake added.
"Ok." Genevieve replied following after him.
The duo walked to the front of the vehicle and someone inside popped the hood for them Blake lifted it up and handed Genevieve a flashlight.
"Don't wave that around. It's a beacon to anyone out here." Blake said as Genevieve lit up the area.
"Is this good?" Genevieve asked standing up on her toes.
"Uhh... how about... you get on my back. You'll be taller then." Blake suggested kneeling down and letting the little girl climb up.
"Better?" Genevieve asked once they made their way up again.
"Ya." Blake said looking over the battery. "Battery looks fine.. so let's check the connection.. To the starter." Blake said to himself and Genevieve.
Blake took her hand that was holding the light in his and gently guided her across the line they needed to check.
"Hm. Easy fix. Hopefully." Blake said to himself. "Alright." Blake said letting Genevieve down. "Thanks for the help. I'll take the light. You go let someone know to try and turn the engine over." Blake said replacing the light back on the spot where the problem was.
Genevieve ran back into RV. "Can someone help me turn the engine over?" Genevieve asked.
"Sure." Corrine said from the passenger seat.
As Corrine tried to start the engine Blake touched his pocket knife to the wire and starter creating a small spark starting the engine.
Blake then shut the hood and got in the vehicle. "Good ya got gas in it already." Blake said looking at the gauge.
"It was something I could fix myself." Corrine said simply.
The group finally resumed their journey to Savannah, Georgia.
[Eight hours later]
The adults took turns driving in two hour shifts
The sun was about to peek over the skyline of Savvanah.
"Well took a sec since we went around Atlanta.. but we made it!" Blake said to a barely awake Genevieve in the passenger seat.
After a few minutes the rest of the group woke up to see Savvanah.
"Why are you taking us here anyway?" Corrine inquired.
"I know a guy." Blake answered. "Doomsday enthusiast." Blake clarified.
"Will he be able to take us on?" Corrine asked as they neared the city.
"Guess we'll have to hope so." Blake said plainly.
"Hoping for things isn't as beneficial as many think.." Corrine pointed out somberly.
The group exited the RV after their highway was blocked the group used the alleys to maneuver the dilapidated city.
After half an hour the group made it to Blake's friend's street.
"This is the street." Blake announced unceremoniously.
"No walkers... yet. That's good right?" Summer asked following her brother down the street.
"As long as we find out where they went.." Corrine said ominously.
"Hopefully we won't see any while we're in the city." Melissa said trying to exude optimism. "Doubtful I know." Melissa added.
The group made it to the destination without any problems Blake knocked on the door receiving no answer Blake knocked louder.
"Not so loud!" Summer exclaimed in a hushed tone.
Blake stayed his hand at his sister's words. "I hope he's alright." Blake murmered to himself.
Blake then took a step back and kicked the door. "Agh! Yap, nope." Blake said holding his leg. "Let's try around back.." Blake said walking back down the steps and opening the gate leading to the yard.
The backyard seemed untouched until the group saw the backdoor chopped down hanging from the bottom hinge.
"Fuck.." Blake muttered in fear running up the stairs and entered carefully.
He was found the place was ransacked from top to bottom.
"I'm sorry for your friend." Corrine expressed as she stepped inside the house.
"Haven't found him yet. So hold on with your condolences!" Blake hissed running up the stairs.
Blake went to his buddy's room and saw that the door to the room had been hacked by an axe but was still mostly intact. "Shit." Blake exclaimed as he tried to open the door. "Hey man it's Blake!" Blake said.
Blake heard noise inside the room Blake looked around for something to get the door open since he assumed it was locked by multiple locks same as his front door was.
Blake found an axe head but the handle had been slipped out, Blake picked it up then looked for something to use as a handle.
After a few minutes Blake still hadn't found anything. "H-hey Blake!" Genevieve called out.
Blake made his way over to her. "What's up?" Blake asked sounding a bit somber.
"Um.. could you use this?" Genevieve asked offering a piece of lead pipe.
"Ya.. where'd you get this?" Blake asked holding the pipe in his hands.
"Outside." Genevieve answered pointing to the backyard.
"Well.. thanks for finding this but stay with an adult. Ok?" Blake said hands on his knees so he was at her eye level.
"Ok. I will." Genevieve replied with a faint smile.
Blake used what duct tape he had and fashioned an axe from the pieces Blake took the new tool up stairs and proceeded to hack at the door eventually the door gave way simultaneously with the axe.
Blake was met with the horrific sight of his friend hanging from the ceiling still moving as he had become a walker. "How.." Blake muttered in disbelief. "He's not bitten.." Blake murmered.
"Don't let Genevieve come up here.." Blake called down the stairs.
The adults assumed he had found a gruesome scene all but Summer went up the stairs.
Melissa crept into the room finding Blake on his knees with a piece of paper in his hand and a walker hung from the ceiling. "I'm sorry." Melissa said placing a hand on Blake's shoulder.
Blake handed the paper to her which she took realizing it was a hastily scrawled suicide note, after reading it Melissa dropped the paper in horror at the revelation.
"06/26/12 ~ The bandits are at the door they'll be in soon this is what I get for trying to steal food using the dead to rout there forces it had worked for a moment but my luck's run out they tracked me back home they've ransacked the place and now I'm about to find the end of my rope.PS. If anyone finds this please put me out of my misery. ~ Bill"
Blake saw the paper fall out of his peripheral vision. "He's not bit." Blake said in a small voice.
"But.. that would mean..." Melissa couldn't finish her sentence.
Blake filled her silence.
"We're all gonna turn even if we aren't bit."