Ch. 10
'Sacrifice Pt. Two'
[Savannah, GA, August 11, Noon]With the sun hanging in the middle of the southern skies the group had opted to leave Savannah after finding the person, dead that they had come all this way for.
"Blake, what do we do?" Summer asked after her brother as he walked briskly through the alleys towards where the RV was left.
"No idea." Blake admitted, still walking in the direction of the RV.
"You actually didn't have a backup plan..." Corrine said, sounding let down.
"Hey!" Blake said, turning around for a moment to get his point across. "I'm trying..." Blake said, before turning back around and continuing.
Blake made it around a corner and nearly ran into a horde of walkers. "Fuck! Other way! Other way!" Blake said, pushing his group back the way they came.
The group ran for only a few feet before they saw more walkers cutting off their escape.
"Fuck!" Blake yelled, in despair.
"Blake!" Genevieve cried in fear clinging to the young man's waist.
"Where do we go!" Corrine asked quickly, keeping herself even-keeled.
Summer pulled her bow and arrow out. "Hurry Blake!" Summer exclaimed, backing away from the horde.
Blake looked around and saw a window, then looked for something to throw finding nothing. "Stay here!" Blake exclaimed, rushing forward to grab the only idea he had.
Blake let the walker lunge for him and was met with a haymaker to the temple knocking it to the ground before it could move it was dragged by its feet then swung in a spin until it was thrown into the window breaking the glass.
"In, now!" Blake ordered, the walker attempting to stand up again.
"The glass..." Melissa muttered, seeing the glass shards that would easily rip them to shreds.
Blake took the walker and slammed its chest into the bottom and cleared the glass before throwing him down again.
"Now!" Blake reiterated, helping Melissa and Corrine through the window.
Blake lifted Genevieve through the window to Melissa then Summer went and Blake began his jump through.
The walkers grabbed Blake's leg mid-jump stopping him short making him slam into the floor cutting his face and hands on the shattered glass Blake kicked himself in further away, before breaking free of the bony fingers belonging to the monsters outside.
"Are you ok?!" Genevieve exclaimed, trying to help him up.
"No bites?" Corrine asked, sounding concerned.
"I'm.." Blake sputtered, getting to his feet in a wobbly manner. "Ya, I'm fine..." Blake said, trying to catch his breath as he looked at the corpses reaching through the window.
After a moment the group made their way through the dimly lit halls.
"How do we get outta here?" Summer asked, feeling fear start to set in.
"We keep moving forward." Blake said, determined to get his group through this ordeal.
"You're bleeding... a lot.." Corrine said, watching the blood drip from his hands and face to the floor leaving a sparse trail.
"It's ok... We'll take care of it later." Blake said, walking in front of the group in order to take on any threat.
Blake opened a door he figured was the exit, opening the door a walker crouched next a rabbit carcass, straightened up at the noise of the door opening, Blake slammed the door shut when the walker growled.
"How the hell do we get outta here?" Blake said out loud, as he led the group in a different direction.
After his question was voiced the ominous sound of growling and labored shuffling of feet met the group's ears and before long a dozen walkers rounded the corner.
"Oh no." Summer beeathed, stepping back.
"We need a way out of here." Blake said to himself, looking for a way out of this predicament.
Blake tried the nearest door to them, quickly finding the knob wouldn't budge. "Damn thing's stuck!" Blake shouted, anger and despair laden in his voice.
"I can fit through that window and unlock it!" Genevieve shouted above the impending doom.
Blake looked up and saw what the young girl was talking about, quickly turning his back to the door, the man cupped his hands for the little girl. "Be very careful, Genevieve!" Blake shouted, just as Genevieve was hoisted up to the window.
Genevieve pulled herself through the window and let herself down as carefully as possible, once on the floor, Genevieve tried the knob with no success, turning around to survey her surroundings Genevieve saw a trail of blood leading to a decaying man holding a key in his hand.
"Genevieve, hurry!" Blake yelled, through the door, fear creeping into his tone.
Genevieve quickly moved to the man's side and hesitantly touched the man's hand trying to open it so she could take the key, the head of the corpse turned towards her, a grumble escaping its throat, Genevieve felt herself go pale as the undead reached to get her, Genevieve ripped the key away and turned to run but was tripped by the walker grabbing her foot, whirling her head around, Genevieve saw the walker trying to crawl up on her, kicking her feet the little girl successfully got away by landing a kick to the walker's face, scrambling up to her feet, Genevieve sprinted to the door, jamming the key in and unlocking the door.
"Hurry!" Genevieve exclaimed, holding the door for her fellow group members.
"Watch out!" Blake exclaimed, immediately closing the distance between the walker and Genevieve.
The walker wobbled up to its feet as Blake slammed a first into its skull sending it down to all fours again, Blake grabbed the walker by its shoulders and threw it against the wall and smashed his knee into its face, squashing the head, sending brain matter in every direction with a sickening splat.
"Maybe we can use the rooftops to escape," Corrine suggested, moving around the walker and up the stairs.
Melissa moved through, then Summer, Blake grabbed Genevieve's hand and ran up the stairs kicking the door shut behind him, immediately the door started shaking from the monsters on the other side pounding on the door, desperate to catch the humans and feed their insatiable hunger.
"Up the stairs! Move it!" Blake exclaimed, behind the group as they made their way up the stairway.
The group heard the roar of the horde underneath them as the door had given way, flooding the stairs beneath the group who proceeded to race up the flights of stairs, at the top of the stairs the door was locked tight.
"Shit... NO!" Blake yelled, desperation seeping into his voice.
"Can you kick it down?!" Melissa asked looking down the stairs for the walkers.
"Not a chance." Blake admitted looking for a way to escape.
Blake noticed a fire axe in a case on the previous flight of stairs. "I'll be back! Watch Genevieve!" Blake yelled over his shoulder to Corrine scooting past Melissa and running down the stairs.
"They're almost here!" Summer cried from a lower level, readying her bow.
"Hold em off!" Blake barked, trying to find something to break the glass on the case.
Summer fired two arrows each killing a walker sending them back down the stairs knocking some of their brethren down with them.
"Blake!" Summer screamed as she fired another arrow hitting a walker in the mouth.
"Ahh!" Blake yelled, using his elbow to break the glass and pulling the axe out. "C'mon!" Blake exclaimed, ushering his sister back up the stairs.
Summer fired another arrow hitting another enemy in the eye before backing up.
Blake swung the axe at the knob taking the whole housing off.
Summer fired her last arrow hitting the walker above the left eyebrow sending him crumbling to the floor.
Blake then swung the axe where the latch would be, swingingng the weapon until finally, Blake was able to kick the door open, then immediately Blake whirled around and swung the axe around, hitting the closest walker with the side of the weapon causing the corpse to fall into the rest of the walkers slowing them down enough for the group to escape.
Blake slammed the door closed behind him and propped the door with the axe before turning to see what the group could do to get away.
"Where do we go?" Corrine asked in a reserved tone voicing the entire group's concern out loud.
Just then the door burst open Blake being the nearest slammed it in the walker's face and threw his might into the door trying to keep it shut.
"Please! ... Hurry!" Blake yelled exerting his strength against the horde of walkers and losing rapidly.
Summer ran to the edge and saw a rooftop slightly lower than the one they were on. "We can jump!" Summer exclaimed motioning to the gap of air between them and safety.
"Do it!" Blake yelled straining against the monsters the door was now half way open.
Summer jumped the gap landing with her top half over the ledge pulling herself up easily. "Corrine jump!" Summer called from the other building.
Corrine jumped the space forearms landing first a slight crack coming from her arms as she pulled herself up.
"Melissa!" Summer yelled over the walkers who were nearly through the door.
Melissa ran forward and jumped barely making it Corrine and Summer grabbed a hold of her and pulled the woman up.
Blake hopped away from the door as it swung open he turned and was surprised to see Genevieve still on the roof with him. "What're you doing here?!" Blake exclaimed looking at the adults across the way.
"I can't jump that far.." Genevieve said fear laden in her voice.
"It's ok lil lady!" Blake said worry creeping into his voice.
Blake turned Genevieve to face Summer, Melissa and Corrine and then wrapped his arms around her torso and lifting her off her feet. "Do you trust me?!" Blake asked quickly looking behind him the walkers seeing they were closing the distance.
"Yes." Genevieve whispered with a shaky breath.
Upon her response Blake threw Genevieve across the gap the women catching Genevieve as she cleared the gap completely once she got her bearings she turned back to see Blake being neared by walkers. "Blake!" Genevieve screamed being held back by Corrine.
"Jump!" Summer yelled to her brother fear of him being lost in her voice.
Blake couldn't back up and have a running start like the others, but he did leap for his life landing chest first with a loud crack of his ribs.
Genevieve got out of Corrine's grip and rushed to help Blake up the others close behind pulling the man up to safety.
"Agh! ... ahh.. oh.." Blake groaned rolling on to his back shielding the sun with one hand the other pressing on his ribs.
"Move your arm please." Melissa spoke quickly guiding his arm away from his ribs before softly pressing on his ribs finding broken bones. "You've broken three ribs." Melissa briefs analytically.
"Agh.. Cool. That's.. Exactly what I meant to do by the way.." Blake said hoisting himself up.
The group walked across the rooftops with less drama since their unwanted followers couldn't apparently jump.
After a few hours of enduring the heat of the Georgia sun the group saw the RV.
"We did it.." Blake said tiredly holding pressure on his ribs.
The group came upon the edge of their current roof and saw no ground only the horde of walkers below milling around aimlessly.
"Shit.." Blake said letting out a sigh.
"Bad word.." Genevieve reminded quickly.
"Crap." Blake corrected himself not missing a beat.
"We better get going." Corrine said sliding on an incline roof to a flat one.
The rest of the group followed suit Blake holding Genevieve during his descent.
"So.." Summer said as she slid stumbling slightly at her landing point. "What now? Where do we go?" Summer asked as the group walked.
"Still not sure.." Blake said still looking forward.
"We can't just wander aimlessly. We need a plan." Corrine said sternly as the group readied to jump to a school rooftop.
Melissa, Summer and Corrine made the jump with ease but the gap was still out of Genevieve's range.
"You can toss her correct?" Corrine inquired standing ready to catch the girl.
"What do you think?" Blake asked Genevieve checking if she trusted him since he was now injured.
Genevieve looked at Blake's arm cradling his broken ribs then back up to his gaze.
"Yes." Genevieve said trying to seem courageous.
"You sure?" Blake asked again sternly.
"Y-yes!" Genevieve reiterated slightly less confident.
Blake took his free arm and made a seat for Genevieve which she got on Blake then stood up straight hoisting the little girl up with him with a groan Blake threw Genevieve to the women Genevieve felt the emptiness under her nothing but air she felt the gravity pushing her back down Genevieve fell into the arms of Corrine safe on the other side of the gap.
Blake stood hand on his knee catching his breath after pain shot through his right side after a moment he stood straight and stepped backwards a few feet before sprinting forward and jumping clearing the gap fairly easily.
"Are you ok?" Summer asked concern creeping into her voice.
"I'm fine." Blake said straightening up from catching his breath.
The group walked slower so Blake wouldn't over exert himself as they passed slowly over the rotting roof of the school.
"Once we get to the other side of this building then what?" Summer asked as she walked next to Blake.
"We'll.. See how many walkers are down there.. And if we get a chance maybe we can do what the girl in Tennessee showed us." Blake explained his plan so far.
Summer kept pace while she had a thought. "Blake why d--" Summer started but was silenced when the roof gave way under Genevieve sending her to the floor below them.
"Genevieve!" The group said in almost unison.
The group saw Genevieve roll from her side onto her back with a whimper the girl then bolted upright when she heard the gurgling moan of walkers.
When the sound reached Blake's ears he didn't think for a second longer. "Nope. Fuck that." Blake said to himself not allowing the little girl to be eaten by the dead.
Blake dropped into the hole landing next to Genevieve with a thud a d aggravating his injured ribs.
"Blake!" Summer barely whispered after her brother in fear.
"You ok lil lady?" Blake asked as he helped Genevieve to her feet.
"I-I'm ok." Genevieve said getting up from the floor and holding onto Blake as she heard the walkers become agitated as they roared growls of the undead filling the room.
Blake looked for a way out not finding much besides the way they got in here Blake then looked straight ahead knowing full well what was going to be done.
[Unknown]
A dark skinned man in a white suit appeared out of the pure white that now surrounded Blake.
"It's good to see you Blake." The man said lovingly sounding like an old friend.
"Uh.. It's been a sec.." Blake said not knowing this man at all but playing along.
"I'm glad you decided to do this." The man said a smile on his face.
Blake shifted his weight from foot to the other awkwardly. "I love Genevieve." Blake admitted.
"She needs that in her life." The man said pacing slowly and calmly. "I'm sorry about what is about to happen." The man said sadly.
Blake's face fell understanding what the man in white most likely meant. "Shit... well.. Genevieve needs me to." Blake said trailing off. "Will Summer be ok?" Blake asked.
The man gave a knowing smile and walked up to Blake putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad that you care more about the others than yourself." He said his smile widening. "It's up to her if she will live on." The man said seriously.
Blake stared forward into space. "Alright. Let's do this." Blake said calmly.
[Savannah High school, afternoon]
Blake snapped back to reality and saw the first walker enter the room Blake spun the girl to face him.
"I love you." Blake stated calmly a small smile forming.
"Blake?" Genevieve said not understanding his calmness.
"Never ever give up." Blake said kissing Genevieve on the forehead.
"What do you mean?" Genevieve questioned again allowing his kiss.
"Gimme your foot." Blake said once again not answering the question.
Genevieve obeyed setting her foot in his cupped hands. "I-I'm scared.." Genevieve stammered out.
"It's ok Genevieve." Blake said with a smile.
Blake then saw the first Walker nearing Blake tensed as he got ready to throw the girl up to the women above his ribs shooting pain into him his hands still slick with his blood his brow mixing sweat and blood.
"Summer here she comes. Melissa, Corrine help Summer." Blake ordered hoisting the little girl up into the air Genevieve was caught by Summer who nearly fell into the hole had Melissa and Corrine not grabbed her.
Setting the girl on safe rooftop Summer looked down in time to see Blake curb stomp a walker's head. "Blake.. It's your turn!" Summer said with slight hesitation noticing the distance between her brother and herself.
"I can't make that jump Summer.." Blake informed with a somber tone.
"What? No. I won't leave you." Summer started to ramble.
"Summer.." Blake said.
Summer got down on her knees and swung her first leg over. "I'll come down I'll help." Summer continued.
"No.." Blake said sadly.
Summer swung her other leg over the edge. "It's ok I'll be right there." Summer said her voice growing frantic.
"NO!" Blake yelled louder than she had ever heard him.
Summer froze at the sound of his voice she pulled herself back up tears starting to spill. "But Blake I need you.." Summer whimpered.
"I know... I need you.." Blake admitted as another walker lunged at him and thrown away. "Take care of Genevieve! No matter what!" Blake shouted up to his sister.
"I.." Summer said before starting to cry.
"Never give up! Swear to me Summer! Give me that much!" Blake shouted with a serious tone.
"I.. I promise... I'll do it!" Summer promised in between sobs.
"Now run!" Blake yelled at the group.
"We-we have to save him!" Genevieve said moving to the hole.
"We have to go.." Summer said quietly tears running down her face.
"No we have to save him!" Genevieve running towards the hole but was caught in Summer's arm and wrapped up.
"No let me go! No! Blaaake!" Genevieve screamed crying thrashing in Summer's arm getting loose from the teenagers grasp before being caught again by the wrist the little girl wrestled until she heard glass under her break crying let her self fall to the ground making Summer drag her. "Bl.. Blaaakke!" The little sobbed as she was dragged Summer mirroring the girl crying as well.
"Do what he said. Do what he said. Do what he told you to do." Summer thought over and over in her head.
The now smaller group made their way down to ground level and made their way to the RV but found it had been stripped of its battery, oil filter and tires. The group after a moment made their way to the train yard.
The group found one locomotive still there with one car attached behind.
"Can anyone drive a train?" Melissa asked wiping a few tears from her eyes.
"I can't." Corrine said still climbing into it.
The group followed suit Corrine found a notepad with instructions on how to start the train pencil rubbed onto the paper.
"This will help." Corrine announced quietly.
"So we can get it started do we know how to move it?" Melissa asked.
"No. But we'll have to figure out." Corrine said looking for the appropriate switches to get the train started. "I hope there's fuel in this." Corrine said to herself.
Melissa stepped out of the engine and made her way to the car where Summer and Genevieve had gone to.
She stepped in and saw Genevieve and Summer sitting across the car from each other Melissa also saw scissors and broken glass as well as cut curly hair in a heap on the floor of the train car.
After a few moments they could hear the engine roar to life.
"Are you guys ok?" Melissa asked the two but received no answer.
The train lurched forward a few feet but then stopped.
"Where are we going. We need a destination." Corrine said ducking into the car.
Summer stood up and turned to the women. "Amanda." Summer said, wiping her dried tears as more fell. "Amanda told us we can come back." Summer explained, trying to stay sane.
"Where is she." Corrine asked calmly.
"Chattanooga." Summer answered promptly.
"According to the map that was left in the engine we will have to go through Atlanta then we come to a tee-off that will send us to Chattanooga." Corrine briefed showing the adults the map tracing their path with her finger.
"Ok." Summer said, nodding and stepping back to her previous seat.
The train made steady progress towards Atlanta.
Summer had waited until Genevieve fell asleep and stood at the edge of the car contemplating. "How can I.." Summer thought to herself. "This is as far as I can go.." Summer whispered to herself.
Genevieve laid looking at the wall her head laying on her new backpack her eyes running with tears her lip quivering and regret heavy in her heart she took a quiet but shaky breath before saying what she wanted to tell him.
"I love you too Blake.."