~ Luke ~

"Most of these towns have been evacuated by themselves. Hearing the news from other cities sets them packing, we've seen it before." Dominik was scouting the aisles for anything he could grab.

"It's that bad huh? I just don't know why we didn't hear about this until last night." I stuffed some boxes of bandaids and a bag of chips into my backpack.

"They probably didn't want worldwide chaos. Look what happened to your city."

"Fair enough." I peeked over the top of the shelves, "This place is pretty much looted though."

Dominik held up a hand sized box, "Yeah, but like we said. They miss some good things." He tossed the box over and I caught it.

"Really?" Big bold letters on the box spelled out Condoms.

Dominik wheezed and snorted. "Yes! They aren't only for what you think. They can transfer water from point A to point B. I read it in a book one time, very helpful I'd say."

I put them in a separate pouch so they didn't mix with the essentials.

The entire store was picked clean for the most part. All the canned food went first, I'm guessing. There was a few half gallons of milk left in the refrigerated section, but the power has been off for some time. So the milk looked more like cottage cheese. In the last aisle I checked, there were a few dented cans of green beans and two bottles of water tipped over in the back of a small beverage fridge.

We had time to kill, so I dropped onto my stomach and searched beneath the shelving. I remember when I was young and put toys I wanted, but couldn't get, under them in hopes no one would take them.

"It's worth a shot I guess."

Right before the thought of giving up crossed my mind, a small jar revealed itself. I reached in and batted it my fingers to get it to roll to me. It rolled out with its red wrapper hanging loose that clearly said Peanut Butter.

"Jackpot!"

I tossed it in my pack and scanned the rest to be safe. The only other treasure I found was a plastic honey jar in the shape of a bear.

"My side is clear. Ready to head out when you are." I called out while dusting my pants.

"All good over here. Let's head out, it's close to 10 minutes anyhow."

"I found some peanut butter and honey under one of the shelves. What was your best find?" I asked stashing the backpacks into the van.

"Probably the condoms." We both cracked up laughing.

★★★★★

"Shouldn't Ralph be here by now?" I traced my finger over Ronda's closed blade.

I didn't notice it before, but there's something about a deserted town that gave you the chills. The only sounds were the papers running along the ground, the distant song of a wind chime, a dog barking here and there and the thoughts that raced in your mind. I don't know what it was, but something felt...off.

"I'm always told to listen to my gut, and my gut says there's something wrong here. There's nothing here though, so maybe it's just nerves acting up..."

Dominik rested against the van and inspected his spear, "Maybe he found something worth the extra minutes. Want to go check on him?" He flicked his eyes over to me.

"Sure. Just don't drive off and leave me here." I said half joked, half seriousness.

"I can make no such promises." Dominik had an evil grin spread across his lips before he laughed, "I couldn't keep serious even if I tried."

I shook my head and jogged off to the pharmacy. Being by yourself was terrifying. I tensed up before opening the door. A little bell jingled above the door, making me jump. Much like the grocery store, most of the medicine was looted or boxes were scattered and squished on the floor from being trampled.

There was a lonely black backpack sitting on the checkout counter, halfway zipped up.

"Why isn't he wearing it?"

I grabbed it and peered inside. It had gauze, rubbing alcohol, an assortment of pills, vitamins and even a brace or two for an ankle. I zipped it up and wove my arms through the straps.

I cautiously scanned the pharmacy, "Ralph?" I whispered softly.

That's when I noticed the smell. It smelled acidy, like a handful of pennies, and like a decaying animal on the side of the road.

"Oh man. What is that awful smell...?" I pulled my shirt collar up and over my nose.

I walked the aisles, but stopped when something caught my eye. A boot was sticking out of the last aisle.

"Ralph?" I whispered a bit louder, "Ralph this isn't a time for napping." I walked over to the aisle. "You didn't even meet your own 10 minutes--" My stomach turned after rounding the corner.

Ralph laid on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. The blood raced along the floor, soaking into his clothes and branching off in all directions. Above his open neck was a girl, blood dripped from her mouth as she chomped on a piece of his flesh. Her blonde hair was matted with dirt, dried and fresh blood. There was a huge bite mark on the exposed part of her shoulder. The wound was scabbing on the sides, but the middle oozed a mixture of pus, blood and something black.

Ralph gargled and blood bubbled out of his mouth. He swallowed and his exposed neck muscles contracted and moved. His chest shook with each breath, slowly filling less and less with air until it stopped moving completely. He began to seize and shake uncontrollably. His widened eyes rolled to the back of his head, then he went still. He was dead, for now anyway.

"Holy Hell..." I had to will myself not to vomit.

The girl stopped chewing and slowly cocked her head towards me. The bones in her neck snapped and popped in the process. Her bloodshot blue eyes, saw right by me as if I was see through.

"Oh shit!" I went to run, but I slipped in the blood. I kicked my feet around, trying to get traction. In my frenzy, the blood covered my pants, hands and arms. The girl got to her feet, hunched forward and she sort of shuffled her way over. She outstretched her hands and groaned.

Finally my feet got a grip and I pushed over to an empty shelf. I pulled myself up with it and ran for the door.

The bloody shoes were my downfall, literally. When tried to turn towards the door, the blood made the tile floor slick as ice. My legs flung out from under me and I crashed onto the floor.

"Damn... That hurt..."

I pushed back up to my feet and rushed out the door.

I ran up to Dominik all out of breath. "Damn, what got into you? And were you and Ralph finger painting?" He looked me up and down, seeing all the red.

I bent over and rested on my knees.

"Ralph...he's... he's dead. Blood, girl... everywhere." I said gasping for air.

Dominik straightened, ready to help. "What? Where?"

"In the... in the pharmacy" I set the backpack in the van and noticed a survival ax strapped to it.

"He must've found this in the pharmacy. I'd love to have this instead of the small knife I have now..."

I pulled it free of its strap and held it tight.

"He's dead... we need to go." I motioned to the van.

Dominik gripped his spear. "We shouldn't have split up." He turned to me. His body went stiff and he swung his spear out horizontally.

"Woah! Dude what are you doing?" The spear pushed me aside as a man lunged forward, biting the spear.

Dominik yelled in pain when its teeth grazed his left index finger as the zombie bit down. He dropped his spear and held his hand to his chest. I had to take a minute to grasp what happened.

Everything was silent.

Dominik and his yelling, the growling of the man fighting with the spear, the other dead people swarming the streets.

"More? Pull yourself together Lucas! We've gotta get out of here and help Dominik!"

I snapped out of my frozen state and noticed the man lost interest in the spear and slugged toward Dominik. I pushed it to the side hard enough to have the zombie lose balance and fall face first. Dominik was leaning against the van, crying and shaking.

"Dominik, listen to me," the bite mark on his finger begin to discolor, "Hold still."

I pulled some gauze pads and tape out of Ralph's backpack.

I had Dominik place his hand on the van's hood. "On the count of 3," I rose the ax up.

"Wait! What are you doing?!"

"One."

"Wait! Luke! We don't even know if it'll-"

"Two."

I swung. Connecting between the first and second knuckle. The ax stuck out of the van with his detached finger rolling slighting away. Dominik was silent at first, then realized what just happened. His face changed from that of confusion to that of pain.

I wasted no time putting the gauze over the stubbed finger and then wrapped it with the medical tape. It was a lot harder than I thought it'd be. The blood soaked the makeshift bandage in no time, but at least it slowed the loss of blood, for now.

"I have to get him home before he loses too much. But that IS a lot of blood... I think I'm gonna be sick... No! Do NOT throw up now. Someone's gotta be strong right now, and it can't be him, he just lost a finger, so it's gotta be me."

During all that, the zombie used this time to get up and stagger towards us.

I ripped the ax out of the hood and squeezed its handle. It had a bit of weight to it when I held it up above my head. The zombie walked closer. The same black substance that was in the girl's wound, dripped out of his mouth. It looked like oil or tar. When it was within striking distance, I swung the ax down. The arc stopped when the blade sliced through flesh and bone and got stuck in the top of the skull. That did the trick. His body went limp and dropped to his knees.

"Just like the movies."

I tugged on the ax, but it wouldn't come out.

"Come on! Get! Out! Of! His! Head!" Pulling one last time set it free.

The others were closing in, I could smell the foul stench of decaying flesh and blood.

"This must be what death smells like..."

"We need to go, now!" I wrapped an arm around Dominik and hurried off to the closest alley. The narrow path was cluttered with debris. I anxiously looked for a place to hide. There was a dumpster with a crate in front of it. I pulled the top open and looked inside.

"There's a little trash, but we should hide in it. Hurry and climb in." I ushered him over and helped him inside. He checked over my shoulder and saw the shadows of the dead on the ground, stretching closer to the alley. I jumped in after Dominik and closed the lid as the first of them rounded the corner.

From the darkness of the dumpster, I heard Dominik softly crying.

"I know it hurts man, but please try to keep it down." I strained to listen as the shuffled footsteps got closer. I held my breath as they moaned and groaned aimlessly by.

"What now? You're in a dumpster surrounded by cannibalistic dead people."

While I thought, their sounds grew distant. Taking a deep breath, I slowly placed my palms against the lid and pushed up. I peeked through the crack, looking from where we came and where they went.

Nothing.

I closed the lid and scuffled over to Dom.

"Okay listen. We are going to the van and getting the hell out of here." I pushed the lid open and got out, followed by Dominik.

We hurried out of the alley and stopped. Some of the dead stayed in the street, staying idle around the van.

"Dammit..." I looked down at Dominik's bloody bandage and sighed. "Alright we're gonna have to walk, can you do that?"

"I...I can try. We were on the road for awhile, but we came from a straight shot. If we head that way," he pointed past the van, "we should get back before breakfast."

"Alright, I'll get you home." I looked into his eyes, showing him I promised and was confident.

We pressed forward, creeping along the sidewalk, walking past the group by the van. A few noticed us and stumbled off in tow after I accidentally kicked over a beer can, but being corpses and all, they were too slow. We kept a fast pace until we were far enough out of town.

"Next time I'll listen to my gut... We've got to make it home."

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

~ Lucy ~

"They're home!" Annie burst into the kitchen where I was cooking. "Lucy! I told you they'd be fine."

I quickly washed my hands and dried them by patting them on my jeans. "Let's go see them." We hustled out the door and ran to the gate.

One van rolled in and the gate closed. The smile that I let show suddenly softened. Jeremy, Brick and the others piled out.

"Are they back yet?" Brick said.

I felt sick. "No... you're the first we've seen."

Brick swallowed hard, but smiled and put his hand on my shoulder, "They'll be fine. Just a little late is all. Your brother is in good hands. I've known Ralph almost all my life, and Dominik is no pushover either. And, as I've heard, your brother can take care of himself if he needs too." He gave a reassuring smile.

I didn't know what to say. "Thank you." Was all I managed.

Annie came up and wrapped me in a tight hug.

"It's going to be okay. I promise." She turned to Brick. "Can you guys go out and find them? See if they're okay?"

Brick shook his head. "We're almost out of gas and it's too dangerous to go out at night. If they aren't here by morning, I'll be the first to go out."

Annie nodded and walked me back to the kitchen. "Let's go make cookies for when they arrive, shall we?"

I fought off tears and forced myself to smile, "Sounds good."

Randy walked over to Brick. "Heard from them at all?"

He shook his head. "No one is answering the walkie talkie. We tried all channels."

Randy sighed and scratched his head. "Keep a scout at the gate in case they come during the night."

He nodded and walked off giving orders to one of the guards up top.

Randy watched off down the road a bit before walking off himself.