After the two emerged from the house, everything was set into motion, the multiple vehicles the Shell kept paid off in the situation. Two vans, a truck with a trailer, one car, and the fifteen or so horses would carry most of the camps group outward.

"Leave the supplies behind that won't be needed right away." Brent said to the crowd of nearly sixty strong.

Micheal stood beside him, nodding, "All we need is weapons, ammunition, gas, food and water for three days, and any able bodied people to come along."

Both men could see the distrust in the three groups, all being separated from each other by a few feet, the main group being from the Order itself.

Brent started again, "I'd say leave the children behind, but there is no children here. I see men and women standing in front of me. It is not cowardice to stay behind, we simply do not have enough room to take everyone at once."

"How many stay behind?" A voice came from the crowd.

Micheal answered, "We can only take 36 at most, the rest will stay here, and look after the camp; together."

Another small murmur ran through the crowd and he spoke again, "We will come back, this is war and we are the army. No man left behind."

A small hoot came from behind, but fell silent, it was not a great speech, but it was needed.

~~~~~~~~

It was a slow procession, with the vehicles driving together down the road at the pace of the horses riding on its flanks. The car led first, followed by a van, and then the truck and trailer while the last van took up the rear.

They still had many miles to go, and the day was already coming to an end. Surprisingly, there was little to no Rotters as they continued onward, stopping on a highway turnoff to set camp. It was defendable, everyone agreed, with the wall of cars cutting off the bridge behind, and the only entrances the off ramp, and the highway ahead.

"Use the trailer to cut the off ramp off." Brent instructed as they set up their camp, "Line the vans with their tears to the sides of the road and the truck. Park the car at an angle in between if it can reach."

Soon, they were set up decently, the only problem being the three foot gap between the car and one of the vans. The horses were tied to the trailer, all fifteen relatively calm, and soon tents were pitched.

Two men stood guard over the hole as night drew on, and when the morning came they left as swiftly as they could. Parading down the road, nervously anticipating a swarm of Rotters to appear any moment.

~~~~~~~

Ethan awoke in a drowsy state, suddenly aware of the small bumps he felt. He was being moved, he realized, but where? Opening his eyes, he shut them immediately and let out a groan. Not from the light, but from the pain that filled his chest.

It came back slowly, being bitten, but what happened next? Shot, he was shot, sweat dropped from his hair and flowed to his eye, the saltiness burning slightly. He vaguely came aware of how hot he felt, how thirsty he was.

When would I turn, he thought, why did they not kill me? Another lull in the movement, and it remained almost silent, but was he really listening? The blue tarp overhead slowly faded as black, white, and purple splotches overtook his vision slowly.

"Pretty colors..." he mumbled slightly before he became silent to the world again.

Had he been able to hear, he would have heard the shots coming from outside.

~~~~~~

"The front! More in the front!" A voice rang out, barely audible over the sounds of gunshots.

The horde has pushed through the trees just as the convoy had arrived, trapped in its presence. Bodies littered the ground and more seemed to spill from the broke fence near the side of the road.

"We need to get it contained!" Another voice shouted before a burst of shots went off.

They all knew it was a waist of ammunition, but they prayed the camps would still be full of supplies.

"Look out!" Someone shouted, and they pealed away from the hole.

The truck and trailer drove forward, the horn blaring loudly to warn those fighting. It drove straight through the crowd of Rotters slowly moving out of the hole, some slipping underneath and crunching underneath the wheels. It blocked the hole, and the mass pressed towards the truck itself.

"Cease fire! Hand-to-hand!" Someone shouted, and with that, the gunshots ceased.

Twenty of the survivors pressed forward, making quick work of the ones that remained standing. With the flow of Rotters cut off the threat decreased quickly.

The driver shakily left the truck and faced the gate where seemingly hundreds of Rotters pressed against it. They gathered again, removing bodies from the road, and discussing plans.

"Any injuries, anyone bitten?" Bree asked while glancing over those who had been caught in the open.

"Only those who are dead." One voice replied.

It was true, they lost three horses, and one man. Only seven riders on that side to begin with, but minimal losses.

"This means nothing, just a test of our courage and strength." She stated, "We move everyone else out, and then pull the truck out after that, no one else is getting hurt, and we only have today to get there!"

Micheal set his hand on her shoulder, she pulled away but he talked softly, "We don't have that far to go, just past a farm house, onto an old dirt road, and then a few miles until we hit the outskirts of the city that wasn't quarantined. Two hours ride tops, and then once inside it's anyone's guess."

She nodded and walked away as everyone else gathered up, soon, they were all moving once more. If today was to decide their future, they would have wished it was one without the undead.