Roadblock

        Down the winding mountain road the bus drove.  The further down the mountain we drove, the thicker the undead were.  The occasional thud under the bus became a constant by the time we made it to the bottom of the foothills.  Rich had had enough.  "God Damnit!  These things are going to tear this bus apart!   I need every available gun on the roof, I need a clear road!"  Taking the hint, I grab my guns and open the emergency exit door on the roof.  One by one, we climb up, taking the back of the bus, I wait.  I see only a few at first, stumbling out of the shadows, before the floodlights snap to life.  The shadows dissolve, only to reveal hundreds of them.  Coming from what seemed to be everywhere, there was no end to the hungry horde that wanted nothing more than to cave the doors in and devour the people within.  But they wouldnt get in.  Not if I had anything to do with it.  Loading my shotgun, I aim below to the sea of pale and hungry ghouls reaching up to pull me down.  With one last pump, I take a deep breath, I fire into the crowd.  If it was just me, I wouldnt worry, this was like shooting fish in a barrel.  But there were lives hanging on this fight.  I couldnt just run if it got out of control.  I was a defender, quite the role reversal from a week ago.  Back when I was just running.  But not anymore, I take a stand tonight.
        The gunfire around me slows down, or is it just me?  I look around and everyone is frantically shooting below, guns of all caliber firing, the strobe of gunfire adds to the hell-like vibe.  The adrenaline kicks in, giving me the speed boost that I needed.  Fire and punp, fire and pump.  The back of the bus is smeared in bits of human remains.  Several sections of the bus  were undefended, and the undead took advantage of this.  Slamming their rotten fists on the metal, Screams from the inside of the bus rose up and chilled me to the bone.  The kids, they are awake and they know something is wrong.  Leaving my post at the end of the bus, I run for the unguarded area and open fire, sending the corpses flying from the bus.  Pumping and reloading until I was empty, I drop my shotgun on the roof, the clatter lost over the gunfire around me.  I unholster my handgun, aiming more carefully that I did with my shotgun.  Taking aim at the closest withered and decayed face, I fire.  The bullet pierces the face, below the eye socket, and drops the creature for good.  "Look out below!"  Taking the empty clip from the handgun, I toss it into the bus.  Taking it as a hint, I hear Rich yelling at anyone not on the roof.  "Take those clips and re fill them!  They need all the help they can get!"  Not what I was thinking, but hey it works.

          

         After what seems to be hours later and hundreds of bullets spent, the last of the horde is dispatched.  The cold air is thick with the smell of rotting corpse, and the lack of wind only keeps the smell hovering around us.  Peeking below the bus, I see loose bullets and clips scattered on the floor, Rich in the middle furiously slipping bullets in the magazines.  The children were huddled around Bea, terrified whimpers coming from their faces which were buried into the worried grandmothers chest.  A simple thumbs up speaks more than I could.  Sighs of relief come from the older crew member still inside the bus.  Looking around outside the bus, a few more were coming out of the woods, but we could keep driving.  "Alright everybody, back in the bus.  We need to get moving before more of those things show up."  Standing on the roof, I see a town ahead.  Not completely devoid of life, there are what seems to be searchlights on the far end.  Signs of life, whether there was anyone operating those searchlights, was enough for me.  Letting Rich know about the lights, he starts the engine.  "We can at least drive by.  If its abandoned, we could use more ammunition."  His tone is that of skepticism.  With as many of those things that we took out earlier, the chances of someone being alive there are slim.  But there was still a chance.  Driving over the last few bumps in the road, we take off.  Leaving the battleground behing the in the cold night, never to return again.

other side of the rockies

   Several days come and pass as we slowly make our way across the mountains.  Reaching the peak, Rich finds a place to park and lets everyone out.  "This could be the last safe are we come across.  Plus I'm sure my grand baby wants to play a little bit."  Nobody argued with him, but then again I'm sure time out of the bus was on every body's mind.  Piling out of the bus, I remain vigilant, but I don't show it.  Everybody is in a good mood, why ruin it?   Sitting back I watch the others enjoy their time in the sun, seeing a glimpse of the old life.  Being able to be outside without the fear of being eaten alive.  Lost in my musings seems to be a pattern for me lately.  I'm brought back to the real world by a nudge, Chelle takes a seat next to me.  "Remember when we would sit out on the porch, with everyone and reminisce?"   Fond memories indeed, "Yeah, but there was more than just reminiscing going on on that porch if I remember correctly." Laughing as I looked back to the nights we would drink until we passed out.  Nights where the only thing we were worried about was running out of liquor.  We sat and talked about nothing in general for hours.  Watching the kids play, her parents making sure they were behaving, and most of all, we were watching the hill.  Making sure nothing stumbled up towards us.
       The sun had begun to set, and everybody was brought back on board.  Food was passed out amongst the crew and the engine was roaring with life.  After eating and talks of the future that lay ahead of us, the kids were put to sleep and everybody else had gone about minor chores such as inventory and weapon cleaning.  Not much is said, although we are full of hope around the kids, we are full aware of the depth of the nightmare we are currently living.  There was no help, what authority there was is most likely in hiding.  Waiting to come out when the dust settles and ready to take over where they had left off.  If there were still alive, that is.  should life go back to normal, how would we rebuild?  This was the topic for our discussion tonight.  I start the conversation off.  "So what happens when we do survive and all returns to normal?  What are you going to do?"  I look around waiting for someone to respond.  Nikki speaks up.  "I...I really don't know.  Ive been more worried about the now to worry about the future.  But I wouldn't even know where to begin.  Were so far away from home as it is, I guess I would settle where we end up and start over again."  The look on her face speaks for everyone, including me.  Like them I had a plan, but it ended at survival.  The future was  blank.  "I don't know where you are planning to go, but I'm headed north, to Alaska.  I'm not sure if there is anyone alive there, but if I'm going to die, I want to die somewhere special to me."
      The conversation had picked up, everyone throwing in opinions ranging from feasible to completely insane.  Losing interest in the conversation, I look out of the window.  Seeing more trees than snow and rock, I realize we are on the other side of the mountain.  One step closer.  Darkness covers the land stretching in front of the bus, the headlights oddly illuminating the road ahead.   It was like a nightmarish road, curving and covered in shadows.  Reaching for a switch, Rich flips it and several floodlights above the windshield turn the dark night into daylight.  Cruising down the winding road, we begin to see sings of the undead, mainly them blindly stumbling in the road.  But Rich kept on trucking, a loud thump followed by the sound of crunching beneath the tires.  No remorse.  Just another bump in the road.  A very tired voice floats up, almost unheard over the conversation.  "Chris, what was that noise?"  Looking down I see Chelle's daughter, she looks up to me with unfocused eyes.  Patting her shoulder I whisper to her.  "Its nothing, grandpa just hit a bump.  Go back to sleep goober."  She laugh, and then proceeds to roll over and go back to sleep.  Poor kid, have they told her what has been going on?  Could you possibly hide all of this from someone?  Not wanting to shatter the illusion had they managed to keep it from her,  I decide to drop it.  And as I begin to drift off into sleep I hear it, even through the bus.  The collective moan of the undead on the hunt.  I'm ready for a fight, but for now I relax.

Supplies

      We waited in the bus for what seems to be forever.  The fire had gone out slowly over the course of a day, but nobody was seen putting it out.  Rich starts the bus and slowly makes his way down hill.  Once we make our way across the frozen roads, we see another failed checkpoint.  So many blockades had fallen, but whether to the undead or the weather is a mystery.  The roads were clear, so driving through was no problem at all.  But the sides of the road were a different story.  Tents were collapsing due to the weight of the snow on top of them, bodies half-buried in the snow. It seemed like the more I traveled, the less hope I had for a safe zone of any kind.  But still I need to continue, if I give up and die then what was the point of fighting?  I'm beginning to think there really is no point, even if I do make it home Ill just be fighting the undead until I'm dead.  Or worse.  I shake the thought of being just another walking corpse fast.  I Was so deep in thought I didn't feel the bus stop or hear the engine stop, Chelle tapping my shoulder brought me back to the real world.  "We need to raid for supplies, you want to help?"  She whispers to avoid waking any of the sleeping crew.  Getting up I look for my equipment, reaching for my shotgun.  "Yeah, Ill be out there in a minute."  Putting on my jacket and strapping my machete to my side I head for the exit.  Who knows, maybe I'll find something better to eat than a bag of crushed chips.  I let out a little chuckle as I hop off the bus.  The wind blows across my face, numbing my nose almost instantly.  Peering into the white abyss I see Chelle's shilouette in the distance, I jog to catch up to her.
             "Man, this place didn't hold up too well."  She looks around to and sees the bodies.  There are some that appear to be zombies, but for the most part they were all  uninfected.  They just couldn't make it in this environment.  "Well their loss is our gain, lets loot and leave."  I harshly respond.  I didn't want to be out here much longer,  I didn't want to end up like the countless people half buried in the snow.  "We should split up, bring all of our findings here and bring it back to the bus."  I point to the left half of the desolate camp, "Ill take this side, if either one of us run into trouble, meet here.   We can still see the bus, and if it gets bad well forget about the supplies."  I make sure she gets the plan before I head off to search the tents on the left  half.  "Right, If you find medicine, that's top priority.  One cold can wipe us all out, let alone trying to fight while sick."  Chelle makes a good point.  If only I had kept some of the medicine I found before meeting....  "Kat..."  It comes out a whisper, lost over the whipping mountain winds.  Before I could say anything else, Chelle heads off in her half of the camp.  I take a few moments to reload my shotgun before stepping into the first tent, ready to blast anything that moved.
                  The tent was desolate, a hole in the cloth ceiling made apparent by the pile of  snow on the ground.  making my way to the back I see a few cardboard boxes in the corner, Taking the top box off the stack I open it.  The box was packed with MRE's.  Score.  Checking the other boxes I Find the same thing.  One by one I take the boxes back to the main area, seeing no boxes from Chelles side I get worried.  After I set the last box down, I head to her side and call out for her.  "Chelle, where the hell are you?  This isn't funny!"   The wind begins to pick up, unable to see too far ahead of me, I duck in the first tent to find Chelle looking through boxes looking disappointed.  "Whats taking you so long?  Ive got three boxes of food waiting in the main area."  Lowering my gun I head over to see what she found.  "Its clothes, don't get me wrong we need more warm clothes.  But its not medicine!  Shit!"  She gets frustrated and storms out of the tent, heading to another to continue her search.  I figure its best to let her cool down as I return to my half and continue to check out the other tents.

      As soon as I round the corner, I see Chelle bringing a box to add to the pile.  Making my way to her, I call out as to not scare her and end up with a chest full of buckshot.  "Hey, lets start bringing theses back to the bus.  I'm ready for some food and sleep!"  Laughing she picks up a box and heads to the bus.  Upon entering we are greeted by several more who had decided to wake up.  Chelle sets her box down and begins picking volunteers.  "You, and you come with us, we need extra hands to get this all in the bus."  not waiting to hear any arguments, she turns around and heads back to the camp.  About an hour later we get the bus loaded up and we are heading out on our way.  Sitting down, the heat from the bus brings the life back to my face, and I suddenly get very tired.  Leaning my head on the window I close my eyes, the last thing I clearly see is Chelle distributing MRE's to everybody before drifting off into a deep and troubled sleep.

Frozen cemetery

     I awaken to the sight of snow pelting the window I fell asleep next to.  The mountains were beautiful, not a zombie to be seen.  I rummage through my bag to grab a cigarette, not quite awake but awake enough to know I want one.  Lighting up I crack the window and watch the smoke disappear instantly, sucked out into the cold landscape beyond the window pane.  Looking around, some of the group are asleep, except for Rich.  Getting up I take a seat behind him and start to talk.  "So how did you guys end up here in Colorado?  I figured if anything it would have been straight north to Canada for you guys."  He looks in the rear view mirror and catches my eyes.  "Well, I was on the road when Chelle called.  I was in Arkansas heading home from my last run, and at first I thought she was messing around.  You know how she is."  I look back to see Chelle sleeping, her daughter lay next to her fast asleep.  Rich continues, "But she convinced me otherwise, I pulled over on the road and hit all the lights and locked the doors.  I hid until the came to me.  It was three days before they got there, two days after the undead came through.  I peeked out every once in a while hoping to see them, but all I saw was death, panic, and fear.  They finally came about dawn the third day, I was beginning to think they hadn't made it.  Until I heard the crunch of cars being shoved out of the bus' way." He laughs at the thought, but loses his happy demeanor.  "I was so hungry when they came to get me.  A bag of chips and a drink only last for so long.  I'm glad they came when the did."  His attention is fixed solely on the road ahead.  Which was for the best, as I couldn't see where snow began and the road ended.  "I'm gonna let you get back to driving, I'm gonna see if anyone else is awake."  Before getting up I put my hand on his shoulder and continue. "Its good to see somebody else made it out of all this."
                 Nobody else is awake.  I head back to the back of the bus and sit down, my thoughts dragging me in a million different directions.  But they always came back to Kat.  Why did she leave?  Why didn't she tell me or leave me a note?  I look up to see everyone is still asleep.  And I see Rich signaling me to the front of the bus.   Getting up I make my way forward as he comes to a gentle stop.  "There's something in the road.  You wouldn't mind going out there and seeing if you can move it?"  Nodding I go back to get my jacket and machete.  Suiting up he opens the door.  "if I'm not back in five minutes, wait five more." I laugh as I step out into the wintry scenery, hating and loving the cold at the same time.  Right away I lose concentration and get lost in the scenery around me.  The mountains around me are so beautiful, I could stay here for days.  The snow capped peaks all around are the example of natural beauty, pearl whitecaps on top of almost blue rock standing out from the grey skies above.  I shake myself back to reality, and look at the road to see a large mound of snow in the middle of the road.  About waist high to me, it has no recognizable shape.  I Take my machete and begin to scrape the powder like snow off until I hit ice.  The more I scrape off the more disgusted I get.  At first I can only see what I believe to be a rock, until I clear away more snow to reveal a body.  The grey skin of the undead frozen under what seemed to be a couple inches of ice.  I make my way back to the bus, I needed something heavy.  Upon getting back on the bus I see a few more have awakened, confused as to why we were not in motion.  "Do we have a hammer, or a sledgehammer?"  I ask, popping my head in the bus.  "Theres a pile of those things out there, frozen.  I want to smash their skulls in before doing anything else."  I hear skidding against the floor to see a hammer stop a few feet in front of me.One of the few I did not recognize had slid it towards me.  
       Leaving the bus, hammer in hand I return to the pile.  The more snow I brush off the more disgusted I am.  This was a dump site, corpses piled on top of each other.  I find the first exposed skull and swing with all my might, shattering ice, bone, and brain.  I begin to look at those in the pile, all had been executed.  Getting up I take my machete along the ground, finding the odd bump in the road every couple of feet.  This was the site of another check point.  There are still bodies trapped under all the snow and ice.  I  get back on the bus to tell everyone, and tell rich to swing around the pile.  Most likely we will run across another pile like this, buried and forgotten.  A testament to those lost along the path to safety.  Making our way to the top of the hill we spot a camp fire towards the base of the next peak.  Our road will bring us right by the fire.  Looking ahead Rich speaks up.  "I say we wait here for the fire to go out.  I dint want to risk anything."  Smart move Rich, I think as the sun begins to set, almost obscured by the mountains ahead

The competition

      After looking at the map for a good half hour and looking at every road that led through the mountains, we found a road that was up the chain a few miles that didn't look like a major road.  Starting the bus, we made our way past the subdivisions.  Looking towards the houses I ask Chelle, "Say, while in town did any of you see any other survivors?  Possibly a girl with reddish brown hair?"  There was a hint of desperation in my voice, Chelle knew me well enough to know that tone.  "Whats her name?"  She asked, skirting around my main question.    I hesitate, why I don't know.  "Kat, her name is Kat.  She helped me when I got into town about a week ago.  After wandering through the woods, I fell down a hill and banged up my chest.  Without her and every one else's help, there is no way Id be around now."  I lift my shirt to show my bandages, the bruise now a pale yellow below my armpit.  I lower my shirt, realizing how much easier it is to move now.  "I woke up today and everyone was gone.  No note or anything.  I looked all over town before giving up.  You...you hadn't happened to see anyone did you?"  I look around to see if anyone would speak up.
          Nothing.  Of course, the one girl that I would fall in love with would disappear into thin air...or into the stomach of a zombie.  No, don't even think that.  Shes alive, and shes with everyone else.  Chelle sees me zoning out and snaps me out of it.  "He-llooo!  We need to be getting out of here.  I don't want to be eaten here.  Or anyone else for that matter."  Coming back to it, I realize dwelling on it was pointless.  Looking towards the front of the bus I ask her where we are going.  it was her father that answered.  "There's a road a couple of hours from here that goes through the mountain, no tunnels."  He gets up from his wife and granddaughter's seat and  heads to the drivers seat.  I turn to her mother, "Have I mentioned that I missed you guys since I got here?  If not, I missed you."  Laughing as the car started, I feel it again.  That feeling of normalcy.  Like life before all of this, except with zombies and crammed into a bus.
        Coming up the hill, Rich stops the bus, killing it immediately.  "Well, I can plow through the barriers no problem, but as for the vehicles, well have to move them ourselves.  Who wants to go on a field trip?"  Laughing as he looks back he waits for a volunteer.  "Well if none of you are going to hop up, I could use a good stretch."  I laugh sarcastically as I make my way to the front of the bus.  before I make it to the door I hear someone else get up, "I gotta see how you hunt, I mean you made it this far."  Chelle says, shouldering her shotgun.  Looking back, I grin.  I hop off the bus and take a look around.  Nothing on the hill, but below us there is a checkpoint of sorts.  The military had been here.  Where they are now is beyond me.  I pull my handgun from its holster, undoing the safety as I silently head down the hill.  Not waiting for Chelle to catch up I make my way towards the nearest trio of shuffling dead, stopping long enough to aim at the first withered skull and fire. Dropping the trio I hear Chelle catching up towards me.  "Not bad, looks like you held up well. My turn now."  That menacing grin of hers slowly cracked across her face as she cocked her shotgun.  Walking towards a clearing she fired her gun in the air, the shot echoing loud.  One or two of the creatures heard her call at first, followed by every walker in the checkpoint.  "Ready?  If not, too bad!"  She walks to the closest one, unloading the buckshot in its jaw, crudely yet efficiently dispatching the now disfigured corpse.
     Like old times, this quickly became a race to one up each other.  I holster my handgun and pull my machete out, ready to slice whatever unfortunate corpse came my way.  Finding a dragger, I calmly make my way to the undead torso.  As I line up my swipe without fear of it pulling me down, I slice his head from his shoulders.  Yelling for Chelle, I grab it by the hair, tossing the skull up only to kick it, sending it splattering into a concrete barrier.  Before the thrill from the kill could sink in I heard that voice again.  "This isn't a fucking game, why are you suddenly acting like some barbarian?  You need clean kills, no need to get infected by playing I'm better than you!"  My 'other side' as I began calling it now made a point.  This is how fuck-ups are made, and those spell death for me and possibly those around me.  Recollecting myself from the sudden wave of insanity that came over me, I return to the clean up at hand.  About an hour of luring and exterminating, we clear the checkpoint.  "So, now begins the fun part.  Now we have to clear a path through the gate so we can drive through."  I sigh as I wipe my machete off on the shirt of  an unfortunate zombie.  Looking around I was reminded of a rather large scale tetris
              "Whew, now we get back on the bus and take a nap." I said between breaths.  dispatching the undead took a toll on you.  Top that with pushing cars off the road wiped you out.   "Amen, you and me are going to sleep good tonight."  as Chelle knocked on the bus door, waiting for it to swing out so we could rest, safe from any rotting hands that wanted nothing more to tear us apart limb from limb.  The bus started up, roaring to life in the otherwise silent landscape.  We pass through the checkpoint, crushing a wooden barricade under us as we rolled on towards the mountains.  The rumble of the engine and the chatter of the rest of our crew lulls me into a deep sleep.

Reunion

     I awoke several hours later, the smell of smoke thick in the air.  I feel lightheaded, standing now an impossible task.  Looking around I am alone on the rooftop, hidden behind a pile of junk.  I lay there for what seems hours before I get up and begin to look for everyone.  I hobble towards the main rooftop to find nobody there.  I begin to panic, Did they leave to flee to a new place?  Did something happen that I missed?  "Kat..." It was a whisper, one that only I heard.  I needed to move on, regardless of what had happened to the others.  I scour the rooftops for my equipment, tossing empty boxes over the roof, panicking as time went on.  "Where the fuck is my stuff?!  I cant re scrounge for everything, oh this is bad."  I'm losing it, the first tendrils of fear begin to trickle in my mind.  I hurry to the next rooftop, hoping my equipment was there.  What seemed like hours later I finally uncover my backpack, as well stocked as I had left it.  The only thing missing was my rifle, but I still had my shotgun, so I was happy.  Strapping my equipment down I realize my ribs weren't hurting as bad as they were before.  It mush have just been bruising, after all it has only been around a week here.  But I leave the bandage on, I never thought to bring a spare set of clothes.  And my shirt had been cut off to asses my wounds when I first got here.  Looks like Ill need to make a stop somewhere and get some more clothing before I head to the mountains, I thought.  Its getting close to wintertime and the last thing I want to do is climb a mountain without a shirt.
       Guilt kicks in as I leave the rooftops and head towards the hotel.  Kat will be so worried if you just up and leave.  Looking back, I come up with a way to ease my conscience.  Looking for a pen and paper in the hotel room I begin to write a note for Kat.
             Kat,
   I woke up on the rooftop alone, I waited for what seemed like an eternity.  I assumed the worst, but hope you get this note.  I will never forget you and with a heavy heart I must say goodbye.  If you ever decide to come to Alaska after all of this, look me up.
                  missing you already, -Chris-
     I set the note on the desk between the two beds, in plain sight should she come back.  "Goodbye, Kat.  I hope you survive all of this"    I wander down into the streets, Daylight begins to shine in the empty town as I look for a clothing store.  As I make my way across town I find what I'm looking for, Walking through the shattered display window I make my way to the men's section, grabbing a few shirts as I make my way to the jacket racks.  Along the way I hear a thump towards the back in the supply closet.  Not alone I thought, I need to hurry.  Grabbing a thick looking jacket I make my way to a corner and begin to put my new duds on, my chest sore, but nothing to worry about.  after getting re dressed I strap my equipment down again and make my way towards the Rockies, wondering how I'm going to make the last half of my journey.  Along the way I came towards the subdivision Kat said she had lived in, hoping to find a bike or other form of transportation.  Taking the first set of wheels in sight I grab a nice looking mountain bike and pedal onwards.
        

       Several undead dot the land around me, reaching out with dumb hands as I speed past them.  Their moans carry all around, but no swarms to speak of.  Riding through the subdivision I see the slaughter was thick here.  Bodies all around just laying there, some have been filled with bullets, others simply smashed up.  Most likely by a lot of improvised melee weapons.  As the houses spread thinner, I come to the end of the neighborhood.   The main road leads me to a dark and ominous tunnel.  Too dark for my liking, but its a straight shot.  I'm going to need a miracle to make it through here, or I'm hiking over, Thinking as I stop and weigh my options.  Either take my chances in what I'm calling the death tunnel, or take my chances falling off a cliff to my death.  Either way there is a chance I could die, but that's been a possible outcome every day so far.  Thinking about every scenario I realize there are cars blocking the tunnel, and I think to myself.  "Those cars have batteries, and they also have lights.  I can light the tunnel up, car by car making it an easier trip than a romp in the dark.  I test my theory by finding the closest car and looking inside, making sure there was nothing to bite me as I reached for the lights.  Turning the key in the van, I hit the brights, illuminating the tunnel in a nightmarish angle, casting shadows everywhere.  "This could take longer than I planned..."  My thought process was cut short my the sound of shuffling.  I drop to the ground and wince.  I hit my soft spot.  Looking below the car I see a pair of feet, blindly stumbling around a few yards ahead.  But before I could figure out what I was going to do, I heard something behind me that sounded familiar.  The sound of a gun being loaded.  And I felt like the barrel was pointed towards me.

  -No.  Fucking.  Way.-
      I'm stricken completely stupid, there is no way in hell that of all people left in the world I would be at the guns end of someone I knew.  Someone from Columbia.  "Holy-fucking-shit.  Chelle, is that really you or am I just going fucking insane?"  I shake my head, wondering if it was just a hallucination.  She drops her gun, just in as much shock as I am.  "How the fuck did you make it this far?!  I... we thought you were dead.  I don't know how many times I tried calling you, not to mention going by your work and finding it to be a slaughterhouse."   This is too much.  I'm going to wake up soon.  And I'm going to be let down.  I poke my ribs, nope.  I'm awake alright.  Just another fucking coincidence.   Getting up, I explain that the tunnel is a no go.  Too crowded to drive through and no light source.  "Were just going to have to find a road that isn't as clogged up.  If there is such a road.  Come on, we have a camp of sorts set up."  She heads away from the tunnel and towards a side road.  And on the road is a bus, one that had been plated, and decked out to handle this apocalypse.  I'm stunned.  "Wow, did you do that all by yourself?"  It was all I could say. It looked to be one hundred percent zombie proof.  Even the doors had been reinforced and altered to where it opened from the inside out.  That way if the bus had been swarmed they couldn't push their way in.  She looks back and laughs, "Me?  Hell no.  Our old group were among the original survivors, but between the undead and a few unforeseen accidents.  Its down to me, my family, Joe, and Nikki.  Well and a few meat shields."  the last part was a whisper.  I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.  "Just remember one thing.  I am no meat shield, Id hate to take you down with me"  an evil grin cracked across my face, Just like old times.  She leads me into the van and everybodys eyes fall on me.  Some know who I am, but even the ones who don't are happy to see another living face.  I feel someone hugging my leg, its Chelle's daughter.  They look ragged, but they're alive. Suddenly, memories of before the outbreak begin flooding in.  Those long nights spent with the old gang, Plans for the future, and at the time a mock plan for the zombie apocalypse.  I look towards the group of familiar faces, they seem like they have seen a ghost.  the silence hangs above us like a fog.  Finally I step forward and say something to break the ice.  "Man, you guys look like shit.  You call this surviving?"  Smiling as I finish my last sentence, the bus suddenly came alive with conversation.  It seems like, despite the nightmare we were in, I had found a safe haven.  With people I trusted, people with a plan.
  After swapping stories with them about how I had made it here to meet them, and how they came to this particular town, we got down to business.  We need a plan.  And they were ready to follow me to Alaska.  "Well ladies, we need to find another route.  any suggestions?"  As I finish my sentence we gather around a map of theirs, circles and x's all over the central and mid west.  Ill ask later.  But for now, lets find a route home.

panic

       Several days had come and gone, and when Kat wasn't raiding the town below we were together.  Almost inseparable.  My ribs were still killing me and Alaska was almost the last thing on my mind.  Unable to go below and help with gathering, I stay up and help cook and take care of the other survivors.  Maybe I had finished running, but a part of me was waiting for this good fortune to come crashing down.  But until then I was here until I could move about on my own.  Surveying the town below I see there is an increase of activity since I arrived here, the undead wander the streets in groups of three or four every other street.  Popping another pain killer, I look to the mountains.  My halfway marker looms in the distance.  Pushing the thoughts of leaving to the back of my mind, I head back towards the middle of the rooftop.  I head towards the bridge and stop, I hear something in the distance.  Whooping and hollering, followed by a hail of gunfire.  "This doesn't bode well.  We have to stay hidden."  I think as I jog back to the main rooftop.
          "Finding Will I tell him about the noises I heard coming from the woods. "Cant be too sure, not everyone can be trusted.  Ill gather everyone and let them in on whats going on."   Will seems to know this drill.  He gathers everyone and explains the situation, putting out the fire on the stove.  The rooftop is dead silent.  "Will, were missing a few people..." Kat is down below!  I begin to panic.  "Will,is there any way to get a hold of them down there?"  I'm peering over the edge of the roof, hoping to find her wandering the streets.  I begin to look for my equipment, looking for my handgun.  "Will, you keep an eye on everyone up here, I'm going to try and bring them back before whoever they are get in town.  I shouldn't bee too long."  I find my handgun, taking the spare handgun rounds and refill the half empty clip.  I grab a spare clip just in case.  Will looks to me and asks, "But... do you know where they are?  You cant just run in blindly, that's a sure fire way to get yourself killed.  Or worse."  I appreciate the concern Will, but I've sat idle for too long.  I cant sit by and wait for something bad to happen.  Ill be back, I mean my equipment is all here."  Looking around I forget where I had been brought in.  thinking back, my memory fades in and out.  Looking around I find what I'm looking for.  "Take care of everyone, ill be back with them in a while."  Heading the hotel room I make my way to the main lobby.
       I leave the ruined lobby and walk onto the streets, littered with broken glass.  Looking around me, I find the block to be clear of any threats.  The crunch of broken glass beneath my shoes echoes around me, not a sound can be heard.  "Kat!  Anybody?  We gotta get back to the roof now!"  I shout at nobody in particular, hoping they're nearby.  A moan rises from behind a car parked on the side of the street.  Limping towards it, gun raised, I find a one of those things.  No lower body, it drags its self on the concrete towards me, the moan just as feral as the rest of them.  I pull the trigger, obliterating its head, leaving nothing but a torso on the road. The recoil is killer on my chest.  I cant do this, I thought as the pain paralyzed me for a moment.  After a few short breaths I hear more gunfire down the road, I look up to see the trio running towards me, Kat in the lead.  "You...we gotta get upstairs.  There are others coming, we gotta hide."  I drop to my knees.  This pain is too much.  I'm glad I wasn't surrounded otherwise I would be dead.  Kat grabs my arm and picks me up, supporting me as we made our way to the hotel.  "What the hell is wrong with you?!  You cant be out here, you haven't had enough time to recover!"  She was livid with me, but I was just happy to hear her voice.  Even if it was an angry tone.  We make our way through the hotel as I inform them about the sounds coming from the woods, and towards the town.  "Just being cautious, don't want anyone... getting hurt."  Its getting hard to concentrate.  I was never one to handle pain, and its obviously showing now.  Kat steers me towards the window with the bridge, she takes one look at me and takes a stab at my last statement.  "I think you threw caution to the wind when you came down here looking for us."  Touche Kat, but I do crazy things for the people I want to protect.  "Lets just say... lets say you're worth it."  Making it to the roof,  I collapse.  Unable to see straight, I soon lose sight, then consciousness.