ZOMBIES!!! (Story Thread), page 2

It had taken Shannon and James several hours to gather up the bodies and dump them over the cliffs edge. The stench from some of them was unbearable. While John and the Doc worked to secure the main gate. They rehung one of the heavy steal doors that had been ripped from the wall.

"Where's the water?" John asked as he stood taking off his shirt and wiped his forehead with it. "Here" She said as she passed him the backpack. "I kept them in the shade to keep it cooler" John thanked her then took a long swig of water. Looking over the edge of the water bottle he saw movement, a fast runner was closing rapidly towards their position. He sat the bottle of water down and reached for his scoped 30.06 that was leaning up against the wall to his left. He took aim and squeezed off a round, the Runners legs kicked out from underneath it as its upper body was thrown back from the impact less one head.

He lowered the rifle and looked over his shoulder at her. She hardly gave notice. She by this time had gotten used to the rifle-fire, he had done this about two dozen times already that day. They quickly gathered up the tools they were using and waited until James and Shannon returned then sealed the gates and made their way into the Bunker.

"We're going to need to resupply." John said as the four of them rode the elevator down to the living quarters. Nobody said a word. "We're going out tonight so load up what you'll need, we are going to town." He said stepping off of the elevator. He stopped and turned to them. "The Fog will be rolling in from the ocean tonight so we should have good cover." He walked away whistling the theme from the horror movie Halloween.

They loaded up the AAVP7-A1 with ammo and weapons, Packing several backpacks with food and rolled out after sunset. The gate to the compound closed behind them as they made their way down the road. Running over the occasional Zombie as they went.

The streets were dark and deserted hidden partially in a veil of fog. The town they came to was eerily silent.

"I don't like this" James said as John pulled off the road and shut the Vehicle down. Not wanting to draw unneeded attention they decided it best to leave the vehicle and make it the rest of way into town on foot. John figured a silent hit and run would draw less attention.

"Now what?" Shannon whispered as John and James loaded up on weapons and ammo. John looked over at her then handed her and the Doc each a 9mm and two each extra clips. "You two remember what I taught you right?" John asked them in a hushed voice.

They both shook their heads silently in agreement.

"James will bring up the rear you two will stay between us, no wandering off. OK!?" They each quietly crawled out of the top hatch and down the side. They walked stooped single file stopping every so often to make sure they were not spotted. They went down a small side ally working their way from side street to side street. They stopped near a large vacant lot. In the middle they could see a group of Zombies feasting on someone.

They watched as one Zombie that was missing an arm pulled out the entrails with the other and shoved the mass into it's mouth as saliva and blood poured from it's mouth. Anther was working on removing one the hands from their victim and started gnawing on the wrist to free it from the arm, it suddenly popped off and it immediately ate two fingers like French Fries, spitting out the wedding ring it nearly swallowed.

Shannon seeing this turned away and started dry heaving. James quickly wrapped his hand around her head and over her mouth to muffle the noise she was making. Too late, they had heard her and rose and started lumbering in their direction. Quickly looking around John spotted a two story building across the street that was boarded up with the front door slightly ajar. "Quick in the Hardware store across the street" The other three looked in the direction he was pointing.

"I hope we can barricade ourselves in there" He said as he grabbed the Docs forearm and lead the way. "Let's go" They ran quickly to the store front.

"James stay here and thin out those numbers while The Doc and I check this out" John pushed the button of his Flashlight/Torch and pulled out his .45 and crossed it over his forearm and proceeded into the store. lining up the flashlight/torch light with his line of site and the .45 he cautiously entered the building with the Doc right behind him assuming the same pose.

James stood there for a few seconds breathing heavily as his heart raced with adrenaline then raised his rifle, The first Zombie was the closest it was about 25 feet away a Large one with one of it's eyeballs hanging down, it swung from side to side as it walked. The round hit squarely in it's forehead removing half it's scalp as the bullet passed through hitting the street stop sign behind it, making an almost comical ding sound similar to what one would hear at a carnival shooting gallery.

Moving slowly in the darkness John and the Doc could hear James outside shooting as they made sure they were not choosing a death trap to hold up in. Moving the light from side to side he swept the isles the floor was littered with tools of every sort from wrenches and screwdrivers to nuts and bolts. They made it to the back of the store, the rear door was a heavy solid door bolted and latched. "So far so good" John said in a whisper. "Let's check upstairs."

Shannon was standing behind James as he fired another round. She glanced to her right, silently moving closer was an Older Female Zombie wearing pink Pajamas and fuzzy slippers. It was less than ten feet from her, she raised her pistol and pointed it at it's head then turned away closing her eyes she pulled the trigger, The round hit the old lady in the shoulder forcing her back a few feet as the zombie stumbled to stay upright. Shannon opened her eyes and saw that the old lady was still there with blood and puss oozing from the gun shot.

"Eww" Shannon said in disgust as she aimed again at it's head, again closing her eyes and squeezed off another round, this one landed in the old ladies chest pushing it back another few feet. Rancid blood gushed from the wound squirting out like some sort of grotesque water fountain.

"Gross" She said as she raised the pistol a third time. James becoming aware of the situation fired off a round dropping another zombie this one wearing a firemen uniform. "What the hell is going on back there? Drop her already" James said sternly as he picked out another target and fired. She squeezed the trigger. The old Lady's lower jaw exploded as her head rocked back but she kept on walking still closer to Shannon.

"ARRGGHHH! " Shannon exhaled and aimed her pistol again this time she raised her eyebrows high and had her eyes wide open, now standing barely four feet away she pulled the trigger. The old lady's head came apart spraying Shannon in the face and open mouth. She immediately started vomiting. James looking back, rolled his eyes and continued to pick off targets from the crowd of Zombies moving towards them.

"I think we are in the clear, get them in here" John said as he lit a small Propane lantern he had pulled from the shelf. The Doc ran down the stairs to the front of the store she told them to get inside. Once inside they quickly shut the door bolted it then started to pile 60lbs bags of fertilizer that were piled on a pallet near the entrance behind the door. They could hear the Zombies moaning as they came in contact with the door and started to pound on it. The door shook violently but seemed to be holding.

The Four of them looked around for a few seconds and then at each other in the dimly lit room of their new temporary home wondering if they had made the right decision.

The wind made a spine tingling evil sounding howl...