Bobbie’s stomach growled at him. “Hey guys do you think we can try and make it downstairs and get some food. I am starving over here.” “Well we do need to get some water and food,” said Nina. Cowan took a moment and made a quick risk assessment in his head. There are men down there but we do need to get food and water in us if not we will wither away rather quickly and will not have the strength to fight them off. “Yeah let’s take it slow though. All we need is to slip up and get killed.”
Then they heard screams coming from below. Cowan looked over the edge. There were zombies walking around searching for their next victim. There were not too many but that did not mean there were not more on their way. “I think this is our opportunity to go down.” Nina peered down the opening while Cowan had his weapon aimed. When they reached the bottom Cowan followed. The store seemed to be empty as they made their way to the freezer. Cowan and Bobbie kept guard while Nina went downstairs to bring up the food. The screams eventually died down along with the firing. They brought the food back up to the roof and Cowan assessed the situation again. The enemy was not in sight and he figured he would rattle the cage a bit. He fired in two different spots randomly. Then he got the response he expected. They returned fire. The rounds were sporadic. “Hell yeah! They must be low on rounds. This can be our chance,” said Cowan. “Well how the hell do you know that?” asked Bobbie. “Well if they had plenty of rounds they would be steady coming and they are not.” “Well that can just mean that they-.” “It means they don’t have much ammo and do not want to waste it. That is what it means. Fucking civilians,” growled Cowan.
Then they saw the small man who obviously was their leader as he came out from behind a building. “Hello out there. I have a proposition for you.” Cowan smiled and slowly raised his head just enough so he could see. “Yeah and what is that?” The man licked his lips before he began to speak again. “You guys are great marksmen and we sure can use your help. We are all in this together right?” The man waited for a response but Cowan nor any of the other two responded. “Well this is a brand new world and only the strong and smart survive. I will give you guy’s amnesty to come and join us. Together there can be nothing we can’t accomplish together. My men here are well trained and it is obvious you are as well. So what do you say?” “Well first how about I give you the finger.” Cowan raised his middle finger high enough to be seen. “And I will have to decline your great offer.” Cowan raised his rifle sighted the small man and squeezed the trigger. The round penetrated the man’s foot as he fell to the ground screaming in agony. Bullets came flying in their direction. Cowan ducked back down.
“Good going Cowan! I think you just pissed them off!” Bobbie’s face was red with anger. Nina stayed quiet trying to hatch a plan to get out of their predicament. When the firing stopped Cowan raised his rifle again and popped a few rounds and then hid back down. Cowan felt around trying to determine how many rounds he had left. He felt three full magazines. “Bobbie how many mags do you have left?” “I have one full mag and maybe one more and that is it. “Shit this is not good!” “Cowan do you have a vehicle we can take?” “Yeah it’s on the south side of the city right outside the mine field.” “Good we need to try and make our way over there. Then we can maybe link up with your friends. Follow me.” Cowan immediately got up and fired off a few more rounds to give Nina and Bobbie some cover. Nina got up and sprinted towards the next building and leapt making it across and stumbled on her landing. Bobbie followed suit and he slipped on the gravel right before he was going to make his leap and ran into the wall.
Cowan sent a few more rounds towards the enemy got up and ran. Cowan could hear the bullets whizzing past his ear. He ran past Bobbie and leapt and landed on his feet. Nina did not wait for them. She moved with agility jumping from building to building and ran across the boards where present. Bobbie scrambled backwards and took a short run and made it across safely. The next building was a little bit farther apart. Bobbie leapt but hit the side of the wall as he grabbed the cement hoping to be able to hold on. Cowan jumped next and landed quickly. Then he turned in one fluid motion and grabbed Bobbie’s hand. The rifle was slipping off of Bobbies shoulder as he managed to grab the strap. Cowan with two hands hoisted Bobbie up onto the roof.
Bobbie was panting out of breathe from the running and jumping. They were followed by shouts and rounds. Cowan barely heard the moans of the dead over the loud commotion of gunfire. Nina turned around to see how the other two were fairing. They were only three buildings behind and she turned around and kept moving. The next building was a lot farther apart than what she was hoping for. “I can’t make it,” she said out loud to herself. “Come on guys hurry up!” “Come on old man we have a little bit farther to go!” Bobbie was bent over trying to catch his breathe. “I am coming go on ahead but don’t leave me!” “Old man if you don’t hurry up there won’t be any choice but to leave your ass!” Bobbie stood up once again and they finally caught up with Nina.
“We will need to use the ladder to get down and then run on foot from there.” She turned around to head down the ladder and placed her feet on the outside of the rails and slid all the way down. It was hard for her to hold on as her hands burned and started to rub raw from the old rusty ladder. Cowan followed suit. The thin gloves gave him little protection from the friction. There were more shots in the distance. “Good they are not following us! They have their own worries now.” Cowan turned to run when he ran into one of the zombies and fell over. He pressed his hand against the chest and felt the rib cage crack and give way. The zombie tried desperately to take a bite out of Cowan’s arm as Cowan lifted his foot and pressed it hard against the windpipe hearing the bone crack underneath. Cowan pulled out his hand and dark blood clots dripped from his hand. He wiped it off on his pants and kept moving.
The zombies were coming sporadically and spread apart as Nina pushed them away running past. Bobbie tried to keep up but was having a hard time as he paused here and there momentarily. Cowan swung his rifle left and right hitting the zombies in his way in the head hoping it would keep them down. He stopped took a knee and fired shots towards the zombies that were near Bobbie. “Fucking old man,” Cowan muttered to himself. “Come on hurry up!” Bobbie stopped once more. “I can’t keep going I just can’t keep up you go on without me,” he said between breathes. Cowan turned back around and ran leaving Bobbie behind. Bobbie’s eyes were wide hoping Cowan would do something to help him despite his words. Cowan stopped and ran towards Bobbie. “Come on old man!” Cowan pushed Bobbie to keep him moving. “Fucking MOVE!” Bobbie kept stumbling every couple of feet. He tried to take deep breathes but his over worked lungs kept burning screaming at him to stop. His heart was raced and felt like it was about to burst out of his chest and give out at any moment. Sweat poured down his face. His muscles were tight and his feet began to blister and hurt.
Bobbie could see the barricade but he was not able to see the Humvee. He could not hear shots. Either the small band was done for and eaten by the zombies or they had fled the area. He could still hear moans that came and went as if the zombies were taunting him telling him to stop and it will all be over. There would be no more running no need to keep fighting and finding the will to live. He could just give in and join his beloved wife again. He could hear her calling him to come with her to be with her. He felt another push from Cowan. That woke him from daze. “We only have a little bit more to go so move that wrinkled, nasty, crusty, sweat smelling ass!”
Nina looked back she was far ahead of them and was almost to the mine field. When she saw a pack of zombies maybe ten or fifteen trying to navigate through the barricades. Two ran into the spikes their bodies giving way. With each movement sinking their bodies even further down the spikes. Others bumped into the jersey barriers and bounced off and took a different direction. One was making its way through the barricade. She raised her pistol and fired. It did not make its mark. Again she tried but the shot punctured the stomach. The zombie
felt no pain as the bullet passed through harmlessly. The zombie was almost to the mine field which was not a good thing. She went a little bit further but still far enough away so the explosion would not affect her. Then it happened the zombie stepped on a mine and there was a small explosion as the leg was blown off and the zombie fell. The thing tried to get back up but fell and another mine went off exploding and taking off the lower half of the zombie right at the waist. It just kept coming setting off mine after mine until there was not enough of it left to move. Pieces of flesh and blood splattered in every direction and some splattered on Nina.
Nina looked back and the two were close maybe a hundred feet away. She turned back around and another zombie made it past the obstacles. She raised her pistol hoping this time she would be able to put it down. She breathed and when the natural pause came she fired once more and the zombie fell to the ground. A round whizzed past her. The rounds came in rapid succession as Cowan was putting one, two, and a third down. “We got to move they are heading our way,” said Nina. Nina went first walking through the land mine carefully placing her feet avoiding the land mines.
They made it through and the Humvee was still there. Luck seemed to be on their side. “Quickly get in,” said Cowan. He opened the driver’s door turned the key not waiting for the heat light to come on. The Humvee roared to life. Cowan let out a loud hooah and pressed down on the gas and headed back.
Chapter 18 – Friendships Die Hard
Hobbs started to worry if he had made the right decision in letting Cowan go even though he was not keen on the idea. Either way he allowed them to go and if the decision was right or wrong it was made. Plague came up and placed his arm across Hobbs’ shoulders. “It’s alright man I am sure he will be back but if not then hopefully he had a soldier’s death and went out fighting.” Hobbs was not sure if he was trying to comfort him or make him feel worse than what he already did. Two days passed and his worry grew worse. He knew it would take time for them to get back but it did little to ease his mind. Each second was like a lifetime as he paced constantly and tried to find ways to occupy his mind.
Plague talked about old war stories to the rest of the group. Hobbs could hear gasps every now and again. Plague finally got up and approached Hobbs. “You know there are better things you can do with yourself.” “Like what?” retorted Hobbs, feeling angry and worried. “Well for one thing you can come over and listen to those great war stories I have to tell.” “You mean embellished stories.” “You know what it’s like out there during times of war. Yeah they might be a little bit embellished but that is what makes them so great.” “I will pass if you don’t mind.” “Look man I am just trying to help here. I know that you are worried about your buddy and all. If anyone understands it that is me. I know what you are going through but there is no point in worrying about it. What is done is done and there is nothing that can change that. You can’t turn back the hands of time. Take a knee and drink water.” The typical army motto a term used to let someone know they need a break. “Yeah maybe you are right. There is no use in worrying about it. What was done was done.” Plague slapped Hobbs on the shoulder. “That a boy! Now come on over and hear some stories.” The two walked over and Hobbs leaned against the front counter half listening to what Plague was talking about. His mind reverted back to Cowan and wondering what was happening to him.
Hey buddy boy are you listening? Well I guess it doesn’t matter if you are or not because I am in your head, sang the voice. Don’t lose your mind or anything. The voice laughed. Cowan could be struggling on the ground crying out for help and guess who is there to help him out… no one! Just imagine him being torn to shreds by a mob of zombies. Taking chunks out of his flesh as he bled out feeling all the pain. “Shut UP!” yelled Hobbs. Everyone turned around and looked at him perplexed. “Hey man what is going on?” questioned Plague. Hobbs was getting tired and annoyed that everyone kept asking him if he was alright. “Man you have to get it together there is nothing you can do and if you break down then I would be forced to kill you.” He raised one eyebrow for dramatic affect. “I am ok I think I just need to get some sleep. I can’t remember the last time I got some good sleep.” “Well go on I got this over here.” Hobbs went to the back of the store and laid down but sleep evaded him.
Then out of nowhere there came a noise off in the distance. “Could it be them?” asked Hobbs. Becky grabbed her halberd peering through the windows trying to see what caused the noise. Lilly and Edward stayed where they were and Lilly grabbed her screwdriver. “What are you going to do with that little thing beautiful,” said Plague, looking at Lilly. She just clutched it tighter. “That must be them. I am glad they made it back.” “Don’t count on it just yet. Who knows it could be someone else or they were attacked and the Humvee stolen.” They all waited patiently.
Then they saw the Humvee in sight. It stopped right in front of the store and they could see three people getting out. Cowan was the first to reach the door followed by Bobbie and Nina. “Who is that?” asked Lilly. “Like we know,” said Edward, pointing out the obvious. “Come on open up already. I don’t want to be out here any longer than I have too!” said Cowan. Hobbs opened the door and let them in. “So who is this you brought back with you?” The woman perked up and stood taller. “Names Nina, your boys came in and crashed my place! Then we were attacked by a group-.” “Yeah they were easy enough to dispatch. Just some marauders but we took care of them. You should have seen it man it was a cluster fuck. Explosions everywhere, we were trapped, then the stupid leader came on out and I took care of him no problem.” “Well what about the helicopter? Were you able to find it?” asked Hobbs. “Nope the mission was SNAFU,” situation normal all fucked up, “I don’t even know why I even suggested it. We came upon this town where Nina here was holed up.” “Wait where is Thomas?” “Oh about that. Yeah...” Cowan let out a long sigh. “Well he didn’t make it.” Bobbie came to the front pushing Cowan aside. “Yeah didn’t make it was right. Cowan here just shot him for no reason!” “Wait a damn minute that bastard was scared and was going to run off with our vehicle!” “You don’t know that!” Bobbie shoved Cowan. “Don’t start with me old man! You’re lucky I did not do you in as well!” “You!” Bobbie lunged forward and shoved Cowan into the front counter. Cowan regaining his balance swung his fist connecting with Bobbie’s jaw. Bobbie spit out blood and looked up at Cowan. Hobbs quickly got in between the both of them. “Look we need to stick together and you both need to squash this petty shit!” Plague just stood back watching all the entertainment chewing on chips and drinking a soda. “We have bigger issues! We need to get prepared to leave here and head towards the bunker!”
“Cowan you with me now and Bobbie you stay over there!” Hobbs pointed off towards the back of the store. “Get your ass over here! What the fuck is wrong with you? Why the hell did you kill Thomas?” Cowan stared directly into Hobbs’ eyes. “You know as well as I do when an asset goes bad we have to get rid of it. He was scared and refused to continue on so I gave him a way out.” “You can’t just go around killing people because you feel like it.” “Yeah well this is a brand new world Hobbs! Plus I have seen you kill many people just because you thought they were the enemy. So don’t go around and preaching to me brother. I did what I had to do. He was a liability and I had to get rid of him. I was not going to allow some piece of shit get me killed. No sir! That ain’t going to happen!” “I understand what you are saying but you could’ve just let him go and be done with it.” “It doesn’t work like that and you know it. He was a threat and I took care of it and that’s the end of it.” “Cowan you just better watch yourself because someone might just take you out.” “Yeah well I would welcome it. It would be a change and a way out of this shit hole. All ideas of making it to a safe place rebuild utter bullshit. Well I will tell you what it’s a crock of shit. I am not going to let it happen and you know it. We will just be living our lives out until we die. There will be no rebuilding this worl
d. That’s just a pipe dream. Look around you Hobbs. You want to bring back what once was? Let me tell you our meager existence is all that is left. How is the world going to get back on its feet? Another thing go fuck yourself and your high and mighty self.” Hobbs shoved Cowan and he fell to the ground. Cowan got back up and got right into Hobbs face. “You want a piece of me! Well go fuck yourself and fuck them and everyone. I am done with this shit. You can take everything and shove it right up your ass.” Cowan started to storm off his backed turned heading towards the door. “Don’t you walk away from me!” Cowan raised his hand and gave Hobbs the finger. Then Hobbs grabbed his rifle that was laying against one of the shelves pulled back the bolt and let it rush forward. Cowan heard the click and turned around. “So what now? Are you going to shoot me?” “Well we have to get rid of liabilities now don’t we?” “You won’t pull the trigger and you know it. Liabilities huh? Why don’t you tell everyone about the voices in your head? Baby boy I guess I’ve been found out the cat is out of the bag isn’t it? “What do you think I didn’t notice? You talking to yourself and shouting out to no one. “I know you Hobbs and I know when something is not right.” By this time everyone was gathering around listening and murmuring amongst themselves. “We have been together through everything. I am not surprised it didn’t happen earlier. So why don’t you just tell everyone. Wait you didn’t want anyone to worry did you? I let it slide but you have gone too far.” “Shut up I swear I will kill you right here right NOW!” “You don’t have the balls to do that. Go ahead and shoot me see if I care. It would be a great way to go. A crazy friend shoots his best friend and battle buddy just because he can’t handle it. So go ahead. I am waiting... See I knew you wouldn’t be able to pull the trigger. You are too predictable and weak. See that is what separates us. I can do what is needed. I can shed my humanity when the times comes. You obviously can’t. This world is about survival and if there are people that are not up to the task then it is time to get rid of them.” Hobbs jaw dropped as he could not believe the words that were coming out of Cowan’s mouth.
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