“Do you need help?” asks Phil into his radio.
“I think I am safe for now, but I would like to meet with you and Ryan soon,” answers Brad over the radio.
“I’m not bringing anyone to your community if it’s not safe for us,” replies Phil into his radio.
Phil hears some loud commotion and noise over the radio.
Brad doesn’t reply to Phil, but Phil can hear some noise coming from Brad’s radio.
Phil waits for Brad’s reply over the radio.
About thirty seconds go by and Phil doesn’t hear a reply from Brad and Phil starts to worry.
Brad finally replies into the radio with a low tone of voice, “Sorry, some people were being escorted by some guards and I had to be quiet… But I can meet you guys away from here.”
“Where can you meet us?” asks Phil over the radio.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” answers Brad over the radio.
“I’ll talk with Ryan, and we’ll come up with a plan. I know Ryan wants to check out the electric company and water treatment plant soon,” says Phil into his radio.
“I think that could work. Please let me know when you would like to meet and I’ll make it happen,” replies Brad over the radio.
“Okay. Give me a few hours and I’ll call you back over the radio,” says Phil into his radio.
“Thank you, Phil, I’ll have my radio on for the next couple of hours,” replies Brad over the radio.
Matt comes walking down the street and sees Phil standing under his front porch and talking into his radio.
Matt walks over to Phil and asks, “Who are you talking to?”
Phil says into his radio, “Stay safe Brad. I’ll be in touch.”
Matt looks at Phil and Phil answers Matt, “Brad from Channelside.”
“Everything okay?” asks Matt.
“I don’t know, but Brad said that Channelside has a new leader and it’s not him,” answers Phil.
“I thought the plan was to get Brad running Channelside?” asks Matt.
“Yeah, me too, but I guess that didn’t happen,” answers Phil.
Phil opens his front door and shouts, “Hey Nic, I’m going to Ryan’s for a second, but I should be back in a couple minutes!”
“Okay! I’ll start making dinner now!” shouts Nicole from the master bedroom.
“Thank you!” shouts Phil and then Phil closes his front door.
Phil clips his radio to his belt and starts walking down his driveway.
Matt catches up to Phil and walks with him.
“How did the drones go?” asks Phil.
“Good, everything looks clear from here to the water treatment plant and electric company,” answers Matt.
“Any zombies or potential problems?” asks Phil.
“Of course there are zombies, but nothing we can’t handle, and the streets are clear,” answers Matt.
Phil and Matt turn the corner and approach Matt’s house.
“What’s the plan?” asks Matt.
“I don’t know yet, but I think we have to meet up with Brad and see what’s going on at Channelside,” answers Phil.
“Are you sure we should do that?” asks Matt.
Phil stops walking in front of Matt’s house and looks at Matt.
Matt stops walking and looks at Phil.
“We don’t have to do anything. We don’t have to help anyone. We have more than enough things to worry about around here, but I think we should at least hear Brad out and see what’s going on there,” says Phil to Matt with an aggressive tone.
Matt senses Phil’s aggressiveness and replies, “Okay, I just think we got a lot going on here and wondered if it was smart to add another thing.”
Phil says to Matt, “I’m going to talk with Ryan about this and then we’ll see what we should do. We can use your support on whatever we decide.”
Matt is offended by what Phil just said.
Phil sees the look on Matt’s face and feels that Matt’s feelings were hurt.
“I’m sorry man. I just feel like you don’t always support our decisions,” says Phil to Matt.
“I get it, and you are right. I don’t always agree with what you guys want to do, but I come along a lot of the time,” replies Matt.
Phil feels an awkwardness between him and Matt and says, “I’ll talk with Ry and we’ll get everyone together to make a plan.”
Matt replies, “Okay, let me know what’s going on.”
“I will,” replies Phil.
Matt goes into his house and Phil knocks on my front door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
I look at Lauren and Fran as we are preparing our dinner table for dinner.
I walk over to my front door and open it.
“Sorry to bother you Ry, but Brad just called for you over the radio,” says Phil.
“What’s up?” I ask Phil.
I step outside and close my front door.
“Brad sounded worried about Channelside and he told me about Channelside having a new leader that isn’t him,” answers Phil.
“Why isn’t he the new leader?” I ask Phil.
“I don’t know, but I think Brad and Channelside could be in trouble,” answers Phil.
“What did you tell him?” I ask Phil.
“I told him that I’d talk with you and then get back to him in a couple hours,” answers Phil.
“Okay, good. Let’s plan to talk with him over the radio in like two hours,” I say to Phil.
“Who do you want there when we talk with him?” asks Phil.
“Whoever you think should hear what he has to say,” I answer Phil.
“Okay, I’ll tell Shaun, Matt, and Jon to meet us somewhere in two hours,” replies Phil.
“See if we can do it in Shaun’s garage as we get pretty good reception in there,” I say to Phil.
“Okay. I will. Meet us in Shaun’s garage in two hours,” says Phil.
“I’ll be there,” I reply to Phil.
“Sorry about interrupting your dinner,” says Phil.
“It’s okay. I’ll see you in two hours,” I say to Phil and I go back inside my house.
“Everything okay honey?” asks Lauren as I enter my house and close my front door.
“Yeah, everything is okay. Brad just contacted Phil over the radio and Phil wants to talk with him in two hours,” I answer Lauren.
“About what?” asks Lauren.
“Channelside. They could be in trouble with their new leader,” I answer Lauren.
I walk over to our dining room table and Lauren asks me, “I thought Brad was going to lead them?”
“Me too, but I guess I’ll find out in a couple hours what happened over there,” I answer Lauren.
“Who is Brad?” asks Fran.
Lauren answers Fran, “He’s part of another group that we know.”
“That’s nice. I hope there are a lot of groups of people around here,” says Fran.
“I hope there are a lot of good people out there still,” I reply to Fran.
“That’s true, there could be some bad people out there still,” responds Fran.
“I’m sure there are Fran,” I say to Fran.
Two hours pass and I’m with Shaun, Phil, Matt, and Jon inside Shaun’s garage.
Shaun lets out a loud burp.
“Oh man, that deer was so good,” says Shaun.
“How much do you have left?” asks Jon.
“A couple pieces,” answers Shaun.
“Did you give some to TJ?” I ask Shaun.
“Yeah, I gave him some, but I think we need to bag another deer,” answers Shaun.
“You might have to send Brody down to that chick Whitney’s house for some deer,” jokes Phil.
“I’m not sure Kiersten would like that,” I say to Phil.
“Hello, Ryan?” asks Brad over the radio that is sitting on the table inside Shaun’s garage.
I grab the radio and answer Brad, “Hey Brad. It’s me Ryan. I’m with my guys as wel
l. Is everything okay?”
“It’s okay right now, but it’s been pretty chaotic the past couple of days,” answers Brad over the radio.
“Who is your leader now?” I ask Brad into the radio.
“This guy named Sal. He’s a no nonsense guy that has made this place like a prison,” answers Brad over the radio.
“What do you mean?” I ask into the radio to Brad.
“I’ll explain it all in person, but when can you meet?” asks Brad over the radio.
“How about tomorrow?” I ask into the radio to Brad.
“Where?” asks Brad over the radio.
I look at Shaun, Jon, Matt, and Phil for the answer.
“Where should we meet?” I ask the guys.
“I don’t think we should go to Channelside… But we could meet at the water treatment plant or electric company,” answers Phil.
“Good idea,” I say to Phil and then I say into the radio to Brad, “Tomorrow at the water treatment plant.”
“What time?” asks Brad over the radio.
“Any time in the afternoon is good,” I answer into the radio to Brad.
“Okay. I’ll try to get there around two or three tomorrow, but it could be tough to get out of here,” answers Brad over the radio.
“Why can’t you leave?” I ask into the radio to Brad.
“I’ll explain everything tomorrow. I’ll be there tomorrow around two or three,” answers Brad over the radio.
CLICK!
The radio makes a click sound and I look at the guys.
“Did he just hang up on me?” I ask the guys.
“Sounded like he turned off his radio,” answers Phil.
“Hello, Brad? You their Brad?” I ask into my radio.
Brad does not answer over the radio.
“Okay, that was weird,” I say to the guys.
I hand the radio to Phil.
“I guess we are going to the water treatment plant tomorrow,” I say to the guys.
“Hopefully, Brad will meet us there,” says Phil.
“What did you guys see with the drones?” I ask Matt and Jon.
“Zombies, a couple people running from the zombies, but nothing too crazy going on,” answers Matt.
I look at Jon.
Jon answers, “I saw some people painting something on a couple billboards, but I couldn’t get too close because of the range of the drone.”
“Was it Conquerors?” asks Shaun.
“I don’t think so, unless they have decided to coordinate their outfits into red and white now,” answers Jon.
“What do you mean?” I ask Jon.
“I mean they literally had all white or all red on. It was weird,” answers Jon.
“How many of them were there?” I ask Jon.
“I don’t know. About six or seven I think,” answers Jon.
“Anything we should be concerned about for our trip to the water treatment plant tomorrow?” I ask Jon and Matt.
Jon answers, “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Matt answers, “I didn’t see anything that concerns me either.”
“Okay, let’s plan on moving out tomorrow around noon. I want to check out a gun shop on the way to the water treatment plant,” I say to the guys.
“Why a gun shop?” asks Matt.
Phil answers, “Are you serious Matt? Because it’s on the way and because it’s a freakin gun shop.”
“Hopefully they have some ammo left there,” says Shaun.
“You don’t have to come tomorrow Matt. You can be our eyes with the drone,” I say to Matt.
Matt replies, “Okay, I think I’d rather do that than go out there.”
“Why Matt? Why not come out with us?” asks Shaun.
“It’s cool guys. We need someone to give us an eye in the sky tomorrow,” I say to the guys.
I look at Jon and ask, “You okay with that?”
“Yeah, I just wish I had Silencer. I feel far less secure without her,” answers Jon.
“We’ll look into getting you a new sword real soon. Maybe World of Trade or William will have one for ya,” I say to Jon.
“Just make sure you bring your badass shield tomorrow,” says Shaun to Jon.
“Do you think we need to keep wearing the orange badges?” asks Jon.
“I don’t want to risk it. I think we wear them tomorrow and every time we leave this place until we know it’s safe without them,” I answer Jon.
“Better to be safe than sorry, should I try to reach TJ?” asks Phil.
“Sure, see what he says. I think we could use his help tomorrow,” I answer Phil.
Phil picks up his radio, walks away from us, and tries to reach TJ over the radio.
I look at Matt, Shaun, and Jon and ask, “Anything else to add?”
Matt, Shaun, and Jon don’t say anything.
Shaun motions like he has something to say.
Matt, Jon, and I look at Shaun.
Shaun looks back at Matt, Jon, and me.
Shaun burps very loud.
BELCH!
We all laugh, and I say, “Well said.”
I look at the guys and say, “Tomorrow could be a big day. I hope we can get the water treatment plant working again.”
CHAPTER 12
I WON’T HOLD MY BREATH
“You all set Matt?” I ask into my radio.
Matt answers over the radio, “I’m good to go. Just waiting on you guys to get going and I’ll send my drone out.”
“Keep us posted with anything you see. No matter what it is. More info the better,” I say into my radio to Matt as I stand in Bobby G’s kitchen.
Bobby G’s front door opens and closes.
Lauren enters Bobby G’s kitchen and walks over to me.
“You sure you don’t want me coming today?” asks Lauren.
“You said you wanted to work on a couple things with Nicole, Lisa, and Kelly today,” I answer Lauren.
“I did, and I think it’s better for me to stay here today,” replies Lauren.
“I was gonna say. I definitely asked you about coming today,” I reply to Lauren.
“I know, I know. I’m only kidding. Plus, you’ll have Odin, Janet, and TJ today,” replies Lauren.
I glance at Bobby G’s open bedroom doorway and Lauren sees me looking at the doorway.
“You doing okay honey?” asks Lauren.
“Yeah, I just keep waiting for my dad to come out of the bedroom or bathroom or somewhere,” I answer Lauren.
“I know how ya feel, I do that sometimes with my dad also,” replies Lauren.
“Probably coming over here as much as I have been doesn’t help either,” I say to Lauren.
“Well, after we get the rest of these boxes out of here, then we can take a break from coming over here for a while,” says Lauren.
I nod my head at Lauren and reply, “I think it will be a good thing to take a little break from here.”
I look at my watch and it reads, “11:47 AM.”
“Are the guys outside?” I ask Lauren.
“I saw Shaun, Phil, and Jon in Shaun’s driveway, but no Matt,” answers Lauren.
“Matt is staying here and will be our eye in the sky with the drone,” I say to Lauren.
BEEP! BEEP!
Lauren and I hear a vehicle horn beep outside of Bobby G’s house.
I exit Bobby G’s house with Lauren, and I see TJ’s jeep in front of Shaun’s house.
“I’ll be right over!” I shout to the guys and TJ and then I walk over to my house.
I enter my house and grab my katana, samurai body armor chest piece, and my bags of supplies.
“What do you have on your legs now?” asks Lauren.
I look down at my legs and answer, “They are martial arts shin guards.”
“Will they stop a zombie bite?” asks Lauren.
“I hope so, but I like them on my legs along with the compression pants. I have a set of guards for my forearms as well,” I answer Lauren.
; I kiss Lauren goodbye and then exit my house.
I walk across the street over to Shaun’s driveway.
Shaun sees me walking towards him and asks, “You gonna fit in the truck with that gear on?”
I place my bags of supplies in the back of the electric truck and answer Shaun, “Yeah. I trimmed it down a little bit, so I can fit inside the truck now.”
“Good, I think it looks better also,” replies Shaun.
Phil sees my shoes and says, “I see you are trying out the sneakers from the sporting goods store.”
TJ sees my shoes and asks, “What’s up with those shoes?”
“They should be indestructible. At least we couldn’t break them,” answers Phil.
“We definitely tried too. I slammed them down on nails, and even tried to cut them with a knife,” I say to TJ.
“Nice, you just have to add a knife on the toe box next,” jokes TJ.
I look at Phil and say, “We are definitely trying to add a knife to the shoes when we get back.”
“What’s the plan today?” asks TJ.
“We are going to the water treatment plant but first we want to check out a gun shop on the way,” I answer TJ.
“You think the gun shop will have anything there?” asks TJ.
“I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot as it’s on the way to the water treatment plant,” I answer TJ.
Phil looks at Shaun and asks, “You still have the ice machine disconnected right?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to risk making dirty ice with the nasty water,” answers Shaun.
“You know where you are going?” I ask TJ.
“Yeah, I know exactly the route we are taking,” answers TJ.
“Tell Matt that we are leaving now,” I say to Phil.
TJ gets into his jeep.
Shaun, Jon, and I get into the electric truck that is parked in Shaun’s driveway.
Phil talks to Matt over the radio and then gets into Shaun’s electric truck.
TJ drives down the street and exits Citrus Oaks.
Shaun reverses out of his driveway and exits Citrus Oaks.
“I think we need earpieces for the radios now,” I say.
“You mean like this,” replies Phil as he shows me a small earpiece that connects with the radio.
“What the hell?” shouts Shaun.
“What, I only have two of them,” replies Phil.
Phil hands me an earpiece that connects with my radio.
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