The Journey: Chapter 2

Chapter 2



I have all the supplies I need and I'm ready to go. Just important stuff though. The CB, my rifle and food and water in case I have to hole up for a while while I work my way to my house. I have to make sure they are ok. If I was able to get ahold of them, I wouldn't be so worried to get there if I knew they were safe. I'm fairly sure they are though. Dad was always prepared for any situation that came our way.

I take another look outside to see if the coast is clear. Wait, who's that? There's a running with about 20 of those things following right behind her. I think I should help her, but I don't want to attract any attention to the house. But she does need help.

I go to the side door and I tried to discreetly yell for her to come over. Finally she sees me. The only problem is some of those things may have seenme too. I got her safely inside and baracaded the doors as much as I could. Who knows how many of those things might be following.

She is in shock as I try to give her some water. Looks like she's been running a long way.

"Thank you", she said, "seemed like I would never get away from those things."
"No problem. What's your name?"
"Sarah... Sarah Johnston. I'm from Winston Falls, about 15 miles from here."
"You ran all that way?"
"Well, mostly. I took a bicycle part of the way, but while I was on the road, those things saw me. I didn't think there would be that many of them. After they...."

She looked away and started choking up.

"After they... killed my family, I had to get away from there as fast as possible. I remember reading that there is some kind of epidemic spreading throughout the country, but I didn't think that it was here that fast."
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your family?"
"Well, we outside like we usually are during nice days. My mom was hanging laundry and my dad was working on the garden. I was playing with my little sister who was trying to catch butterflies. Then out of nowhere, a couple of those things came from out of the woods and grabbed up my sister. Ripping her to shreds. I started screaming and my folks came over to help and they attacked them to. The last words I remember my father telling me was "run... run Sarah now!." So I did. I headed straight for the woods. I scratched my leg along the way and it feels like it needs cleaned. Don't worry though, it wasn't one of those things. Could the infection be airborn?""I'm really not sure. How about if I help you clean that up and we'll get you something to eat. You must be exhausted."
"Thank you...."
"Jason... Jason Tharp."

I am really concerned about that scratch on her leg. She says she doesn't know where it came from, but she knows it wasn't from one of them. I'm not so sure, but if I was... something bad might happen. At this point it's a matter of survival.

After I clean her up and get her some food, I lay out to her the battle plan I've come up with.

"You're more than welcome to come along if you want. That's up to you. But it will be dangerous."
"I don't think that plan is going to work. I just came from that direction and it is swarming with those things."
"Yeah, well.. I have to take that chance. I have to make sure my family is ok. They mean more to me than anyone."
"I'll come along. But I'm telling you there's no point to it. It's basically suicide."
"Sometimes you just have to take that kind of risk. Especially since.... Jesus those things are loud."
"I know. I hope we'll be able to sleep tonight. Have to be rested for the kind of hike we'll be putting on tomorrow."
"Yeah, try and get some sleep. I'm gonna stay up for a while to make sure it's safe to rest."
"Goodnight."

It seemed like she drifted right off. Though I don't doubt it after the long day she's had. Yesterday I saw my best friend die, but her whole family. I couldn't even imagine what she's going through mentally after that. Poor girl. But I have to get some rest though. It's a long trip back to my house and I want to be on top alert.


There's a strange morning fog covering the area today. Hopefully that clears up soon. I'm not trying to take on those woods if I can't see five feet in front of me. Since it's foggy now, I may as well catch a few more minutes of sleep. I wish those things would keep the hell quiet. They've been banging on the walls all night.

"Wake up! Wake up!"
"Jesus, what's going on? Are they getting in?"
"No, you were having a bad dream and it sounded like a really horrible one."
"Really? I don't remember it."
"You were mumbling about you mom and dad. Something about how you couldn't find them."
"I don't remember any of that. What time is it?"
"About twelve o'clock."
"Dammit, it's way past when I wanted to leave. Ok, we go now, but we have to do this carefully
and quietly. Be as calm as possible."
"Okay."

First thing we do is gather up our supplies and make sure we're set. Now that that's done, we look around and make sure that the coast is clear. A few stragglers are left on the road. The back and front of the house look clear. Now the side...

"Oh, Jesus." I said

When I opened the blind to look out, of all the people, of every one of those god forsaken things roaming around, I see the face of my brother looking right back at me. Only it wasn't really my brother, at least not in an emotional or mental sense. He had turned into one of those things. His eyes are now vacant and evil. I can't believe this. Does this mean that they are all like that now? Was there an ambush at the house? I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Oh god if there was, why couldn't I have been there to help them. He sees me and starts making those weird noises I've heard of them make all night, only slightly different. It's as though he is signalling them. I have no choice.

"I love you man.... I'm sorry."

I open the door, look him right in the eyes and fire a shot right into his forehead. I didn't want to do it, but there is no way I was going to let my brother go on as one of those things. A single tear trickled down my cheek as I stood back and stared, still shaking and unbelieving about what I just had to do. There is no more time to mess around. We have to go now.

I signal for Sarah and we quietly leave the house through the back window where hopefully none of those things can see us and make our way into the woods. We have to keep our eyes open and be prepared for anything that will come our way. Saying you're ready is way easier than knowing you're ready. I know I'm ready and I can only hope she is too.