General JJ
Outbreak Chapter 14: Roadblock
We set out at 4 AM. It was decided that we would need to take two vehicles: the truck for supplies (driven by Zac), and another car for the rest of us (driven by Amy). There were a few other zombies around when we pulled out of the gas station, but they were far too slow to keep up. We were able to keep in contact with Zac along the way between a set of radios; the shaky cell reception made it impossible to sustain a single call. Zac took the lead in the front, and we followed behind him.
Despite the lack of any immediate danger, only after we had made it to the highway did everyone start to loosen up.
“So… Brett, right? What’s your story?” asked Amy.
“Well,” I started. “It’s certainly been a roller coaster ride so far. I woke up to those things, the zombies, the day I left. I fought my way out of my house, and joined with a local police officer, Scott. We made it all the way to L.A. before we got separated.”
“What happened to him?” asked Brian.
“He managed to get on one of the evacuation helicopters,” I lied. To be honest, I had no idea what happened to him after we were separated in the crowd. I hoped that he managed to reach the helicopters in time, but he could have easily been left for dead just as I was. From now on, I promised myself, I wouldn’t lose anyone else.
“How did you meet Zac?” Amy continued.
“I actually owe a lot to Zac,” I recalled. “I don’t remember much of it, but he said that he rescued me and dragged me all the way to his apartment. We made it out before the city was bombed, but…”
“WHAT?” yelled Brian. “They bombed Los Angeles?! But, but… how is that even legal?!”
“Hey, calm down, Brian! Let him finish.”
“Yes, the city was bombed,” I stated plainly. “We heard that it was to contain the outbreak, but I’m not sure how much that will actually accomplish. Anyway, Zac and I made it out well before the bombs started falling, and then we ran into you guys. Your turn.”
“Well, there’s not much to tell.,” Amy started with Brian still fuming quietly. “Brian and I were neighbors before this all started. We both managed to get out in time, and we’ve been hiding from place to place ever since. We were still trying to figure out where to go next when you two showed up. Unfortunately, not everyone out here has been as nice to us as you have. There are all kinds of people out there: doomsday fanatics, bandits, and a lot of, well…you know. Zombies. It’s amazing how quickly society can fall apart when panic sets in.”
Just then we heard the radio and Zac’s voice: “It looks like we might have a few zombies up ahead on the side of the road. It doesn’t look like too many, so it’ll be ok.”
“Got it,” I responded. “Thanks for the heads up.”
As we approached a dip in the road, Zac’s suspicions were confirmed: there were just a couple zombies on the side of the road, crowding around something on the ground, most likely a dead animal. As the road curved back up over the dip, I heard the radio again: “TURN AROUND, GUYS! TURN AROUND NOW!”
Just as we made it over the dip, we were greeted with a huge crowd of zombies.
“SHIT!” Amy screamed as she slammed on the breaks, almost running into Zac.
The radio sounded again: “Guys, there’s no way we can turn around. There were more zombies over the hill, and they followed us over the dip. We’ve gotta keep going.”
Brian was quick to respond: “And how do you suppose we do that, genius? The road is blocked!”
“I’ll clear a path with the truck, and you guys follow.”
With that, Zac slammed on the gas and sped forward.
“Well, here’s goes nothin’,” Amy remarked as she did the same.
Zac plowed through the zombies, shooting the survivors with his handgun as he did so. Amy swerved through any that Zac missed as she followed behind.
As we continued down the road however, it became more and more apparent that the crowd wasn’t becoming any smaller. In fact, it was getting bigger.
As we were driving, we heard the radio sound again, and saw Zac stop the truck.
“There’s no way we’re going to make it through this crowd. Period. I’m gonna distract them while you guys go on. I’ll meet you there.”
“Zac, what are you doing…” I started, but to be honest, I knew exactly what he had in mind.
________________________________________________
The next scene will be posted tomorrow. Hopefully some more Outbreak progress can happen before school starts for us on Wednesday :)
Outbreak Chapter 14: Roadblock
We set out at 4 AM. It was decided that we would need to take two vehicles: the truck for supplies (driven by Zac), and another car for the rest of us (driven by Amy). There were a few other zombies around when we pulled out of the gas station, but they were far too slow to keep up. We were able to keep in contact with Zac along the way between a set of radios; the shaky cell reception made it impossible to sustain a single call. Zac took the lead in the front, and we followed behind him.
Despite the lack of any immediate danger, only after we had made it to the highway did everyone start to loosen up.
“So… Brett, right? What’s your story?” asked Amy.
“Well,” I started. “It’s certainly been a roller coaster ride so far. I woke up to those things, the zombies, the day I left. I fought my way out of my house, and joined with a local police officer, Scott. We made it all the way to L.A. before we got separated.”
“What happened to him?” asked Brian.
“He managed to get on one of the evacuation helicopters,” I lied. To be honest, I had no idea what happened to him after we were separated in the crowd. I hoped that he managed to reach the helicopters in time, but he could have easily been left for dead just as I was. From now on, I promised myself, I wouldn’t lose anyone else.
“How did you meet Zac?” Amy continued.
“I actually owe a lot to Zac,” I recalled. “I don’t remember much of it, but he said that he rescued me and dragged me all the way to his apartment. We made it out before the city was bombed, but…”
“WHAT?” yelled Brian. “They bombed Los Angeles?! But, but… how is that even legal?!”
“Hey, calm down, Brian! Let him finish.”
“Yes, the city was bombed,” I stated plainly. “We heard that it was to contain the outbreak, but I’m not sure how much that will actually accomplish. Anyway, Zac and I made it out well before the bombs started falling, and then we ran into you guys. Your turn.”
“Well, there’s not much to tell.,” Amy started with Brian still fuming quietly. “Brian and I were neighbors before this all started. We both managed to get out in time, and we’ve been hiding from place to place ever since. We were still trying to figure out where to go next when you two showed up. Unfortunately, not everyone out here has been as nice to us as you have. There are all kinds of people out there: doomsday fanatics, bandits, and a lot of, well…you know. Zombies. It’s amazing how quickly society can fall apart when panic sets in.”
Just then we heard the radio and Zac’s voice: “It looks like we might have a few zombies up ahead on the side of the road. It doesn’t look like too many, so it’ll be ok.”
“Got it,” I responded. “Thanks for the heads up.”
As we approached a dip in the road, Zac’s suspicions were confirmed: there were just a couple zombies on the side of the road, crowding around something on the ground, most likely a dead animal. As the road curved back up over the dip, I heard the radio again: “TURN AROUND, GUYS! TURN AROUND NOW!”
Just as we made it over the dip, we were greeted with a huge crowd of zombies.
“SHIT!” Amy screamed as she slammed on the breaks, almost running into Zac.
The radio sounded again: “Guys, there’s no way we can turn around. There were more zombies over the hill, and they followed us over the dip. We’ve gotta keep going.”
Brian was quick to respond: “And how do you suppose we do that, genius? The road is blocked!”
“I’ll clear a path with the truck, and you guys follow.”
With that, Zac slammed on the gas and sped forward.
“Well, here’s goes nothin’,” Amy remarked as she did the same.
Zac plowed through the zombies, shooting the survivors with his handgun as he did so. Amy swerved through any that Zac missed as she followed behind.
As we continued down the road however, it became more and more apparent that the crowd wasn’t becoming any smaller. In fact, it was getting bigger.
As we were driving, we heard the radio sound again, and saw Zac stop the truck.
“There’s no way we’re going to make it through this crowd. Period. I’m gonna distract them while you guys go on. I’ll meet you there.”
“Zac, what are you doing…” I started, but to be honest, I knew exactly what he had in mind.
________________________________________________
The next scene will be posted tomorrow. Hopefully some more Outbreak progress can happen before school starts for us on Wednesday :)