Them

Rest Easy

I looked over at James.  He was squatting on a branch in the tree opposite me.  I asked him, in sign language, if there were any of them below us.  He signed back, "no."  But he froze and glanced down once more, and I soon after saw what he did.  A lone one, stumbling forward, tripping on its own two feet.  I signed to him, "shoot," and he obeyed, pulling back the string on his brand new, blood-spattered bow and arrow.  I caught a glimpse of gleaming silver as the arrow was shot from the weapon.  It pierced its skull cleanly, and not a spatter of the red-black blood spurted from its head.  I signed the word "excellent" to him, and we jumped down and, quickly, ran off to meet the others at the edge of the forest.  

"Thought we lost you back there," Howard said quietly, slapping me on the back.

"James thought he saw something, so we climbed a couple trees and waited," I replied, glancing back at James.  He grinned at me and wiggled his fingers in a wave.  I rolled my eyes, but with good intention.  

"I... shot... one," he sputtered out.  It was hard for poor James to speak, as he had been deaf since he was twelve due to an explosion in his garage.  But, he managed simple sentences quite well now at age twenty-three, and he had even taught us simple sign language.  It had probably saved our asses more than twice; it kept us from talking aloud when we knew they were around.

"Good job, Jamesy," Destiny signed as she spoke.  He smiled proudly, and then looked around at all of us.  His expression saddened, and he signed "rest."  I agreed silently, and Howard nodded.  

"Right, then.  Let's fin' somewhere," Rob said loudly.  I shushed him, not wanting to stir up those that could've been near us.

"What's a matter, Alice?  'Fraid I can't 'andle a lil' zomber?" he said, coming near me and sticking his face close to mine.  I was growing sick of him, no matter how much of a great fighter he was.

"Don't pester her," Howard warned, pointing the butt of his gun at Rob.  "She'll kick your ass."

"Damn right I will," I muttered, and shoved him forward.

"Easy, you two," Jack said, coming up between us.  "No fighting among the group, remember?  We have to keep clear-headed if we ever want to survive this thing."

"You're right," Rob said.  "Sorry, Alice."

"It's okay," I replied, but I turned my attention away from him and back to my surroundings.  We had been ambushed one too many times, and I was determined to not let it happen again.  Even Howard and Destiny, who were always the most prepared, never usually saw an ambush coming.  We had only lost one group member in an ambush before; Carol.  We always plan before heading out somewhere, and if you didn't follow the plan or the direction in which you're supposed to go, you'd probably get yourself killed.  And it'd be your own fault.  That's what Carol did.

I walked behind Howard, Destiny, and James, watching them silently interact with each other.  Destiny pulled her dreadlocks into a big, high ponytail, exposing the beautiful dark skin of her neck.  Both James and Howard were both fixed on her.  I was sure that they both were nearly in love, and I found it hilarious.  Only she would have two suitors in the middle of an apocalypse.  She was beautiful, after all.  Even Rob, stubborn, short-tempered Rob, seemed to fancy her.  Only Jack was left out.  He seemed to have taken a liking to me, as simple as I was with pale skin and simple black hair that I usually kept pulled up and out of my face.  

Suddenly, Howard whipped his head around, staring back at us.

"Did one of you three say something?" he asked.  His dark eyes were narrowed to slits, and it seemed as though his ears twitched as he listened.