We rounded the back corner of the school, to see the empty back field that was covered in overly green grass. We passed the football field that had been trampled over from constant use, the bleachers casting a shadow over the destroyed field. I could see movement underneath the bleachers and tapped Ethan on the shoulder and nodded towards the seats. We widened our berth from the bleachers as we passed, hoping to not catch the attention of whatever was lurking beneath them.
The grass silently crunched under our feet but I failed to notice the soda can, since my attention was so focused on the figure. All eyes whipped to me as the aluminum crumpled and I winced at the sound. We could hear and see the shuffling as the figure appeared from under the benches. The man's arm hung limply as he staggered towards us and we started to back up and run. With Zoe leading us to the back fence that surrounded the school, we ran like we were being chased, which in a way we were. The infected ambled towards us, it's one good arm raised to grab us but our speed easily outran him in his condition.
When we reached the chain-link fence, Ethan hoisted Chloe over first then Zoe and I went next. I landed on the other side hard, catching myself on the metal links before I fell over. The fence rattled with all the movement and the infected took this as a sign to speed up. Seeing this, Darren and Ethan quickly hopped over and joined us on the other side. With his blood stained fingers sticking through the chain-links, the infected snapped at us but posed no threat seeing as he was not able to climb over. He just continually rattled the fence trying to get to us.
"He can't climb over right?" Chloe asked as she stared wide eyed at the infected.
"Naw," Ethan said. "But let's keep going."
I looked back at the man one last time, as we headed towards the parkade. It was as if he couldn't comprehend how to get to us, he either wasn't in good enough condition to climb over or didn't even think to climb over. Either way, it was of benefit to us. He just stood there rattling the fence and snarling as we got further away. I wondered just how long he planned on standing there, but I guess we wouldn't be there to find out.
The parkade was a giant cement building about five floors high; I could see the gleam of the cars reflecting through the openings. The booth at the entrance was empty of the operator and so we just ducked underneath the yellow and blacked stripped bar to get inside.
"I'm parked on the third floor," Ethan said as he readjusted his backpack on his shoulders.
We followed him over to the door labeled 'stairs' and started up the cement steps. The stairwell was dark, barely lit by the tiny windows slits. Relief washed over me as Ethan opened the third floor stairs and light poured in. We passed by parked vehicle after parked vehicle, until Ethan stopped at an older model of a Chevy Silverado. It was in good shape, no rusting anywhere on its black paint job.
"How much gas do you have?" Darren asked, throwing his backpack into the truck bed.
"Had a full tank before we drove down here," Ethan answered throwing his own backpack then Chloe's beside Darren's.
"We should probably fill up and get extra gas before we leave the city," I said, not sure if I wanted to throw my backpack with the rest or have it with me in the cab.
"We have lots of gas stored at our cabin," Chloe said.
"Purple gas?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah, how'd ya know?" Chloe asked and I eyed Zoe suspiciously.
"I grew up in the country." She shrugged.
"It's like I don't even know you." I feigned a look of horror.
"Shut up and get in." Zoe rolled her eyes at my comment.
We jumped into the truck, with Zoe in the middle seat and Darren and I on either side of her in the back. There was a surprising amount of room considering the truck didn't have an extended cab. I looked out the back window longingly at my backpack, wishing I had brought it in here with me. If I lost that, I really had nothing with me. Ethan started the vehicle and Chloe buckled herself in. We made it down to the first floor only to be stopped by the yellow and black bar and with no one operating the booth, it just stood in our way.
"So, anyone here ever work in a parkade booth?" I asked and of course everyone shook their head, even Chloe.
"Ram it?" Darren suggested but the look on Ethan's face said that was not an option.
"Do you think it will move up if we just lift it?" I asked because I wasn't sure if the mechanized arm would let us.
"Only one way to find out," Darren muttered as he climbed out of the truck.
He tested the bar first and it gave way to the lifting motion. The bar rose higher as he walked from the end to the part that connected with the booth. Slowly, Ethan inched past the booth and Darren let the bar drop as he ran to get back in. We rode in tight-lipped silence as we tried to drive out of the city. No one dared to make a sound, too focused on scanning our surroundings.
Vehicles were abandoned all over the road, their owners nowhere to be seen. Ethan had to maneuver around a big cluster of parked vehicles, which entailed us driving partway on the sidewalk.
"Ah, guys," Chloe said as she pointed at something through the windshield.
We all looked out to see what she was going on about. The bridge that we needed to cross to head out of the city was not only blocked with numerous vehicles but a bunch of the infected were ambling around and bodies were everywhere. Even if there hadn't been any sick people walking around, we wouldn't have been able to get across because the various abandoned cars and trucks were blocking every lane both ways. The bridge created a bottleneck where everyone tried to cross but no one made it over, the thought making me depressed. The infected that were running around, were most likely the former owners of those vehicles.
The sound of the engine finally caught the attention of one of the infected and he started towards the noise. The other infected that saw this, mindlessly followed instep behind him.
"Um, maybe you should back up, yeah?!" I said, panic rising in me.
If the horde surrounded us we would be screwed. Ethan threw the gears into reverse and slammed on the gas causing us to fly against the front seats. Maybe I should learn to wear my seatbelt. I had to say I was quite impressed with Ethan's driving skills; maybe all country boys could drive that well, who knows. I remembered the sorry state my bumper was in, on my old Honda from backing into so many things.
He managed to back up without hitting anything and turned us around so that the herd was behind us. I looked back to see them fading as we drove away. The sight of a little boy no more than five, mixed in with the horde, made me turn back around. His once blond curls were matted with blood and was only wearing one of those little kid shoes that looked like miniature adult ones. His neck was a mess, the greasy blood dried all over his wound and shirt.
"All of the major city exit points are going to be like this," Darren said quietly. "Do you know any other way out of the city?"
Ethan thought about it for a minute then said, "Yeah but its backtracking."
"Would it involve going through downtown?" Zoe asked, her frantic eyes glued to the window.
"No but it's a lot of back streets and then roads on the outskirts of town," he replied.
"Sounds better than running into that," I said motioning to the back window.
Everyone nodded in agreement. An hour later we found ourselves on yet another city one-way. Man, this place was littered with them but the main roads were either blocked or overrun so we stuck to the crappy one-ways.
"You're goin' the wrong way," Chloe studiously pointed out.
"Not like it matters," Ethan sighed. "There are no people or police to stop us."
Chloe stared open mouthed at him in disbelief. Her almost ten year old mind couldn't comprehend breaking the law but yet she seemed to be taking the whole zombie apocalypse thing very well. Weird kid.
"Look." Chloe pointed to a billboard sticking out between two buildings. It read 'Bobby Joe's Gun Shop' and I laughed out loud at the redneck gun shop name.
"What's so funny?" Zoe asked, looking at me like I was crazy.
"Nothing." I looked back at the billboard, ignoring everyone's confused stares.
Here we were, heading off to gun store and I had never even step foot in one before. This was insanity, which just showed how dire our situation was. I started to bite at my nails as I worried over that thought.
"Were only 'bout an hour away if we keep on these one-ways," Ethan announced.
"I can't wait to have a weapon other than his crowbar," Darren said, pointing his thumb at Ethan.
I wasn't sure giving Darren a gun or even a bat was a good idea; I hadn't decided if I trusted him or not. But who was I to say, I shouldn't be allowed to handle a weapon anyways.
"You guys know how to handle a gun?" Ethan asked, almost as if he could read my mind.
"Used to go to the gun range all the time," Darren said.
"I grew up country, used to shoot all the gophers that destroyed the yard," Zoe admitted.
Everyone looked at me.
"I used to play duck hunt all the time as a kid, does that count?" I offered up.
"So, no guns for you," Zoe muttered.
"Trust me; it's to your benefit that I stick to a bat."
"Geez, even I can shoot," Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Maybe ya'll can teach her then," Ethan smirked at me via the rearview mirror.
Everyone chuckled at the look on my face.
"But seriously, you're not actually going to let a nine year old wield a gun right?" I asked, concerned for a second.