Rotting World Page 8

  Chapter 12:

  While George stayed outside with Yuri and Bruce filling up the tanks he heard something in the trees, when he looked over there was nothing in sight. George kept fueling the vehicles when he heard a chirping noise, it almost sounded like a raccoon. In the station Britney and the girls had gathered up what little was left, they started to head out when Jennifer heard something scurry across the floor. Jennifer shined her flashlight toward the noise but whatever it was had disappeared. Britney I don’t like this, something is real odd around here. They headed toward the door but something small was crouched in front of their exit. Britney shined her light toward the creature, a small raccoon looked back at them. The light from her flashlight made its eyes glow red, it’s fur was matted. Blood and puss oozed out of several wounds through its body, it’s mouth was soaked with foam and blood. One of its paws was missing skin, the bones on its hand showed through along with a bit of meat hanging. Behind them a few more scurried around the station, Britney reached for her pistol. The raccoon in front of them squealed as the others got closer. Britney shot the leader and the girls rushed outside pushing the door closed to stop the others from following, George looked back to see what was happening, Yuri pointed toward the pumps. George looked behind him, a large owl was sitting on the pump next to him. It’s large talons digging into the metal. Feathers and skin were missing in spots, it’s large wings showing bones. It spread it’s large wings and made the loudest screech George had ever heard from an owl. Everyone get back in the cars now. Britney and the others headed toward the trucks and jumped inside closing the doors behind them. George grabbed the pump handle and squirted gasoline onto the owl, it screeched and flew back leaving George enough time to run for the motor home. Greg opened the door and George jumped inside, he ran to the drivers seat and started the engine. The owl flew back toward the motor home, smashing into the windshield over and over. George hit the accelerator trying to escape the owls fury, it smashed into the windshield one last time leaving a large crack. The owl rolled into the street, it got back up and ruffled what was left of its feathers, it stared down the motor home as it drove down the road. The three vehicles drove down the road for hours, daylight was peering above the trees. Veronica walked up to the front of the motor home and sat down in the empty passenger seat, why do you think those raccoons had foam coming out of their mouths, is that something new? George shook his head, that’s rabies. Rabies have been around for a long time, it’s worse now since the rotter virus showed up. Makes them even more aggressive and blood thirsty. Veronica gasped, I hope we don’t run into those things again. George nodded, until we get out of these woods we are going to continue to run into something scary like that. How many more miles before we get out of the wooded areas George? I’d say another few days before we get out, it’s hard to tell at this point. Brad glanced over toward Britney who was passed out in the passenger seat, when he looked back ahead there stood a large deer. Blood dripping from wounds all over its body, it didn’t move no matter how many times Brad honked before he reached it. Brad swerved to miss the deer the truck went flying into the ditch, jumping over the other side. The truck barely missed a tree, Brad stopped the truck as Britney woke up from the sudden jolt. What the hell Brad? The deer walked over to the truck and huffed, Britney about puked when she saw it’s ripped up body. The other two vehicles stopped to make sure Brad and Britney were alright, Brad started up the truck and backed away from the tree, the truck got stuck in some soft dirt. George hopped out of the motor home, while he was grabbing a rope from the side compartment the deer that caused the truck to get stuck charged toward him. Derrick shot hitting the charging deer in the head, it’s body dropped and slid into the back of George’s legs. Derrick walked over to the deer to check it out, too bad it’s infected the meat otherwise I would have field dressed this thing. George thanked Derrick for saving his life and continued to search for the rope, once he found one George walked over and hooked it up to the frame of the truck, Brad I’m going to pull you out with the motor home, when I start going you hit the accelerator slowly. We should be able to get you out in no time, George hopped back into the motor home and started to pull forward. The truck jolted as the rope was pulled tight, Brad put the truck in gear and slowly began to move forward. Once they got the truck out of where it was stuck George removed the rope from the truck and headed toward the motor home, when he reached inside the compartment to put the rope away he felt something fuzzy brush against his hand. He quickly pulled his hand away as the ball of fur moved toward him. He backed away from the motor home as one of the raccoons from the station climbed out. It’s paws were bloody like it had been in a fight with one of the others, it choked on the foam coming from its mouth as it tried to chirp out a call to its friends. George almost felt bad for the little guy, it reached out its paws to grab at George, George pointed his pistol toward the raccoon, it grabbed onto the barrel as if it was asking to die. This raccoon was smaller, almost a baby. George cocked the revolver and started to pull the trigger, behind him in the trees the other raccoons were watching. George put his gun down and yelled at the raccoon, it scampered off into the trees to join it’s friends. Greg yelled to George, we need to get out of here before the other raccoons think you are weak for releasing one of their friends and decide to attack. George didn’t bother shutting the storage, he jumped in the motor home and they all took off. The raccoons watched the convoy drive away, after the last truck got far enough away the raccoons followed behind in the trees so not to be seen. Mr. Frisker was running wildly around the motor home making George jump every time the cat ran up to the front, damn it Greg grab that stupid cat before it gives me a heart attack. Greg grabbed Mr. Frisker and held on to him, the kitten was feeling frisky and started nibbling and clawing at Greg’s arm and hand. Up ahead George saw a sign, there was a town up ahead he figured they could stop at to resupply. He radioed back to the others, let’s stop here at this next town to grab whatever we can salvage. Brad went to grab the radio but Britney beat him to it, George it’s Britney are you sure we should risk it, rotter’s could be hiding anywhere in the town, we could get overrun if we aren’t careful. Britney that’s a risk we need to take, medical supplies are running thin and that rope I pulled your truck out with is ready to break, need to make sure we have a good one for the next time. The town came into view, like the others it looked deserted. George slowed down his pace to practically a crawl, he didn’t want to stir up any rotter’s just yet. Greg looked at George, I don`t like the look of this place brother. You never know in a town like this where those rotter`s could be hiding. George nodded, I know what you mean but we need to get supplies. George pulled into a parking lot across from a pharmacy and pointed toward the building, that’s where we get the medicines from. Greg didn`t like the idea of coming to this town, he knew they needed to load up on supplies but something seemed off. Usually when they hit a town they would see at least a few rotter`s hanging around the cars and buildings but here there was nothing. When he went to talk to George about his feeling, George had already stepped outside and was heading over toward the pharmacy with the rest of the group. Greg hurried over to Britney and Jennifer, there`s something not right about this town. Britney looked at Greg funny, what do you mean Greg? Greg pointed around the streets, what`s missing here? Britney and Jennifer shrugged, then Britney realized what Greg meant. Your talking about the bare streets, Jennifer scrunched her eyebrows at Britney. Greg is talking about the fact that there are no rotter`s around, not even stragglers or grounders crawling around. Jennifer finally got what they were talking about, your right this is strange. The three of them followed the rest inside the pharmacy, there wasn’t much left that was useful to them, only some gauze and alcohol. The place was practically empty, bottles and boxes that had been gone through were scattered across the floor. Everyone scrounged up all they could and headed outside, next door was a small grocery store , George decided to send Tina and Trent back to the trucks with what they
found while he and the rest headed into the small store. Inside they found a bit more stuff on the shelves, they started to gather up everything that was still good when they heard shouting form outside. George and Greg ran out from the store to see what was going on, across the road Tina and Trent were being held by gun point by some strange looking men in riot gear. Britney, Jennifer and Derrick ran outside to see what George and Greg were looking at, Derrick went to pull his gun but George stopped him. If we shoot toward them right now Tina or Trent might get hurt, perhaps we can negotiate with those guys and they’ll let them walk away. Suddenly there were more guys in riot gear surrounding everyone at the store with their guns drawn yelling at George and the others, drop your weapons on the ground and kick them toward us. George told the others to do as the men said, George slowly removed his pistol from its sheath and set it to the ground. The men grabbed the guns from the ground and took George and Greg over toward the motor home, a few guys walked into the store to grab the others. Once they gathered the small group together the men lead them through town toward the fair grounds, once they got inside the men lead George and the other guys to a cell made from cattle fencing and barbed wire, while the girls and Ahmed were taken elsewhere in the building. Another man sat on a bench made out of a tree root laughing, your not going to get out of here alive you know. George walked over to talk to the man, what do you mean we won’t get out of here alive? I’m Henry, I came to this town a few days ago with my friends. The guards came in and told us their gods wanted a sacrifice for our freedom, when they took us in for our fight with them in the arena only I survived. Since I told them I wouldn’t join their little group they stuck me back in this cell instead of letting me go. Every time I hear the doors open I keep wondering if this is the day they just tie my hands behind my back and give me to their gods. George looked at Henry with a sadness in his eyes, I’m sorry about your friends, I promise you we will get out of here together.

  Chapter 13:

  Ahmed and Tina huddled in the corner of the room they had been locked in with Britney and Jennifer, Britney was trying to pick the lock while Jennifer watched out the window for the guards. After her fifth attempt Britney finally gave up, I can’t figure this out at all. Tina stood up and walked over, I can try if you would like, I’m not as good as Trent or my dad but I can get a lock picked pretty quick. Britney handed Tina the bobby pin, why didn’t you mention that in the first place? Tina shrugged, no one ever asked me, she bent down in front of the door and began to work on the lock. The door opened to the cell where the guys were being held, the guards looked around the cell, who’s the leader here? George walked up, we don’t really have a leader any longer but I guess they all look to me for guidance. The guard grabbed George’s arm, follow me then the boss wants to see you. The guards took George out with them and locked the cell door behind them. Derrick looked at Greg, what do you think they want with George? Greg shrugged, Mr. Frisker popped his sleepy head out of his pouch and yawned, Greg went to pet his head but the kitten hopped from the pouch and ran toward the cell wall and squeezed through the wires. Greg tried to call the kitten back but Mr. Frisker wouldn’t return. George was lead across the arena area to an office near the front entrance, inside on the far side of the room stood a tall man. The man stood with his back facing George and the guards that brought him in, he spoke loudly without turning around. Leave him here with me and stand outside the door, the two men did as the other man asked, as soon as the door shut the man turned to face George. My name is Franz, I’m sorry to be meeting you under such horrible circumstances but it has to be this way. Your team seems strong enough, so I’ve decided to let you go. Of course your freedom comes at a price, I have come up with a way you can give me payment for such a gracious act. George glared at Franz, and just how do you expect us to pay for our freedom? Franz grinned and called his guards back into the room, a sacrifice is to be offered to our God’s George, once they are appeased you will be set free. Give me two of your strongest men and also two of your weakest, the ones that the God’s do not chose to be devoured may go home with you, but those that they do devour will be your payment. George lunged toward Franz, the guards grabbed him before he got any closer. You bastard, I knew there was something not right about you. Franz still grinned, this time more devilish. You have no choice right now, this is the only time I am to make an offer such as this, I suggest you talk it over amongst your friends George. I will give you one hour. The guards turned George around and began to walk him back toward his cell. Franz spoke again, oh and George. The guards spun him back around to look at Franz, I’m giving you all one hour to decide, after that my offer is done and I will just kill you. Remember no women or children George, I am many things but I am not that much of a monster. The guards drug George back toward his cell to join the other men. Got it, Tina removed the Bobby pin from the lock and stood up, brushing the dirt off her pant legs. Britney nodded, alright let’s get out of here and find George and the others, with any luck they will be close by and we can all get out of here. Britney carefully walked out of the room, when she figured it was clear she waved to the other girls and Ahmed to follow. They walked close to the wall down a long hallway, at the end Britney peered around the corner. A guard holding an assault rifle was standing in the middle of the hallway his back to them, Britney motioned for the girls to wait and snuck down the hall toward the guard. Once she was close enough she reached out to grab his knife, she pulled it, releasing it from his sheath. The guard turned, ready to fire. Britney stuck the knife through his chest and twisted the blade, the guard lay dead at her feet. She motioned for Jennifer to join her, this is the way to the arena, I saw them take the guys this way when they were separating us from each other. The girls and Ahmed continued down the hall, along the way they heard rustling and growls coming from a small room and some men hollering at something. Britney peered carefully through the small window at the top of the door, when she finally got a clear view her eyes widened, oh god not again. Suddenly Britney heard a noise coming from down the hall, when she turned to get a look she smiled. MR. Frisker came scampering down the hall and jumped into Britney’s arms, this is a sign you guys, the boys are down that hall, we need to hurry. George was explaining to the guys what Franz had in store for them, it’s not good you guys, either way I see it the only way we get out of here alive is to escape. Greg gave him a look, and how do you suppose we do that? With chicken fencing and barbed wire blocking the lock there’s no way any of us could reach it. Greg thought for a minute, what if when the guards come to see if we’ve made a decision we jump them when they open the gate. George nodded and then smacked Greg upside the head, they won’t open the door just to ask us a question dumb ass. Greg rubbed his head, well it was at least an idea. Everyone just keep thinking alright, we need to devise a way to have the guard open the door so we can get out of here and rescue the girls. Suddenly a guard walked inside the room, well boys have you made your decision yet? George laughed trying to taunt the guard, no we haven’t been ale to figure out which one of us is weaker then you are yet and can’t kick your worthless ass, the guard rushed toward the fence. George was ready for him to rip open door so they could rush him, the guard stopped just before the gate. You may think that’s funny now but just wait till you meet the God’s, once they finish you off we will see who’s laughing. He’ll I you can’t figure out who to sacrifice then I’ll choose, the gird pointed straight at Bruce, he looks tough enough to face the God’s. Then the guard pointed at Trent, he looks like a perfect sacrifice. Another guard walked in and yelled at the first guard, come on Bobby get out of there, you know they have another half hour before the ceremony starts. Bobby looked over his shoulder to the other guard, oh come on Pete, I’m just trying to have a bit of fun with them before they meet their doom. Bobby walked out the door with Pete, a few minutes after Pete had closed the door George heard two loud thuds. The door opened and the girls poured into the room, Britney ran up to the cell and started trying different key
s in the lock. Finally the last one slipped into the lock and started to turn, the door opened behind them and Britney jumped breaking the key in half inside the lock. Ahmed walked inside the room with three men behind him, one man held his arms so he couldn’t escape. The other man held a gun pointed at the girls as Franz walked into the middle of the room. I was going to give you all your freedom if you made a sacrifice to our gods, but now I see how ungrateful you are for my generosity. He looked at George through the bars of the makeshift cell, now I have decided you all will become one big sacrifice for them. You have ten minutes to tell each other goodbye, my guards will wait here while I go prepare the arena. Everyone here will be there to watch, I hope your deaths will be glorious and appease the gods and the spectators attending the sacrifice, it’s to bad I have to go against all that I believe and kill women and children. Franz walked out of the room along with his two escorts, after the closed the door Franz told his two guards to wait there for his return, if anyone tries to leave the room you shoot to kill. Franz walked down the hall to make the preparations for the upcoming sacrifice. Birney leaned back down by the lock and tried again to use the broken key to open the lock, if I can get this damn thing to open we can knock out those two guards and get the hell out of here. The key was broke flush with the lock, there wasn’t much to grip onto so she could turn it, even with the bobby pin the key barely budged. Tina walked over and bent down to help, I’ve done locks like this before let me have a try. Britney moved over and handed Tina the Bobby pin, Tina placed the bobby pin into a slot, it was a tight fit with the key still inside. The key and Bobby pin began to turn, suddenly there was a click and the lock popped open. Tina removed the lock and opened the cell door slowly so not to make noise, once she got the cell door opened the guys walked out. Trent grabbed ahold of his sister and hugged her, I knew you could do it sis, all those years of teaching you how to pick locks paid off. Tina smiled knowing her brother was proud of her, Britney put her hand on Tina’s shoulder, we need to get going before those goons come back and we are dead. George grabbed the handle on the door and counted down, he ripped open the door surprising the guards out front. George and Greg grabbed the guards guns and knocked the two men unconscious. The group snuck down the hallway trying to be as quiet as possible. George started to pass by the door Britney had peeked into earlier, he heard growls coming from inside. George peeked into the window, the room was empty besides a cage. Inside the cage lay another bear. George got an idea, you guys head out to the trucks, don’t stop and wait just get out of here. I’ve got something I’ve got to do before I leave this place, you take off and get as far away from here as possible, I’ll join up with you guys later after I’m done here. Greg took Mr. Frisker’s pouch off his shoulder and handed him to Jennifer. I’m staying with George to help him out, you take care of my kitten while I’m away. Jennifer started to protest but Britney grabbed her arm, they will be fine let’s just go. The group kept going down the hall leaving George and Greg behind to work out their plan, while walking down the hallway Britney heard a door opening ahead of them, she heard Franz’s voice telling his men what to do. Britney saw an open room and had the others run inside. She closed the door behind her and watched through the window as Franz and his men passed by. Once they were out of sight Britney opened the door and they continued on toward the exit. Once they got outside Britney could see their vehicles, she looked around the grounds to make sure there were no guards around. Everyone must have gone inside to watch the sacrifice commence, Britney motioned for Jennifer and the rest to follow her. They ran as fast as they could toward the motor home and truck, they reached the vehicles and hopped inside. As the motor home roared to life a guard had walked outside for a cigarette, he ran toward the trucks screaming for help. Yuri ran toward the guard and tackled him to the ground, they wrestled for a few minutes as Yuri tried to take the guards gun away from him. Finally he made one final pull ripping the gun from the guards hands, the guard held up his hands in submission. Yuri stood up and walked with the guard at gunpoint back toward the vehicles, the two men climbed into the motor home and the two trucks sped off. Jennifer and Veronica tied up the guard as they drove along, Veronica looked at Yuri, I hope no one heard him screaming for help, otherwise we will have those guys coming after us. Brad looked over toward Britney who was staring out the window, I’m sue George and Greg will be fine Brit, they seemed to know what they were doing. Britney nodded, if I know George he’s going to pull one of his crazy stunts again and get out of there without a hitch. If Kevin were still alive he would have stayed behind as well, he and George were inseparable. Brad could see that thinking about Kevin made Britney light up, what was he like before this rotter infestation happened Britney? Britney looked at Brad with tears in her eyes, Kevin was awesome, he was the greatest brother a girl could have. True he spent most of his time in the woods hunting with George but after our parents passed what else could he do? I never hurt for anything, he and George even got extra jobs just to help put me through college. Brad nodded, so George is like a second brother to you then? Britney shrugged, I guess he’s always been there for me just as much as Kevin has. Britney looked out the window to hide the tears streaming down her cheek from Brad, it was bad enough she had opened up to him for that little bit. George and Greg were rigging up the door of the cage to open up once Franz and his me cam to let the bear out, once they had finished George popped open a vent. We are going to have to climb our way out of here Greg, I hope you aren’t claustrophobic cause these vents can get pretty tight sometimes. They pulled themselves up into the vent and started to crawl through, George had no clue where they were going but he knew there had to be a vent that lead to the outside. They passed over Franz’s office, George saw him sitting at his chair looking at some papers. George knew they were getting closer to an exit, he motioned for Greg to keep heading in the direction they were pointed. Soon George could see a light at the end of a tunnel they had turned down, unfortunately it was to high to jump to the ground. George looked around for something that could help them reach the ground from their high perch. Hanging from the roof was an electrical wire from the power pole that had been severed off when the infection started, George hoped the wire was no longer generating power otherwise once he grabbed on the electricity would travel through his body killing him instantly. George reached out, his fingers barely touching the wire, if he could just reach it. Bobby and Pete had been ordered to bring their God down to the arena and place him in the secondary cage until they brought down their sacrifice for all to see. Bobby opened up the door only to be grabbed and torn apart by the angry and hungry bear. Pete tried to fight off the bear from his friend bobby who was now starting to turn. Pete shot at the bear but missed it’s head only grazing it’s shoulder. Bobby had now turned completely and both he and the bear went after Pete, down the hall in his office Franz heard screams. He got up from his chair, set his papers down on his desk and walked out to find out what was going on. He heard growls, screams and shots coming from the other end of the hallway. Then he started seeing rotter’s chasing his people down the hall, the bear close behind, all headed straight toward him. George and Greg shimmied their way down the electrical wire to the pavement, they ran to the nearest vehicle they could find. Behind them inside the building they could hear screams and gun shots, they hopped inside the car and tried to start it. Unfortunately there wasn’t a keys inside so they needed to hit wire the car, George tried to remember what he had learned from Trent. Soon the wires sparked and the car came to life, George put the car into gear and he and George took off toward their friends.