The Apocalypse: Shelter

Chapter 5

Morgan's POV

The jeep rumbles on as autumn leaves flutter behind us after we drive over them. I watch them out the back window as everyone else talks. I am still skeptic of this camp, but I've been persuaded a bit more. Zombies follow behind us. I hear Julia and Ella's conversation.

"I love your hair!" Ella says about Julia's long brown hair with light blue tips.

"Thanks," Julia says graciously, "You're so pretty."

I have to admit, she is very pretty. Her long black hair flows down to her collarbone. She is wearing a light blue blouse with skinny jeans and combat boots. Sometimes I envy these girls, but she is being so kind to us that I kind of feel bad for not talking to her or anyone.

"So did you guys go to Solomon?" Ella asks.

"How do you know about Solomon?" Julia asks the same question I am thinking in my head, "Do you live around here?"

"No," Ella says smiling, "We live up the mountain in Bear Creek. We heard about it from a few people at the camp and came down to check things out."

Hundreds of thoughts swirl around in my head. Who are these people? Do we know them? Are they part of Nick's group? Is Nick one of them? and more like those. Feeling very curious I speak up before Julia can most likely ask the same question.

"What people?"

"I guess a couple people from your school." Ella says.

"But what are their names?" I say a little more assertively.

"Umm... there's a girl named Angela and... a guy named Christian. There are like two others, but I don't remember their names," Ella answers, looking a little taken aback by my slightly harsh tone.

I sigh.

I know Angela and Christian were our friends. That does not sound like Nick's group though. I mean unless two of them... I push that thought out of mind and go back to feeling less hopeful.

"Oh." is all I say.

"Were their people you maybe had in mind?" she asks somewhat reading my mind.

"No... Well there was another group of people we were with at the school, but none of the names you said were them," I say.

"Oh," she says, "Well I'm sure we'll find them."

"Do you know where these people would be?" Luke asks from the passenger seat.

"Well they were supposed to go to Lafwood." I answer.

"Hey what about that girl we dropped off in Lafwood?" Ella says.

"Oh yeah," Luke says, "What was her name?"

"I think it started with an 'L', maybe Laura?" Ella says.

"Lauren?" I immediately suggest.

"Yeah, that was it!" Luke says.

"Was she part of that group?" Ella asks.

"Yeah..." I say smiling.

"Do you think we could go there?" Luke asks Brice in the front.

"Not right now," Brice says, "We gotta get back."

My heart sinks a bit. I really wanted to see them again. But I should have known we wouldn't see them for a while. Maybe not ever. Suddenly the car stops. I look out the window and see why we stopped. A man and woman are surrounded by a group of zombies.

"Woah... why'd we stop?" Tony asks as he pops his head up from the trunk. He had been sleeping.

I gesture toward the window. His question is answered as he looks out the window, his eyes widening.

"Why do you have to do this?" Ella asks as Brice and Luke make to get out of the car.

"Honey, it's what we do," Luke answers as he plants a small kiss on her cheek, "I love you."

"I love you too," Ella says with a half smile, "Be careful!"

Luke gets out of the car grabbing his ax and looking back at Ella. Brice jumps out opening rapid fire on the zombies. Luke hacks at their heads. The man and woman scream through the gunshots and blood spraying everywhere. The woman is bit on the neck as she crumples to the ground. Brice shoots that zombie immediately. The man kneels over his presumed wife's body. A zombie comes up behind the man and, before Brice can shoot it, it bites the man on the shoulder. Brice instantly shoots it right in the head. He has had a perfect shot on all of the zombies. Luke swings and hits two more zombie in the head and they fall to the ground. Then, silence. They all lie there in a piled heap on the road. Brice and Luke look at each other and nod solemnly. Brice draws his weapon and shoots the unknown man and woman in the head.

They walk back to the car with their heads hanging low. Ella has a mournful look on her face as they open the car doors and sit back down. Brice puts the car in drive, puts his foot on the gas and we lurch forward trying to avoid the bodies. I feel a bump as we drive over... something. My stomach lurches as we run over something else. We finally get away from the bodies and drive smoothly down the road. We turn right and Brice speaks through the silence.

"We will drop you guys off at the camp and go to Lafwood to look for your friends. I can't make any promises if we will find them or not though."

A smile begins to spread across my face. I look at Julia as she turns to me and smiles eagerly. We both look down as a light of hope begins to light up inside me.