The Dead Walk the Earth

Chapter 3: Left in Ruins

Charlotte switched on the radio and listened to the broadcast, the news reporter telling anyone listening that there was a refugee camp in Atlanta, protected by National Guard. It also went on about how the CDC was close to a cure and that people should go there and get vaccinated. She knew that wasn't true. In college, she was studying medicine and fortunately got an internship at the Atlanta CDC. It was a long drive but worth it. She was practically guaranteed a job there after she graduated. She was going to have a nice job, live in the city, enjoying a nice life. That's what she was supposed to have, not this. Not fearing what should already be dead and buried. Not wondering if she'd ever see her parents or her uncle. No one is meant for this life. From what she'd seen, this isn't life. Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn't notice a line of traffic going into the city. She stopped suddenly, releasing a sigh. She sat in her seat for a few minutes when the radio suddenly went dead, nothing but static. No cars were moving and the number of cars coming out of Atlanta was slowly increasing. She finally decided to get out and ask the person in front of her what was going on.

"We've been sitting here for about an hour now, haven't moved." the woman said to her.

"An hour? You maybe see a group of three, little boy with brown hair, tall skinny woman also brown hair and man with darker hair and stubble?" she asked hopefully.

"Might've. What's it to you?" the man asked from behind the woman. He was heavy set and looked like his brain was full of rocks.

She was taken aback, "The woman is my aunt, boy's my nephew. The man is a friend."

"Try a few cars up, I think I know who you're talking about." the woman with greying hair said in a quiet voice. Charlotte thanked her and walked towards the direction she pointed.

"Lori!?" she called out. "Shane! Carl!"

"Charlie!" she heard Lori call. She ran over to her and hugged her. "Thank god. Rick?" Carlie shook my head.

"Jackson is dead. Mom and dad weren't there. Those dead 'uns got Luxelle." she told her.

"Jackson was home? I thought he-"

"I know, I know. I didn't know either. He had turned. I had to put him down." Put him down. It sounded like she was talking about a dog. Lori hugged her close, rubbing circles on her back. "Carl?"

"He's in the car." Charlie walked over and slid into the backseat with him.

"Hey kiddo," she said, ruffling his hair. He smiled at her slightly. She watched as Shane

fiddled with the radio, getting nothing but static and noise.

"Anything?" she asked him.

"Nah. Last thing I heard was something 'bout a CDC and then the radio went dead."

"Yeah, same happened in my car. I grabbed a bunch of supplies from my place before I left, loaded it in my car. Got a full gas can, blankets, tools. Grabbed a full bag of food, mostly cans. Got some fruit and veggies, we'll have to eat them soon though. Figured, no matter where we stay, we can find a patch a earth and soil, plant some seeds." she told him and Lori who slid into the passenger seat.

"Good thinkin' sweetie," Lori told her. It was starting to get late, but the huge helicopters that flew over their heads were unmistakable. They ran after them, ducking into the woods to see fly over Atlanta and drop something. Suddenly, the sound of explosions filled the air. They were bombing the city!

"Mom?" Carl asked, confused. Charlie fell to her knees, Lori and Shane coming up behind her. Shane put his one arm around Lori and held her and the other hand went on Charlotte's shoulder, squeezing it to comfort her. The air was filled with screams of agony and despair, they were bombing the only hope anyone had. All the people she'd met in Atlanta while she was doing the first half of her internship flashed through her mind. Were they suffering? She hated thinking about it.