Once Bitten

Part Nine

Three weeks passed and my dad and I grew closer. He now slept on the couch every night and I slept in his bed. I still wouldn't take a step in my room. Today was the big day. Today we would actually come in contact with the dead. He was taking all my training to the next level. We had no choice because we had begun to run out of food and supplies and needed to make a trip for some more. Dad knocked on the door and slowly opened the door. He popped his head in, "you ready to go?" "Yeah, one sec." I changed out of my sleep pants into some Jean shorts and threw on a t-shirt. I slipped on my boots and left the room my dad handed me a backpack and threw one over his shoulder, "we'll pack everything we can get in them." We walked outside to the stables. Dad pulled out one of the horses, Buckie, he was a large white crossbred gelding. I helped raise him since he was little. Dad got the saddle on him he rigged two holders for the pistol and rifle. He handed him to me while he got his horse ready. He walked his horse out in front of mine and hopped on. I pulled myself up on Buckie and followed dad out to the end of the driveway. He got down to open the gate and walked his horse out and I walked out behind him as he shut the gate. He got back on and led the way. Not too long after we saw the first one. We stopped the horses and watched the walker in the distance. He walked slowly dragging his feet, covered in blood, his clothes tattered, and his skin grey and rotting. "Go on Mae, you can do this." I kicked Buckie's sides and he ran. I pulled out the pistol and shot him but it hit his shoulder. I stopped Buckie and turned back towards the walker and shot again, the bullet hit straight between his eyes and he fell to the ground.