The Long Road Home

Chapter Twenty Four

A shriek of rage woke her. Page looked around worried and found the whole group near the edge of the canopy looking over. Page crawled over not using her hurt ankle. There was one lone ripper below them screaming in what she could only guess was frustrated rage at the wreaked gas station.

'What's going on?' Page signed to Elaine confused.

'We don't know.' She signed back 'There are ten of them in the station. This one came running out a few minutes ago and they won't let him back in.' Page frowned confused and watched.

The ripper attempted to approach the station, and those inside charged at it snarling. The ripper backed off screaming in fear. Page's eyes widened

'It's afraid.' she signed. Stan shrugged confused and Page shook her head. 'You don't get it. All of this time the only emotion I have ever seen them display is rage. I have never seen a fearful ripper. If this one is not a mutant, then I think they are changing again. Moving into stage four.'

'Stage four?' Victor signed confused.

'Stage one, the first change. Stage two, they became sensitive to light and only came out at night. Stage three, they stopped screaming.' Page frowned then 'I take that back it would be stage four. Stage three is the physical changes we are seeing in them. They have claws on their hands now.'

'He doesn't.' Kid signed. Page looked. The fearful ripper had no claws just hands like a human, although its fingers looked much thicker and calloused. Those who charged from the station had claws, and when they bared their teeth, Page noticed their teeth were triangle and sharp looking just like a sharks. She shook her head confused and reached back for her bow. She tried to sit up but felt shaky and weak.

'I've got it.' Kidd signed grabbing his own bow. 'Who do you want me to shoot?'

'One of the ones in the store.' Page signed 'I want to see if they will let him in when they riot.' Kidd nodded and grabbed his bow. He took careful aim just as she had shown him. His arrow hit the largest of the rippers in the side of the head. It jerked roaring and clawing at the arrow in its head. The others fell on him and tore him apart.

The loan ripper just backed off frightened and retreated around the group and into the station. Page shook her head confused at the behavior. The other rippers dragged their fallen member into the store. The strange ripper did not come back out and after a few minutes, everything settled.

'What are your thoughts on that?' Elaine signed

'Your guess is as good as mine.' She replied. 'I have seen nothing like it on my travels.' Elaine nodded looking as worried as Page felt. 'How long have I been out?'

'A few days.' Carrol signed. 'You lost a lot of blood and your ankle was infected. That thing's claws were filthy. I had to use our most powerful antibiotics on you.' Page nodded frowning.

'Any news from Mouth?' She signed

'Yeah, the last horde is almost on top of us now.' Victor signed. 'He says we should be safe to move out in two days.' He gained a hunted look. 'We lost a few settlements including that one you told us about at the airport. They had no walls, just chain link fences. The horde just ran them over.' Page's stomach twisted at the loss of life.

'Any survivors?' She asked almost afraid of the answer.

'Yeah, they are moving south.' Carrol told her. 'Mouth is directing their escape. He is calling for everyone to band together and take in anyone on the road until the danger is past. He says the rippers are heading right for the cities and moving in.' Page frowned and signed to Kidd.

'Can you get me my map please?' The boy went to her pack and grabbed her atlas. 'Thanks Kidd.' She signed before opening the atlas to Montana. She looked and found Nipton. Just past it, was the city of Pineview. The interstate ran right through the center of it. She looked to Stan. 'How well do you know Pineview? Is the interstate street level or is it raised?'