PROJECT ANDERSON

CHAPTER TWENTY: SARGE

We had been standing outside the truck for about two hours and my buzz was wearing off.

"What are they doing in there?" Melissa asked as she rubbed her arms and shivered.

"I don't know, but why don't you get in the truck and I'll go look for them." I suggested sternly.

"No way Sarge, I'll go and you stay here." Melissa countered seriously.

"Melissa..." I started before we heard something approaching us. "Ready up..."

We pulled out our guns and aimed before we looked around to see what the hell was coming towards us.

Our backs were towards each other as we scanned the area around the parking lot.

"Do you see it?" I asked as I made another scan.

"No Sarge, what about you?"

"Negative...gun down guard up Melissa." I instructed as I turned to look at her.

"Always sir." Melissa said with a small smile. "Maybe we should both go in with the kids."

"Alright..." I agreed as we headed back to the doors. "Put him in your jacket...keep him close and safe."

"Yes sir." Melissa said as opened her jacket and placed Timmy against her chest. "He's bigger than when we left."

"Good that means he'll survive." I said as I did the same with Lilly-Bella. "Another thing need is clothes and diapers."

"Should have made a list." Melissa said before closing the doors and headed towards the building.

"Wait...we have to go in together." I said as I headed after her.

We walked up to the doors...my worry grew...the glass was covered in blood and bullet holes.

Cautiously we walked into the store and saw the extent of the carnage.

There had to be at least 30 bodies laying on the concrete floor...thankfully they were all dead.

"What the hell happened here?" Melissa asked as we proceeded down to the check outs.

"Someone went on a rampage and killed everyone..." I said as I looked at a teenage clerk laying over the barcode scanner. "Not all of them are crawlers."

"You mean someone came in here and killed living people?" Melissa asked shocked.

"It used to happen a lot and I bet if we keep looking we'll find the shooter." I said as I walked passed her. "And if we do take his guns for your brother and Amber, because a crowbar and baseball bat will only get you so far."

"Noted." Melissa said with an affirming nod.

We continued our journey down the massive aisles...when we heard it...the unmistakable sound of squeaky wheels from one of those flat carts.

It was coming from the aisle beside us.

"Did you hear that?" I asked in a whisper.

"Yeah..." Melissa answered before she moved to the end of the shelves.

Because she went to the right I decided to go left.

Peering around the end of the shelf, I saw a large woman on one of those motorized shopping carts and a large pile of things in front of her.

"Amber?" I asked hoping that she was the woman.

"Sarge? What are you doing in here?" Johnny asked from behind me.

"We came looking for you and Amber...you've been in here for two hours." I answered as I turned to look at him.

"We're almost done, I just had to go back and get some wipes for...wait did you say we?"