The Immune

chapter 6 - Ash

We ate our tinned food In the silence of the small cramped room. The blinds were lowered, the windows shut. The only sounds were the scrapes of our utensils against the metal of the can. Jax and jeremy were taking the first watch, leaving will, brooke and the other guy alone.
I ate slowly, pondering the sludge that I was meant to eat. Lifting the spoon, I watched in horror as the dollop hesitated before slapping back into the tin can.
" You need to eat. Keep your strength up",  said will,
" Easy for you to say. Your can had fruit in it. Where I, I was given some type of blended barn yard animal slush" I set the can down.
He let out a bark of laughter
"Luck I swear. Can't tell the difference between 'em. Its a nice surprise every meal"
We drifted into silence. I played with the food alittle more, managing to eat abit.
Brooke had been roused to eat. She ate barely a third before feeling sick. She was asleep in the corner.
The guy with the broken arm was sitting with his can between his legs, spooning out what looked to be beans.
" I'll tell you a trick kids." he said between a mouthful.
" shake the can before you open it. You may just learn to distinguish between canned corn, and bean, and dare I say it, canned peaches" he laughed before continuing his meal.
It wasn't long before we went to bed. I lay awake, thinking back on the last day and abit. Everything had changed. Dad was gone. My bothers were out of reach. Hopefully for not too long. Lily. I few tears escaped my eyes. God. Please be dead. Please not be one of them. In the dark I finally released the pent up grief, the frustration. This was the only time I would have. I needed to be strong. Keep a facade.

I drifted off, utterly exhausted
--
"Hey..wake up"  I felt a booted foot nudge my shoulder. With eyes groggy, I looked up to see Jax above me. Any weariness fled upon seeing with standing there, with his full combat gear.
"I'm up"
I sat up slowly cringing at the pain under my ribs. That pain compared little to the pain of remembering my now broken family. Would I wake up like this? With a heavy ache in my chest and the urge to cry.
" Ashlyn. We're moving out. Get you shoes on. We are all waiting."
We watched me closely. Analysing me. I tied my hair and put on my shoes, leading the way downstairs to the foyer.
"what's the plan Jax?"
" okay. It's not going to be easy. But one of the only safe sites in the city is the Georgia state capitol building." he removed a map from his pack. Outlining the location of the building. " it has like, a gold plated roof. Looks kinda like the white house. Classical architecture. You can't miss it. This target, can be fortified, and contains resources vital for us making contact with the compound. We have the go through the suburbs and the city to reach our destination. So we need to be alert, and prepared for when, not if we come across them."
The group was quiet,contemplating.
" Will take flank. Jeremy up front with me. Derek and brooke, watch ashlyn. Alright let's go"
The group cautiously walked back into the world, leaving the safety of the small house behind.
The morning sun grew higher in the sky.
The houses,  damaged and overgrown, spoke of thehorror that had happened in the suburbs. Empty shells of cars were left laying hazards around. Street light had fallen down, years of garbage lay decaying in gutters. It seemed like a ghost town.
Thst was until we can across a fresh deer carcass in the middle of a intersection.
The body contained nothing more than bone with a little pulpy mess. The blood was still wet, leaving marks on the concrete.
Jax saw the body first. We hid behind the cover of a house afew buildings back. The area looked quiet and still. That was until a group of zombies emerged, attracted the the sight of blood and gore.
"We can't go this way. We'll have to double back"
The morning continued this way. The zombies were everywhere, as Jax cautiously tried to lead us through the space.
Nature had begun to take back what was hers. What humans had been destroying. The houses were beginning the crumble, the gardens were growing tall and languid. The roads were cracked and decaying, allowing plants to grow through.
A wind chime tinkled nearby on what was left of a porch. The scent of incoming rain was growing heavy in the air.
Jax raised a gloved fist, making a stopping motion. He turned, his eyes searching.
" Thought I heard a groan" he whispered. We all stood, ears listening for the slightest sounds, eyes searching for the slightest movement.
"there!" Derek shout /whispered. He pointed behind us, down the street where I too spotted a flicker of movement. Another distant moan from that direction told us he was right.
Our group started moving quickly, not even needing directions.
We jogged, clutching gear to chests, Attempting to keep as quiet as possible.
Brooke started to lag, her face growing pale and her forehead beading with sweat. I grabbed her arm, pulling her close.
She whispered a quick thanks.
Jax brought out group to a halt, indicating that there were zombies now infront of us.
He led us up the side of one of the houses,  and through the back yard. The back fence had a gate that led to an alleyway behind. Jeremy quickly surveyed the street, motioning us forward with the all clear. One side was blocked by a overturned vehicle. Over the steel frame, I could see figures approaching.
The back alley opened up onto a carpark. The old cars were covered in a layer of rust, their disintegrating forms creating a maze. Our group was jogging steadily through the tracks.
I didnt see the grill, didn't see the raised edge of cement. I tripped heavily, and with with me know carrying some of broken weight,I couldn't right myself. I fell and brought brooke with me. My head slammed into the pavement, making my head spin.Brooke landed on her injured leg, whimpering.
" shit" As I felt blood spread down my forehead. I tried to raise myself, but couldn't seem to get up.
A hand grabbed mine, and I looked up to see will above us. He stopped at the sight of the blood, reaching his other hand to closer examine the cut. His concerned face and warm hand shocked me.
I was about to say something when I heard the pound of footsteps from behind us. The others infront were no where in sight. A low snarl accompanied more footsteps. My heart almost stopped.
Will and I shared a panicked look. My heart began thundering. What were we going to do. This was a maze. They'd find us.
Will held a finger to his lips,urging me for silence. He pointed to the gap under the blue car next to us. He moved, pushing brooke now unconscious body under the car.
The steps were closer.
He grabbed my arm, pulling me down next to him as he slid under a green car. I followed, heart thudding anxiously.
There were many sets of running footsteps now.
The space under the car was crimped and dirty, but it was better than outside.

A group of eight sprinted past. Their snarls ripping through the quiet. Their heavy feet slamming against the pavement. Another eight. Another four. They zigzagged through the maze. Then came the slower ones. The ones just walking,or the one too injured to run. They calmly walked through, letting the stench of death and decay permeate the air.
The steady stream of zombies passed by without interruption.
There had been no gunfire, no shouts for help. The others escaped.
The zombies talked.
"hurmmmh huutasttee...meat"
A gun fired, the bang resonating in the quiet of the neighbourhood. I had spoke too soon.
The zombies jerked to attention, picking up pace they went in the direction of the sound. will seemed to stiffen,and shifted to get out from under the car.
"Stop. What are you doing? You can't help them." I angrily whispered
" Jeremy is my brother. I have to help him"
A look of anguish overtook his face, he didn't look like he was going to leave.
We stopped talking as a zombie passed.
" Jax will take care of him. He knows what he is doing" I felt his pain, and his sorrow. " We have to take care of ourselves, you feel?" he merely nodded in response.
So we waited.