Walking Among the Dead

Part 1.6 (The New World We Live In): Chapter 6

Walking Among the Dead: The New World We Live In

CHAPTER 6

Moments later, all that can be seen from within the trees is an upwards funneling of smoke. Everyone steps outside into the backyard and looks into the sky, trying to find the reason for the collapse of the helicopter. How one fell but the other continued on, and why it continued on without its fellow bird, is a mystery. John aggressively suggests, "We've got to get there." The others start looking at him, not quite understanding the need to risk their lives in doing so. "They were military choppers. If they're alive, they've probably got information that could help us and if they're not, I'm sure at least something survived the crash- weapons, ammo."

Rather than just thinking their opposition to the plan, many start to grimace and even vocally express their doubts. Andrew responds, "No, I agree with John here." Saying he agrees with John is enough to silence everyone with confusion. "We have seventeen people here and not even enough guns for half of us. That's a military helicopter and from it we could either get those weapons we need or at least answers." Everyone lingers on the idea as Andrew continues to voice all their thoughts, "There are just way too many things we're all still wondering. I am and I can bet you guys all are as well."

John adds, "Only thing is, we're not the only ones who saw that, living or dead. So if you guys are coming with us, you better hurry up and get ready to head out."

Stepping up Mitch says, "I'm in, but yeah, we have to get going. There's no way we're getting any vehicles into those trees so it's on feet, I'll start packing up."

Out of fear masked in an attempt to express concern, Nikhil voices, "Leaving now or leaving in five minutes, it doesn't matter. That's at least a half hour trek from here with, as you guys mentioned, limited weapons. Every freak in range of that smokestack is already closing in as we speak."

"Well then, Nikhil, we better start 'trekking,'" Alex commands as he tosses Nikhil's gun to him. "I don't think we doubted for one minute there'd be plenty of freaks there, it's just a matter of making sure we're the first living people there." As everyone starts to head to the garage to gear up, completely ready to venture out, Andrew approaches the following individually to ask them to stay back for various purposes: Nikhil, Kurt, Harvest, Jacob, and David. For obvious reasons, some are easier to convince to sit out the run than others. In so many words, what Andrew says to them is that he wants a couple guns left back in case something comes through and more importantly people who can use them. He also shows great care in suggesting the Schwin's should stay back, because no one really knows what they will come across at the crash, so having twelve-year-old David present may prove dangerous. And plus, Kurt has things to be doing back at the house for the greater good anyway. The remaining twelve continue hurriedly getting ready.

They finish preparing quickly and bid their farewells, hoping it won't be for too long. For some of the twelve, this is their first time off the property of the house since they first arrived and it is, for all of them, the largest group they have gone out with. At the road between the house's extensive backyard and a field leading to the woods in which the crash had taken place, the group catches the glimpse of a band of freaks limping towards the woods on the far side of the field. Knowing they're probably going to have to deal with the foes eventually in order to reach the crash site and not sure how many more there will be, Andrew and Kyle exchange a glance permitting Kyle to pick one off, hopefully attracting the remaining ones in their direction to be dealt with before even reaching the woods. Dropping to one knee and taking aim down the scope, Kyle picks a target and sends a bullet across the distance and drops two of the corpses. Their foolproof silencer ends up being bittersweet; no other groups of freaks or potentially dangerous survivors hear the shot, but neither do any of the freaks in the group they had wished to attract. Moving quickly to cut off the freaks, the survivors head into battle to meet them head-on.