Downfall Of The Living: An Anthology Series

A Road Leading Nowhere: Chapter 5

V

It was almost midday. Grace struggled with the water pump outside of the house. She was getting water to last through the day, and every time she worked the pump, the harder it became. When she finally got the pump to release water, she filled her bucket to the brim and headed into the kitchen.

Jenny was sitting at the table eating scraps of food from a tin can. Grace entered the kitchen with the bucket of water, Jenny got up from her seat to help Grace set it on the counter.

"Anything new out there?" Jenny asked.

"Not since last night," Grace responded. "I barely managed to get those stray dogs away from the house. I'm not sure they understand that we don't have anything for them."

"We're almost out of food, as well," Jenny said. "If anything you should've shot one of them."

"I can't kill a dog, Jenny," Grace said. "They're too cute. Especially the ones that beg."

"Well, we'll run out of options soon to consider that," Jenny said. "That or we should get moving."

"Not without Garrett," Grace said. "It should be soon he'll come back."

"We'll starve before then," Jenny said. "We can't always rely on Garrett for anything."

Jenny grabbed the bolt-action rifle from the table and headed to the front porch. Grace pours the water into a pot to boil. She dries her hands on her sweater before taking a seat at the table. Grace hadn't seen a gun in Jenny's hand in a while. The last she seen one was in Arizona, mercy killing their friends. The thought of it nearly made Grace coil in fear, wondering what she would do with the gun.

Jenny sits on one of the chairs on the porch. She suddenly realized how boring being on the lookout was when it was only two of you left. She looks at the rifle on her lap and back to the fields before her.

Jenny saw a speck down the road from the house. She picked up the rifle and looked through the scope. She tried her best to aim the heavy rifle steadily. Peering through, she saw a man. Bruised, dirty, and covered in blood. It couldn't have been Garrett.

"Grace!" Jenny yelled. "Get over here!"

Grace ran to the front of the house and through the screen door. "What happened?" Grace asked.

"I think it's Garrett," Jenny said. "Look."

Jenny handed the rifle to Grace to look through the scope. One look was all she needed.

"What the hell happened to him?" Grace asked as she handed the rifle back to her. "He doesn't look too good."

"I don't know," Jenny said. "I just can't believe it if it's him."

The man down the road was shuffling towards the house on the road. The girls were puzzled about what to do next. They waited for the man to approach them. He stopped.

Jenny aimed the rifle toward Garrett, zeroing in on his head as he continued over to the girls.

"What are you doing?" Grace asked.

"Doing him a favor," Jenny replied as she squeezes the trigger.

"NO!" Grace yelled as she grabbed the from Jenny.

BANG!

A shot was fired. Garrett fell to the ground, not sure if the bullet hit him or not.

"What the hell, Jenny!" Grace yelled.

Grace and Jenny rush over to Garrett. He was breathless, carrying two rifles on his back, drenched in sweat and burning up a fever.

Jenny and Grace stood over Garrett. He extends his hand out to Jenny as if she was an angel. Garrett was muttering gibberish to them. "Layla," he finally said. "I'm here."