The End of Days

[8]

Chang had been running her quick stop shop for over 40 years. She knew all the nearby businesses and their previous owners. The long block of asian stores had everything from autorepair to bakeries to superstores with every item you could imagine.

How their deal worked was she would provide the information and the boys would provide the muscle. Everything they looted would be taken to her where she'd divvy it out which she was always fair.

She'd spared them all that time ago when they'd met. They'd been scavenging and picked the wrong shop to fuck with, Cam got the barrel of a shotgun to the head and everything.

"Ah. Your just children." She'd said in a way you couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed. She was quick to come up with a fair trade and despite Sam's urges to hit and run, Liam agreed.

There weren't many living left, he figured. They could use all the help they could get. It turned out that was the right choice because the boys had been doing jobs for her ever since. It was only another reason to stick around, rather than chasing ghosts.

"Cam, on your go."

"Im good."

Sam nodded and the two of them split off from Cameron who was camped out on top of a large van that'd been abandoned across the way of the mall.
He scrolled through his scope over the crowed of walkers loitering the parking lot, picking off those that neared the giant overly luxurious gates of the building which the boys then snuck to, using their strength to pull it shut.

The creaking of the loud gold tinted metal raised heads which had been the plan. Liam stood firm, sword at the ready, Sam did the same while keeping watch for any wanderers their side of the choke point.

"We all good?" Sam shouted back to the ginger as they began picking off the zombies through the bars of the fence. Liam used both hands, shucking his blade forward into one of the infected with its jaw dangling by nothing more then nerves and wirey muscles.

Cameron gave the clear after a few more shots, scoping out the rest of the area briefly before slinging the rifle on his back and coming to help.

"Alright boys, short range only. Stay in tight till the place is cleared, if its too packed or you get split then we head back for the entrance and regroup."

Liam rolled his eyes a bit at the directions which he'd heard nearly a thousand times already. They knew how this worked by now but of course the guy wouldn't miss his opportunity to lecture. Sam nudged with his elbow briefly, the gesture that said 'stop being funny, this is serious.'

They faced down the large dim hallway which was abandoned of any moving thing, for the moment anyway. Large skylights lit up the entire building which was another of the notes given by Chang. As long as they left when the sun was high, they shouldn't have a problem at least when it came to seeing.

Sam stepped forward, leading the group which was a job that came naturally to him. The boys followed, glocks and knives at the ready.

"Dude, this is taking forever. Lets just split up." Cam hissed, shuffling inbetween as they made their way down the halls. Cam turned him down flat out, leaving no room for objection. "How 'bout you stop playing captain all the time, give someone else a turn. We can handle ourselves, you know?"

Sams jaw ticked a bit, stopping where he stood. Liam shook his head, wandering to a nearby room which was small, cheap feeling clothing and knock off jewels on display. Cam was kind of right. That was exactly how Liam felt sometimes which seemed ungrateful.

At the end of the day, they'd be dead without Sam. If he had to put up with the guys orders 24/7 then so be it.

He stepped closer as they boys argued which was nothing new. Groaning could be heard tucked away beind the plastic table that must've been where the exchanges took place. A tiny figure sat clumped away, practically fused to her plastic chair.