The New World

Ch. 3

I hummed softly as I yanked the seven inch blade out of the eye socket of a newly dead Z. After wiping the blood and gunk off the blade with the tattered shirt that the dead man was wearing, I flicked the pocket knife closed and slid it back into my front right pocket.

I reached behind me and wrapped my fingers around the handle of the large black grill I had been dragging behind me for the last two blocks. I grunted a little as I lifted the grill until it was balancing on its two wheels before continuing my journey home.

I stared up at the cloudy blue sky, my mismatched eyes were now covered by a pair of mirror tinted aviators that I had found in a house yesterday. My right hand, which rested comfortably on the handle of my Glock, was covered in a black fingerless glove. Both of my new accessories were now hiding any real sign of me being anything other than a regular survivor.

It wasn't long before I made it home and after dragging the grill behind my house and up my patio stairs, I went inside to grab a quick lunch. I settled for a can of peaches and a bottle of water.

I sat at the dining table staring out at the grill through the back door. I had originally planned to make some sort of campfire but I decided that finding a grill would be best. With a grill I wouldn't have to worry about a fire suffocating since it was built to, you know, keep a fire going. Also the grill came with a rack I could put cans, pans or raw meat on. I'd just have to keep the racks clean.

Another thing I liked most about having a grill over a campfire was the fact that I could light the grill on my patio without the fear of accidentally burning my house down.

Finishing off my lunch and downing half the bottle of water, I threw my trash away and headed back out. I had more houses to look through.

About fifteen minutes later, I found myself walking up the steps of a moderately sized, two story home. I pulled my pocket knife out and swung the screen door open. Pushing the front door inwards, I entered the home and began searching.

I found another lighter in the living room and I pulled the batteries from the tv remote before throwing the objects into my bag. I found a few boxes of cereal, which I would have to eat dry, in the kitchen and a gallon of laundry soap sitting on top of the drier in the back laundry room.

I may not be able to wash my clothes right now but if I ever get the chance to, I'll be prepared.

It didn't take long for me to search the rest of the house nor did it take long for me to fill my backpack. A few medical supplies from the bathroom and a few articles of clothing from the bedrooms was all it took to weigh me down.

I exited the house, killing a shuffler that had wandered too close, and then turned towards home. I made it three steps before I heard a gunshot echo out around me.

I dropped my bag instantly, pulled my own handgun out and dropped into a kneeling position with my gun aimed forward. I twisted and turned, looking for any threats and when I didn't see any I slowly got back to my feet. Another gunshot rang out and I quickly turned towards the direction it came from.

The gunshot sounded like it came from the other side of the block, near a group of homes I had already cleared earlier in the day. With my gun held tight in my right hand, I leaned down and picked my bag up off the street with my left and threw it over my shoulder before running towards the gunshot.

Gunshots meant two things. One, someone was most likely in danger and two, someone was alive.

Dashing through a few backyards while jumping over or swerving around any obstacles, I came to a stop a few feet away from a troubling sight.