Ashes to Ashes (Book 1 of 2) A ZOMBIE FICTION

Chapter 6: The Months After

Four months had passed and no one else had been lost to death, I had hundreds more visions in many different locations- ie: parks, cities, factories, government buildings, yada yada yada- and the others seemed now like they were professional survivalists.

The C-5M was still up and well, even missing an engine, and we would normally use the pick-up truck as a scout vehicle as we drove through the small cities; landing in long fields or private air strips to avoid the chance of losing it to theft. And as another precaution only four of us went out at a time in the pick up.

We had all been missing our lost, but we had all been able to successfully push through and keep moving forward. Even Crystal had moved past it, and stayed focused on the present. 

And those creatures, the ones underground, stayed  underground and we had begun to refer to them as 'Nosalis' in reference to the Metro series which Josh and I loved. Luckily we hadn't seen any of the Flying Demons...yet...

"Alright everyone. I'm going out with Alex, Drew, and Crystal. You all stay here and keep the plane safe." Josh said as he started up the truck.

I jumped in the back, now wearing a full body ghille suit and carrying the M4 and one of the high powered rifles. Like on our normal scouting missions I was providing over watch from outside of the town,  being the new best shot and the quickest to learn the scoping and range of the rifle with the help of an electronic range finder we found inside of a marksman supply house.

Josh drove the truck up the back of the mountain, stopping halfway to allow me to hike and not get them spotted.

"Alright, I'm in position." I called over our new long range radios.

"Alright, we're moving in from the left side of town."

I searched through the scope and spotted the vehicle, pushing small cars out of the way.

"I've got you, just let me worry about shooting, you can point out targets if you need to, but worry about yourselves." 

"I know." Josh replied, stopping the truck outside of a grocery store.

I watched them through my scope, having marked the distance at five-hundred meters, and adjusted the scope for that distance. It would be an easy shot even if I had to hit a speeding vehicle.

I no longer blamed myself for the deaths of the others, but still regretted what happened to each of them, however, I never let it interfere with my one focus. Protecting the others.

Oh hey, speaking of vehicles! 

I watched as a small 2013 Toyota Camry drove down the street towards the truck, I was cleared to fire on anyone we didn't know at this point, so I took aim.

I lead the vehicle, focusing aim on the engine block, then let out a breath and pulled the trigger. I watched the round hit the small car and the engine popped with a small explosion when it did. I pulled the pin on the rifle back and then pushed a round in and took aim on the tow individuals who exited the vehicle.

The normal bandit or coalition force would've gotten out and taken cover, but they got out and raised their hands high. I saw Josh come to the store front and look at them, then waved them over. Then he looked towards the hill I was perched on and gave a thumbs up.

Thanks. I thought as I pulled my camouflage mask over my face, now making me almost undetectable to the untrained eyes.

Even my rifle and M4 had camouflage fabric glued onto it, making them look like part of my suit.

I still carried the two revolvers, but the .357 now rested on my belt while the .44 rested in a chest holster, making it easier to grab in quick situations. And despite my hearing loss in my left ear, I had seemingly adapted and gained a sixth sense of a sort. I could almost sense when someone or something was near me, alive or dead, human or animal, it didn't matter. It was like I could feel their heartbeat or something.

I kept searching the town for any signs of uninfected life, finding none, and eventually the group loaded up the truck and started to move up the street... with the two I almost killed.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked as if I was talking to Josh myself.

I looked at the haul and figured the last store was a grocer from the loads of dried food and drinks. They neared another and stopped the vehicle short. I looked towards the entrance and around it; then my radio crackled.

"Alex." Josh called.

"Yeah, why'd you stop?" I replied.

"I think I saw movement inside, I'm gonna see if I can lure them out."

"Alright, just be careful." I reminded him, letting go of the button.

I watched as he back the truck down the street, and I could now just barely see movement inside. I kept my eyes on the door, then saw a hand push it open; the jacket on the arm was a dark red, Coalition favorite. The short woman opened the door and I saw three taller men walk out and aim down the street at the truck.

I took aim, keeping my shot on their chest, then fired. The largest of the three men with a long blonde beard fell as his chest was blown away from him. A large hole formed and blood and bone and tissue came flying out. I pulled the pin and pushed it forward again, having fired two of my ten rounds, then took aim on one of the running men. I lead him and fired, he dropped and stayed motionless. I chambered a new round, then found the last of the three men taking cove behind a blue US Mail Box. The rounds from my M98B (otherwise known as the 98 Bravo) would easily punch through the thin sheets of metal; .338 Lapua Magnum.

I fired at where his chest would be, and watched him fall. I Josh and the others step out of the truck and stay on the opposite sides of the road as they approached the store and I watched Josh and Drew fire four shots into the glass doors. Then, they all took a side of the door, then entered at the same time; using Josh's knowledge of Military clearing tactics to their advantage.

Soon, Drew had come back out and pulled the bed of the truck to the double doors. From all of the guns that they tossed in the bed, then placed big cardboard boxes of ammo towards the front.

"Y'all ought to leave! I can see the infected coming towards you." I shouted.

"We're moving!" Josh said as he jumped in the truck, the new people getting into the bed of it.

"I'm on the move!" I said, then stood and shouldered my rifle as I started my run down the hill to the road and jumped in as they passed me. 

I still towered over most of the group, other than Azura who was only a few inches shorter than i was at six foot something.

"Hey." I said, nodding my head towards the new people.

They both looked at me with both shock and confusion, then the male spoke up; "So you took out our car!"

"Hey, you were speeding towards my group, and I will not spare a life if it means keeping them safe."

The woman spoke up, "I like him," as she looked to the man.

We drove back towards the large private airstrip and then into the plane.