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

California

I had touched down- or at least hit the ground- in Texas close to the border, putting us only a few hours away from California and when we arrived we discovered that it nothing was like the other side of the country. Now granted that we had been here already, everything becomes much clearer once you're inside of it and not over a military base.

As we got over the mountains we got a full view of the city of Los Angeles. The tallest building had collapsed around the center and it looked like it had fallen onto a neighboring building.

"This is nothing like what GTA says..." Drew joked, he and I used to play GTA together.

"Heh, closer than it looks though." I replied, "Just keep your eyes peeled, if you see something then holler."

I continued to drive and keep my eye on the city and the road, pushing the few cars there were out of the way with the plow. This gave everyone behind us enough room to maneuver their vehicles if the need be. Before we had gotten off the mountain I stopped on a straight and flat portion, everyone behind following suit. 

"Alright everyone!" I shouted as we all stepped out, leaving the children in the cars on our short stop, "We're not going straight into the city. We're going to find a well secured area, fire station, police station, something with walls."

I watched as they all seemed to understand, but the original members of the 'crew' were surprised at how much I sounded like Drake or Russ, even I surprised myself.

"Then, we'll go out in groups to loot, scavenge, whatever. Got it so far?" I asked, receiving nods in return, "Good. We already know that these things like noise, so no one slams on the gas once we're in the city unless you have to."

"Which would be when?" Sadie questioned, standing next to Chloe. She'd been driving Miss Piggy since Drake's death, and she did so like a pro.

"I was thinking the same thing. You shouldn't need to because I'm pushin' everything, but on hills or what not for you."

"We can't just be pulled? There are those straps from the semi..."

I tilted my head slightly, agreeing with her point, "Yeah, bring them here real quick. With a chain."

I looked to the tow hitch, a pair of blue plastic balls hanging just underneath, then to Josh.

"Can this thing handle that?" He asked, actually worried about my truck.

"Oh yeah. Twenty thou ain't much compared to what she's been through."

Sadie and Chloe brought me the chain and straps. I wrapped the chain around the hitch and then pulled to tighten it on itself. The took two straps and  hooked them onto the chain and one to a tow hook- of which there were two- on the front of the bucket truck.

"Alright, that should hold. Just don't make me do all the work, give her what you can and I'll do what I can." 

Sadie nodded and walked back to her vehicle. I was the only one without a child or new woman on board, and Joe's friend had stayed in the bulldozer.

"Let's move out!" I shouted as I jumped into the truck. 

It was funny how much I towered over the others, at least a foot for most of them. The apocalypse seemed to have also worked my muscles as I had gotten thicker with it. Luckily the ghille suit was made for a giant as it was pretty much all I wore now-a-days. 

I led the group through the city and we moved as silently as we could with a bulldozer in tow, well not really in tow.... but, whatever; with us. We drove by multiple large buildings and found a fenced off construction sight with a fully in-tact CVS. For some reason it still had some stock, so we decided that this would be where we held up.

Using one of the many master locks I had, I closed the chain link gate and locked it from the inside. Josh, Drew, and I walked the perimeter, then I picked the lock on the glass doors and we began to clear the interior of the store, using our flashlights to see. 

"Clear!" I heard Josh shout from across the store, then another from Drew.

"Clear!" I hollered back.

We all walked back to the  doors and quickly everyone began to file in, Crystal and her new friend Amy immediately started for the pharmacy while the kids went to look at the small toy collection that the store had. I pulled Josh to the side to talk to him.

"What's up?" 

"Well, we're in the city now. This isn't the country so there'll be much more infected around if we shoot. I know that we all have knives, but I think for the regular scouts: AKA you, Drew and I, we'll need something longer and more damaging."

"Afraid we'll attract too many if we shoot."

I returned with a look that kind of said 'Well no shit Sherlock! You figure that out yourself?'

"Alright dick. On our first run we'll find a hardware shop or something, get some axes, machetes, bats... whatever we find we'll bring back. And for the trucks, I think we ought to leave the big bitch." He said, referring to mine.

"Yeah, we'll take the van and the smaller pick-up. Speaking of which, how are the suspensions and axles and shit after the fall?"

"Haven't checked, but since they made it here I'm assuming they're fine."

"Better have a look anyways. We don't want to have to drag one back with the other a have the supplies weighing us down." I told him, opening the door to walk out, holding it as I waited for him.

For the first time in a long time I left my rifles alone, but didn't go out unarmed still. I had both revolvers and the hunting knife. Always.

I used the flashlight that was still attached to my vest and kept the underside of the vehicles lit while Josh check the vital points on each vehicle.

Heeeeyyyyyy! How ya' doing? Good? I hope so.

That's right, a whole seven days for me. Then only a two day wait after that and I'll be straight back into the fray. Also, want to thank 212kitten once AGAIN for pointing out my horrid amount of mistakes in the last part. Got those fixed (I think), and it should be good now. 

If you like this and want to keep updated then follow this story (you little stalker ;) ) and maybe even vote for it. I'd love to know if this is actually being read. (With over 400 reads I sure hope so).

Thanks, Gracias, Danke, Arigato (not sure how that's spelled), and uh.... Bonjour? That's not right. Whatever, I ain't french... or German... or Japanese or Hispanic for that matter... Whateves.