Chatter

Chapter 8

"Boom." The shotgun erupted into the face of a chatterer. Vick had alerted the others just in time. They sprang into action instantly and fought for their lives. The group made a circle and stuck to it. The ones with knives depended on the ones with guns for protection but held their ground.

"Stick to formation, we will be fine," said Cade.

Trina looked at him in terror, "This is the biggest group of them yet." She punctured her knife into the side of an undead skull. Blood and ooze squirted her in the face. "Oh god, gross."

"Just keep at it," said Cade.

What was supposed to be an easy food run turned into a nightmare for the group. Keiko was pinned to the wall by an undead ghoul. She fought back and finally kicked a knee loose as the undead tumbled to the grounded now handicapped. The girl leapt over it and brought her axe down on the top of its head, halving it like a watermelon.

Cade was behind the register counter for added protection firing his shotgun left and right. Surreally it felt like playing one of his video games. He sure as hell wished that was what he was doing.

"Autumn, get over here" yelled Cade.

The girl was standing on top of aisle shelves shooting the undead below her. One false step and she would tumble into them helpless. 

"I'm fine Cade," she answered. "I've almost got this aisle clean."

The pistol held eight bullets but she caught on to reloading quickly. A few seconds of being empty and the gun was reloaded. Cade wasn't quite sure if she was helping or had a death wish.

Several tense minutes passed and the gang of undead had been dealt with.

"Is everyone ok," asked Cade.

The group sounded off and signaled that all was ok. They filled their bags with as much food and energy drinks as they could hold. Vick and Cade then went outside to sweep the perimeter and check for a car to use. Vick found an uncomfortably small economy car with the keys in it at a pump. 

"It will look like a clown car with all of us in it, but it'll do" said Cade.

As they raced up onto the interstate Cade's thoughts turned to his mom, dad, and Sister Meg an hour away. Will they be alive? He presumed his parents had taken the shot. They were law abiding citizens. Meg on the other hand was a young 20 and full of piss and vinegar. Any time there was a rally at college she was there. It didn't matter the cause. She could have refused the shot.

An hour turned into three as the roads were clogged with abandoned vehicles and the dead roaming around. The little car couldn't take hits like the last one so Cade had to maneuver around all the obstacles.

Early afternoon arrived and the survivors arrived at the small town of Moncel. It was a tourist town with an amusement park and lakes that attracted people in the summertime. Cade's family lived on the lake right across from the park. He drove the car down the small private lane to the house.

Cade and the group parked and walked towards the front door. It was a large three story home with water access, made mostly of brick. It was quite beautiful. Trina got to the door first and found something.

"Cade, come look at this."

He made his way to the front and saw a letter written in black marker.

*I am at the park. It is safer there, plenty of food and places to hide. If anyone alive is looking for me, *Cade* that's where I am. Don't go inside*

Cade put the note in his pocket, "My sister is at the park."

"That's great Cade but what about your parents" said Keiko.

Cade grabbed the door knob and started to turn it, "I think we will find them inside."

As they all stepped inside the smell gagged them. On the floor were at least ten bodies. Cade saw his mother sprawled over the couch and his father laying head first in the fire place. The rest of the people must have been friends. 

"God they must have been having a party," said Trina.

"Even worse," Cade said. "Meg killed them all herself."

They continued looking around the house finding an occasional body thrown about. "We can stay here the night," Cade said. "We need to get all the bodies outside, and then I need to go to the park."

"You aren't going alone," said Vick.

"I can't ask any of you to risk your lives for me or my sister."

"You don't have to ask, we are all in this together Cade," said Keiko as she took his hand and squeezed.

His parents' deaths had not hit him yet. He was too worried for Meg.

"Alright let's clean these up and get the house in order first," said Cade. "And thanks."

Work on the house took hours. Little by little they carried out the dozen bodies and put them into a pile. Vick found a gas can in the garage and matches in the kitchen. He gave both to Cade.

"I'll let you do this my man, it's your family," said Vick.

"Thanks Vick."

He doused the pile in gasoline and stepped back. He wasn't a public speaker by any means so he had the group bow their heads for a silent prayer. After saying what he wanted to his parents, Cade threw a few matches onto the pile. 

Tears rolled down his cheeks as his mom and dad and their guests burned brightly in the afternoon sky. It took quite a while to burn down but no one moved. They all honored Cade and his parents, something he could never thank them enough for. 

The group finally went into the house to rest. They all took naps and cold showers. The gas was not working to warm the water. Still a shower was a shower.

A few hours passed and Cade was ready to go before it got dark. They all followed his lead outside and down the lane. To the east was a large bridge that crossed the lake over to the amusement park.

As they crossed the bridge the park came into view. "Holy god," cried Keiko.

"Yeah I knew it would be like this," said Cade.

"You all should go back."

They all looked with horror at the boardwalk of the park. Literally hundreds of undead roamed slowly around. Finding Meg would not be easy.

*If you enjoyed this chapter please vote and comment. If you didn't, tell me what I can improve. Thanks!*