Escape -Third in the Run. Series

Chapter 7

The plaza turned out to be the bustling, busy meeting place of the entire town.

That being said, 99.8 percent of the town was dead.

Kala and Lilah stepped easily over piles of rubble swept neatly into piles, and pointed out where there were dangerous areas almost invisible to the human eye. Both girls moved with a comfortable ease as they made their way back, oblivious to the team's discomfort behind them. Ian jogged along to the front of the group, catching up with them.

"So, uh," he started, "This whole area is your base? It seems a bit large to only be guarded by three people." He glanced around at the sprawling walkways and abandoned shops that led out from the area. "I mean, its kind of wide open, isn't it?"

"We have our defenses," Kala replied breezily. "Don't step there." Ian jerked and stumbled over the long trench Kala and Lilah had both just smoothly crossed. Behind them, someone swore at the sudden appearance of the trench, and Kala giggled. A faint ghost of a smile touched Lilah's lips.

"We don't really need to worry too much about zombies here, anymore," She said. "We're more focused on other things."

"Other things? What other things could you possibly be focusing on in the middle of an apocalypse?" Ian gaped at them.

"I can think of something!" Adam interjected from behind them. Ian tossed a dirty look over his shoulder.

"Hush, yeah, I know! No, but really, what else are you guys doing that's so important? And how can you just not have to worry about zombies at all? Even when they're wiped out of an area completely, you still get a few that stumble in every once a while. How can you be sure they're all really gone? Are you even sure?" Ian asked, rapid-fire. Lilah shook her head as Kala answered.

"One question at a time, hotshot. I'm no good at explaining it, though, so save 'em. Trick's got it all down to a science now."

The group arrived at what looked like the center of the plaza and stopped, staring around them. Kala and Lilah were tapping their feet and swaying back and forth slightly, completely uncoconcerned, but the team watched their surroundings apprehensively. When a door opened to the left of them with an echoing roar, Adam flinched and swung his gun around while several of the others swore in surprise.

The garage door slowly rattled all the way open, revealing a short, chubby man in a dirty flannel shirt. His hair was shaved down to the skull, revealing a thin scar that ran along the right side of his head. In his arms he was balancing two boxes, which were so big he was struggling to see around them.

"Mark!" Kala called, striding forward. Lilah motioned for the rest of the group to come, and the hesitantly followed.

"I thought Trick was on door today! I didn't mess up the schedule again, did?" She asked. The short man, Mark, peered over the boxes at Kala as she entered the garage.

"Nah, Trick was supposed to be on door today, and he was mostly. He went back down to his room about an hour ago, said he had an idea or something." His eyes moved slowly from Kala over to the team and slowly widened, as if he were just noticing them for the first time. "Who're they?"

"Survivors from Los Angeles," Lilah replied. Mark's eyes got even wider.

"LA? No! Wait, seriously?" He stared at the team. Ryan nodded slowly.

"Dude!" The boxes tumbled out of Mark's arms and he leapt forward, excitedly shaking all their hands. "I'm Mark, Mark Sega. Wow, it's so cool to meet you guys! Come on in, come on in!" He ushered them all the way into the garage, and Lilah yanked down the door behind them.