Amongst The Dead : C.H.

.Food and Boys.

*Present*

The Ford Ranger I hijacked broke down within the first week of the apocalypse. Since then Luke and I have been trudging through cities and towns throughout East America killing all the deadheads (zombies) that we came into distance with, sometimes even going the distance to hunt them down. We've rarely come across survivors, most have fled or tried to raid me of my weapons. From several experiences I've learned the harsh reality: fight or die, kill or be killed. 

My grumbling stomach distracts me from my wondering thoughts. Luke and I are currently walking through a deserted town (the name in which I've managed to forget) with an assortment of weapons hanging off my back, shoulders and legs (weapons I had stolen from a beaten down hunting store one month in from the apocalypse). Hungry I search for a food store, praying that it may still contain some canned goods within date left behind by whatever survivors managed to scavenge before hand.

Our trudge is silent....too silent. 7 months later you'd think I'd be used to it, but no. After living in the city for the past 19 years of my life I've grown accustomed to busy streets filled with chatter of civilians and constant passing of traffic. All of which is nothing but a fucking constant memory of what life used to be like.

We finally come across a small run down store its windows smashed and red letters hanging from the burnt rooftop. I pause infront of the door, Luke standing beside me in an attacking stance ready to pounce on anything that might come through the door. Pulling out my katana from it's sheath (strapped across my left shoulder around my back) I quietly step inside, careful not to make noise alerting whatever deadheads (if there is one or two) maybe lurking inside of my presence.

Luke noticing my patterned movement soon trails close behind. We stealthily move in-between isles, stepping over spilt or rotting products. It's mere seconds when I finally spot the dog food isle and stroll down it finding a decent can of pedigree. I pull the tab, spilling the food on an empty, clean piece of floor for Luke, leaving him to eat so I could find a can food isle for myself.

After a passing through a couple of isles I spot the lucky last can of 4 bean mix. I lay my katana on the floor taking a seat next to it with my back lent against the shelves behind me. Lifting the lid off the can I start scooping the beans out with my fingers. Utensils long forgotten seeing as they weren't an option in this world anymore especially if you're in a hurry or in my case too hungry to give a shit.

Once I polish the can of any remaining beans I wipe my oil covered hands on my jeans, throwing the empty can down the isle and get up from my spot not forgetting to snatch up my katana on my way. I only take a couple of steps out of the isle before I'm faced with an overweight, decayed deadhead standing there blocking my path. It's rotten stench fills my nose as it lets out a low growl, clearly hungry and wanting nothing more than to rip my organs out and feed itself full.

Not wasting another thought or minute I swing my katana slicing its head off cleanly, black blood spilling on the white tiled floors staining them as it rolls away from it's dropping body. Sick of looking at the decapitated deadhead, I thought it was time to leave. On cue a familiar growl catches my attention, "Luke? Luke? Come here boy." I whisper hoping to coax my dog into coming to me, but all I got in return was another low key growl.

What the fuck? curiosity takes over me, Luke always follows my commands no matter what situation we end up in. Quietly shuffling along the edge of each isle I grow closer to his growling spotting a small group of scared young lads backed up against a wall. Their unfamiliar voices filtering the empty store following Luke's threatening growls, "Shoo shoo go away." A heavy Australian accent came from the boy with pale skin and bright red hair, "He's not gonna listen Michael!"
"Yes he is! Look he stopped growling, maybe he won't eat us after all."
"It's a dog! It's not gonna eat you idiot."
"You don't know that! It could be a zombie."
"Oh sure a perfectly healthy dog resembles a zombie dog how?"
"You do remember I Am Legend right?"
The Chinese looking boy rolls his eyes annoyed with his mates, "Fuck me....can you guys shut up? there's bigger problems than discussing whether or not it's a fucking zombie, like where the hell it came from?!"
"Whatever....grump."

Their somewhat amusing conversation came to an abrupt stop each boy staring at Luke as he sits down in front of them, ears perked and head tilted slightly to one side formally amused by the bicker between the group.