Amongst The Dead : C.H.

.When Luck Strikes.

Dog Luke jabs his nose into my cheek urging me to get his food out, "Where'd you get him?" I peer up at the boys with a questioning look, "Hm?" Michael huffs asking once again thrusting his thumb at my companion, "Luke, where'd you get him?"
"Ohhh, we got him as a pup from a breeder and trained him up through the police academy not far from my old house." Surprised Michael raises his eyebrows, "That explains his smarts."
"Yeah, I wouldn't be here without him." I kiss Luke's head and peel back the lid on the dog food tipping it on the grass.

Michael's face converts to confusion, thinking over our conversation, "You always say we, who's we?" My eyes widen....Fuck how could I be so fucking careless with my words, but that's how I am when it comes to Luke. It was always Matt, Luke and I, it was always we. Avoiding his question I reply, "Rule number 1: No questions."
"You can't avoid the question forever."
"I can and I will." He scoffs giving up on the argument knowing how stubborn I can be and the outcome of pushing the question any further.

Ashton, Calum and Luke return to eating their food, unlike Michael who stares at me longer, trying to figure me out, trying to get me to talk. Silence falls over us again (when didn't it?). I know the boys have questions...lots of them, but I made the rule for a reason. We can't get attached to eachother and I can't risk them finding out what I was made to do. It'll ruin my chances of getting them to the island and being able to go back to doing what I do best without being bribed into going with them.

We finish our food in no time, leaving our rubbish on the ground littering no longer an ecological problem. We then get up putting our empty packs on our backs (the boys carrying mine), keeping them for the next raid. Walking back onto the road I see hardly any good looking cars that would able to fit us all including Luke, "We'll have to keep walking." Groans and protests come from each boy Clifford the only one to speak up, "Fucks sake! we're fucking tired there's only so much fucking walking we can do!" Frustration builds within me causing me to stop and lash out, "Fucking complaining about it isn't gonna fucking do anything for you! I don't see any other options, do you?!"
Cliff....Michael hangs his head, Ashton patting his back for comfort, my voice laced with annoyance as I make my point, "That's what I thought."

I start walking once again following the road. The sound of footsteps and paws bouncing off the road reassure me that they complied with me and knew better than not to follow. The heat from the late afternoon sun burns into my face and arms causing sweat to form and drip down. I can hear Luke's quick breathing, the sound of his tongue slapping his teeth as he closed his mouth every now and then filling the over bearing silence that continued to linger.

Turning my head in every direction watching out for both deadheads and empty cars gave me a kink in my neck making it sore but bearable, "Look over there!" Luke's voice echoes throughout the place. Sure enough he found a decent looking Hummer an almost exact replica of the yellow redneck vehicle(ironically enough) from Zombieland. We all jog over to it looking around for any signs of the dead or living. I draw out my near blunt hunting knife and open the drivers door, a decomposed body falling out of the seat, it's insect infected guts spilling over my feet, "Fuck...stupid fucking thing." China tips his chin up amused, "Wow it's intestines spilled all over you and the only thing you can say is fuck?"
"Well Chi...Calum it could be worse."
"Nice save."
"I thought so."

He raises his eyebrows at me willing for me to elaborate, but I just smile and kick the intestines off my combat boot cladded feet. Hearing Calum walk away I advance in checking over the Hummer, "Hey! You might wanna come see this!" Ashton yells from the back of the car. I make my way to where the boys had surrounded Ashton, surprise written all over their faces, whatever's in the boot must be good. I push passed Luke and Michael joy written all over my face as I witness what litters around in the boot, Luke barks in excitement next to me knowing exactly how I feel.

Duffel bags upon duffel bags (all zipped shut) are piled on one another. By the looks of it they all contain the same thing as the one Ashton had opened. Machine guns, hand guns, shot guns (amo kept in separate bags) you name it, it's in here, "Holy fuck! Thank fuck for rednecks!....Holy shit!....Yes!" Nothing can dampen my mood at this point. I unzip other bags finding more guns and amo. Ashton's, Michael's, Luke's and Calum's jaws hang low not yet fully comprehending the situation, "How?....oh my god....fuck....shit." I laugh my eyes shinning bright with happiness this is it I know we can make it to that island now.