Chatter

Chapter 14

"Just so you all know, I want that belt buried with me if something happens," said Vick.

As his last word is spoken, dozens of military jets fly overhead in formation. "Something's about to happen," said Trina. "They never fly like that so low." Cade looked out the window as the jets flew by, "We just have to keep moving, it'll be alright." He paused to think over the situation, "We have a full day before the nukes come down and only a few hours to drive if all goes well."

Hours passed and the group traveled on a smaller highway to avoid more traffic jams. It paralleled the interstate almost perfectly. The girls were all huddled in the back around Dwayne on the bed, doing girl time.

"Before this happened I was a senior in high school," said Meg. "My only worries were boys and which one to let take me to prom."

Autumn laughed and joined in, "I was a farm girl, boy's hadn't noticed me yet." Her eyes went down to her lap. "Daddy said I had to be married before I could date." 

All the girls broke into laughter. "Yeah, right" said Trina.

"I was in Japan for school, studying various things but mostly getting drunk and goofing off," said Trina. "Guess I should have stayed a week longer huh?"

Front the front cabin they heard, "SON OF A BITCH. There they are." It was Cade practically jumping out the windshield to something ahead.

"Guns loaded and ready, the foreman is at the gas station ahead."

The camper screeched to a halt, no stealth this time. Cade and the other jumped out the side door shooting three of the foreman's men dead. They all took protective cover around the station except Cade who rushed in the front doors shooting.

Two more men dropped as he checked around each aisle and room. Shotgun blasts tore the beef jerky next to him to shreds sending him to the floor dazed. The foreman had been in the rest room. He continued firing and made his way outside. Cade growled and sprang for him, knocking him down and the wind out of the older man.  

He wound up on top of the foreman, throwing wild punches left and right into the man's face and body. Then from out of the woods nearby, dozens of chatterers rambled into the parking lot.

"Cade we have to go!" screamed Vick, "There's too many."

"Next time we meet, you're a dead man," Cade growled to the foreman.

He then leapt up and sprinted to the camper getting in last after everyone was safe. Vick took off in a hurry driving as fast as the old camper could go. Out the back window the group could see the foreman and some of his men escaping in the other direction by jeep.

No one spoke for a few hours. They knew Cade was still fuming at missing his chance for vengeance. It was growing very dark and most were exhausted. Vick kept driving though his eyes had begun closing.

Finally after another hour he came to a state park. It's better to get off the road just in case of trouble. This time of year there shouldn't be many campers who were infected. Vick pulled off the highway and down a narrow road into the wooded park. 

There were no other campers or tents in the lot Vick pulled up in. All seemed safe and sound. Vick and Cade took their blankets to the roof, where they always slept, giving everyone else room to spread out. It had been a long day and the whole group passed out quickly.

Hours passed and they all slept relatively well. Some noise from below woke Cade. One eye opened he listened and watched. He nudged Vick out of sleep and held a finger to his mouth for quiet. Together they listened to what sounded like four men approaching the camper and whispering.

"Kill them quietly and get their gear," said one.

"Passenger door, driver's door, and side door at once," said another.

Enraged, Cade dove down onto them in a pile. Both knives spinning and stabbing, he ducked a punch and stabbed one in the heart. Cade spun backward and caught another in the abdomen with both knives and twisted. The final two men got the better of him with kids and sent Cade to the ground. They were on top of him in a flash pounding his face.

That familiar guttural roar erupted and Cade sliced into the crotch of the closest one, making him an "it" for the last moments of his life. The fourth screamed as he saw his friend's penis area shoot blood through his jeans passing out. Cade crawled on top of the man and beat him over and over with the knife handles until the man's face was reddish goo.

All this happened in seconds as Vick was climbing down. He never had a chance to help his friend defend the camper. "Good lord man," Vick said, "You butchered them."

Huffing and puffing Cade turned to him, "They were going to kill us and strip us of everything. Them or us Vick."

"Shit," said Vick.

Cade and Vick followed their trail back to another camper. No one seemed around so they took the guns and supplies and headed back. Once at their own camper the rest of the group was outside waiting.

"Are you alright?" said Meg. "We didn't know what happened."

"More guns and food," was all Cade could say as he walked by everyone and went inside the camper. 

The rest stayed with Vick as Meg followed him inside.

"Did you do that?"

"Yeah," said Cade.

"She wouldn't want this from you bro."

"I would want avenged if it were me," answered Cade 

"There's a difference between vengeance and becoming an animal."

"Just get some sleep Meg, I love you."

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

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