The Mississippi Zombie Chronicals

Chapter 3: The Newcomer

  We all rush to the armory to gear up. I grab my M-4, throwing a few spare mags into my pants pockets as everyone else grabbed their weapons. Geared up, we tell Kam to be ready at the gate controls. We take up positions around the gate and Zig gives Kam the signal. The three inch thick steel slab slides open, revealing three dead zombies laying on the black top. A cloaked  man stands with his carved, black staff in his hands, the base of the staff dripping blood. He regains his composure and takes off his hood revealing it's our friend Drew.

  "Drew!?" I yelled.

"Jake!? Is it really you?!" He replied, pure shock on his face.

We all lowered our weapons and marched towards him.

"How in the hell did you survive Drew?" Asked Cody.

"Well, believe it or not this staff that Jake brought home from the Bahamas for me saved my life." Said Drew, a tear rolling down his face as he was relieved to finally see friendly faces.

Changing the subject, Ryan said "Well I hope you're hungry, Kam's cooking soup, again." Drew smiled, wiped his face, and nodded. I closed the gate and followed the others inside.

 Sitting around the kitchen table, we ate the delicious soup Kam prepared.

"Where all ya been Drew? How's the situation out there?" Chimed Zig.

"Guys, its pretty bad. Full scale evacs of every major city, riots in every aid station this side of the Mississippi, and get this shit, a new mutation in the virus." Explained Drew.

Silence fell like a summer rain.

A new mutation? What the hell!?  

"What kind of mutation, Drew?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

"It's almost like they're stronger at night and in big groups. Like they're learning to stalk and hunt like wolves. I watched ten guys get snatched out of thin air. Good thing is, they're still attracted to light like moths. I used a flare to lure them out and hid up in the trees until I could escape." Said Drew, our eyes captivated on him, our ears horrified by the news.

"But, the cold weather is making them slower than usual so taking them out isn't as hard during the day, so that's good news." With a little good news and a lot of bad news, I couldn't eat any more.

"Drew, you seem tired, why don't you get some rest? Spare bedroom's up the stairs and down two doors to your left." I say, standing up.

"Good, thanks guys. I'm glad I found you all. Good night." Said Drew as he grabbed his gear and headed up stairs.

"If what he said is true, we'll need to increase security. I'll take watch in the tower." I said.

"I will too, hell I still need to test out the new suppressed .270." Said Cody.

I nodded and watched the others walk to bed.

  Cody and I walked to the armory and procure some ammunition and our rifles. I also grab my MSR, the bandolier and two extra mags, placing them in my tactical vest.

We climbed into our towers, waiting and watching.

We sat in our respective towers, keeping an eye on the same trails we were used to seeing zombies come down. Sitting for hours, it was mostly uneventful until I finally heard Cody shoot at a distant target.

Plink!

I hear the suppressed .270 make a shot.

One down for Cody.

I light a cigarette and take a sip of my whiskey, the cold air mixing with the nicotine in my lungs.

Snap!

I hear a stick break in the distance. I grab my rifle and find two slow moving zombies approaching the wall.

I take one shot.

Plink!

One down.

I pull the bolt in my rifle and cycle another round.

Plink!

Bloody mist fills the air and the scent of the coppery substance fills my nose.

"That's two confirmed kills for me." I radioed to Cody.

"Roger, I've got one over here."

Plink!

"Make that two, over." Cody chuckled.

I laughed, "Over and out." I said.

All of a sudden, all hell breaks loose.

I watch as a flaming helicopter falls a half mile past the house. An explosion erupts from the tail section falling to the earth.

"Awe shit balls." I muttered.