The B-Virus (On Hold)

Chapter 5; Crips

Belle's P.O.V.-

After tossing the packed bags and filled boxes into the back of the truck, we all slid back into the vehicle before taking off. As we drove through the familiar town, the empty streets and parking lots began to get to me. 

My  eyes flickered up to the fading sun, the sky was beginning to turn orange as the sun set. "We should find a place to rest for the night," I said, breaking the unusual silence filling the truck.

"There's a small gas station up ahead that's been vacant for years," Sage said glancing up at the rearview mirror at Our mom. She nodded to him and he turned his gaze back to the road. As we pulled into the empty parking lot, we sat still as Sage spoke up.

"I'll clear out the place if you'll help mom ge-"

"Sage," I interrupted, I raised an eyebrow which made him frown. "No way," He said shaking his head. "Sage, I can handle myself. I'm not a child, I can shoot better than you can." I defended, Without a word, he turned and shoved open his door before walking around to my side of the truck and yanking my door open.

"This is just in case," He said holding the gun out. I grabbed it and smiled, "But you can not shoot better than me," He snapped before turning to help mom out. 

I smiled, "Whatever," I mumbled before hopping out and reaching into the back for my bow after sliding the gun into the back of my jeans.

I sent one glance towards my mom and Sage, before turning and making my way towards the building. The windows were cracked, and the door was hanging on with one hinge. Slowly, I reached back and slid an arrow from the quiver on my back before placing it in the right position on my bow, just in case.

Slowly, I used my foot to pull open the door the rest of the way and poke my head in. It seemed empty, besides the small birds that fluttered about around the hanging lights. I couldn't help but feel uplifted, one of the first signs of this..thing, was birds dieing off. 

"You guys have been hiding in here this whole time.." I mumbled before a small crash behind the counter caught my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I furrowed my brow, trying to keep the fear of what might be behind there from showing.

I began approaching the counter, the fear growing inside of me. Just as I reached it, a large crow flew out from behind the counter, it's loud squak causing my to duck and cover my head. As it flew out of the open door I stood back up.

My breathing was heavy, but I would survive. 

"Anything?" Sage's worried voice caught my attention as I walked out towards the truck. "If man-eating birds count, than yes." 

He furrowed his brow, "Right, not a good time for man-eating jokes..Got it." I mumbled and glanced down at the boxes. "Let's get set up." I said before reaching down for the first box.

The sun set quickly and a fire wasn't an option in the middle of a building. So, Sage set glow sticks we found in the back of the store in the middle of our small circle we made in the middle of the gas station. Sage laid down on the cold, tiled floor, propped up on his elbow. Mom sat cross-legged, and I sat with my legs folded beneath me.

Mom scooped another spoonful of beans from her can as Sage set his empty can down. I didn't eat, instead I stared at the colorful pile of light between us. "Where do you think he is?" I asked quietly, barely audible to anyone who wasn't trying to hear me. 

"I don't know, Belle, But where ever he is,.." Sage stared at the lights with me as he spoke. "Mason is a strong boy, he'll try his best to find us just like we're trying to find him." He finished before looking up at me. "He's just a boy,"

"But he's our little brother, Belle. I mean, honestly, he has our blood in him, he's not going to give up easy." He said with a small laugh, I turned my gaze down to him, "We will find him, Belle." he said, a genuine look on his face. I turned my head without a word and stared at the glowing lights.

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The morning came slowly, but as soon as the sun lit up the store I woke up. Sage was already outside putting the supplies back in the truck and Mom was standing beside him. I stood and grabbed my bow before making my way out to them. "Where do we start?" I asked. "Hm?" Mom asked softly, "Mason, where do we begin looking."

"Mason is a boy, someone would have taken him," She said softly, "Okay, so he's either with a family, or a group or something." Sage said putting in the last box and leaning against the car. "If you were a group where would you go?" I asked with an interested look.

"Not a deserted gas station," He said with a furrowed brow. I couldn't help but let a small smile creep on my lips, but it disappeared quickly. 

"Look out!" My yell caused Sage to twirl around, his eyes landing on the herd of infected humans behind him., "Get in the truck!" He yelled turning to mom and pushing her towards the truck.

I ran towards the vehicle before jumping into my seat and turning around to see mom slam her door shut. Sage slammed his own door closed before turning the keys.

The truck reved up and shot forward. "Holy sh-" Sage's yell was blasted out by the sound of the truck smashing into the wall of the gas station. It slammed to a stop as dust settled on the windshield. "Is everyone okay?" Mom asked poking her head into the front of the car.

"Back it up, back it up!!" I yelled as Sage yanked the stick into reverse and turned around before hitting the accelerater. The wheels spun and the engine reved up but we stayed still.

"I can't! It's caught in the bricks!" He yelled. "Get out!" I yelled shoving my door open and sliding out. Sage was by my side instantly. Mom slid out quickly and began following us as we headed for the back of the store,

"The supplies!" She yelled as the first infected stepped into the store through the gapping hole in the wall.

"Forget them, mom!" I yelled before grabbing her and running after Sage. We ran out of the back door of the gas station before heading into the woods. We ran through the trees trying to get far away from the road. 

We ran down a steep hill that led into a large valley. As we neared the bottom of the hill, I fell forward, my foot folding under me sending a sharp pain up my leg. I rolled down past Sage and slowly stopped. Sage bent down beside me as he reached me, "Belle?" He said lifting my head, "I'm Fine.,"I said pushing myself up onto my elbows. He stood up and looked at the top of the hill, "I think we lost them,"

"They're not very fast," mom mumbled, "That was a large group of crips.."

Sage furrowed his brow and looked back at me as I stood up, "Crips...?"

"Yeah...it's a name I made for them..Crips.."

He narrowed his eyes and turned to look at mom. "Great, now we have no supplies, and no vehicle."

"We don't have a road, either mom." I stressed with narrowed eyes. "What now?" She asked softly. "I guess.." I stretched the words out gazing around at our surroundings, "We head down there," I said pointing towards the stream running beside us. 

"If we follow it down stream, it has to lead us somewhere, a lake, the ocean.." Sage said eyeing it. "Okay, then, let's go." I said before making my way towards the stream.