Infected.

Chapter Eight

  Taking back roads constantly was beginning to get on everyone's nerves. We're grateful though, because through the past few days, in every state, we'd see choppers pass overhead. Jake had scrounged around long enough and managed to find an old portable radio. From California to New York, the Infection was spreading at an unorthodox speed. The only current states that weren't hit yet were: Montana, North & South Dakota, and Wyoming. The government had immediately set in to building walls around North Dakota. They were flying the few healthy people to temporary headquarters within that state.

"Almost there." Ash's voice snapped me back to reality.

"E.T.A?" 

"Half an hour. So pack your belongings that you'd like to take in, and be ready."

"Aye aye, Captain." I saluted her and walked to put everything back in its rightful place. Hands crept around my waist from behind. Balz. On the extremely good side, we'd found that my skin had healed in an inhumane way, killing off all the negative cells. So all that's left is a giant gory bite wound. "Hello."

"Hey. You need help packing all this?" He let go of me and knelt down to pick up books.

"I could've gotten it. But thanks." I gave him a thankful smile and continued packing.

***********

  We were currently driving down a dirt road with a meadow surrounding us. This is the most beautiful scenery I've ever witnessed. Upon closer arrival to the estate, CC and Ashley pointed out three horses roaming in the wooden corral beside the house.

"When did you have time to bring horses up here?" I was dumbfounded. No way horses could survive in the middle of nowhere with no one around.

"Never. Angelo, stop the bus right here. I need to find out who the hell is in my house." Ash threw emphasis on 'my'. Oh yeah, she's good and angry. I grabbed my bow and arrows and filed out of the bus with Ash, Jet, Ricky, Angelo, Ryan, and Jinxx. Chris and Cheyenne stayed behind to watch Ashton while Andy, CC, Jake, Balz, Ashley, and Ghost got things ready to either bring in or get the hell away.

Tall grass swished in the wind, the sun beginning to set. We were approximately half a mile away from the large home. I marveled in its ancient looking beauty. Ash was in the lead of our seven-man group; she slowly crept up the stairs and tried peeking through the front window. It was boarded up.

"I'm going to murder the motherfucker who messed with my damn windows." Ash scowled and scared us all by banging loudly on the front doors. "Open up! I don't know who you think you are, in my house! I will fucking feed you to my pet walker I have back at my vehicle you asshole!"

 I flinched and prepped myself to shoot. Ricky, to the right side of the doors, tensed up; axe ready. Angelo, Ryan, and Jinxx all followed lead. Jet just smiled like a freaking cheshire cat and held up a mini hand grenade. This girl is insane... The doors slowly but surely creaked open. Ash held the person at gunpoint the second she had a clear view of the head. Obviously that person was ready for a fight, they were holding an old shotgun pressed to her stomach.

"Too scared to show your face?" Ryan taunted. The person chuckled darkly and stepped from the shadows. I think I speak as a whole when I say we got the shock of a lifetime. TJ Bell. He looked so much different from the last time I'd seen him in MIW. Don't get me wrong, he's still fine; just different.

"Regardless of who you are, you'll be the one to put down your gun first." Ash prodded her gun in his face. TJ looked at his ex band members unknowingly. Angelo nodded his head and he cautiously lowered his weapon.

*****Chris******

 I was watching them carefully through the front windshield. Some sort of confrontation was going on; everyone's weapons were up along with their guard. Balz slid next to me and gasped in pure shock. Completely understood. TJ was  the one who had gotten in Ash's house.

"What the fuck is going on? You know, we can't exactly see over you trees here!" Chey and Jeanne stood behind us.

"It's TJ." It took a moment to sink in for me. "Its TJ!"

"Does that mean its safe?" Danny questioned.

"Yeah." The rest of BVB and the girls immediately grabbed the necessities and marched off the bus like they were in heaven. Balz and Ghost carried Keller's books and oversized box of med supplies. I found Ashton in the back, playing with Ricky's old teddy bear.

"Ready to go see Keller?" He jumped from his spot and followed me to the door.

"Chris, can you give me a piggy back ride?" Fuck. I sighed and bent down on my knees. He stood on the last step to the bus and struggled to hop on my back. After several attempts along with getting kicked in the head twice, we were set. His arms were around my neck, gripping the stuffed animal in front. The fuzz from it kept getting in my mouth. Ugh. "I don't get why people hate you Chrissy. You're really nice!"

This kid is going to kill my badass-I-don't-give-a-fuck vibe. He snuggled his head into my neck and started whispering something. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself, kid."

Don't ask what got into me(probably my inner child), but I started running in a zigzag formation, making airplane noises. Ashton went along with it and made explosions sounds.

"Someone's reliving their childhood." Chey told Balz and Ghost as I passed by them. Andy saw us and dropped his bag to chase us like a monster. We got into a full on imaginary war by the time we arrived at the door steps. Everyone gave me strange glances and I shrugged it off.

"What? He looked sad."

*****Keller*****

Wow. Chris and Andy had seriously just been playing pretend with a ten year old.

"Well, are you going to let me into my own house or do I have to shoot your balls off?" Ash prodded.

"Why does it always have to be that place man?" Ricky whined. Chey restrained from laughing as best she could.

"Yeah. Hurry up; it's getting dark." TJ ushered us in. Ash bumped past him and mumbled, "No shit, Sherlock."

"Okay. I have three bedrooms upstairs with two bathrooms. Downstairs: the kitchen, another bathroom, and the living room. Pick whatever room you'd like." TJ stood next to Ash. She'd given him the death glare more than once in just this short amount of time.

Ricky grabbed the bag Chey was carrying and held her hand, leading her up the winding stairs. Jeanne went to the living room with Ghost, Danny, and Ashley. Chris went to find Ashton a room suitable enough. Andy, CC, Ryan, and Angelo ran right to the kitchen. Go figure. Jet and Jinxx had walked off somewhere, and I don't even know where Jake disappeared to. The second TJ was through apologizing, Balz tackled him in what no doubt seemed to be a bear hug. They were well occupied by each others' presence, so I decided to check up on Ashton.

  Walking up the stairs was like a fucking nightmare. I hear banging coming from the first door. The middle one was still shut. I quietly tiptoed to the entrance and saw the cutest thing in the history of cute things: Chris, telling Ashton a bed time story.