Living Amongst The Dead

Chapter 23

"Firstly, I think we should all agree on what we should take." I had gathered the others in the lounge room so we could form our plan. Ben was first to speak after a long silence.

"I think we should take as much as we can. Who knows how long we'll be in the forest for. Ned's taken his sleeping bag so it looks like he wanted to stay over night. Maybe even a couple of days."

Ben had a good point. Why would Ned take his sleeping bag if he was going to come straight back? "Your right." I said to Ben thoughtfully. "We should probably just pack up everything. It'll all fit in the trucks, right?"

"Ned's taken one of the trucks but we should be able to fit everything in the other one." It was Gina who answered. She had a really saddening look on her face and I asked everyone if they agreed.

We all did and we spent the next hour packing all our supplies into the truck, then we had something to eat before we left.

"Right, that's everything. Let's get going." Ben had just finished getting the last of our weapons into the back of the truck and Gina, Calem and Coco were already in the back seat. Ben said he would drive so I sat shotgun.

I gazed out the window. At the cabin. I thought about how we might not ever see it again and that we might have to find another place to call home.

We drove away from the cabin and down the road, no one saying anything for a full half hour. I finally decided to break the ice. It just felt too awkward.

"So what do you guys think Ned saw in the forest?" To my surprise, Calem answered me. "It must have been something strange or he wouldn't have come all the way out here to check it out."

I hadn't really thought about the question myself. "Maybe he saw signs of human life or something. All I know is that it must be important." I told the others reassuringly. Ben reached his arm around my shoulders and gave me a sad smile.

"Are you OK?" I asked him as I glanced into his eyes. "Yeah." He responded. "I just hope that nothing's happened to Ned. I really hope this isn't all for nothing."

"Hey." I said calmly. "Ned will be fine. He knows what he's doing. He'll stay safe."

I could see so much worry in his eyes and I knew Max's death was still getting to him. "You know." Ben started. "If anything ever happens to you I would never forgive myself. I just wouldn't be able to handle it. Calem as well."

He sounded so sweet and I knew I needed to reassure him. "Nothing's going to happen to me so you can stop worrying. We can do this."

I tried to sound as confident as I could but he still looked worried so I kissed him on the cheek and he concentrated on the road.

In no time I could see the town ahead. Gina told me to stop the truck and we all got out. The forest was to our left and we all headed towards it.

We reached the forest tree line and I took my bag off my shoulders. Just as I started to stretch out my neck something shifted in the trees next to me.

Then a figure emerged from the shadows and stumbled towards us.

"I see you got my note." The voice was familiar and I was glad when I saw the face of who spoke.

It was Ned.