Godead

XXI

The three scoured the woods for Misty and Charlene, hours passing with the girls still nowhere in sight. The trio called their names, looking everywhere as they trudged through the deep forest.

As daylight started to fade, a pair of eyes watched them from afar through a pair of dark binoculars.

"...Hmm. What do we have here?" the shady young woman said. "A boy, a girl, and... a nudist?" she said, eyeing Blair in surprise.

As the mysterious girl watched from a distance, Blair looked up, noticing the sun setting through the canopy of trees.

"...We should get back. I doubt we'll find them today, and it's no good if we get lost out here searching for them," she said. Claude sighed, worriedly looking around.

"...Misty!" he shouted, voice hoarse from calling the girl's name.

After searching in vain, the group called it a day, heading back to the house soon after. Upon returning, they grimly looked to the bodies of Michelle and Stacy. As Blair put her clothes on, the group proceeded with the grizzly task of burying the two in the backyard. After finishing, they returned to the house, Blair preparing dinner as the other two quietly sat at the table. As Claude remained silent, Abby gave a slow, wry smile.

"...Heh. Funny how they call this the living room. I'd say the dying room's more appropriate after today!" she said, cackling as Claude looked across the table.

"That's enough, Abby," Blair said. Abby slowly raised a brow.

"Oh yeah? And who made you leader all of a sudden? In case you've forgotten, I'm the one runnin' this damn show! Ain't that right, Claude baby?" she asked with a wink.

"...Uhh...!" he replied awkwardly, careful not to anger Abby as she gave a naughty smile.

Moments later, Blair finished preparing dinner, the three convening at the table as the group ate in silence. Within the span of twenty-four hours, their numbers had more than halved, and what was once eight at the table had now turned to three. As the heavy silence persisted, Claude looked over to Blair.

"...This is good. You're a good cook, Blair," he said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"...Oh. Thanks. Most of this stuff came from a box in the cupboard, though," she replied bashfully.

After dinner, the group slowly passed the rest of the night, Claude and Blair worried for Misty and Charlene as Abby casually flipped through one of Stacy's old comic books. As midnight rolled around, the three retired, falling asleep as the rest of the evening went by.

The following morning, the group resumed their search for Misty and Charlene, again combing the woods for the missing girls. As the three searched around, Abby sighed, rolling her eyes as she fanned her face with her hand.

"Ugh... it's so hot out here!" she said in annoyance.

"Yeah. At least there's no zombies this far out, though. Or so it would seem," Claude replied.

"I wouldn't count on that," Blair said.

"Would ya just give up, already? Charlene and Misty are history, and some zombie's probably pickin' its teeth with their bones by now!" she said with a smirk.

"We don't know that for sure. Just keep an eye out. We're bound to find them sooner or later," Claude replied as they continued searching the woods. After several minutes, Abby stopped in her tracks.

"...Bleh. I've had enough of this heat. I'm heading back to the house. At least it's still got air conditioning. You comin', Claude?" she asked with a smile.

"I don't think so, Abby. You go ahead, though. We'll be back before nightfall," Claude replied. Abby shrugged.

"Suit yourselves. I'm tellin' ya, they're dead as a doornail by now," she replied, turning around before calmly taking her leave. As Abby vanished from sight, Blair paused, relaxing moments later.

"...Phew," she said. "...Good that she's gone. That girl really worries me."

"Oh, give her a break, Blair. She may be wild, but she has a good heart. Plus, she's saved our skin more than once," Claude said.

"And what was all that 'I'm in charge' business the other night?"

"She was just being dramatic."

"...Are you sure? She looked ready to kill somebody when she said that," Blair said.

As Claude worriedly fell silent, Abby returned to the house, heading into the kitchen before grabbing some chips. As she munched on them, she paused, soon looking outside as a convoy of vehicles approached.

"...Hmm? Who are these maggots, now?" she asked, shoveling more chips into her mouth. As the three vehicles pulled off the main road, they drove onto the dirt path outside. Abby paused, tossing the chips away as she watched the cars slowly come to a stop near the house.

As Abby peeked out the window, the strangers all left their cars, seven in total as they approached the front porch of the residence. After several moments, one of them knocked, Abby smirking before slinking off into the shadows.

"...Hello?" a man from outside said, shotgun in hand as the others held similar weapons. After waiting in silence, a second man slowly stepped forward.

"What should we do?" he asked. The first man paused, looking around at the property.

"...Well. There's cars out front, but the residents are probably dead by now. Let's break in," he replied, stepping back before kicking open the door. As the intruders came into the house, Abby waited for them behind the door, giving a naughty grin as the strangers entered.

As Abby slowly raised her knife, Claude and Blair continued through the forest, finding no signs of Misty or Charlene. As they traipsed through the woods, they paused, suddenly spotting a tent off in the distance. The two paused in surprise, looking around as Blair readied her rifle.

"...Be careful," she whispered to Claude, quietly approaching the tent as they surveyed the area. As the two stopped next to it, they paused, soon turning their attention to the tent's entry flap.

"...Hello?" Blair asked. Receiving no reply, she leaned forward, unzipping the front before pointing her rifle inside. "...Empty," she said, looking around the interior along with Claude.

"...Looks like there's quite a lot of stuff in there. Books... canned goods... binoculars. Think they're just gone for awhile?" Claude asked.

"Maybe. They could be a survivalist or something," Blair replied.

As the two stood in the woods, the sounds of popping suddenly echoed from a distance. They perked up, quickly looking back to the direction it sounded from.

"Sounds like gunfire," Claude said.

"Yes. And heavy gunfire, at that," Blair replied.

"...Sounds like it's coming from the house!" Claude added.

"...Come on," Blair said, the two making their way back to Michelle's residence.