The Sleepwalkers

Chapter 16: New Opportunities

Caiti was laid to rest and the group decided to head out. The building was damaged and the fence compromised by piles of bodies acting as ramps. Only eight people remain, the group had suffered physical loss and major psychological losses as well. It was decided that the remaining survivors would head out to the state forest and make a base there, running water and land to move around in was the better option compared to some of the quite generic and predictable places suggested. They weren’t going to the military bases, they weren’t going to go anywhere near that city and the suburbs were overrun with children zombies, so that was another no go area. The forest was their safest bet, so they gathered their gear into bags and backpacks and got ready to move out. It wasn’t a far drive to the edge of the forest, as it was only a few kilometres from the high school and the Rooster Teeth buildings. Geoff, Griffon, Jack and Millie went in Griffon’s car, while Gavin, Ray, Michael and Lindsay went in Michael’s car. Taking back roads and knowing shortcuts helped the group arrive without casualties or being spotted by more than five zombies.

Arriving at the edge of the forest, the Ramsey family lead the hike to look for a good spot to set up camp. Geoff wanted to be as far into the forest as possible, so that they could be out of the way of civilisation and danger. The group came across a large tree connecting to other trees via huge branches. The limbs of the trees were easily big and strong enough to support adults walking along them with gear and equipment. “Wow,” Millie whispered in amazement at the huge tree before her, “it sure is great, isn’t it,” Lindsay replied.

Using ropes and some of Griffon’s wood carving gear, an entrance to the tree was created. Little steps stuck out of the trunk to act as a ladder up to the tree’s branches, where Ray and Gavin had made sleeping arrangements. Night fell onto the forest and its lone survivors, all sitting around on branches of a giant tree, one person’s stomach dropped. There were seven people in the tree, “guys,” Lindsay called not too loudly, “where’s Gavin?”