Outbreak! Virus 'Z'

Chapter 8: Life

Archer's P.O.V.

I think I speak for all of us when I say it was a surprise to find out what Gaby had been hiding. But that doesn't mean we won't help her. I mean Gabberdink has always been there for us and now it's time that we're all here for her. I look at Gaby to see her nervously rubbing her arm. I smile and walk up to her. "Hey, thanks for telling us." I spoke softly. She seemed surprised. "Your not angry?" She asked. "Why would we be? In fact we're glad you told us because now we can help you out!" This time Emma piped up. Gaby smiled.

-Le time skip of 3 months-

Batter's P.O.V.

I was on watch for the morning. Everyone was awake by the crack of dawn. We ran out of pack food about 2 months ago so now we go on runs to nearby stores. Today the group was Gaby, Larry, and me. We all got ready to go on the morning run. Gaby pulled her hair up into her usual lazy ponytail while Larry grabbed his crossbow and bolts. Gaby grabbed her brass knuckles and I got the bat she gave me. I worked like a dream. Almost as if someone would sharpen the barbs everyday for years. Wait... anyways we decided to look through houses in case people rushed out in a hurry and forgot to pack some food or supplies. We didn't go too far when we reached a lovely little house with a tree off to the left of it. Gaby tried the door to find it locked. She walked over to a window to look inside. After she was done she smashed the window. "Gaby!" I found myself saying. "What? We needed to get in! Nobody's home anyways. " she spoke as she climbed through the window. Larry went in next. I looked around outside before following them. When we found the kitchen we hit the mother load. The cabinets were filled to the brim with freeze dried foods and others that wouldn't need to be cooked or would spoil. Like beef jerky or twinkies. "Jack pot!" Gaby said in a sing song voice. We all filled our packs. The cabinets were bare and we still had some room for a few other supplies. We checked the bathrooms for med packs. To our luck there were two. We went upstairs next to look around. We found a door that said, 'Don't open dead inside' The owner must have managed to get all the raised into the room before leaving. After looking around we left the house Larry pulled out a black spray can and put a large 'X' on the door to signify that the house was empty.

We were about to head home when Gaby shouted, "Oh s**t I just remembered something!" After that she took off running down the street towards where I believe she lives. I sighed and chased her with Larry beside me. Once at her house she kicked open the door to reveal a very adorably large German Shepard. I wagged its tail when it saw Gaby. "Sam-Sam! I missed you!" Gaby cheered. The dog bark and jumped onto Gaby. It proceeded to lick her face. "Hahahahha! Down girl down!" Gaby laughed. Once the dog was off of her she pointed at me and said, "Protect!" The dog looked at me and sniffed me. Then it sat down and wagged its tail. "Y'know this dog is as crazy as me. I have no idea what she has ben eating these past 4 months!" Sam-Sam barked as a reply. It ran into the house with us all following. The house was lovely. All white walls with a fish tank off to the right. The carpet was soft with a tanish color. The dog led us to a pile of bones. It reeked like death and decay. "Oh! Well that was unexpected. You ate a person." Gaby said not showing any hint of fear. Larry almost threw up while I covered my mouth to keep myself from screaming. "Well maybe this is a good thing? Yeah, you can eat all of our enemies or raised since there's an endless supply of those!" I was horrified to hear Gaby say that but then thought about it. I mean we won't have to constantly look for dog food and if it are the raised then it can protect us all! Well this is just a risk we have to take.

We took the dog back to base with us. It was wagging its tail the entire time. Once there Gaby told the dog to wait outside while we went inside to put away the supplies. Gaby called Brandon, Cathy, and Jennifer outside where she introduced her dog and told it to protect them. But not my little brother, why? I asked Gaby and she replied. "Well since you two are related you have similar scents. Sam-Sam will recognize to protect your little brother don't worry!" I let out a breath of relief.

-Le time skip of 5 months-

Samurai's P.O.V.

Gaby's dog has been a huge help. It would warn us when a herd would blow by. It would also jump over the fence to kill walkers that were trying to break in. Everyday Gaby would comb it and play with it. Even if we didn't have water to spare to bathe it she took good care of it. Hell, she even got a spray to mask the scent of blood that constantly clung to it. Gaby loved that dog with all of her heart. I think it's because that's all she has left of her family. Her other dog was found dead in her backyard. She never found her family. I just hope that all of our family's are safe. Well, not all of us have the luxury of hoping. Cathy found her family dead near the school, probably trying to find her. Jen and Mal both found their family's dead as well. But there was nothing we could do.

Bobo went out with Brandon for a run this morning when they came back they were silent. I wonder what happened. Bobo sat next to Gaby on the couch. All I could here was Gaby say, "I don't know." I really hope everything is okay. We all ate brunch then we went about our daily routine. I took watch even though it's not really necessary with Gaby's do- where'd it go?!? It's gone! I frantically open the front door and look around to find it's nowhere in sight. "What are you doing?" Gaby asked. "Where's Sam-sam?" I questioned her. Her eyes widened as she raced to the door. "Sam-Sam?" She frantically called out. "S**t." Gaby cussed under her breath. She grabbed her brass knuckles and raced out the door. "Gaby what the hell?!" I called out after her. I grabbed my sword and followed her. We jumped the fence and ran up and down the street. Gaby wouldn't say anything, probably not wanting to catch the attention of a raised.

We found her dog barking at a house that had a tree off to the left and a broken window. The door had a black 'X' on it. "Goddammit." Gaby said not amused. She hopped through the window and looked around the house. I follows her. We found a random guy in the corner of the kitchen holding a small knife. Gaby walked up to him. "Your bit aren't you." She said out of nowhere. The man jumped but nodded. My eyes widened. How did Gaby know? "Here, let me end your suffering." The man nodded and put down his head. Gaby pulled out her pocket knife and stabbed him in the chest. I had to look away. "There it's done. Now, let's get back to the others. " I nodded and followed Gaby home. She must be really strong if she was able to do that. I mean I wouldn't be able to if I was in her shoes. Once we made it to base with Sam-Sam Larry and Cathy were already out on a run. I sighed as I plopped down onto the floor.

To be continued...