School Of The Apocalypse

Chapter 29/Skeltons Standing

Month 6 Day 10; 9:17 a.m.

I rushed out of the house, only having time to grab my pistol off of the end table before I bolted out of the door. I leaped over the little fence that we had and checked my surroundings. Everyone within sight was fixated on the wall so immediately I ran toward it. As I ran I had thoughts aplenty racing throughout my conscious mind. Who was that? What were they doing? Was it a prank? Who should I blame? Is it Autumn? I left that thought. Accusing Autumn was one of the greatest sins I had ever committed and I didn't want to advertise it any further. Still, the threat felt great.

As I got within sight of the fence I could see Rachal, Kelsi, and Haley all with rifles, pointing them over the wall from the perch, but in a crouched position. I bolted over to the gate and saw Autumn and Hailey looking through a slate.

"What's the situation?"

"Not good," Hailey responded.

"We have visitors. At least fifty men with heavy weaponry and armor," Autumn stated.

"Should we try politics?" I questioned. Autumn stared through the grate for a few more seconds before she turned back to me. She gave me just a sad frown.

"Attention rats. I will not call again. Face me or face the consequences of your inaction," boomed the voice again.

"That's it. I say we sacrifice Josh," Autumn suggested. Hailey and I both stared at her and she stared back as if she was serious. "I'm serious. You're the most diplomatic of all of us so I think that you should go out there and talk to them." I was not quite sure how to respond to her plan, but I feared Autumn's wrath more than the people outside's.

"I'll go." Hailey stared at me now and then back at Autumn.

"Both of you are idiots, but it's still your choice," she struggled to say. I nodded and proceeded to the hatch for the gate. Autumn viscously grabbed my arm and slammed me against the door. I looked upon her fearsome glare with terror sprinting throughout my body

"Listen to me," she finally spoke. "You take this and hold it over your head. You drop this and we drop them. Understand?" I nodded and took from her a single white rag and held it tightly in my hand. She released me and took my pistol and the holster off of my belt. I didn't protest her taking my weapon before meeting a ruthless enemy because she was going to have my back and I didn't want her to "miss" on "accident", but then Autumn surprised me. She untucked the back of my shirt and placed the gun in the fold between my pants and belt and placed the shirt back over it, concealing the weapon. "Don't die out there."

"Aww... Will you miss me?" I patronized her. She tried to hide a smile by placing a gun to my head and motioning me on, but I knew that she would. Autumn was all monster. I went to the gate and opened the door.

Immediately I could tell that this was a very bad idea. I held the rag above my head mostly just to keep the sun out of my eyes but also slightly to keep myself prepared to drop it and initiate the attack if it came to that. The road on the outside was filled with at least six vehicles that had been modified to accompany military grade weapons including mounted turrets and other paraphernalia. Most of the vehicles had men in them but there were about ten or so that stood about. The one that drew my attention the most was the one that stood on top of the truck in the center of the rabble. This man was short. It made me a little less intimidated of him but the assault rifle strapped onto his chest told my instincts to be wary.

"Ah! Finally! Someone has come to talk to me. Are you the leader of this...this... what do you call this place?"

"We are the peaceful settlers of this town and you would be wise to not challenge us," I stated to him.