August 2, 2013
Journal,
The hordes haven't let up, the stragglers are still making their way to the house on a daily basis. I had a close call tonight, luckily Kara was there to help me out. This switch to nocturnal living is going to be the death of us. If we could get sleep during the day it wouldn't be so bad but with the constant threat during daylight hours, rounds of keeping watch and the night trips into town we get just a few hours of rest a night - if that.
I woke from my short rest as the sun set. It was my turn to keep watch from the turrets. I didn't bother dressing, I sleep fully clothed now, there's no telling when we'll have to leave in a hurry.
I made my way up to relieve Jayda, she'd been on watch for the last six hours, it should have only been three but she took over Boyd's watch so he could get the extra rest he so sorely needed.
"Time for bed." I said upon entering the room. She turned from the window, a sad look straining her smooth, young face.
"What's wrong, Jayda?" I pressed gently. She'd been down for the last week, uncommonly quiet.
"It's nothing to fret over now, Bruce." I could have spoken along with her for all the times I'd heard that.
"Jayda..." I pressed. She turned back to the window, stepping closer till her forehead was almost pressed against the glass. Ella stood at her feet, gazing up at her beloved master and companion. Dropping a hand to Ella's head, she sighed and turned to face me.
"We're not all going to make it you know..." She said softly. "It's going to be cold, freezing. We aren't prepared for a move like this."
"We're prepared as we're as able to be." I said.
"Exactly. We waited too long, far too long. The city is crawling with these things and whatever supplies are left in towns along the way are going to miniscule. Food will be bad, clothes will already be taken, shelter will be far and few between. The world is deserted now. There's nothing left for us."
"If you're worried something is going to happen to you along the way don't be-" I started, but she cut me off.
"It's not ME I'm worried about! I can't lose you, any of you."
"We have to at least try this."
"I know, we have no choice in the matter now. We just....we just should have gone sooner is all." She grabbed the bottle of water from beside her and exited the small room, clicking her tongue at Ella to follow.
I took my spot at the window after I heard the door softly close behind me. She's right. We waited too long, got too comfortable and now we're all out of the loop. We're no longer up to par fighting these things, there's not nearly enough room for food that will last us, not enough blankets or clothes to go around. We're screwed. There will be losses along the way but I'm trying not to think about that.
I aimed my rifle out the window, I could see someone, someTHING really, crawling its way through the tall grasses that now overran the pastures. I could hear the soft moaning, smell a faint hint of decay, even from my spot so far off in the turret. A single blast and the thing dropped, motionless.
Well, maybe we're not ALL out of practice.
The shot drew the attention of a few others in the area and they turned toward the house, hoping for a quick meal inside. They hurried their pace but even then, they were slow, clumsy. I let them get a bit closer, no need to waste unnecessary ammunition on misses.
I saw two other figures dart from the kitchen and up the pathway into the shop, no worries or knowledge of the slow moving dangers outside.
As the shop dpor reopened, a cloud passed from in front of the moon, bathing Bre, Kara and the bags they carried, in it's soft light.
