Hiding From Infected

Chapter 3- Don't Be Out After Dark

Jade's P.O.V.

I jumped up immediately and ran for the window. The screams were ear piercing and so loud they could attract a horde. Someone was firing a gun repeatedly and it sounded like an automatic but the shots were quick like a firecracker. I heard the front door of the apartment open and Ryder ran in yelling at me to answer. I ran out screaming.

"Who's killing her!?"

Dara and Mason burst through the door sobbing and then the screaming stopped. A few more shots fired and then a loud voice echoed through the silent city.

"Is anyone here!? Is anyone still alive!?"

We all remained quiet then Ryder said we need to get him inside because a horde could be approaching soon due to all the noise. No one made a sound. Dara nodded then hiccuped. I got her some water as Mason and Ryder walked out the door. We silently watched by the window as they both reappeared outside walking towards the man. He jumped when they spoke.

"Hey! What the hell are you thinking makin all that noise!?" Ryder wasn't yelling but any louder and he would be.

"Killin' that there witch. 'em bitches need put out of their mis'ry. Mean ol' suckers. Takes a 'ole lot to kill 'em. Even more the longer they be livin'. 'ow long ya'll been 'oldin' up 'ere?" His voice was rough and he looked like the country type. Us on the other hand were completely city and you could tell.

"Almost 17 months now. We're getting ready to move soon though. Where have you been?" Ryder was cautious.

"Not sure, where am I?"

"Heron Bay." Mason spoke quickly.

"What state?" He looked confused.

"Georgia. Name?" Mason sounded irritated.

"Hunter. 'n' ya'll?"

"Mason, this is Ryder and we each have a wife in the complex and Ryder has two kids. Are you in need of a group to stick with, or do you have one?"

"Don't ya thank if I had one, they'd be with me?" Hunter seemed pissed that Mason had even asked.

"Mason was just asking, no need to get touchy on it. We know these are hard times." Ryder stepped between the two.

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"Hey ladies. I'm Hunter. 'n' ya'll?"

I smiled kindly and introduced everyone.

"Well I'm Jade. This is Sebastian and this is Miracle. Then in the kitchen is Dara."

Dara sat silent, sobbing without sound except for the occasional intake of breath, shaking and rocking in the rocking chair. Hunter looked at her lost then quietly asked. "Is somethin' wrong wit' 'er?"

I looked at him dumbly and then realized he had no idea what he'd done. Dara rose swiftly walking over to him. CRACK! She placed a swift slap across his face. "YOU! YOU KILLED MY BABY! YOU KILLED THE ONLY THING LEFT OF MY FAMILY! OF MY SISTER! YOU KILLED HER!"

Hunter fell backwards as she screamed. Everyone was in shock. No one has seen her like this ever. Even Mason was in shock. Her entire body shook.

"The hell you talkin' 'bout lady!? I dinn't kill anybody! I only kill 'em monsters out there!"

"You killed Stella! You killed my baby!! The witch you killed! You killed Stella!!"

Hunter's eyes changed in realization. Dara dropped to the floor sobbing. She looked like a witch. Just sitting there. Moaning in pain from the heartbreak. We decided to start packing the trucks since we needed to get moving before dark. That's when hell would come. After witch killings, that night, the city seems to refill. That's why we avoided killing her. Sebastian and Miracle were in the cabin of the semi with all our packs. We got everything loaded in under an hour and filled the gas tanks so we could get farther. We replaced the batteries in the walkies and put two in each truck with extra batteries. We put food and water in each as well. I went upstairs to get Dara and all was quiet. Too quiet. I heard quiet crying and moans that sounded way too familiar. It sounded like Stella changing all over again. I knocked on the door to the apartment and then I heard the shrill scream that I didn't want to hear. I ran as fast as I could away from the apartment. Dara was gone and the witch had taken her place. Heartbreak really can kill a person.