The Living

Chapter 8

A limping figure covered in rotten adult sludge approached the four kids with an emptiness in his eyes. holding a 9mm to Beckys head. Her whimpering did not seem to concern the figure in anyway. N-n-no it can't be Lachlan said still struggling to free himself from Coopers and Richies grip. What, it , I-It can't be, M-Mike? said Lachlan in a shuddering voice. Yes the boy said. You fucked up Lachlan and its time to pay the price. Lachlan did what he thought was the only thing he could do. He pulled out his gun "click, click... BLAM! BLAM!". Mike was unscathed. Lachlan turned to Richie, Cooper and Jessica who were yelling at him. more gunshots. "Im fine" Lachlan said but suddenly became confused. Richie took hold of Lachlan and they ran behind another shelf for cover. Lachlan then fell to his knees and felt a sudden emptiness. He looked down at the ground. thats when he noticed it, with a sudden burst terror he saw blood emptying itself from a small wound in the side of his belly, slowly staining his already dirtied white shirt a dark red. Richie then grabbed Lachlans face and was talking to him, but Lachlan couldn't hear him. He couldn't hear anything and just as suddenly he couldn't feel anything and then he couldn't see anything. Richie saw the fear on Lachlans face as he dropped to the floor.

It all happened so fast Richie thought. Lachlan pulled out his gun as swiftly as possible and then pulled the trigger. But his gun must've jammed, because the next thing I saw was a crazy smile grow on Mikes face and he moved his gun from Beckys head to Lachlans body. At first i though he missed as Lachlan stood their unfazed. thats when I spotted it, blood draining from Lachlans left shoulder and the side of his belly. Jessica must of noticed first though because she instantaneously screamed her lungs out and pointed her shotgun to Mikes head and "BANG! BANG! his head turned into a pile of burnt spaghetti. We then all screamed at Lachlan and he turned around like nothing had just happened. So i pulled him behind the shelf for cover, incase Mike decided he was not dead. Lachlan fell to his knees and he finally realised what happened. thats when fear took its hold on both of us. I grabbed his face and told him he will be ok. He then blacked out.

Cooper and Richie were carrying Lachlan's unconscious body from corridor to corridor while Jessica blasted any grown-up with her shotgun that got in their way. Until finally they made it to the medical centre in the main office building of the school. there they met the nurse, well at least the closest they could get to a nurse. "Olive! Cooper yelled, gunshot wound!". where is everyone the startled girl answered. No time for that! Richie responded. Lachlan could die! Richie and Cooper carefully placed Lachlan on the bed. Remove his shirt Olive commanded. Lachlan groaned loudly in the process. Well it looks like the bullet skimmed his shoulder. But the other one made good contact with the side of his belly, looks as if it just missed his stomach. however the bullet must still be in him. Olive retrieved all the medical supplies she needed for the job and began to work. Now, Cooper and Richie I need you to hold him down, this is going to hurt like hell. Olive opened the would wide enough to fit her tweezers inside. GAAaaargh! Lachlan yelped in pain. Im sorry this shouldn't take much longer Olive said in a soothing tone. She removed a piece of metal from the wound. Thats the last of it Olive announced. Now time for stitching.

Lachlan rested for a couple hours, sweating madly during that period. Talking in his sleep. "Mum, M-Mum". having nightmares, then awake and panting as if he had just run a marathon. Lachlan lay back down as it hurt to sit up. Everyone was their looking at Lachlan apart from Cooper. Lachlan your awake i was so worried announced Becky. We all were Jessica continued. Where... Where am I? Lachlan said still dazed. You got shot twice by Mike Jessica said. Mike! Where is he! I'll kill him! Lachlan shouted trying to get out of bed but collapsing back into bed due to the intense pain in his gut and shoulder. Urrgggh! he moaned. Just try to relax Lachlan Jessica said, you need to rest for at least a few days, Olive here, took care of you. "Thank you, I really appreciate it". Lachlan nodded approvingly at Olive. "Its really, fine, no biggie", Olive nodded back. "Now what?". Cooper asked looking at no-one in particular. "Well we are in the middle of the overrun part of the school", Richie answered, "and eventually they will get to the main part of our base". "So I think we should go back to the gym and gather as many supplies as we can and leave". "It'll take a day or two get ready so Lachlan can rest up here". No-no I'm ready Lachlan struggled to get out of his bed. No Richie pushed him back down in the bed. You need to rest so u can help us at full strength! Olive where are your guards, she looked down at the ground, "they ran away". OK then! Richie began shouting orders, Olive! gather all medical supplies u can here, then me and you will stay here and look after Lachlan. Cooper! you and everybody else will go to the gym and gather weapons, food and water. Yes sir! Cooper, Jessica, and Becky started running towards their objective. Lachlan smiled at Richie. Richie turned and looked and Lachlan with a confused look "what?". "I know where to go", Lachlan's smile widened, "The country side".

2 DAYS LATER....

Lachlan stood up from the bed in the medical bay. He was wearing dark grey jeans and black pointy police like boots. He was shirtless, with two massive bandages cover both his bullet wounds. Although he was a skinny build he had gained some muscle during the post apocalypse. He had developed a slight six pack of abs, his chest, back, shoulders and arms were a bit bigger and more defined. Lachlan was 13 when the it all started it had been one whole year since then. He is now a survivor of the new world just like everyone who had survived this long. Lachlan, Richie and Olive met up with Cooper,Jessica and Becky at the front gate of LBC. "So does everyone know where we are going?", Lachlan asked everyone. "We are the last surviving six of this small community of kids". "This place is too big too look after on our own and its half overrun". "Eventually they'll make it over the barricades". " So me and Richie have decided we are going to Opotiki in the Countryside". "My uncle lives their he has guns, crops and rabbits should be running wild all over the place, we can learn to hunt". "What about medical supplies?", Olive interrupted. "We've got the ones from the med bay at LBC and we'll make a few stops on the way. " anyway he's got a lot of camping gear that could come in handy"."So thoughts anyone?", Lachlan finished. "Sounds pretty damn good", said Cooper. "I love camping" Jessica said. "are we ready then?!" Lachlan announced. "Lets Go!" everyone shouted together like a family setting off for a road trip. They packed all the main supplies into a red ute. The colour of red was faded on the ute and peeling. Although still drivable . Lachlan went and sat in the drivers seat of the red Ute. Jessica sat in the front seat next to him. He adjusted the mirrors awkwardly. Jessica looked at him, he stared back into her pretty green eyes. "I'm glad your here with us he said". "Thank you for letting me be here, she said. "if it wasn't for you i would probably be dead or something worse". Jessica frowned at the thought of that. Lachlan smiled at Jessica "Hey, if it wasn't for you I probably would've lost control and killed myself by running into a horde of those Spooks". Jessica laughed "Spooks". What, I thought I would name them Lachlan said jokingly. "haha I like that", Jessica said. Lachlan put his hand on the gear stick, Jessica put her hand on his. "OK,Ok you two love birds", said Olive getting into the back seat, Becky just behind her. "Lets get on the Road", Olive continued excitedly. Cooper and Richie were them in a silver sedan. They drove off heading south towards what they hope will be some freedom from the pain they've been through.