The Living

Chapter 9

They turned down a road that had a sign saying 'Opotiki 20km'. All the houses and buildings turned into fields and barns. over grown and dead crops everywhere. another sign 'Opotiki 10km'. Thats when Jessica gasped. Thick Black smoke risen in the not too far distance. Lachlan's bright smile turned into a dull frown. He stepped down harder on the accelerator. They then saw another sign, this time it was decayed almost black with blood. But Lachlan could make out that it said 'W lcome t  Op  iki'. the sign was so decayed that some of the letters were missing. They kept on driving onwards. Lachlan felt tears in his eyes. Their was black smoke all around them. farm houses burnt to crisps. mountains of blackened dead bodies. Spooks that were half skeleton and on fire. Lachlan stepped on the accelerator even harder as they got closer to an orchard. The cars when from a happy, noisy atmosphere to a very cold and quiet one. They entered the long driveway through the orchard. Death and destruction all around them, They reached the end of the driveway  and stopped their vehicles. Lachlan looked at the house in front of them, his Uncles  house. It was untouched by the fire, but not by the apocalypse. The group walked towards the front door and were surprised to see it wide open. Lachlan knocked on the open door loudly with the butt of his dads gun. they soon heard a rattling sound inside and a click of a gun. The group quickly backed away with the sound of that click. they levelled their guns to the doorway. "Show yourself!", Lachlan shouted. A short boy with a shaved head walked slowly towards them, he placed his gun on the floor, and put his hands in the air. He was holding something big in one hand. "H-hey sorry for scaring y'all", the boy said in a scared american accent. "i just killed some sickos, in this house is all". the kid held up the heads he was carrying by the hair towards the group so they could see. Lachlan looked at the heads, normal old spook heads. But something seemed interesting about these heads Lachlan couldn't help to stare at them. He then started to recognise those heads as if he'd seen them before. I swear i must've killed two spooks who look exactly like that before,  Lachlan thought. The kid gave him a weird look. And then thats when it clicked in Lachlans head. "OH GOD NO!". Lachlan switched the safety off his gun and quickly pointed it at the kids chest. "WOAH MAN, I don't want any trouble please, I-I'll go, just- please don't shoot". The kid said in total terror. Lachlan screamed angrily "AAAARRRGGH!", he then let go of the gun and dropped t his knees and started crying. The boy then dropped the two sicko heads and ran off. "Whats wrong Lachlan", Becky said pushing her way through the group. "NO SHE CANT SEE THIS!", Lachlan yelled hysterically, he then got up quickly and hugged Becky tight so she couldn't see the heads behind him. Lachlan walked Becky towards the car and made her sit in their while he talked to the group. "W-whats wrong Lachlan?", Jessica said in a scared tone. Lachlan turned to look at Jessica tears, still flooding down his face. his eyes red. "You knew those head did't you", Cooper said in a calm voice. Lachlan looked down at the ground. "Yes". "They-....", "they are...", "Ones my uncle","and,and...", "the other one is...", Lachlan dropped to his knees once more. "my dad", Lachlan said before intensely crying on the floor."shit", Richie said with pure horror in his eyes. Jessica had tears forming in her eyes, she put her arms around the broken Lachlan. Lachlan was about to push her away, but instead decided not to, he embraced the comforting. 

A FEW MINUTES LATER....

Lachlan stood up, wiped his face, the rest of the group started walking towards the vehicles. "wait", Lachlan said. They turned and Looked at him. "don't tell Becky, i''ll just say i needed to cry, i told her at the beginning of all of this, that our parents died peacefully, when really i have no idea what happened to them". "We understand Lachlan", Richie said, "Also we are going back to Long Bay College". "But why", Richie said, "we will only find pain there". "we must go back there until we think of a plan on what to do next", Lachlan replied, "its the only safe place we know". "safe-ish" Lachlan corrects himself. 

2 DAYS LATER....

Its been a whole 24 hours since the group came back from the countryside. Lachlan hasn't been in a good state since then. almost the whole 24 hours he's been working out in the fitness centre, and going out to the most dangerous part of the school where it is overrun with Spooks. Jessica explains to the group, Everybody was their except Lachlan and Becky. "Why isn't Lachlan here now?" Richie asked Jessica. "He's telling Becky what happened back at Opotiki with their Dad". Jessica answered. "So what was Lachlan doing in the overrun area", Cooper asked. Killing as many spooks as he could before passing out on top of the science block roof. And coming back looking like Mike. not saying a word". "Huh, I know this is probably a bad time but Lachlan has turned into a real badass, since the last time is saw him". Richie smiled. "Thats whats sad", said Jessica, "Uh what?", Richie said in a confused tone". "Broken people are often mistaken for being badass when their doing some crazy things". So i was wondering if you guys could help me cheer him up. Ok uhh- whats going on here Richie was cut short by Lachlan who interrupted the meeting. "Nevermind then, could one of you babysit Becky while i go to science block. thanks", Lachlan started to leave, but then Cooper stood in the doorway. "We can just let you get yourself killed dude", Cooper said calmly "Stay here where its safe, and look after your sister". "How about you make me, Matt", why don't you use that name anyway. "BECAUSE!" Cooper yelled. " I am the last survivor of the Cooper family", "so i renamed myself Cooper to become one with my dead family members". "My Mum, My Dad, My grandparents, and my two brothers". Lachlan stared at Cooper coldly "We've all lost people, But- i'm sorry I-I I'll stay". Suddenly the group could hear a car and then yelling from outside the entrance. Lachlan started running, Jessica close behind. Richie, Olive and Cooper looked at themselves. "we should get weapons", Cooper Suggested.