The Buried Life

Chapter 5

"So where do we go again?" Henry asked.

Rolling his eyes Greg answered, "Henry for the hundredth time I told you we have to cross the river going east and we will make it to the bridge in a day's walk. Now please do me a favor and just shut the fuck up man."

"You don't have to be rude about it."

Adam and Jeremy stifled a laugh. Greg was easily annoyed and Henry got under his skin with out even trying. He wasn't annoying on purpose, but that was just who he was. He kept the group together through funny quips and sometimes annoying someone or another.

Gretchen looked mad at hearing the boys' banter and laughs. "How can you guys be joking around after what happened. We just lost two of our best friends what is wrong with you!"

"What do you want us to do grieve over the loss?" Adam snapped at her. "There is no time for that anymore. We can't just breakdown and lose sight about what our main goal is: survival. Once this is all over we can mourn, grieve, cry, and whatever else you want."

As harsh as he was Adam had a point. Since the first death in the group Gretchen was always the one to mourn. She didn't want to go anywhere without grieving for a few days remembering how great each of their fallen friends was. They can't mourn every single friend they lost along the way, not yet.

The time for mourning will come soon Jeremy knew that. When will it come is the question no one knew the answer too.

Sunshine from the clear blue sky filled through the tress creating a greenish light reflecting off the leaves. Jeremy thought how ironic it was to have a beautiful day at such a bad time. Then again there was not many good days anymore to weed out the bad ones.

With Greg in the lead, he navigated the group through the densely packed forest and finally into a clearing. In the distance they all spotted the bridge, a big rusted hunk of junk that looked like it might collapse at any moment. A twig snapped behind Adam who was taking the rear.

Without losing a beat Katy had her gun at the ready. Everyone was on edge; Jeremy didn't think he could go through another fight feeling drained as it is from the last one. Without waiting for anyone to tell her, Sasha slicked her way over to the where the twig snapped.

Nodding at her sister she drew her gun and went into the forest opening. The tension seemed to thicken as ten minutes past since she left the group. Katy was getting anxious and decided to go in herself.

"Katy I don't think that is a good idea," Henry said. "Sasha can handle herself. I'm sure she is fine."

"And what if she isn't and needs our help," Katy replied. "I'm not gonna sit around and wait when I can go in and help her. She's my sister, I'll go see if she's okay and be right back. Calm your tits alright Henry."

Without any fear or hesitation Katy stepped back into the forest from which they escaped. Gretchen decided to go on ahead not willing to wait any longer for people she felt were too stupid to realize the hard truth.

Not wanting anyone else to go with her, Gretchen began the long trek to the bridge while the guys waited for Sasha and Katy to return. Greg and Adam set up a mini camp as Jeremy and Henry kept their eyes peeled for anything and everything.

A hellish scream got the boys attention to the forest opening. Leaving Henry behind to guard the camp, the rest of the guys ran back into the forest trying to locate the source of noise. It didn't take long.

A few feet a head of them they saw what was taking Sasha and Katy so long. One was out cold blood gushing from a head wound, the other fighting off a throng of Zombies bigger then the last group. There wasn't much ammo in her gun, only ten rounds. Judging by the by the bodies she was running near empty.

Acting fast Adam and Jeremy distracted most of the zombies away from the girls as Greg draped the unconscious Sasha on his shoulders, and led her and Katy back towards the clearing. Hacking and slashing their swords at the incoming zombies, within a few minutes there was only the two of them standing there.

Drenched in sweat and blood the only sound that could be heard were the exasperated breaths coming from the two boys. Adam and Jeremy looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. As strange as it was maybe it was the stress or the anxiety but that didn't matter, for once they felt happier then they did in months.

To be alive and fighting the good fight with friends was more then Adam and Jeremy could want. With Jeremy in the lead he led him and Adam back out of the forest. Both of the boys smiled seeing the group partially whole again, and Sasha awake from her head injury.

"Is Sasha able to move?" Adam asked.

"Yea I can walk if you guys want to continue," Sasha confirmed."

"No you should rest," Katy rebutted. "Sasha just woke up from a head injury. We don't even know how bad it is."

"I'm fine Katy stop babying me. If we have to keep moving we will, I can rest when it's time too."

Ignoring her sister's helping hand, Sasha got up from the rough grass and makeshift sleeping bag pillow standing on her feet with ease. She staggered slightly taking a step forward but recovered quickly. Jeremy thought she should rest but Sasha was too stubborn for her own good.

Quickly packing up the camp and dosing the fire they all set off to continue their journey to the bridge. Hopefully everyone else was there already to greet them. If there were any more casualties the group could fall apart from the thin strings barley supporting them.

Putting one foot in front of the other Jeremy kept thinking to himself how each step brought them closer to their friends. As if caught in a daze Jeremy didn't notice everyone in front of him had stopped, bumping into Henry in the process.

Greg held his hand up signaling them to wait. Bending down Jeremy caught something shiny, illuminated from sun now high up in the sky. Facing the group Jeremy knew what it was and feared the worst.

Gretchen's broken glasses stared up back at him from the from the blood stained grass. Can these guys ever catch a break?