A Shooters Love

Chapter 9

"I've got a flashlight but no batteries," Doc said putting in on the hood of the car, "half a bottle of aspirin but I found a crowbar," he said smiling. "I've got two batteries and four bullets," Warren said putting them down, "I've got two in my gun and these randoms," Addy said setting the stuff from her bag down, "you have gum," I asked from my spot guarding, "for repair purposes only," she said quickly. "Couple of bullets and a few road flares," Vazquez said, "I've got an empty clip," 10k said, "here see if these will fit," Addy said handing them to 10k, "Aly," Warren said, "I've got two in my clip and some rolling around plus a nearly empty pill bottle," I said as she sighed. 10k and I had agreed to let him use my rifle for a while until we came across some new weapons.
"Ok I know this look bad right now but we will find a way to get Murphy to California," she said as we all nodded and put our stuff up. "Well I'm hungry," Doc said walking over to where Murphy laid in the back seat, "wakey wakey sleeping beauty," doc said as Murphy was startled out of his sleep. "What" he asked as he looked around, "help me find some food. Nuts, fruits, edible tree bark," doc said  as Murphy got out of the car and followed him, "edible tree bark huh," he said, "be careful" I called towards them.
I went and sat on the hood of the car with 10k, "Aly can I see one of your gloves," Addy asked as I took off one and tossed it to her. She put it on and made a fist as the claws shot out, "wicked," she said as she began slashing at the air around her. Warren chuckled and looked towards the sky, "Vazquez check on the gas. Aly signal doc and Murphy," she asked as I nodded reaching into the car and honking the horn.
Addy handed me my glove back as her and 10k looked over a map and Vazquez checked the gas, "two maybe three gallons," he said as Warren nodded from the front seat, "if we get ten miles to the gallon," she began, "then that will get us halfway to plainview," 10k said as we nodded. Doc walked up to the car, "where Murphy," I asked as he looked behind him, "damn it Murphy," he said as we all sighed and Warren and I got out of the car.
"How do you lose Murphy," Warren asked as we trekked through the woods, "He was right behind me and then poof," he defended. I cupped my hand around my mouth, "Murphy!" I yelled startling a group of birds, "I'm going to be real pissed if my last words are 'Murphy where are you'" Addy said from in front of me. Doc looked around the woods with an uneasy look, "Might as well be saying, 'Here we are zombies, Come and get us,'" he commented as I nodded in agreement as 10k stepped closer to me and Doc, "Murphy better hope he's not around when I reach 9,999," 10k said quietly as Doc and I busted out laughing. Vazquez chuckled also hearing 10k's comment, "Easy kid we have to find him first," he said as we stopped walking. "Well I think it was somewhere around here," Doc said glancing around, "or maybe it was over there," he said unsure of himself.
Warren sighed, "Ok let's split into three groups to comb around the area, Addy you come with me. 10k go with Doc and Aly with Vazquez," she said as we all nodded. Vazquez and I combed through the thick bushes as we searched for Murphy. I looked up to a tree, "Give me a boost," I asked as he nodded and helped me into the tree, from the high point of the tree I was able to get a better view. "Anything," he called as I started making my way down, I shook my head as I jumped down and he caught me. "Let's head back to the others," he said as I nodded and we walked back to the car. "For all we know he could have fallen down a rabbit hole," I said as we neared the car, "You might be right," he said as we walked up to everyone.
"Anything," Warren asked as we shook our head, I leaned against 10k's side, "Well I was hoping to find him napping," Doc said, "He's a slippery one," Vazquez started as he rubbed his temples, "When we find him I'm going to put him in shackles." None of us denied the idea of putting him in shackles, I sighed, and "Look I know Murphy is not the brightest star but he wants a cure as much as the next person. He's got to be around here somewhere," I said defending him, "Maybe he got himself lost and wandered into the town," I said. "Ok everyone get in the car, it's worth a shot to see if he's there," Warren said as we all got in. Warren, Vazquez and Addy were in the front seat and in the back were the rest of us, since Murphy wasn't in there I didn't have to sit in 10ks lap while we drove. The cool autumn wind felt great as I glanced at 10k only to see him dazed and looking towards the side.
I frowned as I put my hand on his knee and he looked at me and I smiled, "You okay," I asked as he nodded, "Why do you ask," he asked and I shrugged my shoulders, "You just seem quiet," I said, "He's always quiet," Doc said as we all laughed, 10k smiled and grabbed my hand and gently pressed a kiss to it as he held it, "I'm okay I promise," he said as I laid my head on his shoulder.
Somewhere along the road the trees began to thin out and buildings began popping up. The car began to stutter as Warren pulled over, "out of gas" Addy asked as she nodded. We all got out, "ok without Murphy there is no mission, let's split up and look around. See if we can find him or some supplies," she said to us as we all nodded. 10k and I set off down a street opposite of the others, we peered into the building and cars as we entered an office building.
"This is strange," he said as I was looking through a cabinet in a break room, "what's is," I asked as I picked through empty wrappers, "there are no z's he said as I sat back on my knees just now coming to the realization, "your right that is strange," I mumbled as I stuck the stuff I had found into my bag as 10k helped my up and we exited the building. We glanced down the streets as we still had a lot to cover, "we should split up to cover more ground," I said as he nodded, "meet on the next street," he asked as I nodded and kissed his cheek, "be careful, called for help if you need it," he told me as we headed in opposite directions.
The street was still as I continued peering into buildings and car as I called out to Murphy. Once I reached the end of my street I began to turn down another street when I heard voices coming towards me. I was on high alert as I hid next to a building as I heard the voices come closer, my hand was on my holster ready to draw my gun when Warren and Vazquez rounded the corners and saw me. "Easy," Warren said as I lowered my hand and relaxed, "anything," Vazquez asked as I shook my head, "I found a little food in an office," I said. Vazquez held up the gas can, "found some more gas," he said as Warren looked around, "where's 10k," she asked, "we split up to cover more ground, I'm supposed to meet up with him in the middle of this street," I said as the three of use walked down the street.
Along the way Addy and Doc met with us and together we headed to met 10k, they had as much luck finding Murphy as the rest of us. We stopped in the middle right in front of a building as I glanced around, "that's strange he said he would be around here," I said. "Maybe he's looking in there," Addy said as she walked over the the building and peered in, she tried the door but found it locked. "Well that's a red flag," Doc said as Vazquez stepped up, "Doc let me see the crowbar," he asked as doc handed it to him, he raised it ready to break the window, "wait" I said quickly as I took off my jacket, "Addy help me," I said as we each grabbed the ends and placed it against the window, "this will reduce the noise," I said as Vazquez broke the window, I shook the glass off the jacket before pulling it back on.
He reached his hand in to undo the lock but drew it back quickly as he was electrocuted, "there's another red flag," I said glancing over to find another way as I noticed something in the bushes, I walked over and picked up the rifle and 10ks backpack, "10k left us a trail," Addy said as we all looked at the building. "If he's in there maybe he found Murphy, "doc said. Vazquez broke away the rest of the glass, "someone needs to get in there," he said. We all looked at each other and then to the size of the window, "Aly your going to have to do it your the smallest," Warren said motioning to my short stature, "Vazquez, doc and I will find a way in, Addy will you go grabbed the car," Warren asked her as she nodded and took the gas can from Vazquez. Warren took my bag for me as doc and Vazquez picked me up and helped guide me through the window.
I walked up the stairs and crept through the halls of the museum like place, the whole place was a tribute to all things zombies. I crept down a dark hall as I heard groans coming from a room covered by a velvet sheet, I moved the sheet slowly and sighed. "Jesus Christ even George R. Martian got turned into a zombie," I said to myself as I walked into the room. He was chained to the wall as he continued to scribble on the inside cover of Game of Throne books. "Well I guess karma got to you for killing off everyone," I said to him as I pulled the thick sheet from the wall and placed it around him. He just continued to scribble away even under the sheet as I pulled my gun out, I placed it against his head and fired using the sheet to mask the gun shot. "I give you mercy," I said as he slumped against the desk.
I heard 10k yelled out from further down the hall as I raced from the room and down the hall. I ended up in a balcony as down below I could see all the different z's we had come across lined up, I saw a crazed man standing in front of 10k and Murphy screaming none sense at them. I glanced around til I noticed a rope tied to the balcony that connected to the ceiling, I looked over and it was about a 5 foot drop, 'this is crazy,' I told myself  as I untie the rope from the balcony and climbed on to the ledge, I wrapped the rope around my hands and bent my knees. I took a deep breathe as I jumped from the ledge trying not to panic and swung towards them, as soon as I was close enough I let go and fell to the ground landing straight on the crazy guy. "Aly" 10k and Murphy said as I rolled off the man and held my probably bruised ribs, "yep defiantly a bad idea," I said as I crawled over to them and untied them,"you both look like hell," I said throwing my arms around them, the both hugged me back as the man groaned as he looked towards us. We released each other and stared at him, I saw Murphy shift his eyes towards the z's as 10k and I watched slowly as the z's broke free of their bonds and approach the man.
"I just want to know what it's like to be a zombie," he mumbled reaching towards us, Murphy stepped forward, "then have your wish," Murphy said as the z's descended upon him. Murphy swayed for a moment before falling back, 10k and I caught him, "watch him," 10k said running to a stage, I checked his pulse and noticed the shock collar on him, "oh Murphy, " I said as 10k rolled a wheelchair over. We set him in as I noticed bags of his blood in a cooler, I placed it in his lap and hooked one to an iv he had in his arm. The blood flowed back into him, at the same time the z's had finished their meal and had stood up staring at 10k and I.
I gently shook Murphy, "Murphy a little help," I asked as they moved closer, "um were with him" 10k tried but it was no use as we glanced at one another, "run?" I asked as he nodded, "run" he yelled as he pushed Murphy towards the door, I was right behind them with the z's close behind. I slammed the door as the z's banged against the wood, "it's not gonna hold long," I yelled as we continued running. Along the way we saw the others but we didn't slow down, "you found him," Warren said with relief, "yes and he's been to hell and back but we need to leave now we're being chased by crazed z's," I said as we heard the wooden  door shatter. " Yeah let's go," Vazquez said as we followed them to the door they had gotten in from, as soon as we were out of the building we ran down the street as Addy met up with us down the way. We carefully put him in the back asVazquez studied the collar, "were gonna have to cut it off" he said, "Aly come help." He pulled the collar away from his neck as I carefully used my glove to cut it away, he threw it to the side and we piled in with me in 10ks lap next to him, he woke up for a brief moment and grabbed warrens shoulder, "promise me you guys won't leave me alone when we get there," he begged as she nodded and he passed out again, Warren started the car and we drove away from this crazy town.