Surviving The End

Ch. 2 rewrite

For the longest time, I just believed what grandfather told me had been just a story. But now I know its real. 

When everything first happened, it was so surreal, I couldn't believe my own eyes.  

It had just been like any other day really. I had just gotten back into town from a long deployment over seas, so I was ecstatic to be home.

I had decided to go visit my baby brother Travis, a few towns over. It took me roughly an hour to reach the little town of Nowhere Tennessee.

Nowhere Tennessee is a small ass town, I will tell you that, its so small there is only one caution light. Hell there had to be less then a thousand people living in that town, I guess I could consider myself lucky that they have a gas and go.

Travis was surprised when he opened the door and found me a knocking. We hugged and went into the living room, where his two little boys sitting there on the floor playing cars and watching cartoons on tv.

We had just settled down after Travis had gotten us a few cold beers, so we could catch up. To tell you the truth its been years since we have seen each other. I was shocked to find out Travis had married a girl named Flower and had been for over five years now. The two little boys were named Jack and Ken.

Travis and I were talking about old times, how much crap we got into when we were young, when an emergency broadcast came across the screen of the old 80's model tv.

It was clear as day but I think we just didn't want to believe our ears. We stared at the tv dumbfounded at first, that is until it just kept repeating the same message over and over again. That's when I really started to pay attention to the broadcast.

"I repeat this is not a test. This is an important announcement from the director of the CDC.

Please be advised of the following. An outbreak of unknown origin has been identified.

The outbreak is being spread person to person.

If you are bitten or scratched by one of the infected, you will then become infected, infection will show signs within the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

We ask the public to please stay calm. To avoid possible infection we ask all residents to please stay in doors. Lock all windows and doors and do not let strangers in.

We are sorry for the inconvenience at this time.

Travis was worried about Flower being out and about at work, he asked if I minded watching the boys while he ran into Logan to get her. He assured me it would only take about an hour. I had no problem, this just gave me a little more time with my nephews.

Little did I know that would be the last time I say him alive. 

So me and the kids say around the house, playing games of hide and seek. They were mad that they couldn't go outside and play. But you try explaining to two temperamental two year old that something bad has happened and we can't go outside at this time.

When it became dark, that's when I began to worry. I didn't know if something had happened to Travis and Flower. If so what am I to do. What am I to do with a couple of two year old's.

By nine o'clock that night I layed the boys down for bed and decided to watch the news, seeing if there was any more reports of the outbreak.

Once I turned on the tv, I knew we were in deep shit. 

I watched as a reporter was talking about people becoming crazed, attacking others with no provocation. In the background you could see the police trying to shoot one of the crazy infected people, but with a full clip into them and they still kept coming. When the infected reached the office, I watched as the man's throat was ripped out by human teeth.

People started scream about the officer. But what they didn't notice was the office was pulling himself off the ground. He had that same crazed look as the first guy did. That's what they mint when they said don't get bit.

Oh man this is bad, really really bad.

I needed to figure out what to do. If everything was really happening like they said, then there is a chance Travis and Flower were not coming back. Well at least not fully human.

I know Nowhere is a very small town, but that doesn't mean we will be safe here. I have to think about the boys. I am most likely their only family left at this point.

I needed somewhere safe and secluded, where I can leave the boys if I need to go hunting or savaging for goods. A place I know for sure they will be safe.

For the life of me nothing was coming to mind.

That is until I remembered the story grandfather would tell us around the camp fire at night. 

If grandfather followed the traditions of our people, then he stocked and stored supplies up there for the past 60 years. 

That is our only hope. Our only chance to survive this new world. 

The only place I know of that we could relatively survive the end.