Project Z

Ch. 8

4 months after the outbreak

It's been 4 months since the apocalypse has started. We stayed at the farmhouse until things took a turn for the worst. Zombies started coming around more frequently until our fence broke letting a horde of them in. This made us leave the farm and head up north. Since leaving the farm we haven't stayed in one place for very long.

000

"Where are we?" Natalie asked

"According to this somewhere in Georgia," I said looking at the map

"According to that sign, there should be a town up ahead," dad pointed out

"Man, you know what sounds good right now?" I asked

"What?" Becca asked

"Wendy" I responded

"I say McDonald's," Jake chimed in

"You guys are making me hungry, stop it" Nat complained

"We can stop at this gas station for a little bit" my dad explained as we walked closer to the station. We all fell to the ground when we arrived

"I'm"

"So"

"Hungry"

"And tired" we all four groaned while laying each other

"It's getting dark out. We should rest here for now," my mom said

"You're right. Let's set up here for the night then we'll leave early tomorrow," my dad said putting down his bag

"I'm going to look around?" I said

"I'm going with you" Natalie stated

"Take this and come back soon" my dad warned while handing us a walkie-talkie

"Don't worry, we will," I said running out the door.

000

While walking through the streets we looked around at all the abandoned cars and stores

"This place is a ghost town. There are no zombies around either" Nat commented I nodded

"You're right," while scanning around I saw a field "Nat, look" I pointed to the horse in a field

"I wonder how he got there?" she asked as I looked more at the field I noticed that there was something behind the horse.

"Am I crazy or is that a house I see?" I asked while squinting.

"It's...it's a house! It's an actual house! We have to tell the others!" she yelled as we ran back.

We rushed into the station to tell them. Upon hearing this we packed up our things and headed toward it to see if we could stay there.

We started to notice strange groans and noises as we got closer to the house. That's when we saw a horde of zombies surrounding the house. We decided to distract them

"Hey, zombies! Over here!" I yelled while throwing rocks at them eventually they walked toward me. I led some away while Nat and the others killed the stragglers. I came upon a broken fence gate while running 

'That must be how they got in' looking back I noticed the zombies were far behind me giving me time to fix this gate. By the time I had fixed the gate the herd was closer. I went through the other side of the gate before yelling at the zombies. They all followed me through the gate and into the woods where I hid in a tree allowing the zombies to go away before going back and closing the gate. 

When I got back they the bodies were being taken somewhere else while my parents were talking to this man

"I'm back" I called out walking toward my parents

"Oh Annabeth, this is Mr. Jacob" my mom introduced a man around 40 with short dirty brown hair and blue eyes wearing a red shirt with some jeans on

"Thank you for getting rid of those zombies" he thanked

"You're welcome. I fixed that fence back there. I think that's why those zombies came in" I pointed out

"Oh yes, thank you for that. My son was going to fix it but it was too late," he said

"So who all lives here?" my dad asked

"My son and me," he said

"All done with the bodies," a voice announced my heart stopped when I saw whose voice it was. A boy around my age or older with dirty blond hair, blue eyes, about 5'10" with a slim body that was built. He also wore a tight-fit t-shirt that showed off his six-pack with camo pants. "Hi my name's Dylan," he said holding out his hand. I looked down at it and then back up at him before shaking it

"My-my name's Annabeth" I stuttered out I could see Becca and Nat smirking

"Sinc you guys helped out we would love for you to stay. Come on in" Mr. Jacob offered as he let us inside his house. Inside was an open kitchen and living room space with a door leading upstairs in the living room. Another door in the kitchen led to the basement "Dylan, you can show them the upstairs," Mr. Jacob said Dylan before led us upstairs to a lounge area with a couch and tv then a hallway that led to the bedrooms.

"Well, what do you guys think?" Dylan asked 

"This is so cool!" Becca exclaimed

"Almost as cool as the treehouse" Jake commented 

"This is waayyy better than the treehouse" Nat responded as I was looking around something caught my eye. I walked over to the bookcase

"A Survival Guide to the undead" my face perplexed

"Oh, that book's nothing. Just something made up" Dylan responded as I looked more at the book my face changed to surprise. I then started rummaging through my bag

"Where is it. I know it's here somewhere" I mumbled

"What are you--"

"Here!" I shouted pulling out my copy of the book. Everyone's faces dropped "I knew that sounded familiar" I explained

"Let me see this," he said taking the book "Ah man, you have the more detailed version. Mine's just basic" he groaned

"You like that?" Nat asked

"Well yeah, what's better a shotgun or a rifle?" he asked 

"A shotgun does more damage while being close range but a rifle is better for long-range" everyone was wide-eyed at Dylan and me

"What?" we both asked

"You both"

"Are like"

"Nerds"

"About weapons," they all said

"Wait" I turn toward Dylan, "When did you predict the apocalypse?" 

"When the attacks became more frequent and when the police were involved" he responded

"Ah well, after that random attack happened. I started looking into that virus and other stuff" the other had started playing on the PS4.

"Want to talk in my room?" he asked I nodded then followed him in there.