The Ruins Part 2 (Sequel to The Ruins)

Chapter 15

"The Infected are coming!"

Dylan Lake yelled that at the top of his voice, and everyone ran. Dylan ran side-by-side with Sam and Benny, the three of them blocking the pavement to keep the other kids from getting there first. It was a disaster, though John- the older brother of Jessie- deliberately tripped Dylan, who went flying and whose flailing fingers caught the back of Moby's pants and accidentally pulled them down to his knees.

Moby wore stained drawers. And with his pants around his knees, he couldn't manage the next step, and he went down. So did Dylan. The crowd of kids hit the pair, who were already on the ground, but they were in motion and everyone knew there was no hope. They all went down.

Only Sam, Benny, and John were still running. John was halfway down the block. Sam looked back, hesitated, grabbing Benny by the sleeve, mentally said Screw it, and ran even faster.

In the direction of the infected.

They were at Safferty's General Store. The Famous Infected Cards had arrived.

-:-:-:-:-

"Too bad about Dylan," said Benny.

"Yeah," agreed Sam. "Nice kid. He'll be missed."

They sat on the top step of the wooden porch in front of Safferty's. A shadow fell across them.

"You guys are a couple of jerks." Dylan said.

"Eek!" Benny said dryly. "It's a walker. Quick, run for your life."

Sam sipped from a bottle of pop and burped eloquently. Dylan kicked Benny's foot hard and say on the wooden step between his two friends. He looked at the stack of cards that lay on the step between Benny's sneakered feet. There was a similar stack- two packs still unopened- in front of Sam. Waxed-paper wrappers were crumpled on the top step.

"The guy said they're sold out already," he complained grumpily.

"Yeah. Those darn kids, huh?" Murmured Sam.

"He said you two monkey-bangers brought the last couple of packs."

"Guy's lying."

Dylan brightened. "What? He has some-?"

"We brought the last twelve packs," said Benny.

"I kinda hate you guys."

"He's going to start crying." Benny said to Sam in a stage whisper.

"He's going to embarrass himself." Agreed Sam.

"What he's going to do is start kicking your asses."

"Eek," said Benny through a yawn.

Sam pretended to scratch his ankle, but then he moved his sneaker, and there were four packs of Famous Infected Cards in a neat stack, the waxed-paper wrappers still sealed. Dylan made a grab for them, ignoring the grins on his friends' faces.

"I still hate you." He said as he tore open the first pack.

"And yet," said Benny, "we'll find a way to pick up the pieces of our shattered lives and struggle on."

Dylan made a very rude gesture as he sorted through the cards.

-:-:-:-:-

Famous Infected Cards were one of the few luxuries the boys could afford. In the next town- forty miles away, along the line of the mountains- two brothers had set up a printing business all hand-crank stuff, because no one trusted electricity anymore, even when they could get it to work. One of the twin brothers live here.