Hell On Earth

Chapter XVIII: Truth Hurts

When I awoke the next morning, I and the rest of the community departed from our main camp. We traveled from South Carolina to Alabama. When we arrived, it was a complete ghost town.

"Perhaps," I said. "We can rebuild Haven here. There hasn't been a person in sight."

Many of the survivors agreed with me. Many were tired of walking and wanted to rest. With that, many of the community's men and women went to work on building the walls and some basic structures of housing. It wasn't much, but it was a good start.

Everywhere around me, things were slowly starting to return to how things were, but because of the previous encounter with the 5-6, many of us weren't sure when or if they would attack again.

"Since they don't know our location," Tyson said. "We need to equip stronger defenses. Whether that be stronger walls or better yet, a wider range of watchtowers so that we can defend ourselves for in case the 5-6 try to attack us again."

"I disagree," Mom replied. " These people haven't eaten for days. We need to go on a supply run."

"I think the supply run will have to come first, then our defenses," I stated. " Taylor, I'm gonna need you to run the camp while I'm gone."

Despite how bad Taylor didn't want him to, she gained confidence in me.

"As always," Taylor said. "Please be careful."

With that, she kissed me goodbye as I departed with Darlene, Dr. West, and Tyson. With them, we traveled about 20-25 miles and got pretty far away from the community.

"Eric," Dr. West panted. " I think we should head back before dark. We've been searching for food for hours and we have yet to find a single animal or scrap."

"We aren't leaving yet," I persisted. "Just 2 more hours and then we'll return."

As Dr. West and I argued, Darlene pointed out something over a clearing.

"Hey guys," she interrupted. "I think I see something. It looks like there's ... a supermarket."

Turning, we look over there to see what Darlene is talking about and our hopes of finding food for the community were restored.

"It's about damn time," Tyson said.

We had to travel down a steep hill with our weapons in hand to reach the supermarket. The building was very run down with dim lighting and no sunshine; typically meaning we have to sweep the whole area for infected. With that, I managed to pry a wooden barrier of the door to enter. The main hall was quiet, with the air filled with dust. With the still tension in the air, everyone was on high alert.

Suddenly, a loud scream comes from the right side of the room! When we approached the direction of which the scream came from, we see an infected, with its back turned, mutilating a woman alive and a dead male carcass beside her. I then decided to slowly move in to kill the infected.

 As I do so, I internally cringe as I hear the sound of the infected's knife squelch into human flesh, switching from slow to fast pace cutting and slashing. Despite my high nerves, I continued to approach as a cold sweat went down my forehead and my breathing grew shaky, but I managed to control my breathing. At this point I'm less than 3 feet from the infected and just as I go in, it turns around and pounces on me!

With my adrenaline high, I struggle as the infected tries to kill me by trying to plunge a knife in my throat. Fortunately, due to a quick reaction, Darlene and Dr. West were able to work together to kill the infected.

"Thanks," I said.

When they helped me up from the ground, Tyson called to the rest of us.

"Guys," he cried. " Look at this!"

What he showed us was surprising. The store was completely stocked with canned goods: from vegetables, fruit, to certain items like cereal.

"If we do this right," Darlene said. " We can--"

Suddenly, a gunshot rings out in the supermarket! To our horror, we see Darlene shiver as she falls to the ground. Behind her, was a man wearing a mask; the same one that marked a member of the 5-6.

"You son of a bitch," Dr. West growled. But before he could react, another member pointed a gun towards his head.

"Perhaps it would be best if you sat down," replied the second member who was holding an assault rifle to Dr. West's head. The first member was carrying a pistol, so when his partner captured Dr. West, the member was able to have all of our group captured.

Back at Haven, Taylor was working with Sharon to arm the community with better defense. With every amount of material they could find, Haven had walls that were 10-15 feet tall and the top of them was wrapped in barb wire. The community was organized into 3 parts. The resources and the defenses were on the outermost wall with a gate.

4 watchtowers were built on each corner with guards rotating 4-8 hour shifts during the day and at night. The 2nd wall was where the community housing was kept. Hospitals were organized and people lived everywhere with an armory as a central point of the community.

The 3rd and final wall held a large building that was established to be the headquarters for all the leaders and where decisions could be made.

"I'd have to admit," Taylor said. " This community is looking much stronger than before."

"All thanks to you," Sharon commented.

Taylor smiled at the remark but seemed troubled.

"Taylor," Sharon said. " Are things going okay between you and Eric? It's been kinda obvious that something's going down."

Taylor, reacting like she had been caught, decided to talk to Sharon.

"Ms. Carver," she spoke. " There's a secret that I've been keeping from Eric and everyone here. The problem is, I fear that if I divulge the secret, I'll cause more harm."

Realizing that Taylor was upset, Sharon sympathetically touched Taylor.

"Oh Taylor," she said. "I know you care deeply for my son and everyone here. I hope that you understand that you have the absolute right to keep secrets as such; just understand that whatever it is you have kept, could hurt more than whatever it may be."

As Sharon began to walk away, guilt started to creep in.

"Sharon wait," she said hastily."I know who the leader of the 5-6 terrorist group is, but I hope you can hold onto this secret. That is until I'm ready to tell Eric and the others."

Sharon respectively nodded at Taylor's request. With that, Taylor sighed relief and hugged Sharon.