Kids Never Die

Chapter 24: Dead Eyes

I did not trust this new "Friend" at all, but perhaps we could use this Trenton fellow to learn about the zombies. I just hoped we would reach California soon. All this would be over and we could use the radio to send a distress call. All was going as planned, but we were dropping like flies. It seemed every day another one of our friends had died. I didn't even know how much longer I'd be alive.

Through the night, we had driven into Colorado. Only three states away from old California. We advanced quickly, only stopping when we needed gas. Morgan rung up on the walkie talkie.

"Hey, the radio is almost done. All we need is a steel strip. Then we can send out or transition." He seemed rather proud.

I smiled and latched my had off the wheel to respond. "Thats great man. I'll let you do the honors of calling in."

"Nah man. You've got the good voice." He responded, "you make the call."

"Lemme know when you get the steel strip." I smirked and put the walkie talkie down.

The terrain of Colorado was much different than the states we had passed before. It was rocky with rough roads and tall mountains surrounding the roads. We even drove through tunnels drilled through mountains.

We reached a small valley after a few hours of driving. There were tall signs that read "Fresh Water Springs". Our water supply was running low, so naturally we decided to stop. In the valley, there was a clothing shop. We all picked put more suitable clothing. Mostly jeans and jackets. I was sure to stick with my button down and collar dress code.

Then we made our way down to a stream, in which we found the fresh water. We all exited our vehicles and Morgan released the hundreds of empty water bottles from his bag, letting them spill out like water over falls.

We each gripped a water bottle or two, and began to fill them in the stream. Some of us drank straight from the water itself, as it released a refreshing feeling. Almost like a baptism of the esophagus.

I ran some of the water through my hair, slicking it back. I had too much of it and was in desperate need of a shave, as I had a baby face and facial hair did not flatter me. We all took a relaxing break for a while. Morgan had brought the radio and was using a steel tie clip to rub against the copper wire and complete the circuit.

I splashed a cool sensation of water in my face walked over to him. "How's it coming?" I asked.

Kyra walked up behind us. "Well it was going as planned but it looks like our circuit won't complete itself. We need a higher voltage battery."

"Lemme know if you guys find anything." I nodded. As I stood up from Morgan, I heard a yelp let out. It was deep and bellowing. It was Gavin.

"Mother fucker!" He shouted. He repeated many curses, then gunshots echoed across the mountains and then there was silence. I sprinted to where he had shouted. He was lying on the ground, with blood pouring from his right foot. A zombie lie on the ground in front of him, with gunshots through it's head.

I knelt down to aid Gavin. "What the hell happened?"

Josh stood behind me with a shotgun. "I tried to stop it, but it was too late."

"Was it that bastard, Trenton?" I asked, clenching my hand in a fist.

"Trenton would never hurt anyone you idiot, don't point fingers." Shouted Nick. Trenton stood behind him with a saddened expression on his face.

I pulled off Gavin's shoe, and folded his pant leg. The veins running up his leg were racing black. "I think I can stop it. I can save Gavin." I watched the veins slowly blacken. "Bring me one of the knives. A big one. Preferably not serrated."