Z-Days: The apocalypse

Chapter 5: The defense

       Not much has happened in a week since we got back. Haley and I introduced Jacob and Avery to the group and everyone got together working of a fence to protect us from the dead. A couple of a supply runs here and there, mostly led by Tristan. Nate was still banged up, but recovering for sure. Bri stuck to Nate like glue, but that's not really different than the normal. Avery started a garden in the back using left over seeds from what we have mostly been eating, plus beans as well. Tristan and Haley have been talking a lot more, I guess she finally opened up to him. As I write this right now, I am feeling down. Still kind of numb after finding my sister the way I did. On the plus side, I do have my dog with me now. Trying to be an optimist in this new world should require a degree. It's impossible sometimes I will have to admit, but I will keep going for her. Max has been the person I have spoke to most lately, just about memories of the old world and what we saw out there in those woods. What does it mean? Him and I have definitely bonded as of late. Anyways, even though right now life is okay. Something just doesn't feel right to me. Our little broken home pharmacy was tense, but why? Just a constant uncomfortable feeling. Maybe it's me? Maybe when I got back last week I through off everyone's mood even more? I don't know, but I am bored of nothing happening.
       "So you didn't really get to say anything to Rozier the first time you saw him?" Max asked as we ate some cup ramen for breakfast.
       "No, I wouldn't say we conversed at all to be honest. Just didn't want him to kill Haley was all. Then Nate snuck up on him and the whole stab situation happened there." I explained to him for the second time.
       "Right right. Well you know what, he clearly stays nearby. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him." Max told me as he was chewing on his noodles.
       "Yeah. You're definitely right about that." I said to him. It gave me an idea, I had to stay quiet about it of course. If I could find Rozier and avenge Nate, that's one less serious threat out there right? Less stress and less tension. I just needed a good time to leave, and it was coming right up. Everyone was planning to work and finish the fence today after breakfast so that's the move. That is when I will go. I walked over to Nate to check on him but he was sleeping.
       "He is getting a lot better." Bro told me.
       "I am glad. Thanks for taking such good care of him Bro. That's good of you." I told her.
       "I don't know if you guys know this but I have totally been in love with Nate for a while now. Like I would totally die for that boy." She told me as she started getting all hyper again.
       "Wow, I had no idea." I said lying of course.
       "Good, I was scared I was being obvious or something." She told me with a huge smile on her face.
       "I would've never known unless you said it, but make sure you work extra hard on the fence today. I'm not feeling well, so I will watch Nate when you're taking my place working. If you don't mind of course." I told her.
       "Well, I guess so. That's fine, you'll take good care of him." She said with a bounce.
       "Yes I will, he is my best friend after all." I told her as I walked away from them both. That girl has so much constant energy she could power this whole building in one of those hamster wheels. She could probably finish the fence herself. I then walked up to Jacob and Avery who had their own little corner they stayed in.
       "Make sure you get out to the fence soon, we honestly have no reason not to get it done by tonight if you all work hard at it." I told them.
       "Well of course man." Said Jacob. I turned around to walk away then Avery stopped me.
       "Why do you say that like you aren't helping?" Asked Avery.
       "I am just overwhelmed right now, so I am planning on staying back watching Nate. You guys will have the energizer bunny working with y'all in my place though." I told her.
       "Not a great reason to stay back, not going to lie." Avery said.
       "Avery!" Jacob snapped at her.
       "It's fine, I understand. If I could be out there, I would be." I told her. She nodded and then I walked back over to Nate again to fill Bri's spot. Everyone was done eating and they were getting ready to start working out front. Just to by me time before they realize I'm gonna I set up a cooler with drinks and snacks for when they would normally come in to snack.
       "For when you need a break." I called out to them as I drop the cooler off outside by the area they're about to work in. I got a couple of nods and a bit of appreciation but that wasn't the goal anyway.
I went back inside to a sleeping Nate and placed plenty of food, drink, and his medicine all within arms reach. Then I was gone, through the back door tip toeing as quietly as possible at first but eventually full on running through the woods looking for trouble. After a while of aimlessly moving around I stumbled onto and interesting sight. I was no tracker but I think I found a trail of broken sticks, and twigs, and compressed dirt. Could be people, could be zombies, could be Rozier. I followed along the path quickly and I pulled my knife out. Eventually it became sprinting as I was ready to just find something. To my disappointment it was just one zombie. I slowly creeped over and stabbed the zombie with my knife. I was frustrated as ever but to my relief I found something. I just stumbled upon quite possibly the biggest treehouse I've ever seen in my life. I walked up the steps and knocked on the front door and immediately hid. The small force of my knock opened the door though, so it wasn't locked. I slowly stepped into the treehouse, each step accompanied by the cream of old wooden flooring. Honestly smelled like how I remember my grandmothers house, where I would always get those little strawberry wrapped candies, and the casual 20 dollar hand off without my parents seeing. All good memories, but I wasn't home. I wasn't safe, and as a matter of fact I am not even sure where I am right now.

There were tons of boxes all over the place, some dusty and some seemed like they were freshly placed. All of them had the same newly familiar sight though, they were labeled 'Omiyimus'. I grabbed my knife and cut open the box to see a bunch of styrofoam covers. As I lift the styrofoam I begin to realize what is in the box, a gun. Not just a gun though, this looked big time, military even. Definitely powerful. Then suddenly I hear a voice in the distance and steps from the front. I placed the styrofoam back, and close the flaps of the box, then proceed to dive into a room. At this time the front door opens up and I slide under a bed.

"You shouldn't be delivering this stuff with your shoulder like that." Said a girl.

"Look, dad needs this done by the end of this week. He hasn't told the community about the new shipment, I am the only one he can trust." Responded a man. The voice clicked very quickly for me, it was definitely Rozier.

"Since when is everything you do based on dad?" Said the girl.

"Spare me the bullshit, I honestly don't have the time for you today. Go to the truck and tell your friend to come help out Erika." Rozier responded harshly.

"She has a name." Said Erika as I hear the front door close again. Then I hear steps get closer and closer.

"What the fuck? Somebody has been here." Said Rozier. I couldn't really tell where he was yet but I needed to get out of here fast. I tighten the grip on my knife, and he immediately walks into the room I was in.

"I'll kill that bitch if she doesn't hurry up and get here." I hear Rozier say as he picks up a box from the ground and starts walking out of the room. I quietly slide from under the bed and follow him. This is the guy who almost killed Nate, and he clearly doesn't deserve mercy. So why do I feel bad about killing him right now. As I raise my knife the wood below my feet creaks. I strike down, and in one motion he drops the box and leg sweeps me. I feel hard on my back and lost all the air in my chest at once. He then reached for his gun to pull on me. I desperately swipe my gun at him and slice the back of his knee causing him to fall.

"You useless pieces of shit! Help m-" He began yelling out as I punched him as hard as I could across the face. He dropped to the ground and I quickly ran back to the room and jumped through the window, shattering the glass in the process. I had to leave before his help came, three on one is not a ratio I am comfortable with. I landed rough on my shoulder which was definitely a bother but that didn't stop me from non stop running into what ever direction looked clearest. I ran past zombies every now and then and could hear at least seven or eight of them accumulating behind me. Problem was I was running right into a dead end. Zombies started running from all sides, blocking off any route I could even consider taking. I was running towards this really large tan wall, no way I could jump that right now. Not with how my shoulder is right now. My sense of adventure was going to be the death of me, finally. My running room quickly became less and less every step I took, and I just thought about how I would see my sister again. At peace....

       I use my running start and try to jump as high as I can on the wall but I wasn't even close to getting over it. I get my knife ready and run towards the zombies as I yell at the top of my lungs. Then suddenly all I hear are gunshots. All of the zombies dropping left and right, some people were shooting from over the wall.

       "Grab hold!" Yelled a scrawny man with large glasses as he drops down a rope. There were at least ten people up there shooting down the horde behind me as I gripped to the rope for dear life. I start getting pulled up by a few people until I am lifted over the top. My nerves and adrenaline were at their absolute peak in this moment, and I burst out into laughter. Tears came with the laughter as well, but I was patted down immediately.

       "We will need any weapons you have." Said the man.

       "It's just the knife." I said as I handed it over. "Thank you." I added after.

       "Of course, every life matters right? My names Mr. Ennis." He told me with a large welcoming smile.

       "My name is Stephen but you can call me Steph for short." I told him relieved. I turn around to see a massive collection of homes and huts all over the place.

       "Well Stephen, welcome to Channington." He said to me as I got hit across the head and everything goes dark.

       I woke up in a dark room, with a gag in my mouth. The room was excruciatingly hot and I was sweating profusely. Then Mr. Ennis walks in with a clipboard. I try to get up quickly to go at him, but I am then held back my chain restraints.

       "I popped your shoulder back into place, hope that starts feeling better eventually. It was clearly out of place. Anyways, it's time for you to talk to the leader of Channington." Said Mr Ennis as he walked out of the room immediately.

       Then a tan, straight haired, older man walked into the room with a large smile. Face was covered in scars all over, little ones all over the place.

       "Wh Ah do heya?!" Is what I let out through the gag as I try to ask what am I doing here. He lets out of soft raspy laugh.

       "You best not talk. Nice to meet you though Stephen, I'm Omiyimus." The man says with a strong foreign accent.