Hope II

Down The Rabbit Hole

All nine of us were knelt low behind bushes on the southern perimeter of the town. Ahead stood the guarded building, the outer front wall covered in a metal sheet that blocked off the front entrance. It's heavily protected, heavily guarded. I don't believe they are crazies, there's too much safety and security gone into it. Here we knelt, stalking them like predators, watching their every move from behind the thistles and branches, squatting behind cover so they would not see us while we examined their routine from a safe distance. 

They had six rooftop guards, heavily equipped with scoped sniper rifles sitting on a tripod at the edges of the supermarket. Two of them at the front of the building, two at the back and one on either side.

There were five guards on the ground who wore a vest of bulletproof armour and had a pistol attached to a holster by their left side waist, the military vest had pouches which held ammunition, and in some, a pouch for a grenade and a flash grenade. Although they were heavily armed, they did not appear cautious, but relaxed. They mustn't have had a threat in weeks, maybe months.  

They seem far too laid back than they should be in this world, especially given that we encountered a massive horde just over two hours ago.

Their assault rifles were in a dormant state, thrown onto the bonnet of the camouflage jeeps. It reminded me of the guards in the village, precautious yet confident there would be no threat and so they saw no real need to be constantly alert. 

Nonetheless, the place was heavily guarded with big, bulky patrol officers walking the perimeter of the fenced off supermarket, kept safe by the high and thick silver fences with one gate that will only open from the inside. On top of the fences were rolls of sharp barbed wire that prickled its razor blades into the air, catching snowflakes on its tip.  

The only way in there is through the front gate... but I don't want to risk it, I doubt they are crazies, but I still haven't rid myself of the prospect of them being violent. 

We can't let this place just slip past us, it's safe. I could leave Ash here and recruit people to carry on towards Vertuga, the mission is far too dangerous for a girl of her age... they look like people just trying to survive. But still, the thought of danger remained prominent in my mind. 

I had to think fast, it was only a matter of time before they spot us lurking in the bushes, watching them, and we can't watch them forever. A decision has to be made. 

'Any plan?' whispered Aaron into my ear. 

'They have patrol guards everywhere. There's no way we can possibly sneak in there' he added. 

'What do you suggest we do?' Brad asked. 

I nodded, having come up with a solution in my head, finalising what we will do with the oppurtunity.

'We go in, take supplies that will help us survive and we leave again' I suggested. 

'Jerry' Aaron spoke 'It's safe, we can't just let it slip by' 

At first the idea of leaving Ash here seemed good to me, but then I realised that I couldn't trust them enough to leave her. Our best plan of action is to go in forcefully, take some of their food, sleeping bags, tents if they have them. Not all of it, just enough to survive off.

'You want to rob them?' Holly remarked instantly 'They could be good people' 

'And we need to survive!' I snapped 'We wont survive another night out here without warmth. Winter is coming fast, we need supplies. And if they are good people, hopefully they will understand' 

'Hopefully?' Aaron proclaimed questionably. 

'We take some of their men hostage, hold them at gunpoint for some leverage, we need to make sure we are safe' I suggested.