{"id":291,"date":"2013-07-22T13:00:43","date_gmt":"2013-07-22T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=291"},"modified":"2013-07-22T13:17:47","modified_gmt":"2013-07-22T13:17:47","slug":"chapter-72","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-72\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 72"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 72<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Nothing about this feels right.<\/i><\/p>\n

I know there\u2019s no \u201clogic\u201d to that, so Howie and Kevin would both look at me like I\u2019m crazy.\u00a0 But it\u2019s the truth.\u00a0 How can splitting up be a good thing?\u00a0 Watch ANY old horror movie (if you can get a generator and a working DVD player, of course) and you know as soon as the group splits up, they\u2019re doomed.<\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s just horror logic.<\/i><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t laugh at it.\u00a0 It\u2019s what saved me that night in the hospital, where I relived 28 Days Later<\/span>.\u00a0 Zombie rules in horror movies.\u00a0 They did apply.\u00a0 They did save my life.\u00a0 Well, except for the biting thing, which is weird.\u00a0 I still don\u2019t get why the bite thing didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0 I mean, the whole logic of it is that it\u2019s a more direct infection, and so we can\u2019t fight it or something.\u00a0 But AJ got bit, and nothing happened.\u00a0 So no go on the no-getting-bit rule.\u00a0 Score one for the good guys?<\/i><\/p>\n

Humans: 1 <\/i><\/p>\n

Zombies: 500,000,000,000,000,000<\/i><\/p>\n

Sidetracking.\u00a0 Sorry.<\/i><\/p>\n

This happened because of Kayleigh, who we still miss, more than you would ever guess.\u00a0 Just the other day, I caught Howie looking through the journal she kept, like the journals we all keep these days.\u00a0 We only found it about a week ago, tucked away.\u00a0 It\u2019s hit him, Brian, and Kevin the hardest.\u00a0 Brian feels like it\u2019s his fault, even though it\u2019s not.\u00a0 Howie was the closest to her, and it\u2019s like he lost his best friend.\u00a0 Maybe more, since we\u2019ve already lost so many people this year.\u00a0 We\u2019ve lost a whole world.\u00a0 How much more can we take?<\/i><\/p>\n

Kevin blames himself for not keeping the base secure.\u00a0 So now he\u2019s got this idea to really try and find out what happened to the rest of America.\u00a0 Three of us go, six of us stay behind.\u00a0 It\u2019s not supposed to be a long trip.\u00a0 Just a couple days, tops, to try and fly around in this little plane and look for survivors.\u00a0 At least I\u2019ll have Riley with me; that helps.<\/i><\/p>\n

I have such a bad damn feeling about this.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019m just paranoid.\u00a0 I gotta try and make the best of it.\u00a0 If we find more people, it\u2019ll all be worth it, right?<\/i><\/p>\n

Maybe I\u2019m nervous \u2018cause I hate planes.\u00a0 Little levitating fucking deathtraps.\u00a0 Okay, calm down, Nick, no need for a damn panic attack.\u00a0 Breathe.\u00a0 In.\u00a0 Out.\u00a0 In.\u00a0 Out.<\/i><\/p>\n

I need to stop thinking.<\/i><\/p>\n

Song Quote of the Entry time.\u00a0 Now let me just say, I\u2019m appalled at myself for not mentioning The Beatles yet.\u00a0 They were truly one of the greatest and most revolutionary bands of all time.\u00a0 A must-mention.<\/i><\/p>\n

Now, I give you my song quote:<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHey Jude, don’t make it bad
\nTake a sad song and make it better
\nRemember to let her into your heart
\nThen you can start to make it better<\/i><\/p>\n

Hey Jude, don’t be afraid<\/em>
\n You were made to go out and get her<\/em>
\n The minute you let her under your skin<\/em>
\n Then you begin to make it better<\/em><\/p>\n

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain<\/em>
\n Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

– The Beatles, \u201cHey Jude\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\n

Monday, September 24, 2012<\/b><\/b>
\nWeek Twenty-Three<\/i><\/p>\n

He was flying.<\/p>\n

Actually, that was inaccurate.\u00a0 He was getting ready to fly.\u00a0 Nick was in a small, private plane, enough room for perhaps two people at most.\u00a0 It reminded him of the toy remote-control planes he used to crash into the walls as a kid.\u00a0 Glancing around, he made sure he was strapped in and started up the engine.\u00a0 He was out in the desert, far from his Florida home, but they\u2019d left to find survivors.\u00a0 So far, none had been found, but he tried his best not to think of it.\u00a0 He turned the plane as he began to pick up speed, heading down the lane.<\/p>\n

His eyes skipped around nervously from within the cockpit, while he accelerated.\u00a0 As he pulled the throttle, he could feel the too-tiny-for-comfort plane lifting into the air.\u00a0 Why had he let Kevin talk him into this?\u00a0 This mission would have been better for AJ \u2013 not Brian, though, as he had a fear of heights bigger than his own.\u00a0 Still, the ease at which this went down was enough for him to be thankful, and a sigh of relief followed.\u00a0 He could feel his whole body relaxing as his plane rose.<\/p>\n

He was okay.<\/p>\n

Nick adjusted his cap, sitting sideways on his head.\u00a0 He felt himself smirk at his own foolishness.\u00a0 What had he been so worried about?<\/p>\n

He was about to contact Riley when he felt it.<\/p>\n

The plane gave an uncontrollable lurch that made him forget everything else, as his stomach decided to make a gigantic leap into his throat.\u00a0 His right wing was throwing him off.\u00a0 His heartbeat went on overdrive as he looked around, feeling helpless as he tried to stabilize.\u00a0 He looked over again.\u00a0 What had happened?<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before he found it.\u00a0 There, tearing into the wing, tearing it apart, was Kayleigh.\u00a0 She grinned at him.\u00a0 Her face began to immediately decay at a rapid pace.\u00a0 An eye was suddenly missing; her skin was coated in congealed blood.\u00a0 It was matted in her hair; the other half of her head was exposed, showing the partially-eaten grey matter that lay within a nest of feasting roaches.<\/p>\n

The plane began its sudden nosedive.\u00a0 The right wing had burst into abrupt flames, as he lost any chance of control of the aircraft.\u00a0 There was nothing he could do; he was trapped, helpless to do anything but die.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!\u201d he screamed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u201d Riley shrieked into his ear through his headset. \u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The small plane slammed into the ground, exploded into a shower of debris and planes.\u00a0 An orange fireball was consuming everything, was more dazzling than the sun\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, Nick, wake up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWha-huh?\u00a0 Rye-Riley?\u201d\u00a0 He was jolted awake by a hand shaking him gently, bringing him out of the terrors of sleep and into the horrors of reality.<\/p>\n

For a moment, he was disoriented in a way he hadn\u2019t been in some time.\u00a0 Not since April fifteenth, if he wanted to narrow it down.\u00a0 It hit him again:\u00a0 they were traveling for the first time since the dead rose.\u00a0 A survivor search mission.\u00a0 Riley hovered above him, a look of pure concern written on her face.\u00a0 Nick shifted, his eyes opening slowly, as he tried to adjust himself again in the small seat of the plane.\u00a0 He was far from happy about the idea of flying across the country, the way they were.<\/p>\n

Already, it was causing him nightmares.<\/p>\n

Just as he\u2019d always had a fear of sharks, he\u2019d always harbored a fear of planes, or heights, in general.\u00a0 It had been partly why he\u2019d moved back from California on the road rather than on a plane.\u00a0 There was no source to this fear, unlike the sharks.\u00a0 He always remembered having it, even when he was just that scrawny, nerdy kid who was always pretending.\u00a0 While his younger siblings climbed trees, he\u2019d been the one sitting on the ground below them, thinking they were crazy.\u00a0 He had tried flying on planes before, and, always, the immense waves of irrational, heart-stopping fear followed.\u00a0 When it came to heights, Nick just found it best to avoid them.\u00a0 Avoiding them meant avoiding a panic attack, typically, or a nightmare like the one he\u2019d just had.<\/p>\n

Planes weren\u2019t the only thing haunting him, though.\u00a0 Thoughts of Kayleigh were, as well.\u00a0 Thoughts of her haunted them all.\u00a0 She had been the motive behind this whole mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Rye,\u201d he muttered, glancing out the window.\u00a0 Bad idea, moron, <\/i>he reminded himself irritably.\u00a0 He wondered how long he\u2019d been asleep.\u00a0 Not long enough.<\/i><\/p>\n

She sat down beside him again, taking his hand in hers.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t want to wake you, but you started thrashing and screaming.\u00a0 It really freaked me out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBad dream.\u201d\u00a0 Her brow furrowed.\u00a0 He felt himself attempt a grin, not wanting to worry her in the slightest.\u00a0 \u201cPlanes just freak me out.\u00a0 I mean, there\u2019s a reason why we don\u2019t fly; flying\u2019s just not good.\u00a0 I hate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley laid her head on his shoulder, a golden curtain of hair covering part of her face.\u00a0 It was a simple action, yet it comforted him.\u00a0 It was always the simple things that made him happy.\u00a0 It was what he loved about her, that she somehow seemed to sense that about him.\u00a0 He rested his head upon hers, enjoying the feeling.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be okay.\u00a0 Kevin\u2019s a trained pilot.\u00a0 And we\u2019re not going to fly around the world or anything.\u00a0 Just to see if we see any signs of life, then to Colorado to refuel, then to California.\u00a0 If California\u2019s a mess, then it\u2019s a good guess America\u2019s gone down the way Florida did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a hella scary thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick sighed, shifting once more in his seat.\u00a0 He had never been able to sit still; it was much like his ability to focus, completely erratic.\u00a0 \u201cIf America\u2019s gone\u2026 you think maybe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He felt her head shake against him.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I don\u2019t even want to think about it.\u201d\u00a0 Riley shuddered a bit, a look of pure, undiluted fear flashing across her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThe idea of this\u2026 this curse going global?\u00a0 That\u2019s enough to want to say \u2018forget it\u2019 and give it up right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick turned his head towards her, meeting her gaze.\u00a0 \u201cYou think so?\u00a0 I\u2019d say that\u2019s more reason to try and fight, to survive, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

A smile tugged at her corners of her mouth.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re such an optimist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys, we\u2019re going to be descending in about twenty minutes; make sure you\u2019re strapped in,\u201d they heard Kevin announce, before they could continue any further.\u00a0 It was just as well.\u00a0 As much as Nick wanted to believe in their ability to survive in an entire planet overrun by zombies, it was hard to.\u00a0 They could hardly make it in a state where they were the minority species these days.<\/p>\n

As they began their descent, however, Nick only let himself think of the positives.\u00a0 Doing that had helped him keep his sanity so far, and given all that had happened in mere months, he needed all he could get.<\/p>\n

Still, he would never admit it, not even to himself, but there was just an inexplicable feeling that wouldn\u2019t leave him alone.<\/p>\n

One that said something was terribly, terribly, wrong.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cLAND!\u201d\u00a0 Nick leaped down the steps out of the plane.\u00a0 Immediately after, he threw himself upon the ground, kissing it thankfully.\u00a0 He was beyond words in his feelings of no longer being in the air.\u00a0 He kept kissing the ground again and again.\u00a0 Footsteps could be heard coming down the steps only feet away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou realize you are so<\/i> washing your mouth out before I kiss that again,\u201d Riley teased, helping him up.\u00a0 Kevin chuckled, as they glanced around the seemingly-abandoned area.\u00a0 They had landed at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.\u00a0 It was a perfect halfway point to regroup and refuel before trying to scan the rest of the western side of the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou love me and my dirty mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley didn\u2019t respond, but he caught her trying not to smile as she adjusted the backpack she wore. Kevin tapped Nick on the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI need you to help me refuel the plane.\u00a0 Riley, keep watch out for anything.\u00a0 It looks calm, but we don\u2019t know for how long.\u00a0 If there\u2019s undead here, they\u2019ll have been attracted by the noise we made landing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick raised a brow.\u00a0 \u201cThis place looks dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr undead.\u201d<\/p>\n

A smirk appeared.\u00a0 \u201cSuch an optimist\u2026\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, there\u2019s the refueling truck.\u00a0 Hopefully the keys are in the ignition or nearby; I\u2019m not fond of the idea of trying to hotwire it.\u201d\u00a0 Kevin yawned, stretching a bit.\u00a0 \u201cYou get it started, and I\u2019ll get the hose connected to the plane.\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t take us longer than thirty minutes, and I feel like I\u2019m overestimating.\u201d\u00a0 He took a long look at the truck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking sure it\u2019s the right kind of fuels.\u00a0 There are two main kinds, and if I use the wrong one, it would blow up the plane.\u201d\u00a0 A pause.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, we\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick headed for the fuel truck, glancing around for any sign of the keys.\u00a0 The door was unlocked, and there the keys sat in the ignition.\u00a0 Nick had a feeling many had died on the base, or were already undead.\u00a0 The place was just too empty, too lacking of life, for anything else to be true.<\/p>\n

The thought gave him chills.\u00a0 He turned the key, starting the ignition.\u00a0 Once the truck was running, he hopped back out, heading over to Kevin, who was fueling the plane as one would a car.\u00a0 It surprised Nick that it seemed so simple.\u00a0 He\u2019d have guessed the military would make it more complicated.\u00a0 Riley stood not far from them, her eyes focused as she scanned the area, her rifle loaded and ready to go.<\/p>\n

Maybe they evacuated in time after what happened to the east coast. Who knows?<\/i>\u00a0 The idea of it was encouraging, but it also felt empty, an easily popped balloon of hope within their sky of broken dreams.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d Kevin\u2019s voice called softly, pulling him out of his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHear what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026 wait, I think I do.\u00a0 Shit!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Nick knew what they were talking about.\u00a0 A chorus of moans, harmonically haunting, could be heard in the distance.\u00a0 The sound was echoing from all around them, all encompassing.\u00a0 The moans had a depth to them, one he hadn\u2019t had to experience in a long time, not since the base had been swarming with the undead.\u00a0 Much like this base had to be, if there were no survivors here.\u00a0 Maybe there had been, but if there were, they weren\u2019t there now.\u00a0 The sound of the plane would have attracted them.<\/p>\n

Instead, all it did was announce dinner time to an immense amount of beings craving fresh human flesh.\u00a0 The three looked at each other. \u00a0Kevin was still fueling the plane, and they had nowhere to go.\u00a0 Nick pulled his handguns from where they were strapped to his belt, next to his handy axe, as Riley tossed him some ammo from her backpack.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like the virus kept spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood God, how many people are zombies now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick set his jaw.\u00a0 \u201cNo need to think about that now.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned.\u00a0 \u201cTime to nut up or shut up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would quote a movie at a time like this,\u201d Riley joked, glancing at him and then back at the zombies, which seemed to be coming at them from all sides.\u00a0 The approach was slow, staggered, and typical, but until Kevin was finished, they had no choice but to make a stand.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo get to a better spot!\u201d Kevin yelled.\u00a0 \u201cBoth of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re nuts!\u00a0 Someone needs to cover you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both staying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike hell you are, Rye!\u00a0 Get to a better vantage point; snipe some of them down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of you, go!\u00a0 That\u2019s an order!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Kev, but neither of us are military!\u00a0 If you can get that baby filled up, we\u2019ll be okay to run on and fly the fuck out of here.\u201d\u00a0 Nick\u2019s eyes met Riley\u2019s steadily.\u00a0 \u201cRye, go!\u00a0 You can keep a bunch of them from getting to us if you set up a spot!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her jaw set, and he could see the fire in her eyes as she opened her mouth to argue again.\u00a0 Yet the moans grew louder, and the ghouls began to come within range.\u00a0 Shaking her head, she ran to the nearest car, some yards away, a Hummer.\u00a0 He breathed slightly easier, knowing she was safer, just being higher off the ground.\u00a0 He could see her settling up top, her ammo handy and her rifle steady.\u00a0 He heard the constant sound of bodies hitting the tarmac, as his girlfriend shot them down from the top, one after another.<\/p>\n

Nick aimed.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re so majorly screwed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moans drowned out any reply Kevin might have had.\u00a0 Nick kept the shots going, and he could hear Riley\u2019s gun going off as well.\u00a0 Kevin was shooting what he could with his free hand.\u00a0 The shots weren\u2019t steady, and Kevin dropped the hose, shaking his head as fuel spilled along the ground.\u00a0 Nick didn\u2019t get a chance to ask why, as the massive horde was keeping him too busy.<\/p>\n

Shots kept coming, again and again.\u00a0 The sea of undead was endless; when some fell, more just stepped over them, ever-reaching for their prey.\u00a0 As they came within reach, Nick\u2019s axe, the one he\u2019d diligently kept sharp, came into play.\u00a0 Heads rolled along the ground; brown gelatinous blood sprayed into the air.\u00a0 Pure luck kept him from getting bitten, and although he knew he couldn\u2019t be infected, he could still be eaten.\u00a0 The creatures were stumbling over the fallen bodies in their unremitting determination to reach the humans.\u00a0 Nick stared into the deadened gazes of a hundred milk-white eyes, the mouths slackened, bodies stiff and reaching.<\/p>\n

Nick knew, as he continued the fight, struggling against them, that they were going to die here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find another way out of here!\u201d Kevin yelled, as he threw one over his shoulder.\u00a0 Once down, he shot it directly.\u00a0 Another was behind him, about to leap and sink its teeth into Kevin\u2019s unprotected throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch out!\u201d Nick screamed.\u00a0 He fired at the corpse, as Kevin ducked.\u00a0 The shot was wild, as another made a grab at him.\u00a0 It missed the target, striking the plane instead.<\/p>\n

A spark hit the ground, some feet away from the plane, landing in the trail of fluid left by the gas pump hitting the tarmac.\u00a0 And Nick knew what was going to come, only moments before it did.\u00a0 The ground burst into flames, and for a split second, his eyes stared into Kevin\u2019s, each reflecting the same look of dread at what was about to happen.<\/p>\n

The two pushed through the mob of zombies, no thought of killing, only of keeping themselves from being eaten and getting as far as possible from the plane.\u00a0 Nick couldn\u2019t see Kevin anymore, as he kept fighting his way through.\u00a0 Time seemed to slow down for him as he did.\u00a0 He saw Riley, atop the Hummer, her line of sight stretching in the opposite direction, focused on her targets.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u201cRILEY!\u201d<\/p>\n

He somehow found the strength to pick up his speed, reaching the vehicle with only seconds to spare.\u00a0 As he leaped on top of the hood, he grabbed Riley, flinging her over with him to the other side of the Hummer, as everything behind him burst into a massive downpour of debris.\u00a0 They hit the pavement as another explosion shook the ground; the car that had been protecting them flew over their head from the force of the blast.\u00a0 Nick kept himself over Riley\u2019s body, close to the ground, shielding her from everything.\u00a0 He could feel the hot air blowing fiercely from all around; still, he kept his head down, buried into her shoulder.\u00a0 He could still feel her holding him tightly, afraid to let go.<\/p>\n

The air was littered with fire and bits of metal and bone.\u00a0 Large flames danced where the plane and fuel truck had once been.\u00a0 They grew steadily higher, black smoke filling the air.\u00a0 Charred body parts were flung into the sky.\u00a0 Nick lifted his head up, seeing Riley panting below him, but safe and sound.\u00a0 He glanced around and saw that everything in the area was in flames.\u00a0 But that was far from the worst of it.\u00a0 The worst was the bodies still making their way in his direction.<\/p>\n

The blast hadn\u2019t killed everything.\u00a0 With the creatures just enough out of range, as he and Riley had been, they had only caught aflame.\u00a0 Fiery bodies were still making their way towards them, still hungering for the taste of their flesh.\u00a0 Nick was only thankful that they had some time; those closest to them had been torn apart by the explosions.\u00a0 The smell that consumed the air was overpowering, a mix of char and rot.\u00a0 He swallowed back the urge to vomit.<\/p>\n

He looked back down to see Riley grinning tenderly back at him.\u00a0 \u201cNick Carter\u2026 you\u2019re my hero.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite their situation, he felt the almost uncontrollable urge to laugh.\u00a0 Only one thought kept him from doing so.\u00a0 Instead, he simply replied, \u201cAll in a day\u2019s work, ma\u2019am,\u201d in what he considered to be one of his worst attempts at a cowboy country accent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She left the question unanswered.<\/p>\n

\u201cKEVIN!\u201d he screamed, as he stood and helped her up.<\/p>\n

\u201cKevin!\u201d\u00a0 They ran forward, looking for any sign of their companion.<\/p>\n

A body was coming in closer, limping steadily.\u00a0 Nick grabbed Riley\u2019s rifle, ready to fire.\u00a0 \u201cWait, don\u2019t shoot!\u201d she cried.\u00a0 \u201cI think that\u2019s\u2026 Kevin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two ran forward, to where Kevin was slowly walking.\u00a0 His body was covered with human remains and blood that could be none other than his own.\u00a0 His clothes were singed and torn, but they had no time to search for the wounds.\u00a0 They had to make it out alive before they could aid their friend and leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all right; we need to get out of here,\u201d he croaked.\u00a0 This was followed by a series of coughs.<\/p>\n

Nick grabbed his arm, wrapping it over his own shoulder so he could support him.\u00a0 He pointed at the Hummer some yards away.\u00a0 He glanced at Riley.\u00a0 \u201cTry and get that thing going.\u00a0 Before the flamers get here.\u201d\u00a0 He snickered at his own joke, while Kevin groaned.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t tell if it was out of pain or because of his joke.\u00a0 He suspected it was the latter.<\/p>\n

She ran ahead, making her way to the vehicle.\u00a0 Thank you for sparing us,<\/i> Nick thought, giving his silent prayer to the God who had once again decided to save them.\u00a0 Thanks, Kayleigh, for watching over us.<\/i>\u00a0 Somehow, he had a hunch Kayleigh was helping them, even now.<\/p>\n

He had never really believed much in a higher power.\u00a0 Given the life he\u2019d lived, the family he had been born in, Nick had always lacked the faith needed to do so.\u00a0 How could there be a God who did nothing about the problems that plagued and pained humanity?\u00a0 It had never made sense.\u00a0 Yet now, in this new world, one that would never stop testing them, he finally understood.<\/p>\n

Someone was protecting them.\u00a0 He could feel it.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Hummer sped down the tangled mess of roads, crawling with ghouls.\u00a0 Nick was simply thankful the military vehicle could handle the difficulties pretty seamlessly, as Riley navigated.\u00a0 There was no real set destination in mind; their only thought was of getting as far from the base as possible.\u00a0 The fire had consumed most of the base by now, he was sure.\u00a0 The flames had only grown, as they ran down zombies in their high speed desertion.<\/p>\n

He sat in the back, Kevin half-lying beside him.\u00a0 His shirt was open, as Nick tried to clean his wounds with the few materials they had.\u00a0 They had been lucky Riley had brought her backpack for the ammo.\u00a0 There had been a miniature first aid kit she\u2019d packed as well.\u00a0 They needed more, but he was at least able to try his best at cleaning the wounds.<\/p>\n

Bits of metal had pierced the former military man all along his chest; some had gotten in deep.\u00a0 Those had just been the little bits, but he wasn\u2019t able to dig them out properly.\u00a0 For what felt like the millionth time, Nick missed Jo immensely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find a place to camp out for now.\u00a0 To regroup,\u201d Kevin said, refocusing them as always.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlready on it.\u201d\u00a0 She veered to the side, slamming the two men against each other.\u00a0 The elder grunted in pain.\u00a0 \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick readjusted himself, as he looked over Kevin once again.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the best I can do for now, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick nodded, not feeling so sure, but wanting so badly to believe him, that he forced himself to.\u00a0 Of all people, Kevin knew what he was doing.\u00a0 If he couldn\u2019t trust his judgment, what then?\u00a0 He glanced out the window as he readjusted in his seat.\u00a0 There were so many questions now.\u00a0 Was the whole world like this?\u00a0 It looked like the country certainly was.\u00a0 He shivered.\u00a0 How were they going to get back home to Florida?\u00a0 The mission was a bust, and trying to drive to California now felt ludicrous.\u00a0 The only option Nick could really see was trying to go home.<\/p>\n

But could they go home again?<\/p>\n

The car swerved again, but this time, he kept his grip.\u00a0 The Hummer slowed as it made its way across the green.\u00a0 Nick leaned forward into the front seat, surprised.\u00a0 \u201cRye, this is a golf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d\u00a0 She pointed to the clubhouse.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s gonna be our camp for now.\u00a0 We can see them coming in from on the green; there\u2019s plenty of golf clubs as backup weapons and a way to fortify the area.\u00a0 Better than a residential area, which will probably be loaded with zombies.<\/p>\n

Kevin nodded in appreciation.\u00a0 \u201cWell thought. Not the best, but it\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the circumstances, I can\u2019t think of much better.\u201d<\/p>\n

They may have used the word \u201ccamp,\u201d but Nick knew this would likely be their new home for some time.\u00a0 At least, until they could figure everything out.\u00a0 His only prayer was that he would be able to one day see the faces of the people he called family once again.\u00a0 That when they\u2019d said goodbye, it wouldn\u2019t be forever.<\/p>\n

Despite his prayers, he knew.<\/p>\n

He just knew he would never see them, or the MacDill base, ever again.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 72 Nothing about this feels right. I know there\u2019s no \u201clogic\u201d to that, so Howie and Kevin would both look at me like I\u2019m crazy.\u00a0 But it\u2019s the truth.\u00a0 How can splitting up be a good thing?\u00a0 Watch ANY … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":72,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/291\/revisions\/313"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}