SEASON 2 EPISODE 3: Amassing the Pieces

          It’s been three days since the group had taken the church. Since then, Mr. McDowell and some of the men had gone to and from different neighborhoods collecting mattresses, bed sheets, blankets, pillows and whatnot. All the girls slept down the hall on the right side of the student center while all the boys slept on the left hall. It was nice for everyone to have their own beds. Even on the property they either shared beds or slept on the floor. Staying at the Nichols that one night was even worse.

            The same day half the guys left to scavenge beds, Ian and the rest of the boys helped reinforce the doors and windows with wood planks bolted into the metal frames. Three inch slits allowed guns to be carefully slotted through so as to shoot on coming rovers. Ian’s idea.

            The second day was spent with nothing but everyone carving points onto long sticks and driving them into the ground so as to surround the property in a temporary anti-rover barrier. The group hoped to build a wall around the church at some point, but lacked the fuel and supplies and other important recourses like guns and ammo to execute such an extensive job.  

            It was an overwhelming feeling: thinking about the walls. It was overwhelming just thinking about the future in general. It could be months before they finish the walls and so much can happen in these dark times within just a week. The group knows that more than anybody.

            Since the group took back the church, however, things have slowly begun to get better emotionally wise. Brittany has been playing guitar again, and the group spends an hour of their time in the evening to sing and pray. It’s not the same as it used to be. It never will be the same. The group won’t have Dustin get up on stage and gather the students before prayer, Shane won’t be messing with the lighting before the praise band worships, Lee won’t be banging on the cow bell because it’s too loud and the rovers will hear, and students won’t be playing nerf like they used to. The night won’t end with a great sermon from their youth pastor or a game of volleyball. It will end in silence.

            Now the group reaches their third day at the church. Tim wanted to bring his close friend Zack Castanon to a Police Department to collect supplies, and he wanted Ian to go into the neighborhoods and go house to house scavenging for fuel and food. It was going to be a busy day.

            Stepping outside with Zack, Tim gives Ian his last orders before leaving.

[Tim]: When you leave, let Mr. McDowell know he’s in charge at the church. Make sure you, Jenna, Christian, Lee and Bailey stick together.

[Ian]: Sure thing.

            A moment was spent in silence. It was a scary thing to leave the church with Bailey’s ATV barely having any fuel, and not knowing if this trip is going to be a complete waste of time.

[Tim]: Take care of yourself, Ian.

[Ian]: You don’t have to worry.

[Tim]: I know I don’t.

            The two climbed into the vehicle and they drove away. Watching them drive away, Ian subtly steps back inside the youth center. Since he’s been here, he’s realized just how much he’s taken for granted. The air still smelt stale and rotten: he missed a clean smelling room. He noticed blood stains on the carpets and remembered back when they were the maroon, cream and sand-pattern carpets that Dustin made sure were clean 100% of the time. Now they’re dirty. He missed clean carpets. He was thirsty, but he knew he couldn’t just walk in the fridge and grab water bottles. He missed the easy access to water.

            Walking upstairs where the rest of the group was hanging out, Ian stopped at the entrance to the living area of the student center and simply watched. He watched his friends interact with one another. Lee was playing with Dylan in a game of ping pong. Dylan was getting good, but Christian will forever suck at the game, but he will also forever continue trying. Kelley, London, and Maddy were talking in the corner of the room. They were laughing and giggling about something. They’re the only ones we see laugh more than anybody. Lauren, Bailey and Brittany were having their own conversation. Bailey would make that funny growling noise anytime someone did something annoy, which was very often.

            Then he saw Jenna. She was sitting in the chairs with Audrey, Hunter, and Lauren’s little brother who was also named Hunter. Having two people with the same name brought a lot of confusion, and Ian can’t even imagine what it would be like if Zach were here with Zack. He listened as his friends laughed and enjoyed their times together even though everything outside was trying to separate them. Ian wasn’t going to take any of this for granted. Not anytime soon.

            Walking up to Mr. McDowell and Mrs. Reed, Ian informed them of the situation. Ian could sense the irritation in Mr. McDowell’s voice.   

[Mr. McDowell]: Is there a reason why I can’t go? There shouldn’t be kids doing something dangerous when I’m quite capable of helping.

[Ian]: Tim never informed me of why, but I assume he did so because he needs you here.

[Mr. McDowell]: I’m quite confident this place is safe with all the rest of the people here. Who all is going?

[Ian]: Jenna, Bailey, Lee, Christian and I-

[Mr. McDowell]: I'm sorry? Tim can’t do that without coming to me first! Next time he’s here I’m having a talk. I'm not gonna sit here and take orders from a teenager.

            All eyes were on Mr. McDowell. Ian could see it. Heck, he could feel it. He stepped closer to the large adult staring him sternly into his eyes.

[Ian]: Hold on one second. He knows you are capable of helping. But we kids need to start getting more involved and start adjusting. We had a friend who tried to show us…teach us how to adjust. And he is gone now. We’re not going to repeat the past, so this situation must suffice.

            Looming over Ian, Mr. McDowell proceeded to poke Ian firmly in the chest. Maddy, Dylan, and Lee slowly reached for their weapons.

[Mr. McDowell]: Don’t you dare disrespect me. Just because you killed your father doesn’t mean you’re all big and bad. I’m going in my son’s place.

            Rushing to the scene, Christian steps between the two.

[Christian]: It’s ok, Ian. Calm down. It’s cool.

            Ian backed away. Mr. McDowell looked down at his son, emotionless and without words. It was like something was coming over the man; something dark. Ian suddenly found a flicker of fear in his heart. Suddenly Ian realized that Tim’s life could possibly be in danger. Nah, Ian thought, he was probably over thinking it. Mr. McDowell was just upset is all.

[Mr. McDowell]: We’re leaving in an hour.

            Who put him in charge? Ian was supposed to lead that scavenging mission! Ian turned around and looked at Mr. McDowell. He looked back.

[Mr. McDowell]: You have a problem? Or do you want to turn around and walk away?  

            What did Ian want to do? He wanted to pull his hand gun out and shoot Christian’s dad in the head right here and now. But instead, he turned around and sat beside Jenna.

[Jenna]: That couldn’t have been more awkward.

[Ian]: I hate him.

[Audrey]: He seem like a person who beats his kids. I bet he’s a great dad.

[Hunter Reed]: (laughs) Wow that’s, that’s... interesting.

[Ian]: He’s dangerous. He’s hot tempered and if we don’t watch him he could prove to be lethal.

[Audrey]: What are you saying?

[Ian]: He wants control. If he gets out of control Tim could be in danger.

[Jenna]: I agree, but Tim also should have spoken to Mr. McDowell before he just decided to recruit Christian to go on the scavenger hunt.

[Audrey]: I hate to say it, but Tim can be kinda a control freak sometimes. Like’s he’s entitled. But this was just one time, Mr. McDowell was just upset this one time. Let's not blow this out of proportion

[Hunter Reed]: Isn’t he entitled though? I mean you guys said you voted and he won.

[Ian]: Doesn’t mean it was the right choice.

[Jenna]: Ian lost by one vote. But now there are more people in our group. Maybe we should revote because now, there are obviously some of us who have changed our minds about Tim.

[Audrey]: I think so too.

[Ian]: Personally I think this is a bad time to do so. We should wait till after the walls are built and then we can revote.

[Audrey]: Awww, but that will take forever! I mean think about it! What are we gonna build it with? Wood? That won’t stand a chance against rovers and even more so to people who attack us.

[Hunter Reed]: Well, how else would we do it?

[Audrey]: Honestly, I think the two lumber yards have so many of those huge stacks of wood, that we could honestly load those stacks onto the 18-wheeler trailer thingies and line those up around the church in one big square shaped wall. There’s no way anything could get through that and we could always upgrade them with towers and other stuff.

[Ian]: That’s actually a good idea. We’d need two fork lifts and a truck big enough to drive back and forth with that size of a load. When Tim gets back I will speak to him about your idea because it is genius.

[Audrey]: (Cocky laugh) Oh I know it’s genius.

[Ian]: Shuttup, Audrey.

·        

            Tim and Zack were getting close to the police department. The yellow fuel light wasn’t on yet, but Tim reckoned it would begin flashing at any moment.

[Zack]: We should get there in a couple of more minutes.

[Tim]: Good, because we got maybe a couple of gallons left once the fuel lights go off.

[Zack]: What happens if we get the supplies but we run out of gas before we get to the church?

[Tim]: We look for a car, and until we find once we carry everything.

[Zack]: Sounds good. Also just out of curiosity, how are we gonna get water? Plumbing’s out and it’s not like we can collect rain.

[Tim]: Actually, we can. Back at the property they had a collection of tarps and 2-by-4s’. We’d make large troughs with little holes in them that drain into a five gallon bucket. Then we clean the water by boiling it over a fire. It’s a process but once we get it up and running and we ration it, and the rain continues to pour, we wouldn’t ever have to worry about water.

[Zack]: Sounds like a plan.

[Tim]: So…I never asked you: What happened to the rest of your family?

            There was a sudden pause. All that was registered was the sound of the engine and the car driving down the highway.

[Zack]: Dad turned into a rover and mom died of a heart attack. It was just me and my siblings for the longest time until we and a few other friends were attacked by a herd. I was the only one that made it.

[Tim]: I’m sorry.

[Zack]: Don’t be. Five days later I was scavenging for food when you found me. Turn here, it’ll be just a mile or two down this road you won’t miss it.

[Tim]: Alright, we need to get in and get out.

[Zack]: Yup.

            Pulling up to the one-story building, the two parked across the street. Out in the distance is one rover slowly stumbling towards them. For a split second Tim had panicked. Then swallowing the fear helped him remember just how slow the dead were, and being that it was just one rover out in the distance advancing towards two well-fit survivors, Tim loosened the grip of his rifle.

[Tim]: Leave it alone. It’s just one.

[Zack]: Yeah. I guess so.

            Coming up to the door, the two attempted to open it, only to be restricted by a chain and lock keeping the door shut.

[Zack]: Maybe we can kick it down.

[Tim]: Hold on. The doors are chained from the inside. Outside is understandable meaning whoever locked this up was trying to keep something in here. However, if it was locked from the inside that means…

[Zack]: Someone could still be in there. What do we do?

[Tim]: Find another way in. We need these weapons. Are there windows or other entrances we can use?

[Zack]: Pretty positive. I don’t know why there wouldn’t be.

            Walking around the building they discovered that all the windows and doors were barricaded.

[Zack]: I say we should shoot off the locks from outside the door and go in guns ready.

            Thinking it over, Timothy relayed his options. They needed these weapons and whatever recourses awaited them on the other side of the doors. But whoever locked them inside has access to all those recourses meaning that person is at an advantage. The moment they bust inside they could be killed.

[Tim]: I don’t think we should. It’s too dangerous.

[Zack]: I get that but trying to survive without bullets and fuel is even more dangerous.

[Tim]: Fine. Then we try to negotiate with whoever is inside.

[Zack]: And if they don’t want to?

            What if they didn’t want to negotiate? What would Tim do?

·        

            Mr. McDowell was loading his shot gun preparing to leave. It and only been thirty minutes and he had gotten too impatient and decided to leave thirty minutes early. Bailey had prepared her bow and her arrows, Lee took up one of the lever action rifles, Jenna armed herself with a 1911 and Ian with a pool stick he was currently sharpening. Jenna sat beside him as she loaded her firearm.

[Jenna]: This is stupid.

[Ian]: Melee weapons are more efficient than loud guns. Besides I’m handy with a staff. And I like billiards.

[Jenna]: I was talking about Mr. McDowell taking charge and changing his mind like this.

[Jenna]: Oh. Yeah. That too.

[Ian]: Tim needs to get back like right now. He needs to take charge.

[Jenna]: Yeah. I guess we’ll see. Let’s just focus on this fuel run and doing it right. It could get bloody out there.

[Ian]: Who’s blood…the rover’s or the people around Christian’s father?

            Jenna’s breath was cut short. It was a shocking thought that Christian’s dad could get to that point, but he was angry and as a loose cannon.

[Jenna]: All of this has all happened today. Maybe things will change a couple of days from now. Give him some time.

[Ian]: Possibly.

[Rich McDowell]: Alright let’s get going we’re running out of daylight!

[Ian]: Ugh.

[Jenna]: (mocking) “Ugh”.

[Ian]: Shuttup.

[Jenna]: Stupid idiot.

            Loading up into the truck, Jenna, Ian, Lee, Bailey and Rich say their goodbyes.

            Christian hugged his dad for but a moment before Rich pulled away and looked him firmly in the eye.

[Rich]: I’ll see you soon, son. Take care of the place.

[Christian]: Okay.

            Audrey gives her sister, Bailey a tight hug. Bailey cringed, but managed to hug back.

[Audrey]: Try to find me some cool stuff, Bailey.

[Bailey]: (Chuckles) I will try now let go of me.

            Finally, the five climbed into the truck, and they pulled out of the church parking lot. Brittany watched the truck leave, and her mind went down trails of different thoughts and emotions until they were interrupted by Audrey.

[Audrey]: Hey, we should go inside. See if we can find something to do.

            She was hesitant, but she complied.

[Brittany]: Alright.

            The neighborhood they arrived at was not even a few minutes from the church. They didn’t get within ten yards within the suburbs without catching glances from several rovers close to the truck and far off.

[Lee]: Dang. This is place is…I don’t even know.

[Bailey]: Most of the rovers look pretty rotten. This neighborhood had to have gone down a while ago. We might find some good stuff here. I don’t even know where to begin. What’s the plan, Ian?

[Ian]: I say-

[Rich]: The plan is we’re gonna start at the far right side in the back corner and work our way house to house to the other side and then leave.

[Bailey]: We’re staying together or…

[Rich]: Of course we are.

[Ian]: This won’t be safe. It would be better if-

[Rich]: If we stay together we will be safer. Your safety is what’s most important right now.

[Ian]: No, we-

            Jenna elbowed Ian in the shoulder. He looked at Jenna with so much confusion up until she mouthed the words “Let it go”. Normally he wouldn’t but in this case, the way she looked at him, and the concern in her eyes spoke much than the words she mouthed. Ian had to keep silent, and let Rich do what he wanted to do. If something were to happen; something bad: Rich would be to blame and the problem would be taken care of.

            Pulling up in front of the first house, the five walked up to the front door. Abruptly, Rich turned the door knob and barged inside.

[Lee]: Wait, slow down!

            As soon as he walked inside, a rover was standing there waiting for Rich. In response, he lifted his firearm, but before he fired a shot, an arrow impaled the rover through the eye socket, and in a spraying shot of blood, the corpse sprawled the ground. Rich turned sharply around.

[Bailey]: (Under breathe) Idiot.

[Rich]: Excuse me?

[Lee]: There is a system, ok? We don’t just barge in because of what just happened. The rovers are attracted to sound, so we use that to our advantage.

[Rich]: Do you now? Well believe it or not I had it completely under control.

[Bailey]: (Smiling) “Under control”? You were about to fire that gun which would have sent all the rovers in the neighborhood our way. We only use silent weapons. Guns are for emergencies.

[Rich]: Fine. So what am I gonna use?

            Irritated, Bailey pulls out a buck knife from her belt and hands it to Rich.

[Bailey]: Here you go. Lead on.

            It was only a few minutes before the house was searched. There were only a few supplies they were looking for. The most important was fuel. Checking the garage and the work shed in the back yard they found two small cans of gasoline. They loaded it onto the truck and moved next door. In an hour, they cleared five houses and collected a total of six cans of fuel. All of which could be distributed to make four full cans of gas.

[Lee]: This is going to take forever. We need to split up.

            Lee said to Ian. Ian was already way past his lowest point of patience.

[Ian]: I know. I’m gonna talk to him.

            Going up to Rich, Ian spoke firmly.

[Ian]: Mr. McDowell, me and Jenna are going to find ourselves another vehicle and we’re going to search the houses on the other side of the neighborhood. We’ll fire off two gun shots if we need your help.

[Rich]: That’s not going to happen.

[Ian]: I’m sorry but you don’t have a choice.

            Walking out of the house with Jenna, Ian found a pair of keys hanging on a hook beside the door. Unlocking the Chevy truck the keys belonged, the two step into the truck and drive away before Rich could apply any force to the situation.

[Rich]: I can't even... 

[Lee]: I mean...it's not a bad idea... 

[Rich]: Is that so?!

[Lee]: Yeah think about it: It’s been an hour and we’ve only covered five houses. We have to split up so we can cover more ground and get out of here. Plus the rovers will be drawn in either direction in case of emergency which gives us less corpses to deal with.

[Rich]: Fine, whatever, but if they get themselves hurt or worse, it’s on them.

[Bailey]: Actually no…

            Bailey corrected as she came into the living room.

[Bailey]: You’re the adult; you’re in charge. Whatever happens to us is your fault.

·        

            Tim and Zack are standing just outside the front doors of the police station. Tim holds his head close to the doors. He knocks several times but hears no response.

[Zack]: Say something.

[Tim]: Hello? If there’s anybody in there we need help!

[Zack]: My father worked here! 

            There was no response.

[Zack]: I don’t think there’s anyone in here.

[Tim]: I didn’t see any signs of someone exiting the building.

[Zack]: Try one more time.

[Tim]: Hello! Is anyone inside?!

            There is no response.

[Zack]: There’s no one in there. We should hurry up we’re drawing in rovers.

[Tim]: Fine.

            Raising his AR-15, Tim fires two shots into the chains and they push the doors open. The lobby is empty, yet clean. No files or unnecessary accessories or furniture: as if the building has just recently been purchased.

[Zack]: What…

[Tim]: Keep your eyes open.

[Zack]: I don’t like this.

[Tim]: Me neither but I don’t know this place. You have to lead the way.

[Zack]: I’ve only been here twice in my whole life! Even then the farthest I got was my dad’s office.

[Tim]: Then we’ll search room for room.

            The two scanned the building. Clearing one office after the other and each brought Tim and Zack the same result: empty and clean as if nothing ever happened. Suddenly, as they reached the back of the station, they heard a faint voice.

[Zack]: Do you hear that?

[Tim]: Yeah. It’s coming from the other side of this door.

            The wide, blue, metal door was closed shut, and the white walls were solid. But they both heard a faint voice on the other side.

[Tim]: You open the door and I’ll stand in front of it.

            Gripping the door handle Zack looked Tim in the eyes as he counted down from three. Reaching the end of the countdown he swung the door open. The room on the other side was large. There were two cells. One was empty.

            In the second cell was a man. He was shrill and reedy as twigs, his ribs protruding from his sides like a chees grader. His eyes seemed to have been sucking into his brain and his cheek bones looked like two baseballs on the side of his thin face. His facial hair was messy and long, and his clothes were blood stained and baggy. Surrounding him were empty bags and boxes of food, and all around the back wall and the floor were scratches and markings.

[Shrill man]: -only ones-only ones…the only ones supposed to live…the only-the ones supposed to live-the only ones supposed to live…

            Over and over he repeated the sentence, stuttering like a glitch in a computer. Tim and Zack could only stare.

[Zack]: My god…

[Tim]: How long has this man been here?

[Zack]: It looks like he locked himself in there not long after the break out. Look at all those boxes of food. And that smell…

            Suddenly the sound of doors banging disrupted the glares of shock. The two faced the course of the noise. Down a hall beside the cells was a two-door entrance and exit. It was barricaded with wooden boards. They were nearly broken.

[Tim]: Look! There's a sign next to the door!

            Looking at the sign, Zack realized just on the other side of those doors besides the undead was the arms and munitions room.

[Zack]: Typical. You sure we need those supplies?

[Tim]: We need them more than anything, Zack.

[Zack]: Then let’s do this.  

·        

            Ian knocked several times at the eighth house they arrived at. No response. Jenna kicked open the door, and the two searched the house. They had been fairly successful in their own endeavor, having found seven cans of fuel, three of them full. On top of that, the two had managed to collect twenty-three canned foods, six bags of chips and pretzels, and much more food supplies forced to fit in the small Chevy truck.

[Ian]: If we can find some keys we can use another vehicle to hold food. Preferable another truck.

[Jenna]: I saw keys in one of the drawers in the kitchen. I’m gonna go check the garage.

            Loading more supplies into their third vehicle: a 2004 Dodge Ram, Ian waits for Jenna to come out of the house. Coming their way were three rovers. Swiftly, Ian took his pool staff. He inched close towards the trio. This was the first time he approached rovers with a melee. He had to be careful.

[Ian]: Softest point is under the chin.

            Then there was contact. Ian jammed his staff under one rover’s chin. The crackling of the bone sounded like a handful of crackers, and was easier to penetrate than he thought. He pulled the staff out and batted away one of the rovers from getting too close, and then stabbed into the third rover’s temple. This time, however, the staff was stuck. The second rover was getting too close for comfort, so brutally, Ian kicked the rover in the chest, knocking it hard on the ground. Bracing his leg against the final rover’s body, he yanked the staff out and then victoriously rammed the staff into the final rover’s eye socket.

[Ian]: Where are you Jenna?

            Just then, Jenna came out of the garage with a small can of gasoline.

[Jenna]: Found some hidden behind a pile of old clothes.

[Ian]: Let’s load all the food supplies in the Ram, and we’ll continue with the scavenging.

            On the other side of the neighborhood, Rich, Bailey and Lee were loading up into the truck. They were successful in finding several more fuel cans. Rich drove calmly through the neighborhood as the numbers of rovers began to increase.

[Rich]: We better find Ian and Jenna. We gotta start heading out.

            As they turned a corner near the neighborhood entrance, they came to an abrupt stop to seeing at least a hundred rovers gathered in a giant herd. All their rotting heads turned, glaring them straight in the face. Moments later it seemed like their whole world shifted in their direction as the herd stumbled and twitched towards the truck.

[Lee]: Go, go, go!

            Driving backwards into a clear area of the neighborhood, Rich slammed his stick shift into drive, and sped away from the herd. In the process, Mr. McDowell ran over multiple rovers, blood splashing onto the windshield, and the road suddenly bumpy like an off-road trip.

[Bailey]: How are we gonna get out if that entrance is the only exit?

[Rich]: I’m gonna pull around and get more momentum.

[Bailey]: …Why?

[Rich]: We’re gonna ram our way outa here.

            Turning around, Rich slammed on the gas. The truck heaved into full speed. The engine roared and the whistling of the wind bellowed out of control. There was a peaceful moment where the wind blew hard and the space between the truck and herd was strangely a calming sight. Up until they hit the first five rovers. After that, everything fell apart.

            They didn’t come halfway into the herd before losing control. Before they realized it, the bodies sent the truck out of control swerving hard right. Two rovers were launched through the windshield inside the truck. Their vision blocked, Rich didn’t see the house he was speeding towards. First they hit the curb, then the brick wall. Lee was thrown out of the truck and through a house window. Airbags went out, one ramming into Rich’s face, the other blasting into one of the rover's chest, popping organs throughout the front interior of the truck. Bailey was slammed into the passenger seat.

            Moments later, Bailey opened her eyes. The two rovers were broken in every place. Just in case, however, she took Rich’s gun and fired a shot into each rover’s egg-shell-like skulls.

            From the other side, Ian and Jenna heard the gunshots.

[Ian]: Hurry we have to go!

            Racing into his car and Jenna into hers, the two sped towards the sound of the gun fire.

·        

            Standing at the ready, Tim and Zack set up stock piles of chairs to block the doors. Yet still, the man in the cell murmured the same sentence over and over.

[Shrill man]: The only ones supposed to live…the only ones…

[Tim]: We can do this. We can do this.

            The rovers banging on the other side of the door grew louder. The three 2 by 4s’ keeping the door closed was nearly shattered. Heaving back and forth, the twin doors creaked and groaned like the corpses themselves. Finally, in one last effort, the boards snapped, and the doors swung open, letting the flood rush threw.

            Spontaneously, the two opened fire at the rovers. One after the other they fell, but their numbers were too great.

[Shrill man]: …the only ones supposed to live! The only-the-the-the only ones…supposed to live!!

            Before Tim realized it, his gun was out of ammo!

[Tim]: I’m out!

            Moments after, Zack tossed his gun away.

[Zack]: Mine too! We gotta get outa here!

[Tim]: No, Zack, we need those supplies!

[Zack]: There’s no way we survive this!

[Tim]: We can, if we work together. We use our knives, and we spread them out around the building.

            Stumbling into the cell room, a lone rover that Tim had seen down the road had come through the police station and tracked down the two survivors. Neither Tim nor Zach could see the walking corpse stagger towards them, its bloody teeth grinding in hunger. The shrill man could only watch.

[Shrill man]: (Screaming) The only ones-the only ones-the only ones supposed to live.

THE END