Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/8785810.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con,
      Underage
  Category:
      F/F, F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      Original_Work, Time_-_Fandom
  Relationship:
      Original_Female_Character/Original_Male_Character, Original_Female
      Character/Original_Female_Character, Original_Male_Character/Original
      Male_Character
  Character:
      Original_Characters
  Additional Tags:
      Sex, Love, Survival, Surving, Zombies, Apocalypse, dead, Hotel
  Series:
      Part 4 of Time
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-12-08 Updated: 2017-11-12 Chapters: 13/? Words: 22291
****** Time (Mall) ******
by HisHeartKiller
Summary
     Another part to my time series just with different characters.
     This story revolves around a 40 year old Decker Hayward and his
     survival of the zombie apocalypse.
     He comes across a young women who makes him remember his past, and
     brings his past back to him.
Notes
See the end of the work for notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
Decker never needed any one. He’s been on his own since he was 18. Renting
hotels. Living off the land. Camping, stealing, fighting, getting locked up.
This is Decker. Currently 40 years old. Living in a sleazy pay by day motel.
One big bed, a small television, a tiny bathroom and one small fridge. This was
all he needed.
Then the end happened. Decker was still living the way he did before just this
time he can freely kill people. He decided to stay in his sleazy motel, in the
middle of no where. Well technically not no where. A few miles up they had a
mall. Decker stole a motorcycle from one of the other guest, who was already
dead. He raided it a few times. Got what he needed. He would come back when he
needed more.
Decker had the second floor. He made his own little house. One room was a
living room (with a bathroom). One room was a kitchen (with a bathroom). And
one was his bedroom (with a bathroom). He had finally made something his home.
he was lucky the closets seemed to connect the rooms.
He locked his place up and hopped on his stolen Harley. He had his bag on his
back and he was ready. The breeze hitting him as he rode. He felt amazing. He’s
never felt so free.
He made it to the mall. Killed a lot of what he called Creeps. Went straight
for the store he knew had food and some cloths he could scavenge.  He noticed
something a little off. An open can of tomato soup on the floor. He saw a light
blood trail and a twice dead creep on the floor. He followed the blood trail
with his gun ready. He stole it from an, alive, cop. The cop arrested him once
and called him a redneck piece of shit.
He ended up in the clothing department. The trail stopped in the dressing room.
He started kicking in the doors. Shooting what should already be dead. Then he
hit the last room. He kicked the door. A young girl was in the corner. Her arm
was bleeding and she was crying.
First thing he noticed, besides for the cut, was her grey/blue eyes when she
looked up at him. “Please, please it didn’t get me! I swear I just scraped my
arm against the shelf. Please.” She was begging him to put the gun down.
He didn’t say anything just turned around and walked out.
“Hey, wait.” She stood and chased after him.
He just kept walking.
She grabbed his arm. He swiftly turned with his gun aimed at her.
“Please, I’m sorry.” He still had it aimed at her. “I’ve seen you before.
Here.” She tried to speak to him but he wouldn’t talk back. “You come back
every couple a days.” She said. He was still resistant. “I’m Bailey. I‘ve been
here for a few months I think.”
“Dec.” He said. He looked at her like she was an alien but he lowered his gun.
There was a moment of silence when he swiftly raised his gun at her and fired.
She screamed and flinched. She thought he was shooting at her. She looked over
her shoulder and saw the body drop.
She was breathing heavy in fear. Her ear was ringing from the gun being so
close. She didn’t notice him pull the rag from his pocket. She flinched when he
whipped the splashed blood off her face. He just throw the rag to the ground.
When he turned around he looked back at her standing there. “You comin?” She
quickly rushed behind him.
He didn’t look at her when he spoke. “Find a pack, something small. Find
bottles of water, soups. I aint yar daddy. I aint here to take care of ya.” His
words were harsh. “You can come with me but if ya get yourself killed it aint
my problem.” He finally turned and looked at her.
She just nodded. “I just can't be alone anymore.”
He ignored her comment. They started grabbing what they needed. Going to
different stores. He killed so many creeps along the way. She found a messenger
bag and put a few bottles inside along with a few cans of soup. She grabbed
panties and a pair of light blue jeans.
He killed any creep he saw as they made their way back to the entrance. They
made out the doors. The sun was so bright to her. “Haven’t been out in a
while.” She said with her eyes squinted. She saw him climb on his motorcycle.
“Ya comin?” He said when he saw her just standing there.
“I aint never been on one before.” She said.
“Well get on now, unless you want those creep to get ya. Or stay here. I don’t
care either way.” He gestured towards the ones coming up the road. She climbed
on his back behind him. “Put your arms around me.” She looked shocked. He said
it very slowly. “I go fast. Hold on.” She hesitantly put her hand on his waist.
He grabbed her hand pulled it around him, forcing her to hold him tight.
He drove, he started slow just to give her a second. Then he sped up. He could
hear her gasp behind him. Her grip getting tighter around him. He didn’t pay
any attention to her until he stopped in front of his hotel and her grip
loosened. He noticed the relief of pressure around his stomach.
“Is this where you're staying?” She asked. She saw a pull out sofa thrown in
the street, along with two chairs.
“Yeah.” He grinned.
He walked to the stairs. They were broken apart, impossible for anyone to go up
or down.  He pulled a rope ladder from the locked ice machine near by. He had
the key in his pocket. He tossed the ladder up and it hooked on the ledge.
“Go.” He let her go first. She climbed up and he followed. When they reached
the top he pulled the ladder up and locked in the ice machine on that floor.
“That’s a smart idea.” She said.
“I know.” He huffed.
He grabbed the second key he had and opened the door leading into his living
room.
“Put your food and water in the kitchen, the front room. Put ya clothes in a
dresser. Keep a go bag. A few bottles of water, food. If ya plan on staying you
gotta be set up. If I gotta get out you best be ready.” He ordered.
“Where can I sleep. I’m really tired.” She stated.
“Not yet, take your shirt off.” He said.
“What?” She was flustered and worried.
“Your arm. Just your over shirt.” He didn’t see her in a sexual way yet. He
wasn’t interested in sex.
She however did find him attractive. He may have been dirty and scruffy with
greasy hair but he had a muscled body. Soft blue eyes. And a raspy voice. With
a hint of a country accent that she loved so much.
She lifted her over, long sleeved, shirt. Revealing a light lace blue tank top.
He looked at her arm. Not to bad of a scratch. But she needed stitches. He
stood and went to the bathroom. He grabbed a bottle of peroxide, whiskey and a
little white box. “This is gonna fucking hurt.” He said to her.
“What are you doing?” She looked worried.
“It needs stitches. Drink.” He handed her the whiskey.
She took a swig and made a very nasty face. “How do people drink this?” She
shook her head.
He chuckled at her innocence.
~~~
He finished stitching her up and she was in pain, and drunk. “You got a pretty
faccccce.” She poked his nose and giggled.
“Yeah and you're wasted.” He helped her walk to the bed.
 “You saved me. I’ve been alone and cold. I don’t like being alone.” The tone
in her voice kept changing. “I gotta big family! Like really big. Not just in
people but size too!” He laid her on the bed. “Tall!” She shouts and expands
her arms. “Ouch.” He put her on her side.
There were two queen sized beds pushed together.  “Like six brothers.” She
mumbled. “baby.” She passed out. He smiled at her drunkenness. But he also
wondered what she meant by baby. She only looked 20, maybe younger.
~~~
She woke up with a headache and he wasn’t there. She stood, her shoes were off.
She got off the beds and walked to the living room. He wasn’t there or the
kitchen. She looked out the window and saw him shooting over the ledge. She
opened the door and went out.
“What are you doing?” She asked softly.
“We brought a few creeps with us. Had to take care of ‘em.” The gun had a
silencer on it.
“How many?” She went to the railing.
“Not many.” He shot the last one, dead. “How you feeling?” He asked.
“I’m fine.” She said. “Just a headache.” She looked at her arm. “Kinda hurts
too.”
He went into the room Bailey followed him.
“If you're staying I’m gonna fix up another room for ya.” He sat on one of the
sofas he had set up.
“I can just sleep here. On the sofa or something.” She said. “Or we could space
the two beds over there apart and I could sleep on one.” She just talked like
there was nothing not normal about this. “But I…” She was going to talk but
shut up.
“Wanna get back to ya six brothers and baby.” He blurted.
“How do you?” She sat on the chair opposite of him.
“You were babbling after you drank last night.” He grabbed a book from the
table next to him. The 1984 by George Orwell. He wasn’t much of a reader but he
had nothing else to do.
“I tried leaving the mall right after this started then these people busted in
and started shooting everything. Living and dead. I saw these badges, CIA, FBI,
CDC, there were so many different ones. I really wasn’t sure who they really
were. I hid in this crawlspace in the guard's office. I was down there till my
stomach started growling.” She realized she was talking to much. “I’ll get out
your hair soon, if you don’t mind me staying for a day or two.”
“I don’t mind.” He found the page he had left off on.
“You don’t talk much.” She said.
“Never had a reason.” He kept looking at his book.
“I never stop talking. I got six brothers, being the runt I had make myself
noticed. So I talked. A lot. Then my… My daughter.” She admitted. “I talk to
her a lot. Talked.” She changed the tense.
“How old are you anyway?” He looked at her. She looked young. To young to be a
mom.  
“20.” She said. “My daughters was four. Turned four on Christmas.” He was about
to say something. “I know, I know. I was only 16 when I got pregnant. Stupid
little girl. I’ve been told.” She huffed.
“I aint no judge.” He looked back at his book.
“Her names August. She’s so playful and crazy. I just wanted to buy her a
little motor scooter. She wanted it so bad. I got up the money. Her daddy” She
said it as if he wasn’t any good of a father. “Gave me some money towards it.”
He looked up from his book. “I’ll stop talking.” She sort of whimpered.
  ~~~
A few hours went by, Decker was quite. Bailey tried to sit still but couldn’t.
She was to fidgety. “You hungry?” He asked.
“Kinda.” She said.
“Kinda aint an answer.” He mumbled. “Rabbit or squirrel?”  He asked.
“What?” She questioned like it was a foreign concept.
“A few miles up I’ve been catching rabbits and squirrels. I set a few traps.
What would you prefer?” He spoke like she was simple.
“Won't squirrels have rabies or something?” She worried.
“I guess its rabbit for you.” He grabbed a shotgun, a bag and a good old
fashion bow with 10 arrows.
“Can I come?” She asked.
“Not yet. After I see what you can do. Keep the door locked.” He went into the
bedroom  room and grabbed a gun inside. He had a full arsenal in there.
“Anyone, anything comes through that door you kill it.” He handed her a
standard handgun. “You know how to use this?”
She shook her head.
He explained to her what to do, a very quick demonstration. “Just be careful.”
~~~
He came back hours later with a bag full of stuff she didn’t want to know. But
when he saw her she looked so sad.
“What?” He asked her.
She shook her head.
“Talk, you’ve been talkin all day.” He said as he put the bag down.
“I just miss August.” She cried.
“Stop.” He said harshly. He hated crying.
She couldn’t though.
“I’ll take you out tomorrow. We’ll go find her.” He said basically to shut her
up.
“Are you serious?” She stood up.
He nodded.
She jumped and hugged him. Her touch was shockingly soft. Her hair had a slight
hint of strawberries but he could feel the greasiness against his face. “Thank
you so much!” He pulled away when he realized he was enjoying the hug.
He put his weapons down and went out to the balcony. He started a small fire in
a trashcan and started to prepare the rabbits and squirrels.
After he had dinner done she joined him outside. “Here.” He handed her paper
plate with a piece of meat on it. He could see she was still scared and upset.
“When you left her, who was she with?”
“Her dad.” She huffed.
“What you don’t like him?” He asked. He wanted to keep her talking. He hated to
admit it but he liked hearing her voice, it was soft and delicate.
“No I don’t. When I told him I was pregnant he gave me money to abort her.” She
huffed. “When August was born. I got her home. He showed up out of the blue
drunk as a sunk. My daddy shot him, in the butt.” She laughed a bit. “He’s been
pitching in though the last year though.”
“You sure ya daddy wont shoot me when I bring ya little ass back.” He said
sarcastically.
“No, My daddy hates guns. Only real reason he shot Alec was cause he was 23
when we had sex, drunk off his mind when he showed up. My daddies a kitten.
Wouldn’t intentionally hurt a fly.” She blurted.
His voice got loud. “You were only 16! I’da shot the fucker too.” He shouted.
“No fucking grown adult is touching a little girl.”
“I aint no little girl.” She protested.
“16, ya aint no adult!”
“I’m 20!” She yelled.
“Now! But he fucked ya, ya weren’t.” He put his plate down and went in the
room. She stayed outside.  
She sat outside and listen to he move stuff around.
She went in when the breeze started to freeze her.
“What are you doing?” She asked.
He fixed the beds. They had space between them.
“We can leave tomorrow.” He said.
“Okay.” She sat on one bed.
He grabbed another book and sat on his bed.
She sat on her bed and looked at him. She liked his face. He hasn’t smiled
since she met him but he was still stunning. He was just her type. Dec had dark
brown straight hair, greasy, dirty and getting long. “Dec.” She meekly said.
He looked over at her.
She was hesitant to talk.
“What?” he said.
“Thank you” She asked.
He grabbed his book and went to bed.
~~~
Bailey went to sleep first. Decker made sure all the doors were covered by
something before he rested on the bed. He had a gun under his pillow. He went
to sleep shortly after.
   ~~~
 
***** Chapter 2 *****
He woke up a few hours later. She was curled up on the bed. He looked out the
windows and when he saw that there was nothing on the balcony he went out the
door. He looked over and saw a horde of creeps. “Fuck.” He said. They were
trying to grab the broken stair case.
He went back inside and shook Bailey. “Wake up.” She jumped. “I need your
help.” He pulled her hand to the bathroom. He grabbed her a gun with a
silencer. He started showing her what to do. A quick instruction. “You start
shooting the ones over the ledge I’ll get the ones near the stairs.” He shot
two directly in the head. “It’s okay if you miss a few. Just try.” He spoke
calmly to her.
He started shooting as she tried. She would hit the shoulder, legs, neck. He
could watch her. She was in no danger. He finished the ones near the stairs. He
pushed her back, not rough but not gentle. He started shooting the ones she
missed or hit but didn’t kill. She watched in amazement as he shot everything
he saw. He was unstoppable.
But when he finally stopped. He looked angry. “I’m sorry.” She said.
“It’s fine but we aint going no where till you learn to shoot.” He told her.
“Okay.” She nodded.
“Come here.” She came towards him with the gun.
He stood behind her. His fingers touched her arm. He didn’t think much of it.
Just a simple demonstration. She however got goose bumps from his touch. He was
talking to her, instructing her what to do. His voice manly and soft at the
same time, rough from years of smoking.  He shot first, hitting his target. She
tried, grazed an ear. “It’s alright.” He said near her ear. “Try again.” He
told her. She took a deep breath and fired.
“Ahh! I did it!” She smiled and cheered. “I did it!” She swiftly put the gun on
the table jumped to hug him.  He didn’t hug her back just stood their,
confused. She realized it was an awkward moment and pulled away. “Sorry.” She
fumbled her feet backwards.
He just shrugged the moment off. “Try again.” She grabbed the gun, stood what
she thought was straight up. He went behind her and placed his hand on her
back.
“Straight.” He stood her up. “Just till you learn, you gotta be perfect.” He
instructed her. She shot and hit a shoulder.
“Shit.” She huffed.
“It’s alright.” He reminded her. “You’re at safe distance. It’s okay to mess up
now.” His voice so rough in her ear. “When you’re face to face with them. You
have to be perfect.” He spoke as she tried shooting the targets he pointed out
for her. He would stand behind her. Adjusting her shoulders and back. She would
miss when he wasn’t near. When his hands were on her, she would hit something.
Only when he was close, full body close, she would hit a creep directly in the
head.   
By the time the parking lot was empty it was late. Sun had gone down. She was
tired and sore.
“I’ll make dinner. Just soup for the night.” He said as he went in the room.
“Can we go tomorrow?” She asked.
“Not yet, I don’t trust your aim.” He walked to the cabinet he had the soups
in. “Chicken or beef?” He asked.
“Beef.” She said. “I’ve been away from August for so long.” She whimpered.
“Yeah and one or two more days wont matter if it means her momma’s safe.” He
looked back at her.
“Cook in here? It’s a little breezy out.” She asked.
“Okay.” He set up a trashcan inside.
~~~
He thought the soup was done and poured some in a bowl for her and himself. She
took a spoonful. She gagged. “It’s cold. It’s not done.” She grunted. She took
his bowl and hers. She poured them both in the pot. “You can cook meat to
perfection but not soup? How have you ever survived.” She huffed.
He left the trashcan fire burning. And she brought the soup to boil.
She poured the soup out again. “This is how you make soup.” She smiled at him.
He liked her smile.
He didn’t smile of course. Never did.
~~~
Morning had rose. He checked the window then the balcony. Only a few. He saved
them for her. He went in, found an old bag of cereal. He poured two bowls. He
ate his and left hers out. She woke up a few minutes later, just as it started
to rain.
“Mmm I love the rain.” She hummed.
“Me too.” He says.
She got of the bed. “Really? We actually have something in common?” She teased
as she sat at the table with him. “When I was real young my mommy lived in a
trailer park. The sound of the rain hitting the trailer made me so happy. It
was small so we were all kinda on top of each other. All grumpy of course but
when it rained…” She smiled so big. “I was the happiest little girl in the
world.”
“Looks like we got more in common. Trailer park till I was 18.” He said. “You
don’t look like the type to be living in a trailer park.” He said.
“It’s a little complicated. Momma was a bit easy. My oldest brothers are
triplets. From her first husband. He was a conman. A thief, liar and trickster.
Harry and Howard are just like him. Hutson is cop. Arrested them both at least
twice. Not two long after they were born momma met Cliff. Then she had Abel.
He’s got the brightest red hair and biggest beard on his face I ever seen. He’s
a jack of all traits, sorta. Cant really do nothing but he thinks he can do
everything cause he’s got muscles. Now momma never got divorced from Huston,
husband number one. He knew Abel wasn’t his but he wasn’t raising the others so
he didn’t care. When abel was 10 and the triplets were 12. Momma married Jean.
He’s the one who put her in a trailer park. A few years later she had twin boys
with him. Joshua and Jimmy. Their jerks. 24 year old now
and act like three year olds. Then when they 4, I think, momma met my daddy.
Marvin. He moved in with her. Not long after they had me. Now my daddy put my
oldest brother through college. While they were there he put Joshua and Jimmy
in catholic school. When I was about 10 we moved to a house, away from
everyone. It had problems. A lot of land that needed taken care of. It was
pretty cheap cause it had a history but Momma and daddy liked it. We moved the
trailer to the back of the house and we’ve been living there ever since.” When
she finished talking she realized how long she had talked for.
“Wow.” Was all he said. To be honest he wasn’t really paying attention. Didn’t
hear a thing she said. He just let her talk. If he had been listening he would
have noticed how familiar the story sounded.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to talk so much.” She blushed.
“It’s fine. Now I know your whole family history.” He teased with a little grin
that could have passed for a smile.
“What trailer park were you in?” She asked.
“What?” He questioned.
“I was in Pink Parker Trailer Park.” He looked shocked for a minute. “I know
it’s a weird name but apparently the guy who like founded it or created it,
whatever, his name was Pink Parker. Yeah his name was Pink. It’s a little
strange.”
“No thats not it.” He said.
“Yeah it was. They had a little info cart thing…”
“No not that. I was there my whole life. It’s the only place I really lived.”
He said.
She looked excited. “That’s freaking amazing. It’s a very small world.” She
couldn’t stop smiling. “Sorry it’s weird.” She paused for a minute. “How old
are you?” She asked.
“Why?” He asked.
“Just answer me.” She playfully ordered.
“40.” He blurted.
“Your not Decker Hayward are you?” She asked and he looked confused. How did
she know his name.
“How…?”
“My brothers, the triples. They told me all about Dangerous Decker. Their
friend who helped them steal and set fires and beat the hell out of people.” As
she spoke she realized how dangerous he was.
He remembered everything, he had once tried so hard to forget. “Did your
brothers tell you about what they did? Making me out to a bad guy.” He was
getting pissed. “Did your brothers tell you that I went to jail for them.  How
they beat the shit out of a people? How about the fact they nearly killed a
convenience store clerk because he fought back when they robbed him? How the
fact they nearly rapped a girl?” He stopped talking. He shouldn’t have told her
that.
She wasn’t shocked. “I know all about that. They were on drugs. For the most
part they're not like that anymore. My daddy got ‘em straight. Huston now got
two kids. A cop. He’s pretty good. Harry got a son. He’s a car dealer kinda
still tricky but no bad. But Howard’s the worse. He runs a junkyard. He dresses
like a king but he’s really the jester. Got to pit bulls he use to backyard
bread. My daddy turned him in. Now he’s just the two boy mixes Carver and Mac.
I know about their past and now yours. I aint afraid of you.”
They had grabbed a ot of water on their last run. “I’m gonna wash up.” She said
as she walked to the bathroom.
He sat for a minute and thought about the past.
~~~ (16 Years earlier)
Decker was 24. Just got out of jail. He went to the only place he knew. Pink
Parker Trailer park. He went to Section C. The trailer that use to be there
wasn’t. It was upgraded to a two story bus. He was nervous at first. Not sure
if it was his friends or someone knew. He knocked.
A familiar face opened the door. “Decker Hayward.” The women smiled. She hugged
him. “How are you, my sweet sweet boy?” She was the only mom he’s ever known,
even though she wasn’t his mom.
“Fine now.” He smiled at her.
“You're smiling. Never seen that before.” She teased. “Comin in?” She asked and
moved aside for him.
“Thank you ma’am.” He was so polite.
“What happened to you? I’m getting smiles and polite words. I think you’re a
whole knew man.” She teased. “Sit down I’ll get you something to drink.” He sat
on the sofa.
“I see you upgraded.” He said.
She nodded. “Got married again. Had another baby as well. Little girl.” She
smiled and sat next to him. “What’s a matter sweet boy?” She asked.
“I don’t have anywhere to stay. Mom’s died. Dean’s in jail. Can't find any
other Hayward. I don't know what I’m doin.” He admitted.
“You can stay here.” She told him. “Me and my new husband have a small room
upstairs with Bailey. My daughter. The twins sleep upstairs as well on double
beds. Abel also sleeps upstairs on a double. The triplets just got back from
college. Hutsons been sleepin on the chair. Harry on the table and Howard on
the sofa. You can take the other chair. It’s a little small but it’ll work.”
“Them boys went to college.” Decker looked shocked.
“My new husband, Marvin, sent them. He got them in check. I tried to get you a
lawyer but I was told you sent him away.” She spoke of the past.
“I knew you couldn’t afford one. I wasn’t taking money from you.” He told her.
At the time she didn't have money but She knew he was in jail because of her
boys.
“Now that you're out you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. It’s a
bit crowded but we deal.”
“Where is everyone?” He asked. 
He heard a voice say ‘Momma.” On a baby monitor.
“Hold on.” She went up the stairs and came back down with a long blonde hair
little girl. “This is Bailey.” The little girl smiled at him. “She’s four.”
“Wow.” He was shocked when the girl looked right at him.
“I think she likes you. Anyway, Josh and Jim are at summer school.  Able is at
work. And the triplets are at the market. Should be back soon.” She watch
Decker stair confusingly at the baby.
“Bailey can you say Decker.” Her momma asked. “Say Decker.”
“Recker.” She shouted.
“Close enough baby girl.” She patted her back.
“I’m gonna have a smoke outside.” He went out and just as the three trouble
making triplets showed up with grocery bags.
“If it aint dangerous Decker!” They were identical triplets but Decker could
tell them apart.
“If it aint the pot calling the cattle a troublemaker!” He yelled at Hutson.
Howard hugged him, manly of course. “It’s amazing to fucking see you again.” He
smiled.
They all had dark black hair, brown eyes and were pretty tall. They all had
different hair styles. Hutson was always short shaved hair. Harrys hair was
always long and wavy. And Howard was saved on the sides and slicked back in the
middle.
“What are you up too?” Harry asked.
“Need a place to stay. Mary’s letting me crash here for a few days.” He told
them. “I’m headin out for a bit though. Gonna try to make a few bucks.” He
said.
“We’ll come.” Hutson offered.
They put the groceries away and went out with Decker. First to the pool hall.
Hustled their way into making 1,000 dollars. Then they headed to a bar. That’s
where things got bad. It was a biker bar and they were in way over their heads.
A fist fight broke out when Howard smashed a bottle over some bikers head. Cops
showed up and everyone was arrested, except Decker. He took off. Never went
back.
~~~(Present day)
She came out the bathroom. “It’s your turn.”
“In a minute.” He said. “You know I met you.” He blurted it out.
“What?” She sat next to him.
“You were 4. I went to visit your brothers and Mary...” He smiled thinking her
mother. She had never seen him smile. “You woke up and she was holding you.” He
said.
“This is so weird. You know my family and me. I don’t remember, of course, but
still it‘s so strange.” She was in shock.
“Looks like rain is gonna stop me from training you today but first thing as
soon as it stops.” He needed a change of subject.
She grabbed a deck of card he had on the table. “By the way, my brother Huston
named his firstborn son after you. He’s only three. He said. Decker was his
best friend. A loyal man and one his son should he proud to be named after.”
She told him.
Decker felt something inside him. He liked knowing that.
“Poker? Go fish? Bullshit? Wanna play? Rummy 500?” She asked.
“Poker. No cheatin.” He joked.
They played for hours. Switch between Poker, go fish, and bullshit. When he
would win, she would pout, not childish but playfully. He would let her win
every couple of rounds just to see that smile. Her long hair would slip from
the hair tie and fall to her face. She tucked it back but it kept falling. He
stood from the table and grabbed the clip from his own almost shoulder length
greasy hair. Yes he had it clipped back. It was long enough but not to long. He
pulled her messy hair, still in the hair tie, and clipped it up in a messy bun.
He shockingly wasn’t rough. He was very gentle. She smiled at him. He was
taking care of her.
~~~
They did this on a regular basis. Woke up, ate, practice shooting, went to the
mall and scavenged, played cards. She trusted him. He cared for her. They knew
a few weeks had passed.
“I’m kinda hungry.” She said as he walked in front of her.
“Didn’t realize how late it was.” He looked out the window to see it was still
raining and pitch black.
“Yeah, my stomach is telling me it’s a late.” She teased.
“Whatever’s in the traps is probably stale now.” He said. “No point in going
out in the rain.” He went to the cabinets. “Still got soups.”
“Pass me a water please.” He handed her one and she drank a bit.
“Chickens all we got.” He said.
“Sounds good.” She said as she stood from the table.
~~~
A few weeks went by. Decker was making her some dinner, a nice dear Decker hit
with his motorcycle. Bailey was very grateful. She only knew how to show it one
way. “You know what, I’m not that hungry.” She went to his bed and sat down. “I
just wanna relax.” She unbuttoned the light blue sweater she’d been wearing for
days.
“What are you doin?” He asked.
“I don’t like being alone. Not even sleeping. I was alone for… I don’t really
know how long. You saved me a few weeks ago. I never thanked you.” She said as
she started lifting the white lace thin tank top she was wearing.
He got close to her and put his hand on hers. “Stop.” He shook his head.
“But…” She looked rejected.
“You’re too young. I wont do that.” He lifted her sweater from the floor and
handed it to her. “We’ll just forget this happened.” He looked at her.
“No! Decker. I just-” She was angry and sad. “I miss August. I wanna go home. I
hate feeling sad all the time. I wanna feel good! And I like sex. It always
makes me feel good. I wanna feel, something!” She yelled.
“I’m gonna get you home. No matter what, tomorrow we head out.” He leaned down
and kissed her head. His lips touched her for a minute. He paused. Her hair was
greasy and stinky but she was someone he has come to want. He would never take
her but he really wanted her. As he pulled away she grabbed his hand. It was
callused and cold but she didn’t mind. She put it to her face. She was warm. He
let her take control. She slid his hand down from her cheek to her chest, as
she nearly reached her breast he pulled away.
“No.” He said firmly. He pulled away from her. “Pack your bag. We can go now.”
He started putting water bottles in his bag.
“I’m sorry. I wont do it again.” She put her sweater on. “Lets just wait till
morning. It‘s dark.” She went to her bed and got under the blankets.  
“Eat.” He ordered her. “You cant risk getting sick.”
They both ate in awkward silence. Then he blew out the candles and laid on his
bed. He watched her as she rolled over. He didn’t like hurting her but he
wouldn’t touch her that way.
~~~
***** Chapter 3 *****
He woke up first, like always. He checked the windows and the balcony. He took
out the four that were out there.
He packed their bags. He had a small rolled up tent and a thin blanket in one
bag. He stuffed a few bottles of water and soup in the blanket. He would carry
that one on his back. He packed a bag for her. Her panties and bra. A pair of
boxers for himself. He throw in a few more bottles of water and soup. Then he
put in two guns, with the safeties and silencers on. He gently tapped her
shoulder.
“Hey you want to wake up.” He nudged her.
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. She smiled at him.
“Quicker you wake up quicker we can go.” He said.
“I’m up.” She smiled at him.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand pulled her up. “Get dressed. We leave in a few
minutes.”
~~~
They were set on the Harley and ready to go. “I’m scared.” She admitted.
“It’s alright.”
“What if he doesn’t remember me. What if she’s... What if she’s-not there?.”
She worried.
“She’ll be fine.” He assured her.
~~~
They started ridding. She told him what direction to go in. They should be
there in two days, maybe three depending on what happens.
“Decker.” She said and he tapped her leg.
“I have to pee!” She giggled.
“Hold it.” He teased.
“I can't.” She huffed.
“I can't stop here.” He told here.
They were on a rode. They could see creeps in the trees.
“Hurry up then.” She squeezed her arms around him tighter.
~~~
They drove for a few more minutes. He could hear her whimpering behind him.
“Just hold it.” He stated.
He felt her legs fidgeting. He put his one hand down on her leg. “Relax.” He
said. He put his hands back on the bike and went a little faster.
~~~
He finally stopped. She hopped off the bike and ran into the woods. “Stop.” He
yelled and chased after her.
He grabbed her arm. “You cant do that.” He scolded her. “You don’t know what’s
out here.” He yelled at her in a whispered tone.
“I have to pee!” She yelled at him.
“Go.” He ordered her.
He looked around and didn’t see anything. She went behind a tree. “Don’t
listen.” She said.
“Don’t worry I aint.” He went over to creep coming his way and stabbed it
through the side of head.
“Decker!” He heard her cry out. He rushed back. She was being held by two boys,
twins. The one had a butcher's knife to her throat. Her pants were down and
Decker could see her blue boy short panties.
“Get off her.” He said. He had his gun loaded and aimed.
“Oh no.” He one holding her grinded himself against her. She whimpered in
agony.
Decker wasn’t thinking when he fired. He hit the kid touching her. The other
took off. He rushed to her and pulled up her pants up. She collapsed, breathing
heavy. She was trying so hard not to cry. He didn’t know what to say. She sat
in his arms and just hold on his leg. He let her sit there for a minute. Then
he started seeing the creeps coming their way.
“Come on we gotta go.” He lifted her. She was shaking still. They just focused
on rushing back to the motorcycle. The creeps followed them but Decker got her
and himself on the bike. He started driving, fast. He could still feel her
shaking behind him. They reached a bus station. They didn’t go in all the way.
They could see all the creeps on the street and on the busses.
He stopped the motorcycle. “We gotta go around.” He said.
“But if we get on the bus we can sleep there.” She said.
“It aint worth the risk.” He said. “We’ll find somewhere else.” He started
driving again and went around. A few came towards them but Decker was driving
to fast. They past a graveyard.
“Wait.” She said in his ear. He didn’t see anyone around them. “Can we go in?”
She asked.
“Why?” He questioned her.
“I wanna show you something.” She said.
He drove them to the gates. She got off and opened them. He drove through and
she re closed the gates and hoped on the back of his bike.
She instructed him where to drive.  Then they stopped at a small mausoleum. He
saw the name said Hoyt. He didn’t know that name. They went inside. He saw a
marker on the wall that said.
Mary-Ella Elizabeth Hoyt.
Wonderful Mother, wife and grandmother.
1958-2013
He wanted to cry. She was the only women who ever raised him. Gave him a hot
meal and warm bed whenever he needed it. He whipped his face with a rag from
his pocket.
“I knew you looked familiar.” She pointed to one of many pictures encased on
the wall. It was Mary, the triplets, Abel, Decker and his older brother Dean,
his younger sister Darlene. Decker had to be 17 at the time. They were standing
outside Marys old trailer.
“What?” His fingers grazed the name plate. He couldn’t asked.
“Car accident.” She said.
“Was she… suffering?” He asked.
“Doc said no. Said it was quick.” She told him.
“Best women I ever met.” He smiled with his eyes closed. He reopened them to
see her standing in front of him.
“When I was younger she told me stories of a boy she knew. My brothers best
friend. Said he was so smart and handsome. He was the best person in the world.
You might not want to hear this but I heard her talking to a friend ounce. I
was maybe 8 or 9. She said ‘Decker was my sons best friend but if he was just a
bit older he would have been my sons daddy.’” He looked uncomfortable and she
started giggling.
“I didn’t need to know that.” He huffed. Even though he did have a few
fantasies of Mary. He would never admit to it. The women helped take care of
him, how could he have fantasies about that.
“Sorry I just thought it was funny. I was young then so I thought it was gross
but now mettin you… I see why.” She turned around. Yes she was flirting with
him. She really wanted him.
“Don’t say things like that.” He scolded her.
“Why? It’s true.” She said as she looked back him. “I like you. You take care
of me.” He grunted at her and pick up his bag. She grabbed his hand. “I see the
way you look at me.” His face looked pissed and hurt at the same time. “When
I’m changing and you would pretend not to look. I would see your eyes peeking.
Then you would adjust your pants.” He pulled out her grip.
“Fuck you!” He yelled at her. “It aint like that!”
“So you don’t want me.” She stepped back. She felt rejected.
“I just… I don’t know!” He shouted angrily at her. He calmed when he saw her
fear. “You want to know somethin.” He said. He didn’t like seeing a sad face.
On her anyway.
“What?” She asked as she sat on a bench inside the mausoleum. She was broken.
“Ya look just like Mary. Identical. She would do the same thing your doing now.
When she was angry or upset or scared, she would resort to sex. I saw it a few
times with the men around the trailer park. I’m not sayin your momma was…”
“I know.” She said. She knew her mom's past.
“I just know that some of the things she did, she got herself hurt. I don’t
want that happin to you. I’m a redneck, peace a trash. I ain't never had a job
for then a month. Before this I had thirteen dollars to my name.”
“I don’t care about that.” She said.
“You're too young.” He yelled her.
“I’m not though. I have a kid and I’ve been havin sex since I was 15!” She
yelled.
He was getting angry at the fact she wasn’t understanding him. “You want to
have sex with me.” He went close to her.
“Yeah.” She said.
He roughly pulled her up. Pushed her against the wall. His mouth so close to
hers. “You want me to fuck you!” He grabbed her hand. He put it to the bulge in
his pants. He was above average in size. It was one of the main reasons he
didn’t like having sex. He didn’t like the painful faces they made when he did
fuck them. “I wont be gentle. I’ll throw you to the floor. Rip your pants off.
Flip you over and fuck you.” He growled at her. He took the hand he was holding
her against the wall with and grabbed her stomach sliding it up to her breast.
She went to pull herself and hand away. His words and actions were starting to
scare her.
“Decker stop.” She whimpered.
He kept her hand still on his cock. And kept her in place against the wall.
“But that’s not what you want is it? You want me to make love to you. Treat you
like a queen? Kiss every part of you.” His voice softened and he let her go.
His hand dropping from her breast. She instantly missed his touch.  “I cant do
that. That’s not who I am.” He let her drop. “I aint no prince charming here to
care of ya! I’m taking you home and that’s it.” He very hurtfully clarified. He
left the mausoleum, leaving her on the floor.
She didn’t cry. She just sat there in shock. Even after that. After him being
so rough and hateful, she wanted him.
Now he didn’t leave, just sat outside. His cock was now aching for attention.
He poked his head in. “Stay here. Set up the blankets. We’ll spend the night
here.” The sun was dying down. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He said.
“Where are you going?” He saw the tear stains on his cheeks.
“Looking for rabbits or squirrels. Just stay in here.” He tossed in his pack
and closed the mausoleum gate. He walked up a little bit. He didn’t see any
creeps. He made his way into an abandoned crypt. It was stunning to him. But he
wasn’t really interested in anything else.
He sat on the floor. Undid his pants and pulled himself out. He was large long,
average thickness. He didn’t want to relieve himself to the thought of Bailey
but he couldn’t help it. His hand stroking over himself while his mind wonders.
Her smile. Her soft touch. Her giggly laugh. Then when she lets her hair down.
The way it flows over her chest. Not to mention her breast. Perfect. They stay
in place even without a bra. He could image touching them, with her consent.
How would they would feel bare in his hand, in his mouth. Her breast so full.
His mind drifts a little lower as his stroking speeds up. Her stomach. He’s
seen it before. She’s thin but has meat on her bones. He didn’t get the point
of girls being to skinny. He just wants to kiss down her belly, reaching
between her legs. He never thought about that part of her until now but he
wonders what she would feel like. How wet would she get? How tight would she
be? What would she taste like? That’s what throw him over the edge. “Bailey.”
He came grunting her name. He grabbed the rag from earlier and whipped off. He
discarded it to the side and tucked himself back in.
He left and went back to Bailey. The sun was down and it was nearly pitch black
out. He saw the candles flicker in the mausoleum. Bailey must have set them up.
He went to the gate and let himself in.
He saw her laying on a bed she made out of blankets. He only packed one, where
did the other two come from? She had made the bed on the opposite side of her
mothers marker. The side her father had reserved for himself.
“I packed two blankets just in case. I did it when you were in the bathroom,
cleaning up a bit.” She sat with the blankets over her lap. “I know you don’t
like sharing a bed but there’s not enough blankets to make two. I’ll keep to my
side. I promise.” She smiled and he thought of his fantasies.
“I’m a keep watch.” He said.
“Come on. It’s late. The gates of the graveyard are keeping the creeps out.
Just lay down and relax. I promise I aint gonna rape you.” He still wasn’t
persuaded. “Besides if you take watch all night you wont be able to drive that
bike and I don’t know how to do it.”
“Fine.” He huffed and sat in the corner of the blanket bed.
She laid down and he watched her get completely under the blankets. She cuddled
up on her side. He sat up and watched as the blankets draped perfectly over her
curves.
“I’mma blow out the candles.” He stood and blew out the three in the window.
They must have already been here because he didn’t grab any from the hotel. He
sat back on the bed with her. She was already asleep. He said what the hell and
laid down with her. He didn’t touch her just laid down, over the blankets.
~~~
***** The Past Is Dead *****
Decker woke up first. "Wake up." He stated, rather loudly. "Bailey." He
stated. 
"Yeah? I'm up." She quickly stood. 
"Get packed." He stated. 
He was hungry. 
He scrambled through the pack and grabbed two granola bars. 
He tossed one at her.
She caught it. 
"Eat first, I'm making sure the roads clear." He stated as he walked out the
mausoleum and biting his granola bar. 
He walked the grounds for a minute. Looked around and saw nothing. The
graveyard was empty. Outside the gates were a few but nothing focused on them. 
Their good. 
He walked back to the mausoleum and she was packed. 
"Ready?" 
"Yeah." They walked out and climbed on the back of his bike. 
He started to drive. 
She was telling him where to go. They breezed past infected and trees. It was
almost a beautiful sight. If the infected were alive it would be a picture
perfect moment. They passed houses, with a good separation between them. They
passed 4 rows of houses before they hit Bailey semi-farm house. 
They came upon her gate and he stopped. She climbed off and open the gate. He
drove through and she closed it and got back on the bike. 
"STOP!" They heard a stern voice shout. Decker knew who it was. He knew that
voice. A blast from his twisted past. The man came off the porch. 
"I brought you a present." Decker said. He stood off the bike and Bailey got
off next. 
"You son of a bitch." The man, Decker knew as Huston came over. 
"I'd say the same but Mary was no bitch." He chuckled. Huston came over, 5,10,
muscular, shaved black hair. Then Harry and Howard came from opposite sides of
the house. Identical to Huston except for the hair. 
"Bailey." Hutson saw his sister. "Where have you been?" He worried. 
Able came off the porch. 
"Jesus, you look like a caveman." Decker shouted at Able. He had wild crazy
hair and beard to match. "Havent shaved since the last I saw you have you?" He
chuckled. 
"And you havent showered." He joked back. 
The four older boys hugged their sister. 
"Big back Decker Hayward playing delivery boy now." Howard chuckled. Him and
Decker have a complicated past. 
"Should have left her at the mall. Would have never had to see your ugly ass
again."
They were being playful.  
"You can kiss my ass!" He said back. 
Decker and Howard were face to face. Howard offered his hand and Decker shook.
Howard grabbed his arm tight and swung a punch right in Deckers face and
laughed. Decker gave him one back. 
"Howard!" Bailey yelled. "Decker!" She yelled again when they wouldn't stop. 
They were hitting and dropping each other to the ground. 
Rolling and fighting. 
Drawing blood and grunting like wild animals. 
Bailey tried to stop them. "Just let them play." Hutson joked. 
"Play?" Bailey questioned sarcastically. "Is August here?" She realized. 
"In her room." Hutson said. "Alright! Playtimes over, get your asses inside." 
Decker paused. 
"Dont go yet." Bailey looked back at him. He moved forward and came in the
house. 
Bailey rushed on the porch and came in the house. She saw her home but no one
inside. "August!" She yelled. She saw her 4 year old daughter run down the
stairs. 
"Mommy!" She screamed and jumped in her arms. 
"I missed you so much!" She cried. They both did. 
"No more leaving." Her daughter said. 
"I knew I heard that voice." Her older father came to the steps. He needed help
from the stair lift. 
"Daddy." She smiled. "Decker, you know my brothers. This is my daddy." She
smiled at him. 
"Decker Hayward?" He asked. 
"Yes sir."
"Come on now." He stood off the lift and grabbed his cane and walked to the
kitchen. He looked back and saw Decker still standing there. "I said come on."
They walked through the dining room and into the large kitchen. Bailey father,
Marvin, tried to reach a brown box that was on top of the refrigerator. But he
couldn't lift his frail arms up. "Get that." He told Hutson and he did. He put
the box on the counter top. 
Marvin lifted the lid and took out a large photo book. 
He started turning the pages. He pulled a Polaroid out and asked. "Thats your
kin right?" He asked. Marvin wasnt sure. He never actually met Decker just
listen to stories from his wife. Decker looked. He saw a photo of himself, his
older brother, his younger sister, his father and all of Marys family. Except
for the twins and Bailey who werent born yet. 
"Yeah, thats them." He admitted. 
"Damn, you look good." Bailey teased. He was dirty in the photo and had nothing
like the body he has now. 
Her older brothers gave her scolding looks. 
"Momma, I want to play!" She put august down and saw ran upstairs with her
cousins. 
"Where are the twins?" She asked. 
"They didnt make it." Hutson said. 
"Shit." She said. 
"Well I think the stews done." Harry said as he turn the stove off.
"I'mma head out." Decker said. 
"No." Bailey said. "Stay, it's safer here."
"I dont belong here." He told her. 
"Stay for the night, it's not good to travel in the dark." Marvin sternly
stated. "Get the kids, it's dinner time." 
Hutson went upstairs and got the kids. Harry started putting booster seats on
the chairs. 3 chairs that needed booster chairs and one needed a highchair. The
table was large rectangle and had 14 chairs, minues one for the highchair. Two
on each end and 5 on each side. Hutson put his two sons next to him. 
"Decker this is Decker Conner Hoyt. We call him DC. He's 3. And Johnny Hoyt,
hes 1." Hutson put Johnny in the highchair and buckled him in. 
"My son Milo." He is 2. Harry put his son in the booster chair and buckled him
in. 
"You can sit next to me if you want." Bailey offered as she put the plats down.
She buckled August in a booster chair as well. 
They all sat, ate some stew. There were empty chairs where the twin brother
should have sat. Decker didnt realize but he was sitting in Marys chair. Him
and Bailey were at the end of the table. August was at the corner. They ate and
it was quiet.
"Are all the houses around you empty?" Decker asked.  
"Most, I know all the families coming up the road jumped ship. The house across
the road is empty. I'm pretty sure there are two families in their houses.
Havent heard from them in a while though." Hutson stated. 
"Momma, I'm sleepy." August rubbed her eyes. 
"She hasnt been sleeping well." Harry said. 
"Missed momma." She cried. 
"I got you now." She unbuckled the booster chair and held her.
"I think it's everyones bedtime."  Marvin looked at the sleepy kids. 
Bailey stood. 
"Your friend can sleep in the study." Marvin stated as he went over to the
stair lift. 
"I'll show you." Bailey said to Decker. 
He followed behind her. They went to the second floor. There was a master
bedroom in the front. Two bedrooms on the left, 1 on the right. A bathroom on
the room with a small laundry room.
And a study and small bathroom in the back.  
There were three bedrooms in the basement that Decker didnt know of plus a
bathroom. 
"Heres my room." She opened the door and they saw Baileys room on one side and
a set up for August on the other. 
She put August in bed. And said. "I"ll be right back." She walked out the
bedroom door and closed it. Her room was next to the laundry room. She walked
to the back with Decker. 
She opened the door to the study. "Here." The room was pretty big, wall to wall
with books. Two desk with laptop computers. A large sofa with two end table.
"The sofa opens." She said. "I'll get you some blankets and pillows." She said
as she left the room. 
Decker looked at the books and just thought about the past. Everything coming
back so quickly. He didnt want to be here. He didnt want to remember. 
"Here." She came in and put the pillows and blankets down. "I'll fix it for
ya." She went to tuck the sheet over the sofa cushions. 
"I got it." He wanted to just bail out now. 
Bailey heard her daughter start to cry. 
"I gotta-Have a goodnight Decker." She left and closed the door behind her. 
He fixed the sheet and just as he did he heard the door open behind him. 
"What now..." He turned to see Howard coming in and closing the door. 
"You keepin it in the family?" Howard chuckled. "Fuckin my little sister?" 
"It aint like that." Decker stated. 
"It was always like that with you me." He bit his bottom lip and got closer to
Decker. 
"Thats the past." He pulled away. "Past is dead."
"Past aint dead if we're all still here." He grabbed his arm and pulled him in.
Howard kissed him, hard with a bite to his lip to finish. 
Decker doesn't believe in sexuality. He believes, you don't fall in love with a
gender you fall for the person. He can honestly say hes never been in love. Sex
is just sex. It doesn't matter where the parts go. It's just sex. Something to
make you forgot. Something to make your body feel good. 
Howard didnt make him feel good though. 
He was a violation. Howard grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down. 
Decker fought back. 
"The past is dead." Decker stated and pushed Howard away. 
"You know you want it." He growled. 
"Fuck off. We aint doing this shit anymore. The things we did, was never for
me. It was all you. You aint gettin your way anymore." Decker wasn't backing
down anymore. 
"We'll see." He said as he left the room. 
A few hours passed and Decker wasnt sleeping. 
He heard a knock on his door. 
"Yeah?" He asked without getting up. 
"Hey." It was Bailey. "Not asleep yet." 
"Cant sleep." He told her. 
"You gonna stay past tomorrow?" She asked as she sat in the chair adjacent to
him. 
"Probably not." 
"Please. It's not safe." She pleaded with him. But she didnt know his past. 
"Maybe. Talk in the morning." He told her. 
She looked at him. She saw sadness in his eyes. 
She stood and went to kiss his cheek but he turned and she got his lips. It was
like sparks shot down both of them. He wanted to pull away but it was like
their lips were magnetically linked. He went to wrap his arms around her and
she climbed on his lap. She started to rock her body on top of his as they made
out. He thought her mouth tasted like honey tea. 
She broke the kiss and moaned as she left her warm hands slide under her shirt.
"Decker!" 
He loved the way his name sounded on her lips. 
"You taste like honey." He whispered in her ear. 
She could feel him hard under her. She scooted back just a little and started
unbuckling his belt.
She reached her hand down. He slipped his hand in the waistband of her yago
pants and right between her legs. She gasped as he put pressure on her. 
"More!" She cried out. He pushed her panties to the side and slipped two as far
as they could go inside her. Her whole body lifted and she let go of his hard
member. She looked at him panting. 
It just hit him. 
He's about to fuck Marys daughter. 
"Stop." He said as he pulled his fingers out of her. 
"Decker?" She was confused. 
"I cant do this to you." He told her. "I cant, not yet." That slipped out. "I
just cant." 
She understood. But damn it she wanted it. "I want you Decker." 
"Bailey-just-please." He really didn't know what to say. 
She left him in the room. 
She planed on convincing him to stay. 
***** Next Morning. *****
Chapter Summary
     "Wheres Decker?"
     Her father looked at her from the dining table. "He left."
     "But I saw his bike."
     "The thing wouldnt start. Able gave him his spare truck."
     She as shocked.
     "Oh." She went back upstairs. She went into the study he slept in. He
     really left. She saw a note as she was about to leave.
     'Sorry.'
     That was all it said.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Bailey woke up. She saw August still sleeping. 
She jumped up and looked out the window. 
Deckers bike was still there. She rushed down. 
She didnt see him. 
"Wheres Decker?" 
Her father looked at her from the dining table. "He left."
"But I saw his bike."
"The thing wouldnt start. Able gave him his spare truck." 
She as shocked. 
"Oh." She went back upstairs. She went into the study he slept in. He really
left. She saw a note as she was about to leave. 
'Sorry.'
That was all it said. 
~~~
Decker couldnt look back. He couldnt go back. Bailey was safe. He didnt need to
be there anymore. 
He drove striaght to the motel. No stopping. He got there by night fall but it
was crowded by the dead. 
Not to many but enough to stop him from going back. 
He wasnt in a mood for a fight. 
He just drove the truck to the mall. He know it wouldn't be over run. He went
in and saw corpses. Ones that werent there before. 
He saw a blonde rush past the second floor. 
"Bailey?" He questioned. 
"I'm not Bailey but I do love role play." He heard a women voice but couldn't
see her anymore. 
"How'd you get in here?" Decker questioned. 
"I'm small I fit in tiny places." She told him. "Dont worry though-" He saw her
appear as she came down the stairs at a distance from him. “I won't be staying.
I just like to sleep, eat, than fuck who ever I met.” She is a blond. Reminded
him of Bailey, just looked alot tougher. Like she could take care of herself. 
"Who's Bailey?" She asked. 
"Non your business." 
"Ohh puppy. Lifes to short these days to keep secrets." She walked right past
him and started dragging a body. 
"What are you doin?" He questioned. 
"Like I said, I like to eat, sleep and fuck. I dont eat, sleep or fuck with the
dead rotting around me." She drug the body right out the door. "Why dont you
help a girl out." She teased. 
They cleaned the bodies out and secured the building. 
The two started to drink. There was a game center in the mall that had beer and
lots of it. They drank, they played the games, they had a blast, without a
singled story shared between them. 
Decker shot a bunch of creatures in arcade games. 
The women, who Decker doesn't even know her name yet, played skeeball. They
ended up changing each other to a game of skeeball. 
"So what do I get if I win?" She teased. 
He grinned her. "What do you want?" 
"To strip you naked and ride your cock." She flirted his cheeks became pink. 
"Guess you got alot riding on these balls." He manged to say. 
"You could have me riding on your balls if you like." She teased. 
Hes never had someone be so blatantly sexually who wasn't a prostitute before. 
They played. He won. But she still got her prize. She pulled him in for a kiss
and it escalated. He was pent up. He needed a release. Stripping her naked on
the game room floor. Grabbing her hips so tight he bruised them when she rode
his aching member. She moaned so loud they were sure the dead could hear them
outside. 
He flipped her pounded into her. He had no fear of hurting her she was well
experienced and seemed to be more revved up then he was. 
They finished and he dressed himself leaving her on the floor. She was naked
and didnt seem to care at all. 
"Think I might stick around awhile." She told him. 
He offered her a cigarette he had stashed in his bag. 
She took that as him accepting her. 
Chapter End Notes
     I will be skipping time in the part of my series.
     Please check out the rest here vvv
     https://archiveofourown.org/series/565787
***** A Routine *****
A few weeks have passed and Decker thought about going back to Bailey everyday.
He couldn't. He stayed with Bo in the mall. They killed the infected, fought
each other, broke a lot of stuff and fucked like rabbits. It became a game to
them, killing an infected with an improvised weapon. 
~~~
"Alright we have to do it." Bo said. 
"Why?" Decker asked. 
"Cause we have to see how much shit we can break without running out." She
reminded him. 
"Fine." He grunted. 
~~~
They started going store to store and separating stuff. This mall has three
levels and it mostly fully loaded. So it was hard and time consuming. The first
store they went through was a discount general store, food, clothes, furniture,
everything. They pulled the furniture out. It was on the third floor so they
decided to keep all the food in this store. They moved the clothes out and
anything that wasn't food or drinks. They burned the food that was molded or
rotten. They finished by sunset. When they lite the candles to have light they
heard the sound of a car speeding. They looked out the window and saw a car
speeding up to their doors. They rushed down the stairs to the front entrance. 
"I think somebody's inside." They heard a man state. 
"What do you want to do?" They heard a women asked. 
"Lets get in." He chuckled. The man started kicking the doors, trying to break
them in. 
Decker had a machete and Bo had a crossbow she found in a hunting store. Bo
unlocked and pulled the door open, almost causing the man to fall. 
"You really think its a smart idea to break the door down to the place your
trying to hide in." Bo sarcastically stated as she had the bow aimed at his
head. 
"I can fix anything." The man chuckled. He's tall with slicked back brown hair.
Some slight stubble. The women he was with has medium length wavy blond hair.
The four just looked at each other for a minute. 
"Anyone up for a fuck?" The women grinned. 
They all relaxed and chuckled. 
The man introduced himself as Dexter and the women was his partner Vickey.
Decker liked him. He was fun. The four of them were fun together. They killed,
fucked and fought like it was a routine. 
Days, weeks, months passed with this happening. They organized, had enough food
to last years. Both Decker and Bo were good at hunting. They had meats on a
regular supply. It didnt take long though for them to get cage rage. After days
they needed a break. After weeks they needed a walk outside the mall. And after
months they needed a run. The four seemed to be addicted to the rush of getting
away from the infected. It was a to easy sitting in the mall but they would
never let it go. It was a safe zone. Always go back. Never stay out more then 3
days.
A year had passed before they had any real problems. 
***** The Fun Ended *****
A year of fun ended when they were running. Taking a break from the cage rage.
They went to woods they've been to so many times when they heard it. A baby
crying. They slowly and carefully looked around and found a group of people
hiding in a tent. They couldn't see inside but they saw shadows and could see
it was alot. They weren't moving but the baby kept crying. Decker had a gun and
slowly opened the tent, they saw 5 women and six small kids. They jumped when
they saw him. But they were very weak. Barely moving. "Give me the food and
water." Decker told the other three. They handed him a can of spam. Decker cut
it up and handed it to each of them. Including the babies and kid. He saw 7
cats and tossed a few pieces at them. They didn't even think, just ate it.
Decker stood.
"How many?" Bo asked in worry.
"A kid, 5 babies. Batch a women. Couple of cats."
"I love kitties." Vickey said.
"What should we do?" Dexter asked.
One of the women weakly pushed the tent seal open. "Help." She asked.
"Vickey and I 'ill stay here. You two go back and get cars, food and water." Bo
stated. Decker and Dexter got on their bikes and took off. These were cycles.
They weren't cool but didnt make noise.
"Do-Do you- have more?" The asked.
They had a jar of peanut butter they handed over. And the four bottles of water
they had. All the women had red hair, different shades. Most the kids did too.
After a while a woman came out of the tent. “I'm Felicia. Thank you.” She was
weak and barely conscious.
“Just relax. We got more food.” Bo told her.
They started to hear a growl going from the woods.
Bo aimed a gun towards the sound.
“No please!” Felicia begged. She knew what it was. After a few seconds Six men
and a wolf appeared. They had a few bags.
“Felicia.” A man ran over when he saw her weak.  
“It’s been days.” She told him.
“We got trapped.” He told her. “We got food.” He went inside the bag and
grabbed canned vegetables.
“Who are ya?” An older man with purely gray hair but a pretty muscled body
asked. .
“The people who saved their lives.” Vickey sarcastically stated.
“They gave us food. To weak to move.” The man was holding Felicia up.
“Thank you.” He said. “I’m Jensen.” He looked in the tent. He saw his babies
chewing on the spam slices.
Before Bo could introduce herself they heard the engine of the cars.
“It’s the ferals!” Jensen shouted in fear. The men knew of this. The women
didn't, nor did Bo or Vickey.
“No, no, it’s our friends.” Bo said. “Who are the ferals?” Bo worried.
They saw Decker and Dexter come over.
“There these people, human but not really. They rape anything.” Jensen got cut
off by the older man.
“I saw one raping a corpse.” He stated.
Jensen continued. “They killed and eat anything. Living or dead. They weren't
human but they were.”
“We’re not safe out here in the open.” A man with black hair stated.
“Do you have weapons?” Decker asked.
Each of the men had a variety of pocket knives.
A woman who introduced herself as Rowen had a gun.
Decker and Dexter took the weapons. They gathered everyone up in the cars. It
was a tight squeeze but they fit. Dexter drove one and Decker drove the other.
They got back to the mall.
“Is this where you're staying?” Felicia asked. She had a baby in her arms.
“Yeah.” Decker said as he unchained the doors.
“Lets get these kids inside.” Vickey said. They went in and Vickey said. “Let
me check those kids.” The mothers look confused. “I was a nurse. I think their
dehydrated.”
Decker and Bo were shocked to find that out. She didn't act like a nurse.
“Dexter get my kit from my things.” She pulled her hair into a hair tie and sat
on a stool they had set up around a table.
“Start with that little one right there.” She pointed to a small boy in a over
sized shirt.
“It’s Marvin.” Rowen brought him over. “He’s my son.” She took him off his
grandfather and brought him over.
“What a few months old?” Vickey asked.
“He was a month old when this sickness started.”
“So he's a year and seven to eight months?” She wondered. “He's very small for
that.” She lifted his shirt. He was thin, had a rash around his backside.
Dehydrated with poor hygiene. All of the kids were. All of the people were.
Vickey had ointments and creams she used on the babies. “All these kids still
nursing?” She asked after all the exams.
“Maxine stopped at 2 but continued after this started because i didn't have
anything else.” A woman named Farah said. Maxine is about six years old now.
“Continue breastfeeding all of them. But use bottles and get some pacifiers get
them use to drinking from cups and growing."
“Decker get some milk.”
“Milk?” A women named Fiona asked.
“It’s powder but it works.” She thought for a minute. “No wait Decker, theres
formula cans, they should still be good.”
“Dexter get a store set up for our new friends.” She told him.  “Bo you mind
gettin them some more food and water.” After everything calmed the men
continued to tell them about the ferals.
“A man named Gavin told us that his group when scavenging were attacked by a
group of beastly people. He described them as feral animals. Hates normal
people and will attack without a reason. We thought it was just a story but it
wasn't when we got to a store we saw these people they looked disgusting. They
were cutting up the bodies of the dead and roasting them for food. It seemed
like they were half infected and half human but not really human at all.”
Jensen was talking. “They saw us and chased us down, we hid in a few separate
houses. That's what took us so long to get back.”
“Lock this place down.” The oldest man, Allen stated.
“Aint no body gettin in here.”
***** The End For Them *****
(one year and six months ago)
Felicia and Jensen have been married for 15 years. She's 32 and he's 35. Six
months ago they had a set of triplets. Two girls and a boy. They had one cat
named Sweetness but after she got out they got 8 more. Her boyfriend and
they're 7 kittens, born only two weeks ago.  Felicia has a sister named Farah,
she's 25 and has three kids. Her boyfriend and father of her children's name is
Max and they’ve been together for 5 years. He's 30. She They have an older
sister named Fiona. She's 36 and  wild. She never has a boyfriend for long but
has two adult kids. She lives and travels in a giant winnebago.  
~~~
“What's wrong?” Felicia asked as she jumped out of bed to answer the phone.
“No, we just got up.” Jensen couldn't hear the other end. “The babies were up
all night.” She paused for a few moments. “Farah what is happening?”
Jensen gestured and whispered, “What's going on?”
“Okay, I’ll call you back.” Felicia said and hung up.
“What happened?”
“I don't know, Farah is saying something about an infection. She and Max are
bring the kids and her wolf over here.” She said.
Jensen was about to speak but they heard one of the babies start crying.
“I’ll get them, probably hungry.” She said as she stood off the bed. “Can you
check the news or something?” She asked as she lifted Oli out of his crib. She
unclipped her shirt and allowed Oli to nurse as she sat in the rocking chair.
Jensen started scrolling through his phone. Felicia saw his expression change
from disconcern to worry as he scrolled.
“What's going on?” She asked.
“I’m not sure.” He got off the bed and went into the living room. They lived in
a one story house. Two bedrooms, an office and one and a half bathrooms. They
didn't keep a tv in the bedroom because it was to noisy for the babies. After a
few minutes Jensen came back in. Felicia now had Holly on her breast. “I’ll
call your sister, she's right. It’s some kind of infection that's killing
people but not really. I don't understand it sounds like zombies but that's
fucking insane.” Jensen grunted.
“Mouth.” She scolded.
“Sorry.”
She burped Holly and asked Jensen to hand her Molly.
He did and quickly realized Oli needed to be changed. He lifted Oli and someone
started banging on the door. All three babies started to scream.
Jensen put Oli down and rushed to the door. “What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry.” Farah and Max rushed in with their, kids bags and large wolf.
Shadow is the calmest animal. She doesn't care about most things and rarely
ever barks. Shadow ran in and so did Farah and Max’s 4 year old daughter
Maxine. They came in, slammed the doors. “Lock them.” She pointed to the doors.
Farah and Max took their 10 month old twins out of the carriers on their chest.
 
“What is going on?” Felicia came out with Oli in her arms. Trying to calm him.
The three were still crying.
Jensen went over to comfort his other two kids.
“I don't know.” Farah said. “I saw my neighbor eating his wife on his lawn.”
She emphasized. They lived close by. But in a slightly smaller house.
“Wait, is this the disease they said broke out in New York last week, the one
that caused them to quarantine the entire state?” Felicia asked.
“I think so, they were afraid it would spread and it did.” Max stated as he
closed the curtains.
“Did you bring anything?” Felicia asked.
“Stuff for the kids.” Max pulled his slightly long curly wavy hair into a clip.
It was annoying him. He was the only one in the house to have black hair.
Everyone else had strawberry blonde or bright red hair. After a few moments the
babies stopped crying.
“It’s only 9am.” Felicia just noticed the time.
“We’ve got to find somewhere safe to go.” Farah said in worry.
“We’re not going anywhere. I have six month old triplets. You have 10 month old
twins, I don't understand how, if it's that bad, why you want to go out there.”
Jensen stated as he brought his daughters into the livingroom.
Felicia closed the door to the office where the kittens were. Sweetness and
Alpha were very protective of their babies.
Felicia looked out the back door and saw people rushing around, running
packing, getting in their cars and leaving.
“Have you called Fiona?” Felicia asked with her eyes locked outside.
“She called us on her way out of Jersey. She's heading to us, your house.”
“Daddy!” Maxine cried and scream. She was looking out the dining room window
and a man ran and pounded against the window scaring her. He was bloody and
 trying to eat his way inside.
Max pulled the curtains closed and lifted his daughter. “Shhh.” He rocked her.
They could hear the thing pounding at the window and growling. “Close the rest
of those curtains.” Max demanded. He wasn't trying to be mean but he didn't
like the idea of his daughter being scared.
Felicia was closest so she closed the curtains over the back sliding doors and
the kitchen windows. It happened overnight. Everyone's lives ended overnight.
After a few hours of sitting in the house listening to the dead pound at their
doors and walls Fiona showed up with her 18 and 20 year old daughters, her two
current flings, her daughters fathers and her grandson. They stayed in the
house until they ran out of food. Then the windows started to break. It wasn't
safe anymore. They had a hard year and a half leading to them meeting Decker.
***** Settling In *****
Everyone was introduced, people were checked over and feed. The cats and
Shadow, the wolf, were running through the mall.
Felicia had her triplets in cribs. She was looking at herself in a mirror. She
was so skinny. It made her sick to look at herself. “You’ll get healthy again.”
Jensen said.
He was boney now too. Before this he was muscled with the perfect body. “We all
will.” He assured her.
The whole family were put in a old multi purpose store on the second floor. It
had two floors so it went up to the third. They had island shelves sectioning
off rooms so they had some privacy. They had clothes for themselves and beds.
It was scary comfortable.
~~~
It was late. Dexter, Vickey, Bo and Decker normally fuck in a big bed then
Decker and Bo go to a separate and Dexter and Vickey go to a separate but
tonight was different. The three started heading to the room they fucked in but
Decker didn't.
“Come on?” Bo asked.
“Not tonight.” He stated and walked towards the elevator. It hasn't worked
since he started scavenging here but he broke the glass off the windows so he
could sit on the ledge and look out over the mall. It hit him, they’ve been
having fun and forgetting everything in here but the rest of the world was
dying out there. They were selfish and stupid.
He spent all night thinking about how he could fix it. Drawing out maps and
writing code. Thinking of ways to secure this place even more.
~~~
“Have you been up all night?” A women named Rowen came over to him at the food
court with her son and asked.
“Yeah.” He grunted.
“Thinking about going out there?” She looked at the maps he drew.
“Yeah.” She lifted one and grabbed a pencil.
“Right here is gone.” She put a small X above a building he drew. She knew what
it was because of the street names. “We set that on fire about 2 weeks ago. The
basement was-”
“Full of infected.” Decker stated. “Yeah I know. We did it, put the holes in
the walls too.”
He crossed off the street her family burnt down.
“What are you doing?” Bo came over. Rowen left.
“We been hiding in here.” He shook his head as he started to put together the
map he made.
“We go out.” She told him.
“But we don't go looking.” He told her. “How many people like them died out
there because we stayed hidden in here.” He told her.
“Look I’m all for saving lives but why go looking if we don't know for sure
somethings out there.” Dexter said as he came over.
“We know something's out there.” Decker shouted. “They were. They said they met
a man named Gavin-”
“They also said something about ravenous freaks.” Bo interrupted.
“Which is more reason why we have to go out there.” Decker shouted.
This wasn't like Decker but he kept thinking about Bailey and his own secrets
kept deep.
“But he's right,” Allen came over. “We saw people out there. Sick and healthy.
Scared and dying. There were so many people. Some offered to take us in, they
didn't have anything. We didn't feel right taking the scraps they had.”
“Why did you keep those pets, how?” Bo asked as a tabby and gray mixed one
rubbed against her leg.   
“The cats are mine. Their like my babies. Had them in cages for a while, feed
them scraps of what we ate. The momma cat nursed her kittens well into
adulthood.” Felicia stated.
“Shadows mine.” Farah said. “I rescued her. She was found in an assholes farm
who was pinning different species against each other. The rescue agency told me
she was 4 months old in the ring with a fully grown lion. They were throwing
stuff at them, pissing him off . Making him attack. She survived a lion, she's
surviving this.”
“So you're telling a wolf puppy beat a full grown lion?” Bo was sceptical.
“Technically yes. The rescue group tranquilized the lion before he did any real
damage.”
“Anyway.” Decker was annoyed that they changed the subject.
“If you need volunteers, I’ll hep.” Allen  offered. “After a few days though, I
don't think i have enough energy to make it up those stairs.”
“We’ll make a plan, scope it out, then act. Sound good?” Dexter asked.
“Yeah.” Decker agreed.
~~~
The day was pretty quiet. The babies cried a little bit.
“How did you do it?” Vickey asked Felicia. She has triplets.
“It was pretty easy at first. Jensen and I were carrying them around. Then they
started crawling. It was harder then. They would disappear the second i put one
down. Oliver got lost when we were stuck in a gas station. He crawled in the
back and I nearly had a panic attack trying to find him while still holding the
other two.”  
“But you did it.” She said with sadness in her heart and head.
“I had a lot of help.”
~~~(1 year and 6 months ago.)
“I can't do it!” Vickey screamed in labor.
“Yes you can.” Dexter had her hand.
“You’ve helped countless other women, now it's your turn.” The nurse happily
said.
The baby was born still. They didn't understand why.
But after the world ended and they were running from the dead and hiding in
trash places Vickey realized, their son didn't have to deal with this. He was
in some better place.
~~~(Present day)
By the time night fell. Decker started lighting candles.
Everyone ate. Most were tired by now. Decker again, skipped the big bed. Vickey
wasn't really interested either. It was a quiet night. Decker went up the
stairs to the store were the new people were staying.
“There is a shower but theres no hot water. We have it rigged with a camper
shower bag. Just boil some water over the fire pit and  it works.” Decker told
them.
“Thank you!” Fiona seemed excited. “Show me where.” She grabbed his arm and
eyed him up and down. He pulled out of her grasp and started walking. They
walked around to the stairs and down. They made it to the gym and he pointed
in.
“Looks like someone was having fun in here.” She sw all the condoms tossed
around. All still wrapped just out of the box.
“We tried to build a fort out of condoms. Didn't work.” Bo said as she came out
of the back wrapped in a towel.
~~~
Morning came, food was ate, plans were made. One week from today they were
heading out. It would be Decker, Dexter, a man named Thomas, Allen, and Fiona's
lovers Jasper and Chuck.
***** Chapter 10 *****
A week had past. Decker was ready. They took a truck and minivan.
As they were heading out the door Decker told Bo. “You lock this. Don't unlock
it for any reason.” He told her.
“Got it.” She told him. “Be fucking careful.” She demanded.
“Yes ma’am.” He joked.
Dexter kissed Vickey. Vickey decided to go. Encase they found someone hurt.
Dexter was to stay.
Before they joined the others in the truck Dexter stopped Decker before closing
the door.
“If you don't find anyone, that's it. Ain't going out again.” He was serious.
Decker gave him a look that said  ‘You're not in charge.’  So Dexter broke the
tension by saying.  “Unless it's for fun or fucking.”
Vickey climbed in the pick up trucks drivers seat and Decker the minivan.
~~~
“So what do we do?” Farah asked.
“Anything you want, large mall. Plenty of ways to have fun. We use to play in
the game room. After the power went out we started playing strip obstacle
courses.” Bo stated.
“I don't know about strippng but an obstacle courses sound fun.” Felicia said.
“I like getting naked.” 19 year old Trixie stated.
“Me too.” Her mother Fiona said.
“We gambled, played naughty games. There's a whole store dedicated to board
games.” Bo kept talking. “Fucking relaxed, had no reason not to.”
“I’ll go check the store.” Felicia said as she put Oli down with his sisters in
a blown up pool. It was a large rectangle with three layers.
~~~
Decker was driving through roads he's drove down before. He didn't think he
would see anything different. The ride was pretty quiet.
They were at this empty woorden area. Trees for miles on both sides.
“Woe, woe, wait.” Thomas panic from the passenger's seat. He saw a female,
seemingly infected but she had a baby in her arms. She was shaking and bleeding
from her eye. She was covered in blood. Wearing practically nothing. The baby
was still. They thought it was dead.
Decker stopped.
He got out. The women looked up. She caught his gaze and feared him. She
assumed it was the men who attacked her.
“Wait, wait!” Decker shouted.
He chased her through the wooded area. She froze when he got closer. “I just
want to help.”
He reached in his back pocket and grabbed a rag he had. He tossed it to her.
She started to whip her eye.
“I’m Decker.”
“Jessica.” He looked at the baby. “Sabrina.”
“Is she okay?” He asked.
“Hungry. Very hungry.” Jessica said.
“We have food in the van and truck. We have doctor too.”
She perked up.
“She needs help.” They walked carefully back to the cars.
“We can't stay out here.” They said as she looked around. “They’ll be coming
back.” She was clearly panicked and scared. “I’m series we can't be out in the
open.” She began to panic.
“Lets get in the truck.” Vickey helped her in. She walked over to the guys.
“She's clearly been beaten, tortured. I think raped. That baby has bruises and
dehydrated.”
“It’s the ferals. I’m sure of it.” Thomas stated with fear.
“Lets get her back.” Decker looked at the car and the women was gone. “Where’d
she go.” He worried.
They rushed back to the truck. She didn't take off. She went to sleep. She was
laying in seat with her daughter.
“Probably hasn't slept in days. I could see the bags under her eyes.” Vickey
said.
“Alright, Thomas go back to the mall with Vickey.” Thomas got in the truck with
her.
Decker, Jasper, Allen and Chuck kept looking.
“Should we go in the woods? That's where that girl came from.” Jasper stated as
they were driving down the road.
“No, if something's there they probably know that area better than us. It
wouldn't be safe.” Decker told them.
~~~
Back at the  mall the women were playing with these giant inflatable bowling
pins and balls. Max, Jensen and Dexter were watching the kids. The women needed
a break.
“I always hated bowling but this is fun.” Felicia said as she rolled the large
inflatable ball towards the pins, knocking them all down. “Woo!” She jumped in
excitement.
As the excitement started to get overwhelming someone started to bang on their
doors.
They rushed over and Dexter saw it was Vickey and opened the door. Vickey
brought in Jessica. Vickey got her alone and addressed her eye. It was gouged
out, sloppily. Vicky knew how to treat but it was going to be painful and she
would never see from it again. The eye was gone. After lots of scream and crys
of agony Jessica passed out with her eye wrapped up.
Vickey took Sabrina to be feed. She feed her baby food jars they had. They
still tasted fine to her.
SHe put a diaper and clean clothes on the baby and tucked her into a crib.
Vickey explained everything to everyone. SHe and Thomas agreed it was probably
the ferals who attacked her.
“We have to talk to Decker. He can't be going out there and possibly bringing
those things here.” Felicia worried.
“But what if there are more people out there like her, do you want to just let
them die.” Her younger sister Farah stated.
“Mommy.” Now 5 year old Maxine ran over.
“What wrong baby?” Farah worried as she lifted her daughter up.
“I’m sleepy.” She yawn.
“Okay baby.”
“It about time for the kids naps anyway.” Felicia said.
“You want to put the kids down up stairs on in the pool?” Jensen asked.
“Pool, for some reason as soon as they have blankets in there they pass right
out.” Felicia started grabbed the flooded baby blankets off one of the tables
near by.
The pool was large enough for all babies and Maxine to play and sleep in.
Jensen took put the toys and anything distracting.
Felicia lifted a baby at a time and laid a blanket under them with a small
pillow and a blanket on top of them. There were 6 babies and then Maxine. They
were comfortable. Most were falling asleep quickly. Some were stubborn. Baby
Marvin couldn't sleep if he saw anyone around him or he would scream until
someone picked him up. Minka always watched her twin brother, waited for him to
fall asleep then she would.
Felicia and Jensen continued to talk to the others. They discussed the pros and
cons of going back out of staying in. Then Jessica screamed from upstairs.
“Wheres my daughter!” SHe panicked.
Vickey ran jup. “She’s right here.” She pointed to the crib a few feet from
where Jessica was.
~~~
A few hours passed of them driving around They got a little farther out then
they wanted to. They reached a small lake area. People use to camp there, you
weren't suppose to but no cop ever stopped you. They saw all the tents and the
corpses. Most were fully dead. A few were still inside the tents.
“Theres nothing here.” Allen stated.
“What about there?” Jasper pointed to the three different driveways across the
lake.
Anyone who camped here knew those driveways led to houses. Beautiful cabin
houses.
“Suns going down, we’ll check the closet one and come back tomorrow for the
others.” Decker offered.
“Alright.” He started driving around the lake to the first driveway.
Driving down he saw the mailbox said Dawson.
They got close and saw people moving away from the windows.
Decker parked and got out of the van.
“We’re not here to hurt anyone.” He stated. “We’re not here to take anything
you have.” No one budged. “We’re here to help.” Decker offered.
Two men stepped out of the front door and two older women stepped out of the
side door.
“We don't need your help.” A man with shaggy brown hair stated.
“Alright. Just trying to find other survivors.” He backed up.
“They look clean.” A women with medium length blond hair said to the man who
spoke.
“Doesn't mean they are.” He said to her.
“Who are you?” the second man, slightly shorter with short brown hair, asked.
“Decker.”
“Why are you here?” He asked again.
“We lived safe for a year. No issues. Then we went out and found a few people
who reminded us that people could still be out here and need help.” Decker
stated.
“We just found a women, beaten, raped and had a baby ass bruised up. She's safe
now. The people that did that to her. Will do it to anyone.” Chuck said.
“How do we know you're not them.?” A women with an outgrown pixie cut dark
brown hair asked.
“You don't.” Decker said.
It was quiet for a moment.
They saw the dead started coming.
“Time to go.” Allen looked.
Decker had a machete and used it to kill the three corpses close by.
“Where are you at?” The women with the pixi cut asked.
“If you come with us you'll see.” Decker stated.
“No.” The shorter man spoke.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Chuck said. “We have to go.” They saw more coming.
They killed they few coming their way as they got back in the car.
The four went back into their house.
“Rex was that help?” His wife asked the man with short brown hair.
“I don't know.” He admitted.
“If they could have helped us-” She was upset but he cut her off.
“We don't know. They could have been those things that's attacked us a few
weeks ago.” He reminded her.
He heard a baby start to cry and he saw his 18 year old daughter Arya lifting
her 2 year old daughter on the chair.
He saw his daughter trying not to cry. “I’m scared.” She admitted.
“I know.” He said. He offered to take his granddaughter. She handed her over
and sat next to her friend Joyce.  
“I’m gonna try and follow them.” A tall muscular man named Steven stated as he
pulled on his leather jacket.
“No!” His wife ordered.
“We have to see if their somewhere safe.” He stated.
“Fine.” He headed to the front door.
“They're in a minivan.” The man with medium wavy hair, Tyson, stated.
They heard Stevens truck start and takeoff.
“They could have had food.” A man named Joey shouted.
“They could have been murderers!” Rex yelled.
“You could have been a murderer! Maya and I let you in.” He spoke of his 19
year old girlfriend. He was 26. Their relationship started after the end but
they’ve known each other for forever. “You should have discussed it with us
before turning them away.”  He was angry. “Theres over 30 people here. Not just
you and yours.”
Maya put her petite arms around Joeys neck. “Calm down.”
“Suns going down.” Joey noticed.
“Blow out the candles.” Danielle, Rex’s wife said.
“Put the boards up.” Jack said as he lifted a board over the kitchen window.
They kept the house boarded up and mostly dark since they were attacked almost
nightly by the dead being attracted to the light and the crazies just going
after anything that moves.
“Mommy.” 3 year old Dillon cried. He was afraid of the dark.
Emily lifted him.
She took him to the basement. The basement had no windows and they could keep
the candles or flash lights on. They kept most the kids down there.
“I think it's time we go to bed.” Ayra said as she took her daughter from her
father.
Arya headed up stairs. She shared a room with her best friend Joyce. Joyce is
Tysons 18 year old daughter. When the crazy people started to come out she was
raped and got pregnant. She now has a 2 month old son. They shared a small room
upstairs. It was almost like large closet. There was a queen sized bed they
shared and slept in.
Maya and Joey went upstairs. He had a balcony outside his room. He went out.
“This is where I saw you.” He told her.
“Almost didn't make it here.” She admitted.
“I didn't know that.” He looked confused.
“Me and my friends were camping across the lake. These sick people charged us
and started eating the people around us. I knew where you were. I ran to you
but got tackled on the here. Almost got killed. Somehow got a way. I’m just
happy you were home.” She told him as she sat with her legs in between the
balcony railing and her feet hanging off. He sat next to her. He couldn't fit
his legs through the bars. He just put his arm around her and she rested her
head on his chest.
Joey enjoyed the silence for a minute. He saw lights flashing. It was Steven
truck and the minivan behind them.
“Go inside.” He said demandingly. She gave him a dirty look. “Please.” She
never liked to be bossed around not even as a kid.
~~~
Decker quickly noticed the truck follow him. He pulled over when he turned and
parked. The truck hadn't caught up yet. They got out the minivan and hid in the
trees. Steve pulled up and stopped. He realized quickly he was caught.
“Why were you following us?” Allen came up behind him with a knife to his
throat.
“We didn't all agree with Rex and Tysons choice to send you away.” Decker
figured out who he was talking about. “I needed to see if you really were
helpful or one of those crazed freaks.” Allen pulled away. “We have over 30
people, some are babies and kids. Before we were accepted into the cabin we
were attacked by people, not the dead. Our people were beaten, raped. A girl
named Joyce was raped and she just had a baby from her rapist. They made her
father Tyson, the one with longer hair, watch. Everytime he tried to help her
or look away he was whipped, stabbed, punched abused in some way until he
stopped trying. He didn't stop though. He just now is mostly healed up.” Steven
explained. He heard shuffling. “We have to get out of the dark.”
“We’re coming back tomorrow. If you still feel the same. Be ready.” Decker told
him.
As they were getting back in their minivan they were attacked by a hoard of the
dead. It was so quick. It seemed unstoppable. Decker quickly killed several
infected that were charging him with his machete. Allen was using his knife, it
was harder because he had to be very close to them. Steven had a weapon no ne
expected. A gun. He started shooting what was closest to him. Jasper got
distracted by the shots and an infected got him with a bite to the neck. Then
three dead started eating what was left. Steven shot them to get them away.
Chuck went to kick an infected on the ground biting at his shoe but the women
grabbed his leg and pulled him down. They feasted on him like starving men at a
buffet.
“Get in the cars!” Allen yelled.
Decker managed to squeeze inside the driver's seat and slam the door getting an
infected woman's hand cut off in the door. Allen hopped in the back and slammed
the sliding door or an decaying head, splattering blood everywhere. They saw
Steven make it in his truck, they turned and quickly followed him back to the
cabin.
~~~
They pulled up and were greeted by Joey and Rex. “You give us a place to stay
for the night. You’ll have a safer place to stay afterward.” Decker afford.
Without exchanging words they all went inside. Allen knew Fiona would be
furious, Jasper and Chuck were her lovers without the love.


***** Like A Warning *****
Decker was up most the night. When sun rose he was ready to leave.
"Lets go." He told them. "Do you have cars?"
"We have my truck, a minivan, and two five seaters." A man named Max said.
"That aint gonna be enough." Allen stated.
"There were these people down the road. They were attack by the crazies a few
weeks back. They were only in the house a week before they were attacked. We
tried to help. A few of our people died. When I came back over the next day to
see if we could help again they were still there. Most still in one piece. Some
not. As far as I know their still there." Steve stated.
"Your point of the story was?" Allen asked.
"They have a moving van. Large thing. Fit all of us times two, maybe even
three." He finished.
"How far down?" Decker asked.
"Walking distance. 10 minutes." Emily said.
"One of you are comin." Decker told them.
"I'll go." Joey said.
"No." Maya argued.
"If we want to stay safe I've got to help him." He told her. He leaned in and
whispered. "I'll take the gun." He kissed her cheek.
"I'll stay." Allen stated and sat on a rocking lazy boy.
"Lets go."
~~~
"Why arent they back yet?" Rowen worried.
"I know Decker. He's smart. Probably just found somewhere to hide for the
night." Bo said. She was trying to relax but she was worried to.
"Thats my father, my sons grandfather." Rowen spoke of Allen. 
"Yes I get it." Bo stated. 
~~~
Decker and Joey were half way there, the creeps were few and far in between. 
They walked for a few minutes. "Right there." They saw the truck first. 
They slowly started to walk over. "Who are you?" A filthy man was scruffy light
brown hair asked. 
"Names Decker." 
"Back out and I wont kill you." He said not very intimidatingly. 
"We're here to help." Joey said. "Do you remember me?" He asked. 
"You stopped the raiders a few weeks back." He remembered. "Gave us food." 
"Well we're here to help again." Decker made a face. "Well he is." 
The man, Joey knew him as Elijah, looked around in fear and said. "Get in."
They rushed in the small cabin house. 
He didnt have many people. 
"What happened?" Joey asked with concern. 
"Half were killed by the dead, the other half were killed by the raiders."
Jane, Elijahs wife, said. 
"When did they attack?" Joey asked. 
"Last night." Margo, Elijahs 16 year old daughter, said. She was
clearly traumatized.
"You need to come with us." Decker said.
"Where?" A man named Ches asked. 
"Somewhere safe." Decker said.  
They talked among themselves. 
They agreeded to come. 
This cabin was not safe. 
"Pack up everything you have. That truck have gas?" Decker asked. 
"Its low, wont make it far." Elijah said. 
"Alright, pack. We'll take it to the cabin and syphon the gas from the other
cars." Decker said. "Hurry." He wanted to get home. 
They didnt have anything to pack. Decker saw they had twin boys, looked maybe 2
years old. They looked weaker then the ones he found a few weeks ago. 
Packing everything was quick and easy. 
Decker drove the truck with all of the new people in it, they left the other
vehicles after taking the gas. As he drove he saw a familiar face. The boy who
tried to rape Bailey over a year ago. He saw Decker and gave him a sinister
smile. Like a warning. 
He wasn't afraid. He killed the one, he could kill the other. 
Bringing in so many new people was a challenge but they were ready for it.
 
***** Moore *****
Elijah gets home from work at twelve in the afternoon, that was early for him.
Jane knew something was wrong. “Babe, why are you home so early?” She asked as
she took off her apron.
“We’ve gotta get the kids.” His voice was calm but direct. “At work there was
was some outbreak, I was in my office and I heard screams I looked out to check
and everyone was going crazy. The news was right. There is some type of
sickness out there. We have to get the kids now.” He was going to continue
talking but the phone rang.
“Hello.” Jane said with worry.
A machine said. “Hi this is Principle Robertson at Lincoln Elementary, we need
you to come pick up you're children, Morgan and Mandy Moore. We are having an
emergency evacuation.” She hung up the phone.
“That was Morgan and Mandys school...”
Elijah hung up his cell phone. “Margo’s too.” He grabbed his keys. “I’ll get
the kids. You need to pack our bags.”
He kissed his twin sons head, who were sitting in the high chairs. “Get the
boys ready and dressed.”
“Where are we going?” She asked.
“I don't know, but we can't stay here.” He zipped his jacket back up. “Lock the
doors as soon as I leave.” He said and left.
Jane went over to her sons and lifted them. “Okay boys, we gotta get ready.”
She put her sons on each hip and went up to her youngest daughters room. She
put the 1 year old boys on the bed and pulled suitcases from their closet. She
packed two for each girl. Then headed to her oldest daughters and did the same
for her. Charlie and Christian fell asleep when she put them on the bed. She
started packing their bags now. She didn't want to let him there alone because
her husband had worried her but she knew there wasn't anyone in the house. She
headed to her and her husband room and packed suitcases for the two of them.
Finally when she was done she noticed the time, her husband had been gone for
an hour. It only took a half hour to get all three girls. She tried to call him
but the line was busy then she tried her daughter but that was busy as well.
She started to worry. There were bangs at the door and she rushed down. She
swiftly opened the door. “Elijah, why weren't you answering you're phone?” She
asked.
“No ones getting any signal. Margo, start putting food in duffle bags. Boxes,
Cans, anything closed. Morgan, can you get some blankets from the hall closet
for daddy?” The ten year old daughter nodded. “Mandy get the first aid kit?”
The six year old ran to the bathroom to grab it.
“What are you not telling me?” Jane asked.
“Mikka, my assitant,  His wife works at the morgue and they brought the CDC in
apparently this sickness that going around is a lot more dangerous than anyone
thought. Not that many people know, we need to get a head and pack and get out
now.” She looked terrified. “Jane, now! Get the bags in the van please. I’m
going to get the gallons of water in the basement and put them in the van.” He
kissed her head. “Please.” She frantically nodded and did as she was asked.
~~~
Chesters tucking his three year old daughters in their bed for their evening
nap. He pulls the curtain down and leaves the bedroom door cracked. Chester
left the room and his phone rang. “Eli, aren't you supposed to be working?”
Chester whispered.
“Thank god.” Relieved that the call went through. ‘Open your door.” He shouted.
Chestered rushed to his front door, he could hear the panic in Eli’s voice. He
opened the door and Elijah and his family rushed in. They had their suitcases
of clothing and some food bags.
“What the fuck is going on?” He whispered.
“It's a really long story. You have to get you're girls and packed. That virus
thats going around, is real and ten times worse than it seems. We just stopped
at several stores and loaded up. I’m serious Chester we have to go.” He had
never seemed so serious.
“Elijah, Mandy and the boys  are getting tired.” Jane said with sadness.
Eli just shrugged her off but he could tell his friend still didn't believe
him. “Turn the TV on.” Chestered did but he kept it low, his daughters weren't
sound sleepers.
“... Stay in doors. Don't not leave your house. It is not safe. Board up your
door and windows. I mean it do not leave. We are locked in here and trapped. If
you can hear the sounds coming from outside, that is the infected people or the
sick people whatever you want to call them. I mean it, to anyone who can hear
me or see this. Do not leave your homes!”
Chester looked at Eli as if he was a liar or something.
“Is this real?” He asked.
“Yes.” Elijah said.
“Than we should stay in like the tv said.” Chester said to him.
“Chester theres no rescue groups coming.” Jane said. Chester looked at Eli and
Janes kids they looked terrified.
“Okay.” He said not really sure why.
“Do you still have that large moving van?” Eli asked.
“Yeah why?”
“We can use it. Put everything inside and have everyone in back while one of
use drives.” Chester thought Eli was delusional.
“We can't go anywhere tonight. It's to late, It’s going to get dark in a hour
maybe. Darks not good.” He said.
“He’s right dad.” Margo pleaded.
“Alright, fine.” He said. “We pulled our van into you're driveway, I’ll get
some of our bags.” He went out to the car. Luckily for them the outbreak hadn't
gotten to Chesters neighborhood yet.
Eli returned with a bag for each child and him and his wife. “I’ve gotta get
that fold up crib.” Eli said as he headed back to the van.
“Eli, I’ve still got Haddy and Addys old cribs. They can use one them.”
“I love that you're a hoarder.” Eli joked.
“Speaking of hoarding, All of Carries stuff is still in the moving van.” He
admitted.
“Chester, you still haven't taken it to good will yet? It's been a year.” Jane
said as he put her hand on his shoulder.
He shook it off and change the subject. “Umm I was going to start dinner, I can
make enough for everyone but it's going take maybe an hour. It's chicken
parmesan.” He headed to the kitchen.
“I’ll do it.” Jane said as she went to the kitchen.
“Chester, I’m sorry man but we need to empty out that truck.” Eli said.
“What do you mean?” He said.
“Bring it in, put it in the basement. I don't know but we need to make room for
everything.” He said.
“Where are we going to go? Have you thought about that? Carrie’s parents are at
the senior center what about them? What about you're brothers and my sister?
Have you thought about any of this? My girl are only three years old. How am I
supposed to tell them, we’re leaving but I don't know where.” He frustratingly
asked.
“I don't know Chester!” He yelled waking up his sons and Chester's daughters.
Chester heard them scream for their daddy.
“Thank you, very much.” He said sarcastically as he went up to his daughters.
“You need to stop yelling. Chester is trying his hardest to take care of two
girls and you’re scaring the hell out of him and me and our children!” She
broke out her shell and stood up to him. “You need to calm and relax. Talk to
me. We’ll put the kids upstairs. Chester me and you will have a calm
conversation.” She could tell he was still frustrated. “Calm down.” She
insisted, which she never did.
“Fine.” He angrily huffed.
“And apologize to Chester.” She told him nicely.
Chester came down stairs with a daughter on each hip. Eli came over to him.
“Not now!”Chester angrily stated and Eli backed off, he went in the backyard..
“Here baby girls.” Chester sat his daughters on the sofa. He put them next to 
Mandy and the boys. His girls were sad and still half asleep. “Stay here, daddy
will be right back.” He whispered to them.
“Chester.” Jane called him from the stove.
“I’ll cook.” He said.
“No, thats not it. I just wanted to tell you thank you, and I’m sorry. So is
Eli.” She pleaded for her husband.
“He’s blowing everything out of proportion.” Chester explained. “I love that
man, he’s my best friend but always blows everything out of proportion.”
“I know. But we all saw the news. Elijah does go overboard, I know that better
than anyone, but I think this time he’s not.” She pleaded with Chester.
Elijah rushed in. He slammed the doors and said. “Get the kids upstairs.” They
all just looked confused. “NOW!” He shouted in fear.
Margo grabbed her one brother. Jane grabbed the other one. Morgan and Mandy
grabbed each other. And Addy and Haddy clung in fear to each other.
“Eli you're scaring my kids!” He shouted.
“They should be!” He roughly pulled Chester to the sliding doors. They saw it.
A hoard of people pushed their way into Chesters yard.
“They're probably just trying to find help.” He turned the backlight on and saw
their faces. Some bloody and pale. Some torn apart like they’d been eaten or
stretched at. Chester hit the light off and pulled the heavy door across the
screen doors.
“Shh.” Chester said. The kids were panicked and nearly in tears. He whispered.
“Margo can you make sure everybody gets upstairs?”
“Yes Uncle Chester.” She mumbled. She took her two younger brothers on her hips
and had the rest of the kids go up first.
“Just stay really quiet.” He told her. Loud bangs hit his door and made the
girls jump and cry.
“Hey, hey, hey it’s okay.” Chester calmed them as they walked up the steps.
“It’s like thunder. Loud and scary but me, you're daddy and you're momma won't
let anybody get hurt okay. Now go upstairs.” Morgo leaded the kids up. She
 watched as everyone went upstairs. She followed after.
“So what do we do?” Chester asked as the bangs got louder.
“We pack your things. Get the truck empty and go.” Eli clarified for him.
“Where?” Was the question on everybody's mind.
“Pick up my brothers and sister. Than Carries parents. Than find somewhere.”He
suggested.
“Okay. Trucks in the garage. It’ll only take maybe an hour to empty it if you
help.” Chester looked to Eli.
“I can help.” A nervous Jane said. She was trying to stay calm even with the
banging.
“No jane.” Chester calmly said. “I know it’s going to be hard with the banging
but I want you to finished cooking and feed the kids.” They headed out to the
garage. “Do not under any circumstances, open this door unless we say it’s us.
Understand.” He questioned.
“Yes, yeah okay.” she was jittery.
She continued cooking and the men went in the garage. They closed and locked
the door behind them.
“The basement doors right here.” He pointed to the other side of the garage.
“We can just take everything down there.”
“I’m shocked this van fits.” He looked over the large moving van.
“Well it helps to have a garage bigger than you're backyard.” Chester
sarcastically stated.
“You ready?” Eli asked was he lifted the trucks back door.
“Not even a little.” He couldn't bear seeing his wife's stuff again.
It took an hour exactly for them to move the stuff. Every time Chester would
grab a box that said clothes he think back to an outfit she wore and would
say, ‘How do I look in this?’ He gave her the truth all the time. No matter
what it was. She loved him for ir.
“It’s done.” Eli said, offering some sympathy.
“No it’s not.” He mumbled was he got to the door entering the house. He knocked
twice. “Jane it’s me.” She opened the door. More frazzled than ever. The bangs
had gotten ten times louder.
“I - I um - feed the kids.”She walked towards the microwave. “I put plates in
the microwave for you two.” She was shaky.
“Thank you but we got to get the stuff from your van into the moving van.”
Chester went to the front door. He looked out the window and saw a few of those
things. “Theres some in the front. Not was many was the back but there are
some.”
“Oh and Chester, when I went upstairs with the kids I heard Mike and Sully
arguing with at each other.” He huffed.
“Their fine they just haven't had dinner yet.” He shook his head.
“I can feed them.” She suggested.
“Yeah okay. Umm there's Broccoli, Cucumbers, and Leaf lettuce in the drew in
the fridge that says African Grey Parrot Food. Cut up a little bit and put it
in their cages they’ll go in by themselves.” He instructed.
“Ches how the hell are we going to get the stuff in the van?” He asked.
“I don't know.” He shrugged.
“They won't bite me will they?” Jane asked.
“No, they're super friendly.” He told her. Jane started cutting. “Eli if these
people are dangerous we need to protect ourselves.” He reluctantly told him.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He said. “Jane sweetheart, go up stairs.”
He said to her nicely.
“What's is it?” She asked.
“Just go. Feed the birds, stay with the kids.”He slightly demanded.
“Eli...” She questioned.
“Go Jane, now.” She carried the bird food up and did was her husband asked.
“Where are they?” Eli asked.
“Basement safe, Carrie nearly killed me for bringing them into the house. She
made sure I put them where the kids would never find them.”He smiled
remembering that day.
“Wasn't that the day she shot you?” Eli questioned was they walked downstairs.
“Yup with the handgun. Luckily they’re rubber bullets.” He opened the safe. It
was a bunch of paperwork, a large locked box, matches, lighters and swards.
“Damn you got weaponry here.”Eli joked.
“No I really do. This is everything Carried didn't want the kids to get their
hands on.” He explained.
Chester pulled the locked box out and opened it. “Here.” He handed him one of
the hand guns and a couple of extra rubber bullets. Than he took one. Along
with extra rubber bullets. They headed upstairs and Chester could see his back
door breaking down. “We gotta put the couch or fridge or something against that
door.
Eli started pulling the couch from the living room and to the backdoor. Chester
soon helped. They realized though that wouldn't be enough. Eli looked at the
fridge. “You’re buying me a new fridge.”
With a bit of a struggle the two lifted the fridge a put it on top of the sofa.
“It should hold till we get back.” Eli hoped.
Eli and Chester headed to the front door. “You ready?” Chester asked.
“Not even a little.” Eli stated.
They opened the door and swiftly closed it behind them. “Shh.” Chester quietly
suggested.
Those things barely noticed them. They made to Eli’s van. Instead of using the
alarm he used the key. They opened it. There was only a few jugs of water and
the boys  folding crib. Eli grabbed two jugs and Chester grabbed one, the cribs
and strollers. His neighbor came up behind him. He made grunts sounds of pain.
Chester turned accidentally hitting him with the stroller. But it didn't seem
to affect him. The man kept coming. He was trying to bite Chester. “Get the
hell away from me.” Chester shouted drawing the attention of more people. The
grunts and moans became louder and the more people started attacking them. Eli
made it to the door first then he opened it and put the jugs in. He ran to his
friends side and shot a few of the neighbors in the shoulder or legs. It didn't
even affect them. He managed to distract them long enough to help Chester into
the house. They slammed the door and pulled the chairs in front.
“Jane!”Eli shouted. She rushed down.
“What's a matter?” She asked in worry.
“Get the kids. Now!” Eli shouted at her.
“I gotta pack bags for Addy and Haddy.” Chester huffed.
“I did that. There's two bags for each girl. And a bag for you was well.” Jane
explained.
“Thank you. I’m getting Mike and Sully.” Chester went upstairs. “I’ll also get
the kids ready, put their winter coats on.”
Jane and Eli started putting everything in the back of the moving van. Chester
went in the room the kids were in. “Margo can you put the boys winter suita
back on.” It was an asked and still a demand. “Morgan get yours on and help put
Mandys on.” He told her. Than he went over to his terrified little girls. He
helped them put their jackets on.
“Daddy where are we going?” Haddy the older(by two hours) girl asked.
“On a little vacation. It’s okay, everything will be okay.”
“I’m scared.” The smaller girl said was she hid her face in her long light
brown hair.
“Don't be.” He told her nicely.
“Alright kids, stay in here. I have to get Mike and Sully ready for our trip
okay.”He told them and closed the bedroom door on his way out.
He went into his bedroom and put the birds into a traveler's bag that straps to
his back. He went back into the girls room and said. “Margo, carrie the boys.”
She lifted them. “Morgan, Mandy follow behind them. Addy and Haddy, you two
last.” He got to the front of the stairs and had the girls bags in his arms.
“Follow me.” He walked slow. “Remember no matter how scary it sounds, don't
scream.” He looked back to them. They nodded.
He got down to the living room and looked at to see if the doors had broken
down yet, nearly but not yet.
Eli rushed in. “Lets go!” He yelled.
Chester got all the kids in front of him and started getting them in the
garage. They slammed the door and everyone was finally next to the van.
Eli had everything in except the kids a the bags Chester had. “Put the kids
closes to the back. I’ll drive but I’ll put the suitcases in front of you was
like a wall.” He told Chester as Jane helped the kids in. She set up car seats/
booster chairs for the younger ones.
“So wheres are first stop?” Chester asked.
Eli smiled realizing his friend trusted his judgement.
“Well Ellies closest. I think Ethan still staying with Emmett and they live
close to Ellie. We’ll have to get his wife, no matter what he still loves her
and their kids. Their 2 blocks away from him so that doesn't matter. Eric is
next to Ezekiel so thats pretty easy. Than the Senior center is the furthest so
than we go there. You okay with that?” He asked.
“You're in charge.” Chester appointed him.Chester hopped inside the back of the
truck. Eli stood ready to close the doors. When Chester jumped out Eli looked
confused. He went into his tool box. “Walkie talkies.” Eli knew why. He loved
that his friend was clever.
The birds on Chesters back started saying. “Walkie talkies.Walkie talkies.”
“Shut them up.” Eli joked.
Chester grabbed his car keys. “Here. It opens the garage. Don't think you're
just going to break my door down.” He joked.
Eli closed him in the truck. It was dark and the kids were scared. Jane pulled
2 battery powered lanterns out of her bag.  “Better?” She asked the kids.
“Yeah mommy.” Her youngest daughter said.
They felt the truck shift and Eli start to drive.
~~~
The drive was unbearable. The bangs against the doors insanely scared the kids.
After a few minutes the bangs stopped and Eli reach their first stop. He got on
the walky and said. “I’m going in, there's not many people around so I hope
Ellies safe.”
“Let me out. I’ll help.” He ordered.
Eli got out the front. He was in her driveway. He opened the back door, it was
pitch black. Chester got out and Eli told Jane. “Go in the front. If we’re not
out in 30 minutes, take off. Or if things get back, take off. Understand?” HE
questioned her was she got out of the truck was well.
“Yes.” She said.
He handed his oldest the walky and Chester handed his to Jane. “Don't stop
talking.” Chester told Margo.
He closed the door on the kids and locked it. “They’ll be fine.” He reassured
his friend but really his self.
“I know that.” He said.
They walked to Ellies front door. They had the rubber bullet guns in their
hands. He knocked twice. “Elli, it’s Elijah open up. Elli open up or I’m
busting the door down.” He threatened. They heard something slide. The door
opened.
“Elijah!” She was in tears.
“Hey.” He and Chester came in. “Get your kids packed and ready. We’re all
leaving.”
“It’s not safe!” She shouted.
“Eleanor Elizabeth Moore, I am your older brother and you will listen to me.”
He ordered.
“And I’m her husband. It’s Miller not Moore.” Sean wheeled himself out of the
bedroom. “We’ve been fine here, why should we leave?” He asked.
“Because this is a one story house with no basement or attic. Nowhere to hide.
Are your kids okay?”
“Their fine, terrified but fine. Eli answer him. Why should we go?”
“Because it’s not safe here. I have my kids and Chesters in a moving van
outside. We’re picking up our brothers than his parent in laws. Pack your bags
now. Janes taking off in about 25 minutes if we’re not out there.” He told her.
She looked to Chester. She always trusted him.
“Listen to Eli.” Chester calmly told her.
“Sean?” She questioned.
“Fine.” He just agreed.
“Alright lets get the kids packed and ready.” Eli said. “We’ll help.”
“Sonny’s and Stephanie's room is right here.” Her 5 year old son and 3 year old
daughter share a room.
“We’ll get there's.” Chester and Eli headed to the bedroom.
“I’ll pack ours.” Ellie said.
After the bags were packed and everybody was ready and dressed in winter wear.
They had about five minutes before Jane pulled off. Ellie pushed Sean. Sean had
a few bags on his lap. Eli Carried Sonny in one arm and bags on his back. Than
the gun in his hand. Chester carried Stephanie with bags on his back was well
and the gun in his hand. Luckily for them they hadn't drawn the attention of
any infected people. Eli opened the door open and pulled the sliding ramp out.
They got Sean and the kids in first than the bags and Ellie.
Chester looked to his kids. “I’m going to sit in the front with your uncle Eli
okay.” He told them. “Aunt Jane is here and she will take great of you.” He
assure them as Jane climbed back in the truck.
They nodded in fear.
Jane handed Eli the walky. “Where next?”Jane asked.
“Emmett, Ethan, Eric than Ezekiel. Jane can you go through the bags and see if
we need anything else?”
“Of course. But I know for sure we should get pillows and blankets soon.
Everyones tired and freezing.” She told him was she cradled her sons.
“I’ll run back in and get some from the house.” Ellie offered.
Chester looked around. “We don't have time.” A swarm of infected started coming
their way.
Eli slammed the trucks door and locked it. He and Chester raced to the front
seat. They missed being hit by half a second.
The next trip was hard. They went to Emmetts and found everyone dead. Most of
his brothers, sister in laws, nieces and nephews. He didnt see Ezekiel though. 
They rushed to his house and found him alive with his older husband. They
grabbed everything they needed and headed towards the senior center, only to
see that it was completely over run. 
They didnt know where else to go now. 
~~~
They suffered so much, lost so many. Chester lost his daughters. Elijah lost
two of his daughter and most everyone else. The only people left were, Ezekiel,
Elijah, Margo, Margos friend Amy, The twins Charlie and Christian, and Chester.
They had taken in people but they died along the way. Chesters birds died.
Everything was dying. 
They hoped Decker would save them. 
***** Something New *****
After having brought so many new people to their home Decker and few others
knew they had to make changes.
Decker set up a meeting. “Only your leaders, people you’ll listen to. Every
group has at least one. Meet me in the jewelry store on the third floor.” He
walked upstairs. Bo Dexter and Vickey were following him.
“Not all of us should go in.” Decker said.
“Why?” Bo grunted.
“Too many mouths, nobody will listen.” Decker said.
Vickey decided she would go in. “I know the risk.” She walked past them both.
They started to see a few people walking up the steps.
They sat in the jewelry store in a circle of chairs Decker and Vickey lined up.
“Best way to start anything is to introduce yourself.” Max said. “I learned
that from AA.” He chuckled.
“Decker.”
“Vickey.”
“Jensen.”
“Max.”
“Carey.”
“Mary-Anne.”
“Steven.”
“Joey.”
“Jessica.” She had her daughter in her arms and her eye wrapped up.
“Elijah.”
“Ches.” He was the last one.
“Before we started taking people in we had a few routines. I want to get back
to it.” Decker spoke. “Morning, we check the roof. Check the doors and parking
lot. We eat. Sometimes we hunt, search for supplies. Eat dinner. Check doors,
parking lots and roof before we’re in for the night.” Decker said. “Things need
to be cleaned, cooked, cared for, we all do it.” Decker looked at both men and
women. “If you have a problem with that you leave now.” He sternly stated.
Everyone was happy enough to just be safe.
They seemed okay with everything.
“Felicia and Farah took the liberty of assigning stores. Most families are
grouped together. There might not be enough beds to go around. There was a full
furniture store though so you have options.” Jensen said.
As they started to leave Jessica looked to Elijah. “Thank you.”
“I thought it was you.” He remembered her.
“That place, we wouldn't have gotten out if it wasn't for you.” She tried not
to remember that cold dark trashed building, being trapped in a dog cage.
“You lost your eye.”
“Trying to get my daughter.” She told him.
“Your wife?” She asked.
“No, along with many others.” He said with sadness.
“The infected or those beast?” She asked.
“Both. You can't catch a break these days.” He walked towards his family.
“I know that feeling.” She thought of her husband and where he might be.
 
End Notes
     Please check out the other parts of my series.
     Time (Original)
     https://archiveofourown.org/works/8068609
     Time (The Farm)
     https://archiveofourown.org/works/8276048
     Heres a Link to my youtube channel where I post update videos to my
     works and any issues I may be having.
     https://www.youtube.com/user/SPNSlashLover
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!