Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/8068609.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, No_Archive
      Warnings_Apply, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/F, F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      Time_-_Fandom, Original_Work
  Relationship:
      Original_Female_Character/Original_Male_Character, Original_Male
      Character/Original_Male_Character, Original_Female_Character/Original
      Female_Character
  Character:
      Original_Characters
  Additional Tags:
      Horror, Zombies, Infected, dead, Apocalypse, Survival, Surviving,
      Fighting, Group
  Series:
      Part 1 of Time
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-09-18 Completed: 2018-03-19 Chapters: 18/18 Words: 39225
****** Time (Massey) Part 1 ******
by HisHeartKiller
Summary
     a story about a group of people fighting to survive the end of the
     world.
Notes
See the end of the work for notes
***** Introduction. *****
Time - Chap 1 - Introduction.
Six months into the end of the world and a small group survived. Gavin Massey,
who is only 25, has helped anyone and everyone survive this damn world. He lost
a lot too. His younger sister, who he never cared for but he was raising her
twin boys, Mark and Matthew. So he felt bad for them only. He lost his pregnant
girlfriend. Almost lost his brother but he manged to save him just in time.
Before this though, Gavin worked and co owned a gym for families. Actives to
help parents stay in shape and keep the kids healthy. And daycare for toddlers
who were to small to do anything. He is in good shape but not overly muscular.
He lived with his girlfriend Summer of 10 years and they raised Gavins nephews
who were only 6. He had them since they were 2 weeks old. Along with 2 English
bull dogs, Stella and prince. He had two best friends who were married and had
a 3 year old son. They were killed when Dean rushed Hailey to the hospital to
give birth. Now Gavins raising Hunter and his newborn sister. But Gavin cares
for more then just those 4 kids now.
Sebastian Massey, 22. Gavins younger brother. Before this he was a true rock
star. Went on tours with his band and wife. He had not a care in the world. now
he has his 6 months pregnant wife and still doesnt care about anything.
Jessica Massey, 22. She was such a supportive wife. Went along with all of
Sebastians screw ups and craziness. She fund out she was pregnant when they
noticed the dead started to rise. Shes now 6 months along.
Ella Shaw, 26. She lived and travailed in her van. Never cared what people
thought of her. Shes just a free spirit.
Emma Shaw, 23. Ella's younger sister. If you didn't know them you would think
they were twins. They looked just alike. Except they were completely different.
Emma was hardworking and driven. She was a live in nanny for a wealthy family.
They had a 1 year old daughter Joy. Emma was hired when the baby was only 2
days old. When the dead started to rise the family abandoned Joy and Emma in
their home when they fled the country. Emma tried so hard to keep Joy safe. She
ended up calling her big sister for help.
Thats everyone. Gavin seems to be in charge. They trust him. Gavin saved Ella,
Emma and Joy from a hoard pound against their van. So they trusted him. Him
took them in to an abandon pet store they've been staying at. A total of six
months and the only people Gavin has found have been these three.
~~~
"Gavin wheres the bottles at?" Jessica asked as she rocked Hope.
"In the breakroom. I cleaned them out." He stood. "I'll get them."
Gavin walked past the empty cages and tanks. When they first came in the fish
tanks were full of dead fish and the small cages full of dead animals.
Thankfully they didnt have any dog or cat adoption here. But they did have
ferrets and 2 were still shockingly alive when they got there. They still are
now. Summer named them Salt and Pepper before she was killed by a deadhead.
He made it to the break room and grabbed the formula from the cabinets. The
bottle from the drainboard and a bottle of water from the fridge. They had
running water and electricity. He filed one bottle for Hope. Three juice cups
for Hunter, Mark and Matthew. And a sippy cup for Joy. He tucked it all into a
diaper bag and came back out. He gave Jessica the bottle for Hope.
He went into a room they used as a kids play area but Gavin knew it was a cat
or dog adoption room but didnt have cats or dogs in it. They took the cages out
and let the kids have the room with toys and things they found in stores
nearby. Gavin went in and put the three boys cups on the table so the boys
could get them when they were thirsty. He went in the mangers office that was
connect to the adoption room and handed Emma the sippy cup for Joy.
"Thank you." She smiled polity.
"You ready to go out?" Ella asked.
"Yeah just have to get some supplies." Gavin said.
Gavin left the office. He left the kids playing and saw Jess putting Hope down
for a nap on one of the comfist dog beds they had. Jess sat down on 4 layers of
blankets She was behind several display shelves. So she was hidden.
Sebastian was at the cash registers counting the money. It was unimportant but
he found it fascinating how much was there. "Watch your wife and help with
those kids." He ordered his younger brother.
"They're not my kids." He grunted.
"I dont give a shit. Your lazy ass wont go on runs, so you need to help here.
If you werent my brother I would throw your ass out." He clarified. He was
lying but he needed Sebastian to help.
"Gavin." Ella came up from the aisles. "I put the dogs in the storage room, I
heard a few growls coming from the back. I checked the window hole and theres
three smacking against the gates."
"We'll get 'em on our way out." He states.
"Okay why dont you get the packs ready." Ella said, trying to calm the tension
in the room.
"Yeah." He went into the break room and unlocked the lockers, grabbing two go
bags, 2 hand guns and Ellas battleaxe. Before she lived in her van she was a
collector was anything, in her words, sharp and shinny. She kept most of the
collection in a storage locker but she kept her favorite ones in her van,
including the battleaxe. It's so simple, skinny and sharp. It fit perfect in
her small hands.
Ella met Gavin in the back. Before opening the door Gavin saw the three
deadheads through the window, they were are a safe enough distance to get out
the back door. He used his side knife to kill two. Ella used her battle axe to
kill one. They made sure the door was locked behind them. They didn't plan on
going out far though so they used walkie talkies to keep in contact with the
people back in the store.
They walked around to the diner next to the pet stores employee parking. They
hadnt been inside yet because they saw the deadheads through the windows.
"Lets get whats left in 7-Eleven. Put it away then make a run for the
department store across the street." Gavin instructed.
"Did you grab the list?" Ella asked.
"Got it." He tabbed his shirt pocket.
They walked slowly around the pet store and grabbed shopping carts they left
outside. Ella grabbed one and Gavin played bodyguard making sure no deadheads
come near. He saw a few in the physical therapy building that was next to 7-
eleven but it was maybe 4 but they didn't play any attention to the windows.
They walked in the convince store they knew was empty and grabbed the boxes
they packed the last time they were here. Cans and bottles of soda, cases of
waters, cereal boxes, cans of soup, left over bags of candy and some cartons of
cigarettes for Sebastian. They headed back to the store, the sliding doors in
the front were disabled and the steel shutters were down and locked. Gavin saw
two deadheads coming and killed them quickly while Ella rushed around the
store.
Ella grabbed the walkie. "Sebastian, unlock the doors." She ordered.
"Sebastian." She said again. "Answer me!" She quietly yelled.
"Fuck, I got it!" He yelled.
Gavin used his knife to kill 4 more deadheads that seemed to come out of no
where.
They made it to the back and Ella pushed the shopping cart into the backdoor
and handed the cart off to Sebastian. He closed and locked the door.
"Anymore?" Ella asked Gavin.
"I dont see any." Gavin said.
They walked to the large street. Out of habit Gavin looked both ways at the
street. Obviously no cars.
"Really?" Ella teased.
"Fuck off." He chuckled.
"Did you live around here?" Ella asked.
"About 20 minutes away. You?" Gavin asked.
"No actually. New York. But I was in Baltimore when Emma called me crying in
fear. I drove my van through traffic and deadheads everywhere to get to her."
"Thats what like a 2 day drive?" Gavin asked.
"Yeah but it took me almost 5 days to get there because of the traffic and
deadheads."
"Jesus." He stated.
They made it to the department store and Gavin had to break the glass sliding
doors. They knew the noise from the glass would draw more but they needed to
make sure that any deadheads inside went anyway. They jumped inside an empty
dumpster and set their plan in motion. Gavin grabbed a toy car from their pack
and attached a blow horn on it. With the horn blasting Gavin put the car out
and used the remote to make the car go as far as it could go down the block,
far away from any of the stores they would be going to. They watched from a
crack as the deadheads exited the store and disappeared. They watched as so
many chased the fading car. They carefully lifted the lid and headed into the
store.
After grabbing two shopping carts they entered the store. They saw clothes
first. "You take the baby stuff I'll go to the food. Be careful." Gavin
instructed.
"Yes captain." She teased. She knew to be careful though. The baby aisle was so
close to the entrance. She was there in a few seconds. Grabbed everything she
seemed necessary. Onsies, pacifiers, bottles, socks. It's getting cold and they
need them. She grabbed blankets and saw the wall of diapers and wipes. She knew
she couldn't grab the boxes and started ripping them open. Laying the diapers
and wipes packs out. She saw the cribs and baby accessories she wanted to grab
but they didn't have enough cart space for big things.
She heard the sound of scuffling and then dropping she looked over and Gavin
shouted. "2."
She looked around her and saw nothing. "You got enough?" She asked.
"Yeah." They met in the middle and left with full carts.
"This place was surprisingly full." Gavin said.
"This breakout or sickness whatever it is came on way to soon. No one had time
to savage or live."
"We're alive."
"We're 4 adults and 5 children. Thats it. It's just luck."
They saw a small batch of deadheads coming back from the way the toy car was.
The horn must have died. They ran across the large street and behind the pet
store to the back door.
"Sebastian." Ella said in the walkie. "Sebastian!" She saw the deadheads
coming.
Gavin let his cart go and killed three deadheads with his knife.
"Sebastian!" Ella called once more and Sebastian opened up.
Gavin killed four more deadheads at different rangers with his gun. It had a
silencer on it so that was okay.
They rushed inside with both carts. "What the fuck took you so long?" Gavin
yelled. They made sure the back door was locked and joined their family in the
front.
"I was takin a piss asshole." Sebastian grunted.
"Then give someone else the walkie." He sternly told his brother.
Gavin went to the front windows. They used contact paper for the windows to
make sure no one can see in but they left a small patch open that they just
covered with a large cabinet. Gavin moved it see if any deadheads were coming
closer. If they were quiet they should be fine. He put the cabinet back.
Gavin looked over and saw Mark and Matthew coming over. "Whats up?" He asked
them.
"I'm tired." Mark said.
Matthew nodded in agreement.
"Alright. Lets go." He knew the boys would be tired. The sun was going down
quicker and the boys stayed up almost all of last night.
"Bathroom, get changed." Gavin grabbed two sets of Pajamas he had folded on
display shelves.
~~~
The boys were dressed and Gavin to them to the training lift. This was a
balcony where the store seemed to store larger items, such as great Dane
products. They cleared it out and used it as a bedroom for the boys. After
installing gates of course.
He tucked the boys in. 5 layers of blankets as the bed. One pillow for each.
And two blankets to cover themselves.
"You need something just holler." Gavin said. He closed the gates to the
balcony and went down.
He went to where Jess had her bed set up. He saw Hunter cuddling in her arms.
"Everyone's so tired." Gavin said.
"The boys had a party last night. Pillow fights, tag and hide and seek." She
reminded him.
"I know. It's more fun to play in the dark for them." He said. He sat next to
her on her bed and Look at Hope, only 6 months, sleeping so peacefully.
"I'm hungry." Hunter said.
"Alright. I'll make dinners." Jess said.
"No, I got it." Gavin told her.
Gavin stood. "Dinner choice. Chicken noodle, Beefaroni cans, goulash kinda, or
dry cereal."
"Beefaroni sound good." Emma said as she excited the mangers office with Joy.
Gavin went inside the break room and plugged in the electric douple burner they
found in a house. Gavin grabbed a big pot and poured 5 cans of Beefaroni into
it and started to cook. After the run today their cabinets were fully stocked.
~~~
"Dinners done." Gavin started to pour the soup into 5 adult bowls and 4 kid
bowls. Lastly he took some baby food and mixed it in with some formula and put
it in a bottle for Hope.
He checked on Matthew and Mark and they weren't sleeping yet so he brought them
down for dinner. "After dinner I'll read you boys a bedtime story and then you
can go to sleep."
"Okay." They came down and Gavin brought them to the table. It was set right in
the middle of the store. One highchair for Joy. Three boaster chairs for the
boys. Someone normally hold and feeds Hope.
"You woke up hope?" He asked Jess.
"Yeah, didn't want her sleeping to late." Gavin took Hope and fed her while
everyone else ate. Sebastian ate and attached like an asshole like always. Then
he went to the storage room and smoked one of the cigarettes Gavin grabbed.
After Hope finished her bottle she was wide away. Gavin took her around to feed
the two ferrets and the two large English bulldogs. Gavin put her in a baby
walker and let her roam around the store.
He saw his little group get ready for bed. Jess barely changed out of pajamas
so she just laid on her bed. Gavin saw Sebastian sitting at the cash register.
Emma and Ella walked into the bathroom with Joy.
"I've got watch tonight." Ella shouted to Gavin.
"It's okay, I got it." Ella looked confused and walked over.
"You've been on watch all week. I've got it." She said.
"It's fine Ella. I sleep in the mornings anyway." He explained. He saw Hope
trying to run towards the dog food shelves. "Get back here." He joked and the
girl looked surprised.
"Seriously. Go to sleep. I can watch for tonight." She tried to persuade him.
"Ella, I need to do watch." He sternly stated.
"Okay." She headed to the bathroom just as Emma was stepping out with Joy.
Gavin looked around and saw Hope cruising towards Jessicas bed. Jess was
reading a book to the boys. Gavin went to the windows and checked for the
night. He looked out and saw it. A god damn car. As far as he knew deadheads
couldn't drive.
"Bas." He called his brother to look.
"Fucking people." He cursed.
"Ella." He called her as she excited the bathroom.
She came and saw the car at a distance. "What should we do?" She asked.
"We cant risk our kids." Gavin said.
"Would you have said that about me and Emma?" She asked.
"No but you needed help. They seem to be fine." He stated.
"Oh really?" She pointed to the window once more. He saw the group of deadheads
rushing towards the moving van.
"Fine." Gavin accepted. "On the roof. Sebastian get the riffles out of the
break room. Jess and Emma get the kids and yourselves on the balcony." He
ordered. Jess lifted Hope out of the walker and rushed the boys to the balcony.
Emma lifted Joy and climbed up there as well.
"Sebastian watch the back door." Emma stated. He gave her a look like 'fuck
you.'
"Just do it!" Gavin ordered.
Ella and Gavin rushed to the roof with the riffles. They saw the van stalled on
the street. The deadheads rocking it back and forth. Gavin used binoculars to
see the van.
"I know that van." He stated.
Ella used her riffle scope and killed four of the deadheads.
Gavin got six of them.
The van still wasn't moving though.
Ella kept shooting deadheads coming towards them.
"I think the deadheads broke the van." Gavin said. He thought for a minute.
"Hey! Up here." He saw a persons face pushing agaisnt the inside of the van.
"If you can get around the store, you can come in." He yelled.
They saw the sun roof open and a man Gavin knew poke his head out. "The van is
stalled. It wont move."
"We can keep the infected away can you run?" Gavin yelled.
Ella kept shooting the infected that were attracted by the yells.
"We have kids and dogs." He yelled.
"I'll get them with the van and you keep shooting from the top?" Gavin asked
Ella.
"Yeah, hurry."
"I'll met you with my van! Get your people and shit ready." He used Emmas van.
It was large, no seating in the back. But if people squeezed it could fit 12
people.
He rushed down and out the back door. It was dark but he knew Ella was guarding
him. She shot three deadheads as he got into the van. He drove the three minute
drive around the store and back the back doors to the side of the van.
They could hear Ella still shooting.
"Get in quick." Gavin ordered the people.
Six adults, three kids and three dogs. Gavin knew them and they knew him.
They all squeezed in and closed the door. They had about six bags total, not
very big ones.
They made it to the back of the store and rushed inside.
"It's good to see a friend." One of the men said.
They saw Ella come down from the roof. "Your friends?" She asked.
"Kinda." A man from the back said. "We met a few years back on a camping trip.
My son became friends with his nephews so every year we met at the campsite.
It's a tradition." The man put his youngest son down. "I'm Johnny, my wife Anne
and our sons Noah and Eli."
"I'm Dean this is my wife Dani and our daughter Mya." Dean introduced himself
as he helped lock and board up the door.
Then his identical twin brother said. "I'm David, this is my wife Charlie." He
unleashed the dogs. They were friendly with Gavins dogs so it was okay. They
had a large poodle mix. A small poodle mix and a golden retriever. Fluffy,
Curly and Pongo.
"You can stay but you do your part just like everyone else." Gavin said.
"Of course." Dean said.
Dean Johnny and David were nearly 10 years older then Gavin but they knew the
world out there was worse then having to listen to rules.
"So what do we do?" Anne asked.
"Did you eat dinner?" Emma asked.
"No." Charlie said.
"I'll make yous some dinner. Gavin tell Jess our new friends are safe."
"Is Summer here?" Charlie asked.
Gavin shook his head.
"I'm sorry." she said.
Gavin left and told Jess who it was and that they were safe.
Mark, Matthew and Hunter were excited to see friends. Mark and Matthew liked
Noah. Hunter who was only three like Mya because she was four and Eli because
he is only two.
"Boys are wide awake again." Jess said.
"Sorry about that but this is the first time we've seen our kids happy in
months." Anne said.
"I'm not complaining." Jess stated. "I'm Jessica, Gavins sister in law."
"Anna." She shook her hand.
"Why dont we set up some beds?" Emma offered.
Gavin slept on the balcony with the boys, that is when he slept at night.
Hope slept with Jess and Sebastian on the blanket bed behind isle 10, close to
the break room.
Emma slept with Joy on a blanket bed folded into a single in the very back left
corner of the store. With a small space between them was Ella's blanket bed.
"We have extra blankets but not a lot." Jess said.
She pulled six quilts out of the small closet in the mangers office.
"Two for each." Emma handed Anna, Dani and Charlie the blankets. Then she
grabbed the six sheets they had left.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll explained our watch shifts, supply runs and chores."
Emma stated.
"Okay." Anne said.
~~~
"You need to surrender your weapons in here." Gavin told Johnny in the break
room. They had a few knives, a bat and one gun.
"Thank you for taking us in." Johnny said.
"I didn't know their was anybody left." Gavin admitted.
"We didn't either."
"Get your family, soups done." Ella stated.
Johnny walked out and got his family.
Gavin went to find his brother.
"What are you doing?" He grunted.
"It's fucking paper." He said.
"What?"
"This was so important. Now it's just fucking paper." Sebastian dropped the
money.
"Why is any of that important? We live in a world were the dead are trying to
kill us. We haven't seen real people in months, except for tonight. Your wife
is pregnant. Does any of this factor into your brain!?" He sternly stated.
"Fuck you!" Sebastian yelled.
"Fuck you too but stop being so damn selfish and help out or I swear you wont
get the same amount as everyone else." He threatened.
Gavin saw the kids playing hide and seek in the aisles. "Eat then bed." Gavin
stated.
"Come on kids, dinner." Charlie stated.
Emma lifted Joy off the floor and took her to bed.
Hope was rolling around on Jessicas bed. Jess knew she was tired but fighting
it.
"Bed time boys." Gavin helped changed Hunter into pajamas and lifted the three
boys into the balcony. When he went to check on the 5 minutes later they were
fast asleep.
Gavin feed the new dogs and made sure they were all okay in the storage room.
He came back out and turn the lights off in the storage room, break room, main
area, play room and mangers office.
The only lights still on were from the fish tanks. It lit up the dining table
and a small area around the fish room.
"Tomorrow I'm going on a supply run to an Armory. It's an hour drive near a
high school. We haven't been up there yet. I don't know what we're walking
into." Gavin stated at the dinner table.
"I'll go." David offered. He didn't have kids.
"Me too." His wife Charlie stated.
"And I'm going back to the department store across the street. We've got more
mouths we need more shit." Emma stated.
Johnny raised his hand. Offering to go. It was right across the street. They
should be fine.
"Alright." Gavin said. "After dinner, sleep. We've got a long day coming."
Gavin said. "Sebastian." He walked to his brother. "You're on watch tonight.
Not a request. You will do it. Just watch the window, listen for growls, don't
open doors."
"Why?" He grunted.
"Because I said so." He stated.
Gavin went back towards Jess and explained what was going on. He saw Hope
wasn't asleep yet.
"Shes so excited." Jess said.
He made a growling voice. "Time to sleep!" He growled at the girl and she
giggled.
He noticed Jess take a deep breath and put her hand on her stomach.
"Hows the baby?" He asked.
"Kicking like crazy."
"I cant wait to see what it looks like." He stated.
"I think she's going to be a little white girl with an Afro." Jess joked.
"But your black and don't have an Afro." He joked back.
"I'm extremely light skinned. My father was all white and my mother was black
and white mixed. I don't have an Afro but I do have curly hair. But my mother
had an Afro. I think shes going to be white like Sebastian and poofy like my
mother." She explained.
"What if its a boy?" Gavin asked.
"Same. But its a girl."
"How do you know?" He asked.
"I don't but Sebastian wants a boy so it needs to be a girl." She was stated.
Both she and Gavin were tired of his bullshit.
"You want me to take Hope?" Gavin offered.
"No I've got her." Jessica said. "She's so quite all the time. Active and eats
like a pig but so quiet."
"It's strange because Joy is so loud." Gavin spoke. "She crys though, right?"
"Sometimes but not long. I just hope it doesnt slow down her speech
developement." Jess worried.
"I doubt it. She'll be fine." He didnt want her to worry. "I'm gonna go to
bed." He kissed Hopes head and went to the balcony with the boys. There is
enough room so that they each have thier own space.
Gavin fell asleep so quickly.
~~~
***** Stocking Up. *****
"Time to wake up." Emma climbed the stairs to the balcony. 
She saw Hunter wake up first. "I made breakfast." She said in a cheerful
voice. 
The other two boys popped their heads up. "I'll get your uncle." Emma said as
she helped the boys down. She then climbed on the balcony. "Hey Gavin." She
calmly said to him. "Time to wake up." She smiled when he opened his eyes. 
"Whats wrong?" He worried.
"Nothing. It's breakfast." She stated. 
He wiped his face. "Be down in few seconds." 
Jessica was setting up the tables. They used bags of hard food as chairs
because they didnt have enough now. "Hey boys, after breakfast, it's bath
time." 
"Do do you give them baths?" Anne asked. 
"The grooming station. They have do it yourself bathing centers for dogs. If
you close the door they can get a little shower." She explained. 
"You mind if we bath the kids too?" Dani asked. 
"Go ahead." She offered. 
Ella came over. "Johnny right?" She asked the muscular man with semi long
hair. 
"Yes."
"When we go out, we try not to use guns. If you have to, thats one thing but we
try to keep it quiet. Todays run will be easy. Food, blankets and clothes." 
"Got it." He said. 
"Everyone sit now." Ella said. "Instant oatmeal, powdered scrambled eggs,
coffee with powdered milk, and hot water and some tea bags." She started
putting it all on the tables. "We're gonna need more boaster chairs." She
looked around. 
Gavin sat on the dog food bags and looked over at Jess, she looked in pain.
"You okay?" He asked. 
"Yeah. Just hard to sleep with this giant belly." She joked. 
"If you get a boppy pillow and put it under your belly while on your side it
feels mostly comfortable." Anne offered advice. 
Jess looked over at Emma. "I'll look for one." 
"Love you." Jessica smiled. 
Sebastian sat at the table next to his wife and didnt say anything. 
"How was watch?" Gavin asked. 
"Quiet." He grunted and grabbed some scrambled eggs and ketchup packs. 
Gavin shook his head. Changing the subject he asked. "Jess sorry to be a pain
but you think you can cut the boys hair?" He saw the bangs getting their eyes
as they tried to eat. 
"I can do it?" Dani offered. "I cut kids hair for a living." 
"Thank you." Gavin said. 
"A trim or short?" 
"Let the boys choose." He said. 
"Will do." 
~~~
They all ate and got dressed for their day ahead. 
"Boys." The three boys rushed to Gavin. "Listen to Jess. Let Mrs. Dani cut your
hair."
"Yes."
"Okay." 
"Fine." 
"I'll be back later tonight." He told them. He hugged them all. 
"Heres your bags." Ella handed three to Gavin. "Snacks, weapons, drinks." 
"Thank you." He said. "Ready?" 
"Yes sir." Charlie said. 
They headed to the back, checking the peep whole first. Only four. They opened
up and David and Gavin killed the four. Charlie got in the van. 
Ella was getting hers and Johnnys bags ready. 
"Whats the bag for?" He asked. 
"If we get trapped we have a little bit of things to keep us comfortable." She
explained. 
"Make sense." He stated. 
"Please be careful." Anne asked Johnny. 
"I will. But we need to help out here." 
"I know. Just be careful." 
"Promise." He told her. 
"Hey Dani, do you want to cut their hair first or do want me to bath them?" 
"Bath them. It'll be easier with wet hair." 
"Whose first?" Jess asked the boys and Hunter volunteered first. He loved being
clean. 
Ella looked out the front window she saw a few deadheads, not enough to be
concerned. 
"We should go now." She told him. 
"Okay."
~~~
"I though you moved back to Texas?" Gavin asked David. 
"We tried. My brothers wanted their kids to grow up in our home town."
"He wanted to start a family there." Charlie said. 
"But when we got there to look for houses. The whole state was under
quarantine. And this was about a month before anything happened in California
and two months before anything happened in Philadelphia." 
"Yeah I heard of certain states being isolated before others." Gavin stated. 
"We have a map actually of the places we know are quarantined. We put X marks
on the states that we've seen or been told wont let anyone in." Charlie reached
in her pants pocket and grabbed it. "Washington, Oregon, California, Texas,
Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New jersey and New York. Oh and Washington
D.C." 
"What about Maine?" Gavin asked. His parents moved there when they retired.
"And how did you get into Pennsylvania if it was closed?"
"Not sure." David said. "And the barriers came down after everything was over
run. I heard of a few states till having barriers and that those ones werent
even infected."
Gavin thought of a world with no deadheads. It seemed impossible now. They
looked out the window and saw the deadheads wondering like they didnt know why
they were here. 
~~~
Johnny and Ella were in the department store now. They stuck together since
Johnny was new. 
"Baby blankets?" Johnny asked. 
"Winters coming, so yeah." Ella simply said. 
"Grab some adult clothes and shoes, boats just the comfortable stuff nothing
fancy." Ella said. She heard some grumbling and carefully looked in the
dressing room. She saw a women half dressed. She was caught on wall hook by her
pony tail. Ella put her out of her misery. 
"So what else?" He had a pretty full clothing cart. He also had the Boppy
pillow and some baby accessories. 
"Food, we're stocking up." She told him. 
~~~
"So Hunter, what kind of hair cut do you want?" Dani asked as they sat in the
grooming area. 
"Like Davin." He said. 
"Like Gavin?" She smiled at how cute he is. Dani pulled her long brown hair
into a messy bun and began to trim and style Hunters hair. "Coming right up."
Gavin has mostly short wavy hair. So all Hunter needed was a trim. 
"Mark!" Jess yelled. "Stop." He kept moving around in the dog tub making it
impossible for Jess to wash the soap out his hair. "Mark!"
Sebastian came over. 
"Stop!" He yelled. Mark froze. 
Jess was shocked that he helped. 
Jess continued to wash his hair with the hose. 
"Grab me a pair of clean clothes for him?" Jess asked Sebastian. 
"Yeah." This was the first time he's done anything useful. 
Emma carried Joy and Hope over. "Almost done with the boys?" 
"No I still have Matthew and I told Anne she could do her kids next." Jess
wrapped Mark in the towel and told him to step out the tub. 
"So how did you find this place?" Anne asked as she rocked her young son Eli. 
"Gavin was looking for dog food. This place was completely empty and had power
and water so we stayed." Jess simply said. She thought for a moment. "Can
someone check the storage room and clean up after the dogs?" 
"I'll get it." Anne offered. 
"Here." He came back with a set of boys clothes. 
"Get dressed." Jess handed Mark the clothes and moved the privacy shade over.
"Matthew your turn." 
~~~
"So how much farther is this place?"
 "Not far actually. I thought it would take longer." Gavin admitted. 
"Fuck." David saw the large amount of deadheads coming their way. There was no
way they were getting through that group. "Back up." David ordered. Gavin was
already doing so. 
"This was a fail." Charlie said. 
"It sucks but we are not risking it." Gavin stated as he drove in reverse.
"Hold on." Gavin ordered as he did a quick U-turn. 
"Only thing I can think is we take a few out and drove through?" David asked. 
"Don't want to waste the few bullets we have. We used most of the bullets last
night." Gavin admitted. 
~~~
"I think we should go back." Johnny said in a rush. 
"Calm down." Ella said. "I want to check for blow up beds. When it gets cold it
will help to have the extra blankets and we're less likely to get sick if we're
not on the floor." They found them and grabbed a few boxes. Johnny had two in
his cart and Ella had three in hers. They rushed to the door and realized there
were alot of deadheads coming. 
Ella used the walkie to say. "Sebastian?"
"What?" He answered quicker then ever before.  
"Get to the doors and hurry. We're going to need to get in fast." She
explained. 
"Got it."
"Are you ready?" She asked Johnny. 
He is a muscular manly man coming from Texas but he was afraid to die and not
see his family again. 
"I'm ready." 
Ella grabbed her gun first, with a silencer, and began to shoot the ones
nearest them. 
A few noticed them so they had to run. The deadheads noticed them quicker now.
They started to follow them now. Growl and grunt as they drug their decaying
bodies over. 
They made it to the back of the store and rushed up the ramps with the carts,
catching a deadheads arm in the door. 
The two shoved the door harder breaking the arm off. 
"Get the dogs out." Ella ordered Sebastian. "Dont alert anyone." He stated.
Sebastian got the five dogs out. "Trash bags." Ella pointed to the bags on the
shelve behind the door. 
Johnny handed them to her. She lifted the hand with the bag and tied it
quickly. 
"You want to clean or throw this out?" She asked. 
He wasnt sure what she meant by throw it out so he offered to clean. 
Ella rushed to the roof and tossed the hand as far as she could. She took a
deep breath on the roof and soon realized the clouds were darker. "It's gonna
rain." She said to herself.
She waited a moment and returned downstairs. 
The floor was clean and a trash bag was tied up. She went back to the roof and
dropped the off into a dumpster. 
The thunder started first and she rushed back inside. 
"It's gonna pour." She went back in and told everyone. "Look at that head." She
was shocked to see Mark basically bald. 
"How bad is it?" Jess asked. 
"Starting to thunder." They knew they could hear it. "The rains just started as
I came down."
"Everyone all clean and cut?" Johnny saw his five year old sons wet hair. 
"Just a trim for him." Anne greeted her husband with a kiss. 
"We brought beds!" Ella cheered. 
"How many?" Jess asked as she carried a freshly clean Hope over. 
"5." She pushed the cart to the side. 
"Gonna need a few more but this good for now." Emma stated. 
"I want to get them set up before the others come back, their gonna be
exhausted." Jess asked. 
"Alright." Dean said. "Lets start arranging." They could her the thunder louder
and the rain pouring. 
~~~
Gavin, Charlie and David were stuck driving in the rain. It was so hard to see
where they were going. They knew they were close to home but not sure how far. 
"Do you think we should should wait out the storm?" Charlie asked as she held
onto the handle on the back of the passengers seat. 
"No because we dont want a group of deadheads trapping us." They could feel the
heavy wind swaying the van slightly. 
"How close are we?" David asked. 
"I cant tell." The rain was pouring down to hard. 
"Pull over Gavin." Charlie semi demanded. 
Gavin did. 
"Keep the wipers going." She stated. 
He tried being able to see where they were. Gavin looked out the door window
and didnt see any deadheads. He grabbed his knife and went out. He knew where
he was now and had to kill two deadheads as he got back in the van. The rain
washed the blood off his hands. 
"Your soaked." Charlie said. 
"We're near a shopping plaza. The pet store is a few blocks up." Gavin couldn't
drive far on the roads right now. "lets make a choice, we can get in one of
those stores, probably have to fight a group of deadheads while in there or
keep driving but I cant see a thing." He told them. 
"I think we should wait in the car." Charlie said. 
"I think the store, we could grab a few things while we're at it." David said. 
Gavin thought. "Lets do the store." They decided to leave the van in the middle
of the street. They climbed out of the van and rushed into the department
store. It was alot bigger then the one near the pet store. 
David pried the sliding doors open and they rushed inside. "Shhh." Gavin said
when he heard the grunts coming. 
Gavin used his knife to kill three deadheads. David killed two and one that
nearly pinned Charlie on the ground. Charlie is not good with deadheads. 
They looked around to make sure there weren't any more deadheads. "David and
Charlie go left, I'll go straight." Gavin killed a few people he assumed were
customers. he saw a shopping cart that had a case of water and cases of soda in
it. 
"Gavin!" He heard David shout. 
He pushed the cart over and saw David at the pharmacy. 
"We dont have anyone sick but we might." He said. 
"Grab everything I guess. Encase we get a doctor." Gavin said. They emptied
everything from the pharmacy and the over the counter medicines into one cart.
"We gave to get bags though to put that in so its easier to carry bag and
forth." Gavin explained.
"Got it." Charlie said. 
~~~
The rain was still pouring down hard. 
"You think their okay?" Jess asked Emma. 
"Yeah. They have to be." She said. 
"What if we stack the hard food bags in front of the glass doors, since we dont
use them. Move the shelves so we each have a private space." Johnny offered. 
"That could work." Jess wanted this. It was awkward trying to cuddle with her
husband when everyone could see. 
"Lets get the kids in the playroom before we start." Dani said. 
"But we need to take turns watching the kids because we have toddlers and an
infant." Anne worried. 
"Dont worry. We will." Johnny smiled at her. 
"So lets get started." Sebastian said out of nowhere. 
"Your gonna help?" Jess asked in shock. 
"Yeah." He agreed. 
"Jess can you take first shift with the kids?" Anne asked because Jess is
pregnant, they didnt want her getting overworked. 
"I can move things. Why dont I take the second shift when its time to move the
shelves." That made more sense to her.
"Alright I'll take the kids." Emma volunteered. "Lets go! Every kid in here,
lets go!" She called them all. 
 Johnny, Anne, Dani, Dean and Sebastian started moving the food, treats, pets
clothes and litter off the shelves and stacking in front of the windows and
front doors. 
They emptied out the shelves that lined the walls and just took them down. The
walls looked so empty. 
"I think we should-" Jess paused unable to breath. 
"Babe?" Sebastian asked. 
"Just-a little over worked." She said in between breaths. 
"Get her some water." Dani said to Johnny and he rushed to the break room to
get some. 
"Jessi, whats wrong?" She looked dizzy. Sebastian was truly worried. 
"I just over worked." She assured him. 
"You need to relax." Sebastian helped her stand. 
"Here." Johnny rushed back over and handed her a bottle. 
They walked in the mangers office. Sebastian hasn't been this caring in years. 
"Is Aunt Jessi okay?" Mark asked. 
Sebastian looked at his nephew. "Yeah." He simply said. 
"I'm fine. Go help them." She told Sebastian as she took a drink of water. 
"I'll watch her." Emma said as she bounced Hope on her chest. 
"See she'll watch me." Jess teased. 
"You sure?"
"Yes sir." She smiled and teased. "Go help." 
He kissed her and left. 
"You sure your okay?" Emma asked. 
"Yeah just really tired." She said. 
Emma looked out the adoption room windows and saw the people working. They were
taking several display shelves down. 
~~~
Gavin David and Charlie had three carts full of stuff. They actually found
several camping cots. They grabbed the six they found. 
They headed back to the front. 
"Rains calming down, think we should go?" Charlie asked. 
"Yeah, I should be able to see now." They quickly pushed the three carts back
to the van and loaded it up. Gavin drove off quickly as a group of deadheads
gathered behind them. They made it back to the store quickly. They went around
back and used a walkie before they got out the van. "Sebastian." Gavin said. 
Jess lit up when she heard his voice. 
"Yeah?" 
"We're at the back but get the carts. We have alot of stuff." He told him. 
"Comin." He simply stated. 
Gavin got out first and killed two deadheads. One of which he noticed was
missing an arm. 
David and Charlie got out next they started loading the stuff they grabbed into
the shopping carts Sebastian brought out. They locked the van up and went
inside. 
"What the hell?" Gavin asked when he saw all the taking apart shelve pieces and
some still together. 
"We made rooms." Sebastian said. "You'll like it."
Gavin walked into the store area and saw everything was different. The back
area was blocked off with display shelves with gaps, like a door space. The
front was almost completely open. 
"Whose idea was this?" Gavin asked. 
"Mine." Johnny came forward. 
"Good idea." He said with a smile. "We couldn't get guns, but we got beds,
food, clothes, medicine, blankets, a few weapons and some things to keep the
kids busy." Gavin stated. 
"It's gonna be hard without guns though." Ella said. 
"Yeah I know. But we're not in the best neighborhood so I would assume that at
least a few houses around here have guns in them. We can see what we can find
until the weather gets worse." Gavin suggested. "I need to get changed." He
looked over to were that originally stacked the clothes at. "Where are the
clothes?"
"We separated clothes by size. You have clothes in your little cubicle. Gavin
and Sebastian and completely different sizes. Johnny is different size but Dean
and David are the same so that was hard but almost everyone has the same
amount. Use women are all close in size, except for big old pregnant me, so we
just kinda divided it up by what we liked." Jess explained. "The shelves came
in handy for putting the clothes up. The three boys clothes are in your cube
because their balcony is right above you." 
"Got it." He smiled at how well everything was going. He went into his cube and
grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and began to change. 
"Lets get the beds set up in every cub, we definitely have enough now." Dani
said. 
"Lets put the medicine in the groomers station so no kid can get their hands on
it. And keep it locked." Charlie said as she headed to her cube with David. 
"I'll hold onto the key if no one minds." Anne asked. Gavin knew she use to be
a nurse. 
No one objected. 
"Did the kids eat lunch?" Gavin asked when he came out of his cube. 
"Yes, everyone did." Sebastian said. Gavin was shocked to see him holding
Hope. 
"Wheres my brother and who are you?" Gavin chuckled. 
"I'm here." He said simply. As if assuring Gavin that the brother he ounce knew
was here. 
"Good." He put reached out to take Hope. 
"No. I'm keeping her." Sebastian joked as the girl giggled in his arms.
Gavin hoped this was the start to something good.
His family deserved it.  
 
***** Is He Alive? *****
Chapter Summary
     But they couldn't keep them off fast enough. A group of deadheads
     pushed into the door crushing Gavin behind it. He bashed his head on
     the wall and the door winded him. He wasn't sure what was happening
     but he couldn't get out from behind the door. There were still
     deadheads pushing against it. He heard a few gunshots and screaming
     but he couldn't get out to help. Finally the deadheads had passed and
     Gavin slammed the door, locking it. The sound of the heavy door
     caught the attention of some of the deadheads. He was so dizzy and
     wasn't sure if there were twenty of them or forty coming at him.
     Everything was spinning and he knew he was going to die as the they
     began to corner him. He was able to use his machete to kill four
     before falling. He could feel warm liquid dripping down his back. Was
     he bit already and didnt know it? Then he heard someone holler. "Look
     at me!" He passed out after that.
A few days went by and they gathered random things from houses. Only four
houses out of ten blocks of houses had guns and a few extra rounds. They
decided to explore a few more since the weather wasn't to bad. It was cold but
not extremely yet.
They explored a few more houses today. David and Charlie checked 2841. Johnny
and Dean checked 2843. Gavin and Ella checked 2845.
2841 had a riffle and some extra ammo. Binoculars, a few camping chairs and a
few jugs of water. David and Charlie packed all of that into a car they found a
few days ago, as well as extra clothes.  
In 2843 Johnny and Dean found soups and some camping supplies. No guns. But
they found a two seemingly hand carved bow and arrows with at least forty
arrows each. They packed up a car they had and left.
Lastly in 2845 Gavin and Ella found something they weren't expecting. Living
people. They had gun pointed to Gavin's head when he broke open the basement
door where they were hiding. Gavin backed up and man was right in front of him.
Not lowering the gun.
"We didn't know there were people here." Ella defended.
"That doesnt give you the right to break into my home." The man stated.
"It kinda does." Ella said. "The world is done. No one in any of the houses
we've checked. We have the right to assume that no one would be in this one."
Ella was mad for no reason.
"My house! You broke the door in. We're not safe anymore!" The man yelled.
"You were never safe." Gavin stated. "The dead have risen. Walking around and
eating peoples flesh like we're hamburgers. We're fighting to survive. So are
you. So I'm not mad that your pointing a gun in my face. I would do the same if
the roles were reversed. I will gladly help you fix your door or tell you what
house is safer." Gavin offered.
"What about?" Ella asked and he knew what she meant.
"What?" The man asked as he lowered his gun.
"I saw kids in that basement. We have a place we've been staying. It's been
very safe. Kids of our own. We have been living there for nearly 5 months."
Gavin said.
"Myself and my family three months. And a few new friends maybe a week." Ella
stated.
"I'll talk to my family." The man said. His house hasn't been very safe. The
front window was busted in and boarded up twice.
A women came up and asked. "How many people have you lost?"
"Since this started or in our camp?"
"In your camp."
"Zero." He said.
"Lets do it." Another woman came up the stairs. "We're not safe here. We've
lost to many already." She stated.
Another woman came up the stairs. To see what was happening. She saw Gavin and
said. "Gavin?" She questioned.
She pushed past her family and hugged him.
"Wow. I did not expect to see you." She was so smiley and giddy.
"You know him Jess?" The first women asked. They looked alike, maybe sisters.
"I teach, well taught his nephews. How are they?" She worried.
"Alive." He smiled. He loved seeing a familiar face.
"So it's your place they're questioning about going to?" She asked.
"A place, technically not mine but yeah." He said.
"Then let's go." She was excited.
"Do you have anything to gather?" Ella asked. "Food, clothes, water, guns,
blankets, cots, camping supplies, anything that might be useful. Grab it, Pack
it and get it ready."
"Do you have a working car?" Gavin asked.
"Small one. Not big enough to fit us all." Jess said.  As she spoke the people
began to gather their things. "By the way, this is David and my sister Emily.
They have 5 kids." All 12 and younger. "You know my boyfriend Nick." He came up
the steps. "Max, my best friend Hana and their daughter Lilly." Only 4. "And
lastly Toby and Tempy and their twins." Boy and a girl, only 3 years old.
"How many people can fit in the car?" Gavin asked.
"5." Emily said.
"Shh." Gavin said as he heard the grunts from outside.
Gavin went to the door armed and ready with his knife. He stabbed one in the
head that hit the door and one more that was right behind him.
"We need to go now." He whispered as a deadhead grabbed him from behind. Gavin
was fighting him off when David shot the deadhead. "Thank you but careful with
the noise."
"Lets go." Ella ordered.
Toby, Tempy and their twins went in the 5 seater along with Jess and Nick.
 David, Emily, their 5 kids, Max, Hana and their daughter Lily rushed into the
van with Gavin and Ella and all of stuff they grabbed.
 They made it to the pet store.
"A Pet store?" David grunted.
"Yes, a pet store. It works." Gavin went around back where they had there
parked cars.
Gavin didnt have a walkie talkie with him. He banged on the door. "Open up." He
looked back at the people still in the cars. "Get out. Get the bags."
Gavin demanded.
Sebastian opened up. "Come on man. Just like when we were kids, you bring home
every stray you find." He was serious in a joking way as he let them in.
"Shut up." Gavin said and let everyone in first.
Sebastian has a look on his face.
"Whats wrong?" Gavin asked as they locked the back door.
"The heat barely works."
"Shit." Gavin didnt know what else to say. "Lets just get everyone in and set
up."
"Alright, we have more people. We need to set up more rooms." Ella said. "So we
have a semi hard day ahead but after we can eat and relax." Ella instructed.
"Lets get moving so we can eat." David said.
"We have two Davids now. And two Jess's" Ella pointed out.  
"Well if it helps no one calls me David." The new David said. "Even my wife
calls me Booth." It was his last name.
"Well that works." Gavin said.
"I'm just Jess." The new Jess aid.
"Jessi or Jessica." Jessica said.
~~~
They had to set up 4 new privacy cubes. One being very large for all of Booths
and Emilys kids.
They wanted to keep the middle of the floor open so they had to take down the
last display case they had. And move the Ferrets cage to the wall. They set the
dining table closer to the walls as well. They had the cubes set up just as
Anne and Dani finished cooking diner.
They had the break room table and a dining table lined up. With chairs the
store had and chairs they had grabbed from department stores. They managed to
fit everyone at the table. Ella and Emma started to serve the food.
As everyone enjoyed their meals Gavin had to say. "We have rules here. Do your
part. Don't steal from us. We divide everything equally so there is no need.
And don't put your hands on people. You can yell, scream, get into the biggest
vocal fight you want but don't put your hands on anyone. Because you will not
be able to stay here anymore." Gavin needed the new people to know. "Oh and
lastly, dont hurt my animals or I'll kill you." And he was dead serious.
"Uncle Gavin?" Mark asked.
"Yes Mark?"
"Shhhh, your killing our buzz." He smiled and everyone busted out in laughter
at what this 6 year old just said.
The night was pretty easy. They enjoyed their meals and  laughed. They talked
about the past and things that didnt seem important but were good distractions.
At first they didnt realize how cold it was. But when they settled, they could
feel it.
Gavin had wrote down every adults name under the list of the ones he already
had.
They have a calendar that hasn't expired yet so they put people's names on the
days they would be on watch. They had to update it now with new people.
"We're redoing the watch schedule. You stay up all night on watch. If you have
kids we dont keep both parents awake at once but if your a single parent then
you need to find someone to keep an eye on your kids or multitask." Gavin
stated.
"The calendar will be up in a few minutes. New people will be on watch
tonight." Ella stated.
"We have enough people now, we can each do one day." Ella said.
The two discussed who they were putting on which days. Who to group together.
"Jess will be great with Charlie." Gavin said. "They have the same quirky
personality. Might drive David crazy though." He thought.
"New Schedule!" Ella yelled. "Today is Friday so It's Gavin, Nick and Jess.
Check the calendar for your days." Ella hung it in front of the groomers
station. "I'm going to sleep." She walked to her cube where her sister and Joy,
who she considers her niece, were already getting ready for bed.
"So what do we do?" Jess asked.
"Check the windows, check the roof, keep things quiet." Gavin said so simply.
"Can I carry a gun?" Jess got excited.
"No." Everyone in her group said.
"You'll get a knife." He said. "Firearms stay in the break room lockers." he
looked towards Booth still carrying his gun.
"Give it." His wife said as she saw him about to fuss.
He handed it over. Gavin took it to the break room. He didn't know Booth was
hiding one on his ankle.
Most people had turned in for the night. All lights were off except for the
groomer station. The makeshift curtains were closed to each cube except the
people who hadn't gone in yet.
"Let me show you the roof." Gavin said. He took Jess and Nick to the storage
room. The pull down stairs were already down and they opened the hatch to the
roof. They went up. It was so cold now. The wind was so strong. "We walk the
store roof and the the adjoining ones to make sure there's no build of
deadheads." He spoke. "We dont stay up here long because if you dont stay quiet
it attracts more deadheads."
"We just call them zombies." Nick said so casually.
"I tried." Gavin said. "It just sounded like we were talking about a movie not
real life." Gavin said.
They understood. It didnt sound real. None of this did.
They went back downstairs and relaxed for a while. Gavin went to check on his
boys. He looked up the balcony. The twins were asleep. Hunter was still awake.
"You okay?" He asked.
"I'm not tired." The boy said.
"Come down?" He asked.
He nodded.
Gavin turned and saw Jessica heading to the bathroom.
Gavin helped Hunter down and closed the gates. Hunter sat on the floor playing
with a large bag of building blocks they had.
"So is this all we do?" Jess asked. "Stay up in the dark?"
"Yeah, check the windows, doors and that's it." Gavin said simply. Gavin
reached into his pocket and tossed Jess a pack of cards. "Keep busy play some
cards."
Jessica came out of the bathroom. "Hunters awake?" She asked.
"Yeah why?" He asked.
"He hasnt been sleeping." She said in worry.
"I don't think he like sleeping without an adult. His parents lived in a small
apartment so most nights he slept in his parents bed. I dont think he wants to
sleep without them." Gavin said as they looked at Hunter fighting his sleepy
eyes.
"I'll take him with me tonight and he can sleep us."
"Can you handle it? You have Hope and your husband." He joked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." She smiled and went over and lifted Hunter. She walked
back to her cube. "Besides Hope sleeps in a crib now." She said. He moved the
curtain so she could go in. She turned and he saw Hunter was already asleep.
"Gavin." Jess called over. They left a small area open so they could peek out
the window. "It's snowing." She moved and showed him.
Gavin was worried. "Lets Hope it doesnt land."
~~~
The next morning came and there was no snow on the ground but there was a large
group of deadheads surrounding them. They weren't focused on the store it just
seemed like they were looking for heat or food. But it was still a bigger group
then they had faced.
They couldn't really do anything about it except keep the kids and dogs quiet.
The dogs typically didn't bark but if they did you could easily quiet them with
a treat or non squeak toy.
They babies were harder to keep quiet. Hope was getting louder as she began to
learn to say sounds and small words. Joy would scream and cry if Emma wasn't
there holding her.
As the days went by the snow came quickly and heavily. The amount of deadheads
grew bigger.
They must have somehow sensed the heat from the store because they were
completely surrounded. Or the noise drew them in. They weren't sure. But it was
getting overwhelming.
They knew from the calendar that it was December but they knew that calendar
would be over soon so Ella drew up a new one on scraps of paper they had. She
remembered the song. "30 days in September, April, June and November, All the
rest have 31, And February’s great with 28, And Leap Year’s February’s fine
with 29." She didnt know when leap year was, so she didnt worry about it.
~~~
It's been 2 more weeks.
Gavin checked in on Jessica. She could barely get out of bed now. The pregnancy
was getting very hard.
"How are you doing?" Gavin asked in a hushed tone.
Jessica took a deep breath. "Horrible."
"Sebastian helping?"
"Hovering. Getting me some water now." She smiled. "How's the kids?"
"Scared." He admitted. "The young ones don't understand why they have to be
quiet. The older ones, they know why and it's terrifying."
"Any ideas about how to lower the amount?" Jess asked.
"A few." Sebastian pushed past his brother and handed Jessica the water.
"No war talk." Sebastian said, trying to protect his wife.
"Yes sir." Jessica teased.
Gavin left and headed over to Johnny and Booth talking, they were in the
manager's office. It was the only light they left on because there were no
windows.
"We use the last of our bullets and clear it out."
"The sound would draw more." Johnny protested. "And we dont have nearly
enough."
Gavin listened to the men bicker back and forth and finally realized. "We still
have the two cars."
"What?" They both said.
"Before either of you got here we grabbed a bunch of toy cars to distract
deadheads and draw them away. We still have two." He remember as he went into
the small room behind the manager's office.
"How are we going to get it out there though?" Johnny asked.
"Clear out the back. There's less there. We dont really have to clear it out
just kill a few blocking the door. Drive the car down the ramp and around the
store. Turn the sirens on and ship it off far." Gavin said.
"Lets do it." Booth stated.
"Should we move everyone into the adoption room? Those doors are hard to push.
And maybe the bathrooms too because there wont be enough room. God forbid a few
get past us." Booth asked.
"Groomer station. Just cover the front windows. But keep a few armed people
inside the doors so they can take care of them encase we get over run." Gavin
said.
"Got it." Johnny stated.
"Everyone." Gavin called. "Get inside the adoption room and the groomers
station and stay there. Its going to be a tight squeeze but we don't want to
take the risk of a deadhead getting past us and someone getting hurt. We need
people on the roof, in the storage room and standing guard inside the rooms."
They started sorting people quickly. They tried to squeeze all kids inside the
manager's office. The deadheads would have to get through so many people just
to get to them, it seemed the safest route. But not all parents wanted their
kids trapped back there. But they did put the dogs in the bathrooms and locked
the doors.
Emily made a huge fuss about it. So her and her 5 kids went to the groomers
station. Max, Hana and Lily went in there too.
Sebastian, Dean and David stood armed with handmade spears (a broom or mop
stick with knifes duct taped to the ends) and a bat with nails hammered through
it.
Emily and Hana stood guard inside the groomers station. They had the same
weapons.
Jess, Booth and Charlie went on the roof. Charlie was a pro with the bow and
arrow they had. She practiced in the store. Jess was going to use the remote to
control the car and sirens around the store and off to a distance. And Booth
was going to use the riffle to get the deadheads away from the back door.
Johnny, Ella and Gavin went to the storage room. Gavin had a machete. He didn't
mind an up close battle with these things. He wasn't afraid of them.
Johnny was in charge of shooting anything that got to close. Same as Ella but
she had to put the car down and holler when it was time.
They had to open the door as soon as they heard four riffle shots go off.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Gavin unlocked the door and cautiously pulled it open. He had to fend off two
of them while still partially behind the door. He stabbed them both in the
head.
Johnny was shooting them as Ella put the car on the ground and hollered. "Go!"
They heard the car sirens go off and start to roam.
But they couldn't keep them off fast enough. A group of deadheads pushed into
the door crushing Gavin behind it. He bashed his head on the wall and the door
winded him. He wasn't sure what was happening but he couldn't get out from
behind the door. There were still deadheads pushing against it. He heard a few
gunshots and screaming but he couldn't get out to help. Finally the deadheads
had passed and Gavin slammed the door, locking it. The sound of the heavy door
caught the attention of some of the deadheads. He was so dizzy and wasn't sure
if there were twenty of them or forty coming at him. Everything was spinning
and he knew he was going to die as the they began to corner him. He was able to
use his machete to kill four before falling. He could feel warm liquid dripping
down his back. Was he bit already and didnt know it? Then he heard someone
holler. "Look at me!" He passed out after that.
In the store Ella and Johnny were trying to fight them but they didnt have
nearly enough bullets.
Ella tried to grab the knife off her belt but was grabbed by a deadhead and bit
on the shoulder, another on the head and other on her arm. Emma saw her sister
go down and wanted to scream but she didnt want the deadheads coming towards
the kids. She just cried into a blanket.
Sebastian didnt see his brother. "Watch my wife and lock these doors."
Sebastian ordered as he grabbed his spear and left the adoption center. Dean
and David followed behind when they saw Johnny needed help.
They looked over and the groomers stations door were wide open.
 They rushed over and tried to stop the infected that were already going
inside.
David was able to take out two by the time he saw the bodies. Emilys four
oldest kids. Payton, Grace, Zack and Maggie. Max was dead in front of them.
Hana, Lily, Emily and her youngest Luka weren't in sight.
They continued to take out the deadheads as best they could. They saw a trail
of bodies to the bathroom. The woman's door was wide open.
Fluffy and Curly were locked in there but not anymore. They weren't alive
anymore. Dean killed the three deadheads that were eating the dogs. He went to
the back stall and kicked in the door. Emily and Luka were in there. He didn't
know what to think. "Go to the adoption room and stay there." Dean ordered.
He just went back out and continued kill the deadheads that seem to be never
ending.
"Clear!" Charlie hollered down from the roof. She and Jess came down from roof
only to see all the dead bodies.
"I don't have a weapon." Jess said.
"Let's get in the break room." Charlie said. She was nervous with close up
fights. They opened the door and saw Gavin unconscious on the floor.
"Gavin." Charlie rushed over. She saw the blood and checked his head. "It's not
a bit, just looks like he got hit really hard."
"Is he alive?" Jess asked.
"Yeah, hes just not waking up." Charlie said. "Stay in here, watch him." She
routed through the lockers and grabbed a spear they made. "Lock this door and
if anything manages to break in use this." She handed it to her.
Charlie left with her bow and arrow she had ten arrows left and her knife on
her belt. She was nervous but pushed the doors open that led to the store and
saw the bodies.
She didnt see any living deadheads though.
"What happened?" She asked.
"We got overwhelmed at the back." Johnny said. She looked over and saw Booth
cradling his dead children.
Dean found Hana hiding behind the cash register with her hand over Lilys mouth
so she didnt cry.
"Gavins in the break room, bleeding really bad." Charlie said.
"I put him there." Booth said, still crying over his kids.
"Hes not waking up though."
Anne came out of the adoption room. "Jessica's water just broke."
"Gavins unconscious and bleeding in the break room." She told her.


***** Just Have To Drive *****
"Alright, I need this place clean and cleared up." Anne was taking charge.
"Take the dead and throw them out or off the roof. I don't care. Put our people
in the van, after making sure their dead. We'll bury them in that park a few
blocks away." She stated. "Sebastian, go to your wife, keep her calm until I
come back. Everybody else get rid of the bodies and clean up the blood now.
Charlie, take me to Gavin." They rushed to Gavin, while everyone followed her
orders.
She checked him out.
"Well he's not dead." She said.
"Jess go get me the smelly salts, gauze pads and wraps, and the alcohol in the
groomer station. But warning it is not a good sight. And hurry." Jess rushed
out. "Charlie, when I go to help Jessica I'm going to need a lot of space so
either get her in her cube or the kids out of that office. But don't let them
see what's out thereand send back two strong people." She instructed.
Charlie rushed off and Anne kept trying to wake up Gavin.
"Oh god." Jess saw the bodies everywhere. The infected had eaten the ferrets
too. It was heartbreaking. She rushed over to Nick, who was moving the bodies
to the storage room.
"Just dont look." He told her.
"I have to, I have to get things for Anne." She kissed him and rushed to the
groomers station. The bodys were thankfully covered so she didnt see them. She
went in, grabbed what she needed and rushed back to Anne.
Charlie went in the groomers station. "Sebastian, Anne wants Jessica separate.
So either she goes into a cube or get the kids into cubes.
"I'll go, just incase. Dani and Tempy, stay with the kids." Jessica
volunteered. "I just dont want to see whats out there." She told Sebastian.
"Okay." He said. He took his hoodie off and put it on her. "Keep the hood on
and only look at the floor." He stated. "Lock the door behind us."
Dani nodded.
They left and Sebastian tried his hardest to hide the scene from his wife. He
got her in the cube and closed the curtains.
"I need two strong people to help Anne." Charlie said to the few people moving
bodies.
Toby and Nick went with her.
"Gavin, hey, can you hear me." Her voice echoed in his ears.
He grunted.
"Toby and Nick, take him back to his cube. Lay him down and Jess stay with him.
Try to keep him awake and let me know if anything changes." She stated.
"Charlie, I need clean towels, a bowl of warm water, scissors, a lighter,
gloves, fresh clean baby blankets, oh and that birthing bag we found in the
midwife's house." She instructed. "Meet me in Jessica's cube."
Anne took a deep breath. She knew today would be even harder for her now.
"Any contractions?"
"2 ten minutes apart." Sebastian stated.
"Well we have time. If I'm not in here, call me back when there 3 minutes
apart." She stated. "I have to check on Gavin."
"How is he?" Sebastian asked.
"Barely conscious, with a cut on the back of his head." She said. "I'll let you
know when I'm done." She left the cube and made sure to close the curtain.
"Anybody else injured?"
"No." Everyone seemed to say.
They kept moving all the bodies. They moved the bodies of the dead and just put
them outside across the street.
The people they knew though, the kids. They put in Ellas van and drove it to
the park a few blocks away. Two dug holes while two stood watch. Back and forth
until the bodies were buried. It was dark before they returned home.
"How's everything?" David asked when he got back inside.
"Jessica had a girl." Charlie said. "Out there?"
"Ground was froze we had to start a fire and try and light the ground up. Hard
as fuck." David answered.
"Hows Gavin?"  Johnny asked.
"In and out. More good then bad though." Charlie said as she collected weapons.
"David and Emily are a mess though. They lost all their kids except the baby.
Hana lost her husband and Emma lost her sister."
"How'd that fucking happen anyway?" Dean asked.
"Hana said that Luka was crying cause he was scared and had to pee. Emily threw
a tantrum like a child and took him to the bathrooms. When she got in the
bathrooms the infected started pouring in. It was to much for her and Max to
hold off by themselves. The door broke open and max went down first. Hana hide
her daughter behind some tables, went to get the others but then they were
grabbed and she was able to kill a few and get past with her daughter while
some were distracted." Charlie explained.
"Thats fucked up." Toby said as he took off his heavy jacket.
"It really is. But try and be quiet. Almost all kids are sleeping." She told
them.
"Got it." They said.
They walked in slowly and quietly.
It was dark, except for a few fish tanks.
"Dinner is done. It's in the microwave. It's just Mac and Cheese, kind of."
Powdered cheese, noodles and water.
"Thanks."
Dean knocked on Jessica's cube. "I heard you had a girl."
She smiled. "Sabrina." She smiled.
"She's beautiful." He smiled. "I'll leave, let those kids sleep." He saw Hunter
crawled at her side and Hope in her crib.
"Hey, can you check on Gavin for me?" She asked before he left.
"Sure but where's Sebastian?"
"With Gavin, but he hasn't come back yet. Let him spend time with his brother."
She knew he needed to. "Besides the kids were quiet."
"Got it."
He walked 20 steps to Gavins cube and saw Sebastian talking to him. Gavin was
awake. "Hows he doing?"
"I'm good. Everyone else?" He slurred.
"Bad but settled." He was honest.
"Jessica wanted to know how you were doing."
"Hows she doing? Hows the baby?" Gavin slurred. His words muffled but they knew
what he meant.
"Shes beautiful and seemingly healthy." Dean reported.
"Hows my kids?" He asked.
"The twins are sleeping. Hope and Hunter are with Jessi sleeping." Sebastian
told him.
"I'll let Jessica know." Dean left.
~~~
The night was hard for the adults.
No one really got any sleep. Gavin wasnt allowed to sleep. Jessica was up all
night with the new baby. Sebastian was up helping, everyone.
Morning rose and more snow had fallen. They realized something though.
Deadheads didnt come over towards the back where the stack of bodies were.
Maybe the smell hid the building.
Within a week they decided to use the rest of the arrows and rifle shots to
kill the ones in front and drop bodies like a barrier.
They did this close up though. They went outside. In the snow. Arranged the
bodies. Killed more and made sure it formed a flat wall of bodies. Charlie
recovered all of her bows though. So she was happy.
They went back in and checked on everyone.
David looked over at Booth and Emily mumbling and looking angry.
"Whats going on?" He asked, wanting to defuse and anger.
"We're not staying here." Booth jumped at him.
"What?"
"You couldn't even watch my kids while I was on the roof for your people." He
yelled.
"You wife abandon your kids!" Hana yelled. "That bitch got my husband killed!"
"Thats enough!" Gavin yelled as he excited his cube. "You can leave, I don't
care." Gavin had enough with those two refusing to do anything and acting like
children. "But here's the thing. You leave with what you came. Nothing more.
And you can't force anyone to go with you." He towards Jess.
"I'm not leaving." She stated.
"Really, your going to stay with them?" Emily yelled at her sister.
"It's not their fault. You threw a tantrum like always and got your way. It's
your fault." Jess yell. "If you would have stayed in the adoption room you
would have been fine."
"Your blaming me!" Emily yelled.
"Calm yourselves!" Gavin shouted. "Your kids would have been safe in that
adoption room. Those doors are so much harder to push open then those groomers
doors. You could have threw your tantrum and left and your kids still would
have been fine. That is your fault!" Gavin couldn't take the bullshit anymore.
"Now if you want to leave in that snow and risk that little boys life. I cant
stop you but anything else that happens is on your hands not mine, not Jess's
not anybody else'es."
"I'm  not staying here and dealing with this." Emily started packing a bag.
"You didnt come with that." Anne grabbed the knife off her.
Booth grabbed the gun he had hidden on his ankle and aimed it at Anne. "Leave
it."
"Are you kidding me?!" Gavin yelled. "Put it the fuck down."
"Grab Luka and pack our bags." He aimed his gun at Gavin now.
"Your not taking him!" Jess yelled as the boy squeezed her leg.
"Hes my son!" Emily yelled.
"No he's not!" Jess yelled.
Everyone looked confused.
"You can kill yourself all you want but your not taking my son!" Jess yelled.
Everyone was even more confused.
"Give me the boy!" Emily grabbed him from her leg and started to pull him.
Then a shot went off. Emma had the gun.
Nearly hit Booth but just went into a bag of dog food behind him.
That distracted him long enough for Gavin to punch him in the face and steal
the gun.
"Now, whose son is Luka?" Gavin asked.
"He's mine." Jess admitted. "Nick please take him in the adoption room. I dont
want him to hear." Luka let Nick lift him up and take him in the room. "I was
raped 5 years ago. I had a mental breakdown, I asked Emily to watch him while I
got help and she took him from me. Because of that break down I was never able
to get him back. Up until this happened she wouldn't even let me see him."
"He's mine!" Emily yelled like a crazy women. "I had 4 and you had a breakdown
after only 1. Your a little bitch you cant handle stress. Get over over
yourself!" She was yelling.
"Get out!" Gavin yelled. "I want you and your husband out! And your not taking
that boy! You couldnt keep the other ones safe how would you keep him safe!" He
knew that was hurtful but it had to be said. "Just get out!" They packed one
bag of some food they had in their cube and Gavin didnt care that they grabbed
the two knifes they had. Gavin made sure they went out the back. He had the gun
pointed at them the whole time. He gave them the keys to the car they came with
and locked the door when they left.
"Is anyone mad that I did that?" Gavin asked the people left. "Speak now,
because I dont want to hear any bull shit later on. Jess thats your family,
anything to say?"
"No. She would have gotten Luka killed."
"What you said was harsh Gavin." Jessica said. "You should not have said that."
"I know that. And I do regret it." He told Jessica.
"The thing that pisses me off is Booth had that gun and didnt use it when the
dead busted through our doors." Hana said. "He could have given it to someone
in the groomers station and saved his kids."
"They werent even his kids." Jess admitted. "Two were from Emilys first and
third marriage. And two are foster kids. It's the only way they were able to
take my son, because she's been fostering for 10 years."
"So much confusion in your family." Gavin stated and just walked away.
~~~
They ate dinner that night and took down Emily and Booths cube.
"I'll check the roof. Someone clean up after the dogs please." Gavin said as he
put a heavy coat on.
He went up the stairs and was hit by a burning smell. "What the fuck!" He
yelled when he saw the buildings joining the pet store were set on fire. The 7-
eleven down the block. It seemed to have just started.
He rushed down.
"Theres a fucking fire!"
"What?" People screamed.
"The 7 eleven was set on fire. The whole building is going up."
"Theres only two building separating us." Jessica worried.
"I know. We need to get out before it spreads." Gavin said.
They knew it would be torture out there but they couldn't stay with the fire
spreading.
"Emily did this. I know it." Jess exclaimed.
"Fucking should have killed them." Johnny yelled.
"We're not killers." Anne smacked her husband behind the head.
"Quickly; Sebastian, Dean, David, Emma pack our bags. Just the important stuff.
Ty to squeeze it in as much as you can in as few bags as possible. Jessica,
Dani, Anne, Hana and Tempy get the kids dressed in the warmest clothes
possible. Nick and Jess get the food and water. Charlie, Johnny help me with
the weapons." They've never moved so fast in their lives.
"Packed." Sebastian said.
"Put all supplies in the blue truck we got a few weeks back. Get all camping
supplies you can grab too and blankets. Get the dogs in cages and put them in
the van Including dog food bags, as many as you can grab. But make sure at
least two people stay outside with the vehicles." Gavin stated.
"Kids are ready." Jess said.
"I'm gonna check the roof." Charlie went upstairs after they finished packing
the weapons. "We need to hurry!" She screamed. "Two buildings lit. One left
before we're hit."
"Squeeze all the kids in the Military truck." There were military trucks, jeeps
and Humvee's all over but they grabbed the biggest one and siphoned the gas
from all the rest.
Gavin had the weapons packed into four different bags. They divided the knives,
spears, they only had 1 gun with bullets, two bats with nails, crowbars and
Charlies crossbow. Each car would get a bag.
"Everyone ready?" Gavin asked.
"Kids are in the truck. Most people are two. Nick and Jess are driving the van
with Luka in with them. Fully packed with dogs, supplies and dog food." Charlie
stated. "Myself and David are driving the blue truck, fully loaded no room for
anything else." She spoke as they grabbed the last of the bags. "Your brother
and mostly everyone else are in the military truck." They started handing out
weapon bags out. They saw the blaze getting close to the cars. "Dean is in the
minivan with all camping supplies."
"I'll drive the trucks lets go." He climbed in and saw charlie do the same.
The kids were screaming and crying it was so scary. Jessica was terrified. She
had a 4 day old baby girl, in the snow. She had Hope and Hunter and her
nephews.
"Hows she doing?" Anne asked Jessica.
"I dont know what I'm doing." Jessica said in tears. The baby was crying so
loud.
"Do you mind?" Anne put her hands out. Jess handed her Sabrina. She was in a
winter baby sleeper and wrapped in a thick swaddle blanket. Anne rocked her a
certain way. On her chest with a gentle back rub.
She calmed and went to sleep.
"Different babies like to be rocked different ways. Noah wouldn't stop crying
unless I was in the rocking chair. Eli liked to be nuzzled in my chest.
Gavin heard David on the walkie. "Where we going?"
Gavin had to admit. "I dont know, just stay close." He stated.
They just had to drive.
 
***** Motel-First Night *****
"Gavin we need to stop somewhere." Jessica told him weakly. It's been hours
since they started driving. They weren't anywhere near Philadelphia anymore.
"What?" He asked.
"I need to feed Sabrina again. And a lot of kids have to go potty." She saw
Mark and Matthew fighting.
"Alright." He grabbed the walkie. They weren’t near anything. He saw a gas
station up ahead. "We're pulling over at the gas station." He said.
"Got it." Dean replied.
They made it to the gas station. They all pulled over.
"Check everything for gas for the cars. Stretch your legs, go to the bathroom.
But watch yourselves and the kids." Gavin stated. "Let the dogs out too." He
said.
Dean quickly killed three deadheads that came out of the trees with his knife.
"I'll take the kids to the bathroom." Dani said. Anne, Emma and Hana were going
too.
"Thank you." Jessica said. Dani lifted Hope up. She needed a diaper change.
"You okay?" Sebastian asked his wife as she began to nurse their daughter.  
"I'm so cold." She admitted. "Those kids are terrified and sitting on the floor
in this truck is hard." She was so scared. "Sabrina is cold and I don't know
what to do."  
"I'm gonna talk to Gavin. I'll be right back." He told her as he draped a
blanket around her shoulders.
Sebastian went to his brother. "I think we should move the kids to the cars,
they have heat and if we squeeze in some adults they can watch them."
"I was thinking that myself but we would need to move a lot around." Gavin
said.
"Start moving the stuff in the minivan to the truck. Hurry. And the same with
the van." The man quickly moved things as the women used the bathrooms and
raided the convenience store for goodies.
"Got a shotgun with a box of shells." Charlie came out of the convenience
store. "It was behind the register." She handed it to David. "So what's going
on here?" She asked.
"You and David in the Minivan with Jessica..."
"Gavin!" They heard Jessica shout.
They knew it was coming from behind the convenience store.
They rushed to her and asked.
"Yeah. Look." They saw the ford transit from the size it looked to be an 18
seater. Gavin use to drive them when he was a troop leader when Mark and
Matthew were in boy scouts. But it had deadheads inside. They could see from
the windows. Not a lot. Maybe 6 inside. "We could use that. Ditch the minivan."
"What do you think?" Sebastian asked his brother.
"Kids in a car. I'm not taking any risk with them." He said.
"Got it." Johnny went back to get the kids inside.
The adults stood ready. Gavin slid the side door open and the deadheads started
to come out. Johnny got one with a spear. Then David got one. Gavin. Sebastian.
Charlie got one with an arrow. And lastly Toby got one with a machete.
"Disinfect the inside before anyone goes in. Check the gas and for keys."
They found the keys on the floors. They used disinfecting wipes and spray to
cleans the seats. After siphoning gas from all cars nearby and emptying the
pumps they had a few full canisters and all their cars loaded.
"Alright, new plan. And get in as I speak please." Gavin put most people in the
18 seater with his brother driving.
Gavin drove the blue truck all storage inside.
Dean drove the minivan with his wife and daughter. Tempy and her twins and Emma
and Joy.
Toby drove the military truck with storage and the dogs. They were all in the
front out of the cages so they could fell the heat.
"Gavin do you know where we're going?" Sebastian asked on the walkie.
"No." He admitted.
"I'm hungry." Hunter cried.
"Alright buddy, I'll get you a snack." Jessica said. She grabbed a bag they
grabbed from the convenience store and started handing out snacks.
"I see a driveway coming up, maybe it's an empty house." Gavin said over the
walkie. "I'll pull in first just to see." Gavin said he drove ahead and saw the
large driveway. It wasn't a house. It was a motel. One floor, seemingly ten
rooms and an office.
Gavin flashed his lights to draw people or deadheads out. Nothing came. He used
the walkie to say. "It's a motel." He noticed maybe two deadheads coming his
way. "I see two." He stated.
"You think its safe?" Toby asked.
"Not sure. I see four cars, might be dead inside the rooms." He stated.
"Wait for us." Dean said.
Gavin only saw the two. He was watching to make sure nothing else came by. But
two more did. He saw one room looked like the curtain fluttered open a bit. "I
think someones inside." He said as Dean pulled up beside him.
"Flash the lights again." They both flashed their headlights.
Only the four deadheads came out.
"I got them." Charlie said over the walkie. She climbed out of the Ford Transit
and climbed on the roof. She used her bow and arrow to kill the four. "I love
this thing!" She was so excited. She could kill deadheads and not have to be
close to them.
Gavin got out.
"Is someone in there?" He asked. "We're not looking to hurt you we just need
somewhere to stay." He said. When no one responded he assumed it was just a
dead person inside.
"Manager's office first." Gavin said. "Don't want to break any of the doors."
Gavin and Dean went inside while David and Charlie stood watch.
"Rooms 4 and 12 and 15 are missing so those probably have dead inside."
"There going to come over here." A woman hiding in the room whispered to
another women. "I don't know what to do." She whispered back as she looked at
her infant and toddler sleeping.
"Stay in here." The red headed women stated.
She stood up and took her all her nerve. She opened her door. "Who are you
people?" She asked.
Gavin rushed out the manager's office.
"Where just people. Looking for some place safe." Gavin said when they heard
crying. The red headed women assumed it was her friends kids. Gavin assumed it
was one of his. The women realized it was one of his.
"You have kids?" She asked.
"Yeah." Gavin said over the crying.
The blonde women came out. "How many?" She asked.
"A lot." Gavin said.
"Fine." It's not like they could protest anyway. They didn't have any weapons.
"What rooms are you your peoples?" Gavin asked.
"4." She said. "The rest are empty. Except 12 and 15 they has zombies inside."
The blonde said. "I'm Bridget, by the way."
"Jade." The red head stated.
"Gavin."
"Dean."
"David."
"Charlie."
"And there are alot more in those cars." Gavin said. "Wheres 12 and 15?" He
only saw 10 rooms.
"In the back." She stated.
"Well come in but this place doesn't have electricity. We have water but it's
not hot water." Bridget told him. "Get in quick. Those things seem to  come out
quicker at night." Not really you just couldn't see them coming.
"Got it." He said.
"There's candles in each room though."
"Thank you." Gavin stated. "Lets go, lets get everyone inside." Gavin
instructed.
Emma took Joy and their bags inside room number 1. They made sure to label
everyone's bags. She also had a diaper bag and a folded up pack and play.
Jessica, Sebastian and Sabrina had room 2. Jessica had a baby nest instead of a
pack and play.
Gavin, Hunter, Hope, Mark and Matthew had room 3. They took their bags inside
and Gavin setup Hopes pack and play. After changing her diaper he put her
inside and she fell asleep. Gavin had his dogs Stella and Prince in there as
well.
Bridget, Jade and Bridgets kids, Sky and Cole, had room four and whatever they
had.
Toby, Tempy and their twins had room 5.
Hana and Lily had room 6.
Nick, Jess and Luka had room 7.
David and Charlie had room 8.
Dean, Dani and Mya had room 9.
Johnny, Anne, Noah and Eli in room 10 with their dog Pongo. He is an older dog,
all he really does is sleep.
Gavin however didn’t sleep.
He, Johnny and David stayed up watching for infected and watching the supplies
in the trucks.
It was cold and snowing. They were grateful to be in actual rooms. Gavin
checked on the kids every half hour or so. He still had a working watch. Mark,
Matthew and Hunter huddled warm in the blankets on one bed. Gavin had Hope
wrapped in warm clothes and blankets in the crib but he was so nervous about
her being warm. He took her out and went inside Jessicas room. They were awake
with the baby.
"I'll take her." Jessica said as she put Sabrina in the baby nest next to
Sebastian. He handed her over and they cuddled in with the kids in the middle.
Gavin left.
"Anything?" He asked.
"David used Charlies bow and killed two but used 5 arrows." Johnny teased his
brother for being a bad shot.
"Screw you." David chuckled.
"It's fucking cold." Johnny swore as he breathed into his hands.
"Morning 'ill come soon and we can sort shit out and go inside." David grunted.
"What about those girls?"
"What about them? They're scared and probably don't have weapons. I saw kids on
the bed when the blonde, Bridget, opened the door. You could see it, they were
scared. If they dont help us out. We dont help them. Same as before." Gavin
stated. "Fuck its cold!"
~~~
Morning came, not quick enough though and they pulled out the breakfast food
they had.
They set up some trash can fires.
They took the tables out of the rooms and lined them up with chairs.
Anne and Dani started to cook, kind of. They mixed bottles of water with
powdered eggs or poured dry cereal in a bowls.
Jessica mixed a formula bottle for Hope. Sabrina was breastfeed a few moments
earlier.
Gavin knocked polity on room fours door.
"Yes?" Bridget asked.
"We're havin breakfast." Gavin stated. "Your welcome to join but come quick
dont want to miss it." He said with a chuckle.
"Thank you." She quietly said.
She looked out the window and saw them lining up chairs and tables.
"You want to go out?" She asked Jade.
"You think its a good idea?"
"They seem to have alot of food and we're on our last two cans on mixed
veggies." Bridget said. "Lets get the kids ready."
"Where we going?" Her 4 year old daughter asked.
"Eat breakfast." She smiled. She fully dressed her kids and herself and took
them out. "You can take the table in our room if you need it." She stated,
holding her kids.
"Let your kids take a seat and help us get it." Dani said.
Bridget put Sky at the table.
Jade brought out two chairs. "Sit, I'll get the rest." Bridget handed her the 5
month old boy, Cole.
Bridget got the other two chairs and Dean grabbed the table.
They all sat outside and enjoyed a good breakfast of coffee, hot tea, water,
eggs and cereal.
They finished and cleaned up.
"Lets start dividing everything up. Bridget, Jade, your welcome to have some of
our stuff but that means you help when we need help. You do your part." Gavin
stated.
Bridget needed help so she agreed. Jade was about to put up a fuss but Bridget
shut her up.  
They emptied out the trucks and vans. They put all the food in the manager's
office. They divided up some snacks though and gave them to each room. They
divided up the dog food as well.
Bridget and Jade got clothes they needed and some snacks. Gavin had extras for
her kids.
After everything was emptied Gavin said. "Alright, we need to make this place
safe. Starting by taking out those infected in the back rooms. Then we find
fencing and build around this place. Make it safe for us."
"Umm." Bridget said. "Theres a group of stores maybe 5 miles up that way." She
pointed the way opposite to wear Gavins group was going towards. "I know there
is a hardware store and craft store. Oh and a super center everything
department store. I haven't been out of this motel so I don't know if they've
been emptied or not but I haven't seen any cars go by since this started."
"Alright, thank you."
"How about we move the cars that are here as like a wall." Charlie stated.
Bridget went inside. "Here's the keys to my camaro." It is black and from the
70's.
"Shes a beauty." David said. "What year?"
"71. My daddies before he died."
"My station wagon." Jade pulled the keys from her coat pocket.
"Alright, everyone get inside. Who wants to clean out the back rooms with me?"
Gavin asked.
"Count me in." Charlie said. She loved using her bow. "And if you ever touch my
bow again. I'm going to use it on you." Charlie teased her boyfriend.
"Me too." David said as he laughed at his girlfriends comments.
"Grab the keys for the rooms available so we can see if they have anything we
need." Gavin stated. "Everyone else inside."
"We'll go to, help gather things you might need." Nick and Toby volunteered.
"I have a wagon you can use." Bridget offered. She went in and grabbed it.
"Uncle Gavin?" Mark asked.
"Yeah."
"Can we go home?"
"I really wish we could." He told him. "I'm sorry."
"I got them." Jessica said as she put her hand on Marks shoulder. "Come on
boys." She walked to the room with the three boys. Sebastian was holding
Sabrina and had Hope in a carrier on his chest. They all went in the room with
the dogs.
The three went behind the first ten rooms and found the back ten. 11-20. They
checked the knob for 12. It was open. They swung it open and they saw the one
person with his head blown off by the wall. The wall had "In God I trust"
written on it.
"Oh fuck. Get the blankets and pillows, anything useful. Then break the key in
the door. I don't want anyone coming in here." Gavin said. They checked 15
next.
"No ones in here." They said.
"Maybe they just left and didn't return the key."
"But Bridget said they were inside." Charlie stated.
"Maybe she knew people checked in and didnt know they left." Toby said.
"Maybe."
"Grab the rest of the blankets and pillows, everything and lets go." Gavin
stated.
Each person got an extra blanket and pillow per person. They even split up
shampoos, conditioners and body washes.
Gavin was having a hard time staying awake.
"I want to scout the area." He said trying to keep his eyes open. "See what and
maybe who's around us."
"Maybe you should sleep first." Charlie was worried about him. He hasnt slept
in at least 2 days.
"Cant, got stuff to do." He said.
"Yes you can." Charlie told him. "We can handle it. Now go to bed." She
playfully ordered.
 She escorted him to his room. "Hey boys, why dont we gather the kids and make
a fort in room 20." Charlie asked them.
"Be careful." He mumbled.
"I got it." She assured him.
 He couldnt even keep his eyes open to see them close the door.
"He's been up for 2 days." Jessica told Sebastian when she saw Charlie taking
the boys out the room.
"He's a leader, always has been. When we were teens, we were on vacation and
there was a hurricane coming. Gavin took charge of a school full of people who
didnt know him for more then 5 minutes and convinced everyone to calm down and
relax. He got them singing and playing games. Everyone completely forgot about
the hurricane." Sebastian told her.
"So why did you hate him for so long?" She never wanted to ask but needed to
know.
"He didn't support me being a rockstar."
"Or was it he didn't support you leaving at 15?" She asked.
"Probably that. But at the time I was angry and hated him. Then when I called
him the next year to invite him to my first tour. He wouldn't come. I didn't
know at the time it was because our sister dumped the boys on his step. After
that we just didn't talk."
"Worlds over, make it right." Jessica said as she grabbed Sabrina to change
her.


***** Motel-Morning *****
After a good talk with his wife Sebastian went out and saw the guys working.
"Whats going on?" He asked.
"Wanted to get a kinda gate up before any one goes out." Johnny said.
"What is that?" Sebastian asked.
"Chicken wire. There were a couple rolls and some equipment in room 13. If we
double the rolls, one on top one on the bottom. We'll have a tall gate and it
will last until we find something better." David stated.
"Need help?" He asked.
"No, go help with that beautiful baby." Dani teased.
~~~
Gavin woke up and it was dark. He didnt see his kids. He quickly jumped out of
bed and went to the door he opened it to see the chicken wire fence up. A fire
pits lit up.
"Wheres my kids?" He questioned.
"Eating dinner inside room 19. We set the tables up inside now. It's to cold to
be out." Anne said as she started putting the medicine bags in the manager's
office.
"You going?" He asked.
"I already ate." She smiled. "Go get some."
"I not hungry." Gavin admitted. "Who did the wire?" He asked.
"The guys and Charlie helped after the boys were done playing. They want to
search the area soon but wanted the place safe, knew you would approve."
"Yeah, it's great." He said. "I'm gonna check on my kids." He left. He thought
about making this place home. Part of him knew they could never settle. They
would always be running for their lives. The knew this nightmare would never
end but he needed to keep a brave face for those kids.
He saw Johnny sitting on top of the Ford Transit. "What are you doing?" He
asked.
"On watch, can't let you stay up every night." He joked.
"I'll take over after I check on my kids." He stated.
"Nah it's fine, Dean and David are coming in a few minutes. Toby and Nick after
him." He filled him in.
Gavin felt like everyone fell into a groove while he slept.
"Damn." He said. They didn't seem to need him. He walked around to Room 19.
"Gavin!" The boys screamed happily.
"Hey." He smiled at their happy faces.
"We played cops and robbers in our fort!" Mark yelled happily.
"I wish I could have played." He laughed.
"We can play again!" Matthew shouted in excitement. "Come on!" He stood from
the table and grabbed Gavin's hand.
"Hey it's to dark, remember. We'll set it up bright and early and you can show
your uncle Gavin then." Dani told them. She started clearing the plates from
the tables and asked Gavin. "You gonna eat?"
"Not hungry." He told her.
"You okay?" Jessica asked him.
"Yeah, just woke up. I'm never hungry when I wake up." Gavin told her.
Sebastian said. "He never use to eat breakfast as a kid."
"Your still tired." Jessica told him. She could see his eyes still wanting to
stay closed. She worried about him. He was always the big brother she never
had.
"I'm fine. I swear." He told her. "Wheres my girl?" He looked for Hope.
"Shes in this playpen, with her new friend." Jessica said. Gavin looked and saw
Hope and Cole rolling around in the play pen. Their only 6 months old, not much
else they can do.
Gavin looked at Hunter, quietly eating his food. "Are you okay?"
He nodded. "Sleepy." He pouted. HE knew he missed his parents too. He knew part
of this boy was depressed but he didn't know how to fix it. This isn't a life
for kids. This isn't a life at all.
"Alright, finish your food then lets get you ready for bed." He said.
He went over to Jessica. "Has he been like this all day?"
She nodded. "He called for his mommy earlier. I didn't know what to do." She
was tearful.
"I'll talk to him." Gavin said.
They heard the clanking of the wire fence and Gavin rushed out. He saw two
deadheads dropping outside the gates.
"We got it." Johnny told him. “GEt you rest, cause I’m not covering for your
ass forever.” Johnny chuckled. "Time to switch." Johnny handed the spear to
Dean.
Charlie handed hers to David. “Kiss for luck.” She kissed David.
"Time for bed!" Dani yelled when she looked at her watch, 9:24 pm.
Everyone started to break off and go to bed.
"Can you watch the twins for a minute, I want to talk to Hunter before they
come in." He asked Jessica as they started to move around. .
"Alright." Jessica agreed.
"Lets go get ready for bed." Gavin lifted Hunter and took him to the room. He
picked out a set of dinosaur pajamas and helped him get changed. "What's a
matter?" Gavin asked.
"Nuffin." He mumbled. Clearly lying.  
"Aunty Jessi told me that you asked for mommy." He calmly said.
He nodded.
"You miss mommy?" He asked.
Hunter nodded with tears.
"I know buddy." Gavin said. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could bring her back for
you..."
"I want my mommy!" He was screaming now. All he knew was mommy was having a
baby, then mommy never came home.
"Hunter, I dont know what to say to make you feel better. Mommy and Daddy loved
you so much. If they could, they would be here right now. But a sick person
made them very sick so they cant be." Hunter was crying so hard and Gavin was
trying to hold him and keep him calm. "Mommy and Daddy are in heaven." He
thought that might make it easier. Gavin didnt know what to say to comfort him.
"I'm not going to leave you. I'm right here. If you get scared just call me and
I'll come running. No matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, I will run
for you." He promised. He feared his promise would be broken with the deadheads
out there. "Lets go get the boys and get ready for bed." Gavin smiled at him.
Gavin just opened the door and was hit by a cold burst of wind. "Fuck." He
looked at Hunter. "Dont say that, its a bad word. Can you go run on the bed and
huddle under the blankets, I'm gonna stand at the door real quick." He did as
told.
"Charlie, can you get Sebastian to bring the boys and Hope over?" He asked, not
wanting to leave Hunter. "Nevermind." He saw them chasing each other.
They made it to the door and Gavin let them in. "Put your Pjs on, there on the
bed." He closed the door and waited until Sebastian brought Hope over.
"I can keep her for the night." Jessica told him.
"It's fine." He stated. "I miss my kids." He smiled. None of them are his
biological kids but they will be his for the rest f his life.
"It's getting cold, make sure she stays warm."
"I will." He smiled. He took Hope inside and changed her into some clean warm
clothes. Mark and Matthew were laying on the one bed and he tucked them into 3
heavy blankets. Made sure they were warm. Hunter was sleeping in Gavins bed
with Hope. He had 3 thick blankets on them. He wasnt sure if it was enough.
Gavin slept uncomfortably. He was scared his kids wouldn't be warm. He saw the
fires outside during the night. Heard the gates rattle at some points. He
barely slept but was woken up in the morning to his door being knocked on.
He whipped his eyes and looked out the peephole. It was Charlie. "You cut your
hair?" He asked when he opened the door. Her short red hair, even shorter now.
"Yes." She smiled. "We found a battery powered shaver and shaved most of it
off. I hate it when it gets to long. Anyway not why I came here. The group is
leaving in an hour, you going?"
"Yeah, of course. Well wake those kids up its breakfast time." She smiled and
left.
Gavin woke up his kids. They went back into room 20 and ate breakfast. Gavin
feed Hope a bottle then handed her to Jessica, who had just finished feeding
Sabrina. He was so proud of Jessica. She's become a strong woman and amazing
mother.
"When are we leaving?" Gavin asked.
"Might not be. The snows about 2 inches deep and not stopping." Johnny said
when he came in.
"I get it but if its getting bad we need more blankets, heavy clothes, plastic
wrap for the windows. We need to stay warm." Gavin stated.
"He's got a point." Anne said.
"Yeah but do you want them to freeze to death?" Dani said.
"They'll be in the car, they'll have heat." Anne said.
Gavin was thinking while people were discussing back and forth.
"I'm not letting you out of here in that weather." Anne yelled at her husband.
"So you would rather everyone freeze to death instead of us go get blankets?"
Johnny getting annoyed asked.
"Wait!" Gavin yelled. "If you get to cold get in the cars and stay warm with
the heat. Use the 18 seater if you have to." Gavin stated. "We can always find
more cars. But we need to get everything we can before it gets worse. We lost
to much because of that fire."
For some reason Gavin seemed to be the leader and what he said went. He just
has this power to his words.
"Now who is all going?" Gavin  asked.
David and Charlie lifted their hands.
Johnny and Dean raised their hands.
"Only four of us should go, just in case." Gavin said. "One of you decide who's
staying." Gavin started to kiss his kids heads and hug them goodbye. He
promised to come back though.
"I'm staying." Johnny told Gavin. "I'll watch the gates with Nick and Toby."
"Alright. Kiss your kids, pack your bag, grab your weapons. We'll take the
station wagon and the blue truck, They've got enough room for people and enough
room for supplies. We leave in 5 minutes and make it back by tonight." Gavin
stated. He grabbed his bat that has nails sticking out. He had his knife just
in case. Dean and David had knifes at their sides and machetes. Charlie had her
bow and arrow.
"I feel like Robin hood. Anyone got a green hooded cap?" Charlie joked.
"No but if you find Green silk I'll make you one." Jessica teased.
They put on winter cloths and scarfs. They were ready to leave.
"Make sure you move the cars back into place as soon as we pull out." Gavin
told Johnny.
"Not even getting out of the car." Johnny said. He was ready to move the
military truck out of the way so they could get out and put it right back so
nothing could get back in.
Jessica had to calm Hunter. As he saw Gavin get in the truck he started to cry.
He hated it. HE is only four but he thought Gavin would break his promise.
“I don't like this either.” Jessica mumbled as cradled Hunter to  her chest.
 
***** Supply Run: *****
Supply Run:
Charlie and David were in the blue truck and Gavin and Dean were in the station
wagon. They staid next to each other while they drove down the road. Both going
45 miles. They made it to the super store in less than 10 minutes. A gas
station and coffee shop were on one side while the super store and 4 small
others were on the opposite.
"Look at them." Charlie said. There were a few deadheads roaming around the
parking lot. "I'll get them." She used her bow and arrow to kill 6 out her
window.
 She opened the door and collected her arrows.
David was right behind her.
"Lets get in." Gavin stated as he climbed out the station. "It's fucking cold."
he said to himself.
The doors were closed.
Gavin used his fingers to pry them apart. They weren’t locked.
"Charlie and David clothes, blankets, anything warming. We'll get food, drinks,
hopefully weapons." Gavin stated.
They all grabbed carts and went their separate ways.
"You think we're gonna survive the winter?" Dean asked.
Gavin took a deep breath. He thought. "Yeah, if we huddle up. Make the rooms
warm."
~~~
Gavin followed the signs and went towards the food isles. He cautions turned
down each. Most food seemed to be gone. There were scattered cans of soup he
collected. Ripped boxes of cereal. As long as the bag wasn't ripped, he took
it.
He started to hear groans. He slowly stopped and saw as a body turned the aisle
and charged at him. He didn't want to ram the cart into it and get it's
infected blood over everything. He grabbed a can of dripping peas at his head.
It hit, didn't cause much damage. Just enough to distract him so he could grab
his knife, get close enough and stab him in the head. It was head getting the
knife back but he needed a weapon.
“You okay?” Dean turned the aisle from where the dead man came.
“Yeah.” He saw the man with blood splatter on him. “You?”
“Took out three.” He bragged.
Gavin saw Dean had four cases of water and some scattered bottles.
“I’m gonna see about formula.” Dean said.
“Be careful.” He said. He needed to get more food.
He turned to the next aisle. “International.” He said to himself.
It was almost fully stocked. He grabbed all the rices, tortilla shells, cans of
beans and tomato sauces. His cart was fully loaded.
~~~
David and Charlie stuck together. “You know what I love about these super
stores, they have a little bit of everything.” Charlie smiled.
She was tossing the blanket and sheet sets into the cart. “I’m only grabbing
kings and queens because, well the bigger the better right?” She was talking to
herself not expecting David to reply.
“We have to grab baby blankets to.” She looked at him like she forgot he was
there.
“I know.” She stated.
“I love it when you’re in your head. But you have to pay attention. Not time to
think about dancing unicorns and singing kittens.” He laughed. These are actual
conversations she had with herself.
“It’s dancing kittens and singing unicorns.” She corrected him with a smile.
He was lost looking at her when an infected crashed into his cart. Charlie had
her bow ready and shot it, clear in the head.
“And you told me I need to pay attention.” She pushed her cart ahead of him.
~~~
The four met up by the entrance.
“Carts are loaded.” Charlie smiled.
“There's fully loaded aisles of camping gear back there but it can't fit in the
carts.” David said.
“Alrights let's drop all this stuff. We did good. Then come back and get more.”
Gavin suggested.
“I’m not sure if we should leave it. What if somebody else comes by?” Charlie
asked.
“What about checking the cars around. Seeing if they have gas. Loading up
more.” David offered.
“Put the stuff we have in the station wagon.” They were able to squeeze all
four carts into the stations wagon. It was like tetris and Dean enjoyed the
puzzle.
“Someone has to stay in the wagon.” Gavin said.
“I’ll do it.” Dean offered. “I’ll check out some of these cars while I’m at
it.” Dean closed the car door.
“You want me to stay and watch your back?” CHarlie asked.
“Nah, I’m good.” He assured them.
They went back inside while Dean started looking in the cars in the parking
lot. He found a few living corpses. He killed them quickly and quietly. In the
cars he found some minor things. Some cheap painkillers. He found a gun in a
woman's purse.
By the time he saw the others coming out of the store with three loaded carts
he had two cars ready for them to use. A Nissan Rogue and a Toyota Land
Cruiser.
They loaded up the truck and the Nissan. They could have went back for more but
the sun was going down and it was freezing cold already, without the sun it
would have gotten a lot worse.
Gavin drove the truck.
Charlie and David were in the Nissan.
And Dean was in the station wagon.
They headed back. 
***** Motel - The Fall *****
Jessica watched the others leave. She had to keep Hunter calm he was crying so
much for Gavin. SHe put him in the room and told him she would get him a snack.
“Hey boys, why don't we build that fort again?” Dani asked.
“To cold.” Mark grumpily said.
“The fort will keep us warm. All those toasty blankets.” She tried to persuade
him.
“NO!” He yelled.
“Mark.” Jessica scolded him.
He ran into the hotel room.
“All the boys are upset. Especially Hunter. Gavins all he has left.”
DAni shook her head in sadness. “I don't know what to do anymore.” She started
to shake.
“I need to get inside.” Jess said.
“Me too.” They went to separate rooms.
“Matthew!” Jess called him over before going in. He rushed over. “It’s to
cold.” He went inside. Sebastian was in there. He was holding Hope and reading
to her, Sabrina and Hunter.
“Matthew, Mark. Why don't we play a board game? I found a few different ones in
the manager's office. Could be fun.” She pulled them out of the dresser.
“Fine.” They grunted. Jessica put blankets around the doors and windows trying
to keep the air out but it wasn't working. She distracted the boys with games
while Sebastian cared for the little ones.
~~~
The Ray families huddled up in one room. They kept the kids bundled in
blankets. Pongo hid under the bed. Johnny held his wife with their kids in
between them. Dani held her daughter. They all squeezed on one bed. They tried
to keep the body heat.
“This is working.” Dani admitted.
Being huddled up in this buddled of people and blankets was keeping everyone
warm.
~~~
“I think I saw a space heater in the manager's office but it was really small.”
Tempy said.
“Let's go check. That could be useful.” Toby said.
They each lifted one of their kids and rushed towards the manager's office.
Tempy looked around. “It’s right there.”
Toby shut the door as she tried to pull it out.
“It needs to be plugged in.” She was disappointed. They don't have electricity.
“This was a waist.” She was annoyed.
~~~
Nobody realized, no one was on watch. If someone was, they would have realized
the dead were heading they’re way. A horde of them. To many to count. To many
to defeat.
~~~
Jessica was freezing with the kids. “I’m going to the car.” She told Sebastian.
“Let's go.”
“Leash the dogs please.” She handed him the leashed. “Boys, listen to me.” She
got their attention. “Stay close, don't run or fall behind. It is to cold to be
messing around.” She didn't respond. “Do you understand?”
They nodded. Sebastian has Hope in a carrier on his chest.
Jessica had Sabrina.
Sebastian had a dogs leash in each hand.
And Jessica held Hunters hand.
“REady?” She asked.
They were. They quickly rushed to the van.
“Why is no one on watch?” Sebastian questioned.
He got his family inside and turned the heat on.
“Stay by the vents.” The boys warmed up quickly.
“I’ll grab more blankets and see where everyone fucking is.” He grunted in
anger.
Jessica began to breastfeed Sabrina. A few moments later she saw Bridget
rushing out with her kids.
“She came in.” It is way to cold!” She was shaking.
"I know, I'm shocked no one else is coming in." She had Sabrina sucking from
her breast. A few moments had past and Sabrina was done. She recovered her
breast and put Sabrina in a car seat. They heard a crash and screaming. The
kids got scared. Jessica stood and looked out the window.
"Fuck." Jessica quietly said. There were more than 30 deadheads that just broke
down the makeshift gate. Sebastian rushed in. She saw Emma getting taken down
with Joy.
He dropped the blankets and was in complete shock for a moment.
"They need help!" She yelled to Sebastian.
"Watch those kids." He ordered her.
Before he could get back out those doors deadheads had blocked him in.
"Just watch the windows." He looked at the kids. "Keep quiet."
Jessica saw the bodies falling room doors opening and people getting attacked.
She started to cry. She wanted to help but that would risk these kids. She saw
so many bodies. She hoped the rest were still in there rooms.
"Do you see Jade?" Bridget asked.
She looked back and Bridget knew without her saying it. Her friend was dead.
Johnny Ray was hiding in her room with his wife, kids, sister in law and niece.
They locked the dog they had in the bathroom. They could see the deadheads
piling up. It was terrifying.
Toby and Tempy had their twins and themselves locked in the manager's office.
Everyone prayed the others would come back and be able to help.
A while passed before they did anything.
Sebastian turned the car off. The sound was drawing more.
"Their gonna freeze." Jessica whispered.
"The sound is making it worse." Sebastian stated. "Head down." He told Mark who
lifted his head to look out the window.
"I wish Gavin would hurry." Jessica said.
"At least the babies are napping." Bridget stated.
~~~
"Momma." Angie cried.
"Shh baby." Tempy lifted her as she held Toby jr.
"Temperance." Toby tapped her shoulder and he took their son.
She looked him in the eyes.
He knew she was scared. So was he.
~~~
"I want Dean to come back but I dont want him to walk into this." Dani said as
she rocked her four year old daughter.
"I know how you feel, he's my brother." Johnny stated as he pushed the dresser
in front of the door.
"How many?" Dani asked when she saw Anne peek out the window.
"50 plus." She said in fear.
"Momma, I gotta pee." Noah said.
Anne grabbed Noahs hand and walked her to the bathroom. She saw it instantly.
"Oh shit." She sighed before letting Noah in. "Johnny." She called him in. He
came over and looked.
Their dog Pongo was dead. He was so old. 15 years old, 3 years past his
expected life time.
"He did have a heart problem, probably just hit him." Johnny told her.
Anne cried. "He was all alone in the bathroom, it's only been 20 minutes. He
died by himself." She hated herself for that.  
"It's okay momma, he's with Curly and Fluffy and grandpa." Noah tried to
comfort her.
"Johnny put him in the tub and put a blanket over him until we can bury him."
She tried to stop crying. "Noah, go potty."
~~~
"What if we drive the van as close as possible to each door and grab people."
Jessica whispered.
"This things to big, plus we're trapped in." The minivan was blocking them.
"Jessi?" Hunter asked.
"Yes buddy?"
"Theres lights." He pointed behind the van.  
"It's Gavin." Jessica stated.
"What the fuck happened!" Dean yelled from the truck when he saw the hoard of
infected.
Dean went to open the door of his car but Gavin stopped him.
"If you go out there you will die!" He stated.
"My daughters in there!" He yelled.
"Yeah so is my kids and my brother and his wife and daughter. We will get
them!" Gavin assured him.
 
 
 
***** Escape *****
Gavin didnt know if anybody was left. They saw the infected but no one living.
"Their there!" Dean saw his wife looking out the window.
"You ready?" Gavin asked.
"For what?"
"This." Gavin pressed his foot on the gas and charge over dozens of infected
until he was right in front of the motel.
Dean followed right behind and did the same for the station wagon except he
pulled onto the curb and turned so his door right at the rooms door.
He rushed inside and squeezed his family in the station wagon. It was a tight
squeeze but they fit. He drove back towards Gavin who had his window cracked at
the top and was squeezing his knife into the heads of the ones who came by.
“Where to?” Dean yelled.
“Anywhere else!” He yelled
"Hey!! OVER HERE!" Gavin saw Tempy scream from the window. Gavin back it up and
went back to the road.
"What is he doing?" She yelled.
He couldn't get to them the way he was. He had to pull back and try again. He
had blood all over his window. But he had to get back to them. He turned. He
drove. He hit a dozen or so more.
“Gavin!” Jessi yelled from the 18 seater. “We’re trapped.” She cried out.
“Just stay put!” He ordered her.
Gavin drove the truck as close to the manager's office as he could.
He grabbed the knife he had and went for the door. He killed the four banging
on it and the three charging for him. He almost got bit by everyone. He used
one hand to fend of a dead man as he used the other ram the knife into the
others head. It was nearly impossible, working from every end with no help.
“"Grab as much as you can and get inside!” He ordered when he killed the
closest ones.
Toby and Tempy started grabbing the bags they had in there. They put them on
there bags. Gavin grabbed two large duffel bags and one backpack. The two
grabbed their kids and got in the truck quickly.
The four ran in the truck. Gavin didn't get in. “Get out of here!” He ordered
Toby. Gavin ran towards his brother. He got in the minivan that was blocking
them in. They leave the keys in the car. Its just easier. He pulled the keys
from the glove compartment. He had trouble started it but eventually was able
to get out the way. He heard the start of the engine and saw his brother start
to drive away.
He looked back and saw Charlie on top of Nissan, shoting what she could with
her bow. But she was out of arrows. She saw Gavin give her the signal and she
smacked on the roof telling David to start driving. She held on tight as he
did.
Everyone still alive managed to get away.
Gavin looked back and wondered what happened.
He saw as everyone drove towards the department store.
When they stopped in the parking lot Gavin ordered. “Get inside the store! GRab
everything from the cars and get inside. Those things will be here soon.”
Everyone could tell he was furious.
They did as told. As quickly as possible. They went to the department store and
boarded the closed doors up with furniture the store had. They had to keep the
deadheads out.
Gavin wanted to yell. He wanted to scream but he had to wait. Wait to see if
anything passed them.
He quietly held in his anger.
It felt like hours had passed by the time he saw the last deadhead pass the
window.
“So what the hell happened?” He questioned in anger.
Toby was about to respond but Gavin asked. “Was anyone on watch?”
Johnny said. “It's to cold.”
“I don't care.” He shouted. “We went out in this! We fought to bring back
supplies in this weather. If someone stood watch we could have avoided people
dying. You could have saw them coming. You could have hunkered down or got out
quickly.”
“Gavin, that's enough.” Jessica yelled at him. “It’s enough.”
He shut up and walked towards the back to cool off.


***** Staying *****
AS the day went on they decided to settle in for the night.  They set most
people up in the home goods section using the display beds and chairs to sleep
on. The store had sets of blankets and pillows. They would be good, at least
for the night.
"We cant stay here." Sebastian told his brother.
"I know that." He told him.
"Why not?" Toby asked. "If we keep it warm, we'll be fine. This place is huge.
Stocked, mostly anyway." Toby said.
"It's not safe. It's right out in the open." Dean said as he tucked his
daughter under another blanket. "Theres deadheads already coming."
"But the snow is making it almost impossible to get around." Toby reminded
them.
"So we can stay here like sitting ducks and get ripped apart when the deadheads
finally breakdown the doors. Or we get out when we have the chance and keep our
families safe." Dean stated. "We need somewhere safe. This place isnt safe."
"This is true. But its cold. We have to relax. Tomorrow a few of us have to
find something else." Gavin said.
"Oh yeah cause leaving did good last time." Anne sarcastically stated.
“Leaving is not a good idea but It wasn't the leaving that was the problem last
time. It was no one else watching the place. No one making sure the dead
weren't piling up.” Gavin confronted her.”
"Then what? We all go? We have three babies under the age of one. That would be
stupid." Toby said.
"No we stay here. We have food, shelter, blankets." Anne told him.
"We can board up the door better but now we are fine here. It is to cold to
take those three small babies out there. The rest of you can do whatever you
want but I'm keeping my kids here." Johnny said.
"Lets take a vote?" Gavin asked.
"We stay here, wait out the winter?" Gavin asked.
Every women raised their hands. Including Toby and Johnny.
Gavin didnt even have to asked the second question. That was the majority.
"Guess we're staying." Gavin said.
~~~
After a couple days things started to settle. They had enough supplies to last
for a while. They used shower rods and privacy curtains to make rooms. They had
all the camping gear and baby supplies they needed. They mourned the people
they lost.
As days and weeks passed they settled in.
Bridget is an artist. She drew everything and everyone. This super store was
full of everything.
Jessica made Charlie a green satin cape and hood. She wore it even though she
couldn't use her bow anymore.
~~~
A week passed and they fell into a routine.
Four people on watch every night.  Two at the front door. Two on the roof. They
built fires on the roof to keep them warm. In the morning three people cooked
using a grill to hold a small fire and they cooked over top of that. They fed
their kids, kept them entertained. Gavin walked his dogs around the store. He
would take them on the roof if it wasn't to cold. Within the gated area only.
They would eat dinner at a large table with chairs set up in the middle of the
store.
They had stacked all the stuff they never needed in the front of the store,
blocking the doors and windows. They didn't plan on using the front doors
again. The dead were piling up. To many to take out.
~~~
Gavin was getting annoyed. They stayed in this department store for 3 months.
The outside was hoarded with deadheads. They still had some supplies. But they
had crying babies that attracted more and more creeps. They found a method to
keep them quiet but it was hard.
~~~
Fear hit them when they realized that they couldnt get out of the department
store.
"We have noise makers. We can draw them away." Toby stated.
"And go where?" Dean asked.
"Somewhere else." Toby stated. He knew this place wasnt safe anymore.  
"We're fucking surrounded! We should have never stayed here this long!" He was
so angry.
"What were we suppose to do we have infants. Small kids. They would not have
survived that snow with the dead chasing us down. Not to mention the fact that
18 seater doesnt even work anymore." Jessica yelled. "I was not risking my
family out there."
"Jessi!" Matthew ran over in excitement.
"What, what is it?"
"It's Hope!" He ran back to where they were playing. She ran after him. She was
excited to see. Mark holding her one hand, Hunter holding her other and she was
walking. She was so happy.
"Let me go get your uncle." She smiled.
"Gavin!" She hollered to him. He was at the front. Watching the door. They left
a little hole too see whats out there.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Hopes walking." She told him.
He smiled a little. "Thats good."
"Come see."
He didnt want to. He just needed to figure out how to get out.
"I cant." He wanted to change the subject. "What was that yelling I heard." He
asked.
"Deans starting again about leaving and us staying here."
"He's right though." Gavin didnt want to stay here.
Gavins face turned. He saw Sebastian running through the department store.
"On the roof now!" He ordered. Gavin ran up with him.
Johnny was there as well.
"What the fuck?" They looked confused.
Two people killing the infected around the department store.
"Before I got you. Three people went down. Theres only 2 left."
"Did they see you?" Gavin saw them.
"I dont know." Sebastian admitted.
"Yes." Johnny corrected him. "The couple. The two that just took off."
~~~ (Meanwhile)
"I thought that place was empty." The women yelled in the car.
"It's surrounded, no one expected anyone inside!"
"We were just supposed to scope it out! Those retards decided Oh lets be heros
and get through. Bring some stuff home. Fucking idiots." The female slammed her
hands on the steering wheel.
"Yeah well they got themselves killed. It's not our problem!" He told her.
"Just get back." They reached a highway gas station. It was literally a 5
minute drive from the department store.
The highway had cars, other fast food places. It was typically a busy highway.
But now its abandoned. Still full but abandoned.
The dirty blond haired women who was driving tapped on the door three times,
two times, three more times. A blonde haired young adult opened up and the two
rushed in.
"Where are the others?" An adult man stated.
"They decided to play hero. Thinking they could get inside they started killing
the dead but it was to much." The women stated.
The man who was in the car with her gestured for the adults to come over. There
was technically only 7 left. There were 7 kids as well. All under the age of 6.
They were by where the self serve coffee machines use to be.
"Theres people in there." He stated.
"What?" A adult blonde women questioned.
"We saw three men total on the roof." The women said.
"We need supplies." The older blonde stated. "Krissy has no diapers, she
soaking through clothes like its nothing." She reminded them.
"They could be dangerous. We cant trust people. Not like last time." The dirty
blonde reminded them.
"We need supplies. We have nothing here." The young blonde adult stated.
Gavin rushed off the roof. "We havent seen people in months."
"People?" Jessica questioned. "Living people?"
"Yeah." Sebastian stated. He looked around. "Wheres my girl?"
"Sleeping in the crib." Jessica stated.
Being in this store was helpful. They had everything they needed.
Sebastian walked towards the cribs.
"What are we going to do about these people?" Jessica asked.
"Nothing, they cant get in." Gavin told them.
"What if they have more people. Guns, weapons. They could get in here. We dont
know what they have."
"So what, find someway to get out, which we havent been able to find yet. And
abandon the stuff we have here. We cant take more then a bag each. We dont have
a car. 2 dogs, 12 kids-"
"Gavin." Sebastian called. "Your dogs wont let me get to my kid." He grunted.
Gavin chuckled.
He walked to the cribs. "Stella." The English Bull Dog grunted and walked away
from the crib.
"You should be happy, their protecting her." Gavin stated.
"I'm not gonna hurt my daughter." He was annoyed as he lifted the almost 4
month old.
"Stella doesnt know that." He joked.
Bridget came over to get her son.
"Gavin." She smiled and greeted him.
"Hey." He smiled.
She lifted Cole who was bouncing on the side of his crib.
"Why dont you relax and I'll cut that mop of yours." She teased.
"It's fine. Dani's going to do it tomorrow."
"Good, cause I probably would have messed it up." She giggled.
He was about to leave the area.
"Gavin."
He paused. "Yeah?"
"Are we safe here?" She worried.
"I hope so." He told her. "I'm not going to let you or your kids get hurt."
"Dinner time!" They heard Anne call.
They had a dinning tables set up. They needed multiple.
"Whats for dinner?" Gavin asked as he helped put kids on boaster chairs and in
highchairs.
~~~
It was dark in the gas station. They didnt have lights, flashlights, matches,
nothing.
"We have to get in that store." Ricky whispered to his girlfriend.
"How?" Amy was facing him with their sleeping three year old son in between
them. "We know not to mess with other peoples groups."
"I dont know but we need things."
"What they have or had is probably gone by now. They could have an army behind
those doors." She stated.
"This isnt living." Ricky told her.
"No ones living anymore." She told him.
~~~
The department store group were getting their kids to sleep. They kept the beds
close together. It was dark out. Cold. They could hear the groans of the dead
outside. This had become a normal sound now. Gavin was tired. He made sure the
twins were asleep. Hunter was asleep. Hope was fussing a little but feel asleep
during the fuss.
He saw his brother and sister in law sleeping. Sabrina was awake in her crib.
She was just watching the still mobile. Gavin and Johnny were the only two left
awake.
"What are you doing up?" Gavin asked him.
"Cant sleep. Those people, they had guns. They could come here if they wanted
to."
"Not if its only the two of them. No matter how many guns they have, they are
no match for the group of deadheads out there." Gavin explained.
"We're no match for them." Johnny reminded him.
They heard Sabrina start to whine.
He saw Jessi start to stand. "I got her." Gavin walked passed and whispered to
her. He knew Jessi had just feed her so she probably just needed to be changed.
He checked her diaper but she was dry. "You just wanted attention didnt you?"
He teased the baby. She giggled a little. He held her and started walking
around.
He walked to the breakroom.
He walked to the bathroom.  
He walked to the loading docks. Sabrina was happy and giggly. He love babies.
He always wanted kids. he loved raising his nephews, even though he was only 18
and living in the smallest apartment. He helped raise Hunter before the world
ended. Now he's raising Hope and helping with Sabrina. He walked over to the
doors where the trucks would back into and listened. He didnt hear anything.
He walked over to the the single door at the far end of the wall and looked out
the peep hole. He walked back in to the main area. "John." He quietly called.
John looked up and walked over.
"When you and Sebastian are on the roof, you see anything in the back?" He
quietly asked.
He thought. "A few stragglers, nothing like the front."
"Any trucks?" He asked.
"One right at the door. A second up the street like it was pulling away." He
stated.
"Tomorrow, we need to explore those trucks. See if we can either have
transportation or just extra supplies." Gavin suggested.
"The one in the street, the tires are flat." Johnny told him.
"Alright, lets get some damn sleep." Gavin said as Sabrina fell asleep on his
chest.
 
 
***** The Truck, And What To Do With It *****
Chapter Summary
     "Are you stupid!?" Anne shouted at them.
     "You dont go out there with out telling someone!" Jessica yelled.
     "What was so important that you couldnt wake someone up!?" Anne
     shouted.
     "You dont do that!" Jessica scolded them.
     "Our boys wouldnt even pull that kind of stunt!" Anne shouted.
     "Those two are no where near as smart as any of those kids and 4 of
     them still poop their pants." Jessica shouted.
     They were both so furious.
Like always Gavin woke up first. He still had Sabrina and she soaked him, right
through her diaper. He changed her, then himself and took her to Jessica. She
was still a little groggy. But he whispered to her.  "Think she's hungry." She
took her and began to nurse the baby. He snuck to check on his kids. They were
sleeping peacefully. He was grateful for that.
Gavin walked towards the front of the building. Gavin looked out the window in
the front. Same hoard as yesterday and the day before.
Gavin rubbed his eyes and pushed his hair back. "You want to check?" Johnny
came over and asked.
Everyone was still asleep and they knew they had to be sneaky.
He stood. He went to follow Johnny but paused and checked on his kids again.
All were sleeping all were sound. He did tuck an extra blanket on them just to
be safe.
He and Johnny walked to the roof.
"It's empty in the back now." Johnny realized.
"We take our knives and we check out that truck."
They went to the loading docks and quickly opened, went out and closed the
door. It was quiet back here. No dead. No living. They reached the front of the
truck and saw the first deadhead. In the driver's seat.
"You open." Gavin whispered and gestured encase he couldn't hear him. "I'll
kill."
Johnny counted down on his fingers.
3
2
1
He opened the door and Gavin quickly stabbed the driver in the head. He had a
black cap on the fell off, pulling his decaying scalp and hair off when the
body fell.
The keys were in the passengers seat.
Gavin started the engine. Half full tank.
They took the keys and cautiously opened the back of the truck.
Johnny smiled.
Gavin was almost lost he was so happy.
Still boxed foods, waters and drinks.
Amazing.
“THis will last for along time. Why did we not check this truck before?” Gavin
asked in awe.
“Cause we’re idiots.” He joked.
Gavin grabbed the closet box and cut it open. Pasta noodles.
They took and minute and backed the truck up just a few feet. Enough to open
the dock doors and truck doors with no space between.
They went back inside and saw a very angry Jessi and Anne.
"Are you stupid!?" Anne shouted at them.
"You don't go out there without telling someone!" Jessica yelled.
"What was so important that you couldnt wake someone up!?" Anne shouted.
"You don't do that!" Jessica scolded them.
"Our boys wouldn't even pull that kind of stunt!" Anne shouted.
"Those two are nowhere near as smart as any of those kids and 4 of them still
poop their pants." Jessica shouted.
They were both so furious.
Johnny and Gavin took the scolding like good boys.
"Can we talk now?" Gavin asked sarcastically.
Jessi wanted to smack him for being so stupid and having the balls to be
sarcastic.
"What we were doing was searching a truck. Half a tank of gas. Fully stocked
back. We'll be set." Gavin told them.
They were in shock when Johnny lifted the doors and they saw the back.
"You still didn't have the right to go out without telling anyone." Jessica
told him.
They weren't sure if they should unload the truck or not. But no one expected
anything back to happy, so they did. They all unloaded the truck throughout the
morning. By lunch it was done. They simply put everything right by the loading
doors just in case.
At this point Gavin had such a head head. Which hes been getting since he
bashed his head back in the pet store. He hasnt told anyone though. He slipped
an Ibuprofen and normally hes fine but today if wasn't going away.
"What is going on?" Sebastian asked his brother.
"Nothing, I'm fine." He told him.
"Liar." Sebastian told him.
"Fuck off."
Sebastian wasnt pushing it. He walked off.
A few moments later Bridget came over. "Why dont you lay down. Put a warm rag
on your head. That headache will go away real quick." She told him. He wondered
how she knew. "It's stress. It makes it all worse. I promise I'll keep your
family safe." She smiled at him. He was in to much to fight back so he gave in
and went to bed.
He felt Hunter climb into the bed with him.
Hunter stayed awake but Gavin passed right out.
~~~
Johnny and David went to roof.
“We need to figure a way to get rid of some of them.” David said.
“We have nose makers.” Johnny said. “But there's no way to get them to the
front to chase them away.
“There is one way.” CHarlie scared them because they didn't know she was on the
roof.
“Fuck.” David said. “Don't scare the hell out of me on a roof.”
She laughed a little.
“What are you thinking?”
“One of use, we take the toy car around the side. Get it going around the
front. Get there attention and drive at least some away.” They knew
automatically that was stupid.
“No.” They both told her. “What happens to the person who takes the car around
the building. If they get seen or heard, they will have at least one hundred
dead things chasing them.”
“I’m quick.” She told him.  
“Not a chance in hell!” David yelled.
“So then we stay trapped in here like mice.” She told them. “It will work.”
“Maybe, but you’ll die in the process.” David looked deep in her eyes. “I’m not
letting that happen.” He clarified.
Johnny looked around while those two argued.  
He saw the truck and saw the deadheads were gathered in almost a circle. It
seemed like they were trying to get in the front door. Like they remembered
what they are supposed to do.
“Charlies got a good idea.” Johnny said after he figured something out.
“What?!”
David questioned in anger.
“I know.” Charlie was happy he was agreeing with her.
“Well a partial good pan.” He corrected himself.
“What do you mean?” David asked.
“The truck.” He walked towards the edge. “We could jump on the truck from here.
Somebody on top controlling the remote. Somebody inside driving around. Even if
the dead catch them the truck will protect them.”
“Well we have to do it now, there's no time to wait.” Charlie reminded them.
“Should we wake up Gavin?” David asked.
“No. He’s been getting headaches like crazy since he bashed his head in.”
Charlie told him.
“He hasn't said anything.” Johnny said.
“I know but you can see it if you watch him. He sneaks a pill everyday. He
tries to hide for a few minutes everyday when it gets at it's worse. He’s not
going to sleep, he’s passing out in pain.” Charlie explained.
“Alright. Let's the others know what we're doing.” David told him. “We can't
keep secrets.”
They went downstairs and explained what they needed to do.
“You’re insane!” Anne yelled.
“Probably.” Charlie agreed. She does feel insane most of the time.
“It’s not happening.” Dani agreed.
“It will get some of those things away.” Charlie reminded them.
“I’m telling Gavin.” Jessica said.
“No.” Charlie stated. “You want to wake him up with all the pain he’s in. We
can get this done while he sleeps.”
“It’s stupid.” Sebastian said.
“We’ll then let us be stupid.” Charlie said.
Nobody wanted them to do it but they did.
David got in the truck with the toy car.
Charlie climbed on top with the remote.
Johnny waited on the roof.
They tested it just to make sure Johnny would be able to lift Charlie from the
roof of the truck when they back the truck up.
He could reach down and pulled her up. After he got her up he lowered her down
and it was fine. They should be fine.
DAvid started the truck and Charlie braced herself on top. He drove the truck
the corner. Quickly put the toy truck on the ground and locked himself inside.
Charlie controlled the toy car and made it turn around the building before she
switched the sirens on. Several infected turned their heads, staring it and
quickly went for it. It was small and able to fit between their feet. The dead
banged into each other trying to get it. SHe couldn't see the car but she could
hear it. She could hear it moving past their feet. She could see them turning
away and getting away. Not all but some. She chased them back towards the hotel
they stayed at so long ago. Maybe forty followed it. It was to far away for her
to control now. She hoped something would distract them and make them keep
going.
David waited a few minutes before he backed up. Not even turning just backing
it up. Charlie laid on the truck roof as he backed up. She realized, they could
do this again. Get more away.
When David reached the store Johnny offered his hands down to lift up Charlie.
She came up and they met David at the doors to let him in.
Since nothing happened they planned on doing it again in the morning. It was
getting late.

***** The Crack *****
Chapter Summary
     "Johnny!" Anne jumped on her husband in tears.
     "Gavin!" Mark and Matthew ran to him and jumped him in a hug. Hunter
     meekly walked over and joined the hug
     "Wheres my brother?" A moment of silence. "Jess? Sabrina?" Gavin
     questioned.
     Bridget walked up to him.
     "Where are they?" He questioned again in worry.
Gavin woke up to Hope tugging on his hair.
He groggily said. "I gotta get that cut." He looked over at her. "Hey sweet
girl."
"Boo." She said.
"What?" He was confused, was that technically her first word?
"Yes, its a technically a word." Jessica lifted Hope. It's like she knew what
he was thinking. "The boys have been jump scaring each other and now she's
doing it too."
"Get up and I'll cut your hair." Dani told him.
He stood and swooped Hope up. He carried her out to the other kids. He put her
down and saw Bridget smiling at him from a distance. He smiled back.
Dani instructed him to sit at the dining table. She put a plastic shower
curtain around his neck and started trimming.
She finished and Bridget came over and saw him. "Wow, whole different person."
She smiled. She heard her baby crying and rushed to him.
"You have a crush on her." Dani stated with a smile.
"No. Cant." He said as he stood.
"Life's way to short these days to sit back and do nothing." Dani told him with
a pat on the shoulder.
Gavin saw Sebastian walking over, he could see something was wrong.
"What?" Gavin met him halfway.
"Windows cracking." They rushed to the front and saw a large crack on the main
window. The window wasn’t large but the crack went right through it. The dead
on the opposite side started pounding harder as the site of fresh meat. They
typically avoid this window but with a crack you can't avoid it anymore.
"This won't hold." Gavin stated. They backed away from the window, out of
sight.
"Johnny, Dean!" Gavin called. "We can't stay here any longer."
“Can we clear it with the cars again?” Charlie asked.
“There's not enough time. That crack is to big.” David explained.
“Cars?” Gavin question.
“I’ll explain later.” Sebastian said.
"We've got half a tank in the truck." Johnny stated.
Gavin thought. "Bridget and Jessi keep an eye on all the kids now. Dress them,
shoes, jackets, everything." He saw them scatter. "Dani and Charlie grab the go
bags."
"Dean and Johnny, watch that door and make sure that crack doesn't get worse.
If it does just run." He stated.
"Everyone else make room on in that truck. Pack up whatever you can that's
necessary." They all scattered and starting doing what they needed.
Gavin went to the roof to see if it was safe to get in the truck.
He saw the front was flooded. The back managed to get 3. A women in a summer
dress and broken heels. And two men. Gavin thought they looked like old trucks.
All three were decaying. They had to have been dead for weeks. Not decayed
enough for it to be months though.
He thinks for a minute. He knows their not the only group out there. But how
many people could actually be out there and for how long?
Gavin went down and helped Bridget and Jessica with the kids. Jessica was
scared Gavin could see it. "Go, get them in the truck." He told her, talking
about the little ones who were already ready.
Gavin gave the older kids their coats and led them out. He put them on the
truck with their parents and Jessica.
"Everyone and everythings on the truck." Johnny stated as he loaded the last
bag.
“Put some of these boxes back in. Just throw them in. Something breaks who
cares.” Gavin instructed.
"Gotta get my dogs." Gavin said.
"Get in the driver's seats. We'll meet you there." Johnny told David.
Johnny rushed with Gavin to get his dogs. "Oh fuck." The window shattered and
deadheads came pouring in.
"I forgot the bottles." Jessica said, she didn't know the window broke.
No body heard her say it. She got out the truck with Sabrina and headed into
the main room when the deadheads poured into the loading area. They went right
for her and a sleeping Sabrina. She scream everyone looked and saw. Sebastian
dropped the box he was moving and ran for her. She fell into a pile of boxes,
appearing to have been devoured. Sebastian couldnt get to her without getting
himself killed. But that didnt matter to him. Dean stopped him though. He threw
Sebastian into the truck and quickly slammed the door.
"Go!" He hollered and the truck drove off.
Sebastian was kicking and screaming to get out. He wanted to die with his wife
and daughter.
Dean held him in.
"Wheres Johnny?" Anne asked with worry.
Sebastian realized. "Gavin?"
"Who else is missing?" Dani asked.
"Where is my husband!?" She yelled in fear.
After sitting in fear, sadness and anger for 15 minutes. The truck stopped.
They saw the door open, it was David and Charlie.
"Wheres Johnny and Gavin?" Dani asked.
"They went to get the dogs." David told them.
Annes heart dropped. She couldnt breath she was having a panic attack in front
of her boys.
Sebastian just realized he lost his brother, wife and daughter all in one day.
He was in shock.
~~~
Gavin and Johnny were fighting. Using pocket knives they had. They made it to
the bathrooms and were locked in. They heard Stella and Prince crying and
howling. They were feed upon.
Gavin was pushing the drop ceiling up and looking for something.
"What?" Johnny asked.
"Charlie hid fire bombs in the ceilings-Got it!" He said as he pushed up a
third tile.
"What the fucks a firebomb?" Johnny cursed as he tried opening the bathroom
window.
"Some lighter fluid, torch, matches." He started setting it up.
In the winter they noticed these things seemed to avoid the flames. They must
have had some kind of sense of danger. Something leftover from when they were
alive.
"We can go out the window." Johnny stated.
Gavin knew his kids were in the truck. "My dogs." Gavin said. It was all he had
left of Summer.
"Gavin you heard them, their gone." Johnny said.
"i have to check the loading dock, make sure everyone got out." He told him.
"We go out the window and around the back. It will be safer." Johnny told him.
They climbed out the window and started lighting the torches. They went around
and saw the truck was gone.
Gavin was furious. He threw a lite torch inside and hit a stack of boxes close
by. The deadheads grunted and seem to stray away. Little did they knew they
just saved Jessica and Sabrina. She was safely hidden under those boxes that
collapsed on top of her with Sabrina still sleeping. Jessica was still and
silent.
Gavin and Johnny didnt know of Jessica being in there. They didnt even know
where to go but they walked, following the back road. Keeping one of the
torches in Johnny's hand.
Jessica noticed through a small hole that the dead heads were leaving but she
also saw the flames were getting higher.
Could she run now? Would Sabrina be safe? Just a few more seconds and the
flames came closer.
She had to run. She pushed the boxes
The deadheads started to follow her but she kept running.
Sabrina waking up and being scared and Jessica ran. No idea where she was going
just getting away from the deadheads. Little did she knew she was going the
opposite ways of her husband and family.
~~~
"Did you see anyone in the store?" Gavin asked.
"No." Johnny stated.
They were half way down the road when they saw the truck. They both ran up.
Gavin lifted the truck door and the kids and some adults.
"Johnny!" Anne jumped on her husband in tears.
"Gavin!" Mark and Matthew ran to him and jumped him in a hug. Hunter meekly
walked over and joined the hug
"Wheres my brother?" A moment of silence. "Jess? Sabrina?" Gavin questioned.
Bridget walked up to him.
"Where are they?" He questioned again in worry. "Jessica and Sabrina were taken
down in the store, their gone. I dont know why she got out of the truck.
Sebastian tried to run to her but she was gone. Dean threw him in the truck and
closed the door. We stopped. Sebastian got angry and took off. Dean and David
are looking for him." She calmly and compassionately told him. Gavin wanted to
lose it but he has kids that need him.
"Wheres Hope?" He asked.
"I got her." Charlie was holding her.
"I gotta find my brother." Gavin said in shock.
"NO!" Mark yelled. He was scared.
"Alright." Gavin got the boys to sit.
After closing the truck door with them all inside, twenty minutes or so passed.
"It's going to get dark." Gavin stated.
"Just wait." Dani told him.
A little while passed. They heard a knock and the door lifted.
David and Dean helpped Sebastian in. He looked broken.
"Bas!." Gavin said.
His head popped up and Sebastian grabbed his brother.
"Did you see Jess?"
Gavin shock his head.
Sebastian broke down, crying on his brother shoulders.
They started driving again. No one knew where they were going.
David drove, Sebastian and Gavin were in the front with him.
"Wait, wait, wait." Gavin said.
David slowed down.
"Camp site." Gavin thought.
"No way man, it was late summer when this shit started. That place is probably
full."
"Let me check." He stated.
"Summers dads, best friend, owned this place. He was like an uncle for her."
Gavin stated. "Last time I was here, the campsite had iron bars fence around it
and its huge." The front gate was stone, connected to iron bars.
They stalled the truck and Gavin climbed out.
He went over to the closed gates.
"You best back up." An older man, Gavin didn't know, stated.
"My names Gavin, we have kids. We need somewhere safe." He pleaded.
"No." He stated.
"We don't have enough to share with others." A women came behind the man.
Gavin looked back to David.
"What if we had enough for everyone?" He asked.
The couple looked to each other and whispered. Then looked at Gavin "Prove it."
"Pull up." Gavin told him.
David pulled up. Gavin waited until the couple would be able to see the back.
He opened it.
First they saw all the people. Then they saw the boxes. 50 plus boxes.
"What's inside them?" The older man stated as four more men came behind him.
Gavin started to worry they would just take their stuff.
Dani handed him a box. The tape still sealed.
Gavin used a pocket knife to cut the tape.
He pulled out a box of cereal. Some organic brand Gavins never heard of.
He showed them the contains to prove it wasn't just one box.
The group talked amongst themselves.
Gavin started to notice the deadheads coming up the road. "Time to make your
choice." Gavin stated.
"Open the gate." The women sated.
Two of the men behind her went over to the gates.
Gavin closed the truck door.
The gate was rigged with several locks.
They managed to get the gates open and truck came in David started letting
people out. .
"Listen to me and listen good. You work, you do your part. Or I personally will
put a shotgun to your head." The older man stated.
"Got it." Gavin stated. They closed back up the gates but a few deadheads were
there.
Gavin grabbed the go bag they had from the truck and grabbed the electric car
and pushed through the gates before turning it on, sirens and all. He drove it
back down the road. They way they came from. Making the deadheads follow.
"That's smart." The women stated.
"These things are easily distracted." Gavin stated. "So what do you need us to
do?"
The women came over and said. "I'm Ellen, get your people in and set up. I see
you have babies." She meant kids but anything little she considered a baby in
this world. "Get them comfortable. My husband, Bobby, will show you were to
go." She pointed to the man that threatened a shotgun. "How many trailers do
you need?" She asked.
"6." He said after looking his people over.
"Where should we empty the truck?" Gavin asked.
"Get your people comfortable then we can get the truck empty." Ellen stated.
"Yes, Ma'am." Gavin stated.
"Follow me." Bobby stated. Each person grabbed kids and bags and Johnny closed
and locked the truck. Sebastian was barely aware of anything just going through
the motions.
First Bobby stopped at the first desk to get keys for each home. This campsite
wasn't like any other. They would let you rent out a trailer or mobile homes
rather then you bringing one yourself. They did have empty lots just encase
people already owned one.
He grabbed 6 sets of keys and led them to four golf carts. They had solar
panels, most of this place did.
They squeezed everyone in and drove down the road. They saw a pool, mini golf,
several shower houses, movie theater, playground, arcade, bingo hall,
recreation center, another larger playground. A variety of fields, soccer,
baseball, basket ball, volley ball, tennis. They saw a bunch of trailers and
houses along the way but finally stopped at 480.
"Four homes on this side, four trailers on that side." Bobby pointed. "Pick
your poison." He handed them the keys for 481, 482, 483, 484, 485 and 486.
"That one looks the biggest." Bridget said. "You should get that." She told
Gavin.
Gavin looked around, making sure everyone was okay with that.
"Go ahead, you got the most." Dani told him.
"I'll help you in." Bridget told him. It was hard for her having the two kids
and helping so Charlie interrupted.
"How about we watch your babies while you help." She put her hands out for the
baby she was holding.
"Thank you." She smiled.
Bridget lifted Hope so Gavin could help his brother get in. The boys ran in
quickly. Gavin saw how the home was set up.
The front had a sectional sofa in the corner with a tv on the opposite wall.
And a small table in the middle.
There was a small dining area in the middle of the house. A dining booth on one
side and a kitchen set up on the opposite. The kitchen included a fridge,
stove, microwave, sink and several upper and lower cabinets. He even saw a
coffee pot.
Just passed that were sliding doors. It was the master bedroom. A large bed. A
dresser built around it.
The second floor held a bathroom and three small bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms
had two beds. Someone lived here. It was decorated. One of the rooms seemed
styled for boys. One was a princess theme.
The last has two Cribs. It was scary how well this house fit Gavin’s family.
"Wow, looks like a real house." Bridget stated.
"I think it is. Its bigger than my apartment was." He stated in shock.
Gavin took the kids upstairs to explore after dumping his brother on the sofa.
"We can squeeze the third bed in here too and all your boys can sleep
together." Bridget helped him move the third bed in. "Boys stay in here for a
little bit." Gavin checked the closets. “Coloring books and crayons.” They went
inside and Gavin closed the door. He took Hope down with them and put her on
the master bed. She fell asleep during the walking.
"Thank you." Gavin said to Bridget.
"Your welcome." She told him with a smile.
Bridget left and got her kids.
Gavin checked on the boys and gave them a snack from his bag. He checked on his
brother and saw him depressed. On the sofa, barely aware of anything. He went
out his door and saw his group getting situated. Bridget was right across the
road in a trailer.
After a few minutes past he saw a few of his people coming his way.
Johnny, Charlie, Dean Toby and David.
"I'll watch your kids." Charlie stated.
"Let's go met our new friends." Johnny stated. They hopped in one of the three
golf carts that were left. It seated 6. So they all fit in one.
 They saw what they saw coming in, except some people too.
They went back up to the front. Bobby was at the truck. Inspecting it.
They drove up close to him.
"We can divide it equally among each family. Just have to know what you have
too." Johnny stated as he climbed out the truck.  
"Lets take it to the kitchen." Johnny climbed into the drivers seat and
followed Bobby and his friends on the golf cart.
Bobby lead them to the bingo building, in the back was a kitchen.
"Daddy?" His adult daughter Billie asked when she saw these knew men come in.
"These are the people your mom was telling you about." He told her. "Go check
on the kids, I got this." He told her. She grabbed her hair clip of the shelves
and left.
"What we've been doing is lettin each family have a few snacks in home. But
keep the meals here. Serving breakfast and dinner in here." Bobby stated.
"Billie keeps track of the food, what we have, what we need."
"That doesn't sound bad." Gavin looked to his group.
"Fine." They agreed.
They started bringing everything in. Billie came back with her youngest, in a
carrier on her chest, to start logging in the foods and drinks.
Bobbys family started to come over and help, teenagers, adults, they even saw
kids running around.
After unpacking Bobby said. "My brother Mark caught a deer this morning,
planing on cooking it up, having a big barbecue tonight. Come by here around 6,
houses should have a working clock." He stated.
"Sounds good." Gavin said. He offered his hand.
Bobby shook.
***** First Night *****
IT was nearly 6pm and Gavin had all of his kids washed and ready. It was the
first time they could actually get fully clean in months. They had hot water
and clean towels. The kids wore something other than just pajamas.
Gavin tried to get Sebastian to go but he wasn't even speaking. Gavin couldn't
blame him. He pushed the hair out his brothers eyes to see him. See his eyes.
See how broken he really was. He promised to bring him back a plate of food
though.
He went outside with his kids and saw his group all ready in the cleanest
possible clothes they had. They weren't very clean though.
Most kids sat on their parents laps as they got in the golf carts. IT was a
tight squeeze but they got there easy.
They made it to the bingo hall before sunset. They saw the people. Happy and
safe. A man was on a grill.
"Plug those carts into the charging station if you want to take them home
tonight." A man shouted with a smile on his face. He came over. "John." He
offered his hand.
"Gavin." Gavin shook. He introduced his people. "We got a Johnny too." Hope was
squirming out of his arms.
"You can out her down, it's pretty safe around here. We haven't lost anyone in
6 months." John stated.
"She cant really walk to well yet, gonna end up hurting herself." Gavin stated.
"Alright. Make yourselves comfortable." John stated.
"If you have dirty clothes there's washers and dryers in every shower house."
Billie said with a smile.
"We open the pool tomorrow at 10am. Feel free come by." A women with short wavy
blonde hair stated.
“A pool?” Matthew questioned.
“Yeah.” Billie smiled at him. “We have floats, noodles and leave it open all
day long.” She explained.
“Can we?” He looked to Gavin.
“We’ll see okay.” He told them.
They partied had food, drinks. They listened to music and relaxed.
Gavin still grieved his sister in law and niece. He met the new people though.
He saw his kids playing in the playground with the other kids. Hope was
crawling around the sandbox close by with a few other kids.
The night was over. Leftovers were put away. Kids were gathered up.
"Alright, it's time for watch." John stated.
Gavin and his group were looking around. "We'll help." Johnny offered.
"Alright." The short wavy haired women who had introduced herself as Maggie,
Johns wife, said. "Get your kids home and met us at the front gates." She said
loud enough.
Gavin and his group gathered the kids up and headed back. He handed Sebastian a
plate of cold deer meat, a mashed up potato and corn. Sebastian took it to the
table and ate without saying a word.
As Gavin was putting the kids to bed he heard a knock on his door.
It was Bridget. "If you wanted to go help with watch I could watch your kids
for you. There was that extra bed upstairs Sky could sleep on."
"Alright, thank you." He smiled. She let Sky run in, she was in her pajamas.
Bridget set Sky up in the room upstairs. She fell asleep quickly. Hope and Cole
were left awake. Bridget asked the older boys to stay upstairs and try to go
sleep or play quietly. Bridget thought about putting the babies in the cribs
but she wasn't comfortable enough yet to leave the babies to far away from her.
"Are you okay Sebastian?" Bridget asked. He didn't respond just finished the
food on his plate. He tried to go to this sofa but weakly fell, like he had no
strength to bother. She put the little ones on the floor and lifted him up. SHe
walked him over to the sectional and he just plopped there.
She looked for spare pillows and blankets and found them in a hall closet. She
draped a blanket over him and tended to the little ones.
Both Hope and Cole had to be over a year by now. They looked it anyway. She
knows its been two winters since the world ended. But it was winter when it
started. She remembers giving birth to Cole in the hotel with Jade. She lifted
up the two from crawling on the floor. She washed the sand off them and put
them on the large bed.
She found toys upstairs the babies could play with. Some blocks and learning
toys. Hope wasn't speaking much. But Cole was saying a few words. Bridget
decided to kill some time by trying to teach them a little.
~~~
The only three to go on watch that night were David, Charlie and Gavin. Gavin
explained the rest of his people will take shifts after a schedule was set.
Gavin stood at the front with people he came to know as Bobby and Ellen. It was
very simple. Walk the perimeter. If you see something get someone's attention
or take it out quietly. Never go outside of the gates if it's not necessary.
Especially at night.
Charlie stood watch in what they called the tree house. Two large "Tree house."
They were higher then all the trees in the campsite. You could see everything
from inside. She was with two other women, Billie and Kat.
Lastly David stood watch in the back, at the gates surrounding the lake. He was
with John and John's 20 year old twins, John Jr. and Justice.
It was quiet. This place was relatively safe.
Charlie looked out the tree house ledge and saw the campsite next to them, it
was at a distance but she could see it through binoculars. "Is that the
military?"
"Their assholes, we saw that they werent a real campsite shortly after
everything began and we tried to get help from them but they basically told us
to die." Billie said. "We tried going back after we ran out of the food the
first time but a man called Robin shot and killed my husband and said 'Come
back and the rest of you will die too.'" She stated.
"Oh damn." Charlie said. Billie had her kids in the tree house with them. 5
month old Bobby, named after her father, and two year old Shelly. They were
sleeping on a futon on the floor.
"So is it actually safe here?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, they dont bother us." Billie told her.
It was a quiet night.
David and others night fished. They caught a few fish, threw them back though.
They didnt have to worry about other people getting them. The Lake was fully
enclosed in this campsite. It was huge.
Gavin was good in front. He saw a few infected. They didn't seem to notice them
if they were quiet. Ellen told him about the friends they have. The people they
had out there looking for food. Gavin told them why his brother is acting the
way he is.
They understood. To lose a barely 4 month old baby is traumatizing.
The sun rose a few hours later just as they saw an RV pull up to the gates.
They didn't expect it back so soon. Bobby and Ellen feared something was wrong.
"It's the girls." Ellen stated as she stood out of her chair. They waited till
the Rv pulled up and someone came out.
Bobby asked. "Has it rained?"
"No." A woman with a blonde messy bun stated.
It was a code.
'Has it rain?' equals 'Any trouble?'
'No' equals 'Everything's okay.'
Gavin helped Ellen unlock and open the gates.
"And who is this?" The same women asked.
"Gavin." He offered his hand.
"Kitty." She offered hers.
5 other women came out of the RV. They brought out 2 bags.
"Anything good?" Ellen asked.
"Canned veggies, some alcohol." A tall gorgeous Indian women named Lena said
with perk in her voice, she's already tasted the alcohol.
"Well, we got alot of stuff from our new friends." Ellen stated. "Put it all in
the pantry."
"What do we do now?" Gavin asked.
"Get some breakfast. Then go home." Bobby stated. "People on night watch get to
sleep for a few hours."
"Send your family up to eat and they'll each get assigned shifts." Ellen told
him.
"Yes ma'am."
As Gavin got on his cart and drove back a women named Joan asked, "Do you trust
them?"
"Their good. They brought alot, their listening, they'll be fine." Ellen
assured her.
"Any single?" A women named Megan jokingly asked.
"Only Gavin." Ellen laughed.
Gavin got to the bingo hall and saw two women he met last night, Kathy And
Linda. They have three kids. Linda was pregnant when they were accepted into
the campsite. She just went through in vitro fertilization. She wasn't even
sure she was pregnant until the symptoms came. Their youngest daughter would be
the same age as Sabrina would be.
"Hey ladies." Gavin smile.
"Oh hey handsome." Kathy said with a smile. She has short spiked black hair.
She's wearing a plan white tank top and ripped up jeans.
"Wheres the kids?" He asked.
"Sleeping soundly." Linda lifted the baby monitor. Then she started cracking
eggs.
"Where did you get the eggs?" He asked.
"We have a couple of hens." She told him.
He wants to get a better look around this place but it till take a long time.
It’s huge. He has been here before. Once with Summer but that was so long ago.
And a lot has changed.
"Theres some finished eggs in the microwave for the early crew." Kathy stated
as she helped put away the can foods the girls brought in.
"Thank you." He reached in and dished some scrambled eggs onto a paper plate.
He saw his friends coming in and getting food as well.
They all sat at the same table.
"It's barely 6." Gavin said.
"Hey new kids, come back at 1 and get a job assignment." Justice jokingly
stated.
"Got it." Gavin stated.
The three talked for a few minutes and finished their food. Charlie told them
about the camp next door. They weren't really worried though.
They went back to their houses. Charlie and Dean were in a trailer. It was
perfect for them. One big bed in the back. A cozy dining table and two chairs.
It must have belonged to a single man though. Just had mens clothing in the
dresser. Charlie didn't mind the shirts but the pants were too big.
Gavin went back in. Sebastian was passed out on the sofa.
Bridget came out in a large shirt and no pants, she was half asleep. "Gavin."
She sleepily questioned.
"Go back to sleep." He whispered.
"It's fine." She said. "I had to give your brother a sleeping pill i found in
the medicine cabinet. I was only trying to help him. He was having nightmares.
Thrashing his body around and freaking out. So I just, I'm sorry, but he was
suffering."
"It's fine. He needs it." He worried this would break his brother. He already
has a short fuse. This might make him blow.
She offered her hand out. "Come sleep."
“I want to check on the boys first.” He told her.
He went upstairs and cracked open the boys door. Mark and Matthew were fast
asleep. Hunter was fussing in his bed. Gavin went over and tucked him in a
little tight. The snug blankets made him feel safer, even in his sleeping
state.
He checked on Sky and she was sound asleep as well.
He went downstairs to see Bridget waiting for him but the bedroom door. She
offered her hand once more. This time he took her hand and he followed her. She
was on one side with Cole in front of her. Gavin was on the other with Hope in
front of him.
He let himself feel comfortable, even though he knew he shouldn't.
***** The Rain *****
Gavin and Bridget were awoken to the boys banging on the door.
Gavin jumped. "Whats a matter?" He asked when he pulled the door open.
"We're bored." Matthew stated.
“We want to go swimming!” Mark shouted.
"Giving me a heart attack." Gavin mumbled.
Gavin turned his head and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was 9:
15.
“Pool doesn't open until 10,  Lets go see about breakfast." He stated. "Get
your shoes on and jackets, dont leave the house." He saw them scatter.
"I can take them if you want to keep sleeping." Bridget stated.
"No, It's okay." He lifted up a half asleep Hope.
 Bridget went up stairs to get Sky. She was sleeping still. Bridget gently woke
her up and they went downstairs.
Gavin went to look at his brother. "you okay?" He looked up but didnt say
anything.
Gavin woke up only a few minutes after falling asleep earlier because Sebastian
was having a night terror. He managed to calm him down and get him back to
sleep. He wasn't sure when Sebastian woke up though.
"I'll bring you some food." He promised.
Gavin was holding Hope. Bridget was holding Cole. They went out to the gulf
cart. Matthew and Mark were in the back. Bridget was in the middle with Cole on
her lap and Hope next to her.
Hunter sat in the front. Gavin drove.
They got to the bingo hall quickly.  Everyone was there, eating breakfast.
Gavin set up all his kids and Bridget's at a table He went and got food for
them all. He already ate but got a plate for Sebastian.
“She spent the night at your place.” CHarlie playfully asked as she helped him
back to the table with his multiple plates.
“It wasn't like that.” He told her.
“Could be, you just have to go for it.” SHe wanted him happy. SHe knows he
deserves it.
They got to the picnic table and handled out plates.
They had some mindless chatter and relaxed. It was hard but it happened.
"Since everyone one is here, we made some changes to the schedules." Ellen
stated loudly. "Each day we have four people drive a 4 golf carts around the
walls and make sure its safe. We break for breakfast and dinner. Then we have
watch, at night. Two in front. Two in the middle. Three in the back. All day
two people will be in the middle houses and they'll switch at night. Then
switch in the morning. You never get the same watch shift two days in a row. We
assigned night shifts based on kids and people to watch them. Come check out
the shift schedule now." Ellen stated as she put the hand written list down.
They started going over, new and old.
"This list will be left on the wall inside.  So there will be no confusion."
Ellen stated.
"There are cooks and clean up crews as well." Kathy stood and stated. "Most
often the people on clean up just do dishes, make sure the shower houses are
clean, the laundry is done. We do have some detergent. Make it last. Cooks,
morning and lunch are the same person. Dinner is different. Everyone will have
a different job at some point. You wont have the same job everyday. You may not
even have a job everyday." She lifted a hand written list. "Check your shifts
for cooking and clean up here. This list will stay up as well."
After checking the watch schedule, people headed over to check the cooking and
clean up schedule.
"Two breakfast shifts?" Bridget asked.
"The overnight watch eats early, six to seven. Everyone else eats between nine
and ten."
~~~
As everyone talked and ate Mark asked. “Can we go in the pool?” It was pretty
windy.
“Sorry, we didn't fill the pool today. It looks like it's going to storm.”
Billie told him.
He pouted and Gavin scolded him for being disrespectful.
They went on with there days. They took their new assignments and were ready to
go. They had someone posted on the playground for the kids.
Gavin was on patrol. He took the plate of food to his brother first. Sebastian
seemed disinterested but he put in on the coffee table anyway.
He asked the boys if they were comfortable staying in the house or at the
playground. They chose the playground. A women named Maggie watched them. She
has a two small kids playing there as well. Gavin kept Hope with him. He just
felt more comfortable keeping her close by because she was the youngest and
couldn't get away fast enough if something bad happened.
The way they did watch was one golf cart goes around the right one golf cart
goes around the left. Then a second set goes around an hour after the first one
left.
Bridget was on clean up. She has Cole in a laundry basket, wheeling him
everywhere she goes. Sky stayed with the boys on the playground. She cleaned
the first bathroom, it was clean. Just had dirty sheets in the laundry area.
Just as she finished the first one it started to pour. It didn't start with a
drizzly. Just a large clap of thunder and down it poured.
"Oh no baby." She lifted Cole out of the laundry basket and rushed back to the
bingo hall.
All the kids were inside now.
"Bridget." Mark hollered. She came over.
"They wont let us play!" He hollered.
"Calm down, it's raining. Gavin would not let you play in it either." She told
him.
Gavin was annoyed it was now pouring and he had Hope. She was covered under the
roof of the golfcart but still, its windy. He kept driving and made it to the
middle point where he ran into Mark Wesford going the opposite way.
"Head back-" The thunder started. Hope started screaming. "This rains not going
to let up." Mark said. He had on a long sleeved flannel and took it off
revealing a plain blue shirt. "Here, wrap her."
"Thanks." Gavin grabbed the shirt and wrapped her up in it. She was in a car
seat so he just tucked the shirt around her. She was still crying as the
thunder became louder and more rain poured.
It took GAvin a while but he made it back to the bingo hall within a half hour.
Hope was soaked. So was he. He feared she would get sick from this.
He saw Bridget with his kids.
"I was going to take them back but I didnt want to overstep." Bridget said.
"It would have been fine." He stated.
It was getting cold and windy. "Weathers been so fucked up these days." Bobby
stated.
"Worlds gone to shit, why not the weather too." Justice said as she zipped up
her black jacket.
“Here.” Kathy came over with a warm dry blanket for Hope.
“Thank you.” Gavin wrapped her up.
"Whats that sound?" Gavin heard a loud rumble.
"The others." Bobby said calmly. "Their on ATVs. Their not supposed to come
this far up though."
The noises came closer. "Why aren't they stopping at the garage?" Justice
worried.
"Get to the gates." Bobby stated.
"All kids back in their houses now!" Maggie ordered.
"Whats going on?" Gavin asked.
"They know not to bring the noise from the ATVs this close. There's a garage
behind the camp their suppose to park." Gavins group of people rushed to get
the kids back to their houses and Gavin and Johnny followed the others to the
front gates. It was pouring with thunder louder than a heavy metal drum solo.
They saw an empty ATV crash into a tree.
"There's blood!" Justice shouted as the rain washed the blood from the seat.
"Where are your exits?" Gavin shouted over the thunder.
"Behind the lake, the garage and right here!" Bobby yelled.
"Get three people with weapons too each gate." Gavin insisted.
 They split up leaving, Kathy, Megan and Kate at the front.
Billie went to the tree house, she looked around with the binoculars to see if
anybody was coming.
"Theres two people by the garage!" She yelled.
They started scattering.
Gavin made it to the garage with John and Mark.
John and Mark recognized the two men.
They opened the garage and pulled the two beaten and battered men in.
"Hank, George. What happened, where are the others?" Mark asked.
In between breaths Hank said. "They're dead."  
“What?” Mark asked in confusion.
They moved into the ATV shack. Hank and George explained how these men attacked
them and without killing them started to try and eat them. These people looked
crazed. But they weren't infected. They were just savages. Feral beast that
tried to murder, rape and eat them. George had a knife wound on his thigh. He
was stabbed. Hank has a bullet hole in his side. They were both covered in
bites on different parts of their bodies but insisted they weren't infected.
These people were infected.
“Did you lead them here?” Bobby worried.
“No.” Hank insisted.
“We heard the ATVs in the front.” Gavin said.
“Who the fuck are you?” Hank asked.
“Answer him, why were the ATVs in the front and you weren't.” Bobby asked.
“We were on it, we fell off. It kept going. We ran to the back.” George said
because Hank was stubborn.
“Go get cleaned up.” Bobby told them. “Get someone to stitch you up.”
“Feral beast?” Gavin questioned.
“We don't need to worry about it.” Bobby said.
“We do.” Gavin insisted.
“Not now. Go home to those kids.” Bobby instructed.
Gavin did as told. He couldn't risk pissing off a man who took him in.
~~~
Ellen looked to Bobby once Gavin was at a distance. “We’re going to have to
figure out who those men are. We can't have them coming here.” She wasn't going
to go against her husband in front of  stranger.
“As long as they don't know where we are, were safe.” He stubbornly told her.
“They could know though. They could have followed them here. They could be
right behind them.” She was scared and angry. “Three of our men are dead. Those
two said, living men, tried to eat them. That means we have cannibals on our
hands. Have people gone that mad already?” She asked him.
He could see she was scared.
He held his wife of 35 years. “I’m never going to let anything happen to you.
Or our family.” HE promised.
John pulled up to the ATV garage where his brother was and asked. “What the
hell is going on?” He was angry. “THose two are eaten up but swearing that
their not infected. The dead didn't do it, do we have something to worry
about?” He asked.
“Probably.” Ellen said. “But we’ll handle it.” She stood by Bobbys word.


***** The Truth *****
Gavin and his group were safely in their homes.
~~~
David and Charlie warmed up. They were in a trailer but they chose it, even
though there was a house available. It just seemed more comfortable to them.
This place had working heat and electricity due to solar panelling. But they
didn't need the heat to warm up. They made love for the first time in months.
It's the first time they could actually be alone together. David missed feeling
her and holding her close. At this moment they felt like the only two people in
the world.
~~~
Dani and Dean put their daughter down for a nap. She slept peacefully with a
small pink dog she had from the department store.
They were in a house.
They decided to share with Johnny and his family. It just felt safer.
Dean and Dani sat in the kitchen and talked for a minute. “What GAvin said,
should we be worried?” SHe asked her husband.
“We should never stop worrying.” He admitted. “We have a beautiful daughter.
The dead are piling up around us but they're not dead were moving around and
eating us. Not there people doing the same thing. We can never stop worrying.”
HE didn't want to scar her but it was true.
~~~
Johnny and Anne put there sons in a room to play. THey had race cars and toy
soldiers to distract them. They went into the room they claimed as theirs.
Johnny was scared to admit it but he was scared.
“How are you?” Anne asked him.
“I should be asking you that.” HE told her.
“Probably but I’m looking at your face and I’m seeing a man who looks like he
wants to run or break something.”
“It’s a little bit of both.” He admitted.
“Talk to me.” She asked him.
“What Gavin told us. LIving people, eating, murdering and raping other people.
All I keep thinking about is, what if these people followed them here? Will our
boys be safe? Will you be safe?” He admitted.
“This place seems secure.” She was just as worried but wanted to comfort him.
“WE just have to take it one day at a time.” It probably wasn't helpful but it
was all she could think to say.”
~~~
Toby and Tempy played with their kids in the house. They had building toys and
were making a giant castle for Angie's princess doll and a cave for Toby jrs
troll doll.
They just wanted to forget what Gavin told them.
They wanted to live in denial.
~~~
Gavin told Bridget what the men said. She was scared.
“I promised to keep your family safe.” He assured her. “And I will.”
He looked over and saw his brother still on the sofa. He was dirty, hadn't
touched his food.
“Please Sebastian eat something.” He knelt and begged his brother. “You know
Jessica would want you to eat. Live for her.” Sebastian didn't budge. “You have
to eat.” He lifted a small piece of scrambled egg and Sebastian smacked it out
of his hand in anger. “You don't want to live for your wife or daughter, or
even yourself, live for your son then!” He grunted in anger.
Sebastian looked up at him. He didn't know what he meant.
“What?” He questioned.
“Hunter.”
“You're insane.” Sebastian sat up. He was furious now. How could he say
something so untrue when he just lost his only child.
“You fucked Haley when Dean had his accident and couldn't even get out of bed.
She told me everything the day she found out she pregnant. She begged me not to
tell you. She didn't know you had a girlfriend. She never met you or Jess
before. Out of respect for Jess I never told you.” “That doesn't mean he's
mine.” He yelled.
“It does, when she took a fucking avuncular tests using my DNA and found out
I’m his uncle.” Gavin told him in anger. “I never wanted to tell you that way.
But Hunter knows. Dean told him in anger many times. He's scared. He doesn't
understand anything. Help him. And He’ll help you!” Gavin shouted.
“He's 4!” Sebastian shouted.
“He can still help you! He’s a smart boy.” He shouted back. “So be a fucking
man!”
Gavin walked to Bridget.
She gave him a disappointed and shocked look.
Sebastian stormed out the house.
“Is that true?” She asked in a hushed tone.
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't have told him that way.” She shook her head. “Go get changed.”
He was soaking from the rain. He went to the back bedroom and found a clean
outfit in the bed. Cole and Hope were playing blocks on the floor. He grabbed
his clothes and went to the bathroom.
The day calmed, Sebastian hadn't returned and the rain hadn't stopped either.
There was a knock on the door.
Gavin answered. “Kathy.”
“Brought some food.” She handed him a basket with what seemed like a few take
out dishes. “Too much rain for everyone to head to the hall.” She saw Bridget
was here. “Heres your basket as well.” She handed it to Gavin too. She could
see something forming here. But she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad
thing, in this world anyway.
“Thank you.” She was under an awning so she wasn't getting wet. “Have you seen
my brother?”
“No.” She told him.
“Okay.” She left and headed towards a different a house.
“What is it?” Bridget asked as Gavin put the baskets on the dining table.
“Slice of meat on each plate. Probably leftovers from yesterday. Some mixed
noodles and sauce.” He said as he started opening dishes.
“Kids!” Bridget hollered. “Dinner!”
~~~
Mark and Sam were in a large house near the front. Mark put their youngest
twins in the high chairs. Sam jr, Holly and Austin sat at the kids table able
to feed themselves. The two parents feed the twins. They avoided the mess from
earlier. They never spoke about this kind of stuff in front of their kids.
~~~
Andrew and Kat were eating dinner in their small house. They placefully danced
with the kids as they ate.
Andrew and Kat are very playfully. Their house is covered in the kids finger
paintings. Kats ten years younger than Andrew. He met her a week after hs wife
left him with a 1 year old and a newborn. They’ve been inseparable ever since.
~~~
Johnny and Maggie argued about the things they were told. Maggie wanted to
ignore it. John wanted to find them and get rid of them before they came here.
Johnny Jr didn't agree with his dad but Justice did.
Of course. She always does.
18 year old Taylor didn't want anyone going out there. She was scared. So were
the 8 year old twin boys.
~~~
Bobby and Ellen frankly talked with Billie has they ate. Her two kids were two
young to understand.
Bobby wants to believe their safe but he doubts they are. This is just to much.
“We have more people now.” Billie said.
“Yeah but we just lost 3.” Ellen told her.
Ellen saw Bobby lost in his head. His john deere hat covering his eyes. “What's
going through your head.” She asked.
“I bought this campsite 20 years ago.” Ellen knew why. Bobby hasn't spoke of it
since then. “When you were five and the house was broken into.”
“I never knew that.” She told him. She was too young to remember.
“I wasn't home. I couldn't protect your mother then.” He wasn't going to tell
Billie everything that happened.
“Bobby.” Ellen never blamed him. She put her hand on his arm.
“I will not let anything happen to my family now.” He assured them both.
~~~
Kathy just got back from handing out the food baskets.
She was soaked. “Did the kids eat?” She was in a trailer behind the bingo hall
with her family.
“Lacey and Kasey did but Cody is being stubborn.” Linda told her.
Kathy looked over at her 10 year old daughter building something strange with
popsicle sticks and glue.
Kasey was in her bouncy seat dozing off.
Kathy went over to Cody.
“What's wrong buddy?” She knelt down.
“My belly hurts.” He told her.
“Alright, let's go relax.” She picked him up and put in on the sofa.
She walked over to her wife.
“It’s probably just the rain, you know how he gets.” Kathy leaned in for a
kiss. “Go get changed, your soaking the floors.” She teased.
~~~
The seven woman who came back in the rv didn't know each other before this.
They didn't live together. They all ate alone.
Leena missed her boyfriend. She plays it cool but puts the last shirt he ever
wore on every time he gets in her trailer.
Megan had a wife. She never really liked her. Losing her wasn't a lose. It was
just an inconvenience. Most people are to her.
Yasimin didn't have kids but she had six sister and four brothers.
She hated being lonely but didn't have anyone else.
Joan had a husband and two kids. She can't sit at her dinner table without
crying. She can't sit at a dinner table.
Kitty was a ballet teacher. She had no family, no partner. She thought nothing
would change but this was lonelier somehow.
Kate was good at putting her past behind her. If she didn't she would break.
She had a husband and 4 kids. She came home to find them slaughtered and
attacking her.
~~~
George and Hank were patched up. They went to there trailer. They were both
terrified and scared but wouldn't admit it. They just went to their bed and
didn't sleep.
Normally George would hold his lover. But neither one wants to be touched after
what they’ve been through.
~~~
Dinner ended.
Sebastian came back. He was soaked. It was still pouring.
He saw the kids still at the table.
“Your foods on the table.” Bridget told him. He grabbed it and began eating on
the sofa. Soaking it in the process.
“Go get changed!” Gavin ordered.
“Fuck off.” He grunted.
“Maybe I should take my kids and go to the trailer.” She suggested.
“Why don't you get your clothes and stay here, permanently.” Gavin offered.
“Not really enough room.”
“The boys stay where they are. Sky takes the girl room and the babies take the
nursery.” He said. “I’ll share the sofa with-” HE wanted to insult his brother
but he just gestured towards him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He told her.
She moved in that night.
But Gavin didn't take the sofa. Bridget wanted his company. So he gave it to
her. They just slept.
 
 
***** Welcome to the new world? *****
Chapter Summary
     Welcome to the new world, is a chapter were Gavins group interacts
     with the army next door, also known as the Nate and Andy book.
     (https://archiveofourown.org/works/9238391)
A day came and passed.
Two days.
Three days.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
Sebastian has done nothing with Hunter. GAvin didn't expect him to but the not
doing anything is what making Gavin crazy.  The people in the camp have done
nothing about the man who killed their people on a run. The first couple of
days they talked about it but nothing now.
Gavin was feeling cooped up and ready to bust.
~~~
"You doing okay?" Kathy asked him when he showed up at breakfast.
"Yeah." He lied.
She sat next to him. "You want to go out looking for those people who hurt our
men dont you." She asked. He looked at her questioning how she knew. "We’ve all
talked about it. And I can see it in your face."She's smart and tough. "I want
to go looking too. But I have three kids. I can't risk their safety. It's bad
enough the dead are piling up even more around us. We have to kill them every
day, more and more each time. We can't go looking for trouble. Our kids,
families deserve better." She reminded him. "Speaking off." She pointed to
Bridget bringing all the kids over.
Kathy stood and patted Gavin on the shoulder. "Remember, we do whatever we can
for them." She left to continue on breakfast.
"What is it?" Her father saw her and asked.
"Theres-Theres so man-many coming." She stuttered. "To many." She worried.
Bobby rushed to the towers. He looked out and there were so many. He's never
even met that many people, and he ran a campground.
He didn't know what to do.
Gavin took charge. "Get all kids, anything that makes noise inside and hidden."
He ordered. "I want anyone able to get a weapon and go to the front." People
started scattering.
"I've got the kids." Bridget told him. She gathered the kids into the golf cart
and started to drive. Hope and Cole had booster seats to help keep them secure.
Gavin rushed to the front. He hid in the admissions office by the gates. He
started to see people rushing to the front.
Once they all gathered inside Gavin spoke softly.
"Listen to me. Theyre at a safe enough distance right now. Stay hidden. If one
or two comes close kill it as quietly as possible. When the group comes you
hide. Theres to many to take out on our own. Our only hope is to stay as quiet
as possible and pray they past us with deciding to put to much pressure on
those gates." They separated into different positions.
They only had 20 people at the gates. It was never going to be enough.
They feared this was the end. They could hear the moans and growls. The saw the
bodies dragging closer.
The tension built in all of their chest.
The fear that after trying so hard to survive you just die, there was never any
chance.
Then they heard it, a loud roar of an engine. They a tank pull out from the
camp store. They saw two pull out. Then three. With men fully armed and ready.
Within in moments the dead were now dead. Guns and tanks, shooting them and
rolling them over. Not a single one survived.
When the guns and fighting stopped, when the bodies dropped, Gavin and the
people in the camp went out the gates. They were greeted by two man. One with
long dirty brown hair and another with scruffy black hair and a almost fully
gray beard.
"Welcome to the new world." A man they would come to know as Andy stated.
“Get back inside.”  Bobby said. “Get away from my people.”
“The men you met before are dead.”
“You were there!” Billie yelled in tears and pointed at Nate, the one with long
dirty brown hair.\
“I’m Nate. And if I would have stopped him then my kids would be dead. He's
dead now.” Nate told her. Andy took pleasure in that. He killed the twisted son
of a bitch.
“We’re not asking for anything, but six months ago when Robin killed your men
you needed help.” Nate said. “We’re offering that now.”
“No!” Billie yelled. “You can all die like my husband did!” She shouted.
“Go back inside.” Bobby told his daughter.
“Dad?” She questioned him.
“Go.” She went inside.
“Sitting out here is not safe.” Gavin stated.
“We’re here if you want to expect our offer.” Nate got his men to go back
inside. The camp went back in as well.
“We have to talk.:” Gavin looked to Bobby.
“Get the people?” Bobby asked his wife after they locked the gates.
Bobby sat in the admissions office. What was he supposed to do.
This other group had the supplies to keep them safe. They have a tank and more
guns then he could possibly imagine.
After awhile he saw some of the people of his group gather came around and some
of Gavins group.
“Let's go inside.” He offered them into his house.
They all sat at the large dining room table.
Gavin, David, Charlie and Johnny sat on one side.
Johnny, Mark, Kathy and George sat on the opposite side.
Bobby and Ellen sat on the ends.
“If we get to know these people-” Gavin tried to speak.
“NO!” Billie yelled from the sofa.
“Billie.” Bobby stopped her.
“I don't know what happened then. If they killed the man who killed your
husband that should be something.” GAvin stated.
“I can't agree with you.” His Johnny said.
Gavin looked confused. They’ve agreed on most things.
“You don't know these people. The only interaction with them is someone killing
Billies husband and now them coming out with a tank showing their weapons.”
Johnny explained.
The new Johnny agreed.
His wife didn't. “They have the weapons we might need.” She told them from the
kitchen.
“What happened? A week ago you didn't even want to leave this camp. Now you
want to trust people who threatened to kill us all?” Her husband questioned.
“I was at the gates the day Billies husband was shot. The men who were out
there. Were not outside today. The only one was the man who introduced himself
as Nate.” Kathy said. “I remember everything from that day. He didn't came over
until after your man was dead. He looked terrified. And I clearly remember the
man he called Robin told him. “ “This doesn't concern you!” .Does that seem
like someone who willingly participated?” She asked.
“They could be hiding. Tricking us. They could be the ones who attacked George
and Hank!” Mark said.
“They’re not.” George said. “The men who attacked us has layers on dirt caked
on them. Some were scared and cut up. They were animals. There's no way it was
them.”
“You been quiet.” Bobby said to Charlie. She’s normally mouthy and playful.
“I don't feel right giving my opinion.” SHe admitted.
“Why?” David questioned her.
“I use to be a surrogate mother. I carried a few babies for families I trusted.
I was a surrogate for Nate when he was with his first husband. The guy tricked
everyone especially myself and Nate. But Nate found Andy and they were great
for each other. They even asked me to carry for them.”
“That was him?” David questioned. He was with her then but she wanted to keep
him separate from her “job”.
“Yeah.” She admitted.
“Did you do it?” Ellen asked.
“No.” She told them.
“Why?” Billie asked, looking for any reason not to trust those others.
She was hesitant. She actually got teared up. “I was already pregnant.”
She miscarried. Her and David never tried again.
“So tell us about him.” Bobby said.
“I ran background checks. I don't know anything about Andy. Nate was in the
army. He went in as a teenager. I couldn't find out anything about his time
there but when he got out he started a career as a car shop. That ended
quickly. He started working at a family gym. No criminal record. I carried his
first child I think like 9 years ago.” SHe told them.
“We need to think.”
“Why?” Mark asked. “They went back. They're not giving us an ultimatum. I say
we just ignore them.” That's all he could think to do.”
“We can't.” Maggie said.
“We should!” Billie yelle.
“I personally don't think we should ignore them but we could vote on it.” Gavin
suggested. “Everyone Votes. Anonymously.”
“What are we voting on?” Maggie asked.
“Ignore them or get to know them.” Gavin offered.
“Sounds easy.” Maggie said.
“We’ll vote tomorrow. Let everyone have time to think.” Bobby stated. He was
annoyed and needed to think for himself anyway. “No get out of my house.” He
told everyone.
***** Sickness *****
Everyone had a vote. Everyone had to think. It was barely one o’clock so they
have a lot of time on their hands now.
“We have to go on with our day.” Dean stated. “Do what we have to do.” They
started walking to their golf carts and back to their stations.
Anne walked next to George and Hank. “You two healing up okay?”
“That one keeps overworking himself but yeah.” George said about his partner.
“From Philly right?” Anne asked.
“Yea.” He said.
She knew from the way he talked.
“Gavin is too.”
“Doesn't sound like it.” Hank jokes.
“We’re going back out.” Leena hollard. “See if we can find more stuff.” She
walked into the pool house where they kept the weapons locked up.
“What about the vote?” Linda shoutued. She was going the opposite direction.
“We’ll be back by morning.” Yasmin said. “Besides it will give us time to think
away from this place.”
“Be careful and don't go far.” Maggie told them.
“Sebastian?” Gavin questioned him coming up the road. He was shocked he was
even off the couch.
“Bridget needed me to tell you. Hope, Sky and Cole are sick.”
He knew they were getting congested but he didn't know how bad. He got on the
golf cart and rushed towards his house. He left his brother in the dust.
“Fucker.” He grunted.
Gavin went inside. He could hear the baby's screeching. He took Hope off
Bridget so she could tend to Cole.
“Shh sweet girl.” He rocked her. “Boys!” Gavin hollered. They had to be eight
years old now. They ran down. “Do me a favor.” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“Very carefully go see if you can get Anne.” He asked them. “Hunter you stay
close.” He was the youngest. At least 6 now.
They rushed off.
“Bridget.” He got her attention. “Go run the shower. Hot water. Close the door
and window. Build up the steam.” She handed him Cole. Sky walked to him and
climbed on the sofa. He's done this before. He's cared for two sick babies
before. This was three. He knows what he's doing or at least that what he's
telling himself. He put the screaming baby's on the sofa and grabbed a baby
wipe that was nearby and started to pick the gunch away from their noses. Sky
was just cuddling up to a blanket.
He could hear the shower running now.
The toddlers were agitated and angry. Sky didn't seem to care. Bridget came
down. “It's steamy.” She told him.
“What is he doing running around by himself.” Sebastian brought Hunter in.
“He should have been with Mark and Matthew.”
“I got distracted.” He admitted with sadness.
“With what?” Gavin asked.
“The sky rats.” He yelled and Sebastian burst out laughing.
Gavin lifted the sick toddlers and Sky grabbed his shirt hem.  He told
Sebastian in anger. “He really is your son.” Sebatian use to call all birds sky
rats. He always thought they were out to get him.
“Hunter stay in the house.” He told him. “Sebastian go find the twins and Anne.
Now.” He was annoyed. He took the three up to Bridget and the steam almost
automatically helped. After a few minutes they stopped screaming.
“Gavin!” Anne hollered. He handed Hope to Bridget. Gavin met her in the hall.
His clothes were damp from the steam. “Are they okay?” She worried.
“They just seem like they have a cold but it hit quick.” He stated.
He could see the worry in her face. “What is it?” He asked.
“Johnny and Maggies kids are sick. All 5. Adults and kids. It hit them quickly
too.” SHe told them.
“This isnt right.” He said.
“Let me see them.” She went inside the bathroom.
She could see they were congested but also very snotty. “Have they been
 coughing?” She asked.
“Before we got them in the steam.” Bridget said. She slightly coughed without
opening her mouth.
“We need to quarantine everyone sick.” Anne sid. “Clean the areas that the sick
have been and figure out what they have in common.”
“I’m not letting the kids alone.” Gavin said.
“I’ll be there.” Bridget said trying to hold back her coughs. “Get out.” She
told them. “We’ll stay in here until you figure out where everyone is going.”
GAvin and Anne left.
“We need medicines.” She told him. “Hot soups, nasal drops for babies and
adults, hot tea without caffeine and honey. Hot pads, humidifiers.” She
couldn't give the baby's anything stronge. “We need disinfectants, bleach,
cleaning spray, rags.”
“Anne!” They heard someone yell.
They rushed out. “You're a doctor right?”
“Kinda.” She explained to Joan.
“We have a lot of sick people.” She worried.
“Get everyone sick to a clean empty house. Get everyone healthy to a clean
empty house.” She instructed. “Tell everyone.” She told the people around her.
“210 is empty, very large. I would say put the sick there.” Ellen said. “Put
the healthy in the 300s. They're empty.”
“Let's go.” Joan said.
“NO!” Anne stopped them. “Put a mask on. I saw some in the laundry room. Gloves
too.”
They started walking off.
Gavin figured. I was already around them so no need to get the mask.
He went up to Bridget in the bathroom. She had the toddlers in a laundry
basket, Sky lying on the rug and she was on the floor.
“I’m taking you and the baby's to a different house okay?” HE asked.
She nodded. She lifted Cole and he lifted Hope and Sky. Before she came down he
told Sebastian “Take the boys to a different house. Anything in the 300s.” HE
told him and the boys rushed out.
Gavin got Bridget and the kids down and into a golf cart. She really looked bad
and it's only been 5 minutes since she started coughing.
They drove to the house.
He brought them in and they saw a lot of sick people. “There's an empty room
upstairs.”
Linda said. She was soaking in sweat and cradling her son Cody.
He took them upstairs to an empty room.
There was a large bed. He got them all set up.
“I’ll check on you in a little bit.” He told them. “I’m going to find some
medicines and get you better.” He promised.
Gavin got out and rushed to the front.
“We’ve got humidifiers around the camp. Maggie and Johnny are dropping them off
at the house now.” Ellen told them.
“What about Medicines?” Anne asked. Her husband Johnny came up behind her.
“What have what we grabbed from the departments stores pharmacy.” Johnny said.
“I’ll go through it, see what we can use. I need everyone else to figure out
how they got sick and what they have in common. Make sure everyone gets hot
soup and tea.” She told them. “Billie why don't you help me go through the
stuff.” She asked. Billie walked towards the nurses station where they kept the
medicines with her baby's in a twin stroller in front of her. “I’ll be there in
a minute.” She whispered to Bobby and Ellen. “We might need to go next store
and see what they can do. Or see if they had anything to do with this.” She
stated. She rushed over towards the nurses station.
“I’ll work on the soups.” Dani offered. Kat followed her.
“Leena and Megan are still going out. They made a list of what Anne said to
look for.” Ellen said. “How many people are not sick?” She asked.
Bobby, Sam and a few others thought. “Roughly 30 including us. The rest are
sick.” Kathy said. She had her youngest in a carrier on her chest.
“Is anyone willing to go in between.” Ellen asked.
Everyone stood silent for a minute.
Gavin got to them and asked. “What's going on?”
“Trying to decide if somebody should go next door.” Kathy told him.
“I’ll go.” Gavin offered. “Wheres Charlie?” Gavin asked David as he came over.
“Sick.” He stated.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll go with you.” He wanted to get Charlie better anyway he could.
“Me too.” George offered.
“Let's go.” Gavin stated. They climbed in a golf cart and headed towards the
center, where Billies husband was shot.
It took a few minutes. But when they got there they saw two armed men.
There was ten feet of empty space separating the two camps gates.
“Get your leader.” Gavn told them. “And a doctor.” He ordered.
The two armed men walked off. A few moments passed and they saw Nate again.
“What did you do?” David asked with anger.
“We haven't done a thing.” Nate said.
“After us meeting with you almost half of our people are sick within minutes.”
Gavin said.
“Get Stuart.” Nate ordered his men. He knows what they're talking about. “Take
him around the front.”
“What is this?” Gavn asked.
“We’ll met you at the gates and explain.” Nate stated in a hurry. “Keep men at
the gates. Get the suits and met them around the front.” He told one of his men
quietly.
The three men got back in the cart and drove towards the front. They ran into
Tempy in the middle. She was panicked and frantic, clearly crying.
“What's going on?” Gavin asked.
“My husband is dead! They won't let me go in the house but Bridget said that
Toby is dead. She told me through the window! She was yelling and crying.
“Alright, calm down.” He worried about everyone in there. “George, tell Bobby
to let them in. David go with him.” He stated. He climbed out of the cart and
went with Tempy to the house. They now had guards outside it. Mark and Sam.
“I can't let you in.”
“Is her husband dead?” He asked.
“Yes.” Sam answered. “So are Kitty and Kate.” He told them.
“My kids are in there!” Tempy yelled in tears.
“We need to get the bodies out of there.” Gavin said.
“The people inside wrapped them and put them in the basement.” Mark said. “We
can't risk people going in and getting sick. This sickness is spreading within
minutes.” Mark shouted. “It’s only been an hour since our meeting.” He reminded
him.
They heard the sound of a jeep and quickly saw the military jeep and several
men inside. They were wearing hazmat suits.
“How many are inside?” An older man with a hint of a british accent asked. He
had a large white locked box.
“To many.” Mark stated.
“What is this?” Gavin asked.
“I’ll explain later! I need to see them.” He was angry and annoyed and just
plain grumpy.
The two men moved aside and the the men in hazmat suits went inside. They saw
the people, coughing, sneezing, shaking, drooling. The symptoms were all
different for the different people. He could hear the baby's crying.
“Are any dead?” Stuart asked.
“Basement.” Was all Charlie could manage to say.
“Take their temperatures.” He put the large white box down. “If it’s under 105
give’em the shot. If it’s not, put them in the basement.” Over that he knew
they were dead.
The four hazmat men started. “There's people upstairs.” Charlie breathlessly
stated.
Two men rushed up.
Stuart took Charlies first. “102. Your lucky.” He pulled out the needle and
small vile of liquid and injected her with 4ml. “You’ll feel better in an hour
but you won't be able to do much for a couple days.” He helped her sit up.
“We got a 108!” A man yelled. “And It's a toddler.” Stuart rushed up.
It was Tempy and Tobys son.
“And this one too.”
Their daughter.
“Give them the dose anyway.” He instructed.
“It won't work at 108.” The hazmat man stated.
“They're babies!” Stuart yelled. “Just fucking do as I say!” He ordered.
He looked towards Bridget and the three kids. They were barely moving. Bridget
could barely realize what was going on. Her vision was blurry and her body was
shaking.
Stuart took her temperature. She hit 106. He gave her the shot. Checked the
three kids and thankfully they barely hit 103. They were dosed next.
HE quickly noticed the twins toddlers start to convulse. He knew the sickness
had taken over. But with the help of the medicine it took them quicker then it
would have without it.
“What's-” Bridget tried to asked but was still out of it.
“Wrap them up.” He ordered his men.
“What's happening in there?” Gavin asked Nate.
“Think of this sickness like a sequel to a movie. Worse than the first one.”
Nate stated.
“So my friends and family being sick is a part two to what?” Gavin asked with
fear and anger.
“The dead living again.”
“A few months back, a lot of my people got sick. Stuart ran test, compared it
and found it was a strain of virus that is connected to the virus the living
dead have.” Nate explained.
“So what's he's doing will cure it?” Mark asked, thinking he meant the zombie
infect completely.
“Only this strain. He tried the cure and variations of it on the living dead
and it doesn't work. Some types made them wild. Some made them crazed. Some
didn't do anything at all.” Nate explained. “Only plus side to getting this
shot is when you die you won't turn.”
“Wait, so this is like a guard?” Sam asked.
“Not really. If you get bit or scratched the infection will spread and kill you
but you won't turn. If you die of natural cause you won't turn.” Nate told
them.
Stuart came out and took his mask off.
“There's four more dead in there.” He stated. “But the rest have been given the
shot. They’ll feel better in an hour but shouldn't do much for a few days.”
“Who?” Tempy asked with worry and in tears.
He was scared to say, fearing they would be her babies. “Two different sets of
twins.”
She broke out in tears. She dropped to the ground and Gavin went to comfort her
but she pushed him away. “Fuck you!” She ran off.  Her twins were in there. And
Johnny and Maggie's oldest.
“I’ll get Johnny.” The other Johnny stated.
“We’re out of the cure.” Stuart told him. “And I can't make more.”
“You should burn that house and whatever other house the sick were in.” Nate
stated.
“How did this start? They got sick in minutes.” GAvin wondered.
“Probably the bodies out there. One or more probably died from the sickness and
spread to one of your people and it just got passed along. You have to wear a
mask when you go out. Or something to cover your mouth. Gloves. Don't come in
contact with their blood, guts, breath.” Nate told them. “They're deadly, in
more ways than one.”
The house of the infecteds door opened. Charlie stood at the door.
“Charlie?” Nate asked. “I want to say you look great.”
“Oh baby I always look great.” She tried to be sarcastic and playful. “We need
food, lots of it.”
GAvin saw Bobby, Ellen, Johnny, Maggie and Andrew coming up each in their own
golf cart.
“Are they still contagious?” Bobby asked.
“No.” Stuart said. “But the house might be.”
The people inside slowly came out and gathered into the golf carts. They went
to new trailers near the front. Where their families could move in with them.
“My men will help you burn the houses down and control the fires. It’ll leave
rubble, that won't be pretty but at least you won't be taking the chance of
getting sick anymore.” Nate stated.
“Not today.” GAvin said.
“What?” Nate was confused. He thought they would want to get clean quickly.
“It’s to much today.” GAvin told him.
Nate and his men left.
Gavin took the opportunity to check on his family.
The boys were all safe and happy. Sebastian was shockingly caring for them. He
had them playing a mixed game of candyland, uno and monopoly. Sebastian loved
creating new games from old ones.
They were in a new trailer on lot 5. Bridget was still separated. Just to be
safe. She was going to spend the night in lot 12 with the babies. Gavin checked
on her next. She looked better. All of their fevers had gone down. The kids
were actually napping. She couldn't, she was scared. Afraid she wouldn't wake
up. Gavin confronted her. She was just happy she couldn't remember what
happened to the twin toddlers.
Gavin went to check on Tempy next. He found her hanging from the bingo hall
ceiling. She turned and was swinging back and forth trying to break free to
find her first meal.  He knew why she did it but couldn't accept it. She shot
her and cut her down using the ladder that was knocked over.
So many deaths in one day. It was pointless.
Gavin was just happy the day was almost over.
Johnny, Maggie and several other started burying bodies. Johnny and Maggie
cried over their kids. But they still have three more, they won't give up the
fight.
When night fell Bobby told Gavin. “We need to check the gates. No ones on watch
tonight.”
They walked over and went to check. The front gates were open. Billie checked
the tree house. She could see the RV at a distance. But it wasn't moving.
She climbed down and rushed to the front. “The girls are in trouble.” She said
breathlessly from running.
They cautiously went out the gates, armed and covered. They slowly walked up
towards the RV it was a good distance not to be noticed by them but still close
enough to get there and back quickly.
They listen first before entering. They could hear the growls on the infected.
They just assumed they got sick while driving and all turned.
“Cover your mouth.” Gavin said. They both pulled the scrap fabric up and
covered their mouths and moses. Gavin opened the door and no one came out. He
cautiously stepped in and killed an already turned Leena. He stabbed her in the
head. The other two noticed him and he was able to quickly kill them both with
his gun. It was loud but necessary.
“I can't take this shit anymore.” Bobby cursed. “I fucking can't!” HE yelled.
“Let's just get back.” Gavin instructed.
They quickly ran when they saw the dead start to gather. Not much just two.
They got back in the gates and locked them. Sealing them tight.
This day was finally over.
 
***** Vote *****
Chapter Summary
     this is the last chapter for this book.
     the first chapter for the next massey book will be up soon. but it
     will be a completely different work.
     check out the series works
Gavin woke up to Hunter tugging on his foot.
“What's wrong?” Gavin asked groggily.
“He told me to torment you.” Hunter pointed to Sebastian. He had a smug look on
his face.
Gavin stood out of the lounge chair. “What time is it?” He asked.
“7:30.” Sebastian said.
“What are you doing up so early.” He asked the kids.
“We’re hungry.” Matthew said.
“You couldn't have taken them to eat?” Gavin asked Sebastian.
“Breakfast doesn't start till 8.” He told him.
“Get dressed, get your shoes on.” Gavin told them.
Gavin opened the trailer door and saw the people gathering.
“What's going on?” He asked his friend Johnny.
“We’re getting something to eat than Bobbys holding the vote.” Johnny said.
“Annes going to see about going over there. It seems safer. More sterile and
secure.”
“Are you serious? We don't know them.” Gavin stated.
“We didn't know these people.” He reminded him.
Johnny headed back towards his family.
“Stay here.” He told the kids. Gavin went over and checked on Bridget. She and
the kids were so much better.
He sat next to her. The three kids were playing on the floor. Hope looked up at
him, her big eyes staring.
He put his hand down and she grabbed it, just wanting to hold on to him.
“We’re all much better.” She told him.
“That's really good.” He smiled. “They're holding the vote today.” He told her.
“What are you thinking?” She asked his opinion.
“Johnny and Anne are going to see about moving next door. They said it's
probably safer, less contaminated.” He told her.  
“I get that. We wouldn't have to burn these houses down if we knew no ones was
going to go inside them. We wouldn't be risking the fires spreading and
becoming out of control.” She explained.
He knew what she meant.
“Let's get these kids ready.” She stood up.
She and Gavin put the kids shoes and jackets on.
They went outside and joined Sebastian with the boys.
“We’re not going to the bingo hall. Not with that happened there. We’re meeting
at the game hall.” Sebastian told him.
“That's an easy walk.” They started walking down the road. Gavin carried Hope.
Bridget carried Cole. The boys and Sky ran ahead.
“Thank you Sebastian.” Bridget told him.
Gavin was chasing the boys with Hope.
“What?” He was confused.
“You stepped up. You've been helping Gavin and he needed it.”
“It's nothing.” He stated. He doesn't like being emotional.
They got to the game hall.
“Everyone feeling better?” Gavin asked Charlie.
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Give me that sweet girl.” Hope went right to her.
“So we had a problem last night. The chickens must have caught the infection
and they all died. We don't want to risk using the eggs so all of it has been
trashed.” Kathy told them.
“We still have the powdered stuff right?” Charlie asked.
“Yes, that's why I made pancakes.” Linda brought out the first tray of
pancakes.
Everyone ate breakfast, calmly. There was sadness and some fear but they were
pushing through.
An hour passed. People were finished.
“I guess it's time.” Mark stated as he picked up his two youngest off the
floor. He put them in a large playpen.
He handed out pieces of paper and a random assortment of pens.
“Two simple things.” Mark said. “Ignore them. Get to know them.”
“Depending on the winning vote we take it from there.” Bobby said.
Gavin looked at the people he knew well. Writing their votes down. Folding the
paper and putting it in the large metal mixing bowl.
Bobby waited until everyone who could cast a vote did. “Ellen and I will tally
them.” He took the bowl and they walked towards the game hall office.
Twenty three adults that could cast a vote.
First they sorted them. Unfolded the papers. Put the  ignores  on the left and
the  get to knows  on the right. Than they counted them.
They took the votes and left the room.
“We counted them.” Ellen said. “Ten for ignore and thirteen say get to know
them.”
“NO!” Billie yelled. “I will not get to know them!” She yelled. “They are
murderers!” SHe shouted.
“That's enough.” Ellen said. “If it wasn't for them, we would all probably be
dying or dead by now.” She told her daughter. “I think they were telling the
truth about killing the ones who were bad. They wouldn't have helped us if they
wanted us dead.” She told them.
“Unless it's just part of some ploy to get us to trust them. How else do you
explained us getting so sick so quickly.” Billie yelled.
“It's like a part 2 to the infection, the man Nate, told me about it.” Gavin
explained. “One of the infected must have been sick when they died and that's
how we got sick.”
“I don't care!” Billie yelled.
“Billie!” Ellen shouted. “I understand your anger but you can't blame everyone
for one person's actions.” Her mother tried to explain to her.
“I’ll volunteer to go over there.” Gavin said.
“Than you can stay there.”
“Billie!” Her dad scolded her. “Go on watch in the towers.” He ordered.
“I’ll go too.” Bobby said.
“Need a third?” Anne asked.
“No.” Johnny stopped her.
“Yes.” She sternly stated.
“We’ll go in the middle.” Gavin looked towards Bridget.
“Don't worry I got the kids.” She told him.
“Thank you.”
The three got on a cart and headed towards the middle.
Gavin, Bobby and Anne sat quietly in the golf cart as they headed towards the
middle were they knew the man would be on guard. They saw Nate walking by with
a baby in his arms. “Had a feeling I would hear from yous soon.” He told them.
“We want to take you up on our offer and get to know you better.” GAvin told
him.
“Some of us want more.” Anne told him.
“Some aren't sure what we want.” Bobby said.
“Alright.” He handed his grand daughter to a man named Quinn. “Take her to
Andy.”
“Come around front.” Andy told them.




End Notes
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