Zombie Exodus: Aftermath, scene 39

Continued from scene 38

The Jeep jumps forward as Jesse drives. You spot Megan lying on the ground with one of the hybrids holding her down and feasting on her head. Turning your gaze away from her, you rush to the machine gun and spin it towards the coming hybrids, gaining ground. Now only 20 m away, they seem to pick up speed, eyes locked on you and Portland, their arms extended and hands grabbing at the air between you and hopeful anticipation.

“I suck at shooting, but here goes nothing,” you say and press the trigger. Though mounted to the Jeep, the machine gun leaps in your hands, and you struggle to control it. A bullet stream hits the ground, and you do your best to aim. Shots rip through the body of the infected farthest on the right, and you swing the gun left, cutting across the legs of two others. As you keep firing, you hear a sudden pop, and one of the cartridges shoots from the back of the weapon, hitting you on the right arm. It burns briefly, and you swing the barrel back to the right.

The last hybrid makes it within ten feet. The Jeep hits something on the road, and you feel it bounce in the air and slam down to the road. Portland hangs off the back of the Jeep while you struggle to hold onto the machine gun. Stephen dives for the assault rifle lying next to you, raises it, and fires just as the hybrid leaps for the back of the Jeep. The shot hits it in the chest, knocking it backward. It tumbles to the ground, rolling through the dirt. The Jeep pulls away, and you advance along the road, leaving it behind.

Steven drops to the ground and lets the assault rifle fall from his hands.

“What a shit show,” Jesse says from the driver’s seat.

You drive for thirty minutes or so down the road until it forks. The handwritten sign points northwest to Loco X and west to the Settlement of Stone. “Where the hell are we? I never heard of these places,” Jesse says, pointing to the side.

Steven speaks up in a low, monotonous tone. “Jumping off points to the farming settlement. Loco X is a helluva place. Debauchery reigns supreme. That’s their motto. It’s a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah if you know the Bible reference. The Settlement of Stone is the complete opposite. Religious folks who believe in Puritanism, as you read about in the history books when Europeans first invaded America.”

“Do we need to go to either?” Portland asks.

“It’s not mandatory, but the farming community is still three days away. We are all exhausted and need food. Your friend here still needs medical attention. Both of those places have it. On the other hand, we can try to survive in the woods. It will be a lot rougher, but we should be able to avoid people altogether. You guys decide.”

Cameron shrugs. “The settlement sounds best.”

“You would say that. You’re a guy. They will treat you well, but they won’t treat me, Violet, and Portland too well. I want to check out that Loco place,” Jesse says.

“I’m not breaking any ties because I think we should camp in the forest,” Portland says.

Continue to scene 40