Shoot 'Em in the Head: The Zombie Survival Horror RPG IC Thread

[Carnage27]

"Where are they and who are they?" I ask as Claire and I reenter the prison tower. There I find Jill, Wesker, and Rebecca preparing for a live fire, heavily armed mission.

"Umbrella Corp Tower," Barry responds, not looking up from the map he's got flattened out on the table in the middle of the room. "Four of them. We're going to helli-drop you on the roof, ad then draw as many of them away but flying away. The sound from the choppers should draw the masses away from you position, but you'll have to deal with the ones still inside."

"Sounds like a solid plan to me," I nod while I go over my firearms and ammunition. "Just make sure the birds come back when we call," I say to our two pilots.

The team hops on one of the choppers, and it lifts off into the cold Raccoon City night. As we speed towards the heart of the city, the spotlight on the front of the aircraft illuminates the streets below, and I can't believe the sight. Cars are upturned, there are fires in buildings, and I can see the shifting form of thousands of undead.

They're disgusting. It's the only word that comes to mind as I watch them walk and stumble over each other. But some of them seem to be moving quicker than the ones I've seen before. Although it could be my eyes playing tricks on me again.

We approach the tall Umbrella Tower, our bird quickly rises to the top, and our small strike team hops out, our pilot gives us a salute, and flies off into the distance. I waste no time unholstering my shotgun and head towards the door on the roof, "I'll take point. Be ready for anything. Jill you take the six."

I kick down the door and turn on the light at the end of my gun, preparing myself for whatever's inside.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Even with the weapons loaded in the back of the truck, I still keep my shotgun beside me. Might not be the best weapon, but it's gotten me this far. Rick gets into the cop car while Curtis and I climb into the truck cab. Curtis drives while I sit in the passenger seat with the shotgun in my lap. Rick pulls out into the road and Curtis follows close behind.

With that, our small, makeshift caravan begins the journey west towards Atlanta.

I drive on, Matt and Curtis behind me. I know that soon I'll be leaving my hometown, probably for the last time. As I near the hospital I escaped from, I remember. Something I need to do.

I bring the car to a halt. I load my revolver, and step out the car. I walk through the grass until I find her.

"Gluk! Gakk!"

The first of the risen dead that I encountered, back when I first left the hospital. At the time, I felt pure terror. But looking at her now, unable to even walk with those like her, writhing on the ground like a broken snake... I feel a kind of pity for her. I crouch down by her side. She looks up at me, and though in truth there's likely nothing in there aside from hunger, I imagine that she's silently asking me to help her.

"I'm sorry this happened to you."

I put a bullet in her head. Maybe now she can have peace. I stand up, and head back to the car.

 

[Byrd Man]

I drive on, Matt and Curtis behind me. I know that soon I'll be leaving my hometown, probably for the last time. As I near the hospital I escaped from, I remember. Something I need to do.

I bring the car to a halt. I load my revolver, and step out the car. I walk through the grass until I find her.

"Gluk! Gakk!"

The first of the risen dead that I encountered, back when I first left the hospital. At the time, I felt pure terror. But looking at her now, unable to even walk with those like her, writhing on the ground like a broken snake... I feel a kind of pity for her. I crouch down by her side. She looks up at me, and though in truth there's likely nothing in there aside from hunger, I imagine that she's silently asking me to help her.

"I'm sorry this happened to you."

I put a bullet in her head. Maybe now she can have peace. I stand up, and head back to the car.

Curtis and I share confused looks with each other as Rick goes inside the hospital he said he left yesterday. "Think he forgot something?"

"Maybe."

That's when we hear a gunshot quickly followed by Rick's exit. "You all right, man?" Curtis asks as he rolls down the truck window. Rick just nods and gets back into his car. "Alright. I take it he's good to go."

The squad car pulls out into the road and our truck bringing up the rear.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Mid-Afternoon....Veronica stop her Tahoe at a deserted Gas Station.

She looks around and gets out of her vehicle chambering a round in one of her 45s.

Well looks as good as any other place I've seen might as well stock up and gas up. Why does this feel like one of those bad slasher movie set-ups?

She starts the gas-pump and goes inside the store. The store has been ransacked and looted, but it also has several dead zombies. Veronica notices a couple of humans with bullets in their heads.

I guess that's one way out.

A rattle behind her causes Veronica to turn and fire a round. She has just killed a rat.

Well on the bright side I don't have to worry about you. On the other hand I just wasted a round. Bullets aren't exactly plentiful need to keep it cool.

Veronica grabs a few bags of chips, a couple bottles of hand sanitzier, and some more bottled water and loads them in her truck.

Once the Tahoe is gassed up she starts to get in but then notices something coming up from the woods and starting to block the road.

Oh hell! A couple dozen at least.

She gets in her truck and starts it up noticing that though they are only walking slowly they are starting to get closer.

Veronica backs up and starts to head back the way she came. She then stops after 1/2 a mile and then does a U-Turn

Veronica floors the accelerator and nails the horn. The Tahoe is now doing well over 100 miles an hour

The Zombies do not get out of her way and she plows through taking out at least 4 of them and keeps on going.

Veronica cuts on the wipers and hits the washer fluid cleaning off the dust and debris.

A short time later she crosses into California.

Well let's see what we got here.

 

[wiegeabo]

"We met up in Texas and came out west after we heard about a refuge at Pacific Playland."

Wichita takes a hit and passes it to Columbus.

"Found out last night that's not the case. Overrun with the infected. Had to fight out way out of there. We needed a place to crash so we decided that if we were gonna sleep, then we would do it at the palace of a king."

"What's going on?"

Little Rock comes into the room just as Columbus takes a massive hit and chokes on the smoke.

"Oh geez!" I start snuffing out the pot as if the cops were raiding us. "You don't tell me you had a minor with you?" I whisper loudly.

"Um, hi...little one," I say over my shoulder, trying to act calm, but failing as I try to put the weed out. "We're uh, we're not doing anything."

 

[wiegeabo]

"How's it going, Airman?" I shout through the window to the front of the truck?

"We're getting low on fuel. We'll have to stop soon, sir."

I sigh. "Damn. I was hoping we'd make Atlanta before we needed another fillup."

"Wishful thinking, Captain. We're still in Virgina."

"Really? We haven't even hit Tennessee yet?" I poke my head through the opening to look out the windscreen. "This is taking forever. I thought we'd be there by now."

"Well, normally we would. But I'm having to drive this thing slow to avoid all the wrecks on the road." She looks at me, lowering her voice. "Why? How's Nguyen doing?"

I spare a glance back at the other airman who's sleeping fitfully. "I think he's getting worse. I was hoping we'd make it to the CDC before things got too bad."

"At this rate, it's going to be another day, at least, sir."

"Hopefully Nguyen's got another day."

"It's that bad?"

"It's not getting any better. I really wish we didn't have to leave the base so quickly." Leave. More like get the **** out while we had the chance.

I glance back and notice Nguyen starting to come around. "Ok. Next gas station we'll fill up and try to clean them out of anything that's left. God knows we've got plenty of room back here."

"And what are the chances they'll have extra ammo?"

"Somewhere between zero and nil would be my guess."

"Which means we don't have any to spare."

"So keep the engine running while you fill up."

"Won't that cause the truck to explode?" she says with a small smile.

"Urban legend."

"It better be."

"Doc...?"

"That's your cue, sir."

I pat Penn on the shoulder. "Just get us there fast," I say softly before turning to the back of our covered truck.

"Well, airman. What seems to be the problem...?"

 

[Catman_prb]

Jack hated driving in the dark. Sure he could have his headlights on, and sure he'd drive around most of the undead, but there'd be the occasional one lying on the road that he had to run over. He winced. Miami winced too. Still the best thing about driving in the countryside was that there was a severe lack of zombies, as Miami called them.

"Zombies are dead people that were called up from the grave to serve voodoo witchdoctors," she explained, half a day into their journey together.

"Uh-huh?" Jack said, raising an eyebrow "You think that's what's going on here? Voodoo?"

"Uhm, no," Miami said "We still live in the real world. Just...seems appropriate?"

"Fair enough," Jack said, and kept on driving.

***
​

A couple of guys wearing rucksacks thumbed them down a day or so's drive outside Atlanta, just next to a corn field. Jack pulled over, and hopped out, shotgun by his side, fire-axe strapped across his back.

"Hey," Jack said, in what he considered a friendly to neutral tone.

The taller of the two men nodded, then grinned.

"I'm John, that's Ken. We're headed towards Atlanta, the CDC, you know?" John said, hands gripping the straps of his backpack.

"I'm Savannah, that's Miami, we're going the same way," Jack said.

"Reckon we could hitch a lift?" Ken asked, his voice abnormally high.

"Sure thing, it might be a little cramped," he said, gesturing towards the cab of the truck. John waved his arm in a mock bow. Jack snorted and made to climb in towards the wheel.

WHACK

The back of his skull exploded in pain, and stars flashed before his eyes. Jack collapsed on his knees, and gasped as he was hit again. Rough hands pulled him out of the way of the truck and onto the dirt by the side of the road. He didn't put up a struggle, unable to really move his arms of legs more than a weak tremble. They grabbed Savannah's shotgun from his hand. He heard Miami scream.

"Shut up *****," John's harsh voice shouted, and then there was the sound of a woman being hit.

Jack grunted, tried to push himself up. The truck started up, kicking up dust and dirt in it's wake, the two men laughing loudly out of the windows. He could feel blood leaking out of a gash in the back of his head, and brought his hand up to touch it. It fell to the floor as he passed out.​

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Veronica beigins making her way through the winding California highways.

Well definetly not in Arizona anymore that is for usre. Bright side next to no traffic. Need to hookup with some others keep reading reports of other survivors. Would be nice to have some conversations with people other than me.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Oh geez!" I start snuffing out the pot as if the cops were raiding us. "You don't tell me you had a minor with you?" I whisper loudly.

"Um, hi...little one," I say over my shoulder, trying to act calm, but failing as I try to put the weed out. "We're uh, we're not doing anything."

"We're doing something, alright. But it's something you shouldn't be doing. It's bad, okay. It's horrible. It makes you laugh and find things funny and it makes you hungry. And it makes Dark Side of The Moon the greatest album of all time!....Uhh, but you shouldn't be doing it!"

"Guy's, she's twelve. She's not ******ed."

"Oh, well....you wanna hit this, Little Rock?"

"No!"

I shurg and lean back. "It was worth a shot."

 

[Carnage27]

"We're doing something, alright. But it's something you shouldn't be doing. It's bad, okay. It's horrible. It makes you laugh and find things funny and it makes you hungry. And it makes Dark Side of The Moon the greatest album of all time!....Uhh, but you shouldn't be doing it!"

"Guy's, she's twelve. She's not ******ed."

"Oh, well....you wanna hit this, Little Rock?"

"No!"

I shurg and lean back. "It was worth a shot."

As the weed starts to get to me, I start laughing uncontrollably. This is only my second time smoking pot, and it's already getting to me. Man, Tallahassee is going to have a field day with this one.

"Well, well, someone's got the giggles," Wichita laughs.

"I cannot help it," I laugh. "I mean really, think about it. Here we are in the middle of the apocalypse, smoking weed with Bill Murray! How freaking ridiculous is that!?"

She shrugs in agreement as I continue, "But sersiously...what the hell are we going to do next?"

 

[Byrd Man]

As the weed starts to get to me, I start laughing uncontrollably. This is only my second time smoking pot, and it's already getting to me. Man, Tallahassee is going to have a field day with this one.

"Well, well, someone's got the giggles," Wichita laughs.

"I cannot help it," I laugh. "I mean really, think about it. Here we are in the middle of the apocalypse, smoking weed with Bill Murray! How freaking ridiculous is that!?"

She shrugs in agreement as I continue, "But sersiously...what the hell are we going to do next?"

"I don't know. Since Pacific Playland turned out to be a dud, maybe we head East? Whatever we do, we need to swing by a store on the way. I could go for a Twinkie."

 

[wiegeabo]

As the weed starts to get to me, I start laughing uncontrollably. This is only my second time smoking pot, and it's already getting to me. Man, Tallahassee is going to have a field day with this one.

"Well, well, someone's got the giggles," Wichita laughs.

"I cannot help it," I laugh. "I mean really, think about it. Here we are in the middle of the apocalypse, smoking weed with Bill Murray! How freaking ridiculous is that!?"

She shrugs in agreement as I continue, "But sersiously...what the hell are we going to do next?"

"Wait, wait, wait...wait. Before we think about that, I've got something very, very important to say.

I lean in and look Columbus right in the eyes.

"...IT'S IN THE HOLE!"

I watch as everyone dies laughing. I love a captive audience. And a stoned one.

 

[Carnage27]

As I die laughing from Bill's Caddyshack bit, I can't help but agree with Tallahassee. East is a viable option as of now, maybe meet up with some more survivors. I mean there has to be more of them out there right?

"East sounds good. Maybe hit up the Grand Canyon? I bet the undead make a funny sound when they hit the bottom," I chuckle before groaning. "I took that a little too far didn't I? I blame the pot. It takes me to weird, crazy places."

 

[Byrd Man]

As I die laughing from Bill's Caddyshack bit, I can't help but agree with Tallahassee. East is a viable option as of now, maybe meet up with some more survivors. I mean there has to be more of them out there right?

"East sounds good. Maybe hit up the Grand Canyon? I bet the undead make a funny sound when they hit the bottom," I chuckle before groaning. "I took that a little too far didn't I? I blame the pot. It takes me to weird, crazy places."

"I know you have a good thing going here, Mister Murray, but you're welcome to come along....especially if you have a line on where to get Twinkies."

 

[wiegeabo]

"I know you have a good thing going here, Mister Murray, but you're welcome to come along....especially if you have a line on where to get Twinkies."

"Twinkies, eh?" Great, now I have the munchies. I lean back and think. "You know, Danny Akroyd always had a sweet tooth. He might have stocked up on some."

"And if we're gonna go traveling, I vote Georgia. I've always wanted to play the back nine on Augusta."

 

[Keyser Soze]

After a long time travelling, we finally approached Atlanta. It was quite a jarring sight, a sea of cars blocking all the roads leading up to the city limits. I stop the squad car, get out, and walk over to Matt and Curtis' car, leaning in their window.

"We'll park the cars somewhere well-hidden, and walk the rest of the way. No way we're getting the cars through these roads."

We park the cars, and stock up on as many weapons as we can carry. We start our walk into Atlanta, the safe haven we've been journeying towards. And then a thought occurs to me, as I turn to Matt.

"If Atlanta is so safe... why are all these cars trying to get out?"

 

[Byrd Man]

After a long time travelling, we finally approached Atlanta. It was quite a jarring sight, a sea of cars blocking all the roads leading up to the city limits. I stop the squad car, get out, and walk over to Matt and Curtis' car, leaning in their window.

"We'll park the cars somewhere well-hidden, and walk the rest of the way. No way we're getting the cars through these roads."

We park the cars, and stock up on as many weapons as we can carry. We start our walk into Atlanta, the safe haven we've been journeying towards. And then a thought occurs to me, as I turn to Matt.

"If Atlanta is so safe... why are all these cars trying to get out?"

"You don't understand," I start. "You were out of it when people started getting sick. It was crazy times. Everyone was panicking. People would have done anything to get away, even if it was driving on the wrong side of the road."

"I seen some **** in Athens, man. You wouldn't believe. I was almost killed when my frat house caught fire. They thought they could stop those things by burning them....but that didn't stop them. Lost a buddy in that fire. Saw him a few days later walking down the street, most of his body burnt up from the fire."

We continue walking in silence. The bag filled with guns begins cutting into my shoulders as we march down the pavement. I don't really feel like sharing my stories. As bad as Curtis' story is, mine is worse. It's one thing to have your friends turn into those....things, but your whole family? That's not something you want to talk about to anyone.

We're in downtown Atlanta after an hour of walking. I crane my neck up to look up at the big buildings.

"Never been to Atlanta?"

"Been here four times my whole life. Twice I went to see the Braves play and twice I went to Six Flags so this is my only time being downtown."

The thing that bothers me is the quiet. Millons of people live in and around the city, but yet the only noise nearby is our footsteps.

"You guys getting the feeling all that talk about Atlanta being a safezone was bull****?"

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Veronica makes her way through the Hills having shot 2 more infected in the process.

She sees a house in the distance and notices some activity.

Veronica drives her Tahoe and parks it.

Hey finally a chance to meet up with others I hope.

She overhears the following:

"Twinkies, eh?" Great, now I have the munchies. I lean back and think. "You know, Danny Akroyd always had a sweet tooth. He might have stocked up on some."

"And if we're gonna go traveling, I vote Georgia. I've always wanted to play the back nine on Augusta."

The smell of pot is obvious to her. She enters the house and see Bill Murray and the others.

Veronica takes off her sunglasses and holsters her 45s.

She looks around and says, "I hate to barge in but I'm looking for a bit of refuge I just knocked off a couple more of the infected...mutants."

Veronica says, "Veronica Holland former Sheriff of Dunbar County. Meaning one I have no authority to bust you all and two the way things are going right now I think you all have the right idea."

She sees a bottle of burbon on the bar and says, "Mind?"

Bill nods and Veronica takes a long drink and says, "Thanks. By the way loved you in 'What About Bob?' Now what's this about Atlanta. I got a Tahoe out-front full gased and lots of room. Anyone up for a road-trip? Although I suggest we got moivng because if I heard you all it's only a matter of time before the unfriendlys show up"

 

[Byrd Man]

The smell of pot is obvious to her. She enters the house and see Bill Murray and the others.

Veronica takes off her sunglasses and holsters her 45s.

She looks around and says, "I hate to barge in but I'm looking for a bit of refuge I just knocked off a couple more of the infected...mutants."

Veronica says, "Veronica Holland former Sheriff of Dunbar County. Meaning one I have no authority to bust you all and two the way things are going right now I think you all have the right idea."

She sees a bottle of burbon on the bar and says, "Mind?"

Bill nods and Veronica takes a long drink and says, "Thanks. By the way loved you in 'What About Bob?' Now what's this about Atlanta. I got a Tahoe out-front full gased and lots of room. Anyone up for a road-trip? Although I suggest we got moivng because if I heard you all it's only a matter of time before the unfriendlys show up"

I choke on the smoke I'm currently in the process of inhaling.

"Am I the only one who's seeing this? No, guess I'm not as high as I thought I was. Look, lady, you barge in here and we've only known you for all of five seconds before you're talking about driving us to Georgia? How the hell we know you're on the up and up?"

 

[wiegeabo]

Veronica makes her way through the Hills having shot 2 more infected in the process.

She sees a house in the distance and notices some activity.

Veronica drives her Tahoe and parks it.

Hey finally a chance to meet up with others I hope.

She overhears the following:



The smell of pot is obvious to her. She enters the house and see Bill Murray and the others.

Veronica takes off her sunglasses and holsters her 45s.

She looks around and says, "I hate to barge in but I'm looking for a bit of refuge I just knocked off a couple more of the infected...mutants."

Veronica says, "Veronica Holland former Sheriff of Dunbar County. Meaning one I have no authority to bust you all and two the way things are going right now I think you all have the right idea."

She sees a bottle of burbon on the bar and says, "Mind?"

Bill nods and Veronica takes a long drink and says, "Thanks. By the way loved you in 'What About Bob?' Now what's this about Atlanta. I got a Tahoe out-front full gased and lots of room. Anyone up for a road-trip? Although I suggest we got moivng because if I heard you all it's only a matter of time before the unfriendlys show up"

I lean over to my new friend, Tallahassee, and whisper, "Did a strange woman just walk into my house out of the blue, strike up a conversation, and drink some of my fine alcohol...or am I hallucinating again? Because I think the kid is seeing things too..."

I give the pot an accusatory glance.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

I choke on the smoke I'm currently in the process of inhaling.

"Am I the only one who's seeing this? No, guess I'm not as high as I thought I was. Look, lady, you barge in here and we've only known you for all of five seconds before you're talking about driving us to Georgia? How the hell we know you're on the up and up?"

Veronica lights a cigar from her leather duster and says, "I shouldered my 45s otherwise I come in here and with you all are so preoccupied with your pot I shoot all of you in the head, and steal everything and move on."

Veronica takes a long drag and says, "Also I told you I just killed two of those things on the way here and there are others coming up the street and you should be able to see them in 10-15 minutes."

She pulls out the magazine and empties 4 shells onto the bar and says, "Two are missing. Why would I worry about warning you if there wasn't a threat?'

I lean over to my new friend, Tallahassee, and whisper, "Did a strange woman just walk into my house out of the blue, strike up a conversation, and drink some of my fine alcohol...or am I hallucinating again? Because I think the kid is seeing things too..."

I give the pot an accusatory glance.

Veronica takes another drag and says, "I'm offering to help you all out because right now everyone is somewhat under the influence and your reactions are a bit slow, and you all are looking at me like I'm a hallucination, and Mr. Murray here is looking at the pot like it just told him doing another Garfield voice-over could be a good idea."

She takes a long drag and says, "Now we can either stay and make a last stand, not exactly a great idea with all the windows those things will get through to us in a matter of minutes, and the shooting will draw more to us, and we all remember the Alamo or"

Veronica takes another long drag and then puts the cigar out and says, "We can gather what we need and get out of here where we have more open space to work with. We might even possibly be able to set a trap for the ones that are on their way."

She sits on the couch crosses her feet and says, "Your call; a last stand or leave here and have a fighting chance and taking a lot of those things out."

 

[Byrd Man]

"You know, lady. You're kind of a *****.....I like it."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

"You know, lady. You're kind of a *****.....I like it."

Veronica says, "You should've known me when I had a badge and a set of handcuffs. I used to be a lot more laid-back. "

She smirks and says, "I don't have to obey the law anymore."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Double post...my bad!

 

[NiteMare Shape]

12 hours.

We've been driving for 12 hours. We've been cooped up in this car, with nothing but our conversation to keep ourselves occupied for 12 straight hours. I've never been one for small talk, but Blake and Kirsten don't know how to shut up....constantly flapping their lips about movies and shopping malls...and other things that don't exsist anymore. Out of habbit, I've reached for the tuner on the car radio more than once, hoping to let the soulful sounds of music drown out their inane chatter.

Only to be met by the sound of static...another reminder that the world that we knew is dead.

As Kirsten and Blake continue their conversation, with me adding the occasional "yeah," and "huh," I risk a glance at the gas gage, and feel a coldness in the pit of my stomach when I see that it is inching closer and closer to "E."

"We're going to have to stop soon. I saw a sign for a gas station a ways back, keep your eyes peeled for it."

"Are you serious?" Kirsten asks as she too looks to the gas gage.

"Unless you want to walk."

"That's ok though, maybe we'll be able to stock up on supplies while we're there, we're starting to run low on rations."

We drive on in silence for the next five miles, every few minutes I chance a peek at the gas gage, making sure it hasn't dipped any lower. After what seems like an eternity, we finally spot the gas station...and not a moment too soon. The place is a disaster, and for a moment I fully question our chances of getting any fuel...or anything else for that matter.

I pull up to the gas pump and begin filling the tank. After I finish, the three of us head into the station itself, hoping to find some supplies to keep us going alittle longer. There is something about this place that I just don't like...every fiber of my being tells me to get in the car and leave...

But that's nothing new, ever since I met my first walker, I've gotten that feeling just about everywhere I've stopped.

"Keep your eyes peeled. We gotta make this as quick as we can. Who knows what's inside." I say to Blake as we enter the "Gas 'N Go" convenience store.

Kirsten waits outside in the car while we go inside looking for surprises, that way if we get ambushed by those things, we're not all in one place, and we have a better chance of getting out alive. I learned that the hard way.

Blake and I rummage through the store looking for anything that we can find that can provide sustanance. We skip the perishibles, most of those are probably well on their way to going bad. Instead we go for canned foods, soups, vegetables, canned meats and the like. I also grab as many jars of peanut butter as I can and toss them into my bag.

Unfortunately, the selection isn't great. I take what I can which isn't much. I do however grab a few boxes of Twinkies, as well as some generic store brand knock off...and a bunch of Sno Balls. Not exactly my first choice, but it's something.

Just as I slip the last of the items into my bag, I hear something in the back of the store. I look around and see Blake, who obviously heard it too looking at me as if to see what I think we should do.

I bring my index finger to my lips in a "shhh" gesture and point for the front door. He nods, and starts making his way toward me.

Then out of nowhere a massive walker errupts from the back of the store and converges on Blake, who immediately begins fighting the thing off. I pull out my Smith & Wesson revolver and step forward. I level the gun at the zombie's head and pull the trigger, sending skull fragments and brain matter across the store.

Big mistake.

The gun shot alerted more of the things that had been lurking around in the back, and before I know it half a dozen more are pouring out into the convenience store.

"Let's go. Now!" I say as we both make for the exit.

As we start for the car, I suddenly feel the blood drain from my face and my knees go weak. Apparently my gun was a bit louder than I realized, and alerted every walker withing half a mile to us.

"Now!" I say as I break into a full on sprint toward the car.

I quickly toss the bag in the back and jump in the car. Blake does as well, but as he starts climbing in, one of those things grabs him, and bites into the side of his neck.

He looks at me, knowing full well that he is as good as dead, and I look him in the eyes, then lower my gaze. I level my pistol at his head, intending to make good on a promise I made to him when I first picked he and Kirsten up outside of West Chester.

"Sorry Kid." I say as I squeeze the trigger, and then pull the door shut.

Kirsten puts the pedal to the floor, and takes out a whole cluster of those things as she peels out of the gas station lot. As she drives on with tears streaming from her eyes, I feel a pang of guilt wash over me.

"I'm sorry." I say to Kirsten, knowing full well that my apology wouldn't mean anything to her. Her best friend is dead, and it's all my fault.