Creepers
Chapter 15
When my boots hit the asphalt I grin, surveying the quiet town and seeing no movement what so ever. We split into two groups to cover more ground quickly. Half the group comes with Everett and I and the other half goes with Hook.
We make our way to a super market. Chris, one of our crew members, pulls the sliding door open since the electricity is not working. We walk inside and I head to the sports section to see if there are any bullets left. I find one open box that is half full. I pocket it and make my way to Everett in the food section. I survey the almost bare shelves and mutter, “I don’t see any chocolate cake.”
Everett snickers. “I don’t see any pasta either.”
“We’re not going to find anything in here. We need to find a less mainstream store.”
Everett nods and picks up a leaking can of soup and pockets it.
***
Once we’ve gathered everything we could find useful, we group back together and make our way out of the store. We start to walk to the other group’s store and when we get there we find it crawling with creepers. We all pull our guns and race towards the store, shooting creepers as we go. I can see most of the crew straggling out through side exits.
I glance at Everett. “Hook?”
He shakes his head and keeps shooting down creepers.
I sneak closer to the building and slip inside one of the side entrances. I stealthily make my way through the store, following the footsteps of the creepers. I find Hook cornered by the creepers and tiptoe around to find a good angle to shoot at. I aim carefully and shoot them all down, only needing to use the bullets necessary, none more. I run to Hook and grab him, pulling him as fast as possible; he seems to be limping. Everett is at the door, keeping it clear for us as we leave the building. We help Hook as quickly as possible back to the woods where we had set up camp. When we get there not everyone is back yet, but a couple others take Hook from us to help him out.
I sigh and sit down against a tree, catching my breath. Everett sits beside me.
“You know, Riley, you really shouldn’t keep running into trouble like that,” he smirks.
I roll my eyes. “Well I just wanted to make sure none of my friends were dead. You know? Gotta keep a lookout for that type of stuff nowadays.”
He smiles and nods. “Of course, of course. I wonder where everyone else is.”
I shrug. “I hope they’re alright.”
About ten minutes go by before everyone else comes into camp. They have someone on a handmade stretcher, covered by a blanket so I cannot see their face. I pull over Seth, who just walked in with everyone.
“Who is that?”
He shrugs. “No one’s sure. He’s not part of our group. He helped save a couple of us, kept coming in and out of the building. We thought it was only fair if we helped him out after he helped us.”
I nod. “Okay, well when he comes to tell him he can stay with us if he doesn’t have anyone else to get back to.”
He nods and walks off to help the wounded boy.
When the sun sets and everyone has settled around the large bonfire, Hook clears his throat. “As you all know, a boy came to help us during a time of need today and we feel it is only reasonable to give him a spot in our crew to pay back his favor of kindness. Please welcome our newest member, Hunter.”
The boy steps out of the shadows and into the light of the fire, smiling and waving to everyone. When he looks my direction the light from the flames brighten his face so I can see the distinct features of his face.
My breath gets caught in my throat as everyone else cheers around me and I grab Everett’s wrist harshly. He looks at me and I stand quickly, pulling him with me away from the group.
“What’s the matter with you, Riley? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I gulp and gasp for air, running my fingers through my hair. “T-That’s the boy, Everett!! He was the one in the cabin when I… when those things… He was the one! Everett, why is he here? He can’t be here! Not now! Not ever! He needs to leave. We have to tell Hook.”
I can feel myself hyperventilating and Everett holds me steady. “Okay, okay. Are you sure it was him? Positive?”
I nod and start tearing up. “Make him leave, Everett!” I stomp my foot for emphasis.
He licks his lips and I can tell he is thinking. “I will. Of course I will. I’ll have to get Hook alone first so I can talk to him. Until then don’t leave my side for anything, understand? I won’t lose you again.”
I nod and chew on the inside of my lip. “Talk to Hook soon, please,” I whimper quietly to him.
He gives me a tight hug. “Come on. Let’s go to bed, okay?”
I nod and he leads me to where our things are already sprawled out. We get into our separate sleeping bags, but I scoot mine as close as possible to Everett. He wraps an arm around my body and I feel better. It takes me a while, but I am able to fall asleep to the sound of everyone’s chatter by the fire.
*****Author's Note*****
I know it's been a while since my last chapter! I've just been super busy with school -_-
Comment and leave me feedback I really want your input to this story so don't be shy! :)
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