Chapter 3

It's been two days now since Joe died and we're trying to keep our mind away from what happened but it's not easy, especially for me. I've seen lots of people die in my presence, but never have I witnessed someone die because of me. I tried hard to forget it, but the scene kept playing in my mind like a movie.

The house we live in belong to Wayne and I later find out Joe and Wayne are best of friends and also colleagues at work. They both work as mechanics at an Automobile company in the city. They were friends since college days and still remain best of friends even after graduation. The day Joe died, Wayne refused to talk to anyone, he just kept to himself through out the day.

We dug a small grave for him at the backyard and also gave him a little farewell sermon with Gary acting as the preacher. Nick cried his eyes out that day and he refuse to come out of his room even for dinner. I learnt he was very close to Joe and he's learning how to operate a gun from him. 

Just before Joe died, he gave me his lucky axe as he called it, said it had saved his life on different occasions. Although I love the axe a lot, but I don't wish to own it under such circumstance. 

I woke up this morning with a different feeling. I felt relaxed and it seems like I haven't slept so peacefully all my life. Ever since the virus broke out, I've always slept on trees or any house available and it's never a good sleep 'cause I'm always awake most of the night.

I got downstairs only to discover breakfast had been served. We've been eating canned food for sometimes now and everyone is getting used to it. Everyone was in the dining room when I got there, seems they were waiting for me to come out. I took my seat and we all ate in silence.

"We're running out of supplies" Gary said breaking the silence. 

"The food we have left will barely last two days" Nancy added. We need people to go out to get more supplies or we will starve, I know that pretty much. We don't even have enough ammunitions in case of any attack.

"We need to go out and look for supplies" Nancy said. Nick just kept quiet and munched his food in silence.

"We can't just leave at once like the last time"  Gary said searching our faces with his eyes.

"We need someone to stay back and keep the house" he added.

"Then we need volunteers" Wayne said at last. He hadn't said a word since I came downstairs.

"We can't force anyone one to go out there against their will, also we can't afford to starve to death" he added. He's right, we need someone to volunteer. 

"I'll go" I said and they all looked at me like I said something strange. Wayne looked at me for sometime before exchanging glances with Gary who just sighed.

"Fine!" Wayne said. What was he thinking before? I thought.

"Who else?" Gary asked searching everyone's eyes.

"I will" Wayne said and Gary narrowed his eyes at him

"You ain't going anywhere son" he said "I know you've been grieving over Joe's death and you're not in the right state of mind right now" Gary said. 

Nick banged the table in anger and stormed out of the dinning room to his room upstairs. I think he's still upset. He has not said a word to me ever since Joe died.

"You shouldn't have brought Joe into this" Nancy scolded Gary who apologized immediately.

"I'm fine, there's nothing wrong with me" Wayne argued but Gary won't bulge.

"I'll rather go there myself than to send you out there like this" Gary said.

"I'm going with Richard" he added finally and Nancy seems to agree with him. Wayne was not satisfied with the decision, but he doesn't have a choice.

"Gear up, we leave in thirty minutes" Gary said to me rising from his seat.

I got up immediately and climbed up the wooden stairs to my room. I emptied the contents of my back pack on the bed and arranged the things I needed most. I loaded the remaining bullets I have left into the magazine of my Beretta. It was able to fill two of my magazines. I cleaned out my Beretta and sharpened my knife a little. I smiled at the inscription on it (US Army). 

I grabbed the axe Joe gave me and examined the blade. It was sharper than I thought. I grabbed my backpack and went downstairs to meet Gary and Nancy in the living room. Wayne was outside filling the truck we would use with gas. Nancy took my back pack and stuffed it with some food and water bottle, she did same to Gary and gave it back to us.

Gary handed me the Ar-15 assault rifle I used the other day and also an extra magazine for it. I examined the gun and smiled. It's nice to hold an assault rifle in my hands again.

We got outside to see Wayne putting two extra gallons of gas behind the truck, how thoughtful of him. I look up and saw Nick staring down the window from his room, poor boy still miss his friend.

We put our backpack in the truck and i hung my Ar-15 around my neck with the belt attached to it. Gary went behind the wheels and ignited the truck. I was about to enter the truck when Wayne hold me by the shoulder.

"You both come back in one piece" he whispered close to my ears.

" Bring Gary back here alive" he added

" You have my word" I replied. He patted my back and turned to leave. I saw Nancy wave at me at the main entrance and I waved back.

" Why did they act like we're goin' on a suicide mission?" I asked Gary just as we hit the highway.

" Of course it is" Gary replied handing me the map he brought with him. He has marked the possible locations were we can find food with a blue ink and the places to find weapons and ammunition with red.

" Suicide mission" I repeated wondering what he meant by that.

" Is it about the infected?" I asked with curiosity taking over me but he only chuckled.

" There are bandits to worry about too" he replied.

" Bandits amidst this apocalypse?" I asked surprised.

" I guess you haven't seen anyone of them ever since the virus broke out" Gary said

I shook my head negatively. 

" Well" he started "I hope we wouldn't have to see them" he said

"How dangerous are they?" I asked 

"Dangerous enough to kill you and take what you have from you" he replied.

"Shit" I cursed. How could people still think of using the virus outbreak as an opportunity for crime. We took a left bend to a road that leads to a bridge according to the map with me. Within two minutes, we got to the bridge only to discover half of it has collapsed.

"Damnit!" Gary cursed banging the steering wheel with his fist.

 "The map didn't talk about a broken bridge" I said

"The last time I came here, it was still intact" Gary said. Still wondering what happened.

"We gotta go around" I said tracing the map with the tip of my finger

"The map says there's another route if we take the turning by the hospital over there" I told him.

"I know the road pretty well son" Gary said "I was born in this city" he added.

He reversed the vehicle and took the turning by the hospital. I was wondering were all the infected were 'cause I've not seen a single one ever since we got to the broken bridge.

That's a little bit strange, I thought.

We drove for another ten minutes till we came face to face with a fleet of cars. They were parked as if the owners intentionally blocked the road with it. Gary reduced the speed of the truck and we both scanned the area for any form of threat.

"This isn't right" Gary said looking from right to left. 

" Let's remove those vehicles" I suggested and we both got down from the truck, advancing towards the vehicles with extreme caution. We heard the sound of metal falling to the ground towards our left and we both point our Ar-15 to were the sound came from. We advanced towards the noise with caution we were both trained personnels, so it's easy for us to communicate without saying a word.

A teen girl suddenly came out from were the noise came from making Gary almost pull the trigger of his gun. I signalled for him to hold which he did.

"Hey" I said to her with one hand on my gun and the other gesturing at her to be calm. The girl's face was expressionless and I could hardly read her.

"Are you alone?" I asked but still there's no response.

"Are you hurt?" I asked again, still no response. I'm close to her now. I tried to touch her but she moved backwards trying to escape my touch. I tried moving closer again when I heard Gary calling my name almost in a whisper.

I turned to see what's going on when I saw about eight heavily armed men come out from different side of the road. Some climbed on the cars and they're all pointing their guns at Gary and I. They have mask on their faces except one who painted his face with a red and black paint, I guess he's their leader.

I turned immediately with my gun at eyes level. I could feel adrenaline rushing in my system. I Calculated the ones that has the most dangerous weapons, they will be my first target when everything turns to shit.  Showing no sign of fear, I stood my ground and hold my rifle as if my life depends on it. Of course, it sure depends on it right now.

The man with painted face move towards us with a strong expression on his face. He looked from me to Gary. His face was as strong as stone I could clearly see a scar that ran from the lower part of his left eye down his cheek.

"Why are you trespassing on my territory without my permission?" His voice thundered.......

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TBC....