Undead Rising

Lorrie had begun to cry once more, but she was not to be blamed. They were burrying Mike. Once the dirt had been pushed over his makeshift grave, they stood in silence and let the moment sink into their memories forever. Soon enough, the funeral was concluded and Lorrie headed to her tent, Bron following in concern.

"You ok?" Jess asked Max, who kept staring at the grave.

"I can't help but feel like it's my fault."

"Why...?"

Max sighed and rubbed the arch of his nose with two fingers.

"I fired the flare gun. It was because I did that attracted the bikers."

"Don't think like that. We all thought it was the army. You couldn't have known. If it WAS the army and you HADN'T shot, we wouldn't have been saved.

"Lorrie might not think the same way. She probably blames me..."

"I doubt it. Lorrie's a good person, she knows it wasn't your fault."

Max looked at her doubtfully.

"Alright, I'll confirm your suspicions by talking to her. But trust me, she won't blame you." Jess smiled and patted him on the shoulder, walking off.

He stood staring at the grave alone, the wind blowing against him softly. After a moment of melancholy, he slowly made his way to his tent, but was distracted by two voices arguing.

"Bron...we should just go!" Lorrie shouted at him, clenching her fists.

"No! You're in no cond-"

"Stop saying that! I'm in perfect condition!"

"Well, Scott needs time to heal so he doesn't need to be carried and protected!"

"He'll be fine! We need keep our distance from those bikers, and I hate having to see that grave!"

"Lorrie..."

"Enough...just leave.."

Bron sighed and walked out, encountering Max in his eavesdropping.

"Max..do you wanna go hunting?" He asked meekly, rubbing his neck.

"Sure, anytime Bron."

"Thanks...I need a little time away from this camp.."

He shuffled over to his tent and hoisted up his rifle, Max did the same, and they dissapeared into the woods.

"What do you intend on killing?"

"Monsters." He joked.

Max laughed and grinned at him.

"Yeah, we seem to be doing that a lot recently."

"I'm hoping maybe to find something like rabbits."

"Small, but will last."

"Yeah...Max, you seem a little down."

"Everyone is, after what happened to Mike."

Bron looked at him sorrowfully, seeing through him like glass.

"You feel guilty, don't you?"

"I...yeah. How'd you know?"

"I could sense it. Just by looking in your eyes."

Max suddenly thought of a way to reveal Lorrie's thoughts on the matter, and spoke once more.

"Does Lorrie...blame me?"

Bron looked over, an unsure expression on his face.

"I...don't know. I haven't asked. She appears to have her mind elsewhere." He admited, rolling his eyes, "She agrees with Jess on heading to Dallas, but we're in no state to travel."

"I can agree." Max nodded, "Scott still needs time."

Bron nodded, and suddenly crouched, gesturing for Max to comply.

"What is it?"

"A rabbit!"

Max looked to where Bron's eyes moved, and spotted a white rabbit, sniffing the ground and looking around curiously. Upon turning back, he noticed Bron looked uneasy.

"C-Can you shoot it...?"

"Aw are you a softie? Is that why you brought me along?"

"Yeah, I don't have the heart to kill such a thing, I thought I'd bring somone-"

"Who's a mindless killer?"

"Come on now..." Bron laughed and rolled his eyes.

"These days, we have to kill to survive. Our laws keep us from killing when it's not necessary, but now it is. Those laws are irrelevant now. The world is changing, and it's time we changed too."

The sudden dashing of the rabbit caught his eye, he c.o.c.ked his gun.

"Wait! It's moving too fast!" Bron protested.

It was too late, Max pulled the trigger and shot, the bullet missing by a long shot.

"Crap! Everything within two miles heard that!"

"Sorry, I thought I had it!"

Low gurgling moved through the air, alerting the two of the immenent threat. Monsters. One by one they hobbled their crabby skinned bodies into view. Bron broke into a run back in the camp's direction, Max right on his heels.

"WAIT! WE CAN'T LEAD THEM BACK TO CAMP!" Max shouted after him, "THIS WAY!"

Bron skidded to a stop and followed as they ran another way, leading the monsters away from their refuge, but leaving them in unknown territory...

~o~

Scott sat in his tent, staring at his bandaged leg.

"Look at you Scott. Now you're a liability. A weak link. Why do you have to be so weak...?" He said to himself, sighing and lying back to look at the ceiling of his tent.

Jess appeared at the entrance, looking distressed.

"Did you hear that gunshot?!"

Scott bolted upright and stared at her.

"No!"

"Max and Bron are gone, I'm going to investigate."

Scott, nodded, grabbing his weapons and motioning to stand up.

"I'll come too."

"No no, you're in no state to go anywhere."

"Listen, I don't want to be the useless dead weight of this team. I'm coming too."

Before she could protest, there was a sudden shouting.

"H-Hello?! Anyone?!"

Jess dissapeared from the tent entrance to investigate, Scott slowly hobbling after her. Near the entrance of their camp was man, bloody and clutching his arm.

"Hello?!" He repeated, falling to his knees.

Jess was there in an instant, gun at the ready.

"Who are you?!" She boomed, ready to aim, in case of an ambush.

"I'm Jim Milton! I...I need help! If you can you'll....you'll be rewarded! I won't let your kindness go unnoticed!"

Jess lowered her weapon, Scott walking up beside her. They quickly glanced to each other, then back to the wounded individual, Jim...

...End of Book 1...