Chapter 9
Chapter 9
I can't say that I'm surprised. They bombed the cities, all of the big ones if what the survivors I've met already are to be believed. I told him about my time in the city, how there was nothing but dead and chaos there, but Rick seemed so certain that there was safety here. I thought perhaps he knew something I didn't, perhaps there were people safe somewhere that I havent been but...
Rick kicks the horse to go faster. A helicopter flying overhead gives him renewed hope and I can almost believe it. Because why would a helicopter be flying aroud? Does it mean that the military are still here, somewhere?
Except the herd catches us and we barely escape by hiding in a large green military tank. Thank Merlin that the dead were distracted with the horse or we never would've made it. A hastily cast protego didnt hurt either. The dead soldier inside twitches and Mr. Rick shoots it in the head.
The horrible ringing is too much. I get the bubbling feeling in my chest, the same as the night I blew up that horrid Marge. The tank trembles as my magic threatens to explode it away from us but I manage to get a hold on it before it can do any damage.
I can tell Mr. Rick is about to panic. He didn't expect the herd. It's almost like he didn't expect the dead but he already said that he knows and has dealt with them so why...
I settle back, ready to wait out the herd when a crackling voice calls out from a speaker somewhere, "Hey! Hey you!, the idiot in the tank."
What follows is a bit of a mad rush, a race through the crowd of hungry dead, before they can catch us. A guy meets us, waving us to hurry and follow him. He leads us across a roof, through buildings, and along alleyways until we reach a dark room where an angry blonde woman waves a gun at us shouting about how we've killed them.
"Andrea, NO, there's a KID!" THE Asian guy that led us here shouts, grabbing the woman's arm to pull her back.
She blinks incredulous at me, throws a scathing judgemental look at Mr. Rick that he doesn't notice since the other man is talking to him. I let Mr. Rick handle the people since they don't really seem that dangerous. They're scared but like others I've met, they're not bad people they just don't know how to survive out here and they panic. It must've been nice, living such a safe life, but it leaves them at a disadvantage now.
The woman is still grumbling about how we've killed them all so I try to tell them, "You just have to wait it out. If you stay quiet where they can't see you then they will get distracted and leave."
I repeat myself a little louder but it doesn't do any more good the second time. The woman is stressed and the men are muttering, ignoring everything else. I don't think they're trying to be rude but seriously!, just because I'm a kid doesn't mean they can't at least pretend to listen.
Mr. Rick just waves me away when I try to tell him again so I leave the room. There's supplies here and I may as well take the time to gather what I can. It doesn't look like these people have gathered anything but I don't know how long they've been here either. Still, you would think at least one of them would try gathering supplies while they're already stuck here.
This building is a large shopping center, a mall. It's worth a look through since we're already here. There are tall half columns holding maps with a list of stores within the mall. Most are clothing boutiques, some shoe stores, and a few jewelry sellers. The jewelry is useless but the others, especially the pizza shop, pretzel shop, and what looks like a bakery may have something useful.
Gunshots ring out from somewhere above us. Mr. Rick races past with the other people, shouting about 'Dixon' whatever that means. Must be whoever is making all the noise.
I pass by several clothing stores before reaching the pretzel shop. It's untouched, the glass door still locked, but a simple spell gets it open. It looks like they made their own pretzels, instead of buying them pre-made, so there are a lot of dry ingredients here. There are bags of crisps as well as packages of nuts and dried fruit on tall wire racks. I grab it all.
The gunshots didn't last long so hopefully they got that mess sorted. I move past the next few shops, I dont need jewelry, computer games, or perfume, but I do stop at the shoe shop. Another spell vanishes the gates that kept the entrance closed off. Then I start packing away the shoes, mostly running shoes and work boots, because I doubt anyone will need the high heels or saddles.
After that I stop at a clothing store, just because it's there and the glass front is already broken. I trade out my dirty clothes for a clean set, tucking away several shirts and pants for later. They have belts and cheap jewelry hanging up on a few racks, some snacks and candy by the front, and lots of stickers and what I can only assume are collectibles behind the counter.
The next place I head to is the bakery. I do stop at another clothing store, but it's mostly girls clothes so I leave it alone. The bakery has bags of molded bread in little woven baskets on various shelves. There are soda bottles in stale refrigerators, fuzzy cakes hardened behind glass. A lot of it is lost or useless but they have dry supplies that are still good. I gather everything I can.
By the time I circle back around to the front, the dead are nearly inside. I cast a protego at the glass doors but I don't know how long it will contain them. Once again I curse at my teachers for not teaching us something that could actually help.
I don't see Mr. Rick or the others but I doubt they've left. It's not like they can get past the dead, after all. So I go back to searching for supplies. I mean, even if I just empty all the vending machines (which I have been doing as I pass them) it would be worth it for them alone. Why has no one else even tried?
The pizza shop is a good find. There are meats in the back still good, perhaps because of how they are processed. There are large jugs of pasta sauce and plastic cans of powdered cheese. I even take some of their booths, tables, and chairs.
I ignore the next perfume place as well as the ladies underthings store. I grab towels, shampoos, and soaps from some fancy store that smells wonderful. I get a lot of chocolate, taffy, and hard candies from a big candy store.
There are a few more food places. Some are small like the ice cream place where I took the tables and chairs because they were cute. Others are no good because all the fresh vegetables, breads, the frozen meats and fries, most of the food really, are ruined. I still grab all the crisps and drinks that they have even if it's not a lot.
I move up, going floor by floor. There is a sports store that has real javelin spears so I grab several. A hunting apparel store has a harpoon gun, several compound bows and crossbows, arrows, and lots of knives in every size.
Honestly!, how are these people alive? There are so many weapons, so much food, just laying here untouched and this group is so busy running back and forth from the front doors to the roof that they haven't grabbed ANY! supplies.
I'm moving upstairs to the top floor when I hear the sound of glass shattering. I lean over to look down, spotting one of the men barely avoiding the hands reaching for him as the dead flood into the building.
I need to find somewhere to hide!