The Undead
Going For Supplies
For the past 4 days, I’ve tried to get a hold of anyone who may need our help but no one has answered but I’m not giving up any hope. Felicity and Sammy have been taking turns on the night watch so I could get some well-deserved and needed sleep and I was very thankful to both of them. I need to keep a sound mind and be alert so I won’t be falling asleep on my feet. That’s a damn good way of getting yourself killed. I woke up this morning as Felicity was watching out the window with the shot gun in her hands and I tapped her on the shoulder.
“How much sleep did you get last night?” I asked sitting down in the rocking chair.
“I let Sammy take first watch until 4 this morning since we all didn’t really start until about 2. I had a good 2 hour nap.”
“Good…I’ll take the watch now until Sammy and Hannah wake up. Why don’t you go and make us some breakfast?” I said taking the shotgun from her. She nodded and walked away from me. I made sure she was out of the room before getting up and going over to the CB and taking it to the window.
“If there is anyone out there in need of help…please respond? We are the guardians and we will keep you safe.” I said into the mike but no one answered. I changed the stations like I always did and repeated the words I know all too well. There was nothing but silence as I kept it on the station. I laid my head back and rubbed my hands over my face in frustration. Does no one in this world need help?
“Guardians? What kind of stupid ass name if that?”
I looked down at the CB and picked up the Mike.
“Sorry Ma’am my brother can be stupid at times. Are you out there?”
“Yes I am. Do you need assistance?” I asked pressing the button on the side of the mike.
“Just the directions to your home. My brother, his wife, child, and I are looking for somewhere to go. We’re tired of being alone.”
“Alright what is your current location?” I asked leaning forward in the chair.
“We’re 10 miles from Nashville, Tennessee.”
“You all need to listen to me carefully because I’m only going to say this once. Go through Nashville until you get to a city called Knoxville…then about an hour out of Knoxville, radio me and I’ll give you other details. I’ll be on this channel the whole time.” I explained and when they responded back saying they were coming, I knew after breakfast we would have to go into town and get some more supplies. I got up from the rocker and set the CB down and went into the kitchen where the smell of pre-cooked bacon and eggs were being cooked.
“I just got a call on the radio. There are 2 men, a woman, and a little girl coming here. So after breakfast, we need to go and gather some supplies from town.” I said grabbing some paper plates from the cabinets. I think while we’re all in town, I’ll try and find some real plates and some utensils.
“Alright. I’m just about finished here.” I nodded and left the kitchen and went back into the living room where Sammy was sitting up in her make-shift bed.
“Good Morning.” I said sitting on the couch.
“Good morning to you as well. What did I hear about there are others coming?”
“Yeah 2 men, a woman, and her little girl. After Breakfast I’m planning on going into town and stocking up on supplies.” I said slipping on my boots.
“Are we all going?” “Yes. I don’t want anyone here in case something happens.” I said getting up and going over to a closet and grabbing out a few rifles, a crossbow with homemade arrows, and a mobile machine gun. I also grabbed a gun belt and loaded it with 3 pistols and ammo and strapped it around my waist. Felicity brought in the food for all of us as Sammy woke her daughter and we began to eat. After all the food was gone we piled into the truck and I deactivated the mines in the driveway.
I pulled away from the house reactivating the mines and driving the short distance into town. I parked the truck in front of the grocery store and we all got out. I gave Felicity and Sammy both a rifle and I took the mobile Machine Gun. I opened the door of the store with my pistol in its holster as we all looked around the store. I grabbed a shopping cart and filled it with any food or drinkable water there was. I picked up 7 giant packs of paper plates along with some plastic spoons and forks. One day, we’ll have to venture outside the city and see what other stores may have the things I would rather have than these damn paper plates. I went through the other isles picking up what was left of the other canned food items and even a few boxes of hot chocolate. I walked back to the front where Felicity was standing with a cart of her own.
“Are Sammy and Hannah still looking around?” I asked leaning against the cart.
“Yeah she said she had to get some womanly products if you know what I mean.”
“I get you sis.” I said shaking my head and waving her off before she could say anything else. She laughed before Sammy and Hannah appeared in front of us with her…products under her arm.
“Let’s get this stuff in the back of the truck and then we’ll head over to get some other things before heading back home.” I said opening the door. Felicity pushed her cart out and then grabbed the front of mine and guided it out the small door. I let Sammy and Hannah leave first and then I left the building shutting the glass doors behind me. I pushed my cart beside Felicity’s and we both loaded the back with the supplies. I pushed both carts to the side and we walked over to the little clothing store that was just across the street.
I remember how you had to look both ways before crossing this little road but now it only has the abandoned cars that people left after they broke down. We had already siphoned the gas out of them and I had taken the tires and anything else of value that would be used to fix my truck if anything was to happen to it. We all went into the other store splitting up just like in the grocery store and I looked throughout the store picking up pillows and blankets and some more socks for me. I’m so hard on socks sometimes. I rounded a corner and looked at some more items in the store when I heard a rustling noise and I pulled my gun out real quick and pointed it at a man. He held his hands up but I never lowered my weapon.
“Who are you?” I asked raising my eyebrow.
“I’m Dante Romano. I’m very sorry if I startled you.”
“It’s not a problem.” I said lowering my weapon. The man had a thick Italian accent, his skin was a little tan and he wore all black with a pair of boots, and a gun on his side.
“I thought maybe you were a Stray or something.”
“Well I’m not Dante. How long have you been here?” I asked putting my gun back into its holster.
“Since yesterday night. I traveled all the way from Nevada.”
“On foot?” I questioned. “No. I have a truck out back.”
“You’re very lucky that you didn’t get killed with being alone. So what were you doing before this?” I asked picking up a few more blankets from the shelf.
“We’ll before this all happened, I was in Special Forces. I left when my commander said that my town was being over-run. By the time I got there, my wife and son were dead. They were fixing to get up off the ground but I shot them before they could come after me.”
“That sucks. So I’m guessing you know a lot about weapons?” I asked turning to face him.
“Yeah I do. I was a sniper in Iraq.”
“First of all I would like to say thank you for serving and now I’d like to offer you a place to stay. The nights are cold here.” I said shaking his hand with my free one. He gladly shook it back.
“I’d be grateful to stay with you. Are there any more people with you?”
“My sister Felicity, Sammy and her daughter Hannah.” I said leading him to the front of the store.
“That’s all?” “Sammy and Hannah are the only ones, so far, who have heard our radio calls.” I said nodding.
“Any weapons?”
“I’ll show you when we get back to the house. Now look around for anything you want to bring with you. I need to gather some more things so meet us here when you finish.” I said walking away before he could say anything. I found my sister picking up some clothing for her and helping Sammy pick out what would be the warmest for Hannah.
“I found someone in the store.” I said standing beside her as she rummaged through the racks.
“Dead or Alive?”
“He’s very much alive. He’s coming to the live at the house with us…oh and he’s ex-Special Forces.” I said looking along with her.
“Special Forces? That’s Military right?”
“Yeah and he knows about weaponry too. I told him when we get back to the house; I’ll show him what we’ve got. I think someone like him will come in handy when it comes to killing a Pack or a Stray.” I said throwing a few light jackets over my shoulder.
“He just might.” We walked around the store a few minutes longer before we went to the front where Dante stood looking out the window with his arms loaded down with things.
“I have a few things to get out of my truck around back. I’ll run out there and pull to the front.” I nodded and Dante left as we loaded our things into the bed of the truck with the food and got in. I cranked the engine and his truck rounded the side and pulled beside mine.
“How much gas do you have?” I asked and he looked at the dash.
“Almost a half of a tank.”
“You can fill up when we get to the house. Just stay behind my truck.” I said and he nodded. I put the truck into drive and we headed back to the house. I pushed the button to deactivate the mines and I pulled into the driveway. When I got closer to the house, I backed up into the garage and Dante did the same. I left the garage door open as we got out of our vehicles and I pushed the button on my key ring and activated the mines again.
“What’s that?”
“A arming device I made. I have Claymours and IED’s on the whole yard, front and back, and the driveway. It buys us time if a huge pack should come this way.” I said putting the ring back into my shirt pocket.
“That’s very clever.”
“Thanks. There are a lot of things I’ve had to learn. Anyways, let’s get your things into the house and I’ll give you a tour.” I said and we all started unloading everything. When I helped Dante unload his personal effects from his truck, I was astonished at the sight. He had several rifles, handguns, ammo boxes filled with bullets, knives, and even a .50 Caliber BMG. He told me he got it from the base he was at before he left to go home. He had several large gas cans full of gas, lumber for a fire, and even some food and water.
After everything was loaded into the house and Sammy, Hannah, and Felicity were putting the things away I gave Dante a tour as promised. I think he was even impressed by the arsenal that such a small group of 4 people could accumulate. I sat down in the chair by the window with the CB radio in my lap waiting for the people that called in earlier today would sent some kind of message and soon. I was actually beginning to worry about them. What if they ran into a large Pack and couldn’t fight them off? The radio crackled before a voice rang into my ears.
“Are you there Guardians?”
“I sure am. Where are you right now?” I asked pressing the button on the side of the mike.
“We’re at a rest area right outside of Knoxville. Oh and I hope you don’t mind but we picked up 5 other people. There are 3 women and 2 men.”
“That’s not a problem at all. Do they have any kind of weapons?” I asked in curiosity.
“The men have 4 Remington Rifles and 7 Colts and the women are carrying Lady Derringers.”
“That’s great! Anyways just follow the directions and instructions I give you.” I said and I gave the man directions to my house and told him to honk his horn 3 times to let me know they’re here. He didn’t understand why he had to do that but I explained to him that I would explain when he got here.
“Alright, we’ll be seeing you in about 20 minutes.”
“See you then. Over and out.” I said and I switched off the CB and set it down on the wide window sill. I got up from my chair and went into the kitchen where Felicity was showing Sammy how to cook.
“Serenity, are those people coming?”
“Yeah and they should be here in about 20 minutes.” I said nodding and going over to the cooler and looking through the meat. I’ll have to go hunting in a few days. I shut the cooler back and went over to the stove to help Felicity with the Vegetables and to make out some rolls that mom had showed me how to make years ago. They always came out exactly like moms and it would always make me smile. When I put the dough into the wood stove, I heard the 3 honks.
“That must be them. Watch the rolls for me sis.” I said leaving the kitchen and going over to the front door. I pressed the button to deactivate the mines and I opened the front door and motioned for them to come in. When the truck got up to the house I stepped to the driver’s side window.
“You can back your truck into the garage.” I said pointing to the open garage door.
“Thanks ma’am for taking all of us in like this. You’re very generous.”
“It’s not a problem.” I said waving them off. The man smiled at me and drove over to the garage and backed in. I pushed the garage door button and the door began to close. I went back up to the porch and pushed the button to arm the mines before going inside and over to the door that led to the garage.
“You guys can unload everything and I’ll show you where you can sleep.” I said and they nodded. I looked over to one of the women who was giving things to a young girl and I noticed a bruise on the back of her arm. I shook it off but I think I’ll keep an eye on her just in case. The men unloaded everything into the house and I showed all of them where their rooms are and told them the food should be done in a few minutes but they could come to the living room to stay warm. I went back into the kitchen where Sammy was now turning the deer streaks and Felicity and taking the homemade rolls from the wood burning stove.
“Damn all this good smelling food is making me hungry.” I said smiling at my sister.
“Yeah I know! So are they all settled in?”
“Yeah and they managed to pick up 3 women and 2 more men.” I said picking a small piece off of the bread and tasting it.
“Mm…Just like mom used to make.” I said closing my eyes and savoring the taste. I don’t always get to make it but when I do, I make enough to last us a while. I helped Sammy and Felicity take the food plus the paper plates and plastic forks and spoons into the living room where everyone sat.
“I hope you all enjoy the food. We have deer steak, canned green beans, corn, and some homemade rolls.” I said handing out the plates to everyone. They filled their plates of the food and dug right in. We all got compliments ranging from our home to the food and I was smiling from ear to ear and so was my sister. Felicity always like getting comments about the things she has. It doesn’t matter whether it’s her clothing, hair, or her home. She was always a good sport. I never really liked the compliments people gave because I didn’t want anyone making a huge fuss over anything.
After everyone ate and I helped clean up everything, I went back over to my chair away from everyone with the CB. I flicked the switch on the side and turned it to the first station before picking up the mike to speak.
“We are the Guardians…if you need shelter please respond.” I said letting go of the button. No one responded so I repeated my words again on the same channel. Still there was no answer to my calls and I changed the channel. I repeated my actions until I got to the last one on my list and I still got nothing. I turned off the radio and sat it down on the window and rubbed my hands over my face.
“No one answering?” I looked up and seen Dante.
“No one. I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” I said as he sat down beside the CB in the window sill.
“What’s on your mind?”
“What do you know about hunting?” I asked adjusting the shotgun in my lap.
“I know a lot about it actually. My dad used to take me hunting when I was a small boy.”
“Good because I need some people to go hunting with me tomorrow morning at dawn.” I said smiling.
“It would be great to get back into hunting. Are we using those rifles in the basement?”
“Yeah. Have you ever skinned and gutted a deer or any other animal?” I asked again hoping that he would know.
“Dad never let me handle the deer after it was dead. He said I would screw it up.”
“Well tomorrow when we get back to the house, I’ll show you how to skin and gut.” I said and I saw him look up. I looked in the direction he was and the other man was grabbing a woman by the arm. She looked scared out of her mind. I jumped up with the shotgun in hand and went over to him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked putting the gun on my shoulder.
“Keep your place woman.”
“What did you just say?” I asked cocking my head slightly to the side.
“Keep out of what isn’t your business.”
“You’re in my home so it makes it my business. Now let go of her.” I said bring the gun down to my side.
“This is between me and her and if you don’t want to get your fucking mouth busted, I would shut the fuck up.” I cocked the gun and pointed it him.
“You will not talk to me that way. Now let…her…go.” I said taking aim at the man. He looked down at my shotgun and then back to me before letting go of the woman’s arm. Felicity ushered over to her side with the other women.
“You will show respect to me and every woman that may come here. We are not your slaves to beat on or do what you say. Step into the 21st Century and step out of the 1930s.” I said with my gun still pointed at him.
“Don’t mind my brother ma’am.”
“Shut up Jacob! You weak son of a bitch! Giving a woman the right to do whatever she wants is pure bullshit! All she needs to do is lay on her goddamn back and not talk back to someone who is more superior than her!” The man yelled at his brother. Anger boiled in my body and I brought up the butt of the shotgun and hit him in the back of the head knocking him to the floor. He turned over looking at me and I kicked him repeatedly and threw punches. He rolled me over where he had full control. Felicity ran over pulling back on the man’s neck but he shoved her away and she fell back onto the floor. I hurried and pulled my colt out of its holster and put it to the skull of the man.
“Now get up or I’ll blow your fucking head off!” I yelled cocking the gun back. He got to his feet and Dante helped me up.
“Now you better listen to me and you listen fucking good. While you stay here in my home, you will not lay your hands on a woman in any way, shape, or form. If you don’t want to abide by my rules then you walk right out that door.” I said giving him a look that could kill as my gun was still aimed at his forehead. He didn’t say a word and it annoyed me.
“You better fucking answer or I’ll throw you out right now.” I said gritting my teeth.
“Fine…I’m fucking out of here and I hope you and this little bastard both die.” He said going to the door and throwing it open. I went over to the door pushing the deactivating button on my key ring until he got off my property and started down the road. I reactivated it and slammed the door shut.
“I’m sorry for what my husband did and said.”
“It’s okay Mrs.?” I asked not knowing what her name is.
“Oh I’m Anna and this is my daughter Aura. Thank you for everything.”
“It’s not a problem. Do you how to hunt?” I said and she shook her head no. I turned around to the others looking at us.
“Does anyone besides Dante and me know how to hunt?” I asked and the man’s brother stood to his feet.
“I hunt all the time and so do these 2.”
“You all know how to skin and gut?” I asked and the man’s brother nodded but the other two shook their heads.
“Alright at the crack of dawn tomorrow, the ones who can hunt will come with me and I’ll show the ones who don’t know how to skin and gut a deer. I looked out the window seeing the sun was setting so I went over to the chair and sat down in the chair.
“So what are your all’s name?” I asked while rocking.
“I’m Jacob. This of course is Anna and Aura. She’s Krissy, Catherine, Tina, John, and Mike.”
“It’s very nice to meet all of you.” I said smiling.
“It was so badass the way you stepped up to that asshole! No offense Anna.”
“None taken…I should have left him a long time ago.” Anna said smiling and pulling her Aura closer to her side. We all stayed up later than we should of and I took first watch until 3 so I could get some sleep before us hunters went out of the morning. I shook Felicity awake and she immediately went over and took her position and I went over to Sammy who also did the same thing. I went over into the next room where a machine gun was mounted to the floor with only the tip of the barrel sticking out a peephole in the window and I laid down in the bed. It didn’t take long before I was out like a light.
“How much sleep did you get last night?” I asked sitting down in the rocking chair.
“I let Sammy take first watch until 4 this morning since we all didn’t really start until about 2. I had a good 2 hour nap.”
“Good…I’ll take the watch now until Sammy and Hannah wake up. Why don’t you go and make us some breakfast?” I said taking the shotgun from her. She nodded and walked away from me. I made sure she was out of the room before getting up and going over to the CB and taking it to the window.
“If there is anyone out there in need of help…please respond? We are the guardians and we will keep you safe.” I said into the mike but no one answered. I changed the stations like I always did and repeated the words I know all too well. There was nothing but silence as I kept it on the station. I laid my head back and rubbed my hands over my face in frustration. Does no one in this world need help?
“Guardians? What kind of stupid ass name if that?”
I looked down at the CB and picked up the Mike.
“Sorry Ma’am my brother can be stupid at times. Are you out there?”
“Yes I am. Do you need assistance?” I asked pressing the button on the side of the mike.
“Just the directions to your home. My brother, his wife, child, and I are looking for somewhere to go. We’re tired of being alone.”
“Alright what is your current location?” I asked leaning forward in the chair.
“We’re 10 miles from Nashville, Tennessee.”
“You all need to listen to me carefully because I’m only going to say this once. Go through Nashville until you get to a city called Knoxville…then about an hour out of Knoxville, radio me and I’ll give you other details. I’ll be on this channel the whole time.” I explained and when they responded back saying they were coming, I knew after breakfast we would have to go into town and get some more supplies. I got up from the rocker and set the CB down and went into the kitchen where the smell of pre-cooked bacon and eggs were being cooked.
“I just got a call on the radio. There are 2 men, a woman, and a little girl coming here. So after breakfast, we need to go and gather some supplies from town.” I said grabbing some paper plates from the cabinets. I think while we’re all in town, I’ll try and find some real plates and some utensils.
“Alright. I’m just about finished here.” I nodded and left the kitchen and went back into the living room where Sammy was sitting up in her make-shift bed.
“Good Morning.” I said sitting on the couch.
“Good morning to you as well. What did I hear about there are others coming?”
“Yeah 2 men, a woman, and her little girl. After Breakfast I’m planning on going into town and stocking up on supplies.” I said slipping on my boots.
“Are we all going?” “Yes. I don’t want anyone here in case something happens.” I said getting up and going over to a closet and grabbing out a few rifles, a crossbow with homemade arrows, and a mobile machine gun. I also grabbed a gun belt and loaded it with 3 pistols and ammo and strapped it around my waist. Felicity brought in the food for all of us as Sammy woke her daughter and we began to eat. After all the food was gone we piled into the truck and I deactivated the mines in the driveway.
I pulled away from the house reactivating the mines and driving the short distance into town. I parked the truck in front of the grocery store and we all got out. I gave Felicity and Sammy both a rifle and I took the mobile Machine Gun. I opened the door of the store with my pistol in its holster as we all looked around the store. I grabbed a shopping cart and filled it with any food or drinkable water there was. I picked up 7 giant packs of paper plates along with some plastic spoons and forks. One day, we’ll have to venture outside the city and see what other stores may have the things I would rather have than these damn paper plates. I went through the other isles picking up what was left of the other canned food items and even a few boxes of hot chocolate. I walked back to the front where Felicity was standing with a cart of her own.
“Are Sammy and Hannah still looking around?” I asked leaning against the cart.
“Yeah she said she had to get some womanly products if you know what I mean.”
“I get you sis.” I said shaking my head and waving her off before she could say anything else. She laughed before Sammy and Hannah appeared in front of us with her…products under her arm.
“Let’s get this stuff in the back of the truck and then we’ll head over to get some other things before heading back home.” I said opening the door. Felicity pushed her cart out and then grabbed the front of mine and guided it out the small door. I let Sammy and Hannah leave first and then I left the building shutting the glass doors behind me. I pushed my cart beside Felicity’s and we both loaded the back with the supplies. I pushed both carts to the side and we walked over to the little clothing store that was just across the street.
I remember how you had to look both ways before crossing this little road but now it only has the abandoned cars that people left after they broke down. We had already siphoned the gas out of them and I had taken the tires and anything else of value that would be used to fix my truck if anything was to happen to it. We all went into the other store splitting up just like in the grocery store and I looked throughout the store picking up pillows and blankets and some more socks for me. I’m so hard on socks sometimes. I rounded a corner and looked at some more items in the store when I heard a rustling noise and I pulled my gun out real quick and pointed it at a man. He held his hands up but I never lowered my weapon.
“Who are you?” I asked raising my eyebrow.
“I’m Dante Romano. I’m very sorry if I startled you.”
“It’s not a problem.” I said lowering my weapon. The man had a thick Italian accent, his skin was a little tan and he wore all black with a pair of boots, and a gun on his side.
“I thought maybe you were a Stray or something.”
“Well I’m not Dante. How long have you been here?” I asked putting my gun back into its holster.
“Since yesterday night. I traveled all the way from Nevada.”
“On foot?” I questioned. “No. I have a truck out back.”
“You’re very lucky that you didn’t get killed with being alone. So what were you doing before this?” I asked picking up a few more blankets from the shelf.
“We’ll before this all happened, I was in Special Forces. I left when my commander said that my town was being over-run. By the time I got there, my wife and son were dead. They were fixing to get up off the ground but I shot them before they could come after me.”
“That sucks. So I’m guessing you know a lot about weapons?” I asked turning to face him.
“Yeah I do. I was a sniper in Iraq.”
“First of all I would like to say thank you for serving and now I’d like to offer you a place to stay. The nights are cold here.” I said shaking his hand with my free one. He gladly shook it back.
“I’d be grateful to stay with you. Are there any more people with you?”
“My sister Felicity, Sammy and her daughter Hannah.” I said leading him to the front of the store.
“That’s all?” “Sammy and Hannah are the only ones, so far, who have heard our radio calls.” I said nodding.
“Any weapons?”
“I’ll show you when we get back to the house. Now look around for anything you want to bring with you. I need to gather some more things so meet us here when you finish.” I said walking away before he could say anything. I found my sister picking up some clothing for her and helping Sammy pick out what would be the warmest for Hannah.
“I found someone in the store.” I said standing beside her as she rummaged through the racks.
“Dead or Alive?”
“He’s very much alive. He’s coming to the live at the house with us…oh and he’s ex-Special Forces.” I said looking along with her.
“Special Forces? That’s Military right?”
“Yeah and he knows about weaponry too. I told him when we get back to the house; I’ll show him what we’ve got. I think someone like him will come in handy when it comes to killing a Pack or a Stray.” I said throwing a few light jackets over my shoulder.
“He just might.” We walked around the store a few minutes longer before we went to the front where Dante stood looking out the window with his arms loaded down with things.
“I have a few things to get out of my truck around back. I’ll run out there and pull to the front.” I nodded and Dante left as we loaded our things into the bed of the truck with the food and got in. I cranked the engine and his truck rounded the side and pulled beside mine.
“How much gas do you have?” I asked and he looked at the dash.
“Almost a half of a tank.”
“You can fill up when we get to the house. Just stay behind my truck.” I said and he nodded. I put the truck into drive and we headed back to the house. I pushed the button to deactivate the mines and I pulled into the driveway. When I got closer to the house, I backed up into the garage and Dante did the same. I left the garage door open as we got out of our vehicles and I pushed the button on my key ring and activated the mines again.
“What’s that?”
“A arming device I made. I have Claymours and IED’s on the whole yard, front and back, and the driveway. It buys us time if a huge pack should come this way.” I said putting the ring back into my shirt pocket.
“That’s very clever.”
“Thanks. There are a lot of things I’ve had to learn. Anyways, let’s get your things into the house and I’ll give you a tour.” I said and we all started unloading everything. When I helped Dante unload his personal effects from his truck, I was astonished at the sight. He had several rifles, handguns, ammo boxes filled with bullets, knives, and even a .50 Caliber BMG. He told me he got it from the base he was at before he left to go home. He had several large gas cans full of gas, lumber for a fire, and even some food and water.
After everything was loaded into the house and Sammy, Hannah, and Felicity were putting the things away I gave Dante a tour as promised. I think he was even impressed by the arsenal that such a small group of 4 people could accumulate. I sat down in the chair by the window with the CB radio in my lap waiting for the people that called in earlier today would sent some kind of message and soon. I was actually beginning to worry about them. What if they ran into a large Pack and couldn’t fight them off? The radio crackled before a voice rang into my ears.
“Are you there Guardians?”
“I sure am. Where are you right now?” I asked pressing the button on the side of the mike.
“We’re at a rest area right outside of Knoxville. Oh and I hope you don’t mind but we picked up 5 other people. There are 3 women and 2 men.”
“That’s not a problem at all. Do they have any kind of weapons?” I asked in curiosity.
“The men have 4 Remington Rifles and 7 Colts and the women are carrying Lady Derringers.”
“That’s great! Anyways just follow the directions and instructions I give you.” I said and I gave the man directions to my house and told him to honk his horn 3 times to let me know they’re here. He didn’t understand why he had to do that but I explained to him that I would explain when he got here.
“Alright, we’ll be seeing you in about 20 minutes.”
“See you then. Over and out.” I said and I switched off the CB and set it down on the wide window sill. I got up from my chair and went into the kitchen where Felicity was showing Sammy how to cook.
“Serenity, are those people coming?”
“Yeah and they should be here in about 20 minutes.” I said nodding and going over to the cooler and looking through the meat. I’ll have to go hunting in a few days. I shut the cooler back and went over to the stove to help Felicity with the Vegetables and to make out some rolls that mom had showed me how to make years ago. They always came out exactly like moms and it would always make me smile. When I put the dough into the wood stove, I heard the 3 honks.
“That must be them. Watch the rolls for me sis.” I said leaving the kitchen and going over to the front door. I pressed the button to deactivate the mines and I opened the front door and motioned for them to come in. When the truck got up to the house I stepped to the driver’s side window.
“You can back your truck into the garage.” I said pointing to the open garage door.
“Thanks ma’am for taking all of us in like this. You’re very generous.”
“It’s not a problem.” I said waving them off. The man smiled at me and drove over to the garage and backed in. I pushed the garage door button and the door began to close. I went back up to the porch and pushed the button to arm the mines before going inside and over to the door that led to the garage.
“You guys can unload everything and I’ll show you where you can sleep.” I said and they nodded. I looked over to one of the women who was giving things to a young girl and I noticed a bruise on the back of her arm. I shook it off but I think I’ll keep an eye on her just in case. The men unloaded everything into the house and I showed all of them where their rooms are and told them the food should be done in a few minutes but they could come to the living room to stay warm. I went back into the kitchen where Sammy was now turning the deer streaks and Felicity and taking the homemade rolls from the wood burning stove.
“Damn all this good smelling food is making me hungry.” I said smiling at my sister.
“Yeah I know! So are they all settled in?”
“Yeah and they managed to pick up 3 women and 2 more men.” I said picking a small piece off of the bread and tasting it.
“Mm…Just like mom used to make.” I said closing my eyes and savoring the taste. I don’t always get to make it but when I do, I make enough to last us a while. I helped Sammy and Felicity take the food plus the paper plates and plastic forks and spoons into the living room where everyone sat.
“I hope you all enjoy the food. We have deer steak, canned green beans, corn, and some homemade rolls.” I said handing out the plates to everyone. They filled their plates of the food and dug right in. We all got compliments ranging from our home to the food and I was smiling from ear to ear and so was my sister. Felicity always like getting comments about the things she has. It doesn’t matter whether it’s her clothing, hair, or her home. She was always a good sport. I never really liked the compliments people gave because I didn’t want anyone making a huge fuss over anything.
After everyone ate and I helped clean up everything, I went back over to my chair away from everyone with the CB. I flicked the switch on the side and turned it to the first station before picking up the mike to speak.
“We are the Guardians…if you need shelter please respond.” I said letting go of the button. No one responded so I repeated my words again on the same channel. Still there was no answer to my calls and I changed the channel. I repeated my actions until I got to the last one on my list and I still got nothing. I turned off the radio and sat it down on the window and rubbed my hands over my face.
“No one answering?” I looked up and seen Dante.
“No one. I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” I said as he sat down beside the CB in the window sill.
“What’s on your mind?”
“What do you know about hunting?” I asked adjusting the shotgun in my lap.
“I know a lot about it actually. My dad used to take me hunting when I was a small boy.”
“Good because I need some people to go hunting with me tomorrow morning at dawn.” I said smiling.
“It would be great to get back into hunting. Are we using those rifles in the basement?”
“Yeah. Have you ever skinned and gutted a deer or any other animal?” I asked again hoping that he would know.
“Dad never let me handle the deer after it was dead. He said I would screw it up.”
“Well tomorrow when we get back to the house, I’ll show you how to skin and gut.” I said and I saw him look up. I looked in the direction he was and the other man was grabbing a woman by the arm. She looked scared out of her mind. I jumped up with the shotgun in hand and went over to him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked putting the gun on my shoulder.
“Keep your place woman.”
“What did you just say?” I asked cocking my head slightly to the side.
“Keep out of what isn’t your business.”
“You’re in my home so it makes it my business. Now let go of her.” I said bring the gun down to my side.
“This is between me and her and if you don’t want to get your fucking mouth busted, I would shut the fuck up.” I cocked the gun and pointed it him.
“You will not talk to me that way. Now let…her…go.” I said taking aim at the man. He looked down at my shotgun and then back to me before letting go of the woman’s arm. Felicity ushered over to her side with the other women.
“You will show respect to me and every woman that may come here. We are not your slaves to beat on or do what you say. Step into the 21st Century and step out of the 1930s.” I said with my gun still pointed at him.
“Don’t mind my brother ma’am.”
“Shut up Jacob! You weak son of a bitch! Giving a woman the right to do whatever she wants is pure bullshit! All she needs to do is lay on her goddamn back and not talk back to someone who is more superior than her!” The man yelled at his brother. Anger boiled in my body and I brought up the butt of the shotgun and hit him in the back of the head knocking him to the floor. He turned over looking at me and I kicked him repeatedly and threw punches. He rolled me over where he had full control. Felicity ran over pulling back on the man’s neck but he shoved her away and she fell back onto the floor. I hurried and pulled my colt out of its holster and put it to the skull of the man.
“Now get up or I’ll blow your fucking head off!” I yelled cocking the gun back. He got to his feet and Dante helped me up.
“Now you better listen to me and you listen fucking good. While you stay here in my home, you will not lay your hands on a woman in any way, shape, or form. If you don’t want to abide by my rules then you walk right out that door.” I said giving him a look that could kill as my gun was still aimed at his forehead. He didn’t say a word and it annoyed me.
“You better fucking answer or I’ll throw you out right now.” I said gritting my teeth.
“Fine…I’m fucking out of here and I hope you and this little bastard both die.” He said going to the door and throwing it open. I went over to the door pushing the deactivating button on my key ring until he got off my property and started down the road. I reactivated it and slammed the door shut.
“I’m sorry for what my husband did and said.”
“It’s okay Mrs.?” I asked not knowing what her name is.
“Oh I’m Anna and this is my daughter Aura. Thank you for everything.”
“It’s not a problem. Do you how to hunt?” I said and she shook her head no. I turned around to the others looking at us.
“Does anyone besides Dante and me know how to hunt?” I asked and the man’s brother stood to his feet.
“I hunt all the time and so do these 2.”
“You all know how to skin and gut?” I asked and the man’s brother nodded but the other two shook their heads.
“Alright at the crack of dawn tomorrow, the ones who can hunt will come with me and I’ll show the ones who don’t know how to skin and gut a deer. I looked out the window seeing the sun was setting so I went over to the chair and sat down in the chair.
“So what are your all’s name?” I asked while rocking.
“I’m Jacob. This of course is Anna and Aura. She’s Krissy, Catherine, Tina, John, and Mike.”
“It’s very nice to meet all of you.” I said smiling.
“It was so badass the way you stepped up to that asshole! No offense Anna.”
“None taken…I should have left him a long time ago.” Anna said smiling and pulling her Aura closer to her side. We all stayed up later than we should of and I took first watch until 3 so I could get some sleep before us hunters went out of the morning. I shook Felicity awake and she immediately went over and took her position and I went over to Sammy who also did the same thing. I went over into the next room where a machine gun was mounted to the floor with only the tip of the barrel sticking out a peephole in the window and I laid down in the bed. It didn’t take long before I was out like a light.
1/13/13