The expedition would set out in the morning. Right after clearing the fences. Because they all knew there would be more zombies out there by sunup.
Chapter 28
Jack
November 8, 7:45 A.M.
The next morning dawned cool and gray. The sky was overcast, and it threatened to rain. John led a team of shooters out first to remove any zombies that had arrived at the fence. There were only half a dozen of them around the entire perimeter, and the shooting was over within minutes.
Jack took advantage of the time to ask Emily for some last-minute tips on using a handgun. He was determined to at least be able to protect himself out there.
The doors were opened wide once John and his team gave the all clear. The area in front of the Ren was abuzz with activity as people brought out supplies.
Ern and BB checked out the second Humvee. It had been left behind by Matheson and his men a week ago and hadn’t been touched since. They need not have worried, as the vehicle was in great condition, with a full tank of gas. They pulled the two Humvees up to the gate in a single file and loaded the supplies.
Jack had busied himself with running supplies to the vehicles. He was nervous. His mom was standing at the school entrance, at the top of the steps. He avoided meeting her eyes, afraid that she would convince him to stay after all.
John met him at the Humvee on his last run. “Jack.”
Jack looked up at the ex-soldier.
He hasn’t changed his mind, has he?
“We’re leaving in a few minutes. Go say goodbye to your mom.”
Jack nodded, hiding his relief. He placed the last item in the back of the vehicle and turned to the school. His mom watched him approach. Jack dropped his eyes, still unwilling to meet her gaze.
Just then, somebody wrapped him up in a hug.
It was Christine. She kissed him on the cheek. “You be safe. Come back to me.” Her green eyes bored into his. Jack was acutely aware of her breasts pushing into his chest. She released him and turned away as abruptly as she had hugged him. She hurriedly walked up the steps and into the school, past the pleasantly surprised Sarah.
Joe and Rachel stood at the school entrance as he walked up the steps. Their faces showed they were also surprised, albeit not pleasantly. He avoided their stern looks and walked up to his mom.
“It’s time to go, Mom.”
She nodded, her eyes already starting to well up. She drew him in for a hug. “Please. Stay safe. I don’t know what—” She stopped herself and simply held her son for a long moment. Releasing Jack from the hug, she held him at arms’ length. “Your dad would have been proud of you, Jack. He is proud of you.”
Jack didn’t trust himself to say anything. He nodded, trying not to tear up.
“I’ll see you again soon, OK?” She added with a soft smile.
Jack nodded again. Then she let him go.
He turned and walked back to the rear Humvee, getting in, and shutting the door behind him. It took him a few moments and several deep breaths to control his emotions.
It was time to move out. John opened the gate and closed it behind the vehicles once they had pulled out. Jack watched his mom standing at the school entrance. A slight drizzle had started, misting up the rear window and blocking his view.
John opened the back door of the Humvee.
He looked at the teenager before stepping into the vehicle. “You ready for an adventure?” he asked with a confident grin. Jack couldn’t help but grin back.
The vehicles shifted into gear and pulled away. Jack looked back as the school slowly disappeared out of view. He glanced towards John, worried that the man’s opinion of him had lessened at his childlike behaviour.
John just smiled warmly, reading his young protégé’s thoughts.
“Leaving is never easy, trust me,” he said. Jack nodded.
They drove through the drizzling rain for a few blocks. They were going slow. No more than fifteen miles per hour. There was a reason for that; they kept to this speed so they could spot danger.
Jack kept having to wipe the moisture off the inside of the window so he could see out. The place looked... abandoned. Some houses stood with their front doors open, like behemoths with their gaping maws ready to swallow you whole. Others had shattered windows. Jack could imagine how those had occurred. In his mind’s eye he could see pale, cold shapes falling through the glass.
Then he saw a shape behind a window. The shape watched them move down the street and started hitting the window.
“It’s a zombie!” Jack exclaimed.
He pointed out towards the house they had just passed. John touched Mike on the shoulder and the radioman instantly slowed the car to a stop. BB halted behind them. They listened to the faint sound of glass shattering outside.
John looked around in all directions to make sure the coast was clear, asking Abi to radio the other vehicle and do the same. When he was satisfied, he picked up his M4, checked the weapon, and opened his door.
“Wait in here for me,” he said before shutting the door. He walked to BB’s vehicle and said something to them in passing, taking a few more steps towards the back.
“He sees it...” Jack said as he watched John turn to the house they had passed.
He strained to see what happened next, but the interior of the Humvee did not have adequate windows. John moved to the house, raising his rifle. Three seconds later, Jack heard a sharp gun shot. A few seconds after that, John stepped back into his field of vision. He passed BB’s vehicle, answering a question with a curt nod.
John got into the back seat beside Jack and closed the door. “OK, Mike. Let’s roll out.”
Mike started moving
