Simon groaned as he took the steps. His knees were throbbing by the time he reached the landing. He turned the corner and hobbled to the bedroom that Shooter had claimed as his own. Shooter was excitedly pointing out of the second story window. “Check this shit.”
Simon limped to the window and peered through the dirty glass. “What the hell is that?” He tried to focus through the alcoholic blur. “Campfires?”
“Lights!” Shooter exclaimed. “That place is lit up like the Vegas strip.”
“What the living hell is that?”
Sinner appeared in the doorway. “You wanted to know where they ran off to.” He made his way to the window and peered over Simon’s shoulder. “My bet is, that’s them.”
“I’ll be a son of a bitch.” Simon stepped from the window and rubbed at his jaw. “You sure that’s them?”
Sinner gave him a “duh” look. “Who else could it be? We ain’t seen nobody else around here and that’s either them or the Ragers and I don’t see those cannibalistic bastards wiring up Christmas lights, do you?”
Simon shook his head. “You don’t suppose it could be another group of survivors?”
Shooter shrugged. “Who cares if it is? They got power. They could have running water for all we know.” He glanced to Sinner, his eyes wide with the possibilities. “We find ‘em, we kill ‘em, we take their shit.” He turned to Simon. “That is what we do, right?”
Simon nodded slowly. “If it’s the Cagers, we get our people back, too.” He turned and gave Sinner an evil grin. “If it’s somebody else, we recruit them that’s capable of fighting the Cagers and we kill the rest.”
Sinner turned and stared out the window. “I think I can find that place. It’s clear across town, but…”
“We’ll find it. Mark the spot and wait till daybreak. Maybe we can identify the buildings or someplace close to it.” Simon pointed to Shooter. “You’re doing recon in the morning. Find them.”
Shooter smiled broadly. “I hope they have real food. I’m sick of all of this canned bullshit.”
Simon nodded. “I hope they have women.” He grabbed at his crotch. “My anaconda is hungry.”
Trevor smiled as he saw the industrial area come into view. “We’re almost there.” He pulled her along as he increased his pace. “I know they’re in here somewhere, I just don’t know exactly…” He stopped and turned, watching Patricia.
She stood trembling, her grip on his hand tightening. Trevor felt a cold wave of fear as her eyes went wide and she sniffed the air.
“Don’t tell me…” he whispered.
She turned and pulled him behind her. He fell into step as she practically ran to a nearby house that looked as though it had been abandoned long before the world went to hell. Patricia pushed open the door and dragged him in behind her. The pair ducked low and she stared out of the cracked front window. Trevor raised his head just beside her, his eyes straining in the darkness to make out any shapes that might be out there.
He caught a fleeting glimpse of pale bodies running through the street. He could hear the slap of their feet against the paved road; he could tell there was a small group of them. He pulled the AR from his shoulder and tapped the bottom of the magazine to make sure it was seated. She turned and gave him a wide eyed stare as if chastising him for making noise.
The bodies in the street slid to a stop and the lead creature stood tall, his nose sniffling at the air. He turned and wailed a bone chilling scream that sent Trevor’s hair on end.
He leaned away from the window and kept an eye on the figures outside. Patricia never moved, her eyes glued to the scene. Trevor laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and tried to pull her back into the shadows, away from the glass. She leaned forward, shaking off his pull, her eyes wide as she took in every detail.
Three more figures appeared next to the lead Rager, all of them stretching tall, their noses sniffing the air. The lead Rager screamed again and took off running back the way that Trevor and Patricia had come.
Trevor let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and pulled her closer to him. He welcomed the heat from her body as the chill the monsters had given him seemed to permeate his core.
“Are they gone?” he whispered softly.
She turned and gave him another blank stare. He sighed and motioned toward the outside. “Is it safe?”
She continued to stare.
Trevor took a chance and came to his feet. She followed suit and gripped his hand once more. He stepped to the crumbling porch and leaned out, peering around an overgrown bush. He couldn’t see or hear the creatures and, since Patricia seemed calm, he assumed it was safe to cross the street and begin searching for the Cagers and their nest. Surely he could mooch some food if nothing else.
What am I doing here? As soon as they see her, they’ll want to put her down. I can’t let that happen. I’d have to kill them all…or get killed trying.
He crossed the road with Patricia in tow. The wide streets of the industrial park had few places that the pair could use for cover but he knew that somewhere in here was a group of people with resources. Resources he needed.
He kept them as close to the shadows as he could as he went up and down each block. He kept looking for something that seemed familiar. Anything that could indicate he was in the right place. Trevor stopped near a dead truck blocking the road. Across the intersection was a burned-out car; something about the two vehicles rang a bell. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he felt he was close.
He tugged at her arm and led her down the street, dark warehouses lined either side of the paved
