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Shattered

Chapter 2

The car and the cube van veer off the main highway onto a gravel drive that leads to a quarry. We slow to a stop where the vehicles disappeared from the road. Mason jumps out of his car and walks to my open window. We debate for some time on whether to follow the vehicles or move along. Both sides have valid arguments – safety, survival, uncertainty; all more serious issues in this new world. Finally Jimmy and Isaiah volunteer to follow the vehicles on foot. The two of them are easier to hide and pose less of a risk. Both men grab weapons and creep off down the road, sticking to the tree lined area for camouflage.

The wait for their return is drawn out. I sit with Eli in the front of the jeep listening to one of the few CD’s that we had in the car. We keep the volume low to avoid attracting attention. Almost 20 minutes later, Isaiah and Jimmy emerge from the gravel drive. They return with excitement in their faces. I casually watch the animated discussion as Jimmy fills Mason in on whatever they found. Mason looks torn at whatever decision they are leaving up to him. He returns to the Jeep to enthusiastically fill in the rest of the group.

"Apparently these guys have a camp up the road. They've invited us to stay with their group for a few days to rest." His enthusiasm is not contagious. A sense of fear rolls over me. Most of society is gone. No one knows who survived and who didn’t. What's to say that evil people don't exist anymore? My hesitation is obvious.

"What? You're the one that suggested this in the first place." He whines.

"I don't know. They don't know us, they don't know if we're lying or not and they're just letting us roll on in there? That's either stupid, brave or they're planning something. How do we know we can trust them?" I glance at Eli.

“So you had us waste our entire morning to follow this lead and not finish it out? You’re unbelievable sometimes. You have no faith.” Mason’s frustration is irritating.

"I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is we need to be cautious. Keep weapons on you; keep your eyes open, that kind of thing. We walk up to their camp after following them and they say we can stay, done deal, no questions? It sounds fishy. Just sayin" My defenses are high. I had faith; I had it most of my miserable life and all it ever did was get me here.

"We can be cautious. We can take this slow. We can do all of that if it helps you sleep tonight." Mason’s voice drops as he hints toward the bags haunting my eyes. With no response, I start the car and wait for everyone to get in before following Mason’s car toward the camp.

The vehicles reach a clearing near the quarry. There has to be at least twenty or more people standing near the entrance, kids, men & women staring at us. A dark haired man in a blue work shirt directs Mason to park off to the side of the camp. I wait for Jimmy and Isaiah to get out first and follow close behind with Eli.

"Hi there," an older man with a bucket hat breaks the awkward silence. "I'm Dale. Where did you all come from?"

"Wisconsin." I answer.

"Wow, that's a distance. Was it a tough trip?" The dark-haired man asks.

"Aren't they all tough trips now?" Jimmy quips. He's on edge. "Name is Jimmy by the way." The dark-haired man laughs and shakes his head in agreement. He holds out his hand to Jimmy.

"I'm Shane." The rest of the campers come up and introductions are made. My head spins with the information overload.

After setting up camp, we join the group for dinner. Shane builds a low fire that we gather around. Dale makes conversation easy between the two groups. He tells stories of his life before all this mess. He talks about his wife and how he met the two sisters, Amy & Andrea. There is genuine affection there. This is nothing inappropriate or creepy. He just gives me that feeling that he truly cares for them.

Another newcomer, Rick, tells the group how he woke up in the hospital, oblivious to what had happened. My mind wanders. Would that be easier than all of this? Being so completely oblivious to the fact that everyone you know and love may be dead or not so dead. Avoiding the hopeless news broadcasts growing substantially worse day by day. It is a miracle he found his family. It gives me hope that I might find Thomas yet.

The conversation turns to the day's events; what had happened in town. They apparently had to leave someone, named Merle behind. From the stories the group swaps, I think the guy got what he deserved. They keep mentioning his brother and how he is going to take the news when he gets back from his hunting trip.

Suddenly a wave of warmth hits rushes up from behind and the light roars brighter. Shane gets up slowly but with purpose and walks over to the other campfire. He bends low to talk to Ed. I can't make out what they are talking about, but it is easy to see that Shane is frustrated and that Ed is an ass. Ed's wife, Carol shifts uneasily on her rock. Finally Ed mumbles something to
Carol and she takes a log off the fire. Shane returns to our circle.

Mason explains where we are headed and why. He stops there and doesn't elaborate. I am grateful for his protective nature sometimes. Rick looks at me with understanding and confirmation that he agrees with my journey. His wife, Lori looks at me, Mason and Rachel. She isn't skeptical like most were when the see how close we are. She actually looks almost envious. Eli yawns and stretches out next to me.

“Ready to turn in?” I ask as I ruffle his hair. He nods and stands up to walk back to the tents with Mason.

Isaiah sits down next to me. "We're going to split shifts between Mason & me. You get some sleep, please." He gives me a meaningful look.

I shrug him off, get up and stretch. As I head to my tent, I hear footsteps fall in next to mine. It is Shane. He was quiet during Mason's story.

"Mind if I ask you a personal question?" He asks.

"Only if you don't mind that I won't answer if it's too personal" I answer skeptically.

"Does it bother you to be traveling with Mason & Rachel? Is it hard?" He asks.

“It’s not ideal by any means. But we have Eli and right now, we’re all we have left. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what we’re feeling, it’s about what needs to be done. Ya know?” I shrug my shoulders indifferently.

"Thanks." Shane says as he walked back toward the fire. I'm not sure if he meant it or was being sarcastic.

I lie back on my pillow close my eyes. It is quiet again but not as still. The air buzzes with energy, people are breathing and living around us, the stench of Dead is gone, even if for just tonight. I actually almost enjoy it. I still can't sleep. My mind is racing.

I wake the next morning feeling slightly better than I had in awhile. I still didn't sleep as well as I should have, but it is an improvement over the last 6 weeks. I crawl out of my tent, leaving Eli sound asleep in the tent. There’s a morning chill in the air and the camp is quiet. Mason is sitting at the fire with Shane. They aren't talking, just enjoying the peace. I grab a sweatshirt and join them.

"Morning, Sleep well?" Mason whispers as I sit down next to him.

I smile slightly and change the subject. "It's a peaceful morning."

"I don't expect it to last too long. Daryl is due back today and he's going to be pissed when he finds out about Merle." Shane says matter of fact like.

"Doesn't sound like anyone should be mad he was left behind but I get it. The whole reason we're driving cross country is on the slight chance my brother is alive. It's hard, the not knowing." Mason looks at me like I have just given some monumental speech. I don't think he is expecting me to open up like that.

"Yeah, well Daryl isn't going to be as calm as you are about it." Shane smiles. We sit there quietly, waiting for the rest of camp to wake up. I watch Eli step out of the tent and head over to us. He looks so much like his father at times but he towers over the both of us already.

"Hey kid, wanna help start breakfast?" Mason asks. He is such a good dad. It is part of the reason we are able to get along so well. They walk over toward Mason’s tent.

"So, you guys split up a while ago?" Shane asks.

"No disclaimer this time hu?" I smirk. "Yeah, when Eli was 10. I met someone else a year later. He met Rachel about 6mths later." I explain.

Shane just looks at me. I know he can tell that I'm not going into details. It is a sore subject. We sit in silence for a few more minutes.

"So what's with the curiosity?" I finally ask. I had to break the silence. "Didn't anyone tell you about the dangers of curiosity?"

"It's an unusual situation is all" he looks uncomfortable at my attempt to turn the tables.

"Aren't all of our situations unusual now? Nothing is normal anymore." I counter.

"I guess. I'm going to start waking up some of the guys to get the day going. You ok here?" He asks as he stands up to walk away.

"Yeah. I’m great Deputy." I dismiss him.

Comments

would love to read more.
LuLu LuLu
12/5/13
Thank you!!!
Khaotik Mined Khaotik Mined
10/31/13
Really like this!!! Can't wait to see where this goes :)
FictionisTrue12 FictionisTrue12
10/31/13