Chapter VIII: Strength in Numbers
A day later, it seems as if everything is right with the world. The group has diminished most of the growlers in their local area, and the survivors can be at peace again. Bella finds Alexander holding his head down in the kitchen, crying.
"Shh. I know, it's hard. But we'll get through this loss. We'll get through everything." Alexander hears his mother's kind words and Bella gives him a hug. "I love you, sweetie. Me and Daddy are planning on finding and even rescuing a few people if we have to. People, not monsters."
"I know," Alexander tells Bella, choked up. As everyone begins to wake up, Eva gathers everyone in the kitchen.
"As some of you are aware, during the night, we had plenty of growlers pass by on the streets. I stayed awake and kept watch," Eva begins. She also spots Lucas, who is tearful at her words. "Before you guys came to me, I had a plan to also rescue some survivors." Mortimer raises an eyebrow.
"I know of a group that I contacted via satellite radio a few days ago. Before we came here," he tells her. Sergio nods his head in agreement. "We could try and contact them, again." He turns to Mortimer. "Assuming you still have the radio, right?"
Mortimer rolls his eyes. "Yes, I wouldn't lose the radio. I'm going to contact Eric again." Moira clears her throat. "Then it's settled. Do what you have to do."
Mortimer leaves outside once again to talk with Eric again. He brings the radio to a comfortable position, and turns it on.
Eric? Hello? Can you hear me?
Mortimer waits two minutes, and no response. Bella and Moira come outside to tend to the garden. He tries again.
Eric? It's Mortimer. Can we talk?
"Maybe they're not home," Bella suggests. "Quiet," Mortimer shushes her.
Mortimer? Is that you speaking? We need help. It's just me and Nina right now. J got bit twice and he's - well, dead, and Nina needs a cure for her bite. She's alive, but she'll turn eventually if we don't get the cure. Can one of you drive to our house to pick us up? We're desperate! Please...
"Well, crap," Mortimer turns off the radio. "We're going to have to pick them up."
"I'll go get Eva," Moira alerts Mortimer. Moira enters the house. "Eva, Sergio! One of the survivors that Mortimer talked to needs help. His friend needs a cure. Do we have it somewhere?"
Eva examines the situation, and looks for the "Zombification Cure" in cupboards, drawers, and in bedrooms. She finds nothing at first, but Bella heads inside and tells the group that she found the cure on a dead zombie outside. Sergio cheers, as well as Alexander, but Alex doesn't know what it will be used for, however.
Later, Mortimer, Sergio, and Bella drive to the Willow Creek neighborhood again. "Again, be vigilant of any of the growlers. If you see one, just stay away from it," Sergio warns, while in the car. "We know. We all should," Bella remarks. "Whatever. If you get killed, it's not my fault." Bella is provoked by that statement, because she feels guilty over her daughter's death, but keeps it to herself.
When the three depart the car, Mortimer once again knocks on the door. Eric lets them in cautiously, and Bella finds Nina, weak and laying on the living room couch. "Hey, Nina, um, if you don't remember me, I'm Bella, Mortimer's wife."
"I... remember you," Nina replies weakly. "Good," Bella smiles and pours the vial on Nina's wound. "I have a cure. I'm administering it to you right now, okay?" Nina looks surprised. "Oh. Thank you. Thank you so much!"
"You guys have to come with us. This is a danger zone," Mortimer tells Eric. "Yeah. Thanks for picking us up. Really. I appreciate you, Mortimer."
"You know," Nina begins, still laying on the couch, "Eric has searched for more survivors using the map." Bella looks curious. "And?"
Nina has a somber expression on her face. "We know of a few survivors, but... there aren't a lot of people still living, Bella. Really." Bella doesn't look surprised. "Who are the people?" she asks.
"Most of them are kids. Under seventeen. Their parents are the growlers." Sergio looks at Nina with a curious expression. "That's strange," Sergio says. "You'd assume the kids would die first." Mortimer is displeased at that comment. "Sorry," he apologizes. Bella speaks up.
"We have to go. All of us. Before the growlers come, so get in the car now."
Once Sergio, Mortimer, Bella, Eric, and Nina arrive home, Eric and Nina are excited to meet Eva and converse with her. After a long day, the group is back to surviving: gardening, eating, showering, practicing weaponry. Unknown to the survivors, growlers eventually gather towards their home, more and more as the minutes go by. A mass of them swarm toward the walls before their horrible noise is made.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen2U.Com