June
18, 2017
We
haven't had a bad day like we just had in a while. I was out on a
special supply mission with Aaron, Linda, Daniel, Jan, Alice, Gary
and Steve, as well four of the former button pushers, Larry, Ed, Mark
and Richard. We'd been sent to get some construction supplies and
solar panels from a house site on the other side of Aspen from our
compound. We were in the big trucks and had just finished loading the
supplies up with a forklift when a group of over 20 undead stumbled
into the site we were in. Shit, we were cut off and I yelled for
everyone to get in the trucks, either in the cab or up on the
supplies, anywhere out of the zombies reach.
Most
of the people in our group had spent time on missions outside the
compound, but Jan, Ed, Larry and Richard hadn't and they panicked.
They pulled out their guns and started shooting away, missing more
zombies than they hit. I kept yelling at them to stop shooting and
get in or on one of the trucks. By then, everyone else was already
safe, but the four on the ground were surrounded and drawing more
undead to them with the noise they were making. I tried to drive
closer to them, but in his panic, Richard aimed his pistol at my
windshield and I turned the truck away from them and drove through
the back of the fenced construction area, the other truck following
close behind.
No
one spoke as we drove several blocks away before stopping to let the
people on top of the supplies get into the cab of the trucks. I
climbed down from the cab and turned back toward where we had just
come from, but we were too far away to see anything. There were still
shots being fired, fewer and farther between, then we heard screaming
for several seconds that cut off suddenly, then nothing.
I
turned and took out the three undead that had gotten close to me
while I was listening, then climbed back into the cab and put the
truck in gear, heading for home. Everyone was really quiet on the way
back, I could hear some whispering in the back, but I was lost in my
own thoughts. I hadn't lost anyone since the prison and I didn't like
it. I shouldn't have taken anyone who wasn't experienced in being out
on missions. I will not make this mistake again.
Was
there something else I could have done? Could I have gone to them on
foot and brought them back to the group? This mission will haunt me
for the rest of my days. I will always regret taking unprepared
people on a mission. Jan has a son, Owen. I think he's around 10 and
now, he's an orphan. Who is going to take care of him? Maybe, Pam can
take him with her and Crystal. Pam lost her daughter and Crystal lost
her mom, so they've been together and comforting each other. Maybe,
they can help Owen through this horrible time, since they've both
been through it.
We
turned onto the main road through town and had to stop immediately.
There had to be 50 undead coming down the street right at us. They
had to have been drawn by the noise from the gunfire and we were in
their way. But the live things in front of you are better than
whatever they'd heard so now, we were their prey. I used the walkie
talkie to contact the other truck and we backed away from the group.
There were too many of them for us to drive through or over. We
needed to find somewhere far enough from this group to be quiet
before they got close. Hopefully, they would pass us by and we could
go home after.
We
turned the trucks around and made our way several miles before
turning off the road and finding a secure house to settle in for the
night. We quickly made our way inside the brink house behind the iron
fence, after parking our trucks in a barn on the lot next door. We
always bring more food than we will need for any mission and we took
all the food and water inside with us. I took Steve and Gary upstairs
to clear it while the rest of the team cleared this floor. It only
took us a couple minutes to know this place was empty.
We
spent the night in that house, quiet, and hopeful that we wouldn't
end up like the others we lost. We ate some food and pulled the three mattresses from the beds upstairs into the living room to rest as a
group. We set up a schedule for keeping watch on the undead outside
and spent our time reading, playing cards and whispering to each
other.
This
morning, we packed up early and headed home. We took a circuitous
route and it took us a little longer than it would have otherwise,
but we made it home and brought our supplies back to the compound, as
well as the bad news of the people we lost. Owen was, of course, the
most heart broken. He screamed and cried and Pam came right out with
Crystal and picked him up and took him back to their RV. We can still
hear him crying out there, especially the ones that are also in RV's
or trailers. Poor kid.
I
told everyone that no one who hasn't been trained on being outside
the compound will be going on any special missions from now on. I
suggested we hold training for people who want to learn and make sure
they go on routine supply missions until they get some experience.
We'll see what is decided. All I know is I won't take anyone out
again unless I know they can handle it. Period.
As a writer and artist, I appreciate
any readers and their comments. Thank you for taking the time to read
this blog. Please, come read the other blog I write for our artisan
collective, Raven's Castle Creations, on our website at
www.ravencastlecreations.com. It includes posts on art, the mythology
of symbols we use in our art, history and more! Also, come see the
art we produce in our Etsy store at
etsy.com/shop/RavenCastleCreations. Follow us on Twitter at
@ravencastleart and on Facebook at @ravencastlecreations.
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