The Passing
The tires flattened on Jimmy Gibbs' stock car as they ran over mangled debris in the road, refusing to go another mile.
"Well this is just fucking fantastic!" Nick yelled as he kicked the flattened tire.
"Don't go getting' your underwear in a bunch, I saw a sign for an auto shop about a quarter of a mile back, we just need to get there and get some tires." Ellis answered.
"I like Ellis' idea, if anyone's got a better one, speak now." Coach said.
"No, I'm for Ellis' idea." Rochelle answered.
"Alright, let's get our asses to the auto shop." Nick said
The troop of the other four survivors crossed on an overpass.
"I hate highways." Francis stated dryly.
Zoey rolled her eyes at Francis' comment, "Wow, there's a shocker." Zoey mumbled under her breath.
"What was that Zoey?" Francis rhetorically asked.
Zoey bowed her head in embarrassment, at being unintentionally heard.
"That's what I thought you said." Francis shot back.
"Francis! How bout' you get your head out your ass and pay attention to the hunter about to pounce on you!" Bill yelled
"WHAT? WHERE?" Francis screamed as he readied his machine gun, aimed to kill.
"Eh, I'm just horse shittin' you, sure got your attention though didn't it?" Bill answered.
"Your gonna get it old man!" Francis yelled as Louis chuckled slightly.
"Hey look!" Louis said as he pointed at the auto shop sign, "We should head there and see if there's any cars left!"
"Not a bad idea, Louis. I'm up for it, how bout' the rest of you?" Bill asked.
Zoey and Francis shrugged their shoulders in agreement.
"Alright let's go." Bill said.
Rochelle and Nick gathered the remaining resources they had in the car while Ellis and Coach. Rochelle handed Coach and Ellis the remaining health kits and pain pills to Nick. Rochelle took the magazine to a pistol and shoved it in her back pocket and took the machete from the back seat.
"Is there anything else we might need?" Coach asked.
"Just these shock paddles, anyone want them?" Rochelle asked.
Nick raised his hand, "I'll take them."
Suddenly a noise came from behind them, back near the overpass and the group readied their weapons near the overpass.
"Is it a Hunter?" Rochelle asked.
"No, we would have heard it screech, probably a Spitter." Ellis answered.
"Watch where you're going sweetheart!" A husky voice scoffed.
"I would if you weren't all over the place!" Answered a soft sweet voice.
"Other survivors?" Coach questioned.
Ellis carefully stepped forward to investigate the noise, shotgun ready. Ellis suddenly came over the horizon to see four survivors, beaten and bruised by battle but alive none the less.
"Hey! Humans!" Ellis yelled.
"Who the hell…" Bill said as he looked up to see a young mechanic flailing his arms wildly.
"Another survivor!" Louis yelled.
The troop ran towards the mechanic, still weary of his call.
"Hey! We come in peace! We're human!"
"We're? You mean, they're more?" Zoey said cheerfully as she sprinted towards the mechanic.
"God damn it Zoey, wait up!" Francis yelled as he ran to catch up with her.
"We're human! Help us! We're human!" Zoey returned as she too waved her arms like a lunatic.
Zoey made her way to Ellis before she collapsed in exhaustion, her recent run in with a Charger most likely attributed to this. Ellis kneeled down and helped Zoey up and put her arm around his neck, supporting her.
"It's okay, you're safe now." Ellis whispered to Zoey.
Bill and Louis followed short behind as Francis caught up to Ellis and Zoey.
"Who are they?" Nick asked as he saw Ellis leading Zoey and Francis towards them.
"Survivors, just like us." Ellis answered.
"Good, it's comforting to know we're not alone." Rochelle said.
Ellis laid Zoey against the car and sat down next to her.
"There's two more coming." Francis said to Nick, "A geriatric fool and a guy in a suit."
Nick turned around to Rochelle, "See Ro. I'm not the only one dressed for the occasion."
Rochelle rolled her eyes and gave an amused sigh.
Bill and Louis reached the rest of the pack and stopped to catch their breath. Louis wasn't in too good of shape either after tangling with that same Charger Zoey did, knocked Louis straight into fence of the railroad yard as it repeatedly slammed Zoey into the gravel, nearly killing her. If it wasn't for Bill's quick thinking and his Uzi 9mm, Zoey would have been a goner.
"Anymore?" Coach asked.
"No that's all." Bill said as he and the rest of the survivors sat on the ground panting heavily in exhaustion.
A heavy silence hung over the survivors for a good three minutes before Nick broke the ice.
"We're making our way to an auto shop in the next town over, if you want to you can join us."
"That'd be perfect, we're heading there too." Louis said.
"Yeah, but I'd reckon it be getting dark soon. We should probably just find a place to stay for the night and we'll get started in the morning." Ellis said.
"I agree with him, besides, I'm beat as hell, I could use a rest." Francis said.
"Fine, we'll find shelter tonight and we'll get started tomorrow, besides, I think we could all use a rest." Coach said as he caressed the scar he received on his arm, courtesy of "The Bitch".
Bill got on his feet and said, "Shall we go then?"
With that, the eight survivors walked down the overpass, as the blazing Georgia sun began to set on the Savannah horizon.