Days Nevermore

Danger Approaching

After a few minutes passed, Davis looked down at the dog who was now sniffing his pant leg. The dog sat down and waited, expecting something only he knew. Davis looked at us, then back at the dog and slowly reached to pet him. The dog’s tail slowly began to wag. Davis petted him more and more and finally knelt to scratch his neck. ”How is he even alive?” he asked, amazed about the dog. Dallas went around the shelf with a fuller bag and he grinned, holding up a rather large bag of dog food. “Found this. I’ve cut it open and there is no mold. Shockingly.” He held up his spare bag with a broad grin, “Also found a harness, leash and some bowls and found some blankets in an abandoned baby carriage.” He was proud of his find and carried it out to the cargo van. Davis looked to me, “We’re keeping him?” Concern crossed his face, “But dogs bark and bring attention to themselves.” I raised my eyebrows, “He didn’t bark upon our arrival, nor to announce he was there. Only quiet growls. I’ll give this one a pass.” Davis’ eyes lit up, but his face wasn’t holding any hope. We all know the quieter we are, the better. Ruiz smacked my shoulder and headed towards the cargo van to drop off his bounty of supplies as well. Davis scratched the dog’s ears with a soft smile on his face, then it quickly faded with the distinct bird call from Dallas. Davis tossed the spilled cans back into the box and quickly took up his rifle. I followed behind him with my own at the ready. We quietly made our way to where the van was, Ruiz and Dallas looking ahead, ready to fight as well. Looking from the entrance, just up the road was a modified vehicle that could plow down hordes of zombies heading towards the store we were currently in, “Get the van out of sight, Ruiz.“ I ordered. He nodded, hopped in and drove it around the building to the exit door to the storeroom exit. Dallas quickly made his way back inside and closed the doors and locked them tight. The engine of the modified vehicle got louder as it approached.

We hid out of sight of the windows as the car came to a halt and the morons whooped and hollered, firing off their weapons for no reason. Davis and Dallas rolled their eyes with a unison expression of “Morons”. Anyone with any amount of sense knows that’s a sure-fire way to get yourself surrounded by eaters. The horde was ruthless, merciless and unafraid to go after anything that moved. These buffoons were letting off a dinner bell to let them know where their free meal was. Davis looked down the aisle and only saw his box of supplies. No dog. His brows knit together, and he looked around from where he was and no sign of the canine. He looked at me as the questioning gaze on my face enticed a mouthed ”dog” from his lips. I, myself, made a quick look around and no sign of our new furry friend.

The sound of the doors jerking brought our attention back to the buffoons outside. They rattled the doors again. We shifted quietly to new positions in the store, trying for the back exit. Davis paused to go back and get the box. “No, leave it.” I hissed, but he already disappeared down the aisle. “f**k” I breathed, making my way to where Davis went. The buffoons began banging on the door, kicking as hard as they could before the decaying lock finally gave way.

I glared at Davis as he grabbed the box and nodded towards the giant oval mirror hanging from the ceiling. It was covered in aged glass and dusty, but you could still see enough to notice the problem walking in. We quickly and quietly made our way around the end cap to the other aisle. We watched as two came in, brandishing automatic weapons of their own. We waited until they stopped and examined something with their backs to us as to sneak around another end cap into another aisle. A rolling can hit my foot and I turned ready to fire but Dallas made a shushing motion and signaled three adults, one child and the child is standing watch at the door, while the third adult was outside. I nodded and we headed down to the end of the aisle to peer around at the two still examining something.

“So, I heard you gave that old lady a what for.” One of them chuckled. “Damn straight I did. All her screaming, and begging. Mine-as-well enjoy it while you can get it.” The other replied with a wicked chuckle of his own that soured my stomach. “How was it?” the other asked. “Nothin like my girl’s, but she’s been too dang moody to give me any these past few weeks. Unfortunately for the old hag, I had to put her down, so she didn’t snitch.” As they laughed at the second’s admitted crime, I looked at the two men beside me. Dallas shook his head at the look on my face. The look of disgust and pure hatred for these types of men. My face turned into malice at the next words. “Of course, I had to have a little fun again before burning her house down.” Dallas was shaking his head furiously, but all I saw was red and signaled them to leave through the storeroom and went back down the aisle. I peered around and saw it was clear, but before I could move to the next aisle, a hand grabbed me. I spun and glared at Dallas. His eyes pleading not to do this, but my face stayed stone solid. His shoulders slumped and he shook his head in defeat. Then he signaled he had my six. I looked to the mirror hanging and saw they had moved. One of them was heading down the next aisle just browsing its nearly empty shelves. We quickly went to the next aisle and waited for him to have his back to us upon entering the aisle we had just left.