Radio Star [P5]

It only took several minutes for Rick's truck to vacate the town after collecting their weapons. Along the way they saw several people showing the symptoms Grim witnessed earlier with people spewing out black fluids from the eyes, noses and ears, and then the nightmarish creatures rising from their puddles. It gave a great shock to Rick and the others.

"Wanna tell me what happened back there?" Rick asked as he focused on the road, his hand on the wheel, shaking.

What he saw happening back there in the town was insane and left a cold sweat running down his back.

"I believe.. it's what happens when you don't kill someone for seven days, eaten by the creature in the corner of our eyes," Grim breathed out deeply, fear still lingering on his face. "After which it enters our world through the puddles we leave behind. The curse the Azure God placed on us is truly.. too frightening!"

"W-will that happen to us too?" Mary voiced her deepest thoughts as she hugged her knees tightly.

Silence descended as no one answered, afraid of giving false hope.

Grim gritted his teeth as he balled his fists in frustration, eventually he answered with a growl. "No! I won't let us end up like that!"

"I know you'll do your best husband." Laura patted Grim's shoulder from behind.

Rick gave Grim a brief glance. "I believe you boy. Promise me that If i ever.., j-just take care of Mary for me okay?"

"Don't say that Papa! You can't leave me!" Mary quickly shouted, her eyes becoming red.

"Rick, as long as I'm around I won't let anything happen to you or Mary. I promise." Rick beat his chest firmly with resolute eyes.

Rick nodded thankfully with a sigh of relief. He glanced into the rear view mirror in which Mary, Laura and Jyn were reflected. They all looked quite shaken.

"Get some rest, it'll take us a while to get back to the house."

...

The sun was setting, clouds above colored red from it's light.

Rick's truck had pulled into Grim's farm's driveway, driving down it's windy path. Grim's lush crops that bordered the side of the road, fading in a blur as the truck made it's way towards the building on the hill in the distance.

It was Grim's abode, a two story house made of wood and brick. Quite rustic in appearance.

"I think we should harvest and preserve yer crop." Rick suggested as they passed by the acres of crop.

Grim nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, it would be a waste to leave it all there to rot. We could at least take some of it, I have a few cases of vinegar and oil there."

In the backseat Mary, Laura and Jyn were all sleeping. Their soft snores drowned out by the buzzing sound ringing in their ears.

"Tomorrow.. we should go looking for some people. The crops can come later." Grim said solemnly.

Rick gulped and nodded as he turned the wheel, the house was now in sight. He could faintly see something metalic beside the house, illuminated by the setting sun.

"What's that? It wasn't there when we left." Rick said as he lifted his hand above his eyes to shield them from the light and get a better look. "I can't see it, my eyesight's not as good as it used to be."

Grim frowned, he peered at the distant house with focused eyes. As the truck came closer, he could finally identify what it was.

"It's a car!" Grim shouted as his eyes opened wide.

After his brief shout, from the second floor window of Grim's farmhouse, there was a flash of orange light.

*Crack!*

The front bonnet of the truck shook as several bullet holes appeared, and next the window was hit causing it to fracture into a web of circular splits.

"Gah!"

"Dad!"

"What was that!"

Laura, Jyn and Mary were woken from their sleep by the loud noises.

"Get down!" Grim shouted as rick turned the truck off the road and into the crop fields.

The crack of gunshots continued as they drove away from the house and back towards the main road, the long vegetable stalks being uprooted and tumbling over the front windshield.

The truck jumped up and down as it traversed the bumpy terrain.

Grim held Laura's shaking hand through the two front seats. She, Mary and Jyn were hiding in the gap were their feet would usually rest.

After several minutes, the truck burst through the crop into a clearing of concrete. They had safely made it back to the main road!

The truck swerved to the left and then to the right before steadying. They all sat up and breathed sighs.

Mary had covered her face as she sniffled loudly and Jyn held his mother, clearly frightened.

"They took our home.. " Laura gritted her teeth, her eyes becoming wet.

"Those bastards!" Grim arm was shaking in anger, his fists balled until his knuckles whitened.

Rick was still in shock as he had kept his foot on the pedal the whole time. He had clearly felt one of the bullets brush past his cheek. Just the thought that he nearly died scared him to the bone.

*Boom!* *Pop*

Rattling sounds came from the engine, waking Rick up from his daze.

"Oh no, no.." Rick cried out as he saw smoke coming out from his truck's bonnet.

The old truck slowed to a stop as it's engine conked out with a final groan, as if an old dog letting out it's final bark before it's eternal rest.

Everyone had a moment of silence, not knowing what to say. Things had gone from bad to worse leaving them all feeling tired, some angry and others feeling helpless.

"The old girl has been with me for a long time.. " Rick sighed sadly as he caressed the old wooden dashboard.

"It was my wife's favorite. Heh, I kept telling her to get rid of it and buy a new truck but she never did.., " Rick muttered with melancholy in his old eyes. "She never did.. "

Mary's ears had perked as she listened, tears were already falling from her cheeks. "Mama.. " She whispered under her breath, full of yearning.

Grim patted Rick's back, saying nothing.

"Husband, what do we do now?" Laura asked worriedly.

Grim cupped his chin as he said. "We'll pack up the supplies we bought first." His expression became focused. "After that, we'll head towards East Star city."

Rick showed a look of suprise as he glanced at Grim.

"Why there?" Laura questioned with a raised brow.

"There's plenty of people there, and most importantly a sizable military presence." Grim replied.

"Wouldn't they just shoot us?" Rick commented, his forehead creasing.

"They'll be too busy dealing with those creatures, and there-in lies our opportunity." Grim gestured with his hand as he explained. "We'll slip in and wander the outskirts, picking off people and gathering supplies, maybe finding a safe spot to lay low."

Grim exhaled as he stated in a sombre voice. "This is our only chance."