Chapter 9

Ali and the other two were pacing around in the room, the storm has gotten a lot worse since Tai left over an hour ago she noticed that Hino was freaking out while talking to the others about something Tai sent to them.

" just ask her what happened" Calista said walking toward the group to only be pulled back by Ali.

" no it right now let them figure out what they're doing first since they deactivated some of the alarms " Lillian said walking back over to the two girls before they start fighting like they did when they were younger.

" what's Len doing " Ali said not seeing Len with them, Calista cursed under her breath then left the area they were sitting in to go find Grady.

" Grady where's Len at " Calista said looking around the room and at Grady who had a confused look in his face, they both turn quickly jogging toward the back of the house where Ami is standing guard.

" have you seen Len " Grady said, Ami nodded her head then points to the kitchen table where Winter is sitting beside Len with her back pack and weapons on the table.

" papa I was gonna go find Tai she should have been back by now " Len said with tears running down her face with Winter patting her back consoling her.

" Sir like I told Len if any of us leave during this storm we could be injured or lost making Tai put her life back on the line to look for us, plus with this amount of rain any tracks would have washed away by now." Winter said looking back at Ami who looked back outside the window slot when she seen someone running back inside the tree line.

" we have company....you all go back to your rooms and put the mattresses up against the walls " Ami said looking back at winter who grabs her assault rifle when Mr. Smith walked into the room with a scowl on his face.

" I want answers and I want them now " Mr. Smith said walking up to Winter trying to be intimidating which made her let out a small laugh shaking her head.

" Mr. Smith consider your self lucky that you happen to be with Jake's daughter on this trip or you'd probably already be dead " Winter said when they heard a loud noise hit the side of the house making everyone go quiet.

" go take cover now " Winter said as Hino made her way inside the room with the tablet showing eight to ten people making their way through the yard.

" fire only when they fire first I think they're trying to get our attention else where ...six cover the vehicles with the rifle while others get to your staions " Hino said looking down at the radio then back out the window seeing two figures go around the house.

" Winter you've got company...scare them off " Hino said as Winter fired a couple shots making the two stumble backwards then fleeing back into the trees.

Ali looked out their shutter seeing two kids that looked to be their teens so she quickly went to where Winter is.

" I seen two kids outside let the others know " Ali said looking where Winter was seeing an elderly man come out with his hands in the air, aali noticed he had bloody bandage on his wrist and how weak he was.

" stay where you are or I will fire " Winter said looking around behind him spotting two middle aged men with rifles behind the nearby tree.

" please we just need help that's all we ask for is food, water and maybe a vehicle to go up the mountain for our children and women " the man said kneeling down on his knees gasping for air.

" give them some medical, food, water and he can have one of our ATVs" Ali said making Winters eyes go wide then she looked out at the man who seemed to be on his last leg.

" I've dealt with situations like this Ali I'll do what you want with a few items but you can't help everyone plus this might be a trap or they'll want more than we can give " Winter said picking up her radio.

" Hino the group wants to give him a few things plus Ali will give up one of their ATVs since they have children " Winter said over the radio waiting for Hino to storm back to her.

" what the hell Winter you know they won't stop at that, they'll see us as being weak" Hino said glaring at Ali when Grady came out hearing everything they said.

" Six get a couple bags with meds, food, water and a jug of gas for the green ATV " Grady said walking over to the door.

" we'll give you what we can spare but all of you need to come out " Grady said cracking the door open while Six drop three bags outside of it, Winter counted seven people come out which was two teens plus two women who seemed to be shaken up.

" where's the other men at we've counted your group so they need to come out with their guns down" Grady said noticing the two teen boys smirking while the women glanced at them with fearful looks.

" I think these women and old man got caught by these people, that woman keeps glancing at the older boys back" Six said over the radio.

" send the two women up to the door then will send them back out " Grady said, the old man had a look of relief on his face nodding his head to the two women when two middle aged men came out with their hands up.

" we can't do that what if you all take them or hurt them in some way " One man said glaring at the back of the old man whose kneeling ahead of them.

" you came to us for help so I suggest if you want these things to let them come in, especially since the old man seems to be wounded and needs medical attention" Winter said looking to the left where she seen four people moving closer using the trees to hide behind.

" we have four at our ten " Winter said making Hino glares at Ali again taking her rifle next to the other window to cover the right side better seeing three more men moving toward them.

" Brax check around it seems we have two ahead, four at ten and three at four " Hino said watching the two boys glaring at the women.

" fine we will send them in but we will fire on you if these two don't return" the other man shouted moving back with the other following him while both boys stay beside the old man.

The two women moved forward where Grady opened the door wide enough for them to get inside.

" how did they get you three " Grady asked the older woman who broke down in tears while her daughter was hugging her tight.

" my father was told to head up the mountain when we were camping those two kids came up saying they needed help and the last thing we knew twelve men raided our camp. One night a few crazed people stormed all of us and two of theirs was killed while dad was bitten, he told us to tell you about that...he also said once your bitten there is no hope of you surviving since he has seen this in his clinic a couple months back " the young woman said looking at the others, it seems that they both know that their loved one isn't walking away from this situation.

Loud coughs was heard from outside so they all look watching the two boys move away from the old man who falls face first on the ground moaning in pain.

" wait you said a couple of months back he came across the infected " Hino asked walking closer to the two, the older woman nodded her head.

" yes it was actually four months ago when a man came in running a high fever and a few nurses that restrained him ended up being bitten, they had some people come in taking over our clinic and they released us after checking us for marks plus checking our blood. The ones who was attacked was kept tied to a bed, they shut the whole town down and the sheriff helped us escape to this mountain but he went his own way while we did as well " the woman said looking back outside where her husband started crawling away from the cabin back toward the other men.

" stop coming over here you old bastard " one of the young boys shouted kicking the man, the old man didn't stop until he received a third kick to his head then he stopped moving.

" get up " the other boy said walking over kneeling down beside the man where he started whispering to him.

" either stick to the plan or you'll watch what they'll do to your family " the boy whispered but got no reaction from the man, he looked back at the two men who turned around.

" GET AWAY FROM—" The man shouted but before he finished the man on the ground raised up biting a chunk out from the boys cheek, he raised his rifle shooting the old man in the head while the other boy ran over to help his brother who was screaming bloody murder as the rain poured down on them.

" everyone get ready...bolt that door and Ali take them to your room but do a full body check for any bites or wounds " Hino said watching the men scatter to the young boys, they noticed that they had eleven people in their group but some more people was coming out from the trees.

" we have infected " Six shouted watching through his scope as the men outside started firing their weapons at the infected while another man picked up the teenage boy running off with the other boy behind him.

" holy shit I see over a dozen infected " six said watching where all the men was running to while four ended up surrounded, two of the four ended up bitten and one had his throat ripped out while the other one was bitten on his shoulder.

" hold your fire then will do clean up with all of them " Hino said as thunder starts to rumble above them, Winter watched over seven of those men get taken out by the infected whose numbers kept rising.

" Even in this storm they heard the shots from the guns " Six said watching the infected give chase behind the ones that was left.

" everyone keep quiet if we kill them off more might come " Hino said walking away gripping her radio tightly while cursing under her breath.

" here is fresh clothes and I have clean towels in the bathroom even though we don't have hot water I'm sure a cold one will make you two feel better " Calista said handing over some clean clothes to the women who thanked them entering the bathroom together.

" Tai should have been back now...what if those things got to her " Calista said watching out the make shift hole in the window shutter where she seen those men who are now infected stumbling around outside.

" it'll be dark soon so Hino mentioned if those things don't see us or hear us they'll scatter " Lillian said standing beside Calista, she walked out seeing Hino pacing back and forth glancing at the walkie talkie sitting on the table.

" have you heard from Tai again" Lillian asked watching Hino tie her black hair into a bun before she sat down rubbing her hands on her face.

" nothing yet...it's to dangerous for her to move at night especially with this storm right now....have the infected left yet " Hino said taking a drink of her water glancing over at Lillian.

" Trust me Tai can handle anything so she'll be here probably in the morning " Hino said picking up the radio then setting it in her lap, a part of her wants to send message after message but if anything is around Tai it could put her in danger right now.

" how are those women, did you all make sure to check them for any wounds...I also need to speak to the older one about her saying four months ago since we only had Intel for this starting two months ago. The way they talked it seemed they lived in a town close by here, they might be able to give more details so we can pass it over to Jake and our emolyers" Hino said looking over at the bedroom door.

" I'm sure they'll tell you but let them rest tonight, they've been through a lot because of those men" Lillian said shaking her head then smiling softly at Hino.

" you need to get some rest in case those men come back and if we need to help Tai or not " Lillian said getting up heading back to the bedroom.