As the World Burns

It wasn't long before the pain of Dr. Grant digging the bullets out of Wes' shoulder caused Wes to pass out. The doctor finished his job and didn't even get a drop of blood on his hands. It was impressive to say the least. He bandaged up the wound, and we all breathed a sigh of relief that everything had gone okay. The sniper attack could have gone way worse than what it did... Didn't mean I wasn't a little mad about what happened to the bus.

“Now what are we supposed to do!? Everything we had was in this bus! How are we supposed to get to Florida now!?” I shouted.

“Uh, I don't think you want to go there,” said one of the new people. He had a guitar strapped to his back, and I don't think he had stopped smiling since the sniper stopped shooting at us.

“And why don't I want to go there?” I asked.

“Because Florida is where we came from, and its a fucking train wreck,” he answered. “I'm Leon by the way, its nice to meet you.”

“Jessie and its nice to meet you too. All we need to do is find a boat and get to an...”

“There aren't any boats left,” replied another man. “They sunk all of those. It was one of the first things they did. Believe me, it was one of the first things I tried.”

“Well, guess we scratch that plan,” Dean said.

“No! We don't scratch that plan! There has to be one left! There just has to be!” I shouted.

“Believe me darlin' you don't want to go there. Its not pretty. There's no power anywhere. No water. No anything. Its just a big... Wasteland right now... I'm Henry by the way, this is my wife Janice.”

“I'm not ready to give up yet! There has to be something there! There has to be someway to get there!” I shouted hysterically.

“Jessie! They're trying to fucking tell you its not worth going there!... Which isn't exactly what I wanted to hear either! Fuck! This is bull shit!” Roxy screamed.

“I'm sorry. There's a huge group of them just travelling around and just trashing the whole state. Might even be more than one group. I know this, I'm not going back there,” Leon replied.

“Well then where are we supposed to go!?” I yelled, almost in tears.

“We're on our way north. There's a radio station up there and...”

“We just came from there! Its not good there either!” I shouted, interrupting Henry. Nobody said much of anything after that. We were all a little discouraged by what we had just heard from one another. I looked in the distance, and seen Bob, Layla, Jack and Nelly all making their way back to where we were. Layla was leading the way, and she had a very determined look on her face. I could tell something wasn't quite right.

“Is Wes still conscious!?” Layla asked.

“No, he passed out during the...”

“Good. We have a decision to make,” Layla said, not letting the doctor explain what happened. “We're all in a lot of trouble if we keep him around. I don't know how you guys want to handle this.”

“Handle what!? Bob! What's going on!?” I shouted.

“I don't know, she's been on a mission since she saw...”

“The bullets were soaked in blood. Whoever was sniping us filled a bucket with blood and kept the bullets in it. Getting shot with one of those is basically like getting bitten, and eventually he's going to turn,” Layla explained.

“So... You're saying he's as good as dead?” Melody asked, with tears in her eyes.

“Yea... I am,” Layla replied.

“Why couldn't you tell us that during the walk?” Bob asked.

“I... I don't know. I just... Didn't,” Layla answered.

“So what are we supposed to do now!?” I shouted, frustrated at everything that had happened so far. “We have a guy who's gonna turn into a zombie! The bus is wrecked! And apparently I shouldn't go to the place where we've been headed for this entire time, because things are bad there! This is just... Stupid! I hate this!”

“I wish I had an answer for you Jessie, but I don't. That's what we need to figure out right now,” Bob said. “We need to get everything in order, and figure out what we're doing. Where do we go from here? These guys say Florida is as good as hopeless, I say we take their word for it. The bus is gone. Which was an inevitability if you ask me. By the way things are starting to pan out, I'd say there's going to be no more gas stations or anything like that in about a week or two. We're on foot from here on out, and you can pretty much kiss hot showers and electricity goodbye too. Its gonna be back to basics for us.”

“Man! That's a bunch a bull shit right there! I ain't tryin to hear that shit!” Kwame shouted.

“None of us are Kwame, but its looking like a reality,” Bob replied. “Layla had some good ideas earlier, and I think we should start using them. Some of them are just suggestions, but some I think are really smart.”

“Oh so now she's in charge!?” I yelled. “Since when does she get to make ideas!?”

“Jessie come on. Its not like that. Just calm down,” Dalton said.

“I'm... I'm... God this is so stupid! I don't see why we can't just go into Florida and take a look around! We might find something! Its not like these guys checked the entire coastline or anything!” I shouted.

“I did actually. I took about an entire week just walking the coast, trying to find something I could use to get away,” Henry replied. “It always seemed like they were one step ahead of us. No matter where I went, all I would find is driftwood, where there should have been a dock. Eventually we gave up and started travelling with these guys. There's nothing there for you. Whatever operation they were running, it was thorough, and I have a feeling its moving this way. We should do what we can to get ahead of it.”

“So we really only have two other options Jessie. We go back the way we came, which we know is getting worse, or we go out west, and hope we find something that way,” Bob said.

“You want us to walk all the way out west!?” I asked, clearly more than a little upset.

“Jessie, none of us want to do it, but right now its seeming like our only option,” Jack replied. “Maybe something will come up on the way, and we'll find something better. We won't know until we try.”

“It does seem like our only option,” Dalton added.

“Fine!” I shouted. “I hate this though! And if anything goes wrong, I'm blaming you Bob!”

“If that's as good as I'm going to get, I'll take it,” Bob replied. “Okay... So... Layla, had some ideas, and I want to run them by the rest of you so I can...”

“Do we have to listen? If its all the same, I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible,” the new girl said, her voice sounding half dead.

“Natasha, we're going with them,” Nelly told her. “So yes, you have to listen... I mean... I'm goin with them, you guys can do what you want.”

“No Nelly, we'll go too. Better numbers, better chance of surviving,” Henry replied. “Plus they have a doctor with them, which will help when Janice decides to finally pop.”

“Yay! I'm glad everyone is coming with me... Well except Wes... What should we do with him?” Nelly asked.

“We'll take a vote after I explain the plan,” Bob answered. “Now, as I was saying, our lovely genius Layla, has made some suggestions, and I feel they are... Well, they're pretty fucking logical. Her first suggestion is pretty basic. Its really just a simple wardrobe change. This again, is just a suggestion, but I think we can all agree that it would benefit us to dress for our situation.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“It means nothing baggy. Nothing that's going to hinder you in any way,” Bob explained. “Basically just think of what a zombie could use on your clothes to take advantage, and get rid of it. We're not out here to impress each other with our looks. We're out here to survive. Now, having said that, its up to you to decide how you want to go about that. Whether you choose to participate is entirely up to you. Remember, we're going to be doing a lot of walking from here on out, so keep that in mind.”

“Okay, so... Wardrobe change is your genius idea?” Dean snapped.

“Second suggestion, we all will be assigned a job. Most jobs will just be an assigned weapon, or position in the group. This way when something happens, we all know what to do, and we're not standing around looking at each other wondering what the fuck to do,” Bob said. “Which leads me to my next suggestion, and this one is the doozy, we're going to split up the group.”

“What!?” I shouted. “Why would we do that!?”

“There is a method behind that madness Jessie,” Jack replied. “we'll travel maybe a quarter mile apart from one another. If something happens to one of the groups, and they need help, the other will come rushing in. It would have helped in a situation like this. We could have had one group circle around the sniper without him noticing. Right now we're just one big, walking target. Smaller groups will be easier to maintain.”

“Who's in what group then!? I'm not doing this unless Dalton is in mine!” I proclaimed.

“Of course Dalton's in your group Jessie! You're going to lead one, and I'm going to lead the other,” Bob explained. “We'll pick them like you pick teams for a kickball game.”

“Can we do that now then?” I asked.

“Sure! If it makes you happy!” Bob replied. “You can have first pick even.”

“Yay!” I shouted, rapidly clapping my hands and smiling.

“What in the hell was that?” Bob asked.

“That was fucking hilarious whatever it was!” Roxy exclaimed. Bob then started to mock me, and we started to go back and forth. I would clap, and he would mimic me. I'm sure it was entertaining to watch. When we were finally done, and everyone was staring at us, I decided to make my first pick, which I think is pretty obvious.

“I'll take Dalton!” I shouted with pride.

“Okay... I think you should all stand in a line, like we're on the playground or something,” Bob said.

“I feel like I'm in fifth grade already,” Nelly replied as they got lined up.

“I think my first pick is pretty obvious too. I'll take Layla,” Bob said.

“I'm offended!” Nelly shouted. “I deserve way more love than this!... I'm joking by the way.”

“Ha! I barely know you Nelly! And I already fucking love you! You crack me up!” Bob replied.

“My pick! I'll take Jack,” I said quickly.

“It'll be just like old times Jessie,” Jack added as he made his way next to Dalton.

“Alright, I'll take Roxy then,” Bob announced.

“Fuck yea! I feel nostalgic as fuck right now!” Roxy exclaimed.

“Now I'm really offended Bob! You confess your love and then snub me! I see how it is,” Nelly said.

“Ha ha! I'm sorry Nelly, you're my next pick as long as Jessie doesn't steal you. One's practically my sister and the other is my girlfriend. I think they'd both whoop my ass if I didn't pick them first,” Bob explained.

“I see, Well... Jessie! Don't pick me! Or... I will... I will steal your lotion!” Nelly threatened.

“Okay... That's... I pick Dr. Grant,” I replied.

“Oh! Good choice! I was hoping you'd pick him. This way both groups have a medic. We have Layla and you have Dr. Grant. It works out,” Bob explained. “Okay, as promised, I pick Nelly!”

“Yay! I am loved!” Nelly exclaimed. “I shall not make you regret this decision Bob.”

“I know you won't Nelly, that's why I picked you,” Bob said.

“I don't have to pick Nimel do I?” I asked.

“Nimel is your dog Jessie, he's automatically in your group,” Bob answered.

“What about Nolan? Can I have him without a pick?”

“Yea, I'll allow that,” Bob replied.

“Alright, then I pick Lucas,” I announced.

“Wow! Didn't see that coming! Well, should be fun I suppose,” Lucas said.

“Alright, I'll go with my boy Kwame then!” Bob shouted enthusiastically.

“Mothahfuckah! You shoulda picked me mothahfuckin three picks ago mothahfuckah! Shit! I understand you pickin yo girl and all, but shit! You know I fuck shit up!” Kwame yelled.

“I know Kwame! I'm sorry man! But I picked you right? You know you're my boy and shit!” Bob replied.

“Its cool! But for real son, I'mma remember this shit. Chu gon be all like 'We need you Kwame,' and I'mma be like, 'Mothahfuckah! Remember when you picked me all late and shit!”

“I got ya man, I'll just have to hope it never comes to that,” Bob said.

“My turn... Crap... I hate to do this, but since we go back a ways, I guess I'll take Dean,” I announced, with a little hesitation.

“So I'm hated now?” Dean asked.

“Yes, which is exactly why I picked you,” I explained.

“I don't get it,” Dean replied.

“You don't have to,” I told him.

“Okay, I think I'll pick one of the new people. I'll go with the guitar guy over there. What's your name dude?”

“I'm Leon! Glad to be travelling with you!”

“Uh! You stole my pick Bob! That is so not fair!” I shouted. “Fine! I'll take the little blonde girl! Was that your next pick Bob!?”

“Ha ha! No actually it wasn't!” Bob replied. “What's your name by the way blondie?”

“I'm Melody, its nice to meet you.”

“Okay, I think these two picks go together, so I'll give you the next two Jessie. I'll take Aiden and Celeste,” Bob said.

“Grr! You keep taking mine! Stop it! I'll take the married couple then,” I replied.

“That's good! I feel they should be with the doctor just in case that baby she's carrying decides to come,” Bob explained.

“Have I just played right into your hands this whole time!? I hate you Bob! And now you get the other girl! God you're an idiot!” I snapped.

“If you want Jessie, you can have her,” Bob replied.

“Fine! I'll take her!... Wait! Did I just fall for something else!? Dang it!? I hate you Bob!” I shouted.

“I know,” Bob answered.

“You're an idiot!” I snapped.

“I know,” Bob repeated with a smile.

“Fine! Since you're so smart! You can decide what we do with Wes then!” I shouted.

“No problem,” Bob answered. “Wake him up, and we'll ask him right now. We'll let him decide what to do. Worse case scenario, we kill him if he gets out of hand. Only way to handle it really. Somebody go get a bottle of water from the bus.”

Lucas went and retrieved a bottle of water from the bus, and handed it to Bob who then dumped a decent portion of the bottle onto Wes. Wes popped up from his unconscious state, and looked around horrified.

“Welcome back,” Bob said. “I'm just gonna come right out with this Wes. That bullet you got shot with, it was covered in zombie blood. You're infected, and it won't be long until you're one of them. So, the decision is yours sir. How do you want to handle this?”

“Fuck... Are you serious? Or are you guys just fucking with me? This was fucking Nelly's idea wasn't it?” Wes asked, trying to gather himself.

“Wes, I'm afraid I'm not fucking with you. I'm telling you the God's honest truth. So its in your hands now. We can't take you with us. If you want to go at it alone, that's up to you, but if not...”

“Wait! How do you know this shit anyways!?” Wes shouted, interrupting Bob.

“We found the sniper's bullets in a bucket full of blood,” Bob replied.

“That could mean a lot of different shit! For all you know, he fucking shot all these fuckers, and then went and dug the bullets out! You don't know what kind of sick fuck this guy is!” Wes argued. “I'm fucking fine!”

“Well... I'm not taking the chance myself,” Bob said as he pulled out his gun, and let it hang by his side. “You can get out of here now, or you can just let it all end. If you don't want to be one of these things, I suggest the latter.”

“This is so fucked up! And you're all just going to stand by and let this motherfucker do this!?... You know what!? Fuck it! I'll leave! I don't need you fucks anyways! You're not shit without me anyways!” Wes screamed as he got to his feet. He started to walk away, still cussing and shouting at the top of his lungs, occasionally looking back in disgust at us. I couldn't help but second guess our decision. What if he was right, and Layla was wrong about what had happened? Maybe we should have just watched him, and made sure nothing happened... Then again, we can't afford the risk... And my money's on Layla being right.

“You know... As much as I don't get along with him. I kind of feel bad about how that went down,” Nelly said.

“Would you feel better if we would have shot him?” Jack asked.

“I suppose I see your point... But I see his point too... What if we're wrong?” Nelly replied.

“Its too big of a risk Nelly. I don't feel like sleeping with one eye open waiting to get eaten by that asshole. Do you?” Bob asked.

“Ah... That's a good point I guess,” Nelly answered.

“I think we did the right thing,” I said. “I trust Layla's judgement on this. She's usually not wrong.”

“Well... Let's get travelling. We're heading west right?” Dalton asked.

“Yea, west it is,” Bob answered. “We'll set off, and you guys follow. Give us a good five or ten minute head start.”

“How the fuck are we supposed to keep in touch with each other?” Roxy asked.

“Oh! I happened to pick up a few walkie talkies at that mall a while back. They're pretty high quality, and I figured we might need them at some point. Turns out I was right,” Jack replied. “They should still be in tact, so I'll go get them.”

“Alright! Everyone gather up what you're going to need for the trip! Travel as light as you can, but don't screw yourself over!” Bob instructed. “We're on the road in ten minutes!”

As everyone gathered up there supplies, and got ready for the trip, I couldn't help but think we hadn't seen the last of Wes. Something just felt wrong about this whole thing. Maybe it was Wes. Maybe it was the fact that nobody had told me the fate of the sniper, but something just didn't feel right. We were so close to our goal! Are things really that bad there? And is it really the best option for us to split up here? I couldn't help but question all of it just a little bit. For now all I could do was bite my tongue, but believe me, I'll be the first one to say, “I told you so,” when the opportunity arises.