Rise of zombies

Chapter 6

Francis awkwardly responded, "It's no thang."She was beginning to appear somewhat timid herself.Jake rolled his eyes in disapproval.

He added, "I have my own vehicle."That will do, thank you.

After a brief moment of surprise, the big man shrugged.Where is your vehicle?

“Back in the direction they had come,” said Jake.In front of the entrance."The girl Francis had referred to as "Skylar" came around the side of one of the SUVs in the vicinity and was followed by the man who laughed.A look that was probably not threatening to anyone appeared as Jake's eyes narrowed.What?”he insisted.

Skylar offered her explanation, shaking her head, "They're coming through in large numbers at the front gate."Your vehicle is doomed.

Jake said indignantly, "Your mom is a lost cause," and he immediately regretted it.He quickly mumbled, "I-I'm sorry."In LoL, I grew too accustomed to saying that to stupid people.

"Priorities, people!"Francis said, snapping her fingers in the space between Skylar and Jake, causing everyone present to appear to be brought out of shock for a brief moment.Monsters that eat flesh are arriving.Moving forward!

“Right!”Skylar and the big man quickly turned toward their respective cars and climbed in after the big man agreed.Jake was half-dragged across the parking lot to the final vehicle by Francis, who held him by the shirt collar.He climbed up after she pushed him in. He quickly looked around for two seats near each other, but to his dismay, there was only one seat in the middle and one in the back row.

Francis demanded, pushing him forward, "Hurry up."He sat down and quickly walked around to the back.In front of him, Francis got up and sat down.The door was shut by someone, and they started to move.

Jake suddenly and embarrassingly realized that he must have chosen the caravan's kids section.A young girl, most likely a preteen, was to his right, and a boy, Jake would guess a freshman in high school, was to his left.

The girl smiled and said, "Hi, I'm Andrew," appearing to be unaware of the world around them.She smiled broadly as she extended her hand to him.

He quickly released her hand again after saying, "Uh...I'm Jake," giving it a light shake.He'd always been most uncomfortable around children.He never could figure out why they were happening.It appeared as though they were only occasionally peeking into the real world and living in their own world.

The cars had already come around the corner and approached the exit gate, which, despite their close proximity, stubbornly remained closed.As if his stoLucash had vanished, a feJakeng grew within Jake, widening his eyes.

He spoke softly, "The power is out."He turned around and stared at the three people in the seat row in front of him.

“What?”While scowling at him, one of them demanded.

Jake responded suddenly bolder, "I live here."He leaned slightly forward in his seat.The power outage was the only reason I left my apartment today.And if it went off in my apartment, it must have because it always does.Additionally, the power of the apartment complex is connected to the gate.And so...” his tone changed.

Francis said, "The gate won't open without power."She quickly turned around and leaned forward to face the driver.Lucas, did you catch everything?

Lucas, it would appear, gave a head nod.He responded, "I heard it," then yelled and slammed the brakes.Come here!He said, and he got out of the car quickly.They quickly had a shouted conversation as they could see him hurrying over to one of the other cars through the windshield.

Jake said, "We're going to have to try the entrance."

With irritated eyes, Francis turned around to face him once more.Are you stupid?”She yelled, "Have you been paying attention?Everyone is at the entrance.That is not an option for us.

Before she finished speaking, Jake was shaking her head.The only way is this.Trust me; I've been there.There are only two options:the entrance and the exit, and we won't be able to use the exit.The gate is impassable for our vehicle.We'd run the risk of causing the cars too much damage.

He remained silent for a brief moment as his brain's gears sped up.He had no idea how fast the plan was coming together.He was aware of his obligation.

He got up all of a sudden and started walking toward the side door.What are you engaged in?”As he got out of the car and opened the door, Francis demanded,Are you insane?

He hurried over to the car where Lucas and Marshall were having their frantic conversation without pause.He growled angrily when he saw Jake approaching.Why in the world are you here?I advised you to wait in the vehicle.

Jake said, ignoring the other man, "We have to go out the front."It is the only method."

"The back?"The big man said in a dry voice, "Are you serious?They are coming from that area.We would never make it there."

Jake replied, "Well, we're certainly not getting through here."Although it would probably take too long, we might be able to force the gate.Additionally, if we attempted to break it open with a vehicle, we would probably just damage it.I assume we don't want to run the risk of losing any of the cars.This comment clearly resonated with Jake.Based on how full the cars were, it was likely that they didn't find too many working vehicles, and the ones they did find were just big enough for the group.That group would probably have to continue on foot if they lost one of the cars.

He continued, "Skylar, or whatever her name is, said the front gate had been forced."This means that it is already open.That means we can get through it,” he said triumphantly at the end.

Francis, who appeared to have followed him, pointed out, "If we go through the front, we will have to drive through the creatures."Furthermore, if we hit or run over one of them, we may also lose a vehicle.

“No, see, it's simply a matter of leading the creatures away,” Jake said with a head shake.Three sets of eyes looked at each other in disbelief.Jake rolled his eyes and sighed.Look, I just led a large group of them out of my apartment and went through one of the interior gates and lost them.It isn't hard.They don't move very quickly and just follow.Having them follow someone away from the front door until it is clear enough for everyone else to drive through is all that is required.

Richard looked down.And who do you think would be so irrational and suicidal as to engage in the distraction and be left behind?

Lucas said abruptly, "I'll do it," before anyone else had a chance to respond.He appeared to be staring into the distance, far beyond the car and people in front of him, with hazy and unfocused gray eyes.

“What?No.Don't be dumb, Jake yelled.I'll perform it.

“You?”The word almost made the big man laugh.

He barked back angrily, "Yes, me."I have a car, as I stated, and it is over by the entrance.I can enter it and follow you guys out through the gate once I lose my posse.Simply drive me over near the entrance is all I need from you.I'll get out and clear the way when we get close enough.

The group still had some hesitation, but from their expressions, it was clear that they were impressed by how well-thought-out his plan sounded.The big man said, "Well, I take back the quip about useless survivors," nodding in agreement.

Lucas concurred, saying, "It just might work."

Jake laughed and waved a hand dismissively, saying, "Of course it will work."

Francis said suddenly, "I'll go, too."

None of the three men remembered what they had heard when they turned to look at her.

She explained, confused, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it."Furthermore, two people are more likely to succeed than one."

"It's too risky!"The large man objected.

“For once, I agree with Muscles,” Jake said as he patted the big man on the upper arm that was bulky and rested on the vehicle's window sill.You would merely put yourself in danger.

She replied, brushing a stray hair from her face, "Please."Like you wouldn't stand a chance without my assistance out there.You could have been killed by any one of them.

Jake said, blushing with shame, "It caught me by surprise."It will not occur again.Also, you don't know what my car looks like or how complicated it is like, like I do.I've been here for the past three years.I cannot allow you to wander off to unknown destinations out there.I won't look for you, and I won't sit in my car waiting for you, wondering if you'll show up or not.No, only one of us has a better chance.We can't have one person waiting on another.That only increases danger.

She began, "But-," but Lucas interrupted her.

He barked, "No, discussion over," and grabbed her by the arm.He is not part of the group; you are.In addition, we are not putting anyone in the group at risk by supporting this child's crazy plan.He turned his back on Jake.How familiar are you with the area?

Jake just shrugged.I suppose about as well as anyone else."

"Just a block west of here is a strip mall.We will wait for you there for a brief period of time.None more.Have you got it?

Jake gave a nod.I know where it is.

“Good.”Lucas unfolded a street map that he had taken out of his pocket.Here's where we're going in case you aren't quick enough or that area is also overrun.From the strip mall, he drew a line on the map that led to an area that was almost entirely blank, about 100 miles outside of town.