Reese's P.O.V

As we came to a stop in traffic, Ryan banged his head against the wheel.

"Hey, It's okay." I said

He held his hands on the wheel and his head against his hands.

I looked back at Bella, Kai and Max-- all staring ahead worriedly.

"Stay here," I told them.

"No-- Reese where are you going!?" Kai exclaimed.

"To get the others." I said.

They swerved off the road when they got cut off so I have to see if they're okay.

I hopped out the truck and ran down the road.
Cars honked and people pled for help, children, women, old people. They all screamed for help.

Jose's car was stuck in the dirt, he struggled to back out of the bush that he had ran into, but he just couldn't.

I ran over to the window, and banged repeatedly.

"Get out! Come on!" I shouted through the glass.

Kimmy wasted no time and instantly opened her door, jumping out and joining my side.

"Truck's up ahead-- grab tailgate." I commanded.

She nodded and ran off, sliding through cars too close to each other, and doors wide open.

"Cody get out now! Get the bags and go--" I barely remember the kid's name, that's probably not even his name. Shit.

He pushed open the door and got out with the suitcase in his hand and a bag in the other. His face was bright red and he looked like he was going to either pass out or piss himself.

"Go get tailgate on the truck!" I told him.

He nodded and ran off, doing the same as Kimmy.

I walked over to Jose and helped him pry his door open. Unfortunately, he fell out and stumbled along the dirt.

I reached down to helped him up, but then a force began pushing me down.

I turned around quick enough to push the flesh-hungry man trying to tackle me, but I didn't push him hard enough to get away.

I fell down and so did the man, right on top of me. He pulled at my legs and I kicked away as hard as I could, but nothing was working.

Jose stood and stared the whole time, not sure what to do. A befuddled look across his face.

I kicked the man back a bit to buy me time, and I tried to crawl away but he had grabbed on to my leg again.

I screamed for help, along with the other helpless people on this highway, scrambling, twisting and turning every way but loose.

And that's when Jose jabbed his key into the man's neck.

Nothing happened  and he still snarled and clawed at my leg, his teeth getting closer and closer to my leg.

"His head!! Stab his head!!"  I yelled.

Jose tried to pry the keys from his neck but they wouldn't budge so he threw his foot against the man's head.

The kick  flew him off me, running him into Jose's car.
I backed away as far as I could, gasping for air as I watched Jose kick the man's head into the car door.

"no se," Jose shouted as he kicked him again.

"anda con," another kick.

"El rey!" one final bash and all of his brains splattered on the car.

I got up and pulled Jose away from any more kicking..

His eyes were full of tears and he nearly fell on top of me, "Jose sit up, lets go!" I exclaimed

He ran his hands through his hair and looked back at what he had just done, frowning up at the sight.

"I'm a monster." he whispered.

"No, he was the monster!" I assured.

Wasting no more time, I pushed him between the long line of cars, until we reached the truck.

Cody and Kimmy had did as I advised and gotten on the back of the pickup.  I glanced at them and nodded my head at Jose.

They helped him up and I quickly jumped back into the passenger side, throwing my head against the seat and taking a deep breath.

"Why do you have blood on you?" Max asked

Ryan sat up and looked me up and down, "Yeah, why are you bloody?"

I felt tears about to pour out my eyes for no reason.
"Almost lost my life back there. Jose saved me." I said

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?!" Kai asked, jumping up and examining my body.

"I'm fine but let's get off this highway.. Now." I said

"We're stuck!" Ryan threw his hands in agony.

"Are those people zombies?" Max asked.

There was complete silence and no one moved and inch, no one even breathed.

"No-- they're uh," Ryan began

"Wanderers!" I cut him off, "They're wanderers."

Max nodded and leaned back on the window.

He's right. Those things out there are what people dress up as on Halloween, things people make movies about, something supernatural I  thought would never happen....

Zombies.

But I'm not sure so I'm using the term wanderer, because if you view things less than what they are-- you won't be as afraid.

While I was deep in thought, one of the others from the tailgate banged on the window.

We all looked back to Kimmy frantically pointing behind the truck.

The 2 cars that were behind us had backed away and drove off, which gave us a way to escape this traffic frenzy.

Ryan smiled and backed his truck up quickly, pulling out down the road.

"I know a shorter way."

He floured the gas pedal, knocking down Kimmy, who was standing up on the tailgate.

I hit his arm and told him to slow down. He did, but he still sped down the road like he had no regrets.

He made sharp turns down dirt roads I've never knew existed. Columbia is a small city and I thought I knew every street and road here.. But I don't.

Ryan pulled into the empty parking lot of his dad's hardware store, that had surprisingly not been broken into yet.

"Ryan, why are we at dad's store?" Max asked, very confounded and sad.

"Look, we go in there and we grab every weapon we can use." Ryan commanded

I looked at him unsurely, "what if they're in there?" I said

"The z-- wanderers?" Kai added.

"They're not. Plus my dad always keeps a pistol in the glove department of his van. And I can get it-- I can. I just need you to watch my back." he said, staring at me.

I pulled the bat from the floor and glanced back at him, "I'm behind you."I said

Max looked at us worriedly as he leaned on Kai, watching
Ryan pull his keys from the ignition and sort through them until he found the small golden one.

He pulled it off and handed it to me, "take it to the others and tell them to unlock the door and raid it." Ryan said

I nodded and got out the car,watching my surroundings and joined the others on the tailgate.

"Here," I handed the key to Kimmy and explained that they would raid the building, taking every weapon they could find, and they'd do it in a fast pace because we have to get going before trouble arises.

Kimmy hopped down and Jose and Cody followed her, she still had on her cheerleader outfit so she was basically half naked.

I knocked on Ryan's door, for him to come out.
He opened his door but before he got out, he turned to the kids and told them to stay there and that we'd be okay.

He ran over to his father's big white van and began fiddling with the lock while I looked around and guarded him like a hawk.

Alright, we are doing this and we're surviving.
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Thoughts?