Mark stood beside the window, peeking around the curtain to observe the neighborhood. It was the middle of the day and most of his neighbors had tried to evacuate or go to underground shelters. Mark and Sean had agreed that staying put was safer. Large crowds tended to do more harm than good. They had been right. Right before the power grid sent the state into a blackout, they had heard that shelters and borders had been overrun by these 'Zombies.' Staring out the window, he observed one casually walking down the street. He didn't know what anyone else called them, but he called this one a 'Spitter.' It was thin and lanky looking with a rounded belly and a long snake like neck. He had seen it vomit on people and infect them. Though how people were infected seemed to vary. Some people became Spitters, while others infected became something else. The virus attached to different things in different people. The only thing he knew for sure after observing them, was that they were smarter than the video games and movies he'd seen or played.

These zombies hunted like predators. Day or Night, they hunted tirelessly. They were attracted to noise and movement. Even the slightest thing would draw them to investigate. Sean quietly crept up next to him, whispering softly. "Is it still here?" Mark nodded, never looking away from it. Sean cursed softly, muttering under his breath. "Great... Should we even risk it today?" Mark exhaled, whispering back. "We have too. We need food. I didn't exactly stock up for something like this." Sean glanced around the dark room. They had closed all the curtains and had managed to stash anything that might make noise. Even Chica's toys had been ripped open to remove the squeakers. Mark finally looked away from the window to ask curiously. "Where's Chica?" Sean pointed down the hall, answering discreetly. "Your office." Mark nodded with a relieved smile. It was the only soundproof room in the house. Peeking back out behind the curtain, he told Sean hopefully. "We'll go out the back. If we're careful. We can slip into the neighbor's house."

Sean touched his shoulder to acknowledge his words, asking softly. "Weapons?" Mark tore himself away from the window to creep through the house. He didn't know how good the zombies hearing was, but they weren't willing to test it here. He had gotten a few things from the garage, when the neighborhood had been massing to evacuate. Since they had planned to stay, he had gathered everything they might be able to use. Moving to the box in the living room, he removed school backpacks that he had used once or twice. He picked up a metal bat that he had used for his Author skit and handled it to Sean. Sean accepted it and picked up an empty backpack to sling over his shoulder. Mark stuffed a few nerf arrows into his small messenger bag with his nerf bow. Then slipped on his backpack, before lifting 'Becky,' his tactical shovel, off the floor. People had questioned why he had bought her at the time. He didn't expect her to be used like this... but he was glad he had bought her. She was his ultimate survival tool and weapon. He'd never leave the house without her.

Climbing to his feet, he nodded to Sean that he was ready. Sean reached out to grab the strap over his chest, tugging on the messenger bag. Mark shrugged in response, listening to Sean ask in a stern whisper. "What the fuck? Why the damn nerf bow?" Mark smirked tapping Sean's cheek, answering in a smug whisper. "It's called a distraction tool. And we may need it to make a quick getaway. Don't judge me." Sean rolled his eyes. Mark adjusted his clothes, approaching the sliding glass door while discreetly telling Sean. "We'll go to the neighbor on the right. He used to camp a lot. He might have some things we can use." Sean moved closer and Mark double checked the backyard, before opening the door slowly and carefully. Slipping out the door, Mark led the way to the wooden fence. Sean followed at a slight distance scanning the yard for anything unusual. Mark slipped the end of his shovel between the boards and listened closely for any trace of sound. It was so eerily quiet. Holding his breath, he slowly began to saw the support board.

The process was slow, but he didn't want to make any more noise than he had too. Loosening the boards, he swung them aside and slipped through. He made sure that the neighbor's yard was clear, before reaching his hand back through to gesture Sean to follow. Holding the boards for him, Sean made his way through. Mark pointed to the bikes he could see against the house and Sean nodded. They might try to take those at some point. Mark was unsettled by the backdoor being open. Sean pointed to the fence gate with his bat. The gate was open. Mark waited by the open door, staying alert as Sean crept over to the gate. Sean peeked outside the fence as little as he could, then very slowly pulled the gate shut to latch it. It was better not to have it open. They didn't want something sneaking up behind them. When Sean returned to him, Mark took a deep breath and ventured inside the house. The door practically opened to the kitchen. So, Mark pointed toward the cabinets. Sean didn't question it.

He split off to check the cabinets. Mark kept going into the living room. The layout was slightly different from his own, but he was confident that he could navigate it. Keeping his eyes and ears open, he looked for anything useful. He stuck to the first floor. He didn't want to leave Sean down here alone. He couldn't bear to lose his friend now. Not when it had been a while since he had even seen another human being. Mark circled the first floor, heading back into the kitchen. The first floor was clear. Sean was piling food into his backpack quickly. Mark didn't distract him. He simply helped pull down any food items from the higher cabinets. When they finished, Mark crept to the door that lead to the attached garage. Sean shook his head, but Mark nodded. He needed to look. Slowly opening the door, he saw that the garage door was open. His neighbor had left in a hurry for who knows where. Stepping carefully down the cement steps, Mark crept to the shelving unit. Jackpot. This was exactly what he wanted. There was outdoor gear everywhere.

His neighbor loved the outdoors and had always bought a lot for his friends and family. Some gear was missing, and he assumed his neighbor had made some survival bags that had been ready to go at a moments notice. Slipping off his backpack, he quickly began to load it with anything he felt would help them. He grabbed a tactical axe that Sean might like. He grabbed binoculars and bowie knives. He snatched a medical kit that he saw and a bag that looked prepacked for a hike. He'd go through it later. He didn't see any guns, but he did find a crossbow and some brand-new bolts. Carting the bags to just inside the door, he got Sean to take them to the backyard. He wanted to get the most out of their first trip. The more they got, they less they'd have to risk going out. Mark even snatched a diving bag from a top shelf. A waterproof bag could be valuable. He was just about to call it, when a small bag caught his eye. It was a brand-new hiking kit bag... for a dog. His neighbor had planned on adopting a dog to take on trips, but right now... he had a dog that could benefit from it.

Sean met him at the door to take the divers bag, whispering sternly to him. "That's enough. We need to get back. We can come back some other time." Mark pointed to the bag, whispering. "Just one more. Someone could come through and steal this stuff. We have to get as much as we can now." Sean gave him a frustrated scowl, growling out under his breath. "Mark..." Mark ignored him and crept quickly over to the bag. He had just put his hand on it, when he heard an inhuman snarl. Mark froze, listening to where it had come from. It was just outside the garage door and getting closer. Quickly moving to the garage wall, Mark pressed himself up against it. Raising a hand, he gestured for Sean to get out of sight. Sean slipped behind the door, but left it open just a crack. Mark hefted Becky at the ready to strike if he had to. He heard it right outside the garage door. The ragged breaths it took gave Mark goosebumps. Then he saw the end of a long tongue curl around the side of the wall.

The tongue slid out like a snake to search around the wall, forcing Mark to lift one of his feet. The tongue rolled beneath his raised foot, tasting the ground. Mark couldn't breathe. The shadow of the creature grew across the pavement. The tongue started to lick slowly up the wall. Mark clenched his jaw, feeling tense and light-headed. Mark's eyes widened and his blood ran cold, seeing a rotten muzzle inch past the garage wall. He could see the zombie dogs sharp blood-stained teeth as it panted ragged breaths. The zombie dog's long tongue touched Mark's thigh and its body tensed. Mark tried not to move as the tongue slowly curled around his thigh. Mark's grip on his weapon tightened. He was torn between staying still and trying to fight. Then from across the street the sound of glass shattering broke the eerie silence, causing the zombie dog to retract its tongue in a swift motion. Mark heard the zombie dog gurgle out a growl, before he heard its nails patter across the pavement. Mark didn't hesitate, he snatched the bag and bolted for the garage door as quickly as he could.

Pushing through the door, he closed it and was surprised to find Sean gone. Racing through the house, he jumped out the back door and stumbled to his knees in fright as he caught a shadow in his peripheral vison. Sean reached down to help him back up, panting heavily himself. Mark gave him a questionable look, but Sean simply shoved him toward the fence. Wedging back through, they slipped back into the house and closed the door. Locking it, Mark turned around and noticed all the gear in the living room. Sean had been carting all the stuff back to the house by himself. That was NOT the plan! The plan had been to cart it out to the backyard and then move it together through the fence to the house. Sean gave him a nonchalant shrug, then picked up a food bag before heading toward the soundproof room. Mark clenched a fist in frustration but snatched a bag to drag to the room. Stepping into the room, he quickly closed the door, before Chica started whining with excitement. All his computer stuff had been removed and the bedroom mattresses had been laid down to muffle Chica thundering around on the floor.

Dropping down on the mattress to pet Chica, he asked Sean in a normal tone. "Ok. First, you weren't supposed to move that stuff without me. Second, did you throw something at that window across the street? What if you had gotten caught?" Sean huffed sarcastically, pointing a stern finger at him as he snapped back. "YOU were the one that almost got caught! I saved you! If I hadn't thrown the rock and brought the stuff back, we'd be screwed. You got greedy." Mark hugged Chica to calm her, replying just as seriously. "I said that we'd get everything we could use. I didn't want to risk going back later to find it all gone. We'll need it if we plan to travel farther out." Sean dropped down into one of the corners of the room, muttering out sternly. "I wanted to start small... I knew you wouldn't listen..." Mark huffed slightly offended, grumbling out. "Sorry that I thought we should be prepared." Sean glared at him with watery eyes, his voice straining as he muttered back. "That isn't the point, Mark!"

Mark gave him a shrug, not understanding what Sean's problem was. Sean huddled into the corner more, not looking at him anymore as he mumbled out. "Mark... Right now, you're all I have... I can't do this alone..." Mark's heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach. While he still held out hope that he'd see his family and Amy alive somewhere in a shelter. Sean was in emotional agony. Sean didn't know if his family was alive, and the odds of him seeing them again felt... impossible. He was utterly isolated from them. He was tormented by the last broadcast on the news that claimed that Europe had contracted the virus too. Mark sighed heavily, trying to sound comforting as he told him. "I'm not going anywhere, Jack. We'll get through this together." Sean peeked over his shoulder to stare at him with fragile eyes. It had felt like years since he had called Sean by his nickname. The look on Sean's face told him without words that he was surprised to be called that again by him as well. Being stuck together like this was going to be a challenge, but Mark had to admit... They needed each other. They'd have to make this work. To Be Continued...