Short story

The Walking Dead: The Road to Atlanta

I’m  John Walsh, and I am a captain in the U.S Marines. It was the third day back from my deployment overseas. And I was glad to be home to see my family. I had just reached the gates when I heard the sirens go off. There have been weird reports the past couple of days of people dying and coming back to life. They would eat people too .On the news they were being called Walkers and biters. There were walkers had starting to breach the walls on the east side of the base. My commanding officer told me to head to the armory. I started to speed to the armory. I loaded my pickup with plenty of weapons and ammo. I couldn’t stay without getting my family.

              

      When I got to my house all I could hear was gunfire and screams. I found my wife and son under the bed. She had packed enough clothes and food to travel. I started to go out the door when I saw a group of walkers at the house next door. I told my wife to load the truck while I clear the way.  I ran past a few to grab an assault rifle from the bed of the truck. In the news reports, it said to aim for the head. It is the only way to kill them. We all got in the truck and drove back to the base.

              

      On the way back to the base, there were houses burning and walkers were everywhere. The base was in complete chaos. We finally reached the base and drove up to the airfield. It was deserted and walkers were coming across the airfield. The base was lost. We weren’t prepared for something like this. Sure one walker may not be much. But when there’s a pack of them all riled up and hungry, you better watch your back. They don’t run out of energy, but we do. I took one last look at the base before we left to get on the highway.

              

         A few hours before the base was over run, people have been talking about this refugee camp in Atlanta. It would be safe and the National Guard would be there with plenty of weapons and ammo to keep us all safe.

              

        We managed to meet up with a convoy of other people. They were also some Military personnel. Also some people from the army and navy. We pulled over for the night to make camp. We all had plenty of military grade weapons. Some of the members of the groups were Army ranger snipers. I felt confident with them taking the first watch. With the amount of skill they have is amazing. Luckily most of us pack our night vision goggles. The rifles they were using had suppressors.  Noise attracts the walkers.

              

       It was 6 a.m. when we packed up and hit the road. The next stop was Atlanta. We were started off to a good start until we had to stop for a traffic snarl less than twelve miles from the camp. We had a few guys go through to make sure it was clear. There were screams a minute later. I got out and stood on the hood of my truck. Two of the three men that went through were bit…. We had to kill them so they wouldn’t suffer. Everyone in the group understood why we had to do that. “We have to keep moving, they knew the risk” I said. We needed to keep moving. Everyone packed up and drove away. We would have a service for them when we reached the refugee camp. But now was not the time.

               We were about twenty minutes from the city when one of the vehicles ran out of fuel. It was about seven in the morning and we had to put fuel in one of the SUV’s. It didn’t take long and we were back on the road in five.

              

             We had finally reached the city. It was secure and it looked like we would win the war against this virus. We were all relieved to finally be safe and not to be worried. Or so we all thought.

               It was nightfall when I heard screams. Then there was gunfire. My wife ran up to me and yelled, "John,  walkers are in the city we need to go!" I was just confused. I couldn't believe that we worked so hard for this, and we lost people to get here. And it's being lost. I ran to my pick up and grabbed my assault rifle and ran to help. But when I looked back, my wife and son were bit and screaming on the street. I didn't see a point of surviving anymore. The reason I came here was to keep my family safe. And to see them die was the breaking point for me. If I was going to die, I was taking as many walkers as I could with me.

I managed to take out about thirty walkers. I went back to my truck to get another weapon, but as I was grabbing it, a walker bit my wrist. I got it off of my and looked around. The rifle had fallen under the truck. I grabbed my sidearm and went to seek refuge in an Abrams tank. I put my sidearm on the seat
.

   
           Seconds later I heard explosions. I got up to look out the top hatch and they were dropping napalm in the streets. And there were still survivors. They were killing people and walkers. I knew I wasn't getting out of this city alive. I just sat there and waited to die of blood loss. There was no point of killing myself, I basically locked my self in a cage. I wish my son could have had the childhood I had. The world we live in is hell. There is no salvation. All we can do now is... Survive.