Chapter 144 - Wait. Hold on... - Earnest

"..." everyone was silent.

He was looking at me and then his eyes showed realization.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Unfortunate accident is what happened. I was too preoccupied doing other things I overlooked a glaring problem that should be easily taken care of. Borrow this gun for now. There's already a round in the chamber. Just point and shoot." I said.

I handed him one of my Glock 19s when I parked the truck in the front of Earnest's place. There is no gate at the utmost front of the road and you need to drive a bit forward to reach it since their gate is a bit further in which has 20 foot walls on the way.

I just parked it sideways so the right side of the truck would face their driveway while the left would face the road. The length of the pickup perfectly covers it so I went outside and drew my katana while everyone follows.

Different sized houses and shops are around and there is a 9-Eleven in a corner but we disregarded it for now. There are a few dozen approaching us from behind and there are several from the front.

We cleared a small area near the pickup first then I made a quick look-around.

Tatiana has a Machete in her hands now since her fire axe isn't that versatile. Each day passing would make each bullet more valuable so it's a given to save as much as possible. However, it's not so far as we risk our lives for saving a bullet. Our lives are obviously the most important one.

"Okay, let's head to the place where there is a few first since it's elevated so the movements from the ones below is slowed to a certain degree." I said.

I led the charge while Tatiana guards the rear. She let a few bullets out to the ones quickly approaching while we ascend towards the small elevation on the road.

*shhck*

*slash*

*psshew*

*psshew*

*shhck*

Five immediately fell down from our initial charge while we maintain our simple formation.

I thrusted my katana forwards to a guy wearing hooded jacket though it's insides are dangling on the road.

*shhck*

I drove the katana down so it would slice towards the ear so it would be free from the head and then I made a horizontal slash towards the next one. It slices clean and its forehead is now missing and its brain matter spilled in the ground as I headed for the other one.

Kaley drops a few with her pistol while she would occasionally use the wakizashi if the opportunity presents itself. She's slowly learning to rapid fire since her target acquisition after each shot is getting quicker by the day.

Jared has his pistol out as well since his rifle wouldn't be suitable for rapid firing and his trench knife is on his left hand doing the same thing. He's not that proficient in shooting with his left so he used the trench knife aside from his cavalry sword.

"Wait. Hold on…" I thought to myself.

Tatiana is holding her machete with his right and the pistol with her left. The only one different is Juan holding the pistol with both hands.

I made the final slash to the zombie wearing an apron and I looked at the group.

"Why are you all copying me? I'm just too awesome I guess." I said.

The three looked at themselves and they chuckled while Juan is amused at the display.

"Nice group you have here." Juan said.

"Yeah, get ready for the ones behind us. I have an extra knife if you want to look the part since you're one of us now." I said as the others chuckled.

He took the pocket knife I handed him but the hand holding it is used as a base to keep the pistol steady with his right. The figures that are now moving towards us are having a bit of a hard time since some of them stumbled down but some of them still continued on moving towards us albeit slower.

"Some of them have poor motor skills when they turned. But the ones moving normally are still slowed by this small elevation. The only ones I think who would not be affected much by this are the ones that are freshly turned or the sprinters." I said.

As soon as I said the word 'sprinters', one immediately appeared from a corner and slammed straight to a lamp post followed by another one who crashed into a wall. The group took careful shots and we're now on alert on a few that might follow them. Luckily none followed but I made sure the two that suddenly came are taken care of.

"I really should stop talking about them." I thought to myself.

From the added advantage, we made quick work of the ones that are left even if they are more in number. Juan isn't that great at shooting and he would use a few bullets to kill one but I still let him use it to gain more proficiency though a small guidance wouldn't hurt.

"Let's pull some of the bodies at the side first. I don't want any accidents when we drive through them." I said.

It took as a few minutes but now we've cleared a small perimeter of the street. There's a few roaming around but they are too far to take notice of us.

"Kaley and I will head to the house now. Guard this place for a moment yeah?" I said.

Since the Raptor blocks the way towards Earnest's house, I made quick work of the five on that small driveway towards their screen gate.

As we reached it, you could see 3 different houses that is built almost conjoined to each other where the two at the side are much higher than the one in the middle. I clanged their gate first and tried to see if there are still people inside.

*clang* *clang* *clang*

"EARNEST! EARNEST! IT'S SKY!" I shouted.

I was about to shout a second time but the curtains on the nearest house moved. I saw a vague figure, unrecognizable by the mesh window but I noticed its head tilting, like it's trying to make an image of us.

I hear some soft murmuring and then the curtain went back the way it is.

"Is it them?" Kaley asked.

"Not sure, be ready for anything." I replied.

I leaned on the gate and noticed that their parking area contains three SUVs are parked neatly. I was about to shout again but their front door opens and then two figures came out. I remember the both of them but the one that is smaller and a bit bulkier is definitely someone I'm very familiar with.

"Sky? Hey, wha- Kaley? Oh my god. Guys!" when he saw us up close, he immediately opened the gate for us and when we three made a small hug, he started to cry. He's only up to my chest but his grip is strong.

"Guys! *sob* I'm so sorry… hic! I should've *sob* ah- is this all of you? *sob* I'm so sorry! *sob* Come in! Come in!" he can't even form a complete sentence properly but happiness is definitely on his face right now.

"Okay~ let it all out man, let it all out. All is forgiven. Is all of your family here?" I asked.

His younger cousin as I remember made a small bow and closed the gate behind us. I made a small glance at Earnest and if it wasn't because of the small beard he's sporting, you'd think he's in highschool because of his height and demeanor. He got a proper haircut though he still is a bit huskier than me even from back then.

He guided us to his house and I saw his wife there with their daughter and his big brother.

"Bro, this is Sky I'm talking about. He's the one who emailed me that something is about to happen. I managed to get us all the supplies we need here just in case what he's saying is real but I never really thought it would blow up like in the movies. He's also my daughter's godfather." He said.

His brother made an up-down look at me and he has a solemn expression mixed with worry.

"I'm Earl, Earnest's older brother. I think this is our first time meeting each other?" he asked as he motions for a handshake.

"I remember everyone here his cousin's name is Jeremy, Cora is his grandmother's name, Shayne is his wife's name and Carla is his daughter's name. This is the first time I'm meeting his brother though I've seen him in a few pictures from social media." I thought to myself.

"Sky Ishiyama, nice to meet you. This is Kaley Payan, my wife." I said with a straight face.

"W-w-what?! When did this happen?! Congratulations!" Earnest exclaimed.

*jab*

"Sky! Stop it!" she exclaimed as she tried to jab me.

"I'm kidding, hahahaha! Well, not yet." I replied as she blushes faintly.

"You're still the same dude, I can't even." Earnest laughed.

"Back on business, is this all of you?" I asked.

"There's our grandma in her room upstairs. My wife and daughter are on the other house resting. My cousin here is the only one who came here when it all started. We haven't gotten outside since we don't have weapons to defend ourselves but we're just staying here waiting for help." Earnest explained.

"How is your situation on food?" I asked.