Snippet #2548496

Dishing the Dirt

8:30 am
June 26th, 2014

Allison stood by the little car. The keys were in her hand and she kept looking from the keys to the car. Alone. Just going out to get some gardening supplies. No big deal. Not that far. Just a short drive there, load it up and drive back. Easy enough.

The use of the hatchback was a big deal but Allison wasn’t sure there was another way to get the things they wanted. Dirt, gardening tools and such tended to be heavy and awkward. It would take a whole team out there to bring that stuff back. It is a good use of the car. I just wish….

She wanted to be going over supplies and reading. She wanted to be in the quiet room, alone. She didn’t really want to be driving about and picking up dirt. The thing was, in order to stay, in order to be allowed a roof over her head, food and some protection, she had to pull her weight. Plus going out, finding things, was a way to prove herself and her usefulness. Allison needed to show them that she was worth having here. Medical knowledge was nice but she couldn’t be a one trick pony. Not in the world the way it was now.

Allison popped open the door of the car, climbed inside and shut it behind her. It felt for a moment like she had closed the whole world out. Her hands rested on the wheel and she took a few calming breaths. Easy. This will be easy. Just have to show them I am worth keeping around, I am useful.

She put the key in the ignition and turned it. The little car rumbled to life. Allison put it in gear and drove towards the gate. Others waited there to let her out. They removed the obstacles in her way as she pulled out and onto the road. Some were armed and checked the area, waving her on.

Allison pulled away from the castle. It grew distant behind her and she let out an exhale as the first short jaunt down the road proved uneventful.

“Well what did you think? They were going to be everywhere? Popping out like groundhogs?”

The image made her laugh. The laugh turned into a full belly laugh that she couldn’t stop. It wasn’t that funny but nerves have a way of heightening everything. She laughed till tears formed and clouded her vision. Ally let go with one hand long enough to wipe them away. It wouldn’t be good if she crashed the vehicle, especially if it was because she was laughing at a ludicrous thought in her own head.

Both hands were placed firmly back on the wheel. Allison glanced over to the passenger seat where her pack sat. Everyone who went out got one, it was standard practice. Hers had a few extra first aid items in case she came across other survivors that she could help. It was the first time she had gone anywhere without a medical book however and she somehow felt ‘naked’ without it.

Allison’s eyes were back on the road. She wished she had music, classical, something to calm her nerves. She felt hyper aware, like every shadow was going to develop into a thing bent on eating her.

The place was quiet and she was tempted to roll down the window. Allison opted not to, visions of undead coming for her, her scent wafting by as she drove.

The road was not in terrible shape. She had to move around abandoned cars and some debris but it was quite easy going.

Allison nodded, happy with the way things were going. “Like I said. Easy. In and out.”

With the car, even with the few obstacles getting to the gardening shop didn’t take long.

9:25 am

Allison wasn’t sure she would know the shop when she saw it but as she drew closer her worry proved to be unfounded. It had a small building, a greenhouse and was surrounded by a standard wire fence. She could see stacks of bags in the yard and stands.

Thankfully it had a parking lot.

Allison pulled in, in front of the gate. It seemed at one time it had been locked. Now it looked as if something had gotten in. Pots were strewn about, dirt on the ground and dead plants.

She opened the door, leaving the engine on and as she stood, Allison listened. She waited but heard very little. The wind, the car but nothing of note. Satisfied she moved to the gate and pushed it open so that she could pull the car in. She reasoned if it was in the gate it would be easier to load and the gate was at least one more thing between her and anything or anyone that might come snooping.

Allison got back into the car and pulled it in. She turned off the engine and closed the gate. She paused for a moment, looking around. The gate seemed minorly distorted in some areas but otherwise intact.

She got back into the car and moved its position so it held the gate close. The passenger side was pressed up to the gate and now nothing could open it and get in.

Satisfied Allison turned off the car once more, pocketed the keys and set to work seeing what she could find.

10:50 am

Allison wiped her cheek, leaving a small streak of dirt. The place actually had quite a bit of stuff. Surprising really but dirt and hoses weren’t in high demand when trying to survive in a land full of dead things.

She surveyed the back of the car. The little hatchback was weighted down but as long as she didn’t push it it would be fine. There were eight bags of earth. There were a few more in the yard still but Allison didn’t think the car could take more weight. They could always come back.

She had managed to find two bags of fertilizer. She wasn’t going to grab them then thought better of it. If they didn’t need it now they might later and judging from the pile of ripped open bags someone had been using it for something. Bomb of some kind maybe…

Allison had grabbed three hoses, still wrapped in packaging as well as nozzles because she really wasn’t sure what kind would fit or what they would like. She hadn’t lived anywhere that needed these things and at home this had been her parents domain. She had never wanted the house or lawn or kids. She was going to be a doctor, in a nice flat with no time for domestic things.

She had grabbed gardening gloves though she wasn’t sure they needed them. They were small and fit easily enough.

The biggest find was the stand of seeds. From the sign above it it had been the end of a season sale. Allison scooped up all the packages that hadn’t been damaged or ripped open. She wasn’t even what she grabbed but she knew that none were flowers, she was at least careful of that.

Sadly there wasn’t much in the way of tools. Those seemed picked over and she wasn’t entirely surprised. They were weapons, pure and simple. She found a few three pronged rakes which she took and six tiny shovels which she knew her mom had used for planting. Something at least.

Allison surveyed the place one last time satisfied that she could not carry anymore and still have the car go.

She climbed in, started it up and moved it from the gate so she could once more get to the road.

11:15 am [/i]

Her eyes were on the road and she was taking things cautiously given how loaded down the back of her car was.

She turned a corner and hit the brake. A frown appeared. I could have sworn the road was clear on the way in. Did I make a wrong turn? Allison looked over her shoulder. No this is definitely the way I came. Odd.

She put the car in park, turned it off and slipped out. Listening, she heard nothing and so went to check out what was in her way. Allison approached. It was a piece of a fence. “Okay that is weird.”

“Not that weird when you consider someone put it there to stop you.”

Allison froze. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she slowly turned around. A man stood there, shovel in hand.

A shovel! We could use that! It was strange to her that that was her first thought, not her own safety.

“What do you want?”

The man laughed, humourlessly. “What do you think? You have a car and I need to get out of here.”

Allison shook her head. “You can’t take it. It doesn’t belong to me.”

The man looked at her like Allison had grown another head. He stepped forward and she retreated slightly, her foot bumping the piece of fence.

“You think I care who it belongs to? That is all you have to say right now?”

“No, it is just...I have things to bring back and well we shouldn’t be standing out here like this.” Allison hoped the fear of more dangerous things might be enough to dissuade him.

She was wrong.

“You’re right. Get in.” He approached her, using the shovel to guide her back to the car.

“But the fence...it is in the way...we should-” Allison turned, pointing to the obstacle. She was met with a forceful push on her back.

“There are other ways around it. Let’s leave it.” The man was gruff. He pushed her to the passenger side. “Get in.”

“Are you planning to drive?” Allison frowned.

“I wouldn’t have you get in this side if I weren’t. You really don’t get what is happening do you?” The man inquired.

“Well I have the keys and you are holding the shovel. If you drive I can get the shovel right?”

He laughed and a gun appeared. “You’re right. You drive and I will point this instead.”

Allison paled. That hadn’t gone the way she had hoped but then again she wasn’t entirely sure what she had expected to happen.

He got opened the passenger door, watching her, gun pointed at her. Allison climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Where am I headed?”

“Back up and I will tell you where to go.”

The car reversed and Allison drove them off.


[b]11:45 am

They had ridden in silence. The man occasionally pointed where he wanted her to turn but other than that there was nothing.

Finally, Allison broke the silence. “Where are we going? Is it a group? I have to get back. There are people waiting on me and this stuff.”

“No. No group. I am getting out of here. I tried to fit in but..” He looked out the window.

“But what? If you went around pointing guns at well...them, whoever I can see why you didn’t fit in.”

“I didn’t go pointing guns. Got caught stealing supplies and they shoved me out. I was just looking out for myself.”

“If you are with a group of people you can’t be stealing from them.” Allison frowned.

“Yeah well when they all get attacked at least I would have had a stash of stuff I could have run with. And that is exactly what happened. I was sneaking back in for my stuff and they were attacked. Stupid too, as if tents would do any good. Oh sure they had plans to build walls but in the meantime…” He was still looking out the window.

“Attacked? Did you help them?” Allison looked at the man in shock.

“No I didn’t help them. It was too late. I barely escaped.”

Allison looked at him and that was when she noticed his other arm, the one not holding the gun.

“You were bit.” She whispered.

“So now I gotta get out of here and find a place that can help. I heard rumours of a cure.”

Allison shook her head. “There is no cure. There is no help. You are going to become one of them.”

“You don’t know that! Don’t say that!” The gun was pressed to Allison’s head. It was all she could do to keep her eyes open and on the road.

“Yes I do. I am a doctor. There is no way to stop it.”

“Doctor? You can help me, you can bandage it or something. Give me something to slow it down.” There was desperation in his voice.

“No, no I can’t. I don’t have anything like that. I have soil and stuff and there is nothing that can slow it down. I am sorry.” Her voice was calm, level.

The man spied the pack. “What’s in there?” He reached down and opened it. “You lied! You have medical supplies. Pull over! Now!”

Once more the gun pushed against her temple and Allison pulled the car over and turned it off.

“Get out. You are going to bandage me up and we are going to see what else you are hiding in there.”

Allison licked her lips and stepped out. She didn’t like this. They had driven into an area where it was harder to see around you. Too many buildings, too many abandoned cars.

She got out, closing her door. Allison moved to the passenger side. “Here give me the pack.” He handed it over and began looking around them, as if watching. Allison put the pack on the passenger seat, the door opened and began rummaging through it.

The first moan gave her goosebumps. It was clear which meant it was close. The rest slowly built in volume and as she took her head out to the car she saw them. At least six and who knew how many more after that. Worse, three were running.

“Fuck!’ The man began shooting and Allison did the only thing she could think of. She dove into the passengers seat and slammed the door. Locking it she climbed over to the driver’s seat.

“You-get out here! Help me fight!” He shot wildly as he backed up to the door.

Allison fumbled with the keys out of her pocket, shaking her head the whole time. They were closing in, he was pounding on the door down.

The click of the key as it turned, the sound of the engine as it came to life and Allison hit the gas.

She heard him hit the side of the car as she took off but thought nothing more about it as she took the first turn on her left.

One glance as car started the turn showed the man who would have taken the car and likely killed her pushed down to the ground, set upon by the things he was going to become.

She looked into the back, noticing the shovel he had put back there. We have a shovel now too.

1:30 pm

Allison pulled back up to the border of Chol Castle. She didn’t have to do anything as people had been watching and saw her approach. She was let in and she pulled the little car into place.

She pushed the things back into the open pack, grabbed it and the keys and headed inside. Her temple hurt from the gun.

Keys returned, pack back in its spot Allison headed to her room. She could still see the man’s face as he was being attacked.

"How was it?" Someone asked as she walked down the hall. Allison wasn't even sure who it was that asked, it was just a voice at that moment.

"Fine, easy. Lots of stuff in the car to unload." Allison sounded calm, fine.