chapter 7

It was a long night of shift changes and building and boarding up holes and windows. I was tired and only got a few hours of sleep but I needed to go and find my family to make sure they're safe. The last place I knew that they were at was UCLA medical center where my brother works. That alone by car was an hour away from that station but I don't think driving would be the best thing to do now. I did remember Jackie telling me that these things were attracted to sound. S so I geared up started walking to the UCLA Medical Center. The morning sun was just breaking the Horizon over the tall buildings in the morning Breeze was gentle and calm. Nothing really made a sound except for the roaring the fires all around. Every now and then I would hide behind a car for her a noise that didn't sound like it was human or your car would explode. This was going to be a long walk but I just had to see if my family was okay. I knew that my mother and my father were both there because of some crazy person but my mom. But now I'm worried my mom might be one of those things in my father might as well or he could have killed her until my brother around. I just hope that they're ok.

I was getting close to the campus Medical Center when I heard gunfire. I heard you yelling and screaming from across the way and I saw the National Guard mobilizing from my hiding spot behind the car. I didn't see the National Guard the first night that these things that Jackie called Growlers and tickers so maybe they some part of this area a safe zone or quarantine Zone to keep the infection out but then again I could be wrong and they're just out to save themselves. Maybe the would help me out or I would get shot on sight. I couldn't risk it. I was looking for my family and I needed to find them fast so we could all leave this city. I was near the front street when I saw them trying to keep out the infected. They were struggling badly. I just watch. I couldn't get involved in this because there were just too many of the undead hitting them. Soon the roar of a Humvee-pull up and unless its .50 cal machine gun at them and cut them down. I didn't stay and watch the aftermath of that. I needed to keep on my way and see if my parents and brother were all right. I needed to know that they were all good.

Making my way slowly to front street I made it to north pacific ave. they were cars abandoned and someone fire. I was making down the road and in five minutes later I heard growls and clicks of teeth. I went to the closest car and hid. I know that from Jackie the ones that growl are deaf and blind but the ones that clicker their teeth are blind and can heard. I am so glad I was able to talk to Jackie before all this went down. I needed to make my way around them and to be as quiet as possible. I was hiding behind a car that was smoking a bit. I needed to move fast before this car started to burn. Making mine between the different cars on the street. I stopped. I heard the clicking of their teeth. It was so close. Was I going to risk it and look over the hood or just move blindly? I hated being in the dark of any kind of station so I took a peek over the hood. I quickly put my hand over my mouth to contain a scream. A ticker was right there, a few inches from my face. I was looking it directly in the eyes. I didn't see me but I can sure as hell see it.

I slowly lower myself from looking over the hood. My hand still covering my mouth. I needed this thing to get away from me. I took a deep breath and release it through my nose. I needed to stay calm and think. From what Jackie has told me these things are blind but have super hearing. So I need to make noise. I search the area for a rock or something to throw so it can lure the ticker away from me. I find a small toy car. Damn, I thought to myself. I couldn't let my thoughts linger on this toy so I throw it as far as I could. It hit a car about six feet away from me and the ticker went after it like a crack using itching for a needle. I move as fast as I could away from it and continue north on Pacific Ave towards S Centinela Ave. I was passing by when I heard a crying. I just sigh and told myself to keep moving. That I couldn't be sidetracked when my family needs me. But I couldn't. I had to find where the crying was coming from and I had to help them. Whoever it was. I was making my way towards the sound when I heard growling. I needed to move fast so I can save whoever it was that was crying. I look over from behind the car I was hiding behind and I saw one flower stalking around the area.

I was in from of Gethsemane Lutheran Church. When I saw a little kid trying to open the doors. They wouldn't open. The Fowler was making its way to the noise it was barely hearing. I was about twenty feet away. I had to choices. To leave the kid or to save them. I quickly got up and charge at the growler. I tackle it to the ground and took out my combat knife and plugs it deep into the side of its head. Stopping it altogether. I made my way to the crying kid. "Hey kid shhh it's a lot the thing won't hurt you," I said trying to calm this scared kid down. " Hey I know you're scared but I need you to be a brave little dude and climb into my back okay? I'm going to keep you safe" I said. " Oh and my name is Haley nice to meet ya" I said with a gentle smile. " I'm Casey. Thank you Haley" she said to me. I just smile at her and told her to climb on and hang on tight to my back. It was barely the afternoon when i was carry Casey on my back. We were on the corner of ocean park blvd and Bundy drive. It took me longer to walked there because of the growlers that were blocking our way. The coast was clear so far but i didn't let my guard down. Not when i have someone to look after. I wouldn't let anything happen to this kid. I swear it. It was just her and me right now but soon i would be with my family. I'm not sure if her family is alive or not but i would be there for her. I let her off of my back to give her some water and a fruit bar. We rested for about ten minutes and we continue on our way to UCLA medical center.

After our little break, we continue to walk along ocean park blvd then cut along S Barrington Ave. I walked with Casey on my back the hold time. Slowly moving between cars and hiding whenever we heard a growl or a click of teeth. I wouldn't put Casey in danger so I was going slower. The sun was still high in the sky and I was moving slow. Every now and then we would hear a gunfire or people yelling. I don't think anyone understands what is going on but I do. I made contact with someone who I thought was initially crazy but as the days went on and people started to come back from the dead, well she made the most sense out of all this. I am glad that I made radio contact with Jackie. I hope she is ok. After we lost contact we couldn't re-establish it. It was getting hotter as the day went on. I needed to take a break from the sun and get Casey inside as well. This heat is bad and I don't want her to pass out from heat stroke. That could be dangerous for a little girl. I needed to find a seven eleven or a gas station to cool off from this heat and raid the freezer for something cold to drink. I wasn't sure where one was so I just went with the flow and continue to walk until I find some sort of store.

We were now on the corner of Ohio ave and S Barrington Ave. I knew we were close to the hospital where my brother work and where my parents were at. I wonder if they were ok. I really hope that they are. In order to to get to UCLA medical, we had to pass by VA greater L.A healthcare center. I wasn't sure how that was going to be. Were people there protecting the place or where some of the vets losing their mind and going through some form of PTSD and hurting anything and anyone? I didn't want to pass through there but this was the fastest way unless I backtrack and go around. I didn't want to. I was just going to have to try my luck with Casey on my back. Moving carefully from car to car, hiding and stopping whenever I heard something out of place. It was taking a long time but I had to be careful. Just another hour or two I thought to myself. I would be at UCLA medical looking for my family. I heard gunfire and quickly ducked down and took Casey from my back and used my body as a shield. After a minute or two, the gunfire stop and I heard yelling. I didn't understand it and I didn't want to. I just wanted to keep it moving and get Casey somewhere safe. It took longer for us to get past the health care center, moving slowly not wanted to draw attention was hard with a kid. But I wasn't going to leave her. Only moving when it was quite and stopping when gunfire was heard or yelling. Hiding behind cars. But we finally made it past the VA center. I didn't think this would be hard but I was wrong. Facing the dead was one day but facing the living was something entirely different.

We were still on Ohio ave and we were getting closer and closer to Westwood Blvd. We made it to the overpass and we stop in the shade to rest a bit. But not too long. I didn't want any of the homeless or the dead to find us. Five More minutes of rest and some water I pick Casey back up but she protested this and ask to walk. "Un-huh no way kid,"I told her. "I can walk to you know, I made be small but I can keep up with you", she told me. "I know you can kid but with this weather and everything that going on I don't want to lose track of you or let you get hurt," I told her. She just pouts. I sigh and took out some rope. "Ok well if you want to walk then we were going to be tied together understand," I told her. "Yes ma'am," she said. "It's not ma'am, its Haley" she just nodded and I tied the rope around her small hips and around mine as well.

We I thought we were ready to walk I told her. I move slow taking into account everything that was going on around me. Casey kept up with me as best she could. I slow down a bit more for her. We made it to Camden Ave. I heard car engine startup. I grab Casey and held her close to me as we hid behind a car. I move the car mirror to get a better look over to the other side and saw some people trying to drive away from this shit. I didn't want any part of it so I stay where I was. Only listening for when it is safe for us to move. I wasn't going to let go of Casey in case we needed to make a break for it. I wasn't sure how long we stay there waiting. They kept trying different cars and see which had the most gas and which was the fastest at moving. I just hope they don't find us. I wasn't going to deal with this when all I wanted to do was find my family. When I finally heard them leave I was beyond happy. Casey and I started to move again. We were about twenty minutes away from Westwood Blvd when a car exploded. I curse. Damn, that was going to bring some tickers and growlers our way. "Kid get on my back now, ask," I told Casey. She didn't even respond to me but did what she was told. "Those monsters are going to get us?" she asks me. "Not on my watch kid", I told her. I wasn't going to hide this time and wait for any of those things get to us. So I got up and ran to Westwood Blvd. Only stopping and ducking when I heard gunfire or a scream.

We were on Westwood now and I was slightly out of breathe. All we had to do now was go north and we were home free and I would be with my family again. The walk was slow and tiring. The sun was now setting and we continue to walk. I let Casey off of my back and we walked there together. Since the sun was setting it was getting cooler. Even though were we now close to the hospital I was secretly tired and I knew Casey was as well. The only place we could sleep on or in was in these cars or on top of a truck or bus. I didn't want to be in a car, that wasn't an idea I was fond of. What if we wake up and are surrounded by the dead. So our only option and best choice were to sleep on top of a semi truck or bus. We walk for a few more minutes until I find the best place to sleep. "We are going to sleep on top of that," I told Casey. It was a sleepy matters trunk. I pick her up and started to climb up the side. "Why are we sleeping up here?" she asks."It's a lot safer than sleeping in a car that's low to the ground and up here I can look out for anything or anyone coming out way" I told her. She just nodded and cuddled into my side. I watch as her breathing even out. We were so close and yet so far. But I knew that pushing myself would burn me out and I wouldn't be any use to anyone. So I force myself to lay down careful not to wake Casey and close my eyes. I force sleep to come. With nothing on my mind. I went to a dreamless sleep.