Chapter 4: Sleepover

As we were driving, I noticed the Mineral Wells sign up ahead. It was rusted and probably as old as the town itself.

We passed many of the old buildings I've seen before. Zen took a right turn and we were now facing the tall mountain near the town. There I spotted the odd building. It had iron bars on the windows and the vintage soda signs littering the windows behind the bars.

"Look we can hide the cars and stuff in that alley, should give enough cover in case there is anyone else here," I say as Zen nods and parks in the alley with everyone following behind. 

I got out and went to the door to see if it was open. Thankfully it was, saves enough time to get in and set up. The sun was starting to set and it was getting dark, we had to be quick. 

"It's all good, let's hurry and get inside," I say to everyone as I prop open the door. 

Together we covered the windows in various trash bags we could find, this place needed to not have any light getting out, which allowed us to have some lanterns glowing around the shop.

Zen and Trey moved a few shelves as Vegas and Jocelyn swept up the best they could with the shitty broom they found in the back. Kiersten and I were tasked with setting up the sleeping arrangements. Bella had grabbed Jaxon and the two were chatting behind the counter of the place, I watched her laugh a little as the pair looked to be getting along. 

"I'm glad she's doing better," Kiersten says to me as I turn to see her finish setting up her sleeping bag. 

"Yeah, Jaxon too. The boy has been quiet so it's good to see they are getting along." I reply as I take a seat on my sleeping bag and stretch out my neck

"How far are we from the lake? Shouldn't be too long right?" She asks me sitting beside me

"Yeah not far, but due to all the road blockages and that incident at the gas station, it delayed us by a few hours. But by the morning we'll leave and should be there by noon. Enough time to set up barriers, and defenses. Lord knows we need to get there soon.." I say looking over at my brother and cousins starting up the camping stove. It was going to be a long night. 

After dinner everyone settled in but my brother, Kiersten, and I. We sat behind the counter with a small lantern in the middle playing Gin. I couldn't help but jump at the random noises that crashed outside. It could have been the wind, coyotes, or those things. 

My mind thought back to the thing I killed. I didn't even think about it I just killed it. It unnerved me to think I did all that to protect my family. I got nudged 

"Hey, your turn Gabs," Zen says to me as I snap back into our card game and look at my cards for a moment. I had three Kings, two sevens, a three of hearts, and an ace of spades. I picked up the card from the deck and it was a seven of spades. I took the card and put it with the sevens, discarded my three of hearts, and knocked quietly on the floor. 

Kiersten and Zen groaned as I flipped my cards revealing the single ace I had left. 

"Damn you, I needed that three you threw out," My brother says as I roll my eyes.

Every time we played this game he would count the cards to see who had what and half of the time he was spot on especially since i don't have the best poker face when I receive a card I needed. 

"What had you so zoned out? If you were that close to winning you would be eager for your turn to come." Kiersten says as she grabs the cards and starts to shuffle them for their next games. 

"I was thinking about that bat-thing I killed earlier," I say honestly pulling my knees to my chest. 

I could feel their stares. 

"It unnerves me that I killed something that was once a human being. I mean I understand it was no longer living just infected, but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to think about it" I explain as I felt Kiersten's hand on my arm.

"You have every right to feel like that. I mean I would be if I was in the same position. You were protecting Bella and me so we could escape. I am grateful you not only survived but saved us." She says as I look up at her 

"You should be proud, hell, you killed one of those things before me. Without any help too. You're lucky you didn't get hurt" Zen says as I move my legs to sit cris-cross. 

"Really? Proud? I killed a living thing it was-" I was cut off by a voice behind me

"A monster trying to kill us," Trey says hopping over the counter to join our conversation.

"It wasn't human anymore Gabby, just a husk of what it used to be. What you did was most likely put it out of its misery before it hurt anyone else." Trey says patting my back 

The more I thought about it I realized how painful it must have been. After watching my father get turned into one of those things, I couldn't imagine that happening to me. 

"As much as that helps with the thought, I still will need time to process it. After all, I know that won't be the last of killing those things." I say as they all agree. 

"Better to know how you killed it, if we know the best way to kill those things then we can act quickly when one attacks," Trey says as Kiersten delts out the cards, including Trey this time. 

"How did you kill it, there was so much blood I couldn't tell," Zen asks me as he passes on the first card

"Well I first shot it in the chest, but that only stopped it for a second. The final blow was when the arrow went through its eye and out the backside of its head" I explain picking up the card and adding it to my hand, discarding the Queen of Hearts I didn't need. 

"So aim for the head, simple enough," Trey says as he takes his turn discarding a four of clovers. 

We played the rest of the game before finally settling in for the night. As I pulled my sleeping bag over my shoulder I heard a shrill screech in the distance. I knew it wasn't a coyote, but a beast looking for its next kill...