Backtracking Through Memories

"Week 4, day 3. Waking up with a stiff back should be the least of my worries. But when you're forced to sleep up in a tree because you don't have a sentry shift... It's definitely not a fun experience. I managed to leave the bunker without many people noticing. The one guard that was on duty with the doors was easy enough to persuade. 'Just want to check the cameras, then I'll be back in.' Ya... Just wanted to check and see how long they'd watch me walk away.
I figured I'd take it slow for the first bit. I plan on finding my answers before I bite the dust, and to do that I need to be careful. I managed to walk back to the forest near the edge of town. 'Might as well go back to where we met Private Jake Peters to start my search.'
Looking down to the ground to see if all was clear before I jumped down, I made a mental note to try and stop talking to myself. I've realized that the silence in this Zombie infested world can be just as frightening as the moan of a hoard coming towards you. And sense the team isn't with me anymore... I might as well take both parts in the conversation. It was a quirk back from my excessive gaming days that I never really quite got over.
Walking through the trees, and carefully trying to spot anything moving in the forest around me, I made it back to the same clearing that we had been in on that odd encounter. Looking to where Peters had broken through the tree line, I saw the conversation happen all over again. Peters, looking dead yet still talking somewhat coherently. Me, asking him questions with the team behind me. Then Vipers knives in his legs, my shot to his chest, a final pause and then Eagle putting a bullet through each eye.
With the images dissolving from view, I turned to look at the rest of the clearing. A new vision bubbled to the surface of my mind. Everyone else sleeping soundly with Viper and I as the night's watch. Leaning against each other reliving the world before the plague. Holding her hand as she rested her head on my shoulder. Then came the sunrise and a pleasant exchange with Eagle before starting the day.
The second flashback dissolving away into the air, but leaving my eyes damp with tears. It's only been one day, but dying alone has always been my fear. And knowing that I'll probably never see everyone I had gotten close to again was a heavy weight on my mind.
Wiping my eyes on my sleeve and adjusting the pack on my back, I looked back to Private Peter's entrance. 'Time to start going I guess.' And nodding to my own statement I followed suit. Grasping the handle of my battle rifle and turning the safety off, I broke through the trees and started off towards town.
It was odd walking down this path. Not just for the fact that I was walking the same path that the Zombie I might become did. It was the nature. I could still see broken branches and stomped grass where Peters had walked through. But on top of that there was new grass coming up in the small patches of dirt. The leaves on the trees seemed greener then they did when we came through these woods the first time. If nature was healing... Maybe we would have a chance as well. Maybe humans would be able to heal from this plague.
The sharp snap of a twig being stepped on brought me out of my thoughts. Swinging around and raising the sight to my eye, I quickly looked for where the sound might have come from. Definitely behind me, but any more then that I couldn't tell. I wish Viper were here. She could have pointed it out with no problems.
Shaking my head softly to get my attention back to matters at hand, I slowly turned around and kept walking down my path. Rifle securely in my hands and my ears trying to pick up any sound they could, I knew I had to get out of this forest. If I got cornered by Zombies here, then my leaving would be for practically nothing. Picking up the pace, I continued through the trees tracking Peters progression backwards as best as I could. It helped that Zombies don't exactly watch where they're walking. There were enough broken twigs to keep the trail visible.
A couple of times I heard movement behind me, but it seemed like I was gaining ground between us so I didn't worry. By the time I broke through the tree line on the other side of the forest the sun was just sitting on top of the horizon. I needed to find a place to spend the night, and quickly.
Looking around at the buildings in front of me, most of them seemed to be little one floor shops. 'I guess it'll have to do.' Walking towards one of the buildings, I noticed myself scratching at my elbow. Taking conscious control of my hand I placed it back on the grip of my gun and shook my head slowly. Talking to myself and subconsciously scratching my bite... 'Well,' I shrugged, 'things could be worse.'
I stopped in front of a little shop. It looked good enough for the night. Iron grate shielding the window, heavy metal door leading into the shop, and what looked like a metal grate above the counter too. Either this was a rough neighbourhood or someone had a lot of spare metal when the plague started.
Leaning my battle rifle against the side of the building, I took out the lock pick kit I'd found back at the bunker. It was a good idea to bring it along just in case. I wasn't exactly practiced with the equipment, but after a few tries I had unlocked the door and replaced the kit in my bag. Picking up my gun and flicking on the attached flashlight, I slowly moved in. There was still enough light coming through the window for me to see, but I didn't know if someone was still in here or not.
'Hello?' I called. 'Anybody home?'
Waiting for a response and getting none, I started to search the room. Nothing behind the counter. Nothing in the bathrooms. And nothing but overturned and disorganized boxes in the supply closet. 'Maybe this was just my lucky night,' I thought as I looked out the front window.
As soon as the thought had crossed my mind, 5 figures slid out from the forest. The way they were moving they were definitely not the normal type of Zombie. And I thought I knew 4 of the shapes moving away from the cover of the trees, but I couldn't be sure with the descending darkness.
I slowly opened the door and was about to ask who it was when I heard five voices drift down the street from the group.
'For a long time we've been marching off to battle,
In our thund'ring herd we feel a lot like cattle.'
Chuckling to myself lightly as I heard the code, I wondered if they had thought of the same things when they passed through the clearing in the woods. Cupping my hands around my mouth to project my voice up the street, I softly sang the reply.
'Be our guest,
Be our guest.
Put our service to the test.'
Before I had even finished the song, one of the shapes bolted away from the others and came straight in my direction. Stepping out into the street, and into whatever light was left, just in time to catch Viper as she jumped into my open arms. Hugging each other tightly as the others walked towards us, she nuzzled my cheek and whispered in my ear. 'Don't you dare leave me again Reaper. Just because I can find you no matter where you go, doesn't mean I want to have to.'
Sighing lightly against her shoulder, I replied just as softly. 'I guess you're right. But I did have a good reason for leaving. You know that, right?'
Loosening her grip, she stepped back and looked up into my eyes. 'I know. But we have a good reason for coming.'
The others stopped beside her and nodded with agreement. 'Can't let a brother go down alone,' said Eagle.
'Besides, you'd probably go crazy without us,' finished Phoenix with a wink.
'You guys have no idea,' I commented. 'I've been talking to myself a lot lately.'
'And when is that any different from you normally?' asked Viper, rolling her eyes with a smile.
With laughter from everyone, I invited them inside. Whatever answers are out there, whatever evil awaits... We'll face it together, and we'll see each other through 'til the end. That's just how families work."

Excerpt from the battle logs of Steven A. Carpenter. Code Named: Reaper.