Cajun Killing (2012)

[Dark Nomad]

It had been six months since the beginning of the outbreak. Mike had been scrapping by living outside of the city. He would look for food in the stores surrounding it, but he knew sooner of later he would have to go into the city. Others were fighting each other to not have to fight the dead that controlled the city. They were afraid. Mike just knew he needed to do whatever it took to survive.

The days were getting shorter and each day it got colder. Mike had to get more food and ammo before the winter came. He checked his ammo supply before leaving his cabin. He still had enough ammo for a fight,having stocked it for years. Though, he didn't want to waste it all. His Ithaca 37, M16A1, and Smith and Wesson Model 460XVR did the job of scaring others away, but if he were outnumbered then he would have to fight. Though the fighting would draw the dead there and he couldn't have that.

Boxes of ammo was what he started with, but it wasn't an armory. He wasn't planned for a war but he had spent a lot of ammo on killing the dead. He spent a significant amount less on people but he did use it on people who deserved it.

Now he was out of the cabin and headed toward the city. It wasn't anything like Chicago or New York but a city was always more populated than his empty hometown. Baton Rouge was on the waterfront though, so the dead would keep coming his way anyway. He might as well get what he could before he had to leave.

[Winters]

"Girl, im gettin real sick a you not talkin. It aint healthy." The dark skinned man shoulted, knowing there wasnt anybody around to hear him cept the dead. Not since yesterday. "Hey Bud? Being alive is unhealthy..." Manda retorted, and the old guy just kept quiet, making a facial gesture that showed them both she was right. Unlikely as it mightve been, the pair had been held up in an old motel not far from the Gun Shop Bud used to own. He and Amanda had been here for a couple of years now, and she always helped him out like the daughter that didnt run off on him. But she didnt ever talk about where she came from, who her parents were, or why she bothered sticking around to take crap from an old man she didnt even know.

When the room had gone silent again for what seemed like an hour, Bud was starting to clean the last gun in his closet, an M-Sixty which was in multiple pieces at this point. Mandy was at the window basking in the sun, watch the small number of infected outside on the road, who seemingly heard them, but not well enough to know where the two were. Her skin was so white she was almost reflecting the rays of sunlight off of her. The two made a very strange pair of survivors, but in times like these, there wasnt any room for racial discrimination.

Suddenly, the sound of a trucks tires screeched, and right before she seen the undead turn, they were ran over by a large vehicle. Bud quickly jumped up from the bed, quickly as he could anyways, and walked over to the window. "Move it. Gon get!" Bud whispered loudly, but the sound of the vehicle crashing into the barricade of cars they put up last week, and his voice was raised when the horn sounded. "Son'va motherm*cker..." Amanda didnt bother trying to see what happened. Instead, she grabbed her pistol, and headed for the door, undoing the deadbolt. Bud knew it was bad news, but he didnt stop her. Mandy knew what had to be done about the horn, and that more infected would show up the longer it was going.

[Dark Nomad]

Mike had taken his truck to get into the city. The metal of the truck would protect him from the stray dead, and would help him carry back food and ammo. He was going to the gun store first. Things didn't go quite as planned as he tried to ram his way through a group of the infected. He hadn't seen the barrier of cars lined up on the other side of the group. As he smashed into the cars, he knew his day was just gonna get worse. Before the thought finished going through his head, the horn malfunctioned and started going off on its own.

With a slur of swears, Mike held his head and tried to regain his thoughts. He hit his head on the steering wheel when the truck came to a sudden stop. The dead that he hadn't killed with his trick were already at the door hoping to get in. He needed to get out and shut off the horn before more came. He cranked down the window a few turns to open it enough. Open enough to stick his knife out. A few quick jabs to the heads of the two trying to pry the window open more put them to the ground.

With a quick shove, he pushed open the door and knocked over another infected trying to get to him. With a sharp stomp to the back of it's neck, it wasn't getting up. Though the limp thing continued to snarl at him. He pulled the lever to pop the hood. As he pulled it, he saw someone coming out of the nearby building. He raised his M16A1 as he moved around the the front of the truck. He didn't know this person and was going to make sure they didn't try to kill him. He lifted up the hood and disconnected the battery to shut off the horn before turning his attention to the two people.

[Winters]

Soon as the horn stopped, Bud followed up next to Mandy, shotgun in hand in case things got sour. He was pretty sure things were about to, but seen that the man aimed the gun at them, and didnt pull the trigger. Mandy aimed her at him instinctively, but Bud didnt even bother. There was no way Mandy would shoot him, and if the guy wasnt going to shoot first and ask questions second, the situation wasnt going to get any worse. He didnt know them. "Did Spencer send you out here, huh?" The dark haired girl tried to speak in an intimidating tone, but even she herself was convinced it wouldnt work. Bud seen the way the man held onto the battle rifle, knowing he was experience, and wouldnt be the least bit intimidated. Which was another reason he didnt bother bring up his shotgun.

"Simmer down, girl. He aint from nowhere. Right, son?" Bud put his hand on the pistol, lowering it for the girl, making sure she didnt get trigger happy with all of the practice she had over the last few months. He was also banking that this guy was just another survivor, because if Spencer had been sending more people out this way and they got close, it meant their motel wouldnt be a safehouse anymore. Mandy might have allowed the gun to be lowered, but she didnt turn from the man standing in front of the truck. The only thing cutting the silence had been the mangled infected, which she glanced down at every now and then. Bud, on the other hand, knew there would be others showing up in minute now, and had been looking around to make sure they didnt get swarmed.

[Dark Nomad]

Mike just nodded his head at the man's response before lowering his own weapon. "Yes sir, ain't from nowhere. The f*ck is with these cars? They ain't exactly keepin' em in or outta the city." He said as he questioned the cars. He figured they weren't exactly for the dead but if they were, he'd have to question their thinking. Mike dabbed at the blood coming from the split across the bridge of his nose where he hit the steering wheel. "Well sh*t, if I remember right, ya used to own the gun store I was just goin' to shop at. Right round the corner here, yeah?" He said as he recognized the older man.

Mike had been there a few times for ammo and so recognized the face he'd seen before the outbreak. It wasn't like he knew the man personally, he didn't even know his name, just the store he owned. Mike went to try and fix his truck enough to start back up, but could tell he couldn't do what was needed to keep it from becoming a moving infection attraction. He simply gave up and grabbed his bag out of the truck and shut the door in case he could come back for it. "Name's Mike." He said as he put out his hand to shake their's.

[Winters]

Thing was, there had actually been other cases where people from around the area recognized him. It was bound to happen, especially in the south, where shooting guns was the American passtime. When you owned a good, off the grid gunstore, you met a lot of local people. Bud recognized the man Mike, but didnt mention it. He could tell they were both aware of the exchange in familiar face when he shook his hand, giving him a nod. Mandy on the other hand wasnt too friendly, which was her nature, but Bud set her in her place. "The f*ck is wrong witchu? Man lowered his gun, offered to shake ya hand and everythang. Ya mother never taught you manners or sommin?"

Mandy turned to look at Bud, glaring at him like she was going to say something, maybe even shoot him with her own gun, but she did. She just walked back to the motel room they were in before, slamming the door hard. Bud knew it mustve seemed like a family feud to Mike, so he cocked his head and shrugged it off, knowing that there had been a line that was crossed. There was still so much he didnt know about it, and couldnt really judge her, nor could anybody else. There was something she was keeping inside, an anger.

"Looks like them cars doin they job." He pointed at the smashed truck, almost apologetically. With a little time, he could get it going again, no problem. Not like a busted bumper mattered anymore. "Ahhh, jus playin. Call me Bud, like my shop. Ya too late, Mandy and I cleaned it out already. Traded it all for food last month. Most of it anyway..."[/b] Bud trailed off, seeing the four infected stumble around the corner of the motel. "Here comes trouble. Help me with these n lets get inside. Fix ya truck later."

[Dark Nomad]

Mike looked at the man like he was crazy. Then with a shrug he just accepted the answer. Nothing he could do to change that Bud had traded away all of his ammo for food. He could have saved the ammo and took the food. He moved to get rid of the few infected and attempted to take them out without shooting. Though Mike normally shot them before they got close to his cabin.

It was quick since they weren't all close together. He simply stabbed and waited for the next one to move in. "Why do they always bite?" Mike asked out of frustration. "Damn biters." He complained before turning back to Bud. Mike still needed what he came out here for. "So of yer store is empty. Ya know where I can find another?" He asked, hoping Bud could point him in the direction of the competition.

[Winters]

Seeing how the man took care of the remaining shamblers, Bud already had a good feeling about him. He didnt trust too many people, and it wasnt like he was going to trust Mike exactly, but if he wanted to kill him, he damn well would have by now. But he wasnt taking any chances, least not until he was sure the man wasnt going to rob them blind. Especially after seeing the look when Bud told him they traded all their ammo. "So its ammo ya after, huh? We was gon check out a place a few miles down the road, figure maybe it wunt been completely ransacked yet. Tell ya what. Come with us, grab whatever ammo you need, and ill give you the parts to fix ya truck there. Even if they aint no ammo, ill fix ya truck. Owe you somethin."

The odds were, there wasnt a chance Mike needed all of the ammo, and there would definitely be a variety. Truth me told, Mandy and him didnt use much. But a lie on top of that was that they already had quite a bit stocked away for target practice. "Manda. Grab ma bag n gitchyass out here. We goin on that run we talked about." Amanda heard Bud from outside, and clenched her fist. She didnt like that they were going out right now, but she wasnt going to stay behind, not when Spencers group could be on their tail any day now.

Mandy went to the back of the room, and pushed a few metal crates stocked full of ammo to the side, grabbing the bag that had some extra shells and medial supplies. She knew they wouldnt need either of them, but just in case, it was better to be safe. Not bother closing the door on the way out, she stepped around the murky watered pool, and into the parking lot with the other two. "Hes not coming with us, is he?"

[Dark Nomad]

Mike nodded as he thought over the plan. Even after six months in this hell, one could tell he was a soldier of some kind. High and tight hair cut and clean shaved face. "Ammo and food. Basic sh*t ya need to survive these days. But I'll take the ammo first. Sounds like a plan there, Bud." He said. He honestly didn't need any parts to fix the truck, just tools. He was planning on removing the horn since it didn't get too messed up in the crash.

Then Bud called the girl, Amanda down from the motel room. She had an attitude to her, but it didn't bother Mike. He knew that the hard survived in this world. She would survive if she kept that mentality. Or it might lead to her death. You never knew. Then she turned her attitude toward Mike, and he just smiled at her.

"Nah, sweetheart. I was plannin' on playin' house in yer motel room. Gonna see if the porn channels come through or if I gotta pay for them." He said right back at her. "Now let's get goin'." He said as he motioned for her to hurry up. "And kill that attitude already. It ain't helpin' ya any." He added as they started going.

[Winters]

The teenager didnt react to the comment, at least not verbally. Bud could see the look on her face however, and knew she wasnt going to enjoy this. They didnt usually team up with people on a run, so this was different for them, and for her the most. Hopefully she would realize that if he was willing to take this risk, she knew they would be okay, because getting to the gunstore was going to be a lot easier said then done. He just didnt worry about it now that they had somebody else with a gun or two. Or three. Yeah, pretty sure they would be fine.

Taking the lead, Amanda didnt look back, not even to see if there had been anymore of the infected. She would hear them, or somebody else would, without a problem. The place would be a straight shot down the road, and there were no shortuts, which made things a little easier for them at least. But the lack of conversation was getting a little unnerving, even for her. Thankfully, Bud said something. "Momma always usedt say, call anythin ya like, so long as ya dont call me late for nothing. You can call me Bud, like the name on the sign. And this here is-" Bud was cut off. "None of his business.", she filled in. It was rude enough they ignored the mans question after he introduced himself, and the fact her himself didnt shake hands, but now Mandy was trying to keep her name a secret. There had to have been a good reason, name didnt mean anything anymore, but he wasnt going to start a fight about it on the road.

[Dark Nomad]

Mike simply smirked. This girl was going to get on his nerves pretty quick. She obviously didn't catch that Bud had already said her name when telling her to come out of the motel. "Don't worry girl, I don't need to know your name is Amanda." He said before he started following her. Plenty of guns and some ammo kept Mike alive. That and his skills as a Marine.

He walked with his M16A1 at a resting position in his hands. If he had been wearing a uniform, he would have looked like he belonged in the war zone that was now Baton Rouge. He kept his eyes open as they walked. He scanned every surrounding building and made sure each street was empty as they came around the corner. Mike looked up and down each building waiting for anyone to pop out. Then he saw someone.

He quickly grabbed the girl by her back and pulled her down behind a car. "Girl, get down. There's someone in the window there." He whispered harshly at her while trying to see if there were others. After not seeing anyone, he looked back at the window where the man was standing. As he looked harder at the man and tried to line up a shot, he realized the man was covered in blood. Then he realized the guy was actually one of the infected. "Just a biter, but let's keep our heads down and on the same side of the street as it." He said, offering up the safest plan that kept them from having to fight anything.

[Winters]

If it wasnt for the openness of the road, Bud probably would have laughed, but knew it wasnt the time. Cracking jokes was one thing, it reflected his sense of humor. But they didnt need to draw anymore attention. That, and she actually liked Mandy, wanting to stay on her good side. Quickly as they came down the road, Mike made the move on her, but it had been to get into a cover position. Bud did the same. Not with the same agility, but enough not to give himself away. It was an all clear. Something about this guy made him realize Mike was a man of the military. Maybe it was his past, or maybe he was among the soldiers during the first weeks of the outbreak. Either way, he was a soldier, no doubt. As if the gun stance didnt give it away.

"If they was anybody out here, ida known em by now. We come up these parts every now n again, not a soul left. If you seen anyone, they scavvin, like you, so be easy on that rifle of yours." Bus ordered. It wasnt so much an order as it was friendly advice, for the both of them, Mandy included. She did get trigger happy, which was dumb, but sometimes appropriate. Bud never pulled a gun on anybody who didnt have one on him, but from the past month, he gathered that the girl had seen a lot more than him, and she was a third his age. "Paranoid much?" Amanda stumbled back up to her feet, making sure she could pull her gun if she needed to. No harm done, but there was a line between being paranoid and being careful.

[Dark Nomad]

Mike took the advice with a grain of salt. He had seen, dealt with, survivors who were desperate and looking for supplies. He just nodded to show that he understood Bud's instructions. He wasn't going to argue with the man, but he wasn't going to stop being careful. He cared about living and wouldn't stop being cautious because one man said he'd know anyone in the city. There was no way to know everyone inside since the older man was only staying at one street.

Then Amanda called him paranoid. She was trying to insult him. He wasn't even bothered. "Fine line between paranoid and careful. Either way, I'm still alive." He explained as he got up and continued to follow her. He kept looking out though, even though he was being told otherwise and ridiculed. If he had to take a guess, he figured they were pretty close after the half hour long walk. Part of what took so long was them making sure everything was clear. Mostly it was Mike making sure, while he ignored the eye rolls from Amanda.

[Winters]

One good thing came from Mike doing the rounds with his awareness on each street, and that was both Amanda and Bud were nearly certain at this point he wasnt with anybody else. This mad things easier, and trust a lot easier. Sure, there was always the chance that it was an elaborate scheme, but taking it this far wouldnt have any gain. The only reason the other groups didnt bother with this side of town was because they were too busy fighting eachother, with Bud and Amanda on the sidelines hoping for a loss on both ends. If the two groups could just thin out enough, then it would be easier hiding from them. They werent being hunted, it seemed. They were okay.

Something here at the gunstore they needed were more cleaning supplies for their stockpile. Really, they didnt need anymore guns, or ammo, they had enough. But it would be nearly impossible to actually take any of it back without Mike getting onto them, so the truth would have to come out. Hopefully it would smooth things over between Amanda and the solider, as well. She was hoping it would at least. "We lied to you back at the motel. We have a lot of guns, and even more ammunition. We were just being careful too." Amanda spoke, feeling like she was getting something off her chest. She might not have cared for the guy, but the truth was he could help them. Bud knew that too, and thats why he bothered keeping him along.

"Yee. They tried ta take our sh*t, leave us dry. I aint havin that, so we split, took they stash with us. Gonna end up using all the bullets, killin emselves. They wed have nothin left for our own. Only two of us, now, and we got more than we need. This run? We takin the rest before them. They need it, they find us. They cant find us, we good." Bud might have sounded a little crazy, but it was supply and demand. "You can have what ya want, we know ya aint with Spencers group. But sooner or later, they coming. We gotta be out by then, or leave all this for em. I aint havin that. Your gonna help us kill em."

[Dark Nomad]

Mike knew that they weren't being totally honest since they said they traded ammo for food, and not in the way Mike had a few times. He'd been attacked and defended himself. Killing those people got him more goods. A twinkie was the prize of these goods. Gave him a nice dessert one night. He hadn't thought of packing sweets when he prepared his cabin. He just focused on the essentials. Now the essentials were running out, which is why he was here in the first place. He didn't want to hurt anyone but would defend himself against everything.

"I figured ya did. You guys ain't sh*t when it comes to lying. If ya had traded all yer ammo away for food, the people could have just shot you and took back the food. If they didn't, then you'd have offered me food for helpin' ya. If ya didn't then how did ya know I wouldn't'a killed ya for yer food?" He explained his thought process to Amanda. Though part of it was just intuition, gut feeling, and not reasoning.

But Bud had explained further about why they lied. Something about two groups in the city fighting each other. Stupid people. Sure other survivors were a threat, but the real threat were the biters. Anyone who thought that other people were the priority were stupid. Killing a biter should have been the number one concern. That's why Mike only killed people who attacked him.

"Well let's not let them idiots get their hands on more ammo. Keep them from killing themselves, and trying to kill us." He said as he started to load up his bag. He took what he needed for his guns, as much as he could. As he was finishing up, he heard a thump from the back room. He pulled his M16A1 up to his shoulder and moved toward the door. As he opened it, he saw what made the noise. A biter who seemed to have spent his last few moments drinking. The older man had turned and was stuck in the room. When the door opened he moved for it. Mike quickly smashed the biter in the face with the butt of the gun. As it fell to the ground, Mike hit it again and smashed the skull.

As he looked around he thought up a good plan to get rid of any ammo they couldn't carry. Two bottles of whiskey sat on the desk, one only half empty. He took that one and stuffed a bit of cloth from the biter's shirt into it. Then he took the full bottle and cracked it open. After taking a quick swig, he offered it to the others. He didn't care if Amanda was a teenager, she had survived long enough to get a drink. "We're gonna torch the stuff we can't take. Keep it outta Spencer's hands." He said as the bottle made its way back to him.

He started putting the guns and ammo into a pile. He took the full bottle and started pouring it onto the pile. Once the bottle was empty, they made their way to the front of the store. Mike then pulled out his flip lighter and a cigarette. After lighting the cigarette, he lit the rag on the bottle. He made sure to throw the bottle hard enough that it smashed on the pile. It all went up in a beautiful fiery blaze. Before the fire got too big, they left the store.