The dead are among us - Chapter 6 - Scavenge

It's been 9 days since the death of Beth, Audrey and Ahmed and the Group have been busy. They've managed to fortify the Cul-de-sac by putting some parked cars to block most of the the road and pavement leading to it. There is a small alleyway in the Cul-de-sac however they couldn't fully block all of it. They've put a big piece of scrap corrugated steel against the entrance which covers most of it. This has been with the help of a man that lives just on the corner of the cul-de-sac called Lewis Stevens. They have put the cars in line with his house so he is still covered aswell as the other 4 houses. The group have still been listening to the emergency radio broadcast however they have stopped broadcasting at midday yesterday. The last broadcast said that it's estimated that around 30-35% of the population are now infected. It also says that the emergency army camp in Birmingham got overrun however others are still up and running. The nearest being Wolverhampton. That still isn't too far away from the main group who are situated in Kidderminster.

Everyone gathers in the living room of Geoff's house and he address the group. "So guys, start of a new day. As you know we've been laying really low and letting the shit outside happen while we've been fortifying and keeping ourselves occupied. We do have a bit of a problem however. We are running a little bit low on gas and we're going to need to make a big food run as we're running low. We've been going to the small Nisa shop that's a few streets away but that hasn't got loads of supply's left now. I've decided me, Dean, Josh and Kate are going to go to the big Tesco store that's around a 10 minute drive away. We can get some fuel there as there's a garage and we can hopefully load the car up with food, water and other useful supplies. Can you guys make sure while we've gone We've still got a lookout at the alley and one on the street to make sure nothing comes in." "Me and Lewis can be lookouts while you're gone" says Colton. "Okay sorted. Can the people that's coming meet me at my car in 10 minutes ready to go."

Josh grabs an empty bagpack and baseball bat. Dean takes an empty bagpack, his double-barrelled shotgun with a few extra shells, aswell as a kitchen knife. Kate brings an empty bagpack, a torch and a kitchen knife. Geoff brings his woodcutters axe aswell as an empty bagpack. They all meet at the car and set off to Tesco's. As they're driving on the main road they see a few cars go past them the opposite way. They feel relieved that at least there are other people surviving out there. 

Just before arriving at Tesco they pull up at the petrol station. "The pumps won't work will they?" Asks Josh. Kate says "only one way to find out". They try all 4 of the pumps but none of them work. They notice that there are a few cans of petrol locked up outside the petrol station shop. Dean, Kate and Josh look inside for the key but to no avail. There were a few bits that they manage to grab though. Them being a few bottles of water and fizzy drinks, some food such as crisps, canned beans and sweets. They also grab the last pack of batteries as they have some battery operated things at home. 

BANG! The three of them run outside and see that Geoff has managed to bash open the padlock to the petrol cans with his axe. There are 4 big Jerry cans of petrol that they load into the car aswell as the supplies they found inside. They get into the car and drive up the road into the car park of Tesco. It's so odd as there are only 3 cars in the entire car park. There is litter everywhere however. There are trolleys on their sides, bins toppled over, and a few infected roaming the car park. They get out of the car and kill the 3 infected people that were there with stabs and swings to their heads. 

The double glass doors at the front of the store has been smashed open so they enter that way. "Be careful guys, its a little bit dark in here so Kate, get your torch out." says Dean. They can still see mostly, however since the powers out they only have limited visibility from the light entering from the windows of the store. They see that there are a few other survivors that are in the store getting supplies. Some of the shelves have been knocked over and food is on the floor. Josh and Geoff each grab a trolley that`s near the entrance and split from each other, Dean goes with Geoff and Kate goes with Josh. Geoff and Dean are in charge with Getting food and water for the group whilst Josh and Kate are in charge with getting other useful items such as toiletries, Cat food for Tiddles the cat, Medical items such as painkiller and bandages aswel as a few things for entertainment (magazines and maybe small games to keep the group entertained). 

Dean and Geoff go onto the isle with the canned foods and see a man that is filling up a bag with as much as he can. He notices them and says "Yo guys, I don`t want any trouble". "You're in luck, neither do we aha, I'm Geoff, and this is my brother in-law called Dean." "The names Marlon. I'm trying to just get some food for my wife and daughter. We've been really struggling. A small group of the undead bust into our house and we barely made it out." Marlon is a well built Black British man. He has short black afro hair with slightly chubby cheeks with dimples in. He has blue jeans and a light grey hoodie on. He is in possession of a machete however it is on the floor at the moment. "Ah undead. We call them infected. Were you listening to any of the emergency broadcasts on the radio?" says Geoff. "Not for a few days. Like I said we had to move from out house. Basically going from one disaster to another at the moment. We've started living in the family car." "You seem like a good guy. If you want to, you can stay with us. There are 2 free houses in our cul-de-sac. It Evergreen Road if you know where that is?" Oh my god yeah I do. That is so kind of you."

"DROP TO YOUR KNEES! YOUR STUFF, BAGS, WEAPONS, THE LOT. IT'S OURS NOW." Dean, Geoff and Marlon look up to see Kate, Josh and a unknown man being held at gunpoint by 4 men with balaclavas. 2 of them have revolvers and the other 2 are holding knives to Kate and the unknown man. "Okay man please. Just don't hurt them. what are you, bandits?" Says Geoff. "Maybe we can make a deal?" says the unknown man also being held at gunpoint. He is a relatively skinny man, in his mid 40's, with curly brown hair that's starting to grey. He also has an American accent. "Yeah what kind of deal?" says one of the bandits in a Irish accent. "Take half the food and let us go. You only have 2 guns. My friend over there has a shotgun and my 5 other friends will be here anytime now, all with weapons of their own. Also with all that racket you just made there are definitely some creeps heading our way." They look at each other slightly worriedly that there might be people coming for them. One of them says "maybe he's right. lets take half and go." the leader of the group agrees in a confident manner and says "sure guys. seems fair. as we're sparing you we will have to get some more stuff from you another time to make up. Evergreen road isn't it?" He points at Geoff and nods. "Aight Lets go". They Take around half of the bags they have got aswel as a few of the knives and the machete. 

"Who the hell were they?" says Josh. "They looked and sounded like gypsies. Some of them are proper tough round here" says Geoff in a worried voice. "And they know where we live, what are we going to go?" cries Kate. "Don't mention it to the others. It will terrify them. They're not going to come for us, and even if they did, we're going to make sure we're prepared" says Dean.

They take the things that they still have out of the store to the car and load them in the car. Marlon says "I'm still going to join you. You lot seem like good people and seem like you need some help. What about this guy, is he staying." "What is your name by the way" says Josh. He looks at all the people there and says "My names Chris. Chris Maynard. Thing is I'm not from around here. I'm from Tucson Arizona in USA. I was here on a business meeting as I work in sales, hence why I'm fairly good at talking myself out of situations. I tried to get to the airport to leave early but it was overrun by the time I got there." Geoff asks "So are you coming or not?" "No. No offence but I hardly know you. I'm not going to die to some thugs just for the sake of it." Geoff replies "well then. If you change your mind then you know the road we're on." They shake hands and part ways.

Chris leaves on a bicycle that was leant up against a wall near the store. Geoff, Dean, Josh and Kate all head back home and Marlon gets back to his car and heads there aswell. When he pulls up to the blocked off Cul-de-sac Lewis is in the garden and sees him. Lewis is in his late 30s, he's just under 6 foot tall with broad shoulders. He has always had a manual labour job so is a very hands on person. He has thick wavy brown hair and slightly green eyes. He says "Who the hell are you?" in a slightly annoyed voice. Lewis is known to have a bit of a temper at times. "Hey, The names Marlon. I met Geoff and that at the supermarket. They said I could stay here. This is my wife Aisha and this is my little daughter Jamilia." "You best come in then" Says Lewis with a smile on his face.