Thread: the new beginning // randomname & sixlikesgoree

It was nice to see faces that did not look at him like he was the devil once they knew he was military. During the past few months, Jake had gotten why couldnt you stop this or this is your fault often. Of course, those people were not bitter at him directly just the military and government overall. Their complaint was valid. Why else was there the Army and the National Guard? Why were they called in under times of duress? To stop the violence and stop whatever was going on. They failed this time. Yes, it is a true miracle. I never doubted Id make it back, though. I knew it was going to happen eventually. Jake responded with a soft smile towards the new group and towards Maggie. Carl, being the young, nave child he was, decided to ask something more direct that the adults were avoiding. What happened? I thought you guys were supposed to stop this from happening. Why didnt you- Carl, thats enough. Lori hissed and cut him off. Jake knew it was innocent but he saw no reason to hide it. Besides, he could tell everyone his story and only have to tell it once. It was not something he wanted to remember. No, its quite alright. Your boy has a point. It was about three or four months ago when I got the call from one of the Commanders. Myself and thousands of other members of the military were being sent home. Most soldiers were sent in their home state, like myself. I was in charge of most everything that happened in Northern Atlanta when the outbreak first started. I called here every single day but the phone lines were down already. I wanted to leave my post and come back to the farm but the penalty was death if we abandoned our post. We were constantly told that we would be going home soon enough. But that never happened. I stayed at my post. I helped wherever it was needed hospitals, safe zones, and other things. I was shot at about every day but that was the norm from my time in Iraq. I guess it was worse here because they were American citizens looking to see their family and friends but but there was nothing that I could do. Sighing, it was clearly difficult to talk about a few things he had to do. I had to do things things I wont say now and things I hope to never think about again. It was a little over a month and a half ago, maybe two months, when I knew almost all hope was lost. Im sure you all saw the city get bombed. We did not even know it was happening. I was inside one of the safe zones just outside the hospital. I dont know how but I survived it. The entire building collapsed, there was fire but I was somehow spared. It appeared that everyone was truly engrossed in the story so far and Jake honestly felt better talking about it, getting out his system. I walked for a while. I was trying to get back this way. I had nothing but the clothes on my back and my assault rifle. Bandits were a huge issue. I ran into other groups out and about that were not exactly fond to see a soldier. I had to fight daily. I ate basically nothing. If you folks have been on the road then you know what it is like except I did not have the pleasure of anyones company but my own. I made it back to my uncles ranch and found my truck. From there, I booked it across the backroads to here. I ran into trouble a few days ago. Some thieves tried to hi-jack my truck but I fought them off. That was the cause of the bullet wound. Basically, there was no way to stop it. Once the infection spread further, they ordered the city to be leveled hoping that would contain it. That obviously did not happen. Ive been out there. Ive witnessed this thing first hand. Im lucky to be here. Im lucky to be alive. After finishing, he squeezed Maggies leg again just for reassurance that he was indeed here and alive. It appeared that Rick smiled at him as Daryl almost cracked one as well. This was good for them there was someone at the farm now that had been out there themselves. Jake knew the infected were not safe and that was obvious. Again, a public display like this was not something Jake wanted to bring it up to Hershel so it was going to wait. Well, it sure is nice to hear such a miracle in a time like this. I know you two must feel much stronger together. Carol cooed in her soft voice. It truly touched her to hear about and witness a love story like Jake and Maggie had. Carl took an interest in him, too. He asked him all kinds of questions about being in planes and traveling and guns. Of course, Jake did not say anything too specific that was wrong for a child to hear, but he definitely entertained Carl for a while during the meal. It appeared that the members of Ricks group liked Jake. He made quite the first impression. He knew how to handle himself and he was clearly a tough person to keep down. Concentrating on the meal, Jake ate slowly even though he was tempted to scarf down his food. Jake knew better than that. He asked who all cooked the meal and he realized it was not only Patrica, Beth, and Maggie, but some of the women from the group helped. He made sure to compliment them all with nice manners, showing that even all he had gone through had not ruined him. Jake felt like a new man. It was only a week ago when he thought that all hope was lost. Now, it was all found. The meal went by quickly and Jake slowly ate his food. Patricia and Beth were both egging him on to eat more until he was full. While Jake appreciated it he filled up much faster than he anticipated so after finishing his meal, he watched some of the others start to disperse. His hand moved up Maggies waist and finally his arm draped around her neck. It had been a while but Jake was still the same Jake she knew before he left. Now, he was never leaving her again. ---------------- Even if it felt like a thank you was in order to the woman, Shane did not utter such a word. Instead, he was ready to bust out of the door and start causing all kinds of chaos. It was not until she stuck a hammer into his hand with a fiery voice when he listened. Damn. He was wrong about her. She was not some innocent little kid and in the light, she looked in her 20s. That hair was confusing it was different. Shane was a more traditional kind of man. Nonetheless, he did not take her appearance into too much detail. The only thing he worried about now was getting the hell out of here. Suddenly, he wanted to live and he did not wish to die here. If it meant listening to this stranger, then damn it, he would do his best. At least she knew how many were remaining. Plus, she offered him a deal that he could not refuse taking their supplies and getting out alive. Of course, nobody was to be trusted. If she did anything stupid, he might just kill her as well so he can take everything. Something told Shane she might not let him literally take anything he wanted. If she did, Shane would take every last clump of dirt if it might be useful to his survival. The plan was not too bad. Shane would lie and wait, pretending that she was still tied up. In return, he would ambush the next asshole that walked into the door. They were probably expecting the captives to run outside because nobody made a move towards the door yet. Instead, Shane crouched down below the window near the door and waited. He was not nave. There was nothing that would make him think that running out on his own was alright. He was not stupid. Other captives might have just ran outside now and tried to escape, but not him. Shane also had an advantage here the advantage was surprise. It could take down even the biggest threats. Plus, Shane was a sizeable man. He would not have been easy to take on in a straight up fight anyways. With all his training as an officer, things would come natural to him when fighting and killing. He shot people before the outbreak started so taking lives was nothing new. It was just more frequent now than when he was an officer. Back then, he did not go around looking to kill people. Now? He did. When she cried out for help, Shane waited. The fat man entered and when he realized this was a faade, he was not close enough for Shane to reach without alerting him. Now that the alerting did not matter, Shane made his move. The man was too busy struggling with the girl to hear Shane behind him. The former officer kicked the man in the back of his right knee, sending him toppling to the ground. It jarred the gun from his hand while Shane raised the hammer high above his head before striking firmly in the top of the mans skull. The bone cracked and blood started pouring. It took two more strikes in the same place before the skull was split open and the man was dead. More blood splattered over Shane and it looked like he was near death with all the blood on his shirt. After effectively killing the man, he searched his body for something else. There was nothing else here but there was a handgun on the first man that entered into the cabin not long ago. After collecting that handgun, Shane saw that there was just one magazine he could use. 13 bullets. It was a GLOCK. Before he could say anything, it appeared that these captors had enough games. They started to shoot into the thin walls of the cabin. Cursing, Shane moved away from the window and to the back corner of the cabin. There, he tipped over a wooden desk for cover. Even then, that was barely helpful. Trying to think of a way out without dying, Shane was struck with a plan. Hey, get your ass down here! I have an idea! The one entrance was covered. They were pinned down. There was only one way to go now that was down. Taking the hammer, he felt thankful that the floorboards were weak as they were. He gripped the corner of one of the boards and yanked a few times with all his might until the board was loose. It was easier to remove the next few floorboards. Thankful for the gunfire, it covered up the sound of their escape. There was a crawlspace underneath this like all old cabins and houses. They could use that to crawl out the side if they found the exit. It was not the greatest plan, but if they stayed in one position too long, then they might get shot quickly. Hurry up! Get down. Lets find a way out of this fucking place! He shouted, getting out of the way so she could drop down. A crawlspace it was with only room for a person to crawl. Shane dropped down behind her seconds later and followed her lead as it was too dark to see. He just hoped she crawled wherever she saw a crack of light. It just meant more dirt and mud on his clothing but that was the norm. The blood would mix with it anyways.