Lexi had never been good at negotiating even when I first met her. I heard shots ringing out from her side of the vehicle as I jumped out. The guy standing by my door was distracted by the sound and I managed to take him by surprise with a well-placed punch to the jaw. He fell to the ground with me just having time to grab the knife as the man next to him noticed. The words ‘never bring a knife to a gun fight’ played in mind for a moment when this one took aim. I was quicker with my throw. I didn’t think but reacted to the gun swinging in my direction. Flipping the knife in my hand I tossed it towards his head, missing my intended target I did get him in the throat still resulting in his death. The other guy closest to me seem to not have ammo in his gun preferring to use it instead as a club. He came charging in my direction with it raised above his head screaming “DIE BITCH!” face full of rage.

I placed my feet apart, bent my knees waiting for the charging moron. I knew if I had a good foundation I could take him down despite the size difference. As he reached me I stepped into him, turned my back to him, grabbed his arm and used his own inertia to force him over my back onto the ground. The empty shotgun went skidding across the pavement. I could hear the all the air escape from his lungs as he slammed onto the roadway. Moving quickly so not to let him get the chance to recover, I made my way over to him and completed my move by stomping on his head. Satisfied with the results I made my way to the back of the truck where I could still make out shots being fired. I had lost track of the fourth guy on my side of the vehicle when everything broke loose.

At the back of the truck was total mayhem. At least four of the other guys were down already riddled with bullets. Peaking around the edge of the truck I could see Lexi on the other side in a fight with yet another one. It looked like she was holding her own. That left five still unaccounted for by my estimates. Then I heard a shot ring out but it was from behind me. Spinning around I seen one of five laying dead but no clue where the shot came from. I darted around to the back of the truck just in case it was a case of friendly fire. Once there I spotted another guy running up from an embankment on the side of road towards the ATVs. I knew I had to stop him.

I took off at dead run, forgetting for a moment about the bullet that took out that last guy. I heard footfalls not far behind me. Looking behind I seen it was Lexi, having taken care of the leader she was in dead pursuit like me. He reached an ATV and started the engine before I could get there. I knew I would not make it before he could get away. I don’t know why but I knew it would be bad if even one escaped, for some reason we would pay later. He started off down the embankment towards the east when another shot rang out taking him the back of the head. Lexi had caught up to me by then and we both stopped dead.

“Da fuck?” Lexi broke the silence saying what I was thinking but would not voice. She glanced back towards the south, the direction of the shot. “Guess the shooter was helping us.” With that she started walking back towards the truck, “Come on, let’s check their packs. See if they have anything we can use and get the hell out of here. Besides, our shooter friend might change his mind about helping us if we are not careful.”

Walking next to her “What about the other three?”

“They split when shit hit the fan.” she responded then stopped walking and looked at me. “Wait, how did you know how many there were? And why didn’t your ass stay in the fuckin truck like I told you? Not that I’m complainin’ but.”

I raised my eyebrow at her, “Seriously? I counted. You were complaining. I won’t stay put. You’re not my boss. I don’t think it is a good idea those three got away.” I started walking forward again. “I have a bad feeling about it. Like we are going to have to deal with something really bad because they lived.”

She had to jog for a second to catch up to me “So what, are you physic now? They were human scum, not part of anything.”

“I hope you’re right.” I responded walking over to the mess I had created. Reaching the guy who used the shotgun as a club I turned the body over to his stomach, to search his back pockets.

“Damn!” Lexi had been behind me without me realizing it till she spoke. “What the hell did you do to his head?”

I was busy searching his body and did not look at his wounds. It was then I looked from his back pockets up to the back of his skull or what was left of it. I wasn’t sure if was the stomp to the front of his skull or the landing from the back slam the damage was horrendous. What should have been a curve was completely caved in at the back, blood and brain matter had seeped out onto the road. I thought the cracking noise was just his nose, but it must have been more of skull giving away. I had been squatting down however at this sight I fell on my ass “Oh my GOD!” I backed away from the sight horrified at what I had done.

“You’re not gonna puke, are you?” Lexi asked but I could barely hear her over the pounding in my ears.

I could not seem to tear my eyes away from this guys brains still glistening in the now setting sun as they still slowly oozed out of the remnants of his skull. It reminded me of a squished grapefruit. It was then I got up and ran to the side of the road to expel what little I did have in my stomach. My stomach kept trying to empty itself for a few minutes and Lexi seemed content to leave me to it.

I sat down on the road when it seemed my stomach had settled some, pondering how a human could be capable of something like that. How could I have enough strength to do that to someone who was about 6 foot and at least 280. It just didn’t seem possible. That guy was solid, how could I do that?

“Hey, before you go get stupid on me out here, we need to go.” Lexi broke my thoughts. “I know this might’ve been a shock for you. I lost it the first time I killed someone too but you have to get your shit together right now.”

I looked up at her, I knew she was right. I knew I did not have time to lose it. I had to get up right now. The sun was already setting and judging from what just happened getting to the children’s hospital in the city would not be an easy drive. First the wreck set us back and then this. I had a feeling that the we would have to find a place to stay for the night, nights seemed to be a dangerous thing now.

“Alright, besides I know you’re going to say we need to find a place before it gets too dark.” I told her as I stood up.

She shivered “Stop that creepy shit damn it. Ugh! We can have that talk tonight. I already got the truck loaded with the shit I got from those guys.” I just looked at her. “What? Don’t look at me like that. They’re not gonna need it where they went. So, might as well use it.” with that she turned and walked towards that truck. I guess in this case she is being practical.

I think she won’t need to explain so much when it comes to this ‘talk’ about what happen while I was sick. From what I have seen so far, the world has gone to shit. I dusted myself off and went to the truck as well knowing that it would be a long night and hoping she had more coffee.