Forgetting the Apocalypse

25. Time to Feast

"You wanna tell us what that was all about? Well actually first off thanks for thinking of that... I don't think I could continue eating..." Roone was still smiling.

"While they were seating us at the table, I saw three men who were looking sick. When they were helping the kids over the big grill I saw some blood on their clothing. I'm willing to bet they had bites on them. Given that they were walking and talking, I'm guessing they're one of the few that take a while to turn. And since no one else paid any attention to them, I'm also guessing no one knows. So while we're here safe, they're out there free. Come day time, three freshies should be rising."

Damn. I'll admit that is a great plane but what if they still hadn't turn by morining?

"Now assuming they can't take the three and it spreads, we wait until night to move. This container is a newer model. A lot of homeless use them to squat in at the docks by the coasts so officials put locks on the inside so they wouldn't be trapped in. Which by the looks of it these hills have eyes sons of bitches never bothered to take off."

He walks over to the doors and reaching over to a top corner he lifts a latch that none of us noticed before but doesn't pull it. So that's plan A but what about plan B?

"Hey Roone, not trying to be ungrateful here about the plan but what happens if they don't turn by morning? What do we do then?" I questioned.

His shoulders visibly tense and he looks up to the ceiling. "If they don't turn then we just have to suck it up and play along until they do or find another opportunity to present itself."

I figured that would be the answer but I still didn't like hearing it.

At some point we all had drifted off so it must be day. It's a distant scream that wakes us. Some time later another scream. Then another. For the longest time we waited for the sounds of weapons firing or even screams of them being torn apart. However other than the first two screams which woke us, there was nothing. Only silence.

There's some banging against our container cell. We all gathered together and stayed quiet. Outside however... we could hear muffled voices. The rattling of chains and something scraping against the door until it was finally opened. Mama and four other men and two women or should I say girls because neither of them looked like they were even sixteen.

"Now my babies, you boys will help your older brothers with prepping super. Mara sweetie pie, you are to follow your sisters to make sure that the tables are ready ok?"

The two younger women each took my arm and led me past one of the trailers to where the tables were set up. It wasn't the same setting as last night, this seemed more fitting for a gathering than a small group. I looked back just before the door closed where my boys were being led to. All I saw was a glimpse and I can already tell that I will have nightmares for a lifetime. Four seconds before the door closed was all it took for me to see multiple rows of arms hanging from a large pipe.

An attempted shove from one of the girls kept me walking until we reached designated table. All we were tasked with was literally setting the table. Places paper dishes, plastic utensils, napkins, the works. As if they really were a loving family and not some fucked up beings competing with the dead to see who can consume with the most human flesh.

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It wasn't really a war. More like a plain massacre. Screams, snarls and shots blended together. We are all used to it and yet every sound had us flinching and holding on tighter.

An hour after we thought everything had gone silent so we all assumed and agreed that nightfall had come. There was nothing we could use in her so we would have to go out unarmed. As quietly as possible Roone lifted and pulled the latch. The smell of blood and fresh rot hits all our noses.