After The Crash

Chapter 4

   As we got onto our horses and began our journey for the day, I heard Jace let out a blood curtailing scream. I turned around to see him pinned on the ground by a large dog, using all his strength to keep the dog from biting him.

   "Jace!" Jess yelled as she grabbed her sword, taking off the dogs head

   "What the fuck was that?" He asked between panicked breaths

   "Zombie dog. You have't seen one yet?" She asked

   "No! If I had I wouldn't be this freaked out! When the fuck did that shit start?" He asked 

   "A few days ago. It's the first time I've seen one of the animals go after a person though. Usually they go after each other." She said softly

   "We never had those at the camp." Jace sighed helping Jess back onto Trigger

   "We didn't have many animals at the camp." She laughed

   "Okay." He said calming down enough to get on Trigger himself 

   We were all a little more on edge as we made our way down the trail. 

   "So, we should make it today if we keep up the pace." Mark told everyone

  "We don't have much of a choice, the horses are out of food." Jace sighed

   "Not to mention you drank your last bottle last night." Jess reminded him

   "I'll be fine for a couple days. I'm more worried about the horses." Jace said smiling "Although, speaking of bottles." Jace smiled as he pulled a bottle of beer from his bag

   "Where in the hell did you find that?" Jesd asked

   "In your brothers closet." Jace giggled

   "You should have stayed in there. That's here you bi ass belongs." Jess laughed wrapping her arms a little tighter around jace

   A blush crept on Jace's face again as he opened the bottle and took a sip. Then we passed it between each other.

    "You shouldn't drink with your liver." I told him "Neither should you." I looked at Mark

   "One drink never hurt anybody. You shouldn't drink and drive." He laughed as he accepted the bottle back from Mark 

   "You two are horrible." I said with a smile

   "But I'm right." Jace smirked

    I just shook my head softly. He's 16, I'll let him have a little fun.

   "Shh." Jace said as he pulled back on Triggers reigns to slow him "Do you hear that?"

   "Yeah. Sounds like a runner." Jess whispered

   "Hold these." Jace said passing Jenn the reigns as he jumped into a tree

   I watched him vanish into the trees.

   "What is he doing?" I asked quietly

   "Hiding himself. Runners don't go down unless you burn the or decapitate them. He's trying to surprise it." She explained as a flaming arrow hit the ground

   "He missed." Mark said worried

   "Intentionally. I've seen him do this before. Either the zombie noticed us and he's trying to catch its attention or he's trying to keep it away from noticing us." She said as another hit

   I watched as the runner came into view, it was coming straight for us when Jace let out a god offal yell catching its attention. As it ran under the branch he was perched on he jumped down. Jace wrapped his legs around its waist as it batted at his face scratching him. I watched, not really sure what to do and Jace bit its neck, tearing off flesh to force it to let go of him, then he took his knife, plunging it into the things neck as he decapitated it. He spat the flesh on the ground and came back over to us, wiping his face.