The Hunt Chronicles (Book 2): Revelation by J.D. Demers Page A

toward the back of the house and peered outside.  The sun was completely down now. 
    “Can you hear me yet, dumbass?”  Fish’s voice was crisp, clear, and regardless of the insult, refreshing as ever.
    “I can hear you fine, asshole,” I said, grinning.  “Took your time getting back to us.  Over.”
    “Yeah, well, I had laundry to do.  I’m stopping near the interstate.  We can’t risk going into the city at night.  Over.”
    I closed my eyes and shook my head.  I thought that would be the case.                
    “Roger that.  Did everyone make it? Over.”
    There was a pause.  A pit started to form in my stomach.  I started to think they had lost one of the vehicles on their escape from the city.
    “We lost Combs this morning,” Fish replied. 
    Specialist Combs had been critically wounded two nights before when the scabs attacked the Ace Hardware compound.  One of the beasts had hurled a small flag pole that had impaled the soldier.  “Everyone else is fine, though.  What’s your SITREP?  Over.”
    SITREP was military jargon for Situation Report.  Soldiers commonly used it when they wanted a quick update.
    “We lost Chuck the night of the evacuation,” I said somberly, “but Karina and I are okay, and so is Boomer.  We picked up another survivor on our way to our old Headquarters. We’re here now and should be able to hold up for the night.  Over.”
    Fish let out a heavy breath.  “Alright.  Are you sure you’re secure?  Over.”
    I considered that for a moment.  I wasn’t sure if the scabs we had faced earlier would be able to track us down.  There was always that possibility but, for the night, we should have been fine.  After all, scabs were food for zombies as well.
    “I think so.  We ran into another group of scabs, but I’m pretty sure we lost them on the drive here.  And before you ask, yes, I parked a good distance away from the house.  Over.”
    Fish chuckled, “Guess you’re finally starting to learn something, kid.  We are planning a supply run at first light.  I’ll break off and meet up with you first.  Start tearing down those solar panels when you wake up.  We’re going to load up as much as we can.  Over.”
    “Roger that,” I transmitted back.
    “Alright, kid.  You guys get some rest.  I will contact you when we are back in range tomorrow.  Fish Out.”
    Relief washed over me.  We were going to be okay.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
    A Promise
    April 23 rd   Evening
     
     
    Karina seemed to cheer up after I put down the radio. 
    “Is there anything else to eat?” she asked hopefully.
    “Yeah, we still have plenty of supplies here.  Come on.  Let’s start getting stuff ready for tomorrow.  We’ll eat afterwards.”
    Boomer slept while Karina and I gathered the stored supplies into the garage.  I wanted to be ready to move out as quickly as possible the next day.
    Enrique got up after a while and helped us.  He tried to keep to himself as we worked, but that was hard with Karina constantly talking and asking him questions.
    We finished a couple of hours after nightfall and settled around the kitchen table to eat.  We had a good store of food to choose from, which excited Karina.  She was a victim of the strict rationing at the compound for the last few weeks.  Even Enrique seemed shocked at how well supplied Fish and I were and picked four various cans of food to eat.
    “How long have you been on your own?” Karina asked Enrique as she finished her can of raviolis.
    Enrique stared at a clump of beef that rested on his spoon.  “Only few days.”
    “So you were with others?  What happened to them?” I asked after I put an empty can of chicken corn chowder on the floor for Boomer to lick clean.
    “I think they okay.  I no bring her back.  I cannot.”  He lowered his head.
    “What happened, Enrique?” Karina asked sympathetically.
    He sat there a moment and then looked up at