Zombie Dream Chapter 13

Today is the big day. After what seems like a life time of work, we finally get to move into our new mansion and I can't wait to see the faces on the people. But this is just the beginning, after we all move in people get to decorate their rooms and I can't wait to see and feel all that excitement. Slowly while move in day approached, we moved peoples belongings from the hotel into their rooms for them so that now we only need to transfer the people over there. Last night we had our final practice and it seems like everyone is really nervous and excited. I get this feeling that maybe we should wait one more day before we do this but people keep telling me today is the day. I look out the window and the weather doesn't seem that nice either. Cloudy and slightly windy but nothing to bad. I'm probably just being paranoid. Everyone double checks everything and now that we have everything and everyone we all start moving out to the cars. I feel really empty because this place has been our home for a very long time, but we are going to a better place and thats is whats most important. I'm the last one out and I quickly run over to the car so we can get going. There is a lot of excitement in the car and I can feel it myself in the pit of my stomach. The car ride seems really quick and my car unloads first and I run up to the front of the line of cars. People start walking out of their cars and they form a line. After everyone gets out I signal to Mitch and Dawson's team to lead the line and everyone starts moving. There are a bunch of teams assigned to hover around and help people as we move. Everyone is very quiet and you can only head the sound of footsteps on the dirt. The line is longer then I thought. The pace is good and we should be there in a few minutes. I watch the line move and I see a bunch of faces I know and I see more faces that I don't know. Everyone looks at me a smiles as they walk by and I feel really guilty for not smiling back and guilty for not knowing some of them. I see my parents and Leah in the middle of the line and they wave but I ignore them. Behind my family are the rest of the families that were there from the start. They all wave but I pretend like I don't see them. I see Jim a few families behind and he gives me a head nod and I look at him to acknowledge his gesture. I look around Jim but I don't see Amanda and it worries me since I haven't seen Jim or Amanda for a long time. I hope Amanda is okay. We all keep walking and it is still very quiet and everyone is very concentrated. The walk is taking a lot longer that I had thought. I hear a bunch of leaves and branches crunching and I hear a thump like a body hitting the ground and I turn to see what is happening and I see a someone that has fallen to the ground. It didn't seem like we were being attacked so I don't run over to the area but I start to worry that people might panic and the line will stop. The line continues and I stand there to make sure nothing happens and everyone just walks around the fallen person. I feel kind of bad for the person but this is how we practiced it. I see Jon and Dean come from the front of the line to see what is going on but they kind of stop when they see I'm already there. After I see the line is still moving I look more carefully to see who the person on the ground is. The person looks very familiar but I can only see her back. When she turns around while grabbing her ankle I see that its Amanda and I look over to Jon and Dean hoping that they run over and help her. My heart picks up and I keep looking around hoping someone breaks the rules and helps her but everyone is disciplined and sticks to the plan. I close my eyes and I collect my thoughts and quickly I realize there is only one choice. I toss Jon my rifle and I sprint down the line so I can help her up. When I get close I see that she is crying but she is doing her best to not make any noise. I look at her ankle and it is bleeding so I take my coat off and I wipe the blood off. I look into her eyes and I feel so guilty for not coming to her aid right away. How scared she must have been knowing that she might be left behind. I set my coat over her shoulders and I gently help her up and guide her into my back. I feel everyone staring at me and I look away from everyone hoping I can avoid the shame. I walk by Jon and Dean and I look up at them expecting angry face but they flash me a smile and then they get back to work. I piggyback Amanda near the front of the line next to a level 2 team since I don't have a weapon on me. She has calmed down and I feel better about myself but I still feel a lot of guilt for not helping her right away and for not talking to her for so long. I want to ask her if she is okay but we are all trying to stay as quiet as possible. She whispers into my ear, "I like piggybacks," and rests her head on my shoulder. We arrive at the house and I look at peoples faces as they walk by. The priceless expressions on their faces make this all seem worth it. I watch some more people walk by and then I carry Amanda in so we can get her cleaned up. For a moment, I feel like everything is going to be okay.

(Much later: The move to our final fort. Cory attacks. Our group gets news press. Mitch outside. Couple more battles.)