CHAPTER 17: THE DRUGSTORE
"Just the four of us! No one else!"
"We're survivors who just escaped from Atlanta. We were only looking for food. Please, let me go!"
The raider sobbed and babbled incoherently, but his eyes kept darting around, shifting constantly as he glanced at his surroundings.
He's lying!
Hanks immediately caught it. There had to be more of them nearby—allies or a base!
But just as he prepared to interrogate further—
"GRRRAAAHHH!"
A dense, heart-stopping chorus of snarls suddenly erupted from multiple directions, rapidly closing in!
The gunshots from moments ago had been like stones thrown into a still pond, instantly creating massive ripples.
Not just one direction—at least a dozen!
Maybe more walkers were being drawn in, already stumbling out from houses and alleyways on both sides of the street!
"Hanks! Get back here! Too many!" Kenny's anxious shout came from the pickup, accompanied by the boom of his rifle firing. They were already engaging the first walkers to reach them.
No time left!
A cold gleam flashed in Hanks's eyes. No more hesitation.
The crowbar pressed against the raider's throat suddenly thrust forward! Then slashed sideways!
"Urk!" The raider's lies and pleas cut off abruptly. His throat opened easily, blood gushing out.
He futilely clutched his neck, body convulsing violently a few times before going still.
[Blunt Weapon Skill Level Increased]
[Blunt Weapon Skill Level 4: 0/400]
[Attribute Experience +4]
Hanks didn't even glance at the corpse. He spun and ran for the pump, grabbing the fuel can that was barely a quarter full.
He sprinted back to the pickup like a cheetah. Walker snarls were right on top of them—the nearest one less than ten meters from the tailgate!
"Fill it up! Quick!" Hanks shoved the can at Kenny while raising his gun for precision shots.
BANG! BANG!
Two walkers dropped.
[Headshot Kill]
[Handgun Skill Experience +200]
[Firearms Master Talent Bonus]
[Handgun Skill Experience +2000]
[Handgun Skill Level Increased]
[Handgun Skill Level 25: 0/25000]
[Attribute Experience +2]
Kenny fumbled frantically, pouring the precious fuel into the tank—most of it splashing outside.
"Get in the truck! Now!" Katjaa screamed in terror. She could already see the mass of bodies surging from the end of the street.
"Go!" Almost the instant the gasoline hit the tank, Kenny threw himself into the driver's seat and twisted the key hard!
The engine made a hoarse, feeble groan, coughing a few times, nearly dying! Not enough fuel!
"Dammit!" Kenny started cursing, working the ignition while stomping the gas.
"Come on!" Lee fired repeatedly at the approaching walkers. The Glock ran dry fast.
He wasn't exactly a marksman—bullets sprayed out like water, most hitting walker bodies rather than heads.
Hanks kicked an approaching walker away from the truck, using his crowbar to bash in another walker's skull.
"ROAR!"
After Kenny nearly snapped the key with his frantic attempts, the engine finally roared back to life!
"Move! NOW!"
Hanks vaulted into the truck bed. Lee scrambled back into his seat.
"Hold on!" Kenny bellowed, not bothering with gears, just slamming the gas pedal!
The pickup's tires shrieked. It lurched forward, narrowly smashing through two walkers blocking the road, tearing down the highway deeper into Macon.
Everyone in the vehicle was shaken, breathing hard.
The thick smell of gasoline, blood, and walker decay mixed together, nauseating.
Looking through the rear window, they saw the gas station quickly swallowed by the swarming horde. The raiders' bodies were instantly torn to pieces.
But it wasn't long before—
The pickup charged into Macon's ruined streets like a wounded beast, bouncing violently.
The engine screamed, every gear change accompanied by teeth-grinding friction and Kenny's muttered curses.
"Fuel gauge... empty!"
Kenny stared at the needle pinned completely at zero, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Both sides of the street showed crooked storefronts and shattered display windows. Abandoned vehicles lay scattered like discarded toys, forming natural obstacles.
Further ahead, more walkers were being drawn by the engine noise, swaying as they converged.
This time they were in worse trouble—trapped dead in the middle of town.
"Find somewhere to hole up! Fast!"
Hanks shouted from the truck bed, sharp eyes scanning buildings on both sides.
"Up ahead—take a left, there's a drugstore!" Lee suddenly pointed at a corner building.
It was a relatively intact community pharmacy. The street-facing windows and main door were boarded up with heavy planks, leaving only narrow observation gaps.
"There! That's it!" Kenny seized on it like a lifeline, cranking the wheel.
The engine made one last feeble whimper and died completely.
All dashboard lights went dark. The vehicle coasted forward on momentum a few more meters before stopping dead in the middle of the road, about ten meters from the drugstore entrance.
Completely out of gas!
"FUCK!"
Kenny slammed his fist on the steering wheel. The horn blared briefly then went silent—drawing even more attention.
"GRRR!"
The nearest walkers were already closing in, rotting arms slapping against the windows.
"Out! Now! Get to the drugstore entrance!"
Hanks made the call instantly, kicking a walker clinging to the door so hard it flew backward!
He jumped down first, spinning to cave in another walker's skull with his crowbar!
"Go! Go!" Kenny also jumped out, using his rifle stock to bash approaching walkers, covering his wife and son.
Lee dragged Clementine right behind them, using his pistol grip to beat back the monsters.
The group fought their way backward.
Walkers converged from all directions. Snarls rose and fell, surrounding them completely!
"Ahh!"
Duck stumbled over debris on the ground. A walker immediately lunged for him.
"DUCK!" Kenny's eyes went wide, but he couldn't risk the shot—his angle might hit his son too.
"BANG! BANG!" Two crisp Glock shots rang out from the drugstore entrance.
The walker diving for Duck got its head blown apart. The boy was covered in blood and chunks of flesh!
Hanks followed the gunfire—
A woman in a white shirt stood there holding a pistol. Next to her was an Asian kid dressed like a delivery driver.
"Get inside! Hurry!" The woman in white shouted urgently, firing repeatedly at approaching walkers.
Everyone's hearts raced, but they instinctively looked to Hanks at the front.
"Move! Get in!" Hanks emptied his last few rounds, smoothly loading a fresh magazine.