Forgotten People

Chapter 4 – More Scavenging

At breakfast the next morning Alec was rummaging around for some milk in the fridge, but there was none left. In confusion and suspicion he surveyed the room.

“I got 4 litres of milk yesterday, who’s drunk all of it?” he asked. Two guilty faces sat at the end of the table. Those faces belonged to Rainbow Dash and Kenzie. They both looked up and apologized solemnly. But Alec wasn’t done yet, he had to talk to one of them.

“Hamish, Dash, Luna, can you all come with me for a sec?” he asked. The three of them got up from the table and walked into the hall whilst everyone else continued to eat the previous day’s scavenge.

“Hamish,” Alec began to whisper, “Do you think we should…well…talk about what we’ve learnt to  these two? I mean, they’re  new to this state of matter and need to get used to it don’t they?” Hamish nodded in agreement.

“Then you go off with Luna, talk to her about it and I’ll do the same for Dash. Agreed?” Hamish nodded again and took Luna over to the study whilst Alec took Rainbow Dash over to the conservatory.

“Okay, I’m sorry I drank most of the milk.” She said in frustration. Alec laughed and slapped her side in a friendly manner.

“Dash, that’s fine. At the local store I can scavenge some more milk there. No, I need to talk to you about something different. You see, seeing as you’re kinda new to this sort of thing, I thought I may as well show you a couple of things that you’d need to remember.” He put it bluntly. But Rainbow Dash understood him completely.

“Heh, for once you’re telling me what to do.” They both laughed.

“Okay, so later on today I’m going out to scavenge more stuff for the group and you’re coming with me. It’s okay to feel unsure about it; Hell, the only reason I’m doing this is because I’ve got the balls to do it.”

“What about Hamish?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well, he seemed more keen to hold down the fort. Work isn’t his thing.”

“Heh, I hear you.” Dash giggled. Alec continued.

“So, I’m gonna give you a few things before we go. First off, take this.” Alec handed her a small mobile phone. It wasn’t touch-screen but it had the ability to call and text only. “If you get stuck or lost then ring me and I’ll come and help you. And make sure it stays on Silent. Those monsters are attracted to noise.” Dash nodded and put it to one side.

“Secondly, this.” Alec also took a small rucksack out of a nearby cupboard and gave it to her. “You should know what that’s for.” Dash smiled in annoyance and put the phone into one of the pockets.

“And finally…” Alec bit his lip slightly, he wasn’t sure of the last item to give her. Dash tilted her head in confusion.

“What?” she asked curiously. Alec took a breath and restarted talking.

“This.” He said bluntly. He reached into his back pocket and took out his Air Pistol. The sight of it made Rainbow Dash very nervous, so she backed off slightly.

“Alec…I’m not sure if I want that. It makes me feel uncomfortable, especially after last night with that guy.” Alec nodded in understanding and put the gun to one side.

“It’s good that it makes you feel uncomfortable Dashie.” He comforted, “And you’re right, they are dangerous. But we need them.” Rainbow Dash understood what her friend was trying to say, but she still wasn’t sure.

“Alec, I’m sorry, but I can’t use that. It’s not for me.” Alec sighed and put the pistol away. He knew what she was saying, it was the same with Josh right at the start of this mess. But another idea sprung onto him.

“Wait here.” He said, quickly running up to his room. He came back down a minute later with a small plastic thing in his hand.

“What’s that?” she asked. Alec took something out of it.

“It’s my penknife. It’s less dangerous than a gun, lighter and requires little handling knowledge, but still it’s powerful.” Dash seemed a little more convinced at this and took it off him and tucked it into her rucksack.

“Okay, thanks Alec, it really helps.” She smiled. Alec smiled and hugged her.

“It’s alright. Just follow my lead and everything will be okay.” Dash nodded and trotted back into the kitchen to finish eating.

***

“Guys, I’m taking Rainbow Dash out with me to go scavenging today.” Alec said at the table. Kenzie began to look grim.

“Aw, why can I never go?” she said in a grumpy state.

“Kenzie, you’re only twelve. When you’re thirteen you can go. But you’re my little sister so I need to look after you.” Cami firmly stated. Kenzie sighed, nodded in agreement and kept eating.

“You sure Alec?” Josh asked. Alec simply nodded.

“Before we go, apart from the usual stuff, food, water, ammo, medicine etc, does anyone need anything specific?” Hamish burst out.

“Oh my god, please get me some Monster. I haven’t drunk any in two weeks!” he ordered. Alec contorted his face slightly.

“I need some more boards for the windows.” Max stated, “Plywood is okay.” Alec nodded and listed it in his head.

“I need some petrol.” Oliver stated. Alec raised an eyebrow.

“Petrol? What for? You can’t drive that pickup truck out there yet.” Oliver noted that, but he needed it for something else.

“No, see those corpses lying round out there? The smell is picking up and those freaks are gonna be drawn to it. I need to burn the living hell out of those bodies so their stench doesn’t attract any more of ‘em.” Alec nodded and noted it in his head.

“I may need to drive that thing out there for all this stuff, despite the fact I don’t know how to drive.” Hamish spoke up again.

“Alec, I’ve driven a Land Rover a couple of times, how different can a Pickup be?” Alec remembered that what he was saying was true.

“Alright, you can come too Hamish.” Hamish nodded and got up.

“Wait, what about me?” Luna piped up. Hamish bit his lip, should she come too? But Luna had another idea.

“Hamish, it’s okay. I’ll stay here and pitch around with whatever I can.” She affirmed him. Hamish shrugged in agreement and got to the door.

“Okay then guys, we’re off.” Hamish ordered. Alec and Rainbow Dash got up and headed out into the unknown.

***

Creeping into the small abandoned shopping centre in the middle of Quorn, Alec, Hamish and Rainbow Dash looked around to see if anything else had been taken. Everything seemed the same, untouched cans of energy drinks, which Hamish hastily grabbed, cans of food and drinks, bread, alcohol, confectionary, the store was still theirs.

“Okay Hamish, same as usual. You look for any uncanned food and  drink and scrape together any sweets and sugary things. I’ll find some canned food, alcohol and matches for Ollie so he can burn those corpses. Dash, you look for anything else that you’d find useful. Sweets, general supplies, un-perishable stuff, anything that looks good.”

Everyone nodded and got to work. Hamish grabbed a few loaves of bread, small boxes of cereal, some milk and enough Monster for everyone. Alec got lots of canned soup, a couple of bottles of vodka and whiskey and a lot of matches from behind the till. Rainbow Dash scraped together a load of chocolate bars, spare bandages and other medical stuff, crisps and a couple of nails. Everything was looking well.

Suddenly a few others survivors crawled in through the hole which was now the entrance. They looked around sixteen or seventeen, wore hoodies and carried very sharp blades, but one had a gun in his pocket. They did not want to be messed with.

“Okay, let’s find some stuff for ourselves.” One of them said.

“But what if anyone else is here?” the other one asked.

“We kill them.” The first one stated. Alec was behind one of the shelves hearing all of this going on, realising who they were. These guys were not friendly, they were from a really bad Secondary School and most of its students were thugs. He crept through the aisles to meet up with Hamish and Rainbow Dash.

“We need to get out of here.” Alec whispered.

“Why?” Hamish and Dash whispered back.

“They are here.” Alec replied. Hamish’s eyes widened.

“Shit. What do we do?” he asked. Rainbow Dash was beginning to look uncomfortable. Alec noticed this and quickly formulated a plan.

“Hamish, take her out to the truck, go to the Petrol Station, get a few cans of the stuff and drive back home. I’ll meet you there.”

“What the fuck will happen to you then?” Hamish raged in a whisper. Alec didn’t have time to reply, footsteps were heard coming up the aisles.

“Trust me, okay?” he said to both of them. The other two nodded.

“Please come back okay.” Dash whispered. Alec quickly hugged her and promised he would be. Hamish and Rainbow Dash then both crept out of the back entrance, round the outside of the store to the truck and drove off.

“Hey man, there’s some dirty footprints here.” One of the chavs piped up, “They’re still wet too.” The other chav’s face turned to anger.

“Someone’s in here.” He spoke loudly. Forgetting why they came here, they began to menacingly patrol the lanes of the shop. Alec gritted his teeth and picked up his backpack. He crept down the back aisle towards the main entrance making sure his footstep sounds were minimal. But at the end of one of the aisles, his backpack clattered against the shelves, sending a few cans of soup tumbling to the ground. Both the chavs turned their heads to see the teenager before them.

“Hey! You! Get over here!” one of them yelled at Alec, his trigger-finger feeling itchy. Alec stumbled up and ran down the aisle. The one with the gun whipped it out and fired furiously down the aisle. Thanks to his terrible accuracy none of the shots even hit him. Alec made it to the exit and slid out of it.

“He’s getting away!” the second one shouted, chasing after him. Bad mistake for yelling though, a few of the creatures lying on the ground outside heard the commotion and proceeded to stand up. In an attempt to get away, Alec ran round the back to the Shop Dumpsters and threw himself inside one of them. By the time the chavs got out, they had met their doom.

“Shit.” They simply said together. Knowing they were boned, they just stood outside the shop and waited for the inevitable as the creatures rampages towards the two chavs. Alec listened in horror as the sound of clawing, splattering and chewing infected his eardrums. He had seen too much death, but for some reason hearing it was more terrifying. When the commotion died down Alec got out of the dumpster and scrambled his way back to the house.

***

“How could you just leave him in there?” Rainbow Dash argued to Hamish. They were at the Petrol Station filling a few cans. The dead had been ridded of by Hamish and there was nothing to bother them. Except their petty arguing.

“Dash, he made a decision and saw it through.” Hamish replied.

“We could have stayed and helped him!”

“No we wouldn’t have!”

“Why?”

“Because he told you to leave for a reason!”

“And what’s that?”

“Because he loves you!” Hamish finally snapped. Rainbow Dash had forgotten that during the previous events. She began to sink down a little.

“I’m sorry Hamish.” She said. Hamish sighed and smiled a little.

“Do you know how much you mean to him? More than his Australian friend does. He wanted you to get out of there and face the danger himself. Why? Because he doesn’t want you to die this early, or at all for that matter. Back in Equestria, he stuck up for you during Ace’s torment. He gave up an entire race to let you continue through those Olympics. He spent more time with you than any other colt, or human, ever had. Now do you see why he wants to keep you safe?”

“I guess I do.”

“Just remember though, this environment is new to us as well, so we don’t know everything about it yet either. But we’re adapting.” Dash nodded and ceased her arguing.

“You do love him as well, don’t you?” Hamish asked filling the last can.

“Of course.” She smiled.

“There you go. You two do match quite well too, honest opinion.” Dash laughed and helped pull another can into the truck. When that was finally full, they got in and began driving home.

“But let me tell you one last thing Dash. Danger is real, the danger in this place is more horrific and fucking terrifying than you’d believe. But fear on the other hand is a choice. You don’t have to be scared of this. I show fear sometimes too you know, how hard that is to believe.” Rainbow Dash nodded and kept staring out into the atrocities of what was once a beautiful place.

***

Pulling into the drive, there was Oliver and Josh stacking up some of the bodies into a pile. Seeing Hamish and Dash, they went to the back of the car and took out the petrol cans. Covering the pile in fuel, they lit a match and set fire to the rotten flesh before them. Hamish and Rainbow Dash walked inside. But a non-pleasant sight met their eyes.

Max was sitting in one of the chairs with a huge gash across his arm. Blood was spewing out quite badly but Cami and Kenzie were pressuring the wound. Max had cut his arm open on a rusty nail and the cut was beginning to get bad.

“Okay, you’re gonna be fine.” Cami said nervously. He turned and saw the two scavengers standing in the doorway.

“Please tell me you found disinfectant.” Kenzie begged. Hamish rummaged around until he found a small bottle of it, tossing it to Kenzie. She splashed it over the wound, making Max shriek in pain. After a few seconds the bleeding stopped and the wound was patched up. Max got up and looked at the two scavengers.

“Where’s Alec?” he asked. The other two went pale.

“He hasn’t come back yet?” Hamish asked in worry.

“No, where the hell did he go?” Max replied. The room was silent. If Alec hadn’t returned back to the house yet, where else could he be? Rainbow Dash sat in worry, her face going very pale. Kenzie sat next to her and helped comfort her.

A few hours later though a scampering could be heard running down the drive. It was Alec, who looked perfectly fine except for a few bruises. He ran to the door and unlocked it letting himself in. Panting, he got his inhailer and took a few puffs of it.

“Alec! You’re okay!” Rainbow Dash said happily, rushing up to him.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just got cut off.” He replied confusingly. The others looked at him.

“Cut off? By what?” Cami asked in curiosity. Alec shook his head.

“I’ll tell you later. Right now we need to board up these windows. Here are my supplies; Kenzie, can you sort these?” Kenzie nodded and took the bag away. Apart from these events, the rest of the day went by very smoothly.