Bang!
The gunshot echoed sharply through the empty town.
Jason stood there, his face cold and expressionless, the pistol still raised.The bullet he fired had punched cleanly through the hairy monster's head, ending the horror.
"He... he bit off my flesh..."Jim's voice trembled.His mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came. His face was pale, and his body had already gone numb from shock.
Just moments ago, the crazed, filthy man had lunged at Jim and bitten a chunk of flesh from his leg. No matter how hard everyone tried, they couldn't pull the maniac off him — Jason had been forced to end it with a bullet.
"He's free now," Hershel said quietly.
There was no disgust in his voice this time.Maybe it was pity.The hairy man had lived a miserable life — bullied while alive, lost to madness after the fall of society.Death, finally, had set him free.
They moved the body off the road and gave him a simple burial — just enough dignity for a life gone terribly wrong.
Then, with heavy hearts, they continued their search for water.
Though this small town had several supermarkets and shops, it quickly became clear that most water supplies had already been looted. They managed to find only a small amount of drinkable water.
They also scavenged bottled water from abandoned homes along the sides of the road — most of it expired.While not safe for drinking, it would be useful for washing clothes or cleaning.
They loaded it all into the trucks.
Roar...
From up ahead, the familiar, low moaning of walkers drifted through the air.A group of zombies was shambling aimlessly down the center of the street — blocking Jason's group from moving forward.
Jason, ever quick to seize the opportunity, nudged Hershel forward and said sarcastically,"After what happened last night, how do you feel now? Still thinking about locking zombies up in your barn like pets?"
"No!" Hershel shook his head violently, almost panicked."I won't do anything so stupid again. I see it now — they're dangerous. I can't risk my family for them."
But after a beat, he added more softly, almost brokenly,"...Still... I can't kill the ones in the barn. They were my family. My friends."
Jason sighed inwardly.He understood Hershel's pain — but he couldn't afford to let emotion get people killed.
He curled his lip and said flatly,"I've talked to you about this again and again — about reason, about reality. I'm giving you until tonight to make a decision. This isn't a threat, Hershel.But if I clear out that barn without your permission, you won't have the right to complain."
It wasn't his nature to push people too hard — but sometimes, survival demanded it.
If the zombies broke loose from the barn, it would be too late for regrets.
"I understand," Hershel said heavily.He knew Jason wasn't being cruel — he was trying to protect everyone.
They cleared out the roadblock of walkers and finished searching half the town, managing to gather a truckload of drinkable water and another truckload of water for washing and cleaning.
It was enough to last about a week.
Returning to the farm with full supplies lifted everyone's spirits.The women immediately set to work — cooking, washing, and doing what little they could to restore a sense of normal life.
Meanwhile, Jason found himself drawn toward the barn.
He stood alone before the old, locked wooden doors, listening to the faint roars of the undead inside.From the outskirts of the farm, the sounds couldn't be heard — but up close, it was unmistakable.The dead were trapped in there... waiting.
"They're scary, aren't they?"
Jason turned his head slightly.Maggie was standing next to him, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the barn — the place she'd visited every day without fear.
Until now.
Jason looked back at the barn, his expression grim."Their danger goes beyond anything you can imagine," he said quietly."Even for people like us — people with experience — we have to be careful.One scratch. One bite.That's all it takes. You'll become one of them."
Maggie's hands clenched tightly."It turns out... the monsters I've been feeding... were never family anymore.Just monsters."