Surviving 11

I didn’t do much for I don’t know how long after I buried Gemma. Finally I knew I had to do something or I’d wither away. I didn’t want to go that way. I brought her damaged SUV in, hid it behind the second bunker and went hunting. I killed seven of the fucking ghouls. One was in the leathers of those fucked up State Troopers. I took my time with that prick, slicing off his dead arms and legs, leaving his head for last. I left the remnants for the wildlife. They had a right to eat. Having done that, I decided to check out another of the bunkers. Bunker three was a gold mine. Not for weapons or ammo, but for explosives. When I got the lights on, I nearly fainted. The bunker was half filled with crates marked CLAYMORE, MINE, ANTI-PERSONNEL. I could hear my own breathing as I carefully cracked one crate open and lifted out a wax paper wrapped object. Carefully peeling off the paper, I saw it was some kind of mine. Turning it over I saw that the weapon was embossed with the legend,  “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY.” I spent the next two days reading a manual I found, and then placed a few around the outskirts of the base. I made a careful map so I didn’t blow myself to bits. I was cutting some branches from a tree that was grown over the fence, wondering if the mines were too old when one triggered. I froze, nearly dropping my saw, listening to the echoes of the explosion. Climbing down I ran across the clearing between bunkers and saw the smoke rising from the explosion. There was a huge puddle of guts and two heads, the eyes open and blinking stupidly. I froze. That was one loud explosion! Well, now I knew the damn things worked. I wondered how far the sound of that explosion would carry? What I really needed were some people. I hadn’t been sleeping well and I had more than enough stuff to use. But who could I trust? Those fucking former troopers were out there, likely looking to make their own empire. The fucking creatures were out there, looking to eat anyone they could catch. How could I recruit some other humans? I still had to check out those other bunkers as well. There just weren’t enough hours in the day. Somehow, I had to find some people and invite them in.