Read Trying to Survive (Part 2) for Free Online

just making a bunch of noise for no reason.”
       Walt’s lips barely separated and he titled his head to concentrate on the sound. “Hmm… Shit, you’re right.”
       As I made my way around to the back of the house, the banging suddenly stopped and was replaced by Jessie throwing a fit. “What the fuck is this shit!? It hasn’t even cracked!”
       Brian replied “I guess this guy opted for bullet-proof glass or somethin, man.”
       I rounded the corner and said “Only way you’re getting through that is to shoot it… And it’ll probably take two or three bullets in different spots. That’s hurricane rated glass… Unless you have a sledgehammer?”
       Brian nodded “Oh yeah, window-man.”
       “Yeah… and I guarantee it’ll be hard to find a house in here that doesn’t have them. And don’t bother trying the doors – it’s the same glass. Plus, look at it this way – it’ll be a lot harder for any of those things to break through.”
       I glanced around and saw nothing but empty yards and seemingly empty homes. My ears weren’t picking up any sounds that weren’t related to us, and my eye didn’t register a single movement in any direction.
       “I don’t know how it’s possible, but none of those things seem to be around. I say go for it… If a couple stagger out from hiding, we’ll take care of it... It’s better to know if a few are around anyway – don’t want em sneaking up on us.”
       They looked at each other for a second before Brian replied “I guess he’s right. Just do it.”
       Jessie and Brian took a few steps back and Jessie brought up his rifle. I put my hand up and said “Stop. Let me go tell the others so it doesn’t freak them out. Just count to twenty before you shoot.”
       Jessie nodded in agreement and I limped back to inform the others. As I looked around the neighborhood again, I began to agree with Jessie and Brian… Something’s off… I only see one car in the driveway near the beginning of this street. It’s like everyone here actually got away…
       For a moment, I thought we may have stumbled upon an area that’s been cleared out by other survivors. That people could be watching us right now, and were preparing to make contact so we could join together. When I approached the others and saw that two shredders were coming out from behind one of the houses across the street, I knew it was just wishful thinking.
       They were still far away and I didn’t want to scare the kids, so I just kept an eye on them as I spoke. “Jessie’s about to shoot out that window – let’s start making our way back there.”
       When Walt and Jenny noticed I was staying behind, I put my finger to my lips, pointed across the street and whispered “Just go, I’ll take care of them once Anthony and Clara get around back.”
       As Jenny turned around, I heard Jessie fire the first shot. After a brief pause, came one more. I could hear the tiny explosions travelling through the entire area, shattering the dead silence and bouncing around between all the homes… Fuck, that was loud…
       Walt said “I always wondered how many bullets it would take to get through that glass.” He laughed. “It’s kinda like the old Tootsie-Pop commercials with the owl.”
      “Yeah.” I said through a chuckle.
       I started to line up a shot and Walt walked up next to me. “Let me do it – just for the practice. I haven’t fired a gun anywhere near as many times as you have.”
       I lowered my rifle and motioned for him to go ahead. “They’re at a good distance, so I’ll take this opportunity to adjust your scope if we notice that the shot is low or high… It should be right on for medium range, but you never know.”
       Walt nodded and brought the scope up to his eye. “Alright… Callin a headshot on the one in the Beatles t-shirt.”
       He fired and the bullet ripped through the shredder’s face, right underneath its