Rei II

The town resided in a restless uproar. Westfield was located in the Wisconsin countryside, a frontier not yet attacked by the undead. News of the vampires moving inland dispersed throughout every household. Our town hurridly began preparing for the inevitable.

 

My crops, despite their size, I picked and canned. Carrots, potatoes, onion (which I do not prefer at all), as well as peas lined my shelves. Cans of pumpkin and squash joined the other jars alongside fruit james and jellies. My inventory list hung from the inner door of the wooden pantry.

 

I gathered water from the natural springs. The structure still remained from teh pre-war days, twelve years ago, though, the structure was much older. All of the twons folk used this as a precious resource. Dating in the olden days, during my childhood, my parents saved all the water bottles they possibly could. I thought my parents did this to recycle, but they knew what would befall this land. I inherited thir collection to use as I pleased when I aged to sixteen. They fled to Canada after my sixteen birthday, then probably across the seas to flee the night. I, however, hold roots to my town. I refused to leave this place.

 

My water bottles, totalling over 250 containers filled to the brim, was stored in wooden baskets. When the time is right, I will go when my life depends on it, but not a second before. Many folks left for the northland. Mr. Andrews remained here with me.

 

Equipped with my father's pocket knife, I ventured outside my house on the east side of town. My gut told me to visit my childhood friend, Josh Golbeck.

 

His father volunteered himself to the fight in the early stages of war. He was killed in action eleven years ago. His mother, Ellen, lived in a seperately house on the same property with Josh. He was a good man with a strong heart. Ellen, in her late fifties, was plagued with cancer. Josh looked after her. Mr. Andrews frequently visited.

 

Knock knock knock.

"Hey Josh, open up!" Silence. "Josh?"

 

"Yeah? Is that you, Rei?" his voice seemed distant.

 

"Yeah, it's me. Where are you?"

 

"Out back." Hauling myself to the backyard, ol' Bareback, Josh's stallion, was loaded and hitched up to a wagon.

 

"Um, Josh?"

 

"I'm hitchin' up and gettin' outta here, Rei." His still boyish figure whisked around the corner of his house. "Canada will be a better place for ma. It'll be a rough journey with all the towns borderin' up their cities with that fencin' 'n all, but I should be able to find some folks who'll be kind 'nough to take us in. Ya know, with ma being sick 'n all. Until I can get ma to the north anyway." He spoke spoftly. "Reckon I'll be able ta get her a ticket to Europe or somethin'. Somewhere safe."

 

"Josh..." Stepping closer, a tear trickled from his green eyes. "I understand. I'd do the same in your situation."

 

"Come with us, Rei?" His dark face lightened slightly with hope.

 

"I can't. I'm going to stay here as long as I can, try to protect this place."

 

"Ya know everyone is goin' ta leave eventually." Josh strode by my side and hugged me. "So, just come with us."

 

"I won't." Briefly I embraced him, only to let him go.

 

"They'll come 'n destroy everythin' and everyone. Get out of here, Rei."

 

"I said no, Josh. I won't. I'll fight them if I have to."

 

"Then I'll come back 'n fight 'em with you."