Chapter Text
He hated the road. He hated the sound of the tyres on the gravel. He hated the smell of the air, all around, all rotten and filthy. He hated scavenging, he hated the deep feeling of emptiness in his heart. Nothing made sense anymore. The world went to hell, and nothing made sense anymore. The killing of the foul rotten flesh eaters not even giving a shot of adrenaline anymore. He watched Thorin drive the car with confidence, around the obstacles on the road. At the beginning it was the four of them. His mother Dis, his uncle Frerin and his uncle Thorin. But now it was just the two of them, on the road to the middle of nowhere where supposedly his friend Dwalin was unlikely still alive.
His uncle taught him all the important new skills, draining gas tanks, killing without a weapon, using anything as a weapon, shooting to kill. Kili loved the shooting, and his uncle kept praising him he was better than most men in his former unit. While scavenging a random house, they found a few crossbows and bows, and ever since Kili strived in the silent killing using arrows.
It was a long road, and somewhere along the way both of them practically stopped talking. Seeing all the destruction, seeing all the death around them, made both of them feel hollow. They met some people, but Thorin always tried to avoid anyone. Strangers meant greater danger than the undead walking about. Zombies were predictable and people were not. They saw so many tears and heard so many false stories, they made mistakes, one of them costing them the life of Frerin and Dis. Since then Thorin avoided humans at all cost, shooting first asking questions later.
They passed the sign saying they just crossed the state border.
“It’s not far.” Thorin noticed dully. “But we need more gas.” He added after a moment.
Without a word Kili pointed to a supermarket parking lot. “There is a chance we might get some gas there.” He told him as the car slowed down.
“It’s infested.” Thorin noticed gazing at the zombies.
“We’ve handled worst.” Kili noticed.
“It seems we don’t really have a choice...” Thorin hissed.
“Do you think there is a chance some useful stuff might be in the shops?” Kili asked him slowly.
“Most probably looted a million times by now, but we can take a look around.” Thorin finally gave in knowing their food supply was dwindling as well. He stopped the car a bit away from the supermarket. Kili easily climbed up to the roof without opening the door. He pulled out his sniper rifle, and methodically began taking down the walking zombies. The silencer made the shots almost completely silent. Thorin just watched with a smile as the boy easily took them all down one by one. Kili came a far away, from a computer nerd, to a skilful survivor of the worst plague on Earth.
He tapped the roof and Kili slid back in. They drove up and Thorin pulled out his machetes, and gave Kili a sword.
“Gas first!” Thorin told him. “Then I go to the shops, and you check that gun shop for ammo.”
“Crystal clear...” Kili grabbed the sword with ease. The lot was pretty much cleared out, but there was chance he missed something. As he was getting out of the car he stabbed the still cawing zombie and pulled out the plastic pipe and tank.
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“Is it just me or is someone looting our new target?” F21 gazed at his friend passing him the scope.
“Well I be damned.” The man took the scope and watched the man walk into the store. He took in the parking full of dead zombies. They didn’t loot that place mainly because it was pretty much swarmed, but now it seemed clear.
“In the cars!” He told their team. “We need to get what’s ours!” He told them bitterly.
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After checking three cars Kili easily found enough gas to fill their car full. But a sudden movement to the left caught his eyes and he ducked behind the car. He gazed back at the shop were Thorin had ventured into, and back to the upcoming cars. He saw five people, four men and a woman jump out. He quickly gazed at their car, but it was parked between two vans and no one would know it was theirs. He slid under the car, startled a bit to see another crawler but with a swift move of the blade he killed it. He gazed at the ammo shop. There were a few zombies in front of it, but there was a fire ladder on the side of the building.
As the group was slowly venturing into the supermarket, Kili crept from under the car, hiding well he silently made his way to the gun store praying they had a good sniper rifle.
In a few swishes he got the zombies on the side of the building and he easily jumped towards the emergency staircase and ventured up. He got inside using a window, opening locks was another thing his uncle considered essential survival education. The place seemed empty, but he knew the smell. The unmistakable smell of rotting flesh. He walked in from the flat into the shop to meet five zombies. It wasn’t easy, but he wasn’t ready to die just yet. When the bodies were on the floor he gazed at the full cases of weapons.
“It’s my lucky day...” He picked his favourite training sniper rifle and a big box of ammunition and headed towards the roof.
-----
They easily followed the trail of freshly killed dead zombies, the supermarket was packed with them but the security door was down. Smelling fresh meat the beats began banging wildly to get their food, but no one was planning to let them out.
He motioned F21 to follow him, while he gestured Riel, Las and Gim to scout the shops. They walked up the stairs following the fresh trail. The trail led to the pharmacy. The almost untouched fully stocked pharmacy.
F21 silently as the wind walked up the man browsing the shelves and put a knife to his throat.
“One move and you’re dead...” The boy hissed into the man’s ear.
“Easy friend, you don’t want to die and we don’t want to kill you...” The leader came up and told the man calmly.
“That’s no way to greet a friend Dwalin...” The man hissed to their surprise.
“How do...” F21 asked curiously.
“Thorin?” Dwalin’s voice made a hilarious peak.
“One and the same you old bastard, now would you get to get this knife away from my neck...” Thorin hissed at him.
“I’m not sure, if you’re clumsy enough not to notice someone sneak up to you...” Dwalin joked and motioned F21 to take away the knife. “Where have you been you old faggot?” Dwalin pulled him into a bear hug.
“Venturing here and there.” Thorin shrugged his shoulders. “Shopping without any credit cards here and there.”
“Looting.” The handsome blond boy added.
“Thorin, meet F21. F21 this is my old pal from my military unit Thorin.” Dwalin introduced them.
“Your superior officer.” Thorin reminded him, he didn’t even blink hearing the strange name, many people changed their names after hell and this wasn’t the strangest one he heard.
“My ex superior officer before the world went to hell...” Dwalin told him.
“I don’t mind you refreshing your friendship, but I suggest you do it in a more secure environment.” F21 noticed calmly pointing to the rather large group of zombies coming their way.
As they made it downstairs after slicing and dicing the zombies, they saw three of Dwalin’s group run into one of the shops in a frenzy and motioned them to follow. Gim quickly grabbed the sliding doors and locked them behind them.
“Wow this place really is infested.” Las noticed grimly as the zombie rushed to the now closed door.
“Who is this geezer?” Riel asked with a smile.
“Crazy youth, meet my old friend Thorin.” Dwalin introduced him.
“Riel, Gim and Las.” He pointed to the young people.
“So what are we going to do now?” F21 gazed at the zombiefied corridor.
“We use the back door.” Thorin told him dully and pulled out his machetes.
“And we pray few are by the cars...” Dwalin added and headed deeper into the shop.
“This place is loaded...” Gim gazed around the fully stocked shops.
“Loaded with zombies as well...” Las hissed at him.
“With a good team, and several trucks it’s doable.” F21 noticed calmly.
“First we need to get out of here in one piece.” Riel reminded him with a smile, she grabbed a golf club.
Dwalin and Thorin sneaked up to the staff door. When Dwalin opened it, Thorin saw a zombie on the floor reaching out, but he killed it in one swift swipe.
F21 stopped Dwalin before he followed the stranger. “Do you trust this guy?” He hissed.
“With my life.” Dwalin replied calmly.
“After you.” The blond nodded and followed after him.
The service corridor had a few crawlers and walkers, but the six of them got rid of the problem in a few swift strikes. They reached the back door, but Thorin motioned them to stop.
“What’s wrong?” Gim asked impatiently.
“Listen.” Thorin told them, and all of them focused on the sounds.
“Sounds like a horde.” Dwalin noticed grimly.
“Or more...” Riel gasped scared.
“What now?” Gim asked impatiently.
“This shelter is still much better than facing a horde, of what could be anything from fifty to several hundred zombies.” Dwalin told them.
As they were walking the dark service corridors Thorin pointed to the security centre.
Dwalin carefully opened the door and F21 in a few quick strikes got rid of the three zombies there.
“Why is there still power here?” Riel gazed at the working security system, and the lights.
“They must have a backup generator.” Thorin noticed quickly.
Dwalin sat at the controls and they watched the shopping mall surprised with the sudden number of zombies.
“They broke the door to the supermarket!” Gim pointed to a big hole in the security panel.
“What about outside?” Riel asked.
Dwalin quickly switched to the outside cameras. The parking lot was swarming with zombies. But they were moving.
“It’s a swarm not a horde.” Thorin noticed. “All the other zombies in the area are drawn to them, and join in. I saw one nearly several thousand strong near Seattle.”
“How did you survive that?” F21 noticed.
“Camped it out in a locked garage for ten days.” Thorin noticed. “They move from place to place.”
“So there is chance they will just get lost?” Las noticed surprised.
“Yup, we can wait it out in here.” Thorin admitted, slightly worried where Kili was.
“Which direction are they moving?” Dwalin noticed in a dry tone.
“West.” Thorin gazed at the screens. “But they can change direction rapidly.”
Dwalin and the group went pale and silent.
“Our home is west...”Riel gasped with tears in her eyes.
“So that means we can’t wait it out...” Dwalin noticed grimly. “Using this we can find a way out and a way to get to our cars. F21 try to find a radio in here, we need to call them and warm them.”
“I’m on it!” The blond nodded and began searching the lockers and desks.
“They rarely have that kind of equipment in security offices, but we can check the car store for a CB radio.” Thorin told him. “This place is surprisingly untouched.”
“Let’s go!” Thorin told them calmly gazing one last time at the cameras in search for Kili, but he was nowhere to be seen, the smart boy.
After killing a large group of zombies and reaching the car store, F21 quickly found the CB radios. It took a bit of cables and a car battery but soon the radio was actually working.
“Dwarves to Elves, do you copy!” F21 spoke in their code. He had to hail them five times, correct the antenna again and again, but finally they got a reply.
“Willows to Midgets, how are you faring on this beautiful day?” Bofur’s cheerful voice reach them.
“We’re stuck in a gold mine, surrounded by pests.” F21 continued speaking code.
“Do you require assistance?” Bofur asked slowly.
“We’re safe in the hole. But a huge hoard of pests is heading your way.” F21 told him slowly.
“Define hoard?” Bofur asked without any cheerfulness left in his voice.
“Thousands.” F21 spat out finally.
“Any last request before our funeral?” Bofur’s sense of humour kicked in.
“Stay safe, we’ll try to get there before them.” F1 told him.
“Copy that.” Bofur hissed. “We’re hiding the silverware!”
“Copy that!” F21 agreed.
“What kind of code was that?” Thorin gazed at them surprised.
“That means they are going in hiding.” F21 explained. “We have to get there.” He glanced at Dwalin.
“That’s clear as day.” Dwalin noticed grimly. “Let’s get to the roof.”
“Wasn’t that Bofur?” Thorin suddenly asked curiously.
“One and the same, we got a few old friends on board.” Dwalin smiled at him. “Brining you home will be a great surprise!”
“First we need to get out of here alive...” Gim hissed killing another zombie in their way.