Move Along... 1

~*I had this idea for a story randomly, so I thought I'd post it. But I'm busy with school, so once a week at the max. Unless I get a snow day or something.*~
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I gave a faint grown as I rolled over in my bed, trying to get some sleep. I haven't had a moment's rest in a least a month's time. Or at least I think it's a month. We didn't have calendars since 2005. Hard to tell time now.

And, of course, I wasn't the only one who needed rest. Everybody on the bus--thirty or so of us--had been fighting for life. And were finally happy when they were rescued. Basil was driving, living off the caffeine he had kept with him at all times.

His unnaturally peppy voice came from the intercom above our heads. "And we'll have to get some gas. Sorry, guys, but I'm low."

There was an instant moment where everybody was tense. My younger brother--he was only three--Daniel looked up at me with large, confused eyes. "You have to go again?" He asked in a frightened whisper.

I hated to see that look. He was the only thing I had left in this world, along with Jax. Daniel was a newborn when the virus came over us. Mom and Dad were changed before we could do anything about it. I was only sixteen and frightened then. I was now nineteen and a worthy fighter. Jax was my older brother, he was twenty-two. I didn't have to worry about him much; he was at the safe-grounds studying what caused the virus to spread.

We had all gotten out before the virus could spread to us. We ran for about two months, now starting to run out of food, when Raymond found us. He had been driving by, then found us in our car, all thin and dying, so he too us in and kept us alive. We would be dead without him. He kept Jax with him since Jax had been in all AP classes when schools were in. Raymond was normally against the idea of a three-year old being with his older sister, who was assigned to fight, but he let this time slip loose. I was even more scarred now.

I grabbed my bow and arrows, slung them both over my shoulder, and started to get up and stretch. "Yeah, squirt, I do."

Danny grabbed my hand, his lower lip trembling. "No, Carter, don't go."

That broke my heart. I just kissed him on the forehead, moving the light red hair that covered his nearly to his eyes, and hugged him close. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Liar. "But whatever you see, whatever you hear, stay quiet and inside. Okay? If they come inside, you run, okay? I'll try to find you."

Danny nodded, still holding my hand without even realizing it. He let go enough so I could slip my hand out of his grip. I brushed a stray piece of shoulder-length black hair out of my eye and kissed his forehead again. "Stay safe," I murmured before grabbing the shotgun I kept under my seat and walking out.

Everyone's gaze followed me as I walked to the front of the bus. People considered me a leader, somehow, because I was a good fighter. Raymond had taught me these last three years. He was the only person we'd seen to get the disease and stay sane. Rare, indeed.

I sighed and turned to the crowd waiting for me. Nobody expected a pale, dark-haired girl with green and blue eyes to fight. I wasn't tiny or big, but a regular sized girl. I wasn't tall or short either. Just in the middle, the spoting image of my Mother. Danny and Jax got their looks from Dad. I looked younger than nineteen, for some weird reason, but my face did have a tendency for people to back off.

I hitched the shotgun closer to my side, then listened to our commanding officer. He was some guy named Jumper or something. He had either been here a long time, seeing the scars covering his face and arms, or sucked at defending himself.

"Okay, Alpha group, you're going to watch the bus and get the gas until it runs dry. Omegas, head inside and see if you can find some food. Anything you can find, get it. Betas, head inside with the Omegas and get whatever machines you can find useful, whether it's food or a gun," Jumper commanded.

I held up my hand slyly. Jumper glared. I set it down and spoke loud enough for everybody to hear. "The Alpha's lost three people yesterday. Letting them guard the bus would be disastrous. You'd be risking more lives than saving them."

Jumper glared enough to kill pigeons in mid-air. "What do you think, Carter?" A older woman, a senior citizen in fighting, named Alyssa asked me, looking at me like I was a psychic or something.

"I suggest, since the Alpha's only have five left, they follow close behind the Omega's, since we have ten. The Alpha's get the tools, it's okay if they forget some things, since there may be some more survivors. The Beta's have nine, so they can guard the bus. You wouldn't want the kids to have a chance of dying, would you, Jumper?"

The officer glared again, staring me down. I shrugged. He didn't like to be talked down to. "It's my plan, Raymond left me in charge, so we're doing it. End of discussion."

Some people made sounds of protests, some just nodded silently. Either way, he was in charge. I got with my group--Omega--and headed into the dimly-lit store. It was dusk, a horrible time to go out for anything, and very dark inside the store. We grabbed some snack foods, the Betas headed for a cappuccino machine. I found a gun under the desk and threw it to a passing Beta. He smiled a little at me and stuffed it in the bag. I looked around, saw molding, fly-infested pizzas along the kitchen area, some disgusting coffee left in a cup, now mostly bile, and other groze items. A horrible smell nearly choked me, so I tucked my sweater over my nose. My eyes started to water. I looked down and saw a rotting corpse, one that had been bitten but couldn't get through the change.

I sighed and looked around some more, looking for any sign of life. I didn't follow orders well. I didn't say anything, in case of one of them happened to be around. They were dull sometimes, the ones that didn't change completely.

I heard a little whimper in a corner. I held my gun high, ready to shoot, and walked over. I saw a little girl, blood around her face and sobbing. She held her hands over her head like someone would do in a tornado or feared of being struck.

"Please, please don't hurt me!" She squeaked.

I lowered my weapon a little. "Did any of them bite you?" I asked. She looked like Hell. This little girl couldn't be over ten, her light brown hair mixed with blood down her pale, tear-streaked face. Her eyes were large and a deep blue color. He clothes were ripped horribly. I felt sorry for her.

She shook her head quickly, not moving from her frightened position. "No--They took my Mommy and Bubba--Mommy hid me in a secret room--They weren't here when I got back--" She wailed suddenly. "They took them! I want my Mommy back!"

Okay, probably younger than ten. "Why are you covered in blood then?"

She looked up at me. "Some people came here earlier. I wanted to go with them, but they hit me."

I sighed. That sounded like something Jumper would do. "Is there anybody else here? You know, alive?"

She shook her head. I set down my weapon and got down to her level, kneeling on the ground. "Okay, kid, you got a name?"

She looked at me curiously. "Miley."

I nodded. "Okay, Miley, I'm Carter. I have some friends that will be able to help you, okay? You hungry?" She nodded slightly. "We have some food on our bus."

She nodded again. "I saw the lights. Why are all of you carrying guns?"

I sighed. "Those things that took your family are dangerous. They try to kill us." I held out my hands. "C'mon. I'll get you to the bus. They must be nearly done, anyway."

Miley crawled in my arms, clinging. I got my gun and started to head out, running towards the bus. Alyssa seemed relieved. "Jumper was about to leave you. He's an ass." She looked down at the little girl who was covering most of me. "Where'd you get her?"

I shrugged. "I disobeyed orders and looked upstairs. Found her. I think we should take her back with us--"

"What?" A voice yelled from inside the bus. Miley cringed. Jumper ran out, furious as ever. "You disobeyed my orders? What did I tell you, you stupid bitch?" He was about to punch me when Alyssa kicked him hard in the groin.

"Would you shut up for two second, fool?" She hissed. "Carter found a little girl while you were cowering in the bus and relying on us for protection, when Raymond told" you to protect us. So she saved a life while you nearly killed two. Don't give me any crap, Jumper! I've never listened to you, and I never will. Deal with it."

Jumper was still on the ground, breathing hard, as we went inside the bus and sat down. Danny hugged me as fierce as ever. I gave him a kiss on the forehead and asked one of the people with a PhD to help me take care of Miley. Ten minutes later she was clean and wearing an over-sized sweatshirt and jeans only held up by a belt.

Miley and Danny were passed out by the window. I sat in the seat across the aisle from them to get some sleep.

Jumper sat up front and was silent.

Until the bus hit something.