Dead Horse Rising - 140

    They were alone again, trudging through the night as if the last two hours had never happened. So strange, it felt, to be reunited with their companions of these last few days, only to separate from them all over again so quickly. It was only temporary though. They just had to get to this store, steal a few armloads of merchandise, and they'd be right on their way to meeting back up again, then getting out of this place forever.
    Miranda trudged in Mortimer's footsteps, walking like a sulking teen. You know the walk. It's the one where you move real slow with your hands in your pockets and your head slouched and your feet swinging loose and wide like they were just dangling there, swishing in the breeze. He said they were in a hurry, but Mortimer didn't seemed to be bothered by her pacing. He led the way in silence.
    Miranda's phone chirped. Rachel was contacting her already.

Hey
Any luck?

    Miranda thought it might be a bit soon to be asking, though she didn't know how far it was.

                       Not yet.
                       Still on our way to the store.
                       You?

Just getting there now.

           ( Last Message – 10:08 P.M. )

    A larger bird flapped overhead, startled off a perch on a nearby building. It swooped along the road ahead, alighting atop a traffic light.
    Miranda almost didn't care about the street lights, but Mortimer still guided their path away from them. It felt bad to be near them, of course, hurt her eyes and made her skin itch and tingle like you wouldn't believe, but it didn't seem worth the effort to avoid. Very little did right now. Perhaps the sting would actually be welcome.
    There was no wind, no noise. The stars shown down through the clear sky like winter unfallen. Was it hot or cold tonight? She couldn't feel a thing.
    It took her several seconds to realize that Mortimer had stopped walking.

Mr Ethelburt just kicked a door in
Kent?
Am i supposed 2 call him that 2 or just Mortermer?
*Mortirmer

           ( Last Message – 10:13 P.M. )

    She stopped walking as well, folding her arms across her chest, as though for warmth.
    She waited to see why he had stopped. Out, alone in the darkness like this, the gravity of her situation was settling back on her. She was afraid of everything now. She could not ask Mortimer why he waited, she realized, because she was afraid of him too.
    He wasn't even looking at her, but she was still afraid he would turn away.

Nobody here
Margie is finding tools

           ( Last Message – 10:15 P.M. )

    Mortimer turned to face her.
    “Miranda, we-” he began to say.
    Their eyes met.

All the busses r outside
Mr Ethelburt is gonna open the gate
Any luck?

           ( Last Message – 10:20 P.M. )

Miranda?
Wait
Can u hear that?

           ( Last Message – 10:26 P.M. )

                       Hear what?

That sound
Liek hurt people

           ( Last Message – 10:29 P.M. )

I think its the zombies
I know u dont like calling them that
It is far away still

           ( Last Message – 10:34 P.M. )

Miranda?
Can u hear them?

                       No.

           ( Last Message – 10:40 P.M. )

Mr Ethelburt is back
Margie is already working on bus
Come soon

           ( Last Message – 10:44 P.M. )

Its getting louder

           ( Last Message – 10:51 P.M. )

Did u find ur stuff yet?

           ( Last Message – 10:53 P.M. )

    Miranda dropped her glasses. She stumbled, taking a step backward and crushing them beneath her shoe.

Margie says the bus is taking her more work than expceted but Mr Ethelburt says u should come soon anyway

           ( Last Message – 10:59 P.M. )

Miranda?

           ( Last Message – 11:03 P.M. )

Mr Ethelburt says 2 drop everything an come now
We need 2 hurry

           ( Last Message – 11:08 P.M. )

Miranda?

           ( Last Message – 11:10 P.M. )

Omg
Margie says come now pls

           ( Last Message – 11:12 P.M. )

I m worried
R u ok?

           ( Last Message – 11:14 P.M. )

    Miranda panicked, coming to her senses. She scrambled for her phone.

                       Yes.
                       What's happening?

Omg
Run