My friend killed us by taking a trailer in : Project Zomboid Stories #3
This is continuation of #1 linked here: • I left my friend behind to get swarmed by ...
After Daryl and Bennie got reunited they must look for transportation back to safe. This is where the story begins.
Read along with the transcript down below but don't spoil yourself:
Take What You Can While You Can!
Bennie had no mechanical expertise, however, from the look of the news van’s engine it was in great condition. The doors were locked and the only way to save us from having to break the windows was to try climbing through the back doors. The back was full of electronics and cameras, things they need for the breaking news that may occur, and he couldn’t quite squeeze through the mess even with multiple tries. Right before I was about to smash the side window to get in, Daryl announced from behind the van that he had found the key to it. Both inside the car, Bennie in the passenger, Daryl in the driver’s seat, he turns the key expecting the car to come alive. Instead it sputters. “That’s not good,” Daryl said knowing full well the endemic life would be attracted to the sound of the engine. They both understood they were on a timer from here; finding gas was the only way out of here alive.
The fog came in to provide them cover. Bennie on wildlife patrol, and Daryl on gas attendant. Bennie is so used to the feeling of them under his pipe, the only thing he could think about was food. Calling Bennie back from the fog, Daryl shows him a stockpile of gasoline and explains how lucky they are that it is even on wheels. Wasting no time, ready for a hot meal, Bennie climbs into the passenger awaiting the driver. An argument broke out between them, one wanting to grab the generator, the other wanting to leave it. “We can always come back to it!” was Bennie's reasoning, while Daryl argued, “It is too dangerous to come back!” Begrudgingly, Bennie steps out and hooks the trailer up against his better judgment.
Two blocks away from their turn, a two car pile up blocked the entire road. The lurkers were making their way towards the continuous noise. As the masses shamble through the fog, it seems they know that an easy meal lies ahead. An unsettling feeling grew between the two in the cabin. Their resolve not yet broken, weapons were readied and Bennie opened his window. Quickly realizing it was a mistake before closing it. Their gathering made traveling in the van all the more difficult. Unable to squeeze the girth of the van between the pile up and the fence they were forced to find another way. The trailer made navigation tricky and allowed the horde to collapse on us. The sinking feeling in Bennie’s stomach was accompanied by frustration at Daryl’s decision making. With what seemed like thousands of them beating on the car, hope was lost between the party. Daryl continues to floor the accelerator, Bennie praying in the passenger seat, the trailer weighing them down to crawling speed. Fists and heads thumped rhythmically on the car's side panels. The glass began groaning and straining from the horde’s constriction. The many faces outside distort into one gray, lethal mass.
The group, ready to say goodbye, exchange a brief look and the driver side window shatters. Bennie heard it before he saw it and before he could look away there was a missing chunk out of Daryl’s neck. Bleeding everywhere, Daryl wouldn’t last another minute. Choked for words, Bennie watched his brother die before he could say goodbye.
Before I could compose myself I heard my last line of protection break. I didn’t feel any pain yet though. Was it my adrenaline? No, it was coming from the other seat. I watched in horror as they ripped Daryl into pieces and pulled him out of the window. “I’ll never say anything to Daryl again,” was the only thing I could say watching the scene. Then again. I won’t be saying anything anymore either as well.
In honor of my brother and my family, I will fight until I cannot swing my pipe anymore. Inevitably, it WILL happen!
Taking one final breath of desperation and perhaps a suicidal one, I open the door sprinting, gunning it for the fence.