Chapter 2

My eyes widened slightly as I realized that it was the man I spoke to on the radio. I lowered my gun, and aimed it at the ground in front of me. "So you're the one I spoke to about the group here in California huh?" I chuckled slightly as I spoke, "I expected something more.... 'End of the world, scarred all to hell' Stereotype for the leader of this supposed group of yours."

"Well, I guess I do sound different over radio traffic," the blue and black collie smirked, while he rubbed the back of his neck with his right paw. His left went to his hip and rested on the worn belt that held up his jeans. "However, I can assure you I am more than capable of handling myself, and leading this group of mine."

"What makes you so sure of yourself?" Just as I finished speaking we heard a rough and primal roar. At the most the creature was a few minutes from being within sight, which meant that it was impossible that it hadn't already seen us.

"Fuck!" I lifted up my colt, not entirely sure where to aim. The trees caused the creature's roar to echo around us, making it impossible to tell which direction it was actually in. My heart started pounding as the sound of heavy footsteps joined in with the booming shout. Tree limbs started to shake to the north of us and I turned, aiming my colt towards the treeline, looking for something, anything, to fire at.

Caro reached into his pocket, pulling out an old fashioned walkie talkie. "I need the sniper to take aim north of my position, we have another mutant on our hands, you have my permission to fire at your own discretion." Suddenly a loud crack of a rifle rang out around us, then a wet squelch of the bullet as it sank into the mutant's flesh.

Over the walkie talkie came an unfamiliar voice, "It was definitely a head-shot, but this bitch is not down, I repeat, mutant is NOT down." The mutant finally came within eyesight, its grotesque face covered in blood and dirt. It had to easily be at least ten feet tall, and was as wide as a city bus. It was running on all fours, each stride causing the ground to tremble. Another crack rang out and a bullet blasted a large hole in its jaw, I couldn't tell what animal it had been before it was tuned into a mutant when its face was whole, now it was hopeless.

I took aim with my colt at what appeared to be its eye, the growths that covered the mutant's body and face made it difficult to label structures. Once I was sure it was close enough I pulled the trigger, the deafening pop caused my ears to ring as the bullet sank into the mutant's face. Caro, just as calm as when he stepped out, made his way over to the bush he had been hiding in and grabbed an old hunting rifle from within. He aimed it at the creature's head and fired almost instantly. That seemed to do it, the giant monstrosity tripped over its own feet before collapsing to the ground, tumbling repeatedly into the small clearing we were standing in. It finally it came to a stop about a foot in front of us, the stench of rotting flesh overwhelmed my senses and made my eyes begin to water.

"I've taken out my fair share of the mutants that showed up after the bombing, not to mention I've managed to keep this group together for almost a year now. That is why I'm fucking confident" Caro smirked, and put the rifle over his shoulder.