Staring into the thick white, ghostly fog of morning those deep brown eyes watched vigilantly for any sign of danger. Low groans and grunts could be heard in the distance if one were to focus, those black floppy ears perking up as Alister continued to stare statuesque into the fog. A low monotone growl escaped him, causing Xander to stir in his sleep upon the roof of the Gun Store. Xander rolled in the shabby covers found in the back closet of the store. "Hush...." He managed to speak in a groggy tone. A high pitched whine escaped the pooch, as he continued to stare at the now silhouetted figures of a small crowd of the lifeless husks staggered towards the building, following the scent of warm flesh. Thankfully it was a crowd that had reached the rigor mortise stage. They staggered and moved slowly, grumbling and hungering for living flesh. Xander stirred again, before sitting up and looking over, seeing Alister staring at the crowd now emerging from the cover of the fog. "Shit...." Xander kicked the blankets off him, grabbing his rifle, jamming a clip into the chamber receiver. "Why are they out this early?!" He talked to himself, as he crawled forward on his belly, to the edge of the gun shop. Staring them down from within that little scope, seeing them up close about the only time he ever wished to see them, he pulled the bolt slide back, and loaded a sleek black tungsten shell into the chamber, his finger resting upon the smooth metallic trigger. "No matter.....they are dead on their feet....hehe." A loud boom filled the air as that hardened tungsten shell shot towards the hapless wretch that was unfortunate enough to be in it's way. A loud crackling splatter took place of the boom, as blood showered the area bits of rotten skull flying to the side, as the bullet pierced it's target, and grounded into another behind it. The creatures hit the ground in a bloodied mass, with Xander loading another round.<br/><br/>Alister fled behind the door to the main building with the first shot, desperately covering his ears from the loud shots going off. Xander gritted his teeth, and fired again, the sharp white flame spouting from the rifles end. Another dropped to the ground, as more seemed to endlessly file out of the blanket of the fog. "Damnit!" He picked up his rifle, and emptied the used shell from it, loading another into the chamber. Xander grabbed for his backpack, having recently packed it last night for the trip ahead. "Time to go Alister!" He said, shaking the soreness from his body. He made a grab for the revolver and shoved it into the holster, patting his side for Alister. "Come, we're going on a road trip!" The dog barked, running to Xander's side. His tail wagging excitedly awaiting his next command. Not much time left, wiping the newly forming sweat from his brow, Xander made a dash for the door leading back down to the building. Slipping the rifle into the back holster behind the back pack, and clipping his fanny pack to his waist. He took the steps by two's, landing with a thud on the tile floors of the main shop. Xander looked about, and made a grab for a large heavy<a class="link link--external" href="http://www.thecountryshed.com/MTF4900.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">shotgun</a>sitting within the shelves of the shop. He pulled the pump back checking the ammunition of it. "Empty....of course." He felt stupid for thinking it would be loaded and sitting on the shelf display. Xander grabbed a box of shells from the glass desk next to him, ripping open the flimsy cardboard and shoving shells into the gun till it could hold no more. "Alright..." Pulling the pump back loading a shell into it's chamber. "Let's do this Xander! The truck is just outside. Glad I found gas for it a couple days ago....probably the last we'll see for a long while." He grinned, and took one last look about the place. "Hmmmm...... Aha!" He found Alister's vest, and smiled.<br/><br/>Making a mad dash around the shop, Xander grabbed box after box of ammo for various weapons. Loading 10 boxes of .45 mag rounds, 3 boxes of .50 mag rounds, the last 7 boxes of .50 cal tungstens, and several boxes of 8 gauge slugs. "Well....I think I have just enough rounds to take out a small army....hmmm. I could leave her behind. Someone might use it later....if there is someone else out there." Smirking, Xander looked up at the very top of the main display wall, seeing the long black barreled rifle with a name etched into the side of the hard black steel. '<i><a class="link link--external" href="http://www.blackforestantiques.com/large/75.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Iris Gravemaker.</a></i>' was visible, bringing a reminiscent smile to his lips for only a few seconds. It was the one and only long barreled elephant rifle. Who knows, maybe he would want to take out a small crowd of those wretched deathly creatures at once. He climbed on top of the lower shelves reaching up to grab the large weapon. "I can't leave you behind Iris....it wouldn't be classy. Besides, it's time you had some use aside from just looking pretty." Xander shoved the rifle into the holster with his sniper, holding the shotgun still within his hand. "Now where are they?...." The voices of the dead were now at the door of the building banging against the heavy steel of it's frame, the sickening noises filtering though it's cracks. "Oh god....Guess we were too slow Alister." Xander said with a grimaced dismay upon his face. "THERE!" He found the locked drawer, and simply yanked it open breaking the lock and wood of it's frame. "Shit.....only three boxes." Each box only holding five 1100 grain shells each. Better than nothing, they will have to be used conservatively....whoever was going to use it that was.  "Ok let's get this going." He took the three boxes, and crammed them into the last pocket open on his back pack. A sharp whistle sounded off, Alister barking loudly, coming to Xander's side. The dog smiled, with a droop in his lip. "Good boy....ready to go?" He smiled, patting the dogs head before slipping the now heavy vest onto him. The dog grunted lightly at the weight being put onto his back. Barking again, Alister wagged his tail rapidly, making it whip against the shelves with camouflage vests, and hunter orange hats. "Alright....let's go pal!" Xander held the shotgun infront of him, and walked slowly to the door at the front of the shop.<br/><br/>Upon reaching the door, scratching, pounding, screeching noises could be heard, as the undead mercilessly grinded away at the door, fruitlessly getting to the shop. "DIE FUCKERS!" He kicked the large black iron bar up from the door frame keeping it locked shut, and kicked again shoving the door open. The disgusting vile husks fell back slightly, before lurching forward with a hungry look in their decrepit eyes. Alister growled viciously, and barked boomingly at the lifeless husks starting to file into the shop. "hmph!" Xander pulled the trigger, blasting into the zombie into pieces and several others. "Move!" he pulled the pump back, loading another shell, and fired again, coagulated blood spraying everywhere, speckled with bits and pieces of dead flesh. The creatures fell back, those who were unfortunate enough to meet the unfriendly end of the shotgun falling to the floor officially dead now. "Alister come!" Xander dashed out of the door, followed at the heels by his friend, seeing the truck across the street from the shop. It was a large black<a class="link link--external" href="http://images03.olx.com/ui/2/30/79/t_17442179_1.jpeg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Chevrolet Silverado, Duramax.</a>By god he loved that truck, and it brought feelings of hope knowing it would bring him to more safety outside of this backwater town infested with the lifeless, sleepless creatures. A sickening grunt came from the side; looking up Xander jumped back startled at how close the thing was, and blasted it away with the gun. Taking only a split second to watch the result of the shot, he pumped the gun again, hearing the clink of the shell hitting the ground. Reaching the truck, Xander yanked the door open, and tossed the back pack in, followed by Iris, and his sniper. "Alister let's go!" He ushered the dog in, watching him jump in with ease. "Good boy." He said breathlessly, as he blasted away another small group of the vile creatures. As they fell, he could see in the distance more shadowy figures racing towards him. "What's this?...." He slammed the door shut, closing Alister within the vehicle. The figures bursted from the fog cover. "SHIT!" The rigor mortise must have worn away, seeing the creatures running full speed towards Xander. He fired madly at them, watching them drop to the ground like flies, strafing around the truck, stopping as he finally reached the driver side. "Gotta get out of here...." He said to himself, pulling the pump back, and thrusting the trigger back, only getting an empty click. "<i>No....</i>" His thoughts racing faster than the decrepit, lanky husks. He yanked the driver door open and threw the shotgun in, hearing it slam into the passenger door. Leaping into the door, Xander felt a hand grab his boot. "No!" He kicked, feeling the cold, clammy hands make efforts to pull him out.<br/><br/>Thinking fast, Xander pulled his revolver out from it's side holster, and pulled the hammer back, firing blindly at the creatures. A loud crack boomed through the confined space, as the hands freed his boot from their deathly grip. Taking in a breath, Xander quickly pulled in his foot, and wrenched the door shut, the Silverado shaking a little. "Time to leave Alister!" He said, slipping the key out of his boot side, shoving it into the ignition. Twisting the key forward, the diesel engine roared to life. Xander slipped the seat belt on, smiling as Alister sounded off with another booming bark, snarling at the corpses gathering about the vehicle. "MOVE!" Xander slammed the accelerator down, the back tired spinning into a cloud of white smoke, before taking off, tearing into the creatures ripping them apart as it ran them down. He looked at his gauges, as he raced down the torn streets, dodging vehicles parked in the way, as well as various debris. "Good....just as I left it. Full tank. Should get me far enough away from here to the next branch of the gun shop....." He smirked and put his full focus back to what little road was left, before turning off into the dirt and grass, having no more road to take. He looked at the rusted, and bent road signs following them out of TN, and into KY, making his destination the country capital. "DC, here we come..." Xander said with a smile. He looked in his rear view for Alister seeing the dog sitting in the seat, panting as he stared out of the side windows. "Don't worry pal....we'll get there soon." Xander smiled, taking a turn going up a hill, before meeting the Interstate. Surprisingly clear and void of vehicle and debris. Xander cheered quietly in his mind, and gassed it zooming down the open interstate, following the large green signs pointing towards DC. Hopefully everything would go uninterrupted from here....."Best morning ever I think."