Free Government Z (Book 1): The Beginning by Bryan D. Reid

Bruce and I had our guns drawn and entered the shop.  The noise was coming from the freezer where the other meats were kept.  As we approached I saw the locking pin was in the door.  Should we open it I asked Bruce.  Bruce took a position in front of the door as I slowly pulled the pin out of the door.  I pulled the door open and a fifty year old man dressed in a butchers coat and hat falling face first onto the floor.  Bruce helped him up and sat him in a chair.  What’s your name Bruce asked?  My name is Sergei, the butcher said in a thick Russian accent.  How did you get locked in that freezer I asked?  I have been living here since this whole thing started and living off the food in the store Sergei said.  The other day a group of people came in to raid the store for food and locked me in the freezer when I tried to defend myself Sergei continued.  They had guns and I didn’t stand much of a chance Sergei added.  A sound of crunching glass caught our attention and as we turned we saw a small group of five people staring in at us four men and a woman.  The leader of the group had a gun pointed at us which he fired as we turned hitting Sergei in the middle of the chest.  Bruce and I took cover behind the heavy wooden butchers block returning fire when we could.  We tried asking them to join us but they just continued firing shots at us.  Suddenly we heard the woman shriek out a scream and then the sound grass breaking as they took off running.  As we looked up from behind the butchers block we saw four zombies advancing toward the group until one of them turned toward us and let out this hiss like growl over the scent of fresh blood coming from Sergei.  Bruce and I jumped up onto the tables and began firing at the group of zombies before they could advance toward us taking them all down.  Alright lets grab what we can and get back to camp before anyone else shows up I said.  After we finished loading the truck up we saw several zombies taking to the streets as the sun started to set.  There is no way we can make it past them Bruce said, so we locked the truck up and headed back inside the store.  We took refuge up on the top racking by using the lift in the store to avoid being at ground level in case the zombies entered the store again.
    Rus arrived back at camp surprised at the progress that was made by the team throughout the day.  We got everything we need to finish off the projects plus start one more Rus said.  Where are Bruce and Bryan at? Christi asked.  They went on to get food and told me to come back to camp with this load Rus said.  The sun started to set on camp and there was still no word from Bruce or Bryan.  Don’t worry they will be fine Rus told Christi and Abby who were looking very nervous. His words meant nothing until they returned to camp safely. Rus sat with Mike and Chris asking how long it would take to finish the current projects.  With the rest of the electrical supplies I need it will take me two days max to complete all the wiring and hook up to the generator Chris said.  With everyone available to drywall and mud we will be able to go as fast as the electrical is completed Mike added.  Well I’ll take one person to help me start on the siding for the garage pole barn and then assemble a tool shed I picked up so we can store all the tools we have Rus said.  Morning came with still no sign of Bruce and Bryan.  All we can do is continue on and hope for the best Rus said at breakfast.  Everyone ate breakfast then started another day improving the compound and making life a little easier.  Meanwhile Bruce and I awoke from the top of the shelves where we made camp for the night.  We looked around and saw it was safe to head down the lift.  As we were coming down gunfire started hitting the lift and we ducked down inside the small cart to avoid being hit.  We could hear the leader of gang from the night before barking orders.  We returned fire catching two of