A Week with homeschoolers Part 15

Part 15 Suspense
The rest of the guys, excluding Ben, gathered around Jed and took pictures or stared in shock, depending on their orientation. Ben took charge of the situation and sent half of the group back to the hotel to arm up and get stuff packed up for the move to the Water treatment plant. Klaus, Mark, Carrie, Charlyn, Abi, Mark, and Peter went in the party to go grab more supplies. The rest would catch up later as they carried Jay along and cared for him.
Klaus carried the gun that Chris had given him as he lead the party to the safe area After about 5 minutes the party came to the fork in the road. Then they had a problem, which one was the right road? Well the one on the right was the right but which one was the correct one? Klaus said the left, Carrie said the right… Klaus being the gentleman, concurred only after 3 minutes of argument in which he arraigned Carrie’s doctrinal beliefs on the trinity at least three times.. They headed right and they moved on. The road got smaller, then turned into a path. The path dwindled into a brushy woody tangle.
“One fork in a Podunk little town, and we get lost.” Klaus snickered. “We had better turn around and head back. Told you that the Trinity was a myth.”
Then some of the bushes rustled. It wasn’t the wind. Mark looked around and swallowed. Carrie hugged him nervously. He patted her head and hugged her back. Abi reached out and grabbed Peter’s hand and gently squeezed it. Love shines best when there is a threat.
Abi spoke up, “Which way is back?” A deafening howl of bloodthirstiness arose from the surrounding woods.
“Oh snap, crackle and pop” Klaus said as he racked the gun.

“One, Two, Three” “Lift!”
Ben held C-spine and called it out as they rolled Jay carefully onto his back. Jay gasped in pain slowly exhaling. Scarlett took Ben’s and Chris rolled up suitcoats and put them on either side of Jays head. Then she took Ben’s belt, and put it as a strap around Jays head to hold his head in place. That done, Ben, Chris, Matt, and Freddy, each got at a corner to lift the improvised stretcher.
“One, Two, Three , lift!” They grunted as they lifted up Jay and started back to the hotel. Halfway there Jay screamed and went limp.
“One, Two, Three, down!” Frank quickly took his pulse.
“He’s slipping!” Ben tore Jay’s shirt open and started chest compressions. Sara started mouth to mouth. Despite all their efforts Jay passed away. Ben pounded his fist on the ground. “S*#@! Not again!”
Ben and the others stood up as Sara broke into tears. Tears formed in each eye, even the hardened Kim wept some. The shock was overwhelming as some of them realized that more horrible things would come to pass unless they did something. And they didn’t know what to do. None of them really knew how bad it would get before the end. Them’s that die be the lucky ones.
Freddy drew part of the bunny outfit over Jays face closing his eyes. Ben took charge again and started them back for the Hotel. A seed of resentment formed in Matt’s heart over the way that Ben was assuming charge all the time. He muttered under his breath and continued to carry the stretcher. Finally they got back to the hotel and noticed the silence. Where were the others?