The Georgian heat beat down on Melissa's back, her head covered by a red baseball hat to give her some protection from the sun. She had long since abandoned her plaid button up, opting to tie it around her waist in an effort to keep herself from overheating. She probably was just getting herself a gnarly sunburn.
She adjusted her canvas bag and her machete. She sighed.
Of course her car decided to break down in the middle of the day. Though, she supposed it was better than the middle of the night.
At least then it wouldn't be hot as balls. She thought to herself bitterly.
And onwards she walked, still trying to find somewhere permanent, still trying to survive.
It had been a long couple months for the blonde, though it had been a long couple months for everybody on planet earth, it seemed. The dead coming back to life, everyone getting sick-everyone dying. There were so many dead people. So many things just chomping at the bit to get a bite of flesh. It was all a cruel joke. Melissa could honestly say she used to love watching "night of the living dead". Now it all just seemed like a dream, and she had woken up to this nightmare. Now all she could do was continue on. She had no right clue where she was going anymore. Every time she thought maybe she was catching a break-maybe she would find someone in her family-it was a dead end.
And she kept going. Like she always did. Like she always will.
Weaving between the parked cars on the highway, she kept walking, towards what she assumed was away from Atlanta. She was never good with directions, but she was like, eighty-three percent sure she was headed toward the coast.
Maybe seventy-five. She had no idea. Maps weren't her forte.
It was during her musings that she heard voices ahead. She ignored them at first, deciding that the voices may not belong to friendly folk. As she continued to get closer, though, she saw the voices belonged to two men, one an aged old guy who sported a fisherman's hat and a bigger, younger dude who looked like he was in a heap of pain. Melissa paused in her walk, and for a moment considered the couple. She didn't know who they were, where they were from or heck, even if they were decent people. She watched the two for a moment more, considering her options.
She could keep walking, not pay the two any mind.
She could hold the two at gun point and take their supplies.
She could help the man who seemed to be hurt.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek. She knew for a fact she wasn't gonna hold anyone at gunpoint. It wasn't right, it wasn't in her to do that to someone and frankly, she was next to positive that hurt or not, the big guy would take her down, no sweat.
So…keep walking, or help?
Her internal debate lasted a beat, then with a sigh and a 'why am I doin' this?' she decided that, in a world where decency was a foreign language…she decided to be decent.
"You guys need any help?"