The motor sputtered as the motorcycle began to slow. "Shit." The rider cursed as she coasted to a stop. For a moment she just hung her head in disappointment.

"Always on the move" a raspy male voice spoke in her head. "Lyza, keep moving."

With a deep inhale the rider lifted her head. Shaking her long blond hair out of the helmet she dismounted from the bike. Such a shame, she liked this bike. Maybe she can role it with her. MAYBE, she'll be lucky enough to find an abandoned gas station. Or at least maybe she could find a garden hose that she can use to siphon gas from a car or something.

Elyza looked back toward the town she just passed. It was far enough away that she didn't have to immediately worry about any walkers following the sound of the bike. She unzipped the side of her military issue pack and pulled out the map she snagged from the abandoned AAA travel office.

'If I go, it'll take me back a day's travel. Not to mention I'd have to worry about finding a safe place to stay before it gets dark. Then in the morning I'd have to double back here' she considered through thought.

"Only take what you need. Never double back unless you absolutely have too." Her father's voice prompted. His voice has kept her alive this long. As much as it killed her glee she wouldn't turn against him now.

She returned her attention back to the map to estimate next course of action. She just passed Atascadero and was probably on the better half of the 41. She is closer to the ocean than she was yesterday. Time to keep moving.

"Whelp," She started as she folded the map into her front pocket, "still got about five miles before Morro Bay." Elyza looked up toward the sky before pulling out the iphone from her pack and looking at the time. "It's 3:00 o'clock now, gets dark at 5:30, bet I can make it Dad?"

"You'll make it happen 'lyza"

Placing the earbuds in as she looked through her vast list of music, until finally settling on her AURORA playlist. Then finally clicking the straps of the pack closed in front of her, to began her hike toward the ocean.

There were a couple of cars Elyza was able to inspect as she quietly hummed to herself. The first car had an empty gas tank. Couple of the others didn't have any keys in sight.

"Walking faster down the street, Red eyes and no shoes on her feet, going on this journey, determined to complete" she softly sang to herself as she examined yet another car. Nothing.

There was one she found that had keys and half a tank but when she adjusted the rear view mirror she saw something that has broken her heart on more than one occasion: a car seat in, with blood stains on it. She doesn't mind walking further.

When she sees stuff like that all she can do is muscle through the emotions. It never made it any easier though. Brushing away the dampness from her cheeks and eyes she forced herself to keep singing along through the sniffles.

"And she's going on a journey, always walking down the road, and the water is calling,". Her voice cracked a little as she sang "My little child, please come home".

"I'm sorry you are going through this alone, Princess" her Father's voice comforted.

She wanted to let his words sooth her. Like when she was little, hearing his voice, feeling the warmth of his hug. She craved so badly to let his words sink in. But even in this moment she couldn't lie to herself. He wasn't there. She WAS alone. And as much as she wanted his words to be real they weren't.

"When she reached out they were gone, and the water started calling, my little child, please come home, when a shiny light hit her eye, and she turned around and climbed towards the sky, towards the sky" She finished singing as she continued down the road.

Alone.

Elyza slowly eased the front door open with the front of her pistol. Not many walkers roamed the smaller towns around Los Angeles. With all the large population cities falling to the virus in a matter of days the smaller neighborhoods were able to evacuate a lot faster. Still she wasn't going to let her guard down now.

Silently she left her foot between the door and the frame, listening for any sign that she wasn't alone. If she had to kick it open and run she could just as well do so.

"Anyone home?" she spoke up.

After pulling her dagger from her belt she was able to balance her pistol properly on her wrist. Holding her weapons just the way her Dad taught her. Pistol hand on top, dagger hand on the bottom. She set off slowly through the house, careful of the creaks in the floor.

"What could be behind doorway number one?" She softly jested while taking a step back to kick down the door.

"Quietly, Elyza" Her father scolded.

With a sigh she decided against the more aggressive approach.

"A simple knock will do." Her father added.

"Yes, but it's a lot less bad ass."

"Bad asses live, Dumb asses die."

Elyza heeded her father's advice and cautiously moved through each room. Mostly nothing of interest. Empty closets, empty bathrooms; who ever lived her was able to get out with the least amount of hassle. You can always tell. People who rush just grab cloths maybe even their toothbrushes, but the people who take their time will grab things like shampoo and hair brushes.

"Base secure" she said closing the small gap she left open on the front door. Her pack made a small thump as it made contact with the floor. With a small sigh of relief, she walked into the kitchen in search of nourishment. She hasn't eaten for about seventeen hours too much time spent running.

She never finds anything special all the "good" food is either perishable or taken during evacs.

"Let's see here. We got- olives, pickles, a bunch of spices." She hesitated when trying the fridge, because as soon as she cracked the door smells of raw eggs, bad milk and moldy left overs filled her nose. She quickly slammed the door shut again. "Every fuckin time" she spat out while trying to hold back her gaging. "Stale peanut butter cookies it is then."

Nibbling on her consolation prize she went back to her bag to grab a very worn looking book and a pencil. Then turning to the next empty page of her journal she began to write.

Day 56

Progress report: Just reached Morro Bay. Tomorrow's plan is to look for a sailable boat to Port Alexander. Then hopefully work my way up Alaska's coasts for a stable place.

Base report: found a house along the coast. Door was still locked so chances of recourses were promising. Running water. Not tested yet. Will hopefully fill up before departure. If no clean water, I will be forced to stay extra days to obtain it.

Medical update: still have minor headaches since Nevada boarder. Pretty sure it is just the California sun. They are slowly becoming migraines. Sun glasses aren't helping anymore: Forced to use ibuprofen rations.

Unit update: Still alone.

With a small sigh Elyza rested her head against the arm of the sofa she was sitting on. Feeling a migraine approaching she closed her eyes as an attempt to avoid it. However, she underestimated just how tired she was. The darkness was so comforting it was only a matter of moments before her breathing was steadied into that of a calming sleep.

Hey everyone, thanks so much for reading this. I haven't written anything in a long time so I hoped you enjoyed it. 3 I'll update again next week so keep a look out.