Anastasia opened the door and took in her surroundings. The new moon had been no help the previous night and she was starved for some kind of bearing. Anything that would give her a hint of where she was geographically speaking. James stepped out behind her, followed closely by Josh. Anastasia knew they had to be getting close to home. Before the world had taken a dump on itself the trio had jumped at the chance to leave their home near Washington DC and visit Josh's mom and step-dad in Miami, Florida. Two years and a shit storm later and they almost home. All Josh and James could talk about was seeing if their families were okay. Maybe James' dog was still alive. Maybe Josh's farm was still standing. It had never been much the they were already making plans to secure it and call it home. Anastasia usually got real quiet during these talks. She could care less if her step-dad was alive or dead. "Hell, maybe he was one of those mindless fuckers and she could beat his face in with a crowbar."
A high pitched shriek jarred Anastasia back to reality. She whipped around to see James jumping up and down his face threatened to split in two from the grin it contained. "I know where we are! I KNOW WHERE WE ARE!" he exclaimed, looking about as if he didn't believe it himself.
Josh placed his hands on James' shoulders in an effort to calm him and lower his voice. "Okay, man, easy. Where exactly do you think we are?"
"I don't think I KNOW!" insisted James still with a voice that would make any soprano jealous. "My family always went camping here during the summer weekends. We can't be more than a day's walk from home!"
This news almost put Anastasia in tears. Home: the word sounded almost foreign to her. After everything that happened they could make it by daybreak. She took a moment to steady her emotions then turned to the boys. "Okay," she said, in the calmest voice she could muster, "A day from home... Let's not push it, alright? If we go off half cocked we are not gonna make it. Please, James, take it easy."
"Buzz kill." said James as he slowed his bouncing but held onto his smile. "Okay, mom, what do you suggest?"
Anastasia squinted at James in feigned annoyance and sighed. "First," she we need to find a map. The front of the state park will have road maps. If we really are that close we will be able to see exactly where to go." James,... lead the way."
Rolling his eyes, James shot Ana one more smirk before making his way back to the front entrance. Josh and Ana followed close behind him. They moved lightly. Only carrying with them enough for 3 days food, one change of clothes, and two weapons each. That's how it had always been. They is how they survived.
The trio had almost reached the entrance to the park when they came to a horrible realization: No walkers... Not a single one of the brainless bastards had been so much as smelled let alone seen. Anastasia turned to James and whispered, "I have a really bad feeling about this."
"Me too," he whispered back, putting a hand on Josh's arm and pulling him back to the fold. They didn't have to ponder their situation long as a man stepped forth from the far tree line, pistol in hand, and aimed at the three. Worried glances turned to looks of terror as more men, armed to the teeth, appeared alongside the first and began to converge on them. One thought raced through their minds: Would they make it home alive?
Author's Note: Thank you for holding out for chapter 2. I hope it is liked. Please leave some reviews. Stay tuned for chapter 3 which i promise will come much faster than the last one.