At The End Of Everything

Chapter 4: Not Cops, Not Military...Nothing.

Notes: As promised, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!


"Here,"
"Ew, peas? I hate peas. Isn't there anything else?" I shut up at the look Ace gave me. The other two had eaten earlier as I drove. Now that Ace and I had switched, it was time for me to eat and sleep.
"I don't know...I can look," Mary made to take off her seatbelt.
"No, it's cool. I've had worse." I shuddered at the memory of canned beets.
"Like what?"
"Huh?" I looked back at Mary as I tried to open the can with a can opener while the truck was moving. I hoped it didn't spill on me. I'd never get the smell of canned peas off.
"Like what? I mean, I don't really know anything about you...what's your story? How'd you two meet? How'd you learn all of that?"
I was only half paying attention as I ditched the lid and ate of spoonful of peas. They were exceedingly mushy, but I forced the thought out of my mind. I didn't want to throw up. I needed whatever food I could get. I looked up to find her staring inquisitively at me. "Wha?" I asked with my mouth full.
"She wants to know our story." Ace explained, not looking off the road.
I swallowed. "Oh. Well there's not much to know."
"Ok, well, how do you know each other?" Mary leaned forward and waited for an answer.
"Ace and I?" I asked around another mouthful of peas. She nodded. "We've known each other for ages. Before the world went to hell."
"Really?" I nodded. "Are you two cops?"
Ace snorted and I nearly choked on the peas. "No," I laughed once I could. "We're not cops, not military...nothing."
"Then how do you know how to do everything?"
I felt Ace's eyes on me as I stopped eating. "We learnt what was necessary for survival." I stared Mary down, trying to convey the seriousness of it. "You will too. Okay?"
She nodded and looked away. I continued eating, ignoring the tension in the air.
"If you do run into any military," Ace said, "run. Got it?"
"Why?"
"Because," I interrupted whatever Ace was going to say. "They're power tripping." At her confused look, I turned and got myself as comfortable as I could while I ate. "Look, ever since Palin took off, the military is well aware that they have most of the ammo. It's been a long couple of years Mare, not everyone who is left is...well, the kind of person you want to have that much ammo. You'll be safer if you just run from them."
She stared at me inquisitively for a moment as I ate. "What happened?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened? How do you know that?"
I turned back to face the front and ignored her. That was a memory that didn't need dragging up.
"Prez?" She sighed when it became apparent neither of us was going to answer her. "Can you at least tell me why you're telling me this like you won't be around?"
"Because you need to know." Ace said. "Because we might not always be around. No one is."

I woke up suddenly in pain. My left calf was cramping up severely and I tried stretching it out. I ended up just kicking the floor of the car a few times in my half asleep state. The car stopped and I jumped out. I hopped around on one foot as I stretched it out, gritting my teeth against the pain. It didn't take long before I was left with a dull ache. I got back in the car.
"Thanks."
Ace didn't say anything, just started the car and continued driving. I massaged my calf, trying to get it to fully loosen. It's happened before that I woke to it in pain. It wasn't severe or anything, but the muscles were going to be tense tomorrow. It was enough of a liability that could cost me any of our lives. I looked back to find Mary awake and staring at me. I turned away and she remained silent. I just needed to fall back asleep.

"We need to get her new clothes."
Ace was in the back, changing. Mary sat in front passenger's seat for once and was trying to stare straight ahead. I looked back in the mirror.
"We're heading near a small town. We can check it out."
Ace nodded and put her leather jacket back on. She started to check the weapons.
"Why do I need new clothes?" Mary asked.
"You can look now, she's done," I grinned at her, "You need new clothes because the jeans and t-shirt deal you got going on really won't help. We'll try and find you some leather and more jeans. Know your size?" She nodded. "Good. We're going to make this a quick trip." I didn't add the 'hopefully'. Any sort of towns made both Ace and I nervous. They were difficult to drive through since the infection spread. Overturned cars and various other obstacles were too common.
I stopped in front of a thrift store.
"A thrift store?" Mary asked. "Why can't we go somewhere more...?"
"Because old clothes can be more durable." Ace answered. I checked for my bowie knife and made sure my gun was fully loaded. "Besides, we're looking for a leather coat for you most of all. And jeans."
I looked out the front windows, knowing Ace was doing the same in the back. "It's clear."
"Then let's go."
I handed Mary the bat and got out.

The store was clear.
"Mary, stay with us, got it?"
"Don't need to tell me twice," she was gripping the bat with white knuckles.
"Relax a bit though," Ace told her as we moved towards the jackets first. "You're too tense. Makes you jumpy."
"I think I have a right to be jumpy,"
"Yeah," I looked at her. "But jumpy makes you dead." A coat caught my eye and I grabbed it. It was leather, which was what we were looking for. "Here, try this on."
"Now?" She looked at me incredulously.
"Yes now. Hurry up." She put down the bat and tried on the jacket. It was too big for her. I started searching for another one while Ace kept a look out.
"Here," I handed her another one that was slightly smaller, but felt thick. She put it on and it fit. "Got one." I told Ace and we moved onto jeans.
I ignored Mary's protests and instead, once she told me her size, I started pulling out jeans. Once a found a couple of pairs that were her size and looked to be her length, I handed them to her. Ace was leading the way out when we heard something behind us. I turned quickly to see a couple of people covered in blood. Ace hushed Mary and they spotted us.
"Fuck!" We ran for the entrance as they ran after us. I stopped and turned, letting Ace lead Mary out. There were three of them. I aimed and shot, sending one of them flying back. I turned and jumped through the broken glass front.
Ace had stopped in front of the car. I turned and aimed at the two that were coming through the store. I heard two shots and they both went down. They didn't come from next to me though where Ace stood.
"There," Ace muttered and I turned to my left to see a small group of people. They were standing by a truck and a jeep. I gripped the shotgun tighter and moved closer to Mary. We waited.