AN: Hello people! and welcome back to Wish You Were Here! Just saw the movie Black Fish and Oh my God how sad!

Apologies for grammar errors.

Chapter 4: Comfortably Numb

Paul didn't really want to take a back road, but it sure beats the hell out of driving down that jam packed highway. He drove passed a lot of abandoned homes outside. Paul didn't want to stop at all in case their were monsters in them. He wondered how Diana was holding up with his mother. Maybe they were keeping quiet and staying indoors.

He looked at his gas meter and saw it was getting closer to the E. Paul drove up to a gas station by the woods that may have gas. He got out of the car and went to the pump. The smelly liquid squirted out.

"Oh thank God! I've never been so happy to smell gas," he opened the little door to the tank and stuck in the nozzle. He stood there as the gas was poring in. Paul thought about how when he was five his dad taught him how to work a gas pump. He might not admit this to anyone but he would cry at night wondering why his father left him. His mom never really liked to talk about it. However his dad would call him and Diana after the divorce, but never came to visit. That was short lived also because he just stopped calling. When they moved to King County Lily met Herman and were very close friends. He was the closest thing he had to a father.

Diana, though, would say the closest thing to a father to her was Officer Rick Grimes. It use to anger Paul so much because he felt that his sister would rather be a part of that family than theirs. He would become jealous of how she spent so much time with Carl and Lori.

A loud rustled was heard from the bushes causing Paul to go and grab his axe. He gripped it and stared out into the woods to see any movements. When he saw nothing, Paul put the gas nozzle back on the pump and got into the car. He started it up to drive away. Paul felt very strange from how he heard movement but there was nothing there. He glanced into the rear view mirror to see if anything was following, but there wasn't.

"PLEASE STOP!" someone came from the side and ran in front of the car. Paul stepped on the breaks as fast as he could. He looked up from the steering wheel as his eyes met with this terrified young man.

Paul let out an angry huff, got out of the car and slammed the door, "What the Fuck! You realize I could have ran your ass over?"

"I'm sorry! But I needed to get yer attention some how."

Paul looked at him. The kid was barely older than him, with this stupid look on his face with his stupid brown hair and stupid brown eyes. So Paul was angry, but can you blame him? To Paul this kid was... well, just stupid! He had this desperate look in his eyes that dogs do when they are hungry. Some of his teeth were a little crooked with a small gap between his two front teeth too. There was this mole by the corner of his left eye.

"What do you want?" Paul said irritated by this guy's presence.

"I need to catch a ride."

"A ride?"

"To Atlanta. I heard they were evacuating. Since my mom is gone, I have no where else to go."

"You're alone?" Paul tried to understand.

The young man nodded, "A biter thing came into the store me and my mom were at. I was out looking for stuff to board it up with. When I came back everyone was dead or whatever they are," the boy's face was sad. Paul placed a hand on the roof of the car and sighed, "Well, I hate to break it to you, but Atlanta is a lost cause. I just came from there."

"You did?"

"I did," Paul looked over to him, "What's your name?"

"Randall Culver," his face was more depressed from how there was no Atlanta.

"Paul Braddock," it was silent for a moment until Paul opened his car again, "I'm sorry."

"Wait, where you goin'?" Randall's eyes got huge.

"Umm... leaving?"

"Can I go with you? It seems like you got a plan or something, man."

"Yeah, my plan that doesn't involve you."

"Come on, man! One guy can't survive alone now that the world ended."

"You'll be okay," Paul got into the car and shut the door. He started the car and started to drive off slowly.

"Don't do this! Please! I'm begging you!"

Paul stopped the car and glanced at his rear window to see Randall standing there all by himself. If it wasn't for Vince or Glenn giving that small kindness to him, he could have easily been in Randall's place. He started to hit the stirring wheel, "Fine!"

Paul stuck his head out the window, "Get in!"

Randall's goofy face lit up, "Really?"

"Come on! Shag ass before I change my mind!" Randall ran to the passenger side and got in, "Thanks, man! I swear you won't regret it."

"I hope so too," they drove.

"So how long have you been walking around out here?"

"Like a day, man. That store I was telling you about was further into the woods, like a Mama and Papa's store. Did manage to get this on my way out," Randall reached into his back pocket and pulled out a big handgun.

"Jesus Christ! How the hell did you get that?" Paul glanced to the gun then to the road.

"I picked it up from a dead cop that was there. Don't think he needed it."

"Do you even know how to shoot a gun?"

"Do you?"

"No! I never had a need to shoot a gun," Paul explained.

"Think now is the perfect time to learn. Bam! Right in between the eyes," Randall pointed the gun to the windshield.

"Put that God damn thing away before you kill someone!" Paul yelled.

"Alright, alright!" Randall put it back in his pants, "So where we goin'?" Paul put in a random cassette he found in the car. Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" came on.

"I'm going to find my family. I live in King County," Paul relaxed some.

"Family?"

"My mom and sister."

"Sister?" Randall sounded intrigued by that. Paul gave him a dirty look, "That is not in your league. So quit dreaming."

"I'm just jokin' around, man. Lighten up a bit."

"It's the end of the world. I don't think anyone will "lighten up"."

Randall lifted his hands in front of him afraid he would hit him, "Okay. How far is it?"

"A couple day drive. Why? You got somewhere to be?" Paul sarcastically said.

"I was just askin'. We may need food and it looks like you don't really have any," Paul looked in his backseat and only saw his axe. He checked the trunk earlier and saw a half eaten bag of chips, a flat tire, and some tools to change a tire. Randall had a point.

"You know a place?"

"That store," Paul stomped on the breaks making a loud screech, "Are you fucking serious?"

"Why would I lie?" Randall's eyes were fearful.

"I don't know? Maybe to go see your mom as on of those monsters. Is that what it is?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

"Let me lay it out. You want to go back to that monster infested place, find your mom, and try to bring her with us in hopes of finding a cure. Is that right?" Paul stared into Randall's eyes.

"How did you-?"

"Because I could see it in your eyes! Let me tell you something Randall, there is no cure and they don't remember their life before."

"Well have you tried?" Randall questioned. Paul got out of the car slamming the door. Randall followed after him to where they were in the middle of the road.

"Randall, I was in Atlanta. There was guy that thought that his wife could remember, but she didn't. He almost got his daughter, me, and himself killed. That is enough for me to know that you can't turn them back. They are stuck that way."

Randall's face grew sad from having his hopes crushed, "I'm sorry, but I know it won't work."

"Okay, but we do need food."

Paul crossed his arms, "We're going there for food, not to get your mom and chained her up in the back, got it?"

"I got it, man," there was rustling in the woods making Randall and Paul jump.

"What was that? I heard it earlier."

"I don't know but I've been hearing it since yesterday," Randall said a little scared. Another rustle happened, "Let's get out of here."

Paul slowed the car fifty yards away from the lone store that was straight ahead. He could see monsters shuffling around inside from the window. Paul turned to Randall, "Remember, food only. You see a monster coming near you, kill it! I don't care if it was someone you know. We have to watch each others backs in there. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got."

"Do you have anything else besides a loud gun?"

"I have my knife."

"Then use that and under no circumstances use your gun. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Stick close, stay quiet," Paul and Randall shut the doors. They walked to the side of the store underneath a window. Paul poked his head up to take a look inside. He saw eleven monsters inside moaning and gurgling. He could see a nice sized box with cans, snack boxes, and water bottles in it. Perfect, only the box was in the middle of the room.

Paul snuck over toward the back, slowly opening the door. Randall was right there anxiously watching what he was doing. When the door was open wide enough they both hurried in. Paul peeked his eyes to see Monsters just standing there, lifeless. There was an empty glass bottle laying in arms reach. He picked it up and looked to the farthest corner of the store, tossing it as all the Monsters heard the shatter.

Randall gave Paul a terrified look, he was confused on why he did that. Paul pointed to the monsters that were surrounding the area Paul threw the bottle. Only two managed not to hear it. They were still by the box. The two boys got up and Paul raised his axe over his head.

Chop!

Paul cut into the shoulder of a police officer. It made an ugly groan as it noticed there was an axe in him. The other monster was an old, over weight man that turned and hissed at Randall. Paul yanked out his axe and threw another chop at the cop, this time splitting his head in two. The old man was reaching to get Randall.

"Kill it!" Paul angrily whispered. He pulled his axe out again and turned to get the box. Randall pulled his gun out and pointed at the monster who was coming closer.

"No guns, you idiot!" Paul hissed.

BLAM!

He stumbled back as the monster fell over him. When he got up he put the gun in the back of his pants. Groans and hisses were heard. Paul turned around to see the rest of the walkers straggling over. Paul shoved the box into Randall's hands, "Go out the door!" Paul grabbed his axe and they made their way over to the front exit.

Randall stopped in his tracks as he saw an older woman with brown hair in a pink shirt with a long brown skirt, "Mama?"

"Keep going, Randall!" Randall was frozen as more of the monsters were getting closer.

"I can't leave her," Randall whispered. This was not happening. They were going to die here all because of this stupid boy that doesn't listen. Paul yanked Randall's gun from the back of his back pants then opened the door and pushed Randall down the steps, dropping the box a head of him.

Paul turned to look around the store for anything else to use, a sign. then his eyes came across a propane tank that was laying by the door. Paul grabbed it and hit a monster in the head with it. Another one grabbed his arm and he elbowed him. When he got to the door he dropped the tank by Randall's mother. He reached into his pocket and found his lighter. Without thinking he lit the closest monster on fire. He shoved him with the rest of the dead. Paul waited until enough of them were gathered. He pulled the gun's trigger.

BOOM!

Paul turned around as quickly as he could. The blast sent him flying a few feet. A heated feeling was on his back. Paul could see the smoke lifting from his jacket. He got up and saw a tearful Randall with the box. The box was knocked over with the food spread out. Paul threw the gun at Randall's feet.

"Hey! What is your problem, man!"

"What the fuck is yours! I told you no guns! You heard me say that and what happens? You shoot a gun and have every monster and their mother come after us," Paul's voice became sharp at mother.

"I want you to leave and stay away from me. You are not my problem," Paul stared down at Randall.

"What? You can't just do that."

"Yes I can. I should have kept driving, but no. Get up and leave. I almost died because of you."

Randall's face grew sad as he stood up, "But-"

Paul grabbed a can from the ground and threw it at Randall, "Go! There you won't starve!"

Randall bent down and took his can and gun, "And if you even think about using that gun on me, I'll make you wish you were never born!"

"Okay, man, I'm going! I'm going!" the boy walked to toward the woods and disappeared. Paul went and gathered the rest of the food, threw it in the box, picked up his axe, and then walked back to his car. He placed his belongs in the back seat.

"Ahhhh!" A yell was heard deep in the woods. Paul's heart stopped knowing something happened to Randall.

"He's not your problem, Paul. Just forget it!" He opened the car door but looked out into the trees. Guilt started to chew at him, "God damnit!" He slammed the door shut. Paul took a few steps into the woods.

"Randall?"

A rustle in the bushes came from behind him and strong pain was hit in the back of his head. Blacking out.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it. Thoughts are welcomed in the review.