Chapter 7

Gena heard the shower curtain open. Standing in front of her was the decaying body of Jorge, the rest stop's janitor. His clothing, a blue khaki uniform with his name tag sewn in, was hanging in filthy strips from his body. His skin was gray now, completely missing on his right arm. His eyes were drooping out his sockets, and his jaw was dislocated. He began to move deeper into the shower, entrapping her.

Gena looked around for any kind of weapon, but there was none to be found. The walker kept moving, pushing her into the corner. It took no notice of the water now pounding his skin. Gena bit down a desperate scream, knowing it would do no good and might attract any more walkers. She kept her eyes on the walker, slowly inching along the wall to the exit. It snapped at her, and she yelped and raised her arm, flinching at the impending attack.

Suddenly, the walker was hauled out of the shower. She heard the sound of pounding flesh, and she looked out. Shane had the thing by its collar, crushing its face with his fist. In Shane's other hand was his sharpened rod. Shane kicked it out of sight, and Gena heard the sound sickening sound of penetration, then silence.

"Yeah, you stay down. Bitch." She heard Shane mutter. He rejoined her a moment later.

"Are you okay?" He asked, folding her into his arms. He ran his hands over her shaking body, checking for a bite. She let him take care of her, still in shock from the ordeal. He put her under the spray one last time, turning her slightly, then dried her off. He helped her change into her clothes and took her out of the stall, shielding her from the sight of the body. Gena turned into him, trying to collect herself.

Once they were out of the room, Shane took her face in both hands.

"You okay, Genie?" He seemed to be searching her face for something. She smiled softly.

"I'm fine. It scared me more than anything. I'll be okay in a little while, I just need time to process." When he didn't look reassured, she leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips. He kissed her back, then pulled away and took her hand.

"Let's go back to the car. It was a stupid idea stopping here."

"This wasn't your fault, Shane. It could've happened anywhere. Besides, we got to shower. That's something."

"Rick would've…" Shane stopped talking, as if he realized he had been talking out loud.

"Who's Rick?"

"No one."

Gena wanted to ask more, but Shane shut down. She saved her questions for later, and walked to the car.

Sabine and Tom were already at the car, sitting in the grass and talking.

"Hey, Gena, you ok?" Tom came ambling over, but stopped short when he saw Shane's face. He settled for an awkward distance between them.

"I had a scare in the shower, but it's all good now. We really should hit the road, try to get as many miles as we can."

"All right. As long as you're okay."

"Peachy. Did you get any food?"

"Yeah, enough to last for bit."

"Great."

They all piled into the car, settling in. Shane and Tom seemed to watch her, and she put extra effort into seeming okay. In all reality, she was. Like she told Shane, she just needed time to process what happened. She wished she had something to occupy her, other than the books at her feet. She looked to Shane, starting the car.

"You know Shane, I can drive as well. It's really not a problem if you want to take a break."

Shane gave Gena a look. "Just sit and rest, okay?"

Gena rolled her eyes and nodded reluctantly, feeling like a moocher.

Soon, they were off, putting the rest stop behind them.

They stopped earlier that night, before the sun set. Everyone lumbered out of the car after Shane had done his customary check, stretching their sore backs. Sabine and Tom went about setting up their tent while Gena and Shane ate a dinner of canned tomatoes and green beans. Once they finished Gena poured some of their water in a bucket and they worked on their laundry, talking while they worked.

"High school was the best. I was on the football team, number 22. I met my best friend in high school. Also, I don't like to brag but I was a bit of a catch." Shane said.

Gena smiled. "Oh really, Casanova?"

"Those were the days; I was getting tail from everyone. Even my gym teacher. She was giving me some extra lessons behind the gym, if you know what I mean."

Gena laughed and waved away the image.

"I was the complete opposite. I was always reading and doing school work. I didn't even have a boyfriend until the sophomore year of college."

"Yeah? And who was this lucky son of a gun?"

"Steven Wilkes. Nice guy, if a bit drab."

"Drab, huh?"

"Yeah. His idea of a date was dinner at Applebees and a documentary at his house. It usually had to do with botany. He had a bit of a green thumb."

Shane snorted and shook his head. "If I had you as a girlfriend, you can damn well bet I wouldn't waste my nights watching shows on plants."

Gena blushed. "Yeah? What would you do?" The question popped out of her mouth before she could snatch it back. Shane stopped hanging his clothes on the line and turned to her.

"Well, I'd probably take you out to some romantic spot of town and let every man be jealous while you ordered whatever you wanted off the menu. Then we would head out to the middle of nowhere in my truck. We'd get out, I would build a fire, and we could watch the stars until morning."

Gena was touched. She rubbed her heart, where it began to ache. "I'd like that." She said quietly.

"Me too."

After their laundry was done, Gena and Shane talked with Tom and Sabine for a bit, mostly about what their live were like before the outbreak. That seemed to be the favored topic of conversation; it reminded people that there was a semblance of order and normality, even it was now impossible. After the two went to sleep, Gena and Shane sat in the trunk bed, talking and dozing off until the sun rose. Gena raised her head from Shane's chest to see Sabine and Tom coming from the tent. Everyone packed up in companionable silence, and they hit the road early. Everyone seemed to realize that they were getting closer to their destination, and as the miles passed it grew more somber in the car.

Gena thought of the last time she saw her parents, waving goodbye as she drove away. She had traveled to North Georgia to visit with some friends.

"We'll be right here when you get back, Gena." Her father had said, giving her a hug.

"We love you."

When the outbreak had hit her family up north, Gena had been spared. She had stayed home while her grandparents went to a farmer's market. They never returned. Gena knew they had either been killed by walkers, outlaws, or the government. She instantly knew she had to get back to her parents. While brilliant, they were not the strongest individuals, and they would need help surviving. So, Gena had packed as much as she could and took off. It was not much later that she met up with Francis's group. He had seemed strong, sure of himself. It had taken her a couple days to realize that the gleam in his eye was not one of strength, but madness.

Quid pro quo, Gena. Your body is mine. Gena shuddered.

"You okay?" Shane asked, noticing her as she got more tensed. Gena smoothed her face and nodded, reaching over to take his hand. She felt him squeeze hers, lending comfort. Gena watched the miles as they passed, feeling the pit in her stomach grow.

Finally, they reached Thomasville.