I sat in the truck, at a stop sign on an old country road intersection. I hadn't seen any cars or any more people walking about. I sat there, the engine idling, as I stared at the Chevy emblem on the steering wheel. My hands still gripped the wheel, my knuckles white. I wasn't thinking about anything, just seeing the images of my brothers, their families on the floor in my parents' house. I had just left them. I hadn't even taken the time to bury them. I didn't have time. I knew that deep down, but it still didn't sit right with me. I felt empty. I didn't feel anything, really. I was a robot at this point, just going. I looked over at the radio, and somehow willed myself to move my hand and turn it on.

The only thing that came across the airwaves at this point was an Emergency Broadcast message. It said to head in to Atlanta. Atlanta? This was fucking Florida for God's sake. Why the hell would I go to Atlanta? To me, it just didn't make sense. I didn't turn the radio off, but I managed to make myself sit back in the seat, my hands down in my lap as I stared out the windows.

I heard it before I saw it. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw an old ford pick-up jacked up on giant wheels coming up behind me. The driver was flashing their lights at me. I didn't know if I should move to get out of their way or stay. Maybe they needed my help or something. I chewed my lip wondering if I'd actually give my help if they asked. The nurse in me said I'd do whatever they needed, the other part of me, that empty shell I had suddenly become said Fuck No!

The truck stopped behind me and almost instantly, both doors opened and two guys jumped out and came around to my driver's side window. I didn't roll it down, but I watched them approach. One of the guys tapped on the window, signaling for me to roll it down. I shook my head no. Whatever my face must have looked like at this point, he didn't argue, he just spoke louder so I could hear him through the glass.

"You lookin' for someplace ta go?"

I didn't respond - I just stared at him.

He looked at his friend then back to me, shrugging. "If you do, just follow us."

For whatever reason it was, to this day couldn't tell you why, when they got back into their truck and pulled around in front of me, I put the truck into drive and followed them. We didn't drive far, just a few miles before turning off onto another dirt road with not street sign. I was so numb by this time that no warning signals went off in my head. Some part of me just latched onto the idea that these people weren't….whatever everyone else was. They were…alive? Whatever. I was so tired, I didn't care.

The building we pulled up at was nothing more than run-down farmhouse. It was old and I could see the dip in the roofline saying that the house could collapse if the wind blew hard enough. I also knew that by the looks of the house, it'd probably weathered its fair share of storms and survived just fine. I shut of the engine of the truck, and slowly, with much trepidation, opened the door and climbed out of the cab. I stood there, looking around. I didn't see anyone else other than the two guys in the truck. They came over to me, their hands in their pockets or looped through their belt loops. Their mannerisms struck me as they were just as nervous and unsure as I was. We didn't introduce ourselves, but they invited me into the house for a break. As numb as I was, I just assumed that they were taking pity on a woman that was obviously scared and distraught. I followed them towards the house. I kept looking around, hoping to see someone else, another woman or something. My heart started beating faster; thudding in my chest to the point I thought it was going to break my ribs. I stepped up onto the porch behind them and walked inside. I don't know why, but I was relieved when nothing happened to me when I stepped across the threshold. Some part of me thought that since I had made it inside, everything was going to be fine.

The guy that had tapped on my window turned to me and asked if I was hungry.

"No, but I could definitely use a drink."

He nodded to his friend and turned and walked into what I assumed was the kitchen. I was left there with the friend, in a living room that was obviously the handiwork of an older generation. The pictures on the walls were all faded black-and-whites of a family, none of which looked like either guy here now. I looked at the friend, taking in his attire. Dirty, holey jeans, a white tee shirt that wasn't quite white anymore, brown work boots that I could tell were steel-toes, and a trucker's hat saying Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy. The absurdity of the hat in that particular moment made me laugh. I guess it was the wrong thing to do because the look on his face said he would love to throw me against the wall and knock me out.

I swallowed down my laughter and asked him what his name was. He just stared at me. I jumped when Window-Knocker held a glass of what looked like water in front of my face. He let out a brief snort, amused by my reaction. I held up shaking hands and took the glass from him, downing it in just a few gulps. When I had finished, he took the glass back and set it on the coffee table. Something wasn't right about the water; it had left a nasty taste in my mouth. At the time I chalked it up to being well-water or something to that effect. Window-Knocker invited me to sit on the couch, saying that I looked like I could keel over at any moment. Knowing he was right, I sat on the far end, away from both men. His friend just stood in the corner, watching me. I was beginning to get uncomfortable and was about to stand up and thank them for their trouble and head out of their house. I was beginning to, anyway. Before I really knew what was happening, my vision started blurring and it felt like my tongue was ten sizes too large for my mouth. I tried to look from one guy to the other, but couldn't quite figure out why they each had smiles on their faces. Eerie smiles.

Slowly, my world went sideways. I must have fallen over on the couch. I remember the musty smell of the couch cushions and that both men seemed to move closer to me although I couldn't be sure.

Everything went black.