"Driving is boring, boring, boring! Driving is boring all night looong!" Zack sung in a 'Wheels on the Bus' sort of tune as he swerved the car back and forth on the now, almost white, road. Thanks to it being South Dakota and all, it was snowing. The sun was rising, so personally it was kind of blinding, but Zack apparently didn't have a problem. "ARGH driving is sooo boring!"

"I think you're on a night high." I commented sourly. "Stop swerving!"

"Night? It's not night. It's morning. I'm not sure what you're talking about. And swerving is fun. It keeps me awake." I sighed and tapped my forehead, letting my breath fog up the glass.

"If this keeps you awake, I'm driving. You seriously need a break."

"Psh nah. I'm cool. I'm awake enough. It's just really boring!"

"I got that from your lovely… uhm… tune."

"Oh you like that, huh? Is this a request for an encore?"

"Zack ple-,"

"DRIVING IS SO BO-OR-RING, OR-ORING, OR-ORING. DRIVING IS SO… I'm hungry." I was happy he stopped singing, but his swerving continued, making me continuously nervous.

"Zack, please stop the car. I'm driving."

"Nooo! I'm fine." He always got like that when he was tired. In fact, he almost sounded like a drunk trying to convince me he was sober. Yeah right.

"I'm serious. Stop the car, please."

"Fine!"

"Oof!" He suddenly slammed the breaks, causing me to jolt forward in my seat at the force. I put my hands forward to stop my head from colliding into the dashboard, but I ended up hitting my hands, causing my head to instantly throb. "Zaack! What gives! I said 'stop' not-,"

"You told me to stop! So I did." I mumbled a Shakespearean insult under my breath and leaned back to get him a gross protein bar.

"Fine. Either eat this or let me drive." I held the bar threateningly, inches from his face. He and I both knew he hated the stuff.

"That's just cruel, man."

"So is the way you're driving!" I complained. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat.

"Fine. Fine fine fine." He gave up and reached for his buckle. "Gimme the bar."

"What!" I shouted and bringing the bar closer to my chest. "Don't unbuckle if you're going to eat it! I mean you're going to either eat it and drive or not eat it and sleep so-,"

"I want to keep driving. I was just adjusting it a little, sheesh calm down. Bar please?" He smiled mischievously. I shook my head and he shrugged. "I'm going to keep driving, regardless then." He threatened, and I gave up, handing him the bar and leaning my head against the glass. I heard the crinkling of the wrapper, and a disgusted 'ew' from Zack as he took his first bite. "Man," The car started rolling forward as he put pressure on the gas, "These suck, but seriously. I'm kind of feeling energized already. I mean I have been this past hour, I've just been so bored."

"I'm telling you." I sat up and placed my hands in front of myself. "You're not 'energized'. You're just really hyper from being up all night." I reasoned, but he drove faster into the oncoming, light shower of snow. Luckily no cars were around.

"Awh screw it." He leaned into the steering wheel, unrolling his window and tossing the half-eaten 'breakfast' out the window.

"Zack! I told you to eat that!"

"And I threw it out the window! So?" He pressed the button to roll up the window again, but I shook my head.

"Wait, dude."

"Why? Warm or something? I'm not."

"No no no…" I heard a faint buzzing coming from outside. I kept my hand palm-out in front of me, keeping myself completely still as I focused on the growing noise.

"What the Hell are you doing?"

"Don't you hear that?"

"Hear it from your side. I'm not keeping this open." I rolled my eyes and sighed. He was being so stubborn ever since the night before.

I clicked the 'down' button and leaned my head out of the window a little. I stared at the mirror as I listened to the noise. Even though I was focused on the noise, I couldn't help but notice how grimy I was from my reflection. Ew.

The buzzing grew louder, and I adjusted my mirror so I could see the road behind us, and sure enough, a growing shape was appearing in the distance.

"Zack, slow down. Like, legal speed." The shape grew bigger, and I soon realized it was some sort of Hummer.

"Stop being so prude. See that? I used a big word."

"Five letters Zack. That's not big. Just slow do-,"

"Not-uh! That's six let-… Oh you're right. Why do you want me to slow down? Feelin' carsick? If you throw up, I'm going to be forced to kick you out." The car got closer and it appeared as a yellow color. It was going fast.

"ZACK SLOW DOWN!"

"FINE!" He slammed on the break, making me slam my forehead against my hands again, but then I was greeted with a giant white shape.

The airbag.

Everything seemed to go in slow-mo as I felt myself being lifted off my seat a little, then back down, then back up again, leaving me in a sort of suspended position.

Crashing sounds filled the seemingly dead air. Suddenly, a jolt of pain greeted my whole face with an insane pressure, and I began to taste blood. After a couple seconds of groaning because of the pain, I realized that I was upside-down. My face was smushed against the airbag, which was slowly deflating. My body started to slip from my seatbelt a little. I kept my eyes closed, then braced my stomach against the seatbelt that was digging into me. I slowly lifted my hand to my bleeding face. I ran it over my nose to feel both orifices were bleeding. I touched my lip to discover it was split and bleeding too.

Then I remembered Zack.

A loud, continuous 'beep' sounded as I groaned his name. "Zaack…?" I didn't get an answer, or if I did, I couldn't hear it over the horn. "Zack?" I turned myself around and unbuckled my seatbelt, causing my whole body to land heavily onto the ceiling of the car. Attempting to think clearly, I took my shirt off and pressed it against my nose and mouth. I rubbed my eyes and cleared my blurry vision to see Zack's head pressed against the car horn. The sound was deafening. I crawled forward, my whole body sore, and reached my hand to block the contact between the button and his head. The peaceful silence started, and my head began to clear. My face just really hurt.

"C-Cody…?" Even though his blond hair was greasy and covering his eyes, I could see him opening his eyes. "Hey…" He greeted.

"Hey." I smiled as he reached for his seatbelt.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!" He screamed. Out of shock, and shot my hand back, blaring the horn because of his head. My head starting throbbing again until I replaced my hand.

"What's wrong? What happened? Are you okay?"

"My side… it hurts… really bad…" He groaned more, probably realizing how much pain he was in.

"The ceiling isn't far. It's like a foot. If you just get yourself unbuckled, I can see what's wrong." My voice was muffled, but he nodded slightly.

"It hurts so bad though."

"I know. Just unbuckle. Here, I'll even sit under you so your fall isn't so dramatic." I kept my hand on the side of his head and let my shirt drop into my lap. I stretched out my left arm. Slowly, he pressed the seatbelt button. I released his head and put both of my hands out to lower him down, all as he was screaming 'ow'.

"Oooh my God it hurts so bad…" He groaned when he finally lay down on the ceiling, his head in my lap. I was sitting criss-cross, so his head was more on my ankles then anything.

"Sh…" I put the cloth over my face again and commanded him to take off his shirt. As he tried, I leaned back and flipped over a suitcase for the first aid kit. I managed to catch a peek out of the window to see tall grass everywhere. It looked like wheat, but I imagined they were just weeds.

"I can't…" He sighed, then grunted in pain again. I dropped the shirt once again, apologizing for any blood that landed on his face. I had to lean over him to grip the bottom of his shirt. Gently, I pulled the black material up to reveal a large purple bruise that looked like a purple eye shadow compact exploded on his side. But it was an actual bruise. I sighed. It had to be a cracked rib. I clicked my tongue and brushed my finger over the bruised epidermis. "AHH CODY DON'T FUCKING TOUCH IT! Gah…" He screamed. I could tell he instantly regretted the outburst, since it made his lungs expand against his ribcage because of the effort.

"Can you lift your arms."

"No." He said crossly. I guessed I couldn't fathom his pain.

"I'm just going to cut your shirt off then, okay?" He cringed. I grabbed the scissors from the safety kit and cut the shirt down the middle, then at the sleeves so it lay under him. "I need to put some medical tape on it, but I also have to put your arm in a sling." I thought hard back to my training at school. "But we also need to get out of the car and find help." He grunted and I put the cloth, yet again, over my face.

"Erg… yeah right. We're… in an apoca… lypse. Everyone's look… ing for help."

"They're seeking safety. What we need is medical attention."

"'Cause I'm sure… there's going to be an ambu… lance driving along the highway this… early… and in the middle of… nowhere." His words were far apart.

"It's worth a shot. What else are we going to do, huh? Not to mention that someone has to have a bit more experience then me. I mean the most serious medical help I've ever had to give anyone was giving you butterfly stitches on your eyebrow last year. And that was nothing. Just work with me, okay? I'm trying to help you." He opened one eye and stared up at me.

"Maybe it'd just be best… if you went… without me… You could make it… on your own… I know… you could…" My lip started to tremble and my eyes started to well up as I watched him force out the painful words. Sadness and anger balled together in the pit of my stomach. I glowered at him.

"No way Zack. I am never leaving you. Not now, not then, not ever. We're in this together now. We will make it through somehow. Stop being such a freaking pessimist. We're twins. You're my reflection. If I leave you, I'm missing a huge part of me and I… I…" Tears started to drip down my face, mixing with blood droplet escapees, and landing in his hair.

"Cody… stop… that…" Through my shaky vision, I saw his eyes get glossy too. "I get it… we won't leave each other. Now just… fix me…" He sighed. "Please…" I knew my brother wasn't great with compassionate moments, but I was a little hurt by his attitude. It made me realize I really was the weaker twin.

I mean there I was, blood, sweat, and tears pouring out of my face onto my older brother, who was just telling me to basically shut up and help him. I pursed my lips and willed myself to stop crying.

"Sorry for the blood. Now just relax. This is going to hurt… a little." I blinked away the saline, put the shirt down, and took out the medical tape, stretching a long piece of tape out and placing it over the bruise, a little above the offending rib.

"Owww-ch…" His breathing became shallower.

"This is going to hurt. Exhale. Then lift your torso off the ground… erm ceiling a little. I need to make the tape go under you." He groaned and did as I circled the tape around his torso two times. I shifted the tape, and started wrapping under the rib. "Now every hour or so, you're going to have to breathe deeply. It'll be painful but you have to." He gave no indication that he heard me. His mouth was oscitant in a silent scream and his eyes were closed.

I tied off the tape and quickly put my shirt on my face again. I leaned back and let the blood coagulate for a while. I was getting cold, but I didn't care. I was tired of bleeding all over the place. I applied pressure on my lip and groaned. I grabbed a water bottle and wetted the shirt to make my lip feel better.

"Cody…?"

"Huh."

"Why're you so… nice?" He asked quietly.

"I don't know. Because being mean didn't work out very well."

"Oh." I put more pressure onto my lip, then leaned my head foreword, testing my lip for blood. Since there was none, I started flipping over the suitcases to prepare for our departure. "What're you doing…?" I heard my brother weakly ask from behind me.

"Getting ready to go."

"No…"

"Zack. We have to go some time, and I'd prefer it to be sooner than later. What if a zombie sneaks up to us while we're sleeping the day away. Either one, we get eaten because we're sleeping. Two, I pee my pants because I'm a wuss and we both die because you're pretty much useless in defense right now."

"Hey…"

"It's true." I grabbed a pack of gum and stuffed it in my pocket, then a bottle of hand sanitizer. I grabbed a protein bar too, and started unwrapping it.

"Is there a… third outcome?" I laughed at my inner wit for what I was about to say.

"By some miracle, you heal instantly and save us, lifting the car into the sky, back onto the road, and get us on our way to Seattle." He grunted out a small laugh and I added, "Then we're greeted by President Bush, when suddenly protein bars rain down from the sky in thanks."

"It's possible…" He ventured. I took a bite out of the disgusting thing.

"I didn't finish. They rain down, and then we indulge, eating every last one."

"Not possible."

"Thank you." I comment back snarkily.

I took the pistol case from the suitcase, then the shotgun case.

"Cody… you wouldn't be able to handle the recoil on that thing…" He warned quietly. I wondered how he even saw me, since I was pretty much blocking the path of vision.

Taking his advice, I put the shotgun case back into the suitcase and just grabbed the second pistol case.

"Are they loaded?"

"Yeah… can I have some fruit snacks… or something?" I handed him a small pack of fruit snacks and continue packing for the adventure up the grassy hill. I guessed that if it were any other circumstance that an adventure up a hill wouldn't be a problem, but with a handicapped teenager, a weak twin, two heavy suitcases and a backpack, it was going to be tougher then expected.

"This is going to be awesome…" I growled under my breath. I felt a little more mature recognizing that, but not that much tougher. "Ready to go, bro?"

"No."

"Good." I crawled to the front seat where he was dormant and tried to kick the window out. Expecting it to shatter, I almost fell into Zack when it didn't. "Sorry!"

"Those are made to… withstand crashes like these. It's not going anywhere."

"Then neither are we… unless…" I looked back at the gun cases on the ground and reached for one.

"Seriously. That's your solution? You're as bad as me now…"

"I highly doubt that… I just want to get out of here."

"By shooting out the window. Genius."

"Don't give me attitude mister."

"Sorry Mommy." I cocked the gun, braced my ears, and shot the window, making safety glass fly everywhere. "Ow. Glass."

"Sorry." I apologized, put the safety on the gun and peeked out the window. I stepped out of the car, landing on rough, tall grass. Or weeds. I couldn't tell. I turned around to see the flipped Elemental. It was surreal.

I looked around for any threats and was relieved to see the most dangerous thing was probably the freeway. I leaned into the car and handed Zack the gun, then leaned further to grab the suitcase. I dropped it onto the ground, then retrieved the second one. Then the backpack. Soon, everything was on the ground except Zack and the gun.

I grabbed two shirts out of the bag for the both of us and slipped one on.

"Are you ready to go, Zack?" He groaned loudly and tilted his head back so he could see me, upside-down.

"Noooooooo…"

"Oh poor Zacky-poo."

"How am I… going to do this?" I leaned in and grabbed his shoulders.

"Just wiggle towards me." He did, and he was about halfway out of the broken window.

"This is safety glass… but it's cutting into my back…"

"Then work a little." He grunted and squirmed until I was holding onto the belt loops of his pants. It was really just an uncomfortable position.

"Owww…" He complained. I got on my knees and dragged him out all the way until he was basically lying on top of me. I stayed forward and exhaled. My fingers were still wrapped around his belt loops and he was resting on my lap. Not even my ankles. "Cody… I'm uncomfortable."

"Sorry. Get up then."

"No, I mean I'm in… pain." We sat like that for a couple minutes, and it was nice, but unfortunately, easily comparable to our time at the hotel.

"Okay Zackary. It's time to get up now." I wiggled out from underneath him, leaving his head resting on the tall weeds. I shook the snow out of my hair, realizing how cold I was without my brother's body heat. I reached into the suitcase, quickly, and grabbed two sweatshirts. I slipped mine on, and was pleasantly surprised to see Zack hiking himself up off of the ground. "You got it?"

"I guess." He took another shallow breath, and slowly got himself up to my height.

"Okay, I'm going to make a sling for you. Do you want a jacket? Or do you just want the sling?"

"Sling. I'm not cold." I laughed inwardly. I felt like a mom. I knew he was going to be cold later, but I just went with it.

I wrapped the two sweatshirt sleeves and tied them around his neck, then gingerly placed his arm in the bundle.

"Why do I need a sling?"

"So it doesn't hurt your side as much. Now just hold this backpack on your shoulder…" I put it on his shoulder. "And carry this gun. I'll get the suitcases." I pulled the handles up and plowed over the tall grass, shaking my head every so often to rid it of the extra snow. I looked back every so often, seeing Zack struggling, but not enough to where I would stop. I figured we were close to the top when I heard a gunshot. "ZACK!"

I spun quickly to catch him trying to steady his gun with one hand. He was pointed to a… shuffling patch of grass.

"Zack hurry up! We'll take care of it when we get up here! Hurry!" I reached the top and dropped everything. I ran back and grabbed the gun from him, almost making it fire upon contact. "Come on!" I looked back to see the patch still again.

"It moved. There's something there, I swear."

"I know. Get a move on, please." He started shuffling up the hill and I put my back against his for support.

After thirty painful seconds, we both made it to the top. With shallow breaths, Zack sat on his suitcase and caught himself from almost toppling over.

"I hate this…" He complained in agony. I walked over and put my hand over his shoulders.

"I know I know. You'll be healed in no time." I knew it was a lie. It would take at least six weeks for him to heal.

"No, not that." He craned his neck to look at me, smiling sadly. "I hate being the prey." I was curious as to why he was smiling, but I let it pass.

"Oh. You and I both bro. I feel bad for animals now." He cocked his eyebrow.

"Are you comparing us to animals?"

"Well according to Darwin, we evolved from them, so yes, I am." I squeezed his shoulder softly and he rolled his eyes.

"You're such a… nerd." His breathing became softer, and he started to stare at the road again.

The scene was very peaceful. Seeing the tall, pale brown grass sway back and forth across the high way, the cracked, snow-covered, grey asphalt stretched not too far. The snow softly falling from the sunny, cold sky. It was beautiful, but pain still ached everywhere, physical and mental.

"Thanks, Cody."

"Thanks?" I sighed and watched the puff cloud rise above us.

"Yeah, thanks."

"For what?" I stepped closer to him, pressing myself lightly against his left arm that was protecting his rib. I was about a foot taller than him, considering he was leaning against the suitcase.

"Being there for us. You're the smart one. If you weren't here, I'd be in Montana, getting it on with Max in the back seat of his Elemental." I cringed, remembering Max. "Thanks to you, I'm comfortable with a cracked rib and a crushed car. No evil dude either."

"Our current situation is better than that? We were safer with him." Zack leaned his head onto my stomach.

"I know. We were safer with him, but I feel safer with you. And I'd take that any day." His logic was flawed, but he knew what he said, and said what he knew. "Plus, here, there's love. There, no love." I hummed softly in agreement and craned my neck to check for any dangers. Seeing none, I leaned down and pecked my twin's cheek. I stood straight again, and Zack said, "I'm glad we have love. I don't care what kind. But it's here, and I'm okay with that."

Zack may have been pretty thick, but he sure could be pretty damn beautiful when he wanted to.

"That was pretty deep, I have to say. Did you get a concussion too?" I laughed, but he snorted.

"How could you say that? I was completely serious!" I guessed he would've crossed his arms, but he just huffed.

"I'm sorry. It's just strange. You aren't normally like this."

"Well neither are you. You're never really the leader. The tough leader anyway."

"I was kind of forced into this position."

"That's what she said." Way to go, Zack. Always making serious moments 'funny'.

"Bro, seriously?"

"I was simply letting you know that I don't have a concussion. I'm still Zack, no matter what I say."

"I guess I'll keep that in mind…?" His hand covered mine that was on his shoulder, and the cold disappeared for a second.

"Love you."

"I love you too." 'Love you' and 'I love you' were two different things, and I knew that I felt the latter.

"Sorry. I love you too. Again." We laughed, and suddenly I heard a whirring.

"Hear that?"

"What?"

"I swear…" I commented on his hearing ability, then focused on the noise. "It's a car…"

"Really?" I looked at the horizon to see a black blob heading our direction.

"See?"

"Yeah! Ouch…"

"Stand up." He did, standing as straight as possible to not put any weight on his wound. I did too, trying to make a good first impression on whoever might stop, but I bet I didn't look too great with my split lip and dried blood on my upper lip. Not to mention how greasy I was.

The car approached, and it was an easily recognizable 'Mom' soccer van.

"Do you think there are kids our age in it?"

"I doubt it. I'm going to guess that the minors left are mostly zero to two. I think moms and babies are inseparable, but I think that they'd abandon a four year-old for their own life."

"True." I took my arm away from Zack and started waving, making sure we couldn't be mistaken for a zombie.

"HEY!" I shouted as the car neared about twenty feet. "STOP!" I shouted louder, and the car slowed a bit. Soon, it was right in front of us. The tinted windows rolled down to reveal a red, curly-haired women in the passenger seat, and what looked like a average looking guy driving. I squinted to try to see what the woman was cradling in her arms, and it looked like a small baby (called it), but I couldn't tell.

"Hey. Where are you boys from?" The lady asked, then turned her attention back to what she was cuddling and cooed.

"Boston. You?"

"Cleveland. What's wrong with the other one? Your twin, right?" I nodded and moved closer to the car.

"We just got in a car accident and he-," I was quickly interrupted.

"Accident? You look hardly old enough to be in high school!"

"I know I know, but when these things happen, we have to take extra precautionary measures to survive."

"I understand. You can come closer, we won't bite." She winked and smiled. I turned to Zack and put my hand out for him to wait, then stepped closer to the van. I got up to the window to see the lady was holding a baby. It looked rather sick. "Anyway, so what happened? You got in an accident and…?" I looked in the back of the car, surprised to see another teenager. He looked about seventeen, had thick, curly dark hair and black framed glasses. He also had braces. He waved, I waved back, then answered the lady's question.

"We rolled down the hill, and he cracked his rib. I got a split lip, see?" I pointed to my mouth, then almost facepalmed, realizing that she could probably see that without my direction.

"Ouchie! Well if you want, you can stay with us!" She exclaimed happily. I looked down to see the baby start to cry. "This here is Jessica, this is Robert," She pointed to the man sitting in the driver seat, who looked extremely bored. "And back there is Woody."

"Well where are you guys headed? I don't want us to end up being a bother."

"Oh you'll be no trouble at all, dear! No, we're going to Montana. My friend Darla says it's safe! Come on! It'll be fun! Woody's been complaining on how bored he's been." I shrugged and she suddenly exclaimed in pain. "OUCH!" I looked down to see the baby having a firm grip on wrist, with her mouth. She wouldn't let go, and blood started dripping from the bite.

"Oh my God…" I whispered, backing up slowly.

"Mom?" Woody exclaimed from the back seat.

"Cody!" I turned to see Zack shuffling over towards me, eyes squinting in pain. "What happened? What's happening?" He rushed over to the window, then saw the mom crying. The dad looked pained. The mother looked up at us, eyes red. She coughed out a 'no', then held the baby closer to her chest.

"Kara, you need to let the baby go. Just throw it out the window. These young men can handle it." The father patted Kara's shoulder.

"Excuse me! We'd rather not, thank you!" Zack growled.

"Fine." The father narrowed his eyes at us, not breaking eye contact as he spoke to Kara. "Darling. Get out of the car. Now."

"No, honey! I want to stay with you!" She turned back to him, baby still clutched to her chest.

"I'm getting out of here!"

"Woody, no!" The sliding door opened, and a rather portly teenager stepped out. "You get back here, young man!"

"I'm not getting killed by my own mother!" He exclaimed. The father growled and leaned over his wife, opening the door wide.

"Robert, no!" He cut her seatbelt, kicked her, and squealed the car away, leaving the door to slam itself. "No-ho-ho-ho…" She sobbed on the ground, and I was stunned. I couldn't really comprehend all that had happened.

Woody kneeled down next to her and patted her back.

"It's okay, Mom. I still love you, no matter what. It's okay." The significantly larger son patted his mom on the back, then backed up and back towards us. He held his hands up to his face and started crying violently. "I-I-I l-love y-ou Mommy-ee-ee!" He cried out and stomped the ground. I patted his shoulder softly.

"It'll be okay, Woody." I nervously looked at the convulsing woman on the ground. Zack gave me the 'eye', and handed me the gun. I stood on my tiptoes and whispered in Woody's ear, "Ready to say goodbye, Woody?" He sniffed, nodded, and sighed. Kara stopped moving, and Woody said,

"Good bye, Mommy. See you soon."

"WOODY, NO!" The bullet pierced the morning air hard, scattering pieces of his hair and brain everywhere. I felt even grosser, and tears started rolling down my face. It was all too much. I didn't even know the guy.

I leaned down, attempting not to look at the body, and picked the bloody gun with two fingers. I wiped it on my pants, then aimed it on the rising Kara.

"Focus, Cody. It's okay." Zack comforted me from behind, and I pulled the trigger. She fell instantly, almost on top of her wriggling zombie baby. "Kill it too."

"'It's' a she…" I whispered, and picked it off too. I closed my eyes and sighed. "Let's go…" I put the gun on safety and walked back towards the suitcases.

"Alright…" Zack whispered.

Super long chapter, and sorry for the week delay. Major writer's block, but I'm happy with how this turned out. I don't like Woody, so I figured I'd just add him as a little Easter egg.

This series is drawing to a close, so be prepared for, probably, two more awesome chapters. Originally this was going to be the last chapter, but it was getting long, and it was a good place to stop.

Thank you for reviewing and reading, I appreciate you all so much.