'Jimmy! Abby! Ben!' Hal called. He was standing in the doorway of the command tent; Jimmy, Abby, and Ben were waiting outside, near the smoldering central fire. It had started to drizzle, and the trio was shivering in the frigid air, small clouds of breath puffing around them. They turned and walked to the tent, stepping inside the canvas building, grateful for the reprieve from the rain.

'Hal told me that you two might have a lead on some fuel,' Weaver said, looking intently at Jimmy and Abby.

'Yes, sir,' Jimmy replied. 'We passed through a town that was basically untouched by scroungers a few weeks ago. There was a gas station; hopefully that was as untouched as the rest of the town.'

'It's the best lead we've got,' Hal piped up.

'I agree,' Weaver nodded. 'Do you remember the way there?'

'We were in the woods most of the time,' Jimmy shook his head. 'I definitely don't remember a thing.'

'Then how are we supposed to get there for this fuel?' Weaver's brow furrowed.

'I can get you there,' Abby replied confidently. 'I have a good sense of direction. It won't be hard.'

'Are you sure?' Weaver asked.

'Yes, sir,' Abby nodded.

'Okay,' Weaver agreed. 'Hal, you can have the pick-up. Take Ben and Abby. Jimmy, I'd like you to stay here.'

'Yes, sir,' Jimmy nodded.

'Let's go,' said Hal. 'We need to get a move on so we can get there and back before dark.'

'Dismissed,' Weaver added. Ben, Abby, and Hal filed out together, Jimmy following.

'See you when you get back,' Jimmy grinned. 'Be careful, and good luck.'

Abby rolled her eyes. 'I'm always careful.'

Jimmy raised one eyebrow and looked at her, before shaking his head and wandering off.

'Okay, we need our guns, extra ammo, and food,' Hal sighed. 'And make sure there's enough gas in the pick-up. I'll take care of gas; you guys grab the food and weapons. Meet back here in fifteen.'

'Be careful,' Anne said. She stood next to the pick-up as Hal and Ben heaved empty metal drums into the back of the pick-up. Several gas canisters were still sitting on the ground, and Abby stood next to Anne with three rifles slung over her on shoulder and a knapsack over the other.

'We will be,' Hal replied. Once all of the drums were loaded, Hal packed the gas cans around them while Ben roped the drums into place. Once all of the containers were loaded, Hal shut the gate and turned around to take his rifle from Abby. 'Ready?'

'Yeah,' she nodded, handing Ben's gun to him.

'Ready,' Ben added.

'Let's go,' Hal said. The three loaded into the truck cab; Hal behind the wheel, Abby in the middle, and Ben on the passenger side. With a final wave to Maggie, standing near the med-bus with Alexis, Colm, Mariah, and Amanda, Hal started the truck, shifted it into gear, and drove towards the main road.

'Which way?' Hal asked Abby when they reached the turn onto the main road.

'Left,' Abby said after a pause. 'We're going back the way my pack and I were traveling before we met you.'

'Okay,' Hal nodded. He turned onto the road and the truck started chugging its way down the asphalt. 'You're sure about this?'

'Yeah,' Abby nodded. 'I'm sure.'

Hal pulled up to a crossroads and stopped. 'Which way?' he asked.

Abby swallowed. 'I'm not sure.'

'Great,' Hal groaned, throwing up his hands.

'Let me out,' Abby said.

'What?' Ben asked.

'Let me out,' she repeated. Before Ben could move, she sighed, crawled over him, opened the door, and tumbled out onto the road. Hal killed the engine and he and Ben sat watching her. Abby poked around in the woods on the right side of the road for several seconds before disappearing into them.

'Great,' Hal groaned. He opened his door and started to get out to follow her, but she reappeared.

'Right!' Abby called. She jogged around the front of the truck to the passenger side. Ben scooted into the middle so that she could climb in, and she shut the door. 'Right,' she repeated. 'I recognized some things in the woods. We came that way.'

'Are we following your path or taking the most direct route?' Hal asked, restarting the truck and turning right.

'Both,' Abby shrugged. 'Considering that the path we took is the most direct route since we don't know any other. Just be glad that we don't have to go through the woods.'

'I guess that's a good thing,' Hal sighed.

'Now which way?' Hal groaned. They had been driving for almost three hours, but had still not reached the town Abby and Jimmy had mentioned.

'Right!' Abby exclaimed excitedly. 'I know where we are! We're close!'

'Finally!' Hal grumbled. He turned right, and a few minutes later a demolished town appeared ahead of them.

'There,' Abby grinned. 'We made it.'

'Nice,' Hal nodded, impressed. 'Let's check out that gas station.' He pulled into the station, which was near the center of town and shut off the pick-up. He grabbed a gas can and headed for the pumps. 'Let's hurry up and get this done. Come on.'

Abby and Ben hopped out of the truck and joined Hal. It didn't take the trio long to fill up all of the containers with gas. Once they were done, Ben and Abby lifted the drums onto the truck bed, then packed the other containers in as well. Hal tied the ropes and shut the gate and glanced at his brother and Abby with a grin. 'Great. This is great. It'll get us pretty far. Let's get back.'

'Wait,' Ben froze, staring towards the opposite side of town.

'You hear that?' Abby asked, looking at Hal.

'Hear what?' Hal asked.

'Stay here,' Ben said. 'Abby and I will check it out. If we're not back in twenty minutes, leave.'

'What's going on?' Hal asked as Ben and Abby set off for the far side of the town.

'Someone else is here.'

Sorry, sorry, I know it's really short... As in, barely over 1000 words... but the past few chapters have been over 2000, and the next one is over 2000 as well, so... :P Anyways, my goal for the next part of the fic (which I am almost on the seventh chapter in writing) is to have chapters at a minimum of 2000 words, while the minimum goal or this one was 1500...

ANYWAYS

Thank you to all reviewers! Reviews make my day, so please review! Also, the story has had 175 visitors, which is super exciting! I'll publish the next chapter when it reaches 250 views or when I get the tenth chapter for part 2 written, whichever comes first. So, hopefully, look for another chapter by the weekend!